Latest news with #Christenson
The Star
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Bumi Armada sees earnings slip to RM182.77mil in 1Q
KUALA LUMPUR: Bumi Armada Bhd reported lower top- and bottomlines in the first quarter of 2025 (1Q25) as there were reduced contributions from two of its floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels. In the quarter under review, Bumi Armada said net profit was RM182.77mil, down from RM240.54mil, while revenue shrank to RM473.97mil from RM635.54mil in the year-ago quarter. The group's earnings per share slipped to 3.08 sen from 4.06 sen previously. In a statement announcing its results, Bumi Armada said the weaker performance was primarily owing to reduced contributions from Armada Kraken FPSO. This was due to the recognition of compensation payable to the charterer in 1Q25 upon confirmation of the second annual charter extension to April 1, 2027. Meanwhile, there was an absence of revenue from Armada Olombendo FPSO due to major maintenance works. Bumi Armada CEO Gary Christenson maintained that Bumi Armada's performance remained positive from an operational standpoint with all active vessels perfroming well with zero lost time injury. "We retained a significant cash balance whilst also paying down debt," he added. However, the Armada Kraken FPSO has entered its first annual option period extension commencing on April 1 with a 70% reduction in charter rate. This is expected to lead to a significant reduction in group revenue for the year. "In these uncertain times, we are looking to take advantage of our improved operational and financial strength by pursuing appropriate new project opportunities," said Christenson.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawmakers propose study bill on what it would take to build regional rail systems
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada rendering of a proposed light rail along Maryland Parkway. In 2019 the RTC opted to enhance bus lanes instead. Reno Assemblymember Selena La Rue Hatch brought forward legislation on Tuesday she hoped would be the first step to potentially bring a regional rail system to Southern and Northern Nevada. Assembly Bill 256, heard Tuesday at the Assembly Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections, would create a Regional Rail Transit Advisory Working Group to assess the need for mass transit via rail in the state's largest metro areas, as well as potential funding sources for such a system. The group would submit legislative recommendations for the 2027 Legislative Session. 'A fully functioning regional transit system with rail is not a-one session bill,' La Rue Hatch said. 'This is the first step in getting there.' Rail transit would ease traffic and congestion while reducing emissions that exacerbate climate change, La Rue Hatch said. There have been previous efforts to assess feasibility of rail transit systems in Las Vegas and Reno by regional transportation groups, La Rue Hatch noted. State lawmakers even passed legislation in 2017 authorizing Southern Nevada to pursue a light rail system. Upon consideration, Southern Nevada officials in 2019 opted to enhance the bus system instead. La Rue Hatch said there was 'never a plan for how we would make those things get off the ground,' adding discussions and studies assessing regional rail systems were 'all happening in silos' without much coordination. 'The legislature is not fully informed on how we can help support this,' she said. The aim of the bill would be to consolidate efforts, build on the work that's already being done and bring recommendations to the legislature, she said. La Rue Hatch was joined by Gabe Christenson, legislative director for SMART TD, which represents railroad conductors, and Anne Macquarie with the Nevada Rail Coalition, an advocacy group made up of railroad unions and environmental groups, in presenting the bill to the committee on Tuesday. Christenson said with an increased number of people relocating to Nevada, transportation infrastructure is struggling to keep up with demand. 'Building new roads or even expanding existing roads is a massive financial endeavor that takes a very long time,' he said. 'In many cases, by the time the projects are done, it's already time to start expanding again.' While it would be up to the working group to assess funding sources to pay for a potential rail system, 'there are billions of dollars available annually in the form of federal grants for new passenger rail projects,' he said. Neither Christenson nor any of the lawmakers discussed how efforts by President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, an unelected adviser and director of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, to slash government services and funding federal cuts could stymie efforts to use federal dollars for a potential regional rail system. The legislation also proposed looking at state, private and nonprofit dollars as potential funding sources. Macquarie said rail systems bring economic benefits to communities. 