Latest news with #ARP
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Construction underway for Youngstown parks and playgrounds projects
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — If you've taken a drive past some of Youngstown's parks and playgrounds recently, you may have noticed a lot of activity. The old Bortz Field on the city's west side is one of 18 projects that are now underway or in the planning stages all around the city. There's work being done at Crandall Park on the north side as well as Homestead and Pemberton Parks on the south side. 'We're going to have the new batting cages over there, also infield turf and all brand new lighting,' said Youngstown Parks and Recreation Director Clement Franklin. The city is investing more than $10 million into its parks and playgrounds this spring and summer, with nearly $6 million of that coming from Youngstown's share of federal American Rescue Plan funds. 'There were some add-ons from each council. There were some specialized pieces that we added, and then we had some private investments as well,' said Youngstown Mayor Tito Brown. The improvements include new playground equipment as well as picnic tables and grills to replace what, in many cases, had been worn out or broken. There will also be new landscaping and sidewalks as well as lighting and security cameras. Brown said without the availability of the ARP funds, many of the upgrades would have taken years to install as funding became available. 'I'm excited to see what the new parks will look like, and the citizens in the neighborhood can enjoy them,' Brown said. Some city parks where nothing is taking place now could see improvements if there is money left over from other projects. Brown says residents will be able to start using the new facilities this summer, and most of the work should be completed this fall. While it was too cold to swim for many, the mayor on Monday was also taking his annual ceremonial first dive at the Northside Pool on Belmont Avenue. As a former lifeguard there many years ago, he had a message to remind residents about water safety this summer. 'Before we open the pool, I want to make sure I give them a spiel, make sure they know how to swim. Their parents should know how to swim. If not, let Parks and Rec help them learn water safety and swimming,' Brown said. The Northside Pool is also getting a new concession stand this summer that should be open by mid-June. It'll also be getting some improvements to the front entrance to the pool building and the bath house changing area. Weather permitting, the pool will be open through Sept. 1. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Eater
6 days ago
- Business
- Eater
One of Alexandria's Oldest Restaurants Gets a Facelift
A 100-year-old Alexandria stalwart has been transformed into a swanky all-day spot, after decades of serving breakfast buffets for diners in classic red booths. It comes courtesy of Alexandria Restaurant Partners (ARP), who have announced the updates across The Royal Restaurant's building with a new floral mural by artist Amuse126. The restaurant that's been here since 1964, and dates back to 1904, has a brand new brunch and dinner menu to mark the finishing touches of the remodel. 'We've focused on reimagining The Royal, paying homage to the many years of history there, and just bringing it up to 2025, so to speak,' says Dave Nicholas, ARP managing partner. It's a transformation years in the making. After the death of The Royal's longtime owner, Charlie Euripides, in 2022, the team behind the family-owned restaurant and ARP engaged in talks about the restaurant group taking over. The ARP team has been managing a fleet of Alexandria restaurants, like The Majestic, Mia's Italian Kitchen, Barca Pier and Wine Bar, and more, for about a decade. 'I said to them for almost 18 months, 'if you'll sell us the real estate, then we're interested,'' Nicholas tells Eater. Since sealing the deal in 2023, ARP has been working to give the building a gut renovation down to the studs and completely reinvent the menu with a roster of modern American dishes. The restaurant reopened in April 2024 after closing for three months and has been slowly updating the brunch menu and workshopping a new dinner menu as the last details of the redesign (like the floral mural) fell into place. The Royal's update involves trading out an old-school breakfast buffet for the likes of acai bowls and swapping a parking lot (a rarity in Old Town) for an 80-seat patio. Also new: dinner and cocktails. The Royal offers dinner for the first time in 30 years, and the building's renovations created the opportunity to add a bar. The drinks program also spans a 'boozy brunch' which ARP felt was missing in the rapidly-developing North Old Town neighborhood. Nicholas and corporate operations chef Santiago Lopez went on a North American food tour from New York City to Texas and Florida to gain inspiration for The Royal's menu of American staples, hitting up to 10 restaurants a day on their trip. 'I think our focus here has been hyper-seasonal, fresh, vibrant food,' Lopez says. For example, mushroom ravioli is dressed up with a dried porcini mushroom crema, stuffed with a mushroom mix, and accented with maitake mushrooms that have been marinated and grilled. A classic cheeseburger includes house-cured bacon flavored with maple syrup, while international influences include deviled eggs topped with roasted corn and tajin or a dinner dish of char siu pork with fried rice. Brunch includes staples like steak and eggs and blueberry pancakes, options like cinnamon-molasses butter-topped oatmeal pancakes and avocado toast with marinated burrata, plus decadent dishes like bananas foster French toast, or chicken and waffles with chorizo gravy. On the 80-seat patio, diners will find a very 2025 innovation with seasonal decor designed by artist Naii Vegas of Creative Buildr, who created a floral arch that's begging for social media selfies. In the dining room, there's room for 100 diners, including a small private room with 20 seats. The decor plays up Alexandria's history as well, with newspaper-inspired wallpaper and touches of Americana nostalgia. Sign up for our newsletter.
