Latest news with #Flakes
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Columbus civic organizations detail plans for 2026 local election strategy
Columbus civic organizations gathered last week for a town hall meeting to discuss plans for the coalitions to unite and consolidate Black voters behind candidates ahead of the 2026 local elections in Muscogee County. Leaders from organizations, including the Columbus branch of the NAACP and the Columbus Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, led the meeting April 17 in the Page-Doleman Complex at Holsey Chapel CME Church. The meeting followed multiple news conferences condemning the Columbus Council's appointment of Councilor John Anker to the citywide District 9 seat the same day former Councilor Judy Thomas resigned. But the town hall was meant to focus on the coalition's plans for the next election rather than expressing opinions about elected officials, national NAACP board member and the Georgia state administrator Ed DuBose told the Ledger-Enquirer. During the town hall meeting, leaders from multiple organizations laid out plans for their movement, named Columbus, GA, United, to vet, prepare and campaign for a single 'unity' candidate for each seat up for election. 'We are really looking at shifting paradigms,' the Rev. Johnny Flakes III of Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church said during the meeting. 'We're looking at shifting the process and establishing clear-cut paths to providing the best candidates that Columbus deserves to serve residents of this city.' Elections for mayor and Columbus Council seats for Districts 1, 5, 7 and 9 are in May 2026. Members of the coalition who were involved in the recent news conferences understood that they had to create an organization that would include everybody, Flakes said. These conversations led to the creation of Columbus, GA, United. 'The goal is to prevent vote splitting, preserve and protect our political power,' Flakes said. 'Black power that does not exclude anybody else.' Their plan is to consolidate community support behind a single viable candidate in races where multiple Black candidates will split the vote, he said. The first step in achieving this is to create a vetting committee consisting of 7-10 members representing faith leaders, youth organizers, elders, advocates, political strategists and neighborhood representatives. This committee would review candidate credentials, records and community support. They would interview prospective candidates and analyze their viability using data and strategy. The committee also would host public forums where candidates would answer key issue-based questions, demonstrate their policy knowledge and public speaking ability and share their campaign vision. 'Someone in the room might be like, 'Who's controlling the show?'' DuBose said. 'The people. The power always belongs to the people.' As part of this process, the coalition also will develop candidate scorecards, DuBose said. This is important for more than just vetting candidates, he said. The community has allowed people to step into a role, DuBose said, and then they don't grade them. This has created a situation where candidates can vote against key issues multiple times without it being 'graded.' 'When the election time came around, you came to our church, picked up a baby and sang 'Lift Every Voice and Sing,'' DuBose said. 'And then you got a free ride because we didn't follow your campaign. We didn't follow what you said you would do for us. We were fooled by your appearance at our church anniversary.' Candidates who go through this process will be asked to pledge to step down and not continue to run as a 'spoiler candidate' if they are not selected, DuBose said. As part of the process, Columbus, GA, United will have potential candidates attend workshops preparing them to run for office. The coalition hopes to complete outreach to potential candidates and orientation by June and have the vetting committee formed by July. Then candidate interviews and public forums will take place from August through September. By October, the committee is expected to be ready to make its recommendations, and the 2026 campaign will be launched between November and December. Centralizing messaging and voter information is a key component of Columbus, GA, United's strategy. The Urban League of the River Valley will be in charge of messaging for the coalition, Dorothy 'Dot' Bass said during the meeting. 'Clarity and consistency are key,' she said. 'A single trusted source for voter information helps eliminate confusion, prevents misinformation and builds collective confidence in the electoral process.' Centralizing voter education will help streamline communication across the partners, Bass said, and will help support a rapid response if a polling location changes or a runoff is announced. Organizations in the coalition would send their information to the Urban League, which then would disseminate the information. Another large part of Columbus, GA, United's strategy is to focus on voter mobilization. The coalition knows there are voter turnout disparities among African Americans, community organizer Marquese Averett said during the meeting. 'We know that our opposition is strategic, they are coordinated, and they are well-funded,' Averett said. 'We must be just as intentional. We also know, when all people vote in full force, we change who gets to make decisions on housing, policing, schools and economic development.' The coalition will go to places that have 'mattered the most' in the community, like churches, barber shops and salons, he said. They also will reach out to communities of all demographics, Averett said, because every group cares about issues like affordable housing, jobs and safer communities. They also will focus on mobilizing young people early. 'It's not good enough to wait until two or three weeks before the election and say we need to go find some young folks,' Averett said. 'We have to make sure that they are included from the very beginning because their issues matter.' Columbus, GA, United could represent what civil rights leader Jesse Jackson referred to as a 'rainbow coalition,' he said. 'I often say that doing nothing isn't a revolutionary act,' Averett said. 'Sitting on the sideline doesn't take any courage. In order for us to make this happen, we have to mobilize voters and get people out to vote.'
