Latest news with #GrantsPass
Associated Press
17-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Vetr Announces Plans to Offer ToltraMax Oral Solution Upