Latest news with #Chamberlin
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ready for some good WA budget news? Local school leaders happy with spending plan
As state lawmakers await final approval of their proposed budget for the 2026 and 2027 fiscal years, superintendents at Pierce County school districts say that the roughly $36 billion in the budget for education addresses some of their top concerns, but they cautioned against relying on funding K-12 education via local levies. Education takes up nearly half of the roughly $77 billion two-year spending plan, and some superintendents at school districts in Pierce County said the roughly $5 billion in appropriations for special-education programs will address a strong need. Both the Washington Association of School Administrators, also known as WASA, and State Superintendent Chris Reykdal have said that special-education funding was among their top priorities for the 2025 legislative session. As costsrise due to inflation, school leaders were also happy to see lawmakers increase funding for materials, supplies and operating costs – a category also known as MSOC. University Place School District Superintendent Jeff Chamberlin said the special education and MSOC funding will help districts equitably because they'll receive funding based on the size of their student population. 'I feel like in this session, with this economic reality that the state is facing, the majority of the additional money that they put towards education, the additional policy funding for education, they did the right thing,' Chamberlain told The News Tribune. 'They put it in special education, and they put it in material supplies and operating costs, which is exactly what they should've done.' Superintendent Ron Banner of Clover Park School District said the changes to special-education funding and MSOC could help Clover Park particularly because the district needed an additional $14.6 million from its own coffers to cover costs in those two categories in 2024. 'Imagine what we could do if we had that $14.6 million and we spent it on student enrichment?' Banner told The News Tribune. Both Chamberlin and Banner said small to mid-sized districts like theirs, which serve communities with smaller tax bases than cities like Tacoma and Seattle, suffer when state lawmakers prioritize funding schools using local, property tax-based levies, and they said they'd like to see officials move away from such a funding model in future budget discussions. Though not in the budget, Chamberlin cited a bill passed by the Legislature last month, House Bill 2049, which increased the maximum amount for a local levy that school districts might put to voters to raise more tax revenue. Sponsored by the House Committee on Finance, the bill seeks to address inequity that the levy-lid increase could facilitate by offering smaller districts more funding in other areas, but Chamberlin said it's not enough to counteract the increased levy lid. He said state officials should move towards collecting tax revenue from across the state and distributing it to school districts based on need, to ensure that districts in lower-income areas with lower property values don't see their budget woes exacerbated by their circumstances. 'Some districts are able to raise almost nothing for each of their students in those formulas, while other districts, the wealthier districts that have more valuable property, are able to raise much, much more money,' he said. WASA agreed. 'As school districts face increasing financial difficulties, however, school administrators have ongoing concerns about the state's K–12 funding structure that must be addressed,' the association cautioned in their 2025 legislative priorities. Reykdal said in a statement issued after the close of the 2025 legislative session on April 27 that the state Legislature has tasked his office with finding a more 'adequate and equitable' funding model for K-12 education in Washington. 'I look forward to updating this analysis and providing the Governor and lawmakers with a roadmap that moves our state beyond the very bare minimum of investments that are contained in the current 'prototypical' funding model,' Reykdal's statement reads.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Proposal to exempt trainees from minimum wage advances in Florida House
A proposal that would create an exemption to the state's voter-approved minimum wage for workers classified as trainees is ready to go to the full House. The Republican-controlled Commerce Committee on Monday voted 14-6 along party lines to approve a revised bill (HB 541) that would allow pay below the minimum wage for employees involved in a 'work-study, internship, pre-apprenticeship or other similar work-based learning opportunity.' Bill sponsor Ryan Chamberlin, R-Belleview, revised the bill to shorten the time that employers could pay a sub-minimum wage to nine months or two full school semesters. The bill previously included a limit of 12 months from when a person is hired. 'This would be a job they would take if money wasn't the primary issue, but the specific training was available that they believe, if they had a three- or six- to nine-month opportunity to do it, it could accelerate them far more than that few extra dollars per hour,' Chamberlin said. Employers in Florida are allowed to pay sub-minimum wages to certain workers, such as people ages 19 and younger during the first 90 days of employment and to students working part-time in vocational training programs. Rep. Gallop Franklin, D-Tallahassee, said the state allows unpaid internships so people can gain work experience. 'We do have a workforce issue,' Franklin said. 'And the challenge is not because we're paying too much. The challenge is because we're paying too less.' A 2020 state constitutional amendment required gradual increases in the minimum wage. It is $13 an hour and will increase to $14 an hour on Sept. 30 and will go to $15 an hour on Sept. 30, 2026. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. For tipped employees, the state's minimum wage is $9.98 an hour. The federal minimum for tipped employees is $2.13 an hour. A similar Senate bill (SB 676) would need to clear the Rules Committee before it could go to the full Senate. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Telegraph