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
2 Safe-and-Steady Stocks with Solid Fundamentals and 1 to Think Twice About
Stability is great, but low-volatility stocks may struggle to deliver market-beating returns over time as they sometimes underperform during bull markets. Finding the right balance between safety and returns isn't easy, which is why StockStory is here to help. That said, here are two low-volatility stocks that could succeed under all market conditions and one stuck in limbo. Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.02 With Corn Flakes as its first and most iconic product, Kellanova (NYSE:K) is a packaged foods company that is dominant in the cereal and snack categories. Why Are We Hesitant About K? Falling unit sales over the past two years indicate demand is soft and that the company may need to revise its product strategy Sales are projected to be flat over the next 12 months and imply weak demand Earnings per share have dipped by 2.5% annually over the past three years, which is concerning because stock prices follow EPS over the long term At $82.69 per share, Kellanova trades at 21.1x forward price-to-earnings. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than K. Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.26 Aiming to be a one-stop shop for the DIY customer, AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) is an auto parts and accessories retailer that sells everything from car batteries to windshield wiper fluid to brake pads. Why Does AZO Catch Our Eye? Same-store sales growth lends it the confidence to gradually expand its store base so it can reach more customers Differentiated product assortment is reflected in its best-in-class gross margin of 53% Strong free cash flow margin of 11.1% enables it to reinvest or return capital consistently AutoZone is trading at $3,655 per share, or 22.5x forward price-to-earnings. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it's free. Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.69 Founded in 1996 and known for its expertise in complex drug formulations, Amphastar Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:AMPH) develops and manufactures technically challenging injectable and inhalation medications, including both generic and proprietary pharmaceutical products. Why Does AMPH Stand Out? Market share has increased this cycle as its 21.1% annual revenue growth over the last two years was exceptional Free cash flow margin jumped by 16.9 percentage points over the last five years, giving the company more resources to pursue growth initiatives, repurchase shares, or pay dividends Improving returns on capital reflect management's ability to monetize investments Amphastar Pharmaceuticals's stock price of $23.33 implies a valuation ratio of 6.3x forward price-to-earnings. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it's free. Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump's presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth. While this has caused many investors to adopt a "fearful" wait-and-see approach, we're leaning into our best ideas that can grow regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Take advantage of Mr. Market by checking out our Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 175% over the last five years. Stocks that made our list in 2019 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+2,183% between December 2019 and December 2024) as well as under-the-radar businesses like Sterling Infrastructure (+1,096% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NAACP and pastors call for Columbus Council to recall vote appointing John Anker
Columbus clergy and civil rights leaders condemned the quick appointment of John Anker to the Columbus Council and demanded a recall of the vote during a news conference Wednesday at the City Services Center.. The coalition, which includes representatives from the Columbus branch of the NAACP and the Columbus Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, argued that the move to appoint Anker was premeditated and part of a larger strategy to remove city manager Isaiah Hugley, who is Black, from his position. In a split vote, the council appointed Anker the same day former Councilor Judy Thomas of citywide District 9 sent her resignation letter. During the public agenda portion of the council meeting, Anker and three other residents criticized Hugley's job performance as city manager and called for the mayor to terminate him. Columbus Courier Eco Latino publisher and former NAACP Columbus branch president Wane Hailes and the Rev. Johnny Flakes III of Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church spoke in support of Hugley during the meeting's public agenda. Councilor Byron Hickey