Latest news with #FurmanUniversity
NBC News
a day ago
- Business
- NBC News
Trump ratchets up steel tariffs to 50%
One of America's most storied industries is getting a massive boost from President Donald Trump's latest tariffs push — at the potential cost of a broader slowdown elsewhere in the U.S. economy. Trump signed an executive order increasing the already substantial 25% duties on steel imports he first set in March to 50%. He signaled last week that the tariff rate hike was coming. It went into effect at midnight Wednesday. 'We're going to bring it from 25% to 50% — the tariffs on steel into the United States of America,' Trump said at a rally in Pennsylvania, 'which will even further secure the steel industry in the United States.' The new 50% duties also affect aluminum products. The tariffs on steel, along with those on imported automobiles and auto parts, have been imposed under authorities not affected by recent court decisions that cast doubt on the president's powers to enact trade barriers. U.S. steel firms have hailed Trump's renewed push to raise the cost to American firms that rely on imports of steel. It's a notably favorable reaction to tariffs amid what has broadly been a backlash against them. "American-made steel is at the heart of President Trump's plan to revitalize domestic manufacturing and return our country to an economic powerhouse," the Steel Manufacturers Association said in a statement that applauded Trump's remarks about the new 50% tariffs. Investors have rewarded the steel firms accordingly, sending shares of U.S. steelmakers soaring across the board Monday as U.S. steel and aluminum prices jumped. Today, the steel manufacturing industry directly employs 86,000 U.S. workers. It's a fraction of the half million-strong workforce the industry counted in the decade after World War II, though employment levels have stabilized more recently. While trade globalization bears substantial responsibility for steel's decadeslong downturn, experts say advances in technology have played an equally significant role. Steel production increasingly revolves around so-called electric arc furnace technology, a more efficient means of production than the classic open blast furnace operations that prevailed for much of the 20th century. The same levels of output from steel's heydays can now be achieved with just a fraction of the workforce. As recently as the early 1980s, it took about 10 man-hours to produce a ton of steel. Today, the rate is as little as a single man-hour assuming multiple steel mills are working in tandem. "The way we make steel in the U.S. has changed a lot," said an expert on the local impact of industrial transitions, Ken Kolb, chair of the sociology department at Furman University in South Carolina. "There is simply no way to bring that scale of employment back if a fraction of that workforce is needed to essentially reach the same production levels," Kolb said. He estimated that perhaps 15,000 new direct jobs could be added assuming capacity levels increase. But the broader cost to industries dependent on steel inputs, like autos, construction and solar panels — which relies on tariffed aluminum components — would be likely to negate those gains. "Theoretically you're going to be able to hire some people, but in reality, the tariffs just raise the average price of steel," Kolb said. "And when the price of a commodity like that goes up, businesses just buy less and sideline investment." A study found that while Trump's 2018 steel tariffs created 1,000 new direct jobs, it cost downstream industries that rely on steel to make their products as many as 75,000 jobs because they became less competitive thanks to higher costs. While some limited capacity could come back online in the near term, the on-again, off-again nature of the tariffs limit any immediate job gains, said Josh Spoores, head of Steel Americas Analysis at the CRU Group consultancy. If the higher tariffs remain, there could be new investments, Spoores said in an email — but building new steel mills can take at least two years. Nor is it clear that American steelworkers themselves are entirely in favor of the tariffs. The United Steelworkers union signaled only tepid endorsement for the measure in a statement after its Canadian chapter rebuked Trump's announcement. 'While tariffs, used strategically, serve as a valuable tool in balancing the scales, it's essential that we also pursue wider reforms of our global trading system, working in collaboration with trusted allies like Canada to contain the bad actors and excess capacity that continue to undermine our industries,' the union said. The union has also shown signs of a split when it comes to Trump's proposed "partnership" between U.S. Steel and Japan's Nippon Steel, whose takeover of the U.S. firm he previously opposed. Trump now sees the deal "creating" as many as 70,000 jobs. 'There's a lot of money coming your way,' Trump told supporters at the Pennsylvania rally Friday. The United Steelworkers signaled lingering doubts about the Nippon arrangement in a statement Friday. 'We have not participated in the discussions involving U.S. Steel, Nippon Steel, and the Trump administration, nor were we consulted, so we cannot speculate about the meaning of the 'planned partnership' between USS and Nippon," it said, using an initialism to refer to the American firm. It continued: 'Whatever the deal structure, our primary concern remains with the impact that this merger of U.S. Steel into a foreign competitor will have on national security, our members and the communities where we live and work."