IOL News
24-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Johann Rupert's remarks on gang violence ignite debate on race and crime in South Africa
South African billionaire Johann Rupert at the White House, where he highlighted the gang violence on the Cape Flats. Image: ARP Billionaire businessman Johann Rupert's comments in the Oval Office this week on gang violence on the Cape Flats have sparked a fierce debate over prioritising crimes based on race. Rupert was part of the high-powered delegation accompanying President Cyril Ramaphosa in his bilateral meeting with his US counterpart, Donald Trump. 'We have too many deaths, and it's across the board; it's not only white farmers,' he told Trump. Rupert then turned to DA leader John Steenhuisen and said: 'Mr Steenhuisen won't admit to it, but he runs the Western Cape where I live. The biggest murder rate is in the Cape Flats. Gangs. We've got gang warfare.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The discussion between the two presidents and their entourages had been dominated by false claims that Afrikaner farmers were targeted due to their race for mass killing, which has been described as 'white genocide' by Trump and senior members of his administration. Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said the most powerful way to fix the issue of crime is to devolve criminal investigation powers down to metro police and law enforcement. 'Mr Rupert knows fully well that the entire criminal justice chain from policing, investigation, prosecution to incarceration in the prison system is entirely in the hands of the national government from beginning to end,' he said. Hill-Lewis continued: 'We are supposed to, constitutionally, do traffic and by-law enforcement. Over the years, we have greatly expanded beyond traffic and by-law enforcement to try and stand in the gap, and to fill the huge gap between the policing that South Africa needs and the policing that South Africa has.' He said if Rupert wanted to be helpful, he should support the call for the devolution of criminal investigative powers down to the metro police and law enforcement. Cape Muslim Congress leader and City of Cape Town councillor Yagyah Adams was hopeful that now, after Trump belittled Ramaphosa and Steenhuisen, they might listen, as they had not done so for many years while murders increased. He added: 'Why do we pay so much in taxes and rates, yet ordinary citizens have no sense of security in South Africa?' Adams said every year, thousands of people are murdered, and those in authority keep talking. 'Nothing changes, and murder increases. Everyone is angry, whites, blacks, brown, Muslims, and Christians. Why must innocent people be killed? Does it matter if they are white farmers or black accountants?' he asked. According to Adams, the colour, culture, ethnicity, and religion of criminals are irrelevant. 'Their crime is the problem,' he insisted. Adams claimed that crime is pervasive due to the ANC's failures in South Africa. 'The ANC destroyed every opportunity they had for nation-building because they were too busy with petty and selfish issues.
IOL News
23-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Rupert's Starlink nod during Trump meeting reeks of the shadow state capture politics
'PATRIOT' Johann Rupert at the White House Image: ARP In the often murky waters of international diplomacy, billionaire Johann Rupert's involvement in President Cyril Ramaphosa's engagement with Donald Trump may seem like a footnote. One of South Africa's wealthiest businessmen, with international standing, merely helping his country during a diplomatic bind. But considering economic justice, democratic accountability, and historical context, Rupert's actions raise serious questions about the nature of power in post-apartheid South Africa. His behind-the-scenes influence, particularly in moments of high political tension, is not merely a sign of elite access. It is state capture by any other name. To grasp the significance of Rupert's role, we must revisit August 2018. At the time, Trump tweeted about the so-called "large-scale killing of farmers" in South Africa, a claim rooted in far-right conspiracy theories and white nationalist dog whistles. The South African government immediately rejected this narrative, pointing out that it distorted facts and inflamed racial tensions. At the time, the public didn't know that Rupert, one of the most influential businessmen, was quietly working the back channels, reportedly engaging with figures in Trump's orbit to mitigate potential diplomatic fallout. At face value, some might interpret this as patriotism: a concerned, influential citizen leveraging his international networks to rescue the Rainbow Nation. But this interpretation is dangerously naive. Though unelected and unofficial, Rupert's actions had tangible effects on foreign relations. This is not a benign influence; it is a privatised form of diplomacy carried out without the consent or scrutiny of Parliament or South Africans. In a democracy still grappling with the scars of colonialism and apartheid, this is deeply problematic. During the meeting, Rupert explained how the so-called white genocide was actually a broader crime pandemic experienced by all South Africans. Then, he masterfully revealed his hand and proffered a solution. He endorsed billionaire oddball Elon Musk's satellite internet enterprise, Starlink, saying the technology should be used in police stations. But Starlink, like any potential business in the telecommunications sector here, would be expected to follow the relevant regulatory requirements and licensing procedures. We must name this for what it is: a slick form of state capture. Not the crude, transactional kind we associate with the Gupta era, but a more subtle, insidious version. Rupert does not need to install ministers or siphon public funds to shape the national trajectory. His access, influence, and resources allow him