NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi advises of the following closures for motorway improvements. Work delayed by bad weather will be completed at the next available date, prior to Friday, 7 March 2025.
Please note this traffic bulletin is updated every Friday.
Unless otherwise stated, closures start at 9pm and finish at 5am. Traffic management may be in place before the advertised closure times for the mainline.
NORTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)
Stafford Road northbound off-ramp, 2-6 March
Curran Street northbound on-ramp, 2-6 March
CENTRAL MOTORWAY JUNCTION (CMJ)
None planned
SOUTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)
Northbound lanes between Ellerslie-Panmure Highway off-ramp and Gillies Avenue on-ramp, 2-3 March (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
Greenlane northbound on-ramp, 2-3 March (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
Ellerslie-Panmure Highway northbound on-ramp, 2-3 March (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
Tecoma Street southbound off-ramp, (approx. 7:00am 8 March to 5:00am 10 March (24/7)
Northbound lanes between Ramarama off-ramp and Papakura on-ramp, 3-6 March
Drury/SH22 northbound on-ramp, 3-6 March
Ramarama northbound on-ramp, 3-6 March
Southbound lanes between Drury/SH22 off-ramp and Ramarama on-ramp, 2-5 March
Drury/SH22 southbound on-ramp, 2-5 March
Northbound lanes between Bombay off-ramp and Drury/SH22 on-ramp, 2 March
Bombay northbound on-ramp, 2 March
Ramarama northbound on-ramp, 2 March
Beaver Road northbound off-ramp, 3 March
Beaver Road northbound on-ramp, 3 March
Nikau Road northbound on-ramp, 3 March (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)
Ridge Road northbound off-ramp, 4 March
Razorback Road northbound on-ramp, 4 March (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)
SH1 southbound to SH2 eastbound link, 5 March
SH1 northbound to SH2 eastbound link, 4 March
Pokeno northbound on-ramp, 4 March (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)
Pokeno southbound off-ramp, 6 March (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
Pokeno southbound on-ramp, 6 March
Pokeno northbound off-ramp, 5 March (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
Pioneer Road southbound off-ramp, 6 March (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
Southbound lanes between Mercer off-ramp and Mercer on-ramp, 6 March (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
Northbound lanes between Mercer off-ramp and Mercer on-ramp, 6 March (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
NORTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH16)
Southbound lanes between Waimauku roundabout and Trigg Rd, 2-6 March (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)
Northbound lanes between Trigg Rd and Waimauku roundabout, 2-6 March (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)
Northbound lanes between Hobsonville Road off-ramp and Brigham Creek Road Roundabout, 5 March (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)
Newton Road westbound on-ramp, 2-6 March
UPPER HARBOUR MOTORWAY (SH18)
Eastbound lanes between Tauhinu Road off-ramp and Albany Highway on-ramp, 2-6 March
Greenhithe Road eastbound on-ramp, 2-6 March
SOUTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH20)
Northbound lanes between Queenstown Road off-ramp and Dominion Road on-ramp, 5-6 March (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
Hillsborough Road northbound on-ramp, 5-6 March
GEORGE BOLT MEMORIAL DRIVE (SH20A)
None planned
PUHINUI ROAD (SH20B)
None planned
STATE HIGHWAY 22 (SH22)
None planned
STATE HIGHWAY 2 (SH2)
SH2 westbound to SH1 northbound link, 4 March (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)
Please follow the signposted detours. NZ Transport Agency thanks you for your co-operation during these essential improvements and maintenance.
Attributable to Detective Sergeant James Haigh, Canterbury CIB
Police have today arrested a male youth in relation to a serious assault at the Richmond Village Green on Stanmore Road on 4 February.
The male, aged 16, will appear in the Christchurch Youth Court today charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and assault in relation to a second victim.
He has also been charged with theft in relation to a separate offence in the same area two days prior.
Police wish to thank the members of the community for their assistance provided that has assisted enquiries leading to the arrest today.
Source: Australia Government Ministerial Statements
Round 2 offers for the Albanese Labor Government’s $160 million Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships Program will start going out to successful applicants from today.
The scholarships are worth up to $40,000 for new undergraduate students over four years, and up to $20,000 for new postgraduate teaching students over two years.
More than 3,300 applicants applied for the 1,000 scholarships on offer for 2025.
The scholarships include a ‘commitment to teach’ requirement, which means recipients must be willing to commit to teach for four years (undergraduate) and two years (postgraduate) in public schools or early learning settings.
To encourage more teachers to live and work in remote Australia, students completing their final year professional experience placements in these communities may receive an additional top-up payment of $2,000.
The scholarships are targeted at high-achieving school leavers, mid-career professionals, First Nations peoples, people with disability, people for whom English is an additional language or dialect and individuals from rural, regional and remote locations or from low socio-economic backgrounds.
In the first round, almost 1,000 scholarships were awarded to initial teacher education students who started studying teaching in 2024.
The Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships Program will deliver 5,000 scholarships over five years. The program is one part of our National Teacher Workforce Action Plan which is tackling the teacher workforce shortage.
More information on the Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships Program, including information on the application process, is at education.gov.au/teaching-scholarships.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:
“Teachers do the most important job in the world, but we need more of them.
“This is an old school idea that we’ve brought back – we help you cut the costs while you are at uni and you pay it back by working in the public school system when you graduate.
“The teacher shortage crisis has been 10 years in the making, made worse by the Liberals ripping the guts out of public school funding.
“We’re now starting to see this turn around.
“Analysis shows both applications and offers are up for people wanting to study an undergraduate course in education with preliminary results showing a 14 per cent increase in offers this year compared to 2024.
“In addition to these scholarships, paid prac for teaching students starts on 1 July.”
Source: Australia Government Ministerial Statements
The Australian Government has reappointed Ms Hayley Baillie and Mr Hugo Michell as members of the Board of the National Portrait Gallery of Australia for two-year terms.
Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said the reappointments would help ensure the Gallery could continue its important role telling Australian stories.
“Hugo and Hayley have been valued members of the board and I’m confident they will continue to make strong contributions.
“Both have leadership experience in Australia’s arts industry and will continue lending their valuable expertise to the Gallery.”
The National Portrait Gallery holds Australia’s largest collection of portraits of notable Australians, exploring our identity, history, culture, creativity and diversity.
Ms Hayley Baillie co-founded Baillie Lodges, an experiential travel enterprise, with her husband James in 2003. In addition to the National Portrait Gallery Board, Ms Baillie currently sits on the board for the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, the Australian String Quartet Board and is a foundation member of the Australian Ballet. Ms Baillie was also a member of the Tourism Australia Board from 2016-2022. Ms Baillie holds a Bachelor of Arts from Southern Cross University.
Mr Hugo Michell established Hugo Michell Gallery in Beulah Park, South Australia in 2008 and has grown the gallery to be highly respected within the Australian art scene. Over the past few years Hugo Michell Gallery has collaborated with some of Australia’s top galleries such as Darren Knight Gallery in Sydney and Tolarno Galleries in Melbourne. Mr Michell currently sits on the Visual and Performing Arts Foundation Board, the Jam Factory South Australia Board and assists with judging and advisory panels for numerous local organisations.
The Government has agreed to review the legal aid system in order to prioritise victims and their access to justice, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
“We’ve heard from the judiciary, lawyers, and others that changes are needed to address difficulties facing legal aid providers and the people who need assistance.
“The scheme was last reviewed in 2018 and a lot has changed since then. This will provide an opportunity to ensure the scheme is efficient, is of good quality, and promotes access to justice in a way that is sustainable and cost-effective.
“Legal aid is demand driven and spending reflects what is happening in the courts. In recent years we have seen significant increases in spending and those costs are expected to continue to rise.
“We have a duty to ensure those who cannot afford a lawyer still have access to legal advice and representation. It ensures access to justice by means of a fair and open process.
“The review will focus on key areas raised consistently by stakeholders involved in the scheme.
“The review will be carried out by the Ministry of Justice, which will consult with the public and the legal profession as part of its work.
“I’ve asked the Ministry to concentrate on the key areas that have been consistently raised by the legal profession, judges, and others. This includes the sustainability of the scheme, provider quality assurance and coverage, provider incentives and remuneration, and eligibility and repayment settings.
“The Government anticipates communicating decisions following the review in 2026.”