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Health
- Associated Press
At Commencement, The Woodlands at Furman Graduates to ‘Certified University Based Retirement Community (UBRC)' Status
GREENVILLE, S.C., June 2, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Woodlands at Furman, a 350+ resident senior living community in partnership with Furman University, has met criteria to be recognized as a 'Certified University Based Retirement Community (UBRC)', the highest category among more than 85 University Retirement Communities (URCs) nationwide. As launched last Fall by the nation's largest directory and information resource for the rapidly growing model of senior living communities with connection to a host university or college, The Woodlands is the first 'Certified UBRC' in the Eastern United States, and second overall, along with Mirabella at ASU in Tempe, Arizona. 'As universities and colleges celebrate Commencement nationwide, we are incredibly proud to 'graduate' as a 'Certified University Based Retirement Community (UBRC),' the equivalent of magna cum laude status,' stated Rick Brackett, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Woodlands at Furman. 'We are truly honored by our partnership with Furman University and the work of the entire team at The Woodlands in creating an active, intellectually stimulating, and intergenerational environment that is reinventing senior living while bringing residents and students together to meet the needs of an aging population.' 'With the continuing growth in the number of University Retirement Communities (URCs) in the U.S. it was imperative to bring structure to this sector, in particular recognizing communities representing the highest level of integration with a host university or college,' stated Andrew Carle, Founder of As Director of the Program in Senior Living Administration at George Mason University, Carle created a 5-criteria model in 2006 for a 'University Based Retirement Community (UBRC)' that has been recognized as the standard for defining such communities. The criteria served as the basis for the certification program, with communities meeting all five, along with related standards, eligible for 'Certified' status. Carle previously served as Senior Consultant – Health Intelligence for J.D. Power and Associates, for whom he helped lead development of its Certified Senior Living Community program in 2017. Certification criteria include the proximity of the community to the campus, documented resident-to-university and student-to-community programs, a continuum of senior living services, the percent of residents who are alums or retired university faculty or staff, and a financial relationship between the community and university that supports long term operational success. The Woodlands is located on 99-year leased land from Furman University, and residents can participate in the university's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, receive courtesy greens fees at the Furman Golf Course, and discounts to both athletic and visual and performing arts events. Nearly four dozen residents hold a personal connection to the university, including alums, retired faculty and staff, and past members of the Board of Trustees. The community offers a full continuum of senior living services, while providing easy access for student internships, employment, and volunteer work within the community. The three-year certification allows the community to display the 'Certified UBRC' logo, as well as receive the highest search ranking on the website. ABOUT THE WOODLANDS AT FURMAN The Woodlands at Furman is a Premier Life Plan Community in Greenville, SC, offering a full continuum of care. Voted 'Best of the Upstate' eight years running, The Woodlands is the path of choice for active, lifelong learners with upscale amenities in a serene, natural setting. As the only locally owned and operated non-profit Life Plan Community in the area, they offer tiered lifestyle and healthcare options all on one campus, including independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing, so residents can count on peace of mind for the future. ABOUT Launched in 2023, is the first directory and information resource website dedicated exclusively to the rapidly growing model of senior living communities hosted by or with formal connection to a university or college. Currently listing more than 85 communities, the site also serves as a resource for academic institutions or other providers seeking to develop a new or enhance an existing University Retirement Community (URC), along with the first national certification program for URCs. MULTIMEDIA: PHOTO link for media: PHOTO caption: Andrew Carle, Founder of presents the official 'Certified University Based Retirement Community' designation to Rick Brackett, President & CEO, and Ezra Hall, Director of Philanthropy & Engagement at The Woodlands at Furman, during the awards ceremony. NEWS SOURCE: The Woodlands at Furman Keywords: Education and Schools, Certified University Based Retirement Community, The Woodlands at Furman, University Retirement Communities, Senior Living, Healthcare, University, GREENVILLE, S.C. This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (The Woodlands at Furman) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire. Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P126659 APNF0325A To view the original version, visit: © 2025 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. RIGHTS GRANTED FOR REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY ANY LEGITIMATE MEDIA OUTLET - SUCH AS NEWSPAPER, BROADCAST OR TRADE PERIODICAL. MAY NOT BE USED ON ANY NON-MEDIA WEBSITE PROMOTING PR OR MARKETING SERVICES OR CONTENT DEVELOPMENT. Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.
Epoch Times
4 days ago
- Science
- Epoch Times
George Bass: Father of Underwater Archaeology
Bass was born in Columbia, South Carolina, to literature-l oving parents. His father, Robert, was a professor of English literature at the University of South Carolina, and would later become a professor of the same at the United States Naval Academy, Furman University, Limestone College, and Erskine College, and a renowned scholar of the American Revolution. His mother, Virginia, was a published author of poetry and fiction. Indeed, George Bass's career in literature seemed inevitable. But several other familial influences may have left a lasting impression on him that resulted in his pursuit of underwater archaeology.
Epoch Times
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr.: Grandfather of Video Games
Space Invaders! Pong! Computer Space! Those are some of the video games that people might consider being the first video games produced. Those three, released in 1978, 1972 and 1971, respectively, however, are relatively late in the creation of the first video game. In fact, the first was actually patented in 1948, though it has somewhat been lost to history. Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr. (1910–2009) was born in Greenville, South Carolina, to an insurance broker and a concert pianist. As a teenager, he became interested in radio technology, even building his own crystal radio sets, which were primitive radio signal receivers. Goldsmith grew up and began his career during what is considered the Golden Age of Physics. His passion for technology and physics led him to attend Furman University in his hometown of Greenville, where he earned his bachelor's degree in physics in 1931. He then earned his doctorate in physics from Cornell University in 1936. A Beneficial Relationship Two pages from "The Story of Television - DuMont Network," 1953, featuring an early television set and "the man who made it work," Allen B. Du Mont. Internet Archive. The Media Stash While Goldsmith was working on his doctorate, he contacted Allen B. Du Mont, a leading inventor and scientist, who had risen to prominence for his work on the cathode ray tube (CRT) for televisions. When Goldsmith purchased a cathode ray tube from Du Mont, it launched a lasting friendship and, eventually, a working relationship between the two. When Goldsmith completed his education at Cornell, Du Mont hired him as the director of research and development (R&D) for Du Mont Laboratories in Passaic, New Jersey. The company grew and sold a half interest to Paramount Pictures Corp. in 1938 in order to raise capital. By the following year, the company became the first to market home-based television sets. That same year, Du Mont Laboratories displayed their TV set at the New York World's Fair. However, with the outbreak of war in Europe, which began shortly after the start of the World's Fair, all production soon focused on creating oscillographs and conducting radar research. Time for Gaming Related Stories 5/27/2023 4/6/2024 Two men conducting electrical testing on a cathode-ray tube, circa whose time at Du Mont spanned into the 1960s, was, After the war ended, Du Mont Laboratories returned to producing TVs, and, In December 1947, Goldsmith and Mann submitted their patent application. They Gaming, TV, and Professorship The duo received a patent for their 'Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device' in December the following year. There were many roadblocks to producing the 'Amusement Device,' including cost, which kept it from being developed and mass produced. Patent for "The Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device." Public Domain Thompson, however, continued his very successful career, which included helping establish the TV visual standards with the Federal Communications Commission when he chaired the Synchronization Panel of the National Television System Committee (SPNTSC), and helping establish broadcast facilities for the new Du Mont Television Network. One facility was named after his initials, WTTG, which became the first television broadcasting station in Washington. The WTTG station continues to this day, now more commonly known as FOX 5 DC. In 1966, Thompson returned to his alma mater to become professor of physics, retiring as professor emeritus in 1975. He was a fellow with the Radio Club of America, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. Along with chairing the SPNTSC, he also chaired the Radio Manufacturers Association Committee on Cathode-Ray Tubes during World War II, which set standards for radio manufacturing. It is interesting that the prediction about Thompson and Mann's 'Amusement Device' becoming 'more spectacular, and the interest therein both from the player's and the observer's standpoint can be increased' would become a reality. Although Thompson is rarely given credit for the video game breakthrough, he was indeed the first to create such a device that would eventually result in what is now a multibillion dollar industry, earning him the nickname of the Grandfather of Video Games. A Du Mont RA-101 "Custom": The wooden frame around the screen was probably added later instead of the original, as seen at the Early Television Museum. What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to