to operate in a parallel sphere of power. One where decisions with national and even global implications are made in private rooms, far from democratic oversight. This is especially galling given Rupert's economic positioning. As the heir to an empire built on monopolistic control and apartheid-era advantage, he represents a continuity of privilege that most South Africans will never know. His role in the Trump affair underscores how entrenched interests still define the boundaries of South Africa's politics. When elites like Rupert step in to 'help,' they are not doing so out of altruism; they are safeguarding a status quo that has long worked in their favour. Leftist political parties have often warned of Rupert's proximity to Ramaphosa, going as far as calling him out for being the president's puppeteer. So Rupert's presence at the White House should come as no surprise. Democracy is not just about voting every five years. It's about who has the power to influence outcomes between elections. If billionaires can hijack diplomacy, our institutions will not serve the people. They are serving power.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Doss reinvents ERP for a faster, smarter supply chain
For supply chain and operations professionals, efficiency is a survival imperative. As consumer demands shift and competition intensifies, companies without visibility and control across their supply chain find themselves perpetually fighting fires rather than fueling growth. Forward-thinking startup Doss has created AI-fueled software offerings designed specifically to help businesses both understand and improve their supply chain operations. The company is redefining enterprise resource planning (ERP) with its Adaptive Resource Platform (ARP). Unlike more traditional offerings that often require companies to adapt their processes to fit rigid software (and teams of consultants to implement over 12-18 months), Doss is committed to understanding each customer's business to build a dynamic system that grows with customers as they scale. 'We focus on helping design a solution around our customers' actual businesses as opposed to forcing them to design their business around our software,' said Wiley Jones, co-founder and CEO of Doss. While conventional ERP implementations require months of business process reengineering and custom development, Doss' adaptive architecture enables configuration in weeks. Unlike systems that force rigidity in how the data is organized, Doss' platform evolves as your business changes. Add new sales channels, product lines or fulfillment methods without expensive reconfiguration projects or system overhauls. On the surface, the company's offering may sound similar to existing customized enterprise software options. The Doss difference, however, lies in its ability to offer a customer-centric approach at record-breaking speeds, without the need for a lengthy or third-party implementation. In fact, the company is able to deliver a bespoke solution four to 10 times faster than conventional methods. 'This comes down to the way we are using AI to configure the product and the systems architecture from the ground up,' Jones said. In the beginning, Doss aims to help customers answer three important questions: Do I know what I am producing? Do I know what I have in inventory? Do I know what I am selling? For many companies, finding the answers to these questions can prove difficult due to disparate workflows and piecemeal recordkeeping. Once brands gain that understanding, however, it can become a foundation for automation. Doss is able to help companies put those types of analytics on autopilot, ensuring continuous visibility into their operations. The company's software addresses the complexities that arise when companies expand their operations across multiple sales channels. With DossARP, businesses gain a unified view of their inventory, enabling them to understand current demand, anticipate future stock requirements and plan production needs effectively. This holistic perspective is crucial for companies aiming to respond swiftly to market changes and scale efficiently. The ARP system integrates various operational aspects, from order to inventory and fulfillment, providing real-time tracking of physical goods. With over 30 prebuilt connectors, Doss facilitates seamless integration with essential business tools, allowing for the aggregation of orders across different platforms and automatic synchronization of data from third-party sources and warehouses. Doss is especially appealing to companies that sell directly to end customers and are scaling quickly. Many of these businesses operate more like brands than traditional companies — they're built around customer experience, fast delivery and agility. But that front-end promise requires strong back-end systems. That's where Doss fits in. 'We work with companies that are often turning over different rocks every day just to make their systems run,' Jones said. 'Our job is to simplify that middle layer.' With Doss' AI tools layered in, businesses can also forecast better and unlock new efficiencies that were previously out of reach. It's a significant shift from the manual, siloed processes that still dominate many midmarket and growing enterprises. The company's innovative approach has garnered attention, leading to an $18 million Series A funding round led by Theory Ventures. The investment will support Doss' expansion efforts beyond the U.S. market and further development of its core platform. For now, Doss remains focused on what it does best: helping growing businesses bring clarity, automation and speed to their supply chain operations. It's a modern take on ERP –– one designed not just to manage resources, but to help businesses actually move faster. Click here to learn more about Doss. The post Doss reinvents ERP for a faster, smarter supply chain appeared first on FreightWaves. Sign in to access your portfolio
