Latest news with #Budd
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
North Carolina Senator Ted Budd speaks to FOX8 about recently passed megabill
HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) — Congress had been working around the clock and on weekends to finalize President Trump's megabill that set the parameters for government spending over the next year. A majority of Americans in both parties didn't seem to be happy with the outcome, which isn't uncommon in the political world, in which all 535 members of Congress have a say in what they want. But North Carolina Senator Ted Budd spoke with FOX8's Senior Political Reporter Bob Buckley about his take on the bill, including the claim that Republicans didn't reduce spending enough to get the nation back on a sustainable fiscal track. 'I am all about cutting spending … Let's do it on the essentials that keep this country strong and keep it safe,' Budd said. The case he makes is that the best way to increase government revenues is to grow the economy to bring in more overall tax dollars. 'Let's rein in spending … We need to outgrow this problem, and I think this is step one. It's a step in the right direction … Last night, 3 in the morning, we're voting on rescissions, and that's a step in the right direction … We haven't done this in 30 years or more, but now we took a step in the right direction to rein in spending on things that aren't really representative of what people elected Donald Trump to do,' he said. See more of Buckley's conversation with Budd in this edition of The Buckley Report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal disaster aid is uncertain for states even as Texas floods underscore need
KERRVILLE, TEXAS - JULY 05: Flood waters left debris including vehicles and equipment scattered in Louise Hays Park on July 5, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas. Heavy rainfall caused flooding along the Guadalupe River in central Texas with multiple fatalities reported. (Photo by) With hurricane and wildfire season well underway across much of the country, state and local emergency managers say they have little idea how much support the federal government will provide if disaster strikes. And the recent deadly floods in Texas have shown just how dire the need can be. President Donald Trump has imposed severe cuts on the Federal Emergency Management Agency and denied some states' requests for disaster recovery funds. FEMA also has failed to issue grants that many emergency managers rely on to fund their agencies — or to communicate its plans. Wyoming's Office of Homeland Security, which responds to disasters, relies on the feds for 92% of its money, said Director Lynn Budd. With that federal support in question, the state could face a precarious situation when the current grants expire at the end of September. 'If we don't get this funding, what are we going to do?' Budd said. 'You're taking our capability away.' Budd serves as president of the National Emergency Management Association, a nonprofit focused on public safety. She said state officials have been told by Trump that they've become too dependent on federal support. Trump and officials in his administration have repeatedly talked of scaling back FEMA and pushing states to take the lead in disaster response. But in the wake of this month's devastating flooding in Texas, administration officials have backed off Trump's claims that he would eliminate the agency altogether. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson did not grant an interview request, but issued a statement calling on states to play a larger role in disaster response. State and local officials say Trump has provided no clarity about which disasters will qualify for federal recovery funds. He has denied support for disasters that met the existing criteria. At the same time, FEMA has yet to issue federal grants that provide much of the funding for local emergency management agencies. As local leaders in rural Saluda County, South Carolina, work to rebuild from last year's Hurricane Helene, they say the recovery process has been slowed by Trump administration policies making it more difficult to access disaster aid. Worse, the county's Emergency Management Division has no idea whether the feds will release the grant funding that makes up most of its budget. 'Are we going to see the help we need arriving?' said Josh Morton, director of Saluda County's Emergency Management Division. 'I don't know. When we pick up the phone, is there gonna be anybody there to answer?' Aside from the cuts to state funding, FEMA under Trump's administration has lost about a quarter of its full-time staff, according to The New York Times. The agency also cut hundreds of contractors at call centers, The Times reported, resulting in thousands of missed calls in the days following the Texas flood. Meanwhile, emergency managers say that Trump's cuts to the National Weather Service could further impair their ability to respond to fast-moving disasters. Trump and his administration have frequently said states should take on more responsibility for responding to disasters. Brian Hughes, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said in an April statement to Stateline that the federal government would provide support only for 'truly catastrophic disasters,' adding that states should have 'an appetite to own the problem.' Emergency management experts say it would be inefficient for all 50 states to stockpile the resources, staff and recovery funding to handle disasters on their own. Having a national agency that can deploy where it's needed is far less wasteful. 