Latest news with #Coker
USA Today
17-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
This 2nd-year WR was named the Panthers' most underrated player heading into 2025 season
This 2nd-year WR was named the Panthers' most underrated player heading into 2025 season The most promising second-year wide receiver on the Carolina Panthers' roster may not even be the one they took in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. Heck, this guy didn't even get drafted. Pro Football Focus analyst Jonathon Macri recently named the most underrated player for each team heading into the 2025 season. He tabs Jalen Coker for the Panthers, who might've found themselves quite a gem right after last year's selection process. Macri writes: The Panthers spent a first-round pick on wide receiver Xavier Legette last offseason and only scooped up Coker as an undrafted free agent. The expectation for Legette to be the most effective receiver wasn't unreasonable, though Coker consistently looked like the better option in 2024. He ranked fourth among qualifying rookie wide receivers in yards per route run (1.72) on the year. Coker finished with a 73.8 PFF receiving grade, which was also a top-five mark among rookie receivers. He delivered 478 receiving yards on just 45 targets — just over half as many targets as Legette, who finished with a 59.4 PFF receiving grade and 497 yards. Coker also averaged a team-leading 14.9 yards per reception as a rookie—beating out the likes of Legette (10.1), Adam Thielen (12.8) and, on a more temporary basis, Diontae Johnson (11.9) Between Carolina's latest first-round choice in fellow receiver Tetairoa McMillan, their hopes of improvement for Legette and Thielen's prominent role in the passing game, Coker may not even hit those same numbers as a sophomore. But if he's as good as many believe, then the Panthers could have themselves quite the depth at the wideout position. Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
On the hook for new city‘s bills, Gwinnett takes legal action
Gwinnett County filed a new legal challenge Friday over a state law it says unfairly forces its taxpayers to cover services for the newly formed city of Mulberry. Channel 2's Matt Johnson reports that Senate Bill 138 is at the center of the fight. The bill requires Gwinnett County to continue providing services like road maintenance, stormwater management and police protection inside Mulberry city limits without reimbursement from the city's residents. County officials argue the law is unconstitutional and would place an unfair financial burden on the rest of Gwinnett's 1 million residents. 'There is a mandate for the county to provide those services at the expense of all county residents who do not live in the city,' said Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] County officials say the law has four big problems for Gwinnett taxpayers: it takes away county legal protections, makes the county pay for Mulberry's stormwater upkeep, leaves them covering some police costs, and leaves them the bill for Mulberry's elections. Hendrickson said the county attempted to negotiate an intergovernmental agreement with Mulberry earlier this year but received no response. Mulberry Mayor Michael Coker pushed back on that claim. He said the city is trying to follow the law and wants the county to work with them, not against them. TRENDING STORIES: Body found in search for missing kayaker at Lake Lanier BioLab to close Rockdale County facility at center of chemical fire Fake Douglas Co. deputy claimed woman owed thousands in fines in theft plot, real deputies say 'We are a city, we are here to stay. Let's start working together,' Coker said. 'Despite repeat attempts by me to sit down to speak with the chairwoman, to speak with the commissioners, they've refused.' Coker said the county sent a draft agreement just before a key Senate hearing but included language questioning whether Mulberry was a legitimate city. The law provides a transition period for Mulberry to become fully operational. Mulberry, a city of about 42,000 residents, was approved by voters in 2024. This new lawsuit follows a separate challenge earlier this year, when a judge dismissed Gwinnett's attempt to block Mulberry from forming. This case targets the financial aspects, not the city's existence. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Nessel: Former legislative aide embezzled hundreds of thousands in public funds
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's office alleges a former legislative aide embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars of public money meant for a central Michigan health park. David Coker, 51, was arraigned Wednesday, May 14, on seven charges of embezzlement, conducting a criminal enterprise and misusing public funds in Ingham County's 54A District Court, including six felony counts. According to a criminal complaint read by District Judge Kristen Simmons, Coker is accused of using state grant money meant for a community health facility in Clare County to make personal purchases, including cars, firearm accessories, gold, silver and platinum bars, and more. A message left with Coker's attorney, Joshua Blanchard of Greenville, wasn't immediately returned Thursday morning. According to Nessel's office, Coker was a legislative staffer of former