of District 1 motioned to appoint Anker to the seat, and Charmaine Crabb of District 5 seconded it. The council voted 6-3 to appoint Anker despite Mayor Skip Henderson's cautioning that it was too early to make this decision. Councilors Hickey, Crabb, Glenn Davis of District 2, Toyia Tucker of District 4, Joanne Cogle of District 7 and Walker Garrett of District 8 voted yes. Councilors Travis Chambers of citywide District 10, Bruce Huff of District 3 and Gary Allen of District 6 voted no. The council's action of appointing someone 'from the audience' to fill Thomas' seat without giving the community a chance to make recommendations was disrespectful, former District 7 Councilor Mimi Woodson said at the news conference before insisting the council recall the vote. 'Last night's appointment can be reversed with only six votes,' Woodson said. During the council meeting, Crabb asserted that Anker was an 'obvious' choice for the seat because he had run two citywide races (mayor in 2022 and citywide District 10 seat in 2024). Anker had an opportunity to be a city council member in a runoff and lost to Travis Chambers, said Ed DuBose, national NAACP board member and the Georgia state administrator. Councilors subverted the will of the voters with this action, he said. 'Those city council members who participated in this should answer to the people,' DuBose said. Flakes explained the coalition's problem isn't specifically that Anker was appointed so much as the process it took to do it. If Anker had been offered as a candidate with an opportunity for others to be considered as well, Flakes said, then there wouldn't be so much anger. 'As a matter of fact, the mayor said that,' Flakes said. DuBose said councilors would answer at the ballot box. In fact, he urged Columbus voters to consider recalling the councilors who made this appointment so quickly. The Rev. Marcus Gibson of the Greater Shady Grove Baptist Church alleged that this move was part of a larger plan to terminate Hugley as city manager. Hugley confirmed to the Ledger-Enquirer last December that he plans to retire at the end of 2025. 'There are certain persons on this council who are not out for the benefit or the good of the whole community, but there are some who are in the pockets of others,' Gibson said. This coalition warned councilors, especially those who want to remove the city manager, that they will be held accountable, he said. Verbal attacks like those against Hugley have happened to Black people in leadership across the country, Flakes said. 'They've used the playbook that is always about trying to make them seem ineffective, incompetent and inefficient,' Flakes said. This is a nationwide problem, he said, that has 'trickled down' to Columbus. Flakes was disappointed to see two Black councilors, Hickey and Tucker, vote to support this move, he said.. 'They're in-house Negroes,' Flakes said. 'They carry the buckets of the water, and they have sold their souls.' It was 'hurtful' and 'painful' that an African American made the motion, Flakes said, calling the verbal attacks on Hugley a 'public lynching.' The coalition will work on fighting back against 'false narratives,' Flakes said. Leaders of the group urged people to stay active and attend the next council meeting March 25. They also promised there will be more organizing from them. 'We're not outnumbered,' said Marquese Averett, managing director of organizing at the Partnership for Southern Equity. 'We are simply out-organized.'
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Snowstorm in NY, NJ this week: Timeline, expected accumulation and more
NEW YORK (PIX11) – Punxsutawney Phil may have been right when he predicted we'll be seeing six more weeks of winter as another snowstorm is expected to hit New York and New Jersey this week. Snow last hit the tri-state area Saturday night into Sunday, leaving less than 2 inches of accumulation across the region, according to the National Weather Service. The area was under a wind advisory on Monday, with some gusts reaching up to 65 mph. NYC forecast and PIX11's Weather Center Flakes aren't leaving New York and New Jersey just yet. Here's what you need to know about this week's snowstorm: Snow is expected to start falling Wednesday night, the NWS said. It will continue to fall through Thursday morning. Snow will leave the region during the afternoon on Thursday. Snow totals aren't expected to reach above a light coating, according to PIX11 meteorologists. Most of the storm will impact the south and mid-Atlantic states. Friday is expected to be mostly sunny with temperatures in the mid-30s. That trend will continue through the weekend, with high temperatures not expected to reach above 40 degrees. Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