Patient bed capacity at Hawke’s Bay Hospital will be increased as a result of $28.3 million in funding, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving health infrastructure is a priority for the Government to ensure New Zealanders have access to timely, quality healthcare.“Acute services at Hawke’s Bay Hospital are currently under pressure due to high inpatient occupancy rates and lack of capacity. This is having a significant effect on hospital flow and the ability to admit patients from the emergency department to the wards, and resulting in longer stays in ED. “This funding will deliver a new 28-bed temporary inpatient unit at Hawke’s Bay Hospital by mid-2026, enabling the hospital to meet current capacity demands while planning for longer-term development.“The unit will result in better management of patient volumes and help patient flow through the hospital, freeing up beds in the emergency department as a result.“Improving patient flow means ED patients can be discharged or admitted more quickly, and elective surgeries are less likely to be delayed or deferred. “This supports the Government’s health targets to achieve shorter stays in ED and reduce wait times for elective treatment. “There is a lot of future work to be done to ensure Hawke’s Bay Hospital can meet the growing needs of the region, but I recognise the need for an immediate solution in the meantime.“This interim remedy will allow the hospital to increase capacity quickly, while working on a permanent solution as part of the hospital’s wider redevelopment,” Mr Brown says.Today’s announcement follows last month’s approval for a significant expansion to radiology services ($29.3m) and provision of the first Linear Accelerator for the district ($37.2m).
Source: Australian Government – Antarctic Division
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, as manager of the Antarctic site at Cape Denison, has prepared a draft Heritage Management Plan for the Mawson’s Huts Historic Site and is seeking comment on the proposed Mawson’s Huts Historic Site Management Plan 2025.
Constructed during the Australasian Antarctic Expedition 1911-1914 by Sir Douglas Mawson and his team, Mawson’s Huts Historic Site at Cape Denison is a place of great historical and social significance, and is listed on both the National and Commonwealth Heritage lists. In accordance with sections 324S and 341S of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, the Department invites comment on the Draft Mawson’s Huts Historic Site Heritage Management Plan 2025 from members of the public, key stakeholders, community groups, and Indigenous people with an interest in the place. The draft Mawson’s Huts Historic Site Heritage Management Plan 2025 can be viewed online and comments submitted via the Department’s consultation hub at: https://consult.dcceew.gov.au/ The closing date for public comment is 5:00pm AEDT, on 1 April 2025. This content was last updated 4 minutes ago on 28 February 2025.
SYDNEY, Friday 28 FEB 2025 – Despite the New Zealand government refusing to release the location where a New Zealand bottom trawler hauled up deep sea coral in the Tasman Sea late last year, Australia has released the coordinates on request from Greenpeace, a move the group applauded as “promising ocean protection leadership”.
Under SPRFMO, the best available information is meant to be provided on the nature of an encounter with coral such as this, and Greenpeace has offered to document the site as part of their Seamounts Expedition, due to commence in March 2025.
But requests from Greenpeace for the coordinates of the closed area were declined by the New Zealand Government due to ‘commercial sensitivity’. The Australian SPRFMO Commissioner has now released these coordinates in response to requests from Greenpeace.
Georgia Whitaker, Greenpeace Australia Pacific Senior Campaigner, said:
“It’s promising to see the Australian Government prioritising ocean protection and scientific research over commercial interests. By releasing the coordinates of bottom-trawling vandalism, the Australian government has proven it can and will stand up for the ocean.
“What we need to see now is the Australian Government take a step further to protect these waters by finally ratifying the Global Ocean Treaty into Australian law, and proposing that rich biodiverse areas like the Tasman Sea can become ocean sanctuaries free from destructive industrial fishing.”
Earlier this week, both major Australian political parties indicated their intent to take ocean protection seriously this election. Labor has acknowledged that only 24% of Australia’s waters are highly protected from industrial fishing and oil and gas – Greenpeace is calling for that number to be increased, not just in domestic waters but in adjoining international waters.
“True ocean protection leadership on the global stage is about hoisting the sails and facing the wind — we need strong policies that protect the ocean and the high seas between Australia and New Zealand, with no loopholes for industry,” Whitaker added.
Greenpeace Aotearoa expedition lead Ellie Hooper is calling the New Zealand government’s refusal to share the coordinates “ludicrous” and “a blatant example of the Luxon-led government running interference for the fishing industry.”
Hooper says: “These coordinates have already been shared with all fishing companies and SPRFMO countries, so why is the information being hidden in order to prevent research and documentation?
“Australia clearly has a more progressive and transparent approach when it comes to deep-sea management, and has provided us with the chance to go to this area and attempt to survey it.”
It’s estimated that coral brought to the surface by trawlers is only a small fraction of what’s destroyed on the seafloor.1
Released by: Minister for Homelessness, Minister for the Hunter, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
The NSW Government is building a safer New South Wales for women and children escaping domestic violence with construction beginning on a new emergency refuge in the Newcastle LGA.
Home in Place has started building the nine-unit Core and Cluster complex that will feature a central hub of on-site support services to help victim-survivors rebuild their lives and heal from trauma. The site will also have a dedicated yarning space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
The NSW Government is investing $8.97 million into the construction, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
The Core and Cluster model promotes independent living by providing a ‘cluster’ of self-contained accommodation located next to a ‘core’ of support including access to counselling, legal assistance, education, and employment support.
The NSW Government has invested $426.6 million over four years in the Core and Cluster program to ensure support for more than an additional 2,900 women and children fleeing domestic and family violence across the state each year.
This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s work to address domestic and family violence in the state from every angle – by investing in primary prevention, early intervention, crisis responses and recovery. Making sure women and children have a safe place to go when they escape abuse is crucial to their recovery and helping them rebuild their lives.
Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:
“Women fleeing abusive relationships need a safe and secure place to rebuild their lives, free from violence and the fear that comes with it.
“Core and Cluster refuges have already made a significant difference giving women and children a secure place to turn to when they need it most.
“With more Core and Cluster refuges underway—including right here in the Newcastle LGA—the NSW Government remains committed to providing women and children with the safety and support they deserve.”
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:
“Having a safe place to stay is a crucial element in helping women and children escape domestic violence and recover.
“We want victim-survivors to know they have somewhere safe to go, with 49 brand new refuges under the Core and Cluster program expected to be operational across the state by 2026. Having services on site also means support is available when they need it most to help them heal, regain their confidence and rebuild their lives.
“This new refuge in the Newcastle LGA is an important addition to the region, as we work towards building a New South Wales free from domestic and family violence.”
Minister for Hunter Yasmin Catley said:
“Domestic and family violence is a huge issue all over NSW, and the Hunter is stepping up to be part of the solution – giving victim-survivors a safe space and a fresh start.
“We know the hardest part of leaving an unsafe situation is taking that first step, so we’re giving victims the confidence that once they’ve made it, the rest is taken care of – with the solutions they need for the journey ahead, right at their fingertips.”
Lyndall Robertshaw, CEO Australia of Home in Place, said:
“With almost four decades of experience in delivering housing projects for people who are most in need in our community, we understand the importance of designing safe spaces that encourage healing and rebuilding.
“Safe, appropriate housing is a fundamental human right. If you are worrying and organising where you or your family will sleep that night, it is very hard to work, study, raise children, take care of your physical or mental health or contribute to your community.”
Support:
If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, call the Police on Triple Zero / 000.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence, call the NSW Domestic Violence Line on 1800 65 64 63 for free counselling and referrals, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For confidential advice, support, and referrals, contact 1800 RESPECT or 13 YARN.
Source: US State of California Department of Justice
Thursday, February 27, 2025
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov
Coalition argues that Nevada law is constitutional and helps increase voter participation
OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a coalition of 17 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in support of a Nevada mail-in ballot law. The mail-in ballot law at issue in Republican National Committee (RNC) v. Burgess permits the counting of absentee ballots postmarked on or by Election Day and received within four days of Election Day. The lower court — the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada — held that the RNC, several Republican organizations, and a Nevada voter lacked standing to bring their claims. The RNC appealed the ruling to the Ninth Circuit. In the amicus brief, the attorneys general underscore that the Nevada statute falls squarely within states’ constitutional authority to regulate elections. Similar to the challenged Nevada statute, California law provides that ballots returned by mail are timely if postmarked by Election Day and received within seven days.
“Yet again, the RNC is attempting to make it harder for Americans to participate in our democracy. It is disappointing, but unsurprising,” said Attorney General Bonta. “My fellow attorneys general and I are proud to support Nevada’s voting rights law. If you lawfully cast your ballot on or by Election Day and meet other state law requirements, you should not have to worry about your vote being tossed out through no fault of your own.”
In the amicus brief, the attorneys general argue that:
A majority of states permit counting at least some mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day and that states’ flexibility to make policy judgments in this area comes from their constitutional authority to regulate effective and efficient elections. Ballot-receipt deadlines can exist and have existed side-by-side with the federal election-day statutes, and Nevada’s and other states’ laws fall neatly into the framework envisioned by the Framers and set out in federal election-day statutes.
Absentee voting has long existed as a way to increase voter participation. It first appeared in America before its founding, became more common during and after the Civil War, and entered the mainstream in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Extending ballot-receipt deadlines has become especially important as more people vote absentee. State laws permitting absentee voting have multiplied in recent years, and so too has voters’ utilization of absentee voting.
As absentee voting increases, laws like Nevada’s play a crucial role in maximizing voter participation. Voting absentee shifts some of the voting process from voting machines to the postal system. Statutes like Nevada’s help mitigate the burdens imposed on mail carriers as a result of that shift. Post offices need several days to deliver ballots in ideal circumstances, and as more voters cast ballots by mail, the post office will only need more time.
Attorney General Bonta also defended before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit a similar Mississippi law that permits absentee ballots to be counted if postmarked by Election Day and received within five days of Election Day. In filing today’s amicus brief, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
BERKELEY, Calif., Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rigetti Computing, Inc. (Nasdaq: RGTI) (“Rigetti” or the “Company”), a pioneer in full-stack quantum-classical computing, today announced that it has entered into a strategic collaboration agreement with Quanta Computer Inc., (“Quanta”, TWSE: 2382.TW) a Taiwan-based Global Fortune 500 company and the global leader of computer server manufacturing, to accelerate the development and commercialization of superconducting quantum computing.
The companies have committed to investing more than $100 million each over the next five years, with both sides focusing on their complementary strengths to develop superconducting quantum computing technologies. In addition, Quanta will invest $35 million and purchase shares of Rigetti, subject to regulatory clearance.
The quantum computing industry is poised to experience rapid growth in the next 5 years, with increasing commercial interest and the market expected to reach $1-2 billion/year by 20301. Of the quantum computing modalities, superconducting qubits are proven to have many advantages over ion trap and neutral atoms, including fast gate speeds and well-established manufacturing techniques from the semiconductor industry.
“Quanta’s investment in Rigetti will strengthen our leadership in this flourishing market. Our companies’ complementary strengths — Rigetti as a pioneer in superconducting quantum technology, with open, modular architecture enabling incorporation of innovative solutions across different parts of the stack easily, and Quanta as the world’s leading notebook/server manufacturer with $43 billion in annual sales — will help to put us at the forefront of the quantum computing industry,” says Dr. Subodh Kulkarni, Rigetti CEO.
1“Quantum Computing On Track to Create Up to $850 Billion of Economic Value By 2040,” BCG, July 18, 2024
About Rigetti Rigetti is a pioneer in full-stack quantum computing. The Company has operated quantum computers over the cloud since 2017 and serves global enterprise, government, and research clients through its Rigetti Quantum Cloud Services platform. In 2021, Rigetti began selling on-premises quantum computing systems with qubit counts between 24 and 84 qubits, supporting national laboratories and quantum computing centers. Rigetti’s 9-qubit Novera QPU was introduced in 2023 supporting a broader R&D community with a high-performance, on-premises QPU designed to plug into a customer’s existing cryogenic and control systems. The Company’s proprietary quantum-classical infrastructure provides high-performance integration with public and private clouds for practical quantum computing. Rigetti has developed the industry’s first multi-chip quantum processor for scalable quantum computing systems. The Company designs and manufactures its chips in-house at Fab-1, the industry’s first dedicated and integrated quantum device manufacturing facility. Learn more at https://www.rigetti.com/.
About Quanta Computer Quanta Computer Inc. is a Fortune Global 500 Company and a leader in worldwide notebook manufacturing, as well as a leading solution provider in cloud computing. Quanta provides innovative products with superior technology in information and communications, consumer electronics, cloud computing, smart home solutions, smart automobile solutions, smart healthcare, and AIoT, etc. Founded in 1988 and listed in TWSE since 1999, Quanta Computer is headquartered in Taiwan with manufacturing and service locations across Asia, Americas, and Europe, etc. FY2024 consolidated revenues for Quanta Computer amounted to US$43 billion with a workforce of approximately 60,000 employees worldwide. For further information, please visit Quanta Computer’s website at www.quantatw.com.
Cautionary Language and Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this communication may be considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements with respect to the Company’s future success and performance, including expectations with respect to timing of the development and commercialization of superconducting quantum computing; the expectation that Rigetti and Quanta will each invest more than $100 million over the next five years; expectations regarding Quanta’s anticipated $35 million investment in the Company through a purchase of the Company’s common stock; anticipated regulatory clearance; expectations regarding the advantages and impact of the strategic collaboration agreement with Quanta Computer on our operations, technology roadmap, milestones, and our position in the industry; anticipated market size of the quantum computing industry over the coming years; and the possibility that superconducting qubits will function better than ion trap and neutral atoms. These forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company and its management, are inherently uncertain. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: the Company’s ability to achieve milestones, technological advancements, including with respect to its technology roadmap; the ability of the Company to obtain government contracts successfully and in a timely manner and the availability of government funding; the potential of quantum computing; the success of the Company’s partnerships and collaborations, including the strategic collaboration with Quanta Computer; the Company’s ability to accelerate its development of multiple generations of quantum processors; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Company or others; the ability to maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and attract and retain management and key employees; costs related to operating as a public company; changes in applicable laws or regulations; the possibility that the Company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, or competitive factors; the Company’s estimates of expenses and profitability; the evolution of the markets in which the Company competes; the ability of the Company to implement its strategic initiatives and expansion plans; the expected use of proceeds from the Company’s past and future financings or other capital; the sufficiency of the Company’s cash resources; unfavorable conditions in the Company’s industry, the global economy or global supply chain, including rising inflation and interest rates, deteriorating international trade relations, political turmoil, natural catastrophes, warfare and terrorist attacks; and other risks and uncertainties set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, and other documents filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and the Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements other than as required by applicable law. The Company does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stefan Korber, Senior Lecturer in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
It might have surprised some people when the United Nations made 2025 the International Year of Cooperatives and praised the “significant role cooperatives play in advancing the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals”.
Because cooperatives certainly have their critics. Economically, cooperative principles such as democratic ownership and governance are sometimes linked to inefficiency, low competitiveness and conservative decision-making.
Environmentally, agricultural cooperatives can be portrayed as ecologically suspect and immune to effective regulation. New Zealand’s cooperative dairy giant Fonterra, for example, has been labelled “New Zealand’s worst climate polluter” by Greenpeace due to the methane emissions and effluent its cows produce.
Obviously there is a major political dimension to that argument. But our recent research suggests agricultural cooperatives can also play a positive role when it comes to sustainable development – precisely because of their inherently diverse and democratic structure.
Cooperatives are basically associations of individuals or businesses who voluntarily join to meet common economic, social or cultural needs. Jointly owned and democratically controlled, their profits are distributed among members rather than external shareholders.
We interviewed individuals – from farmers to top-level managers and directors – in three New Zealand agricultural cooperatives. We wanted to shed more light on how their model can work to address one of the most pressing challenges New Zealand faces: sustainable land and water use.
Spreading innovative ideas
The three horticultural and dairy co-ops in our study collectively employ around 800 staff and are part of important value chains that connect New Zealand farmers to foreign markets. Industry experts described them as especially innovative in tackling sustainability challenges.
For decades, industrialised agriculture has exacerbated land degradation by draining natural aquifers for farming, polluting land and water with effluent runoff, and creating food safety concerns about chemical residues.
However, the co-ops in our study have developed methods and approaches to respond to these problems by enabling collaboration between members and external stakeholders. They also leverage some good old “number 8 wire” thinking from their farmers.
First, organised workshops enable members to learn about the latest policy requirements and how customer expectations are changing. Instead of presenting ready-made solutions, the cooperatives support their farmers to experiment with novel ideas in response to identified problems.
Motivated by increased awareness of ecological issues, some farmers came up with pioneering solutions, such as novel effluent systems, that made a positive environmental impact and saved money.
Because of their networked structure, cooperatives can help innovative ideas spread rapidly across the broader membership. Farmers take pivotal roles, acting as champions and “thought leaders” to promote new ideas on roadshows and at field days.
Networked learning: farmers become ‘thought leaders’ within cooperatives, spreading knowledge and innovative ideas. Shutterstock
Building collaboration and trust
Secondly, our co-ops ensured solutions developed on the farm held up to scientific scrutiny. They established working groups where researchers from public research institutes collaborated with farmers to develop solutions that worked for everyone.
The most promising ideas even receive funding to conduct on-farm trials to test their real-world application, and that they meet the practical requirements of farmers.
Explaining why getting farmers and scientists in the same room was vital, one cooperative manager told us:
A lot of farmers often see science as purely academic and not practical. So, giving the farmers a say in that whole process is vital. You’ve got to instil that trust […] that’s when you are getting results.
Third, the cooperatives codify novel agricultural methods into best-practice guidelines and audit them regularly. By combining these efforts, cooperatives can achieve widespread acceptance of new farming practices that are scientifically validated but also practical.
Power in the collective
Ultimately, our findings show large-scale sustainable transformation rests on finding ways to orchestrate the efforts of many individuals and organisations towards a common goal.
To be sure, we are not saying some cooperatives and their members don’t also contribute to climate change. But we are suggesting they can play a more positive and proactive role than typically assumed.
A lot of attention these days is paid to investor-owned, multinational corporations that seek to tackle complex challenges with technical solutions. Similarly, small-scale “ecopreneurial” initiatives that make a difference locally often find media and public favour.
But it’s questionable whether single organisations, small or large, can galvanise the large-scale changes contemporary challenges demand.
Cooperatives, on the other hand, are inherently diverse. They can represent the interests of local communities better than organisations controlled by often distant shareholders.
As such, they are ideally placed to coordinate and facilitate the collaborative solutions needed to develop and implement sustainable transformation.
The author acknowledges his colleagues in this research project: Lisa Callagher (University of Auckland), Frank Siedlok (University of St Andrews) and Ziad Elsahn (Lancaster University).
Stefan Korber does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
As Alberta continues work to address increasing domestic and international economic pressures, Budget 2025 works to strengthen Alberta’s economy. This budget helps build communities, secure Alberta’s southern border and boost investments in the province’s economic future.
“While we work closely with partners to find solutions to a possible trade conflict, we will continue our work to make sure Alberta’s economy is strong – in and outside of the energy sector – so that we can manage any turbulence that comes our way. Budget 2025 carves our path forward in the face of this uncertainty.”
Budget 2025: Supporting a strong workforce
Alberta’s workforce is the backbone of the provincial economy. Budget 2025 continues the commitment to training and developing a skilled and resilient labour force to further grow Alberta’s economy and help businesses succeed, including:
$26.1 billion over three years from the Capital Plan, to support about 26,500 direct and 12,000 indirect jobs each year through 2027-28.
$135 million for skilled trade programs such as apprenticeship and adult learning initiatives to help Albertans gain the skills and training needed for successful careers, and support access to job opportunities.
$2 billion in 2025-26 to support and expand early learning and child-care system so parents and caregivers can participate in training, education or work opportunities.
Budget 2025: Securing our borders
Alberta’s government is committed to being a good neighbour and trading partner, and part of this commitment involves taking measures to secure the Alberta-US border. Budget 2025 includes $29 million in 2025-26 for a new Interdiction Patrol Team within the Alberta Sheriffs to tackle illegal drug and gun smuggling, human trafficking, apprehension of persons attempting to cross the border illegally, and other illegal activities along Alberta’s international land border. Budget 2025 also includes a $15 million investment over two years for three new vehicle inspection stations located near borders to the USA.
Budget 2025: Investing in post-secondary education
Budget 2025 invests a total of $7.4 billion in post-secondary education, with an operating budget of $6.6 billion in 2025-26. This includes:
$78 million per year over the next three years to create more seats in apprenticeship classes across the province to build skilled trades and apprenticeship education that will respond to the needs of industry, support the economy and connect Albertans with jobs.
$113 million to support greater demand for scholarships and the Alberta Student Grant, with $60 million funded from the Alberta Heritage Scholarship Fund.
$4 million to the First Nations Colleges Grant which is distributed equally across five colleges in rural and remote Indigenous communities.
“Our government is ensuring that Alberta students have the skills and training they need to meet the needs of today while preparing for the economy of the future. Budget 2025 makes foundational investments to meet the challenge of a rapidly growing population while supporting a sustainable post-secondary education system.”
Budget 2025: Building communities
Alberta’s vibrant communities make Alberta the best place in Canada to live, work and raise a family. Budget 2025 invests in stronger communities across Alberta, including:
$17.2 million to increase grants made to municipalities in lieu of property taxes on government-owned property to 75 per cent, up from the current 50 per cent. By next year, the province will cover 100 per cent of the amount that would be paid if the property was taxable.
$820 million this year and $2.5 billion over three years in Local Government Fiscal Framework capital funding to help fund local infrastructure priorities.
Budget 2025: Supporting trade and diversification
Alberta continues to champion economic growth and policies that support productivity. Through Budget 2025, Alberta’s government will continue to build on current successes through:
Attracting more investment through low corporate income taxes. At eight per cent, Alberta’s corporate income tax rate is 30 per cent lower than the next lowest province.
Providing greater incentive for small- and medium-sized firms that increase their spending on research and development, with Alberta’s Innovation Employment Grant.
Promoting Alberta as a reliable partner in supporting North American and global energy security to investors. The province will optimize new and existing infrastructure to access new markets for Alberta’s energy and mineral resources.
Supporting Alberta’s agriculture producers and value-added processors, addressing barriers to trade by cultivating export markets, and working to increase market access for Alberta products.
Reinforcing Alberta as a critical contributor to North American energy security by continuing to advocate for our remarkable energy sector across Canada, the U.S., Germany, Japan and the rest of the world.
Budget 2025: Investing in business and industry
Budget 2025 continues to find ways to help Alberta’s economy grow through investments in business and industry and help our economy grow, including:
Support to attract investment in Alberta’s energy and mineral resource sector to accelerate opportunities in emerging resources.
$45 million over three years for the Investment and Growth Fund to attract investment into Alberta’s economy.
$1.8 million in Western Crop Innovations for industry-leading crop research.
$780,000 to support small- and medium-sized meat processors.
$3.1 million for the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine to expand toward a full-service veterinary diagnostic laboratory. This will give livestock producers and vets access to quicker, more affordable livestock diagnostics closer to home.
“Budget 2025 builds a stronger Alberta by growing industries, creating high-quality jobs and expanding opportunities for workers and families. With strategic investments in innovation, infrastructure and workforce development, Alberta is rising to the challenge, strengthening our province for many years to come.”
“We are advancing cutting-edge research in agriculture and supporting small and medium-sized businesses. Additionally, we are strengthening our agricultural infrastructure, ensuring quicker and more affordable services for livestock producers and veterinarians. We’re supporting innovation, attracting investment, and building a resilient economy for the future.”
Budget 2025 is meeting the challenge faced by Alberta with continued investments in education and health, lower taxes for families and a focus on the economy.
Related information
Budget 2025
Related news
Budget 2025: Meeting the challenge (Feb 27, 2025)
Budget 2025: Meeting the challenge in health and education (Feb 27, 2025)
This weekend, Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) continues to trumpet its now annual pilgrimage to open its season in Las Vegas.
While it’s only the second year of a five-year arrangement, the NRL claims its Vegas experiment has been a great success at a time when the league has been in excellent health on and off the field.
But why is the Australian league hosting games in Las Vegas? And has this experiment paid dividends?
The NRL has made the bold decision to play games at Las Vegas.
The NRL’s Vegas play
There are a few reasons behind the NRL’s Vegas venture, with money at the heart of it.
It’s partly about future TV revenue and trying to grab a slice of the US sports gambling market.
And then there’s sponsors – it’s allowed the NRL to fish in the larger US pond in terms of corporate involvement in the game.
According to NRL CEO Andrew Abdo:
Outside of the benefit we get here domestically, in America we’ve now got sponsors that are incremental. We would not have had these sponsors had we not been growing in America. We’ve got a successful travel experience for fans, and we’ve got incremental subscriptions on Watch NRL, so you’ve got real revenue coming in which allows to us to now invest in expansion, and invest in a better product here.
The move is also part of a grand vision to grow the game internationally.
There may also be some football diplomacy at play. For example, some Sharks players visited the Los Angles firefighters who fought the recent wildfires for some lessons on leadership and crisis management.
What happened last year?
The Vegas venture started a year ago with the Sydney Roosters playing the Brisbane Broncos and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles playing the South Sydney Rabbitohs in a groundbreaking double-header.
These matches were the first NRL regular season games held outside Australia and New Zealand.
The crowd at Allegiant Stadium, which holds 65,000 fans, surpassed all expectations, with 40,746 turning up when about 25,000 were expected.