'Property taxes in the areas surrounding stations can quadruple when they're developed with businesses that serve rail passengers,' she said, while contributing 'to meeting the state's environmental, economic and quality of life goals.' The working group outlined in the bill would include representatives from Clark and Washoe Counties, both counties Regional Transportation Commissions, state lawmakers, labor unions, as people with expertise in rail transit. The study bill received overwhelming support from business groups and environmental organizers. Reno Ward 4 City Councilwoman Meghan Ebert was the lone local elected official to testify in support of the bill. Ebert, who represents a more rural area of Reno, said the number one concern she hears from constituents is about the lack of transit infrastructure and 'ways to get in and out of the North valley into the rest of Reno.' 'I think this is a great option to move this forward and find ways to include light rail or whatever type of train system the study decides is feasible,' Ebert said. Both the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada and Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County supported the proposal. Michael Hillerby, a lobbyist with the RTC in Washoe, said the county is in the middle of its own feasibility study using outside consultants, but didn't specify a timeline for when it would be completed. The Vegas Chamber also supported the bill, requesting the working group include a member from the chamber as well. La Rue Hatch said she was open to adding a representative for a trade association or Chamber of Commerce. The committee took no action on the bill.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Influenza rates are 'very high' in Indiana. How to protect yourself
Indiana is seeing "very high" rates of influenza activity in emergency rooms and primary care offices across the state, as national cases of influenza hit a 15-year high. Influenza rates in Indiana jumped from high to very high Tuesday, according to Indiana Department of Health data. Indiana's influenza uptick is in line with activity in other states as flu season hits its seasonal peak, said state epidemiologist Eric the same time, other respiratory viruses — like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the common cold and coronavirus —are also circulating. Most pharmacies have at-home tests available to test for the flu and coronavirus. However, other respiratory illnesses, such as RSV, require testing at a primary or urgent care office. But this week has been one of the highest influenza peaks since the coronavirus pandemic. Elderly patients and infants are among the most vulnerable patients. Indiana has recorded 57 influenza-related deaths this season as of Tuesday, with people over the age of 65 accounting for 41 of the deaths. No Indiana infants under the age of four have died from influenza this year, according to IDOH. In the past week, 13% of children under four years old visiting the emergency room presented signs of influenza, based on state data collected from 119 hospital emergency rooms and 23 urgent care centers. "Right now, the important thing is it's respiratory season, so we have lots of things circulating, and the reason we have this information out there is to make people aware that there are things that they can do to prevent illness and respiratory illnesses," Hawkins said. Influenza or flu typically presents with a high fever (over 100 degrees) accompanied by a cold or sore throat. Influenza spreads through person-to-person interactions, usually when a sick person coughs, sneezes or talks. Vaccines can prevent severe infections and medical complications from the flu, said Dr. John Christenson, associate medical director of pediatric infection prevention at Riley Hospital for Children. It's not too late for patients to receive the flu vaccine from a pharmacy or primary care provider, Christenson said. The vaccine takes up to 10 days to take effect. "We hope that [parents] consider that influenza is still here and get this flu vaccine, so they can protect their family," Christenson said. "The vaccine is not a perfect vaccine. We've known that for decades. It may not prevent infection, but one thing we are pretty certain of is that the vaccine prevents death and hospitalizations." Those who are elderly, immunocompromised or under the age of four can develop severe complications with influenza. If parents notice children having difficulty breathing or not taking enough food or fluids, they should seek additional medical care, Christenson said. Even those vaccinated can still catch influenza. People can protect themselves and others with the "three C's," Hawkins said: cleaning hands and surfaces regularly; covering one's mouth when coughing; and containing the virus by staying home if ill. "It does fluctuate and go up and down, but the take home message here with influenza always around is, what are the things you could do to prevent illness? And I think that's one thing that we can help with," Hawkins said. Flu season runs from October to May, with peaks varying year to year. Doctors expect flu activity to start to decrease in March. Flu rates reached unusual lows in the 2020-21 winter season due to widespread masking. However, in the last three years, flu rates in the colder months have ticked back up. More: Flu has officially hit a second high in the US: Know the symptoms The flu and COVID-19 have several symptoms in common. Here's how to tell the difference between the two viruses: Alysa Guffey covers business and development for IndyStar. Have a story or tip? Contact her at amguffey@ This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Flu rates are 'very high' in Indiana. How to prevent catching irus