'There's no reason for every state to have all the resources that FEMA has,' said Michael Coen, who served as chief of staff at FEMA during the Obama and Biden administrations. He noted that FEMA also plays a key coordinating role with other federal agencies during disasters. There's no reason for every state to have all the resources that FEMA has. – Michael Coen, chief of staff at FEMA during the Obama and Biden administrations Morton, the Saluda County official, echoed that concern. He also serves as first vice president with the International Association of Emergency Managers, a nonprofit representing professionals in the field. 'It would be impossible for every county in the U.S. to maintain an adequate disaster recovery fund on their own,' he said. 'Right now, we have a disaster fund at the federal level, and that money is able to be moved around to where it's needed in the moment. That really is the best bang for the buck for the American people.' But that federal support is no longer a sure thing. Morton said recovery funds for Hurricane Helene — which walloped states from Florida to North Carolina — have been slower to materialize than for previous disasters. FEMA officials have required more paperwork, he said, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's insistence that she personally approve any expenditure over $100,000 has also slowed the process. In other parts of the country, state officials have petitioned Trump for disaster declarations, only to be rejected altogether. Washington state's request for disaster aid following storms last November that caused at least $34 million in damages met all the 'very clear criteria to qualify,' said Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson, but was denied by FEMA. While Trump administration officials have proposed limiting the events that qualify for federal relief, they have yet to issue new criteria. State leaders say they have gotten no clarity from the feds about whether they can count on support. 'We really need some communication on what to expect,' said Budd, the Wyoming official. 'If we know there's no federal funding coming, that would be an awful situation, but at least we can plan for that.' Some experts say states should prepare for disaster relief to be approved along partisan lines. 'We just have to be honest that this White House is going to spend more resources, time and effort on people who live in red states than in blue states,' said Juliette Kayyem, faculty chair of the Homeland Security Project at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and a former Obama administration official. 'It's a hard thing for me to admit, and I don't know how to solve it, but if you look at his reaction to [the Los Angeles wildfires in] California as compared to Texas, it's very clear.' Since February, Trump has denied six of the 10 major-disaster requests he has received from Democratic governors, according to an analysis from Seattle National Public Radio affiliate KUOW. He has approved 14 of 15 requests he has received from Republican governors during that same period. Meanwhile, FEMA has yet to release the preparedness grants that many state and local governments depend on to fund their emergency management agencies and conduct projects to prepare for disasters. Those grants were set to be issued in May under a spending bill passed by Congress. Coen, the former FEMA official, noted that the Texas Division of Emergency Management received nearly $20 million in federal funding last year to support day-to-day operations. 'Texas hasn't been able to apply for that grant this year,' he said. 'If they never get that grant, are they going to have to lay off staff or cancel contracts?' FEMA has also revoked another set of grants, totaling $3.6 billion, that was intended to help communities prepare their infrastructure to withstand disasters. Amid the uncertainty at FEMA, emergency managers are also alarmed by Trump's cuts to the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA has lost nearly 2,000 employees, The New York Times reported, 600 of whom worked for the weather service. The cuts have left many forecasting offices understaffed, with some no longer able to operate overnight. 'The National Weather Service plays as big of a role in protecting lives as anyone else in government,' said Morton, the Saluda County official. 'It would be very hard for emergency managers to do our jobs effectively without the National Weather Service. But if these cuts keep coming, you're going to start to see deficiencies.' Budd, the Wyoming official, said the weather agency is crucial during wildfires. 'That's how we know when it's time to alert our communities or evacuate an area,' she said. 'You can put firefighters' lives on the line very quickly if they don't have notification that those winds are changing.' She added that Trump's cuts to the U.S. Forest Service and other land management agencies have added another layer of concern as wildfires begin cropping up throughout the West. With the loss of federal support, Budd said officials are likely to become increasingly reliant on state-to-state resource-sharing compacts that allow them to call on one another during emergency situations. Stateline reporter Alex Brown can be reached at abrown@ Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@ Solve the daily Crossword
