Latest news with #DHP
CairoScene
09-07-2025
- General
- CairoScene
DHP Architecture Revives St. Maron Parish House in Beirut
Following the 2020 Beirut port explosion, St. Maron Parish has been restored and reimagined, combining 19th-century Beiruti architecture with modern design in a renewed community space. In Beirut's Saifi district, St. Maron Parish stands as a record of the city's layered architectural and social history. Established in 1874, the site comprises the St. Maron Church (1874) and the Parish House (1880s), as well as the structures added during the 1950s. Severely damaged by the Beirut port explosion in 2020, the complex has since undergone extensive repair and reorganisation. The church's restoration began in 2021, led by Architect Khalil Nader. In parallel, from 2021 to 2024, Dagher Hanna & Partners (DHP) directed the rehabilitation and extension of the Parish House and its reception area - a project that combined structural repair, adaptive reuse, and new construction. The House is a representative example of late 19th-century Ottoman Beiruti architecture, notable for its triple-arched façade, red-tiled pitched roof, and sandstone construction. Prior to the blast, the ground floor functioned as a reception space, while the unfinished upper level served as informal storage. DHP's approach went beyond reconstruction. The building's ground floor was rearranged to include offices, a communal kitchen, and a flexible reception area. An extension on the southern façade created a new reception annex to better accommodate gatherings and events linked to church life. The upper floor was completed and adapted into a residential apartment for the parish priests. The restoration process prioritised structural integrity and material authenticity. Local sandstone walls were reinforced using fibre mesh and finished with lime plaster. Traditional materials and techniques - such as Qotrani wood beams and hand-cut sandstone - were employed in the new upper-level addition to preserve continuity with the original structure. Foundation reinforcement necessitated the careful removal and storage of Carrara marble and cement tiles, which were reinstalled after stabilisation. Where new flooring was required, matching tiles were sourced to replicate the originals. The pitched roof, heavily damaged in the explosion, was repaired and extended using wooden trusses and beams in keeping with the building's construction period. The new reception hall extension does not mimic the past. It embraces contemporary architectural principles: steel columns and beams, an exposed fair-faced concrete ceiling, and large windows overlooking a newly planted garden and the church. The extension is a dialogue between old and new, a statement of the parish's commitment to heritage and future.
Business Wire
08-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Church Pension Group Releases Its 2025 Annual Report
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Church Pension Group (CPG), a financial services organization that serves The Episcopal Church, today announced the release of its online 2025 Annual Report ( Through a series of videos, articles, and graphics, the Annual Report highlights how CPG has found new vision-relevant opportunities to fulfill its purpose: to help the clergy and lay employees of The Episcopal Church in their calling to spread the gospel. 'We are pleased to share our Annual Report, which highlights our ongoing efforts to address the evolving needs of The Episcopal Church during a time of change in the Church and around the world,' said Mary Kate Wold, CEO and President of CPG. Share 'We are pleased to share our Annual Report, which highlights our ongoing efforts to address the evolving needs of The Episcopal Church during a time of change in the Church and around the world,' said Mary Kate Wold, CEO and President of CPG. 'I invite readers to learn about the many ways our products, programs, and services assist the people and institutions of the Church.' The Annual Report also includes the Denominational Health Plan Annual Report ( which highlights the efforts of The Episcopal Church Medical Trust to contain healthcare costs, provide equitable churchwide pricing of plans, and provide equal access to and parity of healthcare funding for eligible clergy and lay employees. About the Church Pension Group The Church Pension Group (CPG) is a financial services organization that serves The Episcopal Church. It maintains three lines of business—benefits, property and casualty insurance, and publishing. CPG provides retirement, health, life insurance, and related benefits for clergy and lay employees of The Episcopal Church, as well as property and casualty insurance and book and music publishing, including the official worship materials of the Church. Follow CPG on Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Scottish Sun
16-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Thousands of renters on Universal Credit can get bill help with little-known scheme worth £600 – check if you can claim
RENT SUPPORT Thousands of renters on Universal Credit can get bill help with little-known scheme worth £600 – check if you can claim Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TENANTS struggling to pay housing costs can tap into support from their local council, but it's estimated thousands are missing out. The financial help is worth an average of £600 as a one-off payment and can be used to cover rent shortfalls, deposits as well as other moving costs. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Renters can get help with bills using little-known scheme Credit: PA Councils are allocated a pot of cash of £100million from the government to give to struggling households through the so-called 'Discretionary Housing Payments'. Anyone getting housing benefit or Housing Benefit or the Housing Element of Universal Credit in England and Wales can apply for the help which could be a financial godsend. There's a similar scheme in Scotland which can also provide support for housing costs. If you qualify, you can typically expect to get £601 in support as a one-off payment, latest government figures show - but help can run into the thousands in some cases. Almost one in five payments were used to secure alternative accommodation, according to figures from the Department of Work and Pensions. And one in ten were for help with rent costs while the tenant looks for employment. You can apply if you're are struggling with rent costs of any kind. Local authorities give out the money on a case-by-case basis and the exact amount you could get depends on where you live and your circumstances. The cost of your housing, the size of your family and if you've fallen behind on rent are among the factors taken into account. Housing costs in the capital are often higher than other locations across the country so payouts there can be higher. The amount councils can give out also depends on how many people need it. As there is a set pot of cash for each area, the more people who apply the less money can be given out to each person who applies. And once a council uses up all the funding for the year, it may have to turn down applications if there is no more cash left. How do I apply? If the benefits you're currently getting don't cover the cost of your housing then you may be able to get the help. You need to apply through your local council for Discretionary Housing Payment. The payment is discretionary, which means that the financial support given out is decided on a case-by-case basis. Find out what your local council is offering on their website or by calling them directly. You can't get DHP to cover council tax or service charges. And you won't be able to get it if your benefits are reduced because of an overpayment and that means you can't pay all or some of your rent. What other help with housing costs is available? If you're battling to afford the cost of living, the Household Support Fund can act as a vital lifeline. The financial support is one way for struggling families to get extra help with the cost of living. Every council in England has been given a pot of cash by the government to distribute to local low income households. Each local authority chooses how to pass on the support. Many councils offer the help to households on selected benefits or they may base help on the level of household income. The key is to get in touch with your local authority to see exactly what support is on offer. Many local councils will also hand out free cash, food vouchers and help for bills to struggling families under the Welfare assistance scheme. Some local authorities may offer to put money towards paying your rent. Check what your local council can offer by getting in touch.