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Televising the Grand National is now the impossible job
On Sunday morning, the news filtered through that Grand National faller Broadway Boy was OK, and one imagines there were some enormous sighs of relief over at ITV Sport. Televising the Grand National has become sports broadcasting's impossible job but Ed Chamberlin and company gave it a damn good go this weekend. A large percentage of the event's viewership watches exactly one horse race a year and that poses a massive challenge because there is always a realistic prospect of an animal dying live on terrestrial TV in front of a family teatime audience. Animal Aid claims that 66 horses have been killed at the National meeting since 2000, and 16 in the showpiece race itself in that time. On the odds, then, the outsiders on the bookies' boards are more likely to die in the race than win it. Not a great vibe. Millions of homes will have had the same reaction when Broadway Boy hit the floor head-first at fence 25: that's a goner. A sickening fall, poor thing. How are you supposed to televise that? Stay tuned after the horsey death horror-show for pranks with Stephen Mulhern or switch over to Ice Age 2, kids. As it turned out, the animal survived, amazingly. Huge numbers of people were complaining on social media that ITV did not provide enough updates but what were Chamberlin and the producers meant to do? Until the information is available, what can they say? The race replay, skilfully negotiated by Oli Bell and Ruby Walsh, skipped out that fence to some people's disapproval but, again, they are damned if they do and damned if they don't. M'colleague Charlie Brooks argued in these pages recently that the changes made to the National 'are rapidly eroding [its unique] appeal and will destroy the popularity of the race' because 'the fences have been neutered to the point they are more of a trip hazard than a challenge', although the obstacle that defeated Broadway Boy looked challenging enough to most casual viewers. One defers to the experts when they say that fings ain't what they used to be, so it was lucky for racing that the Mullins father-and-son story provided a much better narrative than yet another routine win for the Closutton superpower. ITV's coverage on Saturday began with Brough Scott setting the scene and saying, don't worry about what it once was, celebrate it for what it is today. And the commentary of the race itself remains as it always has been: a complete nightmare. Could be Peter O'Sullevan, could be Richard Hoiles: speaking very fast, doing a brilliant job, but you are always at a loss as to where your one actually is. In terms of the event, broadcasting it has never been harder. On the one hand, animal rights people are not going to be satisfied while the race or indeed the sport exists at all. People of this persuasion do not want to hear about safer fences or having Chamberlin, Alice Plunkett and Mick Fitzgerald explain over and over that the horses get water, cooling fans and regular vet checks. It is striking how quickly racing has pivoted from essentially putting its collective fingers in its ears and saying variations of 'you townies don't understand our ways so shut up and leave us alone', to now contorting itself into all sorts of uncomfortable shapes to convince the once-a-year viewer that the animals are treated like kings so the occasional unpleasantness is fair game. This is sometimes taken to the point of absurdity, as with Fitzgerald saying on Saturday: 'If you are a human then you get triaged when you go to hospital and have to wait in line, no such worries for these horses, they get immediate treatment right away.' And they can get an NHS dentist appointment as well, the lucky buggers. The biggest cringe of the meeting was definitely owner Susannah Ricci's interview with Matt Chapman on Thursday. Her record on the day: Gaelic Warrior won, Lossiemouth won, Willy De Houelle dead. Well, you win some you lose some, right Suze? Chapman: 'I know you did lose a horse today but it has been some day.' Ricci: 'Yes, these are the days that dreams are made of, very privileged to have two such amazing horses.' ITV producer: *clutches head in hands*
CBC
03-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
First Nations leaders in B.C. call for Conservatives to drop candidate Aaron Gunn
A former vice-president of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) wants the Conservative Party to drop its candidate in his riding over posts on social media that show "denial of residential school impacts." "I find it extremely troubling that a candidate for any party could make such blatantly racist comments," said Bob (Galagame) Chamberlin, who served as UBCIC vice-president for 10 years and as elected chief of Kwikwasut'inuxw Haxwa'mis First Nation for 14 years. Aaron Gunn made posts on X between 2019 and 2021 denying that Indigenous people faced a genocide in Canada and that "residential schools were asked for by Indigenous bands." Gunn is now running as the Conservative Party candidate for North Island-Powell River. A post from Gunn on X from October 2020 reads "There was no genocide. Stop lying to people and read a book. The Holocaust was a genocide. Get off Twitter and learn more about the world." More than 150,000 First Nation, Métis and Inuit children were forced to attend residential schools between the 1870s and 1997. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission called the residential school system "cultural genocide" in its final report released in 2015. The House of Commons unanimously passed a motion in 2022 recognizing Canada's residential schools as genocide. The motion was passed after Pope Francis described residential schools as genocide after his visit to Canada in July 2022. Chamberlin said these comments show a "denial of residential school impacts" and Gunn "obviously can never represent the interests of First Nations people in this riding." Terry Teegee, B.C. regional chief for the Assembly of First Nations, said the Conservative Party should take a closer look at its candidates and consider dropping Gunn. "Mr. Gunn certainly hasn't read up on the term that is genocide," he said. "It's really concerning that perhaps the Conservatives can't work with First Nations peoples across this country, especially with a party that supports an individual of this type of view." A post on X from June 2021 reads "Residential schools were asked for by Indigenous bands in Eastern Ontario when John A. Macdonald was still a teenager, but hey, why let the truth get in the way of a good headline." UBCIC Grand Chief Stewart Phillip called the posts "absolutely reprehensible and repugnant and completely devoid of any sense of compassion for Indigenous Peoples who suffered enormously through the residential school experience." "I don't think this man is fit for public office, whether it be federal or provincial or any office that allows him to continue to make these horrible statements," he said. Chamberlin said that Gunn's social media posts constitute residential school denialism. "My fear is if candidates like Aaron Gunn become successful and are elected, that is the conversations that will continue to drive the oppression of First Nations people," said Chamberlin. Conservative Party responds CBC News made several attempts to reach Gunn for comment but did not hear back by time of publishing. In a statement, a campaign spokesperson for the Conservative Party said "Aaron Gunn has been clear in recognizing the truly horrific events that transpired in residential schools, and any attempt to suggest otherwise is simply false." The statement points to comments made by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to the Assembly of First Nations last July, in which he acknowledged the suffering caused by residential schools, calling it a "monstrous abuse of excessive governmental power." In the speech, Poilievre said there was more work to be done and "I know that Canada has no future without a strong future for the First Nations people." In the statement, the spokesperson said "Mr. Gunn, along with great candidates such as former Haisla Chief Ellis Ross, is looking forward to repealing the Liberals radical anti-resource laws to quickly green-light good projects so First Nations and all Canadians bring home more powerful paycheques." NDP candidate for North Island-Powell River Tanille Johnston said in a statement to CBC News, "It's horrific to see the Conservatives run a candidate that carries such divisive and harmful beliefs." "I believe that the Conservatives should explain why they feel this type of candidate is best suited for not only our riding of North Island-Powell River, but for our federal government." The Conservative Party has dropped four candidates this week, three of them for controversial comments. The Liberal Party of B.C. rejected Gunn's application to run for its leadership in 2021 after a review of comments attributed to Gunn on social media.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida government moves forward with minimum wage exemptions
The Florida House and Senate on Tuesday continued moving forward with a proposal that would provide an exemption to the state's voter-approved minimum wage for certain workers in on-the-job training. The Republican-controlled House Careers & Workforce Subcommittee voted 12-4 along party lines to support a measure (HB 541) that would allow pay below the minimum wage for employees involved in a 'work-study, internship, pre-apprenticeship or other similar work-based learning opportunity.' The Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee later Tuesday approved a similar bill (SB 676). The House version would allow people to be paid below the minimum wage for only 12 months. The bills say the exemption would apply if an employee 'opts out' of receiving the minimum wage. House bill sponsor Ryan Chamberlin, R-Belleview, said the current minimum wage law 'cripples' employers' abilities to provide training and affects young people seeking work experience. 'The answer to why people would choose this is if they see value outside of the pay,' Chamberlin said. 'They see an opportunity to gain some experience that they otherwise would not be able to gain that would further them and even jump them hopefully way past minimum wage at some point in the future.' Employers in Florida are allowed to pay sub-minimum wages to certain workers, such as people ages 19 and younger during the first 90 days of employment and to students working part-time in vocational training programs. If the proposal passes, Florida AFL-CIO lobbyist Rich Templin told the House committee that employers would take advantage of redefining job descriptions. 'You literally would be allowing business owners to make all of their employees an intern or a work-study or what have you, and anybody that wants to work there would have to sign this (minimum wage) waiver,' Templin said. 'Remember, in any given community there are only so many jobs. So, if business owners get together and say, 'Let's set up these internships,' you're not going to be able to find a job unless you work for less than the minimum wage.' But Rep. Mike Caruso, R-Delray Beach, said people opting for the lower pay would want to learn skills. 'It's not open to the McDonald's of the world, as I see it,' Caruso said. 'And we still have the baseline of the federal minimum wage. So they won't be working for nothing.' A 2020 state constitutional amendment required gradual increases in Florida's minimum wage. It is $13 an hour now, will increase to $14 an hour on Sept. 30 and will go to $15 an hour on Sept. 30, 2026. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. For tipped employees, the state's minimum wage is $9.98 an hour. The federal minimum for tipped employees is $2.13 an hour. Tim Nungesser, legislative director for the National Federation of Independent Business in Florida, said the legislative proposal is intended to help small businesses find qualified workers. 'States are looking for ways to get more skilled workers, and one of the ways that we can do that is with this voluntary program,' Nungesser said. Each proposal needs approval from one more committee before going to the full House and Senate. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