According to Steve Hill, CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, more than 14,000 fans flew from Australia for the games and many Aussie expats living in the US also made the trip.
In terms of TV audiences in Australia, the experiment was a big hit.
The Manly-South Sydney clash was the most-watched NRL game ever on Fox Sports, with 838,000 fans tuning in. The Roosters-Broncos contest drew a Fox Sports audience of 786,000.
There was a lot of success in Vegas last year that we didn’t even plan, and for me that was record viewership in Australia and […] record attendances at pubs and clubs.
Stateside reaction
Of course a lot of Aussies tuned in, but how about US viewers?
Around 61,000 tuned into Manly-South Sydney while 44,000 watched the Roosters and Broncos, which is well below the threshold of 100,000 viewers for profitable sports broadcasting, according to TV ratings experts Sports Media Watch in the US.
The NRL set up fan zones and other activities in the build-up to the games in Las Vegas to attract US fans and entertain the visting Aussie tourists.
This year there will be even more on offer: there are four games instead of two, with the NRL bringing over the Canberra Raiders and the New Zealand Warriors, and reigning four-time premiers the Penrith Panthers and the Cronulla Sharks.
In addition, there’s an English Super League game, with the Wigan Warriors taking on Warrington Wolves, as well as an Australia-England women’s Test match.
Is it worth it?
So, has it been worth all the expense for the NRL?
According to V’Landys, the competition’s bottom line has been largely unaffected despite the significant costs of the games:
This year there’s a possibility that we’ll actually return a profit on Vegas and if not, it’ll be a small loss.
But he’s not leaving anything to chance. In fact, in a televised plea on US TV show Fox and Friends, V’Landys invited President Donald Trump to attend the game.
Will the president attend? Unlike a major US event like the Superbowl, where Trump was the first sitting president to attend, there’s not a big domestic constituency for rugby league, so chances are he won’t join the revelry in Vegas.
But it sounds like the NRL, on current projections, won’t need him.
With the introduction of a new team in PNG in 2028 and a possible 19th outfit in Perth soon after, the NRL has showcased an impressive vision to take the game into new markets.
Even if a tiny proportion of the US market jumps on board rugby league, it can only help take the game closer to to its goal of being the undisputed number one sport in Australia.
Tim Harcourt does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today reintroduced the bipartisan Invest to Protect Act to increase local law enforcement’s access to training, mental health support, and recruitment and retention resources.
“Law enforcement in Iowa and across the nation are struggling with low recruitment and retention rates,” Grassley said. “Our bipartisan bill would unlock access to critical resources, allowing local law enforcement to grow and strengthen their forces. As always, I’m proud to back the blue and will continue to protect and support our courageous officers.”
“Nevada’s small police departments deserve more access to critical funding to keep communities safe,” Cortez Masto said. “I’ll always stand up for our law enforcement, and this bipartisan bill is simple – it gets our police in rural, suburban and Tribal communities the resources they need.”
Additional cosponsors include Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.).
The Invest to Protect Act is endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the National Association of Police Organizations, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the Peace Officers Research Association of California, the National Criminal Justice Association, the National Troopers Coalition, the Sergeants Benevolent Association, the National Tactical Officers Coalition, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the United Coalition of Public Safety, the National League of Cities, the National Association of Counties, the New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police, the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association, the New Jersey State Troopers Fraternal Association, the Port Authority PBA, the NJ State Troopers Non-Commissioned Officers Association and the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers.
Download bill text HERE.
Background:
Most police departments in the U.S. employ fewer than 200 full-time officers. In Iowa and across the country, these departments struggle to compete with larger law enforcement agencies for access to critical resources.
The Invest to Protect Act establishes a grant program through Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), setting aside $250 million to help local law enforcement agencies invest in their officers and communities. The bill also simplifies the grant application process to boost small agencies’ access to funding.
Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is welcoming Argentine President Javier Milei’s commitment to support Grassley’s ongoing investigation into Credit Suisse and its historic servicing of Nazi-linked accounts. This includes providing archival records documenting the use of Nazi “ratlines.” Ratlines were monetary and logistic pathways Nazis used to escape justice and flee to Latin America, including Argentina, following World War II.
“In order to continue this work, I respectfully request possession of Argentina’s archival records relating to Nazi ratlines. This includes records dating to the time before, during, and following World War II that will help shed light on the planning and carrying out of the Nazi ratlines. The great people of Argentina’s support in helping the Senate Judiciary Committee obtain possession would assist the committee in advancing its corresponding oversight of this matter,” Grassley wrote to Milei.
Grassley will chair a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing next week focused on stemming the tide of antisemitism.
Read additional background from the Times of Israel.
Argentine president opening files on Nazi ‘ratlines’ that trafficked Eichmann, Mengele
By Matt Lebovic
February 24, 2025
Argentinian President Javier Milei promised officials of the Simon Wiesenthal Center his full cooperation in granting access to documents related to the financing of so-called “ratlines” that helped Nazis escape Europe after the Holocaust. The promise was made in Buenos Aires at the presidential palace, Casa Rosada, during a meeting with Milei and activists on Tuesday.
For decades, organizations including the Simon Wiesenthal Center, named after the famed Nazi hunter, have sought records related to unofficial escape routes taken by thousands of Nazis during the years after World War II. Up to 10,000 Nazis and other fascist war criminals escaped justice by fleeing to Argentina and other countries.
“While some previous leaders promised full cooperation to get to the hard truths that involved Argentina’s past, Milei is the first to act with lightning speed to enable the SWC to uncover important pieces of the historic puzzle, especially as it related to involvement with Nazis before, during and after the Holocaust,” Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, told The Times of Israel.
…
During the SWC meeting on Tuesday, Jonathan Missner, managing partner at Stein, Mitchell, Beato & Missner, brought a letter from US Senator Charles Grassley, chairman of the US Senate Judiciary Committee. The letter — which was handed to Milei — requested the Argentinian leader’s assistance in uncovering how the ratlines were organized and funded. A copy of the letter was sent to US President Donald Trump.
…
Nazis’ escape routes
Several countries in the Americas received Nazis, including Canada, the US, and Mexico. Nazis also fled to Australia, Spain, and Switzerland. In some cases, US intelligence officials used ratlines to pluck top Nazi scientists away from Soviet orbits.
One of two primary escape routes went through Germany and Spain, then across the Atlantic to Argentina…
Up to 5,000 Nazis are said to have settled in Argentina, including Holocaust “architect” Adolf Eichmann and Josef Mengele, one of the most recognizable — and wanted — Nazis. Traveling along a ratline in 1948, the notorious Auschwitz physician used the new identity of Helmut Gregor when fleeing Europe.
“These files will be instrumental in obtaining justice, which is instrumental to honoring the memory of those who suffered and died in the Holocaust,” said Cooper. “Especially in a post-October 7 world, those who financed, facilitated, or otherwise assisted these ratlines must be held accountable,” he said.
…
“Words are one thing — actions are another. President Milei’s historic decision signals his unequivocal allyship with the Jewish community while reinforcing his commitment to accountability and transparency at home,” Missner told The Times of Israel.
Support for harboring Nazi war criminals went right to the top in Argentina, according to historians. President Juan Peron was angered by the Nuremberg Trials and authorized key facets of the escape routes, making them a state affair. In addition to German Nazis, the Peron regime and other South American governments aided war criminals from Hungary, Croatia and elsewhere.
“President Milei is a staunch ally of the global Jewish community and was eager to open these archives. He knows that confronting Argentina’s history of Nazi collaboration requires nothing less than full transparency, and the same principle undergirds his pursuit of justice for the AMIA bombing,” said Missner.
The world’s largest annual mining conference will provide a platform to showcase to the international community the progress the Coalition Government is making to get the sector to work, Resources Minister Shane Jones says
Mr Jones is travelling tomorrow to the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada conference in Toronto. The annual conference draws 30,000 attendees from 135 countries and is covered by around 400 accredited media companies.
“This is where the global resources sector gets business done and it will be the first time for more than 10 years a New Zealand government minister will be there putting the case for investing in our country,” Mr Jones says
“During the past year the Coalition Government has delivered for the resources sector. This major conference is our best opportunity yet to tell the international mining and investment community that New Zealand is moving from being ‘open for business’ to ‘doing business’ – and is ready for investment.
“Our recently launched Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List clearly articulates what we have to offer and how the international community can invest. More investment in our minerals sector means more high-paying regional jobs, regional revenue and growth for our economy.
“Participating in the Mines Minister Summit during the world’s biggest mining conference will provide an unrivalled opportunity to speak directly to the industry and investors about our transformative vision for the resources sector.
