Latest news with #Almond
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Kay Ivey names new Public Service Commission president
COLUMBUS, Ga. — Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has named Cynthia Lee Almond to serve as the next Public Service Commission President. The appointment fills the seat left vacant by Twinkle Cavanaugh, who has taken a role in the Trump Administration. As president, Almond will lead the board responsible for regulating utilities in Alabama. Almond is a seasoned attorney and currently works in the private practice of law. She also takes the helm at the Public Service Commission after serving as a Republican member of the Alabama House of Representatives for District 63. Previously, Almond served four terms on the Tuscaloosa City Council, where she was elected president pro tem by her colleagues. 'I am honored to have been asked by Governor Ivey to fill this important position. It is one I accept with great enthusiasm,' said Almond. 'I know how important this commission is to the people of Alabama and to the industry sectors it regulates. I believe my training as an attorney and legislator will prove to be helpful in performing this role.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
SDRS investments tick up amid volatile markets
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — The South Dakota Retirement System's investments have rebounded a bit. The estimated return, covering the 11 months through May 31, was 3.2 to 3.7%, senior portfolio manager Darci Haug told SDRS trustees on Wednesday. Man identified in fatal Monday I-90 crash The annual target, however, is 6.5%. Whether that can be reached by June 30 isn't known. 'We aren't keeping up with the markets because of our conservative positioning,' portfolio manager Danielle Mourer explained. The South Dakota Investment Council oversees the SDRS portfolio. The council over the long term has taken a contrarian approach, holding larger amounts of cash at times when the market is, in the council's estimation, overpriced. That's how the council currently sees the markets. Nonetheless, being back in the black was an improvement over the April 9 report to the SDRS trustees. On that date, SDRS investments as a whole were down between 3 and 3.5%. The very next day, they had regained some of that lost value and were down 0.5 to 1%. Jarrod Edelen, another of the portfolio's managers, said earnings by different sectors have been volatile of late and varied widely. Technology investments such as computer chips were recently up 27% while energy investments overall were down 7%, he said. The fair market value of SDRS investments was $15 billion as of May 31, Haug said. How the SDRS investments fare year to year largely determines the size of the annual cost of living adjustment paid the following year to the system's retirees and other beneficiaries. SDRS senior actuary Doug Fiddler told the board that the COLA taking effect on July 1, 2025, will be 1.71%. That was calculated using the third quarter 2024 inflation rate of 2.49%. Fiddler estimated that a 3.5% annual return for fiscal 2025 would result in a COLA of approximately 1.4% taking effect on July 1, 2026. He said benefit payments to approximately 80% of SDRS retirees have been falling short of keeping up inflation by about 10%. Fiddler presented a chart showing the S&P 500 has been in a volatile stretch lately, dropping about 20% in April and gradually rebounding since then. Fiddler said that he had planned to brief the trustees on corrective actions that might be necessary when the SDRS investments were in the red for the year. But he changed his mind after seeing the number get back into the black. SDRS executive director Travis Almond spoke about market volatility to the board after Fiddler's presentation. 'So who knows how the end of this fiscal year lands,' Almond said. He suggested that the trustees keep themselves familiar with the corrections plan. 'I have no doubt we're going to have that conversation. It's a question of when,' Almond said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
7 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Bank of America Stadium will transform into a baseball field for the Savannah Bananas
There's a baseball field inside Bank of America Stadium this week as Charlotte prepares to go bananas for the Savannah Bananas. Why it matters: It's the first time Charlotte will host the wacky baseball team, and it's the first time there's a baseball field inside Bank of America Stadium. State of play: The Savannah Bananas will play the Party Animals June 6-7 at Bank of America Stadium. If you're unfamiliar with banana ball, catch up here. Preparations for the Bananas began after the May 24 Charlotte FC match, Bonnie Almond, vice president of venue operations for Tepper Sports & Entertainment, tells Axios. How it works: Stadium staff cleared the soccer lines and mapped out the baseball field ahead of the Metallica concert last weekend. On Sunday, they pulled up the concert floor, and by Monday, crews were painting the lines for the baseball field. Netting to protect fans from baseballs went up on Monday, too. Both teams will bring in bullpens for pitchers to warm up and will use the stadium's field suites as dugouts. They'll play on a turf surface. Home plate will be located near the tunnel where the Panthers exit before home games, which is situated in the northwest corner. "We're very versatile in what we can do here," Almond said. Stunning stat: Bank of America Stadium sold out of approximately 74,000 tickets for each night in about five hours. The Bananas encourage people to be wary of scammers trying to sell fake tickets. If you go: There will be a festival on the stadium's plaza near the North gate off Graham Street at 4:30pm both days. The plaza itself opens to fans at 2pm. Games start at 7pm. You must have a ticket to access this area. Tickets will be screened before you get to the stadium. Merchandise locations open to the public will be available around the stadium from 11am-1pm both days. Dig in: There will also be special food and drinks at the stadium for the games. A banana pepper popper dog ($9.99) with cream cheese, roasted banana peppers, bacon bits and chipotle aioli will be available near section 120 at the Uptown Market. The Banana bourbon BBQ burger ($14.99) with a double beef patty, banana-bourbon BBQ sauce, crispy onions, cheddar and smoked bacon on a brioche bun will be available at the Queen City Eatery near section 122. The Elvis Spotted in Savannah sandwich ($17.99) with peanut butter, sliced banana, crispy bacon and a honey drizzle on griddled Texas toast will be available at the Culinary Corner on the 300-level. Savannah Banana Beer from Service Brewing and banana cream soda will also be available throughout the stadium. Local businesses are going bananas, too. Merchant and Trade, for instance, will serve a special cocktail called Banana Land ($18) June 6-7. Banana Land includes banana cream soda and Grey Goose Vodka. This isn't an official collaboration with the team, a Merchant and Trade spokesperson tells Axios, but rather a celebration of their stop in Charlotte.
South Wales Guardian
29-05-2025
- South Wales Guardian
City needs ‘powerful voice on national stage' after Nottingham attacks
Valdo Calocane killed 19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, and caretaker Ian Coates, 65, before attempting to kill three other people in the city in June 2023. The scope of the two-year public inquiry, which will make recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future, was published by the Government last week. Greg Almond, from Nottingham-based Rothera Bray Solicitors, is representing two of the three survivors and said the terms of reference for the inquiry were 'very comprehensive'. Wayne Birkett and Sharon Miller, along with Marcin Gawronski, survived being struck by a van which Calocane stole from Mr Coates. Mr Almond said of the terms of reference: 'They hopefully will ensure that we get the answers that we need, both for my clients and for the people of Nottingham.' Mr Birkett and Ms Miller have written to Nottingham MPs and the East Midlands Mayor, Claire Ward, to ask for a meeting to create a 'joined-up approach' and ensure recommendations from the inquiry are implemented. Mr Almond said: 'What we're concerned about, is that various different people are not coming together, and it's about a coordinated approach to this, so that we can speak with a powerful voice on the national stage. 'I think that's what Nottingham needs, so that there is a joined up approach from the various elected leaders. ' Calocane was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order in January last year after admitting manslaughter by diminished responsibility and attempted murder. Nottingham Crown Court heard he had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Mr Birkett suffered a head injury in the attack by Calocane, which put him in a coma and caused severe memory problems, headaches and dizziness, as well as fractures to his shoulder and legs. He has no memory of the attack. Ms Miller suffered significant orthopaedic and psychological injuries, now walks using a stick, and is cared for by her partner of 33 years. Mr Almond said of the impact of the attacks on the survivors: 'It's completely changed their lives. 'They were both very hard working people beforehand. 'They've not been able to return to work. 'The fact that this is in the news a lot, that the perpetrator's face is shown a lot, it's very difficult for them.' Mr Almond said that the public inquiry is 'very important' to Mr Birkett and Ms Miller so they 'can move forward with their lives'. He added: 'They want to draw a line under this terrible incident that's affected them completely unexpectedly, they were just on the way to work. 'They want to try and hopefully get back to work if they can, and try and live a normal life.' In a statement, Ms Miller said: 'The inquiry will uncover the truth about all the missed opportunities to stop him (Calocane), and what needs to be done to prevent something as appalling as this from happening again. 'Not a day goes by where I don't think about what he did to Grace, Barnaby, and Ian.'
Rhyl Journal
29-05-2025
- Rhyl Journal
City needs ‘powerful voice on national stage' after Nottingham attacks
Valdo Calocane killed 19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, and caretaker Ian Coates, 65, before attempting to kill three other people in the city in June 2023. The scope of the two-year public inquiry, which will make recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future, was published by the Government last week. Greg Almond, from Nottingham-based Rothera Bray Solicitors, is representing two of the three survivors and said the terms of reference for the inquiry were 'very comprehensive'. Wayne Birkett and Sharon Miller, along with Marcin Gawronski, survived being struck by a van which Calocane stole from Mr Coates. Mr Almond said of the terms of reference: 'They hopefully will ensure that we get the answers that we need, both for my clients and for the people of Nottingham.' Mr Birkett and Ms Miller have written to Nottingham MPs and the East Midlands Mayor, Claire Ward, to ask for a meeting to create a 'joined-up approach' and ensure recommendations from the inquiry are implemented. Mr Almond said: 'What we're concerned about, is that various different people are not coming together, and it's about a coordinated approach to this, so that we can speak with a powerful voice on the national stage. 'I think that's what Nottingham needs, so that there is a joined up approach from the various elected leaders. ' Calocane was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order in January last year after admitting manslaughter by diminished responsibility and attempted murder. Nottingham Crown Court heard he had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Mr Birkett suffered a head injury in the attack by Calocane, which put him in a coma and caused severe memory problems, headaches and dizziness, as well as fractures to his shoulder and legs. He has no memory of the attack. Ms Miller suffered significant orthopaedic and psychological injuries, now walks using a stick, and is cared for by her partner of 33 years. Mr Almond said of the impact of the attacks on the survivors: 'It's completely changed their lives. 'They were both very hard working people beforehand. 'They've not been able to return to work. 'The fact that this is in the news a lot, that the perpetrator's face is shown a lot, it's very difficult for them.' Mr Almond said that the public inquiry is 'very important' to Mr Birkett and Ms Miller so they 'can move forward with their lives'. He added: 'They want to draw a line under this terrible incident that's affected them completely unexpectedly, they were just on the way to work. 'They want to try and hopefully get back to work if they can, and try and live a normal life.' In a statement, Ms Miller said: 'The inquiry will uncover the truth about all the missed opportunities to stop him (Calocane), and what needs to be done to prevent something as appalling as this from happening again. 'Not a day goes by where I don't think about what he did to Grace, Barnaby, and Ian.'