The Citizen
14-07-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Landscaper digs in with councillor to refresh Lonehill Shopping Centre entrance
Local landscaper Liz Budd has brought a breath of fresh air to the Lonehill Shopping Centre, quite literally, by transforming the once-overgrown verges into a charming, low-maintenance green space, with a little help from Ward 94 councillor David Foley. Budd, a Lonehill resident and passionate gardener, recently joined Foley's clean-up efforts, aimed at restoring order and pride to public spaces around the shopping centre. What began as a routine verge clearing quickly bloomed into something more. 'I thought it would be lovely if we didn't just clean them up, but actually planted some new greenery, something water-wise and easy to look after,' said Budd. Also read; Lonehill residents create 'Garden of Eden' at shopping centre with indigenous plants And that's exactly what she did. Over the past few weeks, Budd has introduced hardy, low-maintenance plants, such as Agapanthus and garlic plants, to the soil along the shopping centre's verges, selections she says are both visually pleasing and sustainable. 'We planted a little bit on the other verges, and we're planning to do more. It's going to look very beautiful. I hope people who drive through, into the shopping centre, see how beautiful it is.' The improvements haven't gone unnoticed. Budd says she's already received encouraging feedback from the community. 'I got a very nice message from one of the residents who said it looks really great.' Budd also credited Foley for his ongoing support and hands-on involvement in community upliftment projects. 'David is such a champ. Very nice to work with. I'm really grateful for him to participate.' Also read: Douglasdale community garden blooms as Informal Taxi Rank closes Foley thanked everyone involved and encouraged further support. 'Many thanks for the plant donations, and to Budd for pots, and her team doing the labour. The entrance is starting to look good, as you enter the shopping area off Lonehill Boulevard. 'We still need more Agapanthus, if you can spare them. They can be dropped off at 5 Arnhiem Circle, Lonehill. Thank you.' Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Geek Tyrant
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Michael Madsen, Star of RESERVOIR DOGS and KILL BILL, Dies at 67 — GeekTyrant
Michael Madsen, the gravel-voiced actor whose raw charisma made him a staple in Quentin Tarantino's cinematic universe, has died at the age of 67. He was found unresponsive in his Malibu home on Thursday morning. His representative confirmed the cause of death appears to be cardiac arrest. Best known as the sadistic-yet-smooth Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs, Madsen etched himself into pop culture history with a single razor blade and a haunting dance to Stealers Wheel's 'Stuck in the Middle With You.' It's the kind of scene that never quite lets go of you, much like Madsen himself, who carried an unpredictable edge across every character he played. His career with Tarantino didn't stop there. He became a recurring figure in the director's bloody, stylish universe playing Budd in Kill Bill Vols. 1 & 2 , then appearing in The Hateful Eight and Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood . But Madsen's reach extended well beyond Tarantino's filmography. With over 300 credits to his name, he left his mark on everything from Donnie Brasco and Thelma & Louise , to Sin City , The Natural , and The Doors . Born in Chicago on September 25, 1957, Madsen got his start at the legendary Steppenwolf Theater before landing his first screen role in 1983's War Games . Throughout the '80s and '90s, he built a reputation as a go-to tough guy. In more recent years, Madsen immersed himself in independent film, preparing for what many around him believed would be a creative resurgence. Hhis managers Susan Ferris and Ron Smith and publicist Liz Rodriguez said in a joint statement: ''In the last two years Michael Madsen has been doing some incredible work with independent film including upcoming feature films Resurrection Road , Concessions and Cookbook for Southern Housewives , and was really looking forward to this next chapter in his life. 'Michael was also preparing to release a new book called Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems currently being edited. Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood's most iconic actors, who will be missed by many.' He lived a life that was complex and, at times, painful. In 2022, he lost his son Hudson to suicide. In 2024, he was arrested on domestic battery charges involving his estranged wife, DeAnna. He is survived by five other children, as well as siblings Cheryl Madsen and Oscar-nominated actress Virginia Madsen. Michael Madsen was a great actor who embodied the charatcers he played, and contradictions that made them compelling.