“I will also be meeting industry CEOs, investment firms and ministerial counterparts to highlight how our fast-track legislation and our vision for the resources sector provides a golden opportunity for investment while delivering prosperity for New Zealanders.
“I look forward to speaking to the world as we work towards our goal of doubling mineral exports to NZ$3 billion by 2035,” Mr Jones says.
The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP Minister for Social Services Minister for National Disability Insurance Scheme
Senator Deborah O’Neill Senator for New South Wales
The Albanese Labor Government is addressing rates of domestic and family violence, investing $2.86 million to set up two new Men’s Wellness Centres in regional New South Wales.
Two local Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations will design and deliver Men’s Wellness Centres for their local communities, providing culturally appropriate programs and activities for First Nations men to improve their wellbeing and to prevent violence.
Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service Limited will receive $860,000 to establish a culturally sensitive and safe space for First Nations men in Walgett to address social isolation, promote mental health, preserve cultural knowledge, and foster community resilience. The centre will also have a dedicated space for health checks.
Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service Limited will receive $2 million to support men through one-on-one and group sessions on alcohol and other drug support, parental support, counselling and therapy, health and legal education, suicide awareness training and education, domestic family violence support.
This funding is part of a $41.4 million Government investment under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan 2023-2025 to develop 13 Men’s Wellness Centres for First Nations peoples around Australia.
Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth said the Government is driving change to combat gender-based violence – including working directly with men.
“Through these new Men’s Wellness Centres, we are boosting the services available for First Nations men, so they have the tools and opportunities to create healthier behaviours and stronger, safer communities,” Minister Rishworth said.
“Importantly, these new programs are led by the First Nations community, for the First Nations community, to provide culturally safe and connected support.”
Senator for New South Wales Deborah O’Neill said the Men’s Wellness Centres will provide First Nations men with the culturally safe support they need to build healthier, stronger communities.
“The Albanese Labor Government is taking real action to address domestic and family violence with this $2.86 million investment in Men’s Wellness Centres for regional NSW,” Senator O’Neill said.
“This investment by the Albanese Labor Government demonstrates our commitment to community-led solutions and violence prevention – giving men the tools, support, and space to break cycles of violence, strengthen their mental health, and stay connected to culture and community.”
The initiative will also help progress Target 13 under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap 2020-2030, which aims to reduce all forms of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children by at least 50 per cent by 2031.
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence, call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit www.1800respect.org.au for online chat and video call services.
Available 24/7: call, text, or online chat
Mon-Fri, 9am-midnight AEST (except national public holidays): video call (no appointment needed)
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit www.ntv.org.au
Feeling worried or no good? Connect with 13YARN Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporters on 13 92 76, available 24/7 from any mobile or pay phone, or visit www.13yarn.org.au No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn.
Headline: Secretary Dev Sangvai Visits Western North Carolina
Secretary Dev Sangvai Visits Western North Carolina jwerner
North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai traveled to western North Carolina this week to meet with health care and social services partners to learn more about the status of Hurricane Helene recovery efforts and discuss the impacts of staffing shortages and other challenges they face. Together, we are committed to recovery efforts and supporting staff as we continue to create a healthier North Carolina for all.
Black Mountain Neuro-Medical Treatment Center
Secretary Sangvai began the first day of his trip on Tuesday, Feb. 25, in Buncombe County for a site visit and informational meeting with staff at the Black Mountain Neuro-Medical Treatment Center (BMNTC), one of three state-operated facilities in North Carolina that serves adults with chronic and complex medical conditions that co-exist with neurodevelopmental and/or neurocognitive disorders and/or a diagnosis of severe and persistent mental illness.
Secretary Sangvai was led on a tour of the facility, including one of the residential units, to learn more about the quality care received by patients both during and after Hurricane Helene. He also visited the third floor of the Gravely Wing at BMNTC to assess the status of renovations that were planned prior to Helene and are estimated to be completed by July 2025.
Secretary Sangvai met with the BMNTC Executive Committee to discuss the successes and areas of concern among staff members. The facility has largely recovered from the devastation left by Hurricane Helene, returning to normal operations with all evacuated residents returning to BMNTC. Employees shared concerns regarding staffing shortages as well as recruitment and retention challenges, particularly in nursing positions. BMNTC has ramped up recruitment efforts this quarter as unemployment in the region has spiked due to business closures in the wake of Helene.
NCDHHS Secretary Dev Sangvai and Chief Deputy Secretary for Operational Excellence Dr. ClarLynda Williams-Devane travel to western North Carolina to meet with health care and social services partners.
Julian F. Keith Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center
Following the visit to BMNTC, Secretary Sangvai continued his travels through Black Mountain to the Julian F. Keith Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center (JFK). There, he met with staff to learn more about the facility and services offered as well as the status of recovery efforts. He also went on a tour to get a more comprehensive look at the various services JFK staff provide their patients.
Secretary Sangvai heard from JFK staff about their continued work to recover from the effects of Hurricane Helene, all while battling staffing shortages, closures to the facility and increased mental health challenge among the community they serve. JFK staff cared for and assisted in the evacuation of patients during Hurricane Helene, standing up a detox unit at Broughton Hospital to provide a place of respite for those unable to seek care at JFK. A huge win for JFK staff recently came in the form of the treatment center reopening their kitchen after a seven-month long closure .
“I am so grateful for the work being done at our facilities as recovery continues from the devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene,” said Secretary Sangvai. “These teams have worked tirelessly to provide life-changing care. This commitment matches what I have seen across the department, as we work to improve access to care and ensure people receive the care they need no matter where they live or how much money they make.”
Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority
On Wednesday, Feb. 26, Secretary Sangvai traveled to Cherokee, NC, to meet with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA). EBCI has contracted with NCDHHS to participate in NC Medicaid, thereby providing access to Medicaid managed care services for federally recognized Tribal Members and other individuals eligible to receive Indian Health Services. Through this partnership with NCDHHS, EBCI is the first Tribal-led Medicaid managed care entity in the country, aligning Medicaid services with Tribal health priorities and providing care for enrolled EBCI members.
During his visit, Secretary Sangvai learned about the status of NCDHHS and CIHA’s multiple partnerships, including the development of a Child Crisis Stabilization Unit on the Qualla Boundary, the location of CIHA’s main hospital. The new unit will provide emergency mental health stabilization services for youth experiencing an acute psychiatric crisis. A revolutionary care model for western North Carolina, the unit will serve both tribal and non-tribal youth, ensuring that all children in the region have access to these critical resources.
Secretary Sangvai saw first-hand during his trip that CIHA has also been battling recruitment difficulties, struggling to address rural health care workforce shortages and retention issues. Despite these challenges, CIHA is a pillar of health care excellence for the EBCI, working diligently to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care that honors and integrates the rich heritage of Cherokee culture.
Broughton Hospital
Later in the day, Secretary Sangvai visited Broughton Hospital, one of three psychiatric hospitals operated by the NCDHHS Division of State Operated Healthcare Facilities, to tour the facility and learn more about the hospital’s priorities as western North Carolina moves forward from Hurricane Helene. He spoke with staff as he toured the patient care center, gym, chapel and treatment mall.
Broughton staff emphasized their struggles to recruit and retain staff with a high number of vacancies in full-time positions at the facility. These staffing shortages directly impact the hospital’s ability to serve more patients, limiting the number of beds that can be filled and increasing wait times prospective patients may face before receiving care. Hospitals are growing increasingly reliant on temporary employees, especially for nursing and medical staff, due in part to salaries that struggle to compete with others on the job market.
“The staff at our state operated psychiatric hospitals work incredibly hard to provide critical support to their patients every day,” Secretary Sangvai said. “I will continue to advocate for the resilient staff that serve our state and support NCDHHS’ efforts to strengthen the health care workforce in order to improve capacity limitations, so more patients are able to quickly access needed care.”
J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center
On Thursday morning, Feb. 26, Secretary Sangvai traveled to Burke County, making his first stop at J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center (JIRDC), one of three State Developmental Centers which provides services and support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), complex behavioral challenges and/or medical conditions whose clinical treatment needs exceed the supports currently available in the community. He toured JIRDC, making a visit to one of the homes at the facility to greet staff and residents.
Facility leadership voiced concerns regarding recruitment, including filling key positions at JIRDC. Despite recent measures taken to increase Direct Support Professionals and Registered Nurses salaries, JIRDC still struggles from a 23% vacancy rate, impacting staff’s ability to serve more patients.