Hindustan Times
05-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Connecticut nurse suspended over fake degree from Florida-based school in federal probe
The Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing has suspended the license of a nurse who earned her degree from a Florida-based nursing school now linked to a federal criminal case. The school's owner is currently under indictment, raising questions about the legitimacy of credentials issued. Also Read: Dave Portnoy loses his calm and berates Kirk Minihane over a Jewish joke: 'Shut the….' Althea Rosemarie Grant McLean received her nursing degree from Carleen Health Institute in Florida, one of several schools targeted in the federal 'Operation Nightingale' investigation. According to state and federal documents, the school's owners were indicted for issuing fraudulent nursing credentials. The individuals who were connected to these institutes were distributing diplomas for nursing without providing any required training. The Federal authorities of Florida revealed that they were involved in an 'illegal licensing and employment shortcut for aspiring nurses.' In February, Carleen Noreus, who is the owner of Carleen Health Institute, was indicted by the authorities as part of the investigation, as revealed by the federal documents. She is accused of wire fraud and money laundering for allegedly sending fake diplomas and transcripts to employers, falsely claiming individuals had completed nursing degree requirements, according to official documents. Over two dozen others were also arrested as part of the investigation, as reported by CT Insider. Also Read: Who is Yulissa Escobar? Love Island USA contestant dismissed for hurling the N-word The DHP documents stated that Grant McLean sought and obtained a Connecticut license to practice nursing in 2023. She is one of the 58 nurses who either voluntarily relinquished their licenses or had them revoked by state nursing boards due to their ties to fraudulent nursing degree programs, according to DHP officials. A statement of charges issued by DPH investigators revealed that without the required training, Grant McLean stands as a 'clear and immediate danger to public health and safety. On Tuesday, the board voted to suspend her license to practice nursing until a hearing is held on the matter. She did not attend the meeting, which was held virtually. It is yet to be clarified if Grant McLean was aware of the scam while she was attending the school for the nursing diploma.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
CDC Cuts HIV Communications, Leaving Vulnerable Black Georgians in the Dark
As infectious diseases like measles, salmonella, and hepatitis quietly spread across the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has gone largely silent. Of particular concern for Atlanta residents is the CDC's lack of communication about HIV. According to the CDC, Georgia had the second-highest HIV diagnosis rate and the second-highest rate of HIV related deaths in 2023 in the U.S. Additionally, Georgia had the highest rate of new HIV infections in 2022. In addition, despite comprising about 32% of Georgia's population, Black people accounted for approximately 71% of new HIV diagnoses in 2021. Since early 2025, the Atlanta-based CDC has sharply scaled back its public communications, halting health alerts and pausing activity on key social media channels, according to a report by NPR. The changes began shortly after President Donald Trump was inaugurated in January, when the Department of Health and Human Services instructed the CDC and other health agencies to pause any collaboration with people outside the agency. Until recently, the CDC regularly distributed health information through more than 150 newsletters and reached tens of thousands of recipients, including doctors and laboratories that depended on the updates to inform patient care, according to NPR. The agency also regularly made use of their social media platforms to disseminate information to its more than 12 million followers across Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn. In recent CDC publications, data related to HIV has lacked information or experienced delays. In a release from April on HIV prevalence, the organization noted that it 'does not include data on PrEP coverage,' referring to the preventative medication taken to reduce the risk of HIV infection. The CDC explained that it is currently 'unable to resume PrEP coverage at this time, due to a reduction in force affecting the Division of HIV Prevention (DHP).' HIV research and prevention advocacy groups warn that the loss of staff at the DHP could have detrimental impacts on the country's pursuit in reducing the number of HIV cases. 'The continued cuts to CDC coupled with the proposed cuts to our healthcare infrastructure (like the cuts to Medicaid and Medicare through the big Beautiful Bill passed out of the house last week) leaves our state and country more vulnerable to pandemics including HIV,' said Maximillian Boykin with PrEP4All, an HIV medication advocacy group, in an email to Capital B Atlanta. 'This comes in direct contrast to the president's promise to end HIV by 2030 in the United States. The cuts to CDC leave less people in the state of Georgia employed along with … [making] our country less healthier, and less capable of dealing with HIV and any other pandemic that could come along,' said Boykin. The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute described the staff cuts as a 'decimation' of the nation's ability to prevent HIV, noting that the expertise lost cannot be easily replaced and will have long-term negative effects on public health. The National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, or NASTAD, reported that entire branches within the DHP, including Behavioral & Clinical Surveillance, HIV Research, and Prevention Communication, have been eliminated. This significantly hampers the nation's ability to track and respond to HIV outbreaks effectively. The reduction of employees across the CDC has also affected other areas of concern for Black residents. Back in April, three employees — two of whom had recently received layoff notices — told Capital B Atlanta that the CDC's labor force reductions in Atlanta were concentrated in areas of health study that have an outsized impact on Black people, including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, gun violence, and youth violence. The post CDC Cuts HIV Communications, Leaving Vulnerable Black Georgians in the Dark appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta.