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
CJI Gavai says Article 370 went against Ambedkar's vision of one Constitution for India
Nagpur: Chief Justice of India Bhushan Gavai on Saturday said the 's unanimous verdict upholding the abrogation of Article 370 to revoke special status for Jammu and Kashmir was consistent with Dr BR Ambedkar's vision of a single Constitution for a unified India. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He added that two constitutions for one country was never the vision of the chief architect of the statute. "We judges upheld the govt's decision to abrogate Article 370 to ensure that India is governed under one Constitution," he said, calling the judgment an important affirmation of Ambedkar's ideology. Justice Gavai was speaking at the inauguration of the Constitution Preamble Park at the Nagpur University's School of Law. Justice Gavai emphasised that though judges usually refrain from discussing their judgments in public, the Article 370 ruling was of such constitutional significance that it merited reflection. He said it aligned with the foundational principles laid down by Ambedkar, who firmly believed in unity through a single legal and constitutional framework. "During the Constituent Assembly debates, Dr Ambedkar clearly said India should not follow the American model of separate constitutions for the Union and states. He believed in one nation, one Constitution, and that's the philosophy we reinforced in the verdict," Gavai said. He further said even amid turmoil and constitutional breakdowns in neighbouring nations of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, India has remained united and democratic because of the strong constitutional edifice built by Ambedkar and his fellow framers. "Our neighbours have witnessed coups, collapses, and severe instability, but in 75 years, India has stood firm — thanks to the inclusive and progressive framework of the Constitution," he said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Accompanied by Union minister Nitin Gadkari, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, minister of state Ashish Jaiswal, and Bombay High Court's Nagpur bench judges including Nitin Sambre, Anil Kilor, Abhay Mantri and Justice Sanjeev Kalgaonkar of MP High Court, the CJI said he felt deeply honoured to inaugurate the Preamble Park during the Constitution's platinum jubilee year and during his first visit to Nagpur as the country's top judge. "The drafting of our Constitution was not merely a legal process, but a social revolution. Babasaheb worked for over two-and-half years to craft a document that gave voice and dignity to the weakest sections of society," said Gavai. He pointed out how Ambedkar ensured that social, economic, and political justice were embedded in the very Preamble of the Constitution. Visibly emotional during his speech, Gavai said he was proud to have recently unveiled Ambedkar's statue at the Supreme Court, and even more privileged to inaugurate the Preamble Park in Nagpur — the very city where Ambedkar led a historic socio-religious revolution by embracing Buddhism in 1956. Recalling landmark constitutional decisions, Gavai also referred to the Kesavananda Bharati case, which established the doctrine of basic structure. This doctrine states that while the Parliament can amend the Constitution, it cannot alter or destroy the "basic structure" or fundamental features of the Constitution. "Justice Mudholkar, who hailed from Nagpur, was among the first to articulate that the Constitution had a core that could not be altered. This idea was later reinforced by the Supreme Court, ensuring that fundamental rights and democratic principles could never be diluted," he explained. He described Preamble Park as a living monument to constitutional values, built not just to commemorate history but to inspire future generations. "The murals, Ambedkar's quotes, and visual elements in this park will help citizens internalise the ideals of liberty, equality, justice, and fraternity," he said. Gavai lauded Dr Ambedkar School of Law for its exceptional legacy of producing legal luminaries, including two former Chief Justices of India — M Hidayatullah and Sharad Bobde, many chief justices, and eminent lawyers. "This is a unique institution. Though I didn't study here, it feels like home. The college has contributed immensely to India's legal system," Gavai noted. The CJI also paid heartfelt tribute to his father, former Governor and MP RS Gavai, and senior Ambedkarite leader Dadasaheb Kumbhare for their lifelong commitment to social justice and the Ambedkarite movement.