In addition to staff’s efforts to recover from Hurricane Helene, JIRDC housed approximately one-third of BMNTC residents during local infrastructure repairs. As many employees face burnout amidst an unprecedented crisis, Secretary Sangvai pledged to continue to prioritize the well-being of the health care workforce in North Carolina and to ensure the sustainability and functionality of state operated healthcare facilities for patients and staff.
Burke County DSS
The Secretary then traveled to the Burke County Department of Social Services, where he toured facilities and met with local social services staff. Staff at Burke County DSS worked to quickly respond to issues as Hurricane Helene hit their community. Their team had to navigate a total loss of communications systems, staffing shortages, burnout and the increased stress of managing a large-scale recovery operation in the wake of the storm. Today, Burke County DSS has fortunately largely returned to “normal” operations. This is partially because as a county on the eastern edge of Helene’s path, Burke County saw fewer individuals permanently displaced than some other counties impacted by the storm.
Secretary Sangvai spoke with Burke County DSS Director Korey Fisher-Wellman to form a better understanding of the issues facing their office and other county DSS offices across the state. The Secretary reinforced NCDHHS’ ongoing commitment to support recovery efforts as western North Carolina continues to recover and rebuild.
Blue Ridge Regional Hospital
Secretary Sangvai concluded his trip on Thursday at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital, which has served as a Critical Access Hospital for the people of western North Carolina since 1955. The Secretary was joined by CEO and Chief Nurse Tonia Hale, and the Vice President of Government Relations for HCA Healthcare Lori Kroll , for a tour of the hospital and a presentation on workforce development and Hurricane Helene recovery. The team highlighted the hospital’s efforts to bounce back from the hurricane, and Secretary Sangvai shared NCDHHS’ commitment to work with hospitals across the state to address the impacts of staffing shortages and support recruitment and retention efforts.
Please see more photos from Secretary Sangvai’s visit.
As concerns continue to emerge over China’s “unusual” naval exercises in the Tasman Sea, raising eyebrows from New Zealand and Australia, the Cook Islands government was questioned for an update in Parliament.
This follows the newly established bilateral relations between the Cook Islands and China through a five-year agreement and Prime Minister Mark Brown’s accusations of the New Zealand media and experts looking down on the Cook Islands.
A Chinese Navy convoy held two live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand on Friday and Saturday, prompting passenger planes to change course mid-flight and pressuring officials in both countries.
Akaoa MP Robert Heather queried the Prime Minister whether the government had spoken to Chinese embassy officials in New Zealand for a response in this breach of Australian waters?
“One thing I do know is that just in the recent weeks, New Zealand navy was part of an exercise with the Australians and Americans conducting naval exercises in the South China Sea and perhaps that’s why China decided to exercise naval exercises in the international waters off the coast of Australia,” he said.
“And I also know that in the last two weeks, the government of Australia and China signed a security treaty between the two countries.
“However in due course, we may be informed more about these naval exercises that these countries conduct in international waters off each other’s coasts.”
According to Brown, he had not been briefed by any government whether it’s New Zealand, Australia, or China about these developments.
Asking for an update He added that while the Minister of Foreign Affairs Elikana was currently in the Solomon Islands attending a forum on fisheries together with other ministers of the Pacific Region, he would ask him about whether he could make any inquiries to find out whether the government could be updated or briefed on this issue.
Meanwhile, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said after a meeting with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing, that lack of sufficient warning from China about the live-fire exercises was a “failure” in the New Zealand-China relationship.
A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defence, Wu Qian explained that China’s actions were entirely in accordance with international law and established practices and would not impact on aviation safety.
He added that the live-fire training was conducted with repeated safety notices that had been issued in advance.
Fifty-eight projects will share over $29 million in grant funding to improve road safety thanks to the Albanese Government’s National Road Safety Action Grants Program.
Grants of between $20,000 and $1.5 million have been awarded to non-infrastructure road safety projects focused on expanding new road safety technology, research and education.
Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Senator Anthony Chisholm will visit the team working on UNSW’s VRStreetLab project today, who are set to use their grant funding allocation of $233,965 to evaluate cyclist behaviour through a Virtual Reality (VR) Street Simulator.
Promoting road safety in First Nations communities has also been prioritised through the Program, with nearly $1.3 million allocated to the Katherine West Health Board Aboriginal Corporation in the Northern Territory to reduce road trauma through awareness programs and educational technology.
The National Road Safety Action Grants Program has already provided funding toward 23 non-infrastructure road safety projects, through its previous round, by prioritising five key areas critical to reducing deaths and serious injuries on Australian roads:
Vulnerable Road Users
Community Education and Awareness
First Nations Road Safety
Technology and Innovation
Research and Data.
More information on the National Road Safety Action Grants Program, including a full list of successful projects awarded under the First Nations Road Safety, Technology and Innovation, and Research and Data streams can be found here.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Anthony Chisholm:
“Keeping people safe on our roads is a critical priority of our government, which is why we’re rolling out this much-needed funding to support projects that will make a real difference in changing the way we think about road safety.
“This funding backs road safety education and research to develop new technologies, like airbag helmets and new collision avoidance technology, to keep Australians safe on our roads.
“We’re also supporting new research to fill gaps in our understanding of how to drive safely, including how to prevent risky driver behaviour and how much sleep you need in order to drive safely.
“Everyone has a role to play when it comes to road safety, and by working together to deliver projects like these, we can support better road safety outcomes for Australia.”
Quotes attributable to the Director of the Research Centre for Integrated Transport Innovation (rCITI) at UNSW Sydney, Professor Taha Hossein Rashidi:
“Improving road safety is crucial to reduce injuries and save lives.
“VRStreetLab is a novel VR transport simulator that tests smart cycling infrastructure and safety measures to make our streets safer.
“Our technology allows us to better understand how cyclists interact with safety interventions like smart sensor traffic lights, collision warning systems and digital signage with real-time updates in a fully immersive simulated environment.
“The benefit is a rapid, cost-effective platform to evaluate the impact of safety measures to inform transport policy before large-scale investment.
“The funding will fully support our efforts to begin this innovative transport research and improve safety for everyone on the road with massive potential for further research initiatives upon completion of this project.”
Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development
The Australian Government is building Australia’s future on the New South Wales Central Coast by delivering $15 million over two years to plan for better and safer road connections in Empire Bay.
The Empire Bay Drive Intersection Strategy – Planning project will deliver a strategy to upgrade intersections servicing Empire Bay and surrounding communities.
This will include consideration of the intersection of Empire Bay Drive and Wards Hill Road.
The Empire Bay Drive and Wards Hill Road intersection is used by thousands of motorists each day and is an important transport connection to Empire Bay Public School, as well as access to the Bouddi National Park.
These vital planning works will have a road safety focus and deliver a business case for future upgrades.
The Australian Government is investing $21 billion towards transport infrastructure projects in NSW.
“This important investment in local roads will help people get home sooner and safer.
“It’s all about making our roads safer and our communities more accessible.
“The Central Coast makes a big contribution to our country and this project will boost both the local community and our national economy.”
Quotes attributable to Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:
“We want to ensure that both locals and tourists on the Central Coast can get where they need go efficiently and safely.
“These planning works will be the first critical step in guiding our future investments in Empire Bay Drive and the surrounding intersections.”
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Robertson Gordon Reid:
“These crucial planning works will support decision making on future priority upgrades to improve the safety and connectivity of key roads and intersections in Empire Bay and surrounding communities.
This funding from the Australian Government would not have been possible without the support of almost a thousand local residents who signed our petition to get this intersection fixed.
Thank you to the local community as well as local businesses who ensured this petition was a success.”
Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development
Fifty-eight projects will share over $29 million in grant funding to improve road safety thanks to the Albanese Government’s National Road Safety Action Grants Program.
Grants of between $20,000 and $1.5 million have been awarded to non-infrastructure road safety projects focused on expanding new road safety technology, research and education.
Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Senator Anthony Chisholm will visit the team working on UNSW’s VRStreetLab project today, who are set to use their grant funding allocation of $233,965 to evaluate cyclist behaviour through a Virtual Reality (VR) Street Simulator.
Promoting road safety in First Nations communities has also been prioritised through the Program, with nearly $1.3 million allocated to the Katherine West Health Board Aboriginal Corporation in the Northern Territory to reduce road trauma through awareness programs and educational technology.
The National Road Safety Action Grants Program has already provided funding toward 23 non-infrastructure road safety projects, through its previous round, by prioritising five key areas critical to reducing deaths and serious injuries on Australian roads:
Vulnerable Road Users
Community Education and Awareness
First Nations Road Safety
Technology and Innovation
Research and Data.