Boston Globe
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Finnish leader warns the Kremlin: ‘You don't play with President Trump'
It could be a coincidence. Or Trump could be listening to Finland's president, Alexander Stubb, who has emerged as a prominent voice of Europe's smaller nations on Russia's war against Ukraine. In an interview with The New York Times on Sunday, Stubb downplayed his effect on Trump. He noted that President Emmanuel Macron of France and Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain were leading European efforts, with his role being merely to 'nudge things in the right direction' and 'try to connect the dots.' But Stubb's country understands the peril of peace negotiations for Ukraine perhaps better than any other. After wars with the Soviet Union in the 1940s, Finland gave up land to Moscow, agreed to neutrality, and accepted limits on its military, remaining under the Kremlin's thumb to some degree for decades. Advertisement Stubb doesn't want Ukraine to suffer the same fate. He declined to detail his conversations with Trump, though he said he left Vatican City feeling 'a tad more optimistic' about the prospects for peace. But Trump, after their two recent meetings, has repeated almost verbatim the very message Stubb has been sending publicly: President Vladimir Putin of Russia will 'play a cat-and-mouse game to the bitter end' and is stringing Washington along, requiring Trump to increase the pressure through 'power and sanctions.' Advertisement 'Everyone has to understand that the only thing that Putin understands is power,' Stubb said. 'I mean, there's a reason why Finland has one of the strongest militaries in Europe, and the reason is not Sweden.' Russia shares an 835-mile border with Finland, and by Stubb's count, has fought 30 wars or skirmishes against the Finns since the 1300s. An ancestor of his co-authored Finland's declaration of independence in 1917, after a century of Finland's being part of the Russian Empire, which followed several centuries of rule by Sweden. Stubb, who took office last year and previously served as prime minister, warned that Putin would do the opposite of what he says. 'That is in the soul and spirit of Russian international relations,' he said. A center-right leader, Stubb, 57, is uniquely equipped to appeal to Trump. He is a 6-foot-2 marathoner and triathlete who speaks fluent English with only a slight accent, plays near-professional-level golf — he competed on the Finnish national team — and brings a central-casting look to his position. He spent a year of high school in Daytona Beach, Fla., and graduated from Furman University in South Carolina. He studied on a golf scholarship, becoming a self-described 'avid pro-American.' Despite claiming to play a bit role, Stubb has inserted himself in the Ukraine peace process in what he calls 'a humble way,' regularly speaking with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and other European leaders, in addition to Trump. He says he hopes his special understanding of the United States and Russia can be of assistance. Advertisement He said he sensed Trump's exasperation. 'The president is running out of patience, and we've now seen statements which are quite tough on Putin and Russia,' Stubb said. 'So I just hope the Kremlin understands that you don't play with President Trump.' He said Trump's diminished patience could 'actually then move things in the right direction' by forcing Russia to stop delaying. But Trump has been known to abruptly change his public stances, often aligning them with people he has recently consulted. And despite his warnings to the Kremlin, he has not followed through with any increased pressure on Putin, instead aiming much of his ire at Zelensky. Putin declared a unilateral 72-hour cease-fire Monday, in what seemed to be a response to Trump's outburst. But the measure fell far short of the 30-day unconditional cease-fire proposed by the United States and Ukraine. US negotiators have presented their proposed outline of a peace deal, which includes US recognition of Crimea as Russian territory, he said, and Ukraine and the Europeans responded with a counterproposal, which Moscow rejected. 'What I suggest now is that we need to repackage these two proposals into something which gives the opportunity to strike a deal right now,' Stubb said. Statehood consists of land, sovereignty, and independence, he said, and Finland lost two of the three in the 1940s. He said he wanted Ukraine to keep all three, but accepted that it might have to make compromises on territory, reflecting battlefield realities. 'If we get at least two out of the three for Ukraine, I think it's great,' he said. 'But Finland will never, ever recognize any of the areas that Russia has annexed during this war from Ukraine.' Advertisement He said he believed that 'a little bit of creative writing' could be drafted to stop the killing in Ukraine, even reflecting differences such as the US willingness to recognize Crimea as Russian and the European refusal to do so in separate annexes. At some point, he added, Ukraine and Russia will need to negotiate directly. 'Right now, politically, the key is to maximize the pressure on Putin,' he said. This article originally appeared in
