Latest news with #Colton
Associated Press
6 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
California Governor Candidate Sharifah Hardie Highlights $75M SWorx Expansion to Put Californians Back to Work
Sharifah Hardie showcases SWorx Bottling's $75M expansion as a real solution to create jobs and rebuild California's economy from the ground up. 'SWorx Bottling Company is proof that we can bring jobs back to California. This is how we rebuild our economy, with real action, real opportunity, and real leadership."'— Sharifah Hardie COLTON, CA, UNITED STATES, May 30, 2025 / / -- Sharifah Hardie, Republican candidate for California Governor in 2026, is shining a spotlight on a $75 million investment initiative by SWorx Bottling Company, calling it a powerful example of how California can rebuild its economy from the ground up. During a recent tour of the SWorx facility in Colton, California, Hardie praised the company's commitment to job creation, manufacturing expansion, and local empowerment. She described SWorx as a 'real-world model' of her California Forward Plan, which prioritizes infrastructure, small business growth, and putting Californians back to work. 'California's economy has been hit hard, but we're done waiting,' said Hardie. 'We're building a future right here, right now. SWorx Bottling Company proves that we can deliver jobs, innovation, and hope for working families across the state.' SWorx Bottling Launches $75 Million Private Offering SWorx Bottling Company, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Urban Television Network Corp. (OTC: URBT ), recently launched a $75 million private offering to scale operations, increase production capacity, and create new employment opportunities across California. The company's 161,000-square-foot facility offers high-efficiency beverage production, packaging, and bottling services for both established and emerging brands. With global supply chain issues and rising tariffs, SWorx's commitment to local manufacturing and 'Made in America' solutions positions it as a critical piece of California's economic recovery. 'The acquisition of SWorx by URBT marks a new chapter,' said said Dan Parr, CEO of SWorx Bottling Company. 'We now have the leadership, vision, and resources to scale rapidly. This expansion offers a unique opportunity for qualified investors to be part of something exceptional.' California Forward: A Vision for Economic Recovery The expansion of SWorx Bottling directly supports key priorities outlined in Sharifah Hardie's California Forward Plan, including: Investing in scalable industries like manufacturing and logistics Creating sustainable jobs across underserved communities Streamlining regulations to attract business growth Supporting workforce training and technical education Revitalizing infrastructure to boost long-term productivity 'SWorx Bottling is more than just a plant,' Hardie said. 'It's a blueprint for how we can strengthen our communities, support local businesses, and bring jobs back to California.' How to Learn More and Get Involved The SWorx Bottling private offering is currently open with limited availability for qualified investors. Facility Address: 1601 East Steel Road, Colton, CA 92324 Learn more about SWorx Bottling Company: Explore URBT's broader business portfolio: Donate to Sharifah Hardie's campaign: For investment inquiries, media interviews, or campaign support, call 562-822-0965 About Sharifah Hardie Sharifah Hardie is a Republican candidate for California Governor in 2026, entrepreneur, and media personality dedicated to economic renewal, job creation, and inclusive growth. Her California Forward Plan offers practical, bold solutions to the state's most urgent challenges. About SWorx Bottling Company SWorx Bottling Company is a premier beverage production facility based in Colton, California, providing turnkey manufacturing, bottling, and packaging services. The company is known for its high-speed, high-efficiency operations and commitment to helping brands scale with quality and precision. About URBT Urban Television Network Corp. (OTC: URBT) is a publicly traded media and technology company focused on innovation, acquisition, and building value across digital, broadcast, and infrastructure sectors. Sharifah Hardie Sharifah Hardie for Governor +1 562-822-0965 [email protected] Visit us on social media: Instagram Facebook X Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Family of 9-year-old hospitalized for weeks with E. coli infection seeks accountability from FDA
Last November, 9-year-old Colton George became sick and nearly died after eating a salad, which was tainted with E. coli. He spent weeks in the hospital on kidney dialysis. Despite there being a deadly E. coli outbreak, the FDA chose not to publicize it. Colton, his parents Chris and Amber, and their lawyer Bill Marler join Katy Tur to share their story.
CBS News
27-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Young Twin Cities inventors get a major lesson in engineering and inclusion
As the end of the school year approaches, a group of Twin Cities students are making it memorable for some of their peers living with disabilities. Inside Shakopee High School, students in the engineering academy are presenting a variety of innovative products, from a typing aid, to a custom sound board and a spoon stabilizer. "Harper would be wearing this grounding bracelet, so that when he touches this tinfoil, it'll complete the circuit to a Makey Makey board that's in the inside," said a student named Coen. Every one of the products is designed specifically to make life easier for a younger student living with disabilities, like Camden, a fun-loving kindergartener who lives with cerebral palsy. "It's squishy," Camden said. He says it's easier to hold when he's having one of his favorite foods: M&M's yogurt. Over less than a month's time, the engineering students learned about their client's disabilities, the impact on their lives and maybe most importantly, inclusion. Camden WCCO "Everyone just wants to be liked and included and have a friend, and that's kind of what this does," said Julie Phillips, Shakopee Public Schools' physical and health disabilities consultant. Colton and Coen worked with a seventh grader named Harper, who speaks with a communication device or body language. "We figured out what he liked, so we'd say certain things and if he liked it, he would kick up his leg," Colton said. Harper wanted to make music. "The four buttons on the left play different musical instruments. These two make the pitch of that instrument either higher or lower," Coen said. These acts of accessibility and connection are having a big impact on the students with disabilities and their peer builders. "You can make so many different things to help people and just improve their life in general," Colton said. "That idea of being able to help other people, it's really rewarding," Coen said. Ryder and Mahdav designed and 3D printed the silverware stabilizers that Camden loves to use. They hope they've made as much of an impact on him as he has on them. "His face, his laugh," Ryder said. "Every time he got super excited, it was really fun to watch," Mahdav said. "It made it worth it."
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Govoni given ‘final, final' chance to avoid criminal contempt of court charge
TAMPA — It's been more than a year since Rebekah Bowman learned that $850,000 was missing from the medical trust fund set up for her developmentally delayed son, Kienan Freeman. On Wednesday, she and her son made the 135-mile trip from their Cape Coral home to the federal courthouse in Tampa hoping to see Leo Govoni, the Clearwater businessman accused in court of taking $100 million from trust funds, including Kienan's, sent to jail for contempt of court. But Govoni remained a free man Wednesday and approached Bowman and her son after the hearing. Before she could react, he leaned in and gave her a hug and told her the missing money is 'not what she thinks it is,' she said. She replied back that he had broken his promise to take care of her son's money. 'I'm shaken up right now,' Bowman said in an interview. 'He knows what he did.' Govoni still faces the threat of jail for not complying with court orders to produce personal and business records. Federal bankruptcy Judge Roberta Colton, who found Govoni in contempt on April 28, said she will decide whether to refer his case to federal district court for criminal contempt proceedings at a 'final final hearing' on June 12. The Center for Special Needs Trust Administration, which Govoni founded, filed for bankruptcy in February 2024 after officials found paperwork showing a $100 million loan had been made to his company, Boston Finance Group. It was never repaid, leaving the families of disabled and injured people with with no money for medical and living expenses. Govoni lived a lavish lifestyle after the loan was approved, records show. He flew friends on his $3.4 million private jet to watch the Kentucky Derby from his executive suite at Churchill Downs. He doled out hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions to politicians. Colton in January ruled that Govoni is liable for the missing money. He is also under investigation by the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service and the Securities and Exchange Commission. John Dicks, an attorney working for the bankruptcy estate, told Colton during the hearing that Govoni has failed to disclose what he did with the proceeds of roughly $5 million in real estate sales made since November 2021. 'There's been no information at all and no effort,' he said. 'It's like pulling teeth to get any of this.' Buddy Ford, an attorney representing Govoni, did file a tranche of documents one day before the hearing. He told Colton that progress is being made. He has also subpoenaed Joanne Golden, a Pinellas realtor who is the wife of Jonathan Golden, Govoni's former business attorney. Dicks said he hadn't had time to review them all but said there are still many records missing, including an information sheet detailing Govoni's personal finances and one for Boston Finance. The hearing came one day after a Pinellas court judge said he will issue orders requiring the repayment of trust fund money that was transferred from Boston Finance to other Govoni companies. That includes $16 million that was wired to Big Storm Brewing, the craft beer business Govoni ran with his son LJ Govoni. In another effort to recover assets, Colton on Wednesday also approved the sale of a warehouse at 610 Charlotte St. in Punta Gorda owned by Big Storm Real Estate. However, since the purchase was financed through a seller-financed mortgage, the proceeds will only amount to about $173,000. A portion of that money will be made available to families facing urgent medical needs, said Megan Murray, an attorney with Underwood Murray who is representing those owed money by the center. Bowman said she met Govoni in 2004 soon after he son, received an $800,000 award and an annual annuity from the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. He had suffered severe seizures after receiving a vaccine when he was 18 months old that affected his development. He relies on a wheelchair and has limited verbal skills. The award and annuity are intended to pay for her son's care for the rest of his life. Freeman is 27. '(Govoni) portrayed himself as being very nice and kind and gentle,' Bowman said. 'He promised that he would take care of the money and help us to grow it.' Like more than 1,500 other families, Bowman received a letter in February 2024 informing her that their trust fund had been compromised and that the center was filing for bankruptcy. There was $200,000 left in the trust, she said. 'It impacts everything,' Bowman said. 'We are blessed in that we had some money. But there are people in this that have zero. They have nothing.'
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
19-year-old killed by suspected DUI driver in Colton
The Brief A 19-year-old man was killed after being struck by multiple cars while crossing the road in Colton. The driver of the initial vehicle was arrested for vehicular manslaughter and DUI. COLTON, Calif. - A young man is dead after being run over by a suspected DUI driver. What we know The incident, which was caught on video, happened May 2 around 6:48 a.m. in the 1700 block of East Washington Street in Colton. Video shows 19-year-old Larenz Lamaar Fondren crossing the street as a vehicle strikes him. Colton Police said he was then struck by multiple vehicles. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The police department said all those involved in the crash remained at the scene and cooperated with officers. The driver of the initial vehicle, 30-year-old Antonio Dominguez Medrano, was arrested for vehicular manslaughter while driving under the influence. Officials say speed and impairment were a factor in the crash. Medrano was booked at the West Valley Detention Center with bail set at $100,000. Fondren's family said he was about to graduate nursing school and was given an honorary degree. A funeral is set for May 17.