More information on the National Road Safety Action Grants Program, including a full list of successful projects awarded under the First Nations Road Safety, Technology and Innovation, and Research and Data streams can be found here.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Anthony Chisholm:
“Keeping people safe on our roads is a critical priority of our government, which is why we’re rolling out this much-needed funding to support projects that will make a real difference in changing the way we think about road safety.
“This funding backs road safety education and research to develop new technologies, like airbag helmets and new collision avoidance technology, to keep Australians safe on our roads.
“We’re also supporting new research to fill gaps in our understanding of how to drive safely, including how to prevent risky driver behaviour and how much sleep you need in order to drive safely.
“Everyone has a role to play when it comes to road safety, and by working together to deliver projects like these, we can support better road safety outcomes for Australia.”
Quotes attributable to the Director of the Research Centre for Integrated Transport Innovation (rCITI) at UNSW Sydney, Professor Taha Hossein Rashidi:
“Improving road safety is crucial to reduce injuries and save lives.
“VRStreetLab is a novel VR transport simulator that tests smart cycling infrastructure and safety measures to make our streets safer.
“Our technology allows us to better understand how cyclists interact with safety interventions like smart sensor traffic lights, collision warning systems and digital signage with real-time updates in a fully immersive simulated environment.
“The benefit is a rapid, cost-effective platform to evaluate the impact of safety measures to inform transport policy before large-scale investment.
“The funding will fully support our efforts to begin this innovative transport research and improve safety for everyone on the road with massive potential for further research initiatives upon completion of this project.”
The Australian Government is building Australia’s future on the New South Wales Central Coast by delivering $15 million over two years to plan for better and safer road connections in Empire Bay.
The Empire Bay Drive Intersection Strategy – Planning project will deliver a strategy to upgrade intersections servicing Empire Bay and surrounding communities.
This will include consideration of the intersection of Empire Bay Drive and Wards Hill Road.
The Empire Bay Drive and Wards Hill Road intersection is used by thousands of motorists each day and is an important transport connection to Empire Bay Public School, as well as access to the Bouddi National Park.
These vital planning works will have a road safety focus and deliver a business case for future upgrades.
The Australian Government is investing $21 billion towards transport infrastructure projects in NSW.
“This important investment in local roads will help people get home sooner and safer.
“It’s all about making our roads safer and our communities more accessible.
“The Central Coast makes a big contribution to our country and this project will boost both the local community and our national economy.”
Quotes attributable to Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:
“We want to ensure that both locals and tourists on the Central Coast can get where they need go efficiently and safely.
“These planning works will be the first critical step in guiding our future investments in Empire Bay Drive and the surrounding intersections.”
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Robertson Gordon Reid:
“These crucial planning works will support decision making on future priority upgrades to improve the safety and connectivity of key roads and intersections in Empire Bay and surrounding communities.
This funding from the Australian Government would not have been possible without the support of almost a thousand local residents who signed our petition to get this intersection fixed.
Thank you to the local community as well as local businesses who ensured this petition was a success.”
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
FAYETTEVILLE – A Northwest Arkansas man was sentenced on February 20, to 51 months in Federal Prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Additionally, he was ordered to pay restitution of $725,558.00 on one count of operating an Illegal Money Transmitting Business. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing, which took place in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court documents, Richard Harold Stone, age 77, waived indictment by a grand jury and pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging him with conducting an unlicensed money transmitting business in the State of Arkansas. Stone was the President or Chief Officer of numerous businesses registered with the Arkansas Secretary of State, including: Partex Oman Corp., Renewable Energy Campus Arkansas, Inc., Stonetek Global Corp., and Tires 2 Energy, LLC. Stone also was associated with Environmental Energy & Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation. The advertised purpose of these businesses was developing technology and facilities to repurpose waste materials, such as tires, into useable fuel sources. None of these businesses were registered with the State of Arkansas as a money transmitting business, as required by Arkansas law (Arkansas Code, Section 23-55-806(b)&(c)).
Between November 2020 and March 2021, Stone received through various bank accounts associated with the above entities and other accounts under his control, deposits of funds from applications made on behalf of unwitting victims for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, Economic Impact Disaster Loans (EIDL), and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), totaling more than $600,000. After receiving these funds, Stone immediately transferred most of the funds by wire transfer to parties in locations including Berne, Switzerland; London, England; New York, NY; Chennai, India; and Mumbai, India.
At the conclusion of Thursday’s sentencing hearing, Stone was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hunter Bridges is prosecuting the case.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov.
“This MCCRE was unique given the very exquisite capabilities of the MLR to work across domains, and with commands multiple echelons higher than other Colonel-led formations,” said Col. John G. Lehane, commanding officer, 3d MLR. “That uniqueness required supporting organizations including Training & Education Command (TECOM), Marine Aviation Weapons & Tactics Squadron (MAWTS), Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group (MCTOG), Tactical Training Exercise Control Ground (TTECG), Marine Corps Logistics Operations Group (MCLOG), and the 3d Marine Division Staff augmented by representatives from across the joint force to present a realistic complex scenario that stressed the formation from the individual and team, up through the Regimental level.”
When 3d MLR redesignated from 3d Marines in 2022, the formation was redesigned with a seven-fold value proposition in mind. 3d MLR would 1) conduct Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO), 2) support maritime domain awareness, 3) attack enemy maritime targets, 4) conduct expeditionary strike, 5) support operations in the information environment, 6) coordinate air and missile defense, and 7) plan and direct crisis response operations. During the MCCRE, 3d MLR demonstrated these seven core capabilities and resolidified itself as a formation capable of disrupting the adversary in a contested littoral environment through reconnaissance, counter-reconnaissance, and sea denial operations to support the maritime campaign.
In accordance with 3d MLR’s deployment model, the regimental headquarters and its subordinate battalions divided into task units and dispersed across the Hawaiian archipelago. This model, reflective of the EABO concept developed underneath Force Design, allows 3d MLR to maximize its mobility, minimize its signature, and cover a large area of operations.
On Oahu, Marines with 3d MLR’s headquarters element conducted distributed command and control operations and executed a tactical displacement drill. On the Big Island of Hawaii, Marines with 3d Littoral Combat Team participated in 3d MLR’s certification exercise while executing battalion-level live-fire ranges at Pohakuloa Training Area. Across the Hawaiian archipelago, 3d Littoral Logistics Battalion facilitated the logistical coordination and movement of personnel and equipment around the island chain. Other key players included 1st Reconnaissance Battalion and 3d Littoral Anti-Air Battalion, whose Air Control Battery conducted air space surveillance and passed relevant information to the Ground Based Air Defense Battery in support of air defense.
“The MCCRE is a snapshot of a unit’s combat readiness,” said Maj. Gen. Christian F. Wortman, the commanding general of 3d Marine Division. “It gives us a clear picture of where commanders need to direct training efforts in order to ensure that the Marines are prepared to face any threat, any place, time now.”
3d MLR’s MCCRE culminated with a 2-week field exercise – the first week focusing on staff planning and orders development and the second week being a scenario-based, tactical exercise. Evaluators observed as the formation operated against a living, breathing, and thinking “adversary force” played by the U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry Division. As the scenario progressed, 25th ID sought to track, target, and destroy 3d MLR’s fighting capabilities. Scenario injects also incorporated representation from the Joint Force, with 3d MLR’s Fire Support Coordination Center conducting notional strikes alongside simulated U.S. Navy warships and the Intelligence Operations Center utilizing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data collected by a simulated MQ-9 Reaper from Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3.
“As the culminating event of an eight-month pre-deployment workup, the 3d MLR’s Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation (MCCRE) was a litmus test on the effectiveness of our training. It validated our ability to deploy and be ready to support and integrate with the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF), the Numbered Fleet, and the joint force and our allies,” said Lehane. “It also helped me, as a commander, identify areas where we could invest more training for our Marines and Sailors to ensure they are put in the best position of advantage possible. It was a genuinely fantastic exercise, and I am grateful to all that supported it. For the first time, it will allow our senior leaders to look their naval and joint counterparts in the eye, and tell them that this Regiment has been manned, trained, equipped and tested and is ready for competition, crisis or conflict.”
3d Marine Littoral Regiment is a dedicated U.S. Marine Corps unit specializing in amphibious and littoral warfare operations. Stationed on Oahu, Hawaii, and deployed throughout the Indo-Pacific region, 3d MLR is committed to promoting regional security and stability through strategic partnerships and collaborative efforts with partner nations and Allies.