Latest news with #BobPhillips
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas legislative push places focus on state of gerrymandering in North Carolina
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Efforts by Texas lawmakers to redraw congressional maps further in their favor has placed a renewed focus on gerrymandering, the drawing and redrawing of electoral districts to benefit a single party. The practice is not isolated to Texas. 'That's what we have in North Carolina,' said Bob Phillips with Common Cause NC, a group advocating for fair, nonpartisan maps. 'Most of the legislative, most of the congressional districts, we already know who's going to win because the way the lines are drawn, and actually that's the way it is in much of the country.' A power grab by NC Republicans becomes a referendum on democracy in the states Despite North Carolina being classified as a 'purple' state, gerrymandering by state Republicans gave the GOP a 10-4 control of congressional seats and only one seat short of a total supermajority in Raleigh. As Philips points out, it is a strategy that has been used by both parties. 'When the Democrats were in control, they never supported redistricting reform. When they lost control, then they are jumping all over it,' said Phillips. Democrats have tried multiple times in recent years to pass legislation that would allow voters to decide how districts are drawn, by lawmakers or a nonpartisan commission. One of the authors of the latest bills, Buncombe County State Rep. Lindsey Prather, acknowledged her party has a history of gerrymandering. 'I'm well aware of the fact that Democrats gerrymandered in the past here in North Carolina. They did. And there are Democrats that are gerrymandering in other states right now across the country,' said Prather. But she argued that it doesn't eliminate the need for new maps. No reelection campaign for Democratic after North Carolina GOP redrew U.S. House map 'We are a purple state, and our voters support nonpartisan state and our voters support nonpartisan, independent redistricting which is why this bill that we wrote would put it to the ballot,' Prather added. Outside the legislature, former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr has taken legal action. He's asking the State Court of Appeals to order maps be fairly drawn, creating districts that are compact and connected, not based on voting patterns. 'If you don't have fair elections then democracy fails,' said Orr. It Is Orr's hope this renewed attention caused by the controversy in Texas will convince both the public and those in power that change is essential. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Business Wire
02-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Edgecombe Furniture Selects Lectra's Valia Furniture Platform to Accelerate Digital Transformation and Boost U.S. Manufacturing Efficiency
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Lectra, a leading provider of industrial intelligence technology solutions to players in fashion, automotive and furniture, today announced that Edgecombe Furniture, a U.S.-based hospitality furniture manufacturer, has selected Valia Furniture, Lectra's next-generation platform, to modernize operations and drive productivity. Known for its handcrafted upholstered furniture and commitment to American-made quality, Edgecombe Furniture turned to Lectra to streamline operations and bring automation to key production workflows. By integrating Valia Furniture, the company will gain greater visibility across operations and improve flexibility, traceability, and output—all without sacrificing the artisanal craftsmanship that defines its brand. 'Partnering with Lectra and implementing Valia Furniture allows us to significantly improve the flow of materials, labor, and data across our shop floor,' said Bob Phillips, CEO of Edgecombe Furniture. 'Valia Furniture drives value for our customers through exceptional matching quality, reduced lead-times on small batch orders, and reduced COM requirements. This positions us well for long-term growth. This new solution also allowed us to continue working with existing patterns in our Gerber AccuMark pattern software, making onboarding much easier.' Valia Furniture centralizes product and production data, creating a foundation for optimized performance and decision-making. With built-in connectivity to cutting and design systems, Valia Furniture empowers furniture manufacturers like Edgecombe to adapt quickly to shifting demand and reduced lead times. Valia Furniture powers and easily pairs with Lectra's high-performing cutting solutions – Virga (single-ply cutting) and Vector (multi-ply cutting) to create the most optimal multi-line cutting process that allows manufacturers to go from order to cutting in minutes. Edgecombe's benchmark analysis of Valia Furniture revealed a 10% potential reduction in material consumption, a savings that is already delivering ROI in production. After using Valia Furniture to re-nest a large job, the platform delivered $14,000 in fabric savings for Edgecombe. 'As furniture makers across North America embrace digital transformation, Valia Furniture is emerging as the platform of choice to unlock efficiency and support sustainable growth,' said Leonard Marano, President of the Americas at Lectra. This partnership marks another milestone in Lectra's mission to support the next generation of manufacturers through industry-specific, data-driven solutions that empower companies to scale with confidence. About Lectra: At the forefront of innovation since its founding in 1973, Lectra provides industrial intelligence technology solutions—combining software in SaaS mode, cutting equipment, data, and associated services—to players in the fashion, automotive and furniture industries. With boldness and commitment, Lectra accelerates the transformation and success of its customers in a world in perpetual motion thanks to the key technologies of Industry 4.0: AI, big data, cloud and the internet of things. The Group is present in more than one hundred countries. It operates three production sites for its cutting equipment, located in France, China and the United States. Lectra's 3,000 employees are driven by three core values: being open-minded thinkers, trusted partners and passionate innovators. They all share the same concern for social responsibility, which is one of the pillars of Lectra's strategy to ensure its sustainable growth and that of its customers. Lectra reported revenues of €527 million in 2024, including €77 million coming from its SaaS offerings. The company is listed on Euronext, and is included in the CAC All Shares, CAC Technology, EN Tech Leaders and ENT PEA-PME 150 indices. For more information, visit LinkedIn Facebook YouTube
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Common Cause of NC's Bob Phillips on a victory for voters and the latest from the Board of Elections
Bob Phillips, Executive Director of Common Cause North Carolina It seemed like it might never happen, but we now know the winner of last November's election for an associate justice seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court. Following federal Judge Richard Myers' complete rejection of GOP candidate Jefferson Griffin's effort to overturn his narrow defeat by tossing the ballots of thousands of voters, Griffin finally conceded and earlier this past week, incumbent Democratic Justice Allison Riggs was sworn in to serve a new and full eight-year term (albeit six months late). And recently, Newsline's Rob Schofield caught up with one of our state's top government watchdogs, Common Cause of North Carolina executive director Bob Phillips – both to discuss this long-awaited news as well as some dramatic and deeply worrisome changes taking place at the state Board of Elections. Click here to listen to the full interview with Common Cause of North Carolina executive director Bob Phillips.