House Speaker Jason Wentworth, a Republican from Clare who led the House in 2021 and 2022. A $25 million grant, issued to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, was earmarked in the state budget in 2022 for Complete Health Park, a nonprofit agency created by Coker to oversee the creation of a health campus in Clare. The city is about 85 miles north of Lansing. Around $9.9 million from the grant had been dispersed by MDHHS to a nonprofit managed by Coker for the project before a "stop work" order was issued by MDHHS in May 2023, Nessel said. Nessel said at a Thursday press conference red flags were raised when IW Consulting, a firm created by Coker, was selected by the nonprofit agency to work on the project. Nessel's office alleges around $820,000 was moved from the nonprofit to IW Consulting. Coker used the funds to pay off personal debts, she said, as well as buy four vehicles and over 70 gold, silver and platinum bars. The money transfers in question are alleged to have happened in Dec. 2022 and Jan. 2023. "Once he transferred the funds from the Complete Health Park account to the IW Consulting account, he began emptying the business account into his own personal account and very soon began paying off his personal debts and making extravagant purchases with that money," Nessel said. Coker failed to disclose his financial ties to IW Consulting, Nessel's offices alleges. A criminal complaint alleges Coker "immediately" transferred more than $820,000 from CHP's account to IW Consulting. The most severe penalties Coker faces, conducting a criminal enterprises, embezzlement and making false pretenses with intent to defraud, each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, if convicted. Coker is due back in court May 23 for a probable cause conference. He was released from the Ingham County jail Thursday on a personal recognizance bond, according to court records. Nessel said the investigation into the grant is complete. She said Wentworth and state Rep. Tom Kunse, R-Clare, cooperated with investigators and are cleared of criminal wrongdoing in the matter. Kunse sold $3.2 million worth of land for the project, Nessel said. More: Michigan voters will have to wait a little longer for politicians' financial disclosures Nessel said the charges underscore transparency issues in Michigan's state budget process, something she said was "more about who you know than your expertise." She said the vast majority of nonprofit projects receiving state funds are beneficial to their communities. Current House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, said deals like the one that launched the investigation into Complete Health Park "were the norm in Lansing for far too long." In the House, lawmakers were required to submit requests for earmarks in the state budget this year to be publicly viewable, whereas previously, budget earmarks did not have to have a sponsor next to them. The House has yet to pass a budget bill, while the Senate passed a version of its budget Wednesday. "We're going to let the Attorney General do her job and see this investigation through, keep an eye on what comes out during the proceedings to see if other changes are needed and continue passing new ethics and transparency measures across state government," Hall said in a Thursday statement. More: Judge rules some remaining abortion restrictions in Michigan are unconstitutional (This story was updated to add new information.) Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Former legislative aide accused of embezzling public money
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Michigan Attorney General to announce charges against former legislative aide for embezzlement
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)– Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel will announce charges against David Coker Jr., former legislative aide of former Michigan House Speaker Jason Wentworth (R-District 97), for multiple felony charges. Coker, 52, faces seven felony charges, including running a criminal enterprise, embezzlement, false pretenses, and violating the law requiring the state to keep public money safe. that the charges stem from allegations Coker used state money for a new health and fitness center in Clare, to buy gold coins, gold bars, silver, platinum, vehicles, and firearm accessories. 'The state alleges that Coker, after receiving the first $9.9 million allocation of the $25 million grant, 'immediately' wired more than $820,000 from the Complete Health Park nonprofit he had created during the state budget process to his consulting firm, IW Consulting,' according to Nessel. The state also alleges he transferred 'hundreds of thousands' of dollars into his personal bank accounts. 'Coker failed to disclose that he ran IW Consulting and submitted invoices, knowing he did not and could not have performed $820,000 of consulting work so quickly, according to the complaint,' according to Nessel. Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) praises Nessel for addressing pressing charges against Coker. I applaud Attorney General Nessel for addressing this gross misuse of taxpayer dollars by former Republican House leadership. This is another example of the rampant corruption that plagued recent Republican majorities in the Michigan Legislature. Senate Democrats have done things differently since 2023. We built budgets to help working people and brought transparency to the process — including the way we fund community projects. Because of the changes we made, every legislative enhancement grant requires a legislative sponsor to take ownership of the project or program. State departments then must publish that information online, allowing residents to see how legislators are advocating for the use of their tax dollars. If the Republican majority had these measures in place back in 2022, corrupt backroom deals like this one could have been brought to light earlier. I'm proud of the steps our caucus has taken to create a more ethical, responsible budget process. Our budgets invest directly in our communities, fix aging infrastructure, and ensure people have what they need to thrive. These transparency measures are crucial and effective, and this investigation serves as another important reminder of the need to shine more light into the halls of power. We must manage these funds responsibly and take decisive action in the event of any misuse. I'm grateful the Speaker learned this lesson during his time in the past Republican majority caucus because it takes buy-in from the House, Senate, and Governor to build transparency and accountability measures that work. In fact, I encourage the Speaker to follow the lead of the Senate Democrats and pass the common-sense FOIA reforms we passed back in January. Sen. Sarah Anthony. Coker was arraigned in Clare and was transported to the Ingham County Jail. He could face up to two decades behind bars. Nessel will announce these charges this morning at 11. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sonoco scales global metal packaging business, downplays tariff exposure
This story was originally published on Packaging Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Packaging Dive newsletter. By the numbers: Q1 2025 Net sales: $1.71B Up 30.6% year over year Consumer packaging net sales: $1.07B Up 83.4% year over year Industrial packaging net sales: $558M Down 6% year over year Net income: $54M Compared with $65M in Q1 2024 Overview: CEO Howard Coker said on a first quarter earnings call Wednesday that Sonoco was pleased with Q1 performance, including in its growing consumer packaging segment. Sonoco's balance sheet this year is being impacted by business purchases and sales in the last year, including the recent $3.8 billion acquisition of metal packaging business Eviosys, which it is integrating as 'Sonoco Metal Packaging EMEA,' and the $1.8 billion transaction to divest its thermoformed and flexibles packaging business to Toppan Holdings, which closed at the start of this month. Rebalancing the business: Sonoco highlighted the significance of those changes in its earnings presentation Wednesday. Its business was 56% industrial and 44% consumer in 2005; today, it's 34% industrial and 66% consumer. Sonoco is continuing to evaluate divesting ThermoSafe, hoping for a resolution by the end of this year, executives said. Eviosys integration: As it integrates Sonoco Metal Packaging EMEA, the company intends to treat its global metal packaging businesses as a single enterprise going forward. Sonoco projects $40 million in savings in 2025, part of its two-year synergies target of $100 million. 'Working together, our global can businesses are also identifying long-term savings and commercial opportunities that will benefit our customers for years to come,' Coker said. In the U.S. in Q1, the metal packaging business' double-digit growth was boosted by strength in aerosols and food cans with existing and new customers, he said. Economic environment: Coker noted that Sonoco's consumer packaging business tends to perform well in times of economic stress, in part because consumers may purchase more canned foods. Conversely, the industrial paper packaging business has historically experienced a slowdown during past recessions, but 'our industrial business in 2025 is significantly stronger, and the markets we serve have matured since the COVID recession of 2020,' Coker said. Still, Sonoco is not immune to an economic downturn, Coker said. Tariffs discussion: Sonoco's manufacturing network is designed to serve local markets, 'reducing our exposure to cross-border disruptions and tariff-related risks,' Coker said. Sonoco can also make price adjustments, he said. 'Most importantly, our transformed portfolio is significantly more resilient, with over two-thirds of our sales now coming from consumer food packaging, a segment that has historically demonstrated strong performance across economic cycles,' he said. Outlook: Sonoco projects its 2025 pro forma sales will range between $7.75 billion and $8 billion (including one quarter of thermoformed and flexibles packaging, and a full year of ThermoSafe.) The company reaffirmed its full-year earnings guidance, as well as its operating cash flow projection of $800 million to $900 million. Priorities for the year include driving performance in the consumer and industrial businesses, managing risk in the current economic conditions, advancing the Metal Packaging EMEA integration, further optimizing global manufacturing and improving stock performance, Coker said. Recommended Reading Toppan buys Sonoco's thermoformed and flexibles business for $1.8B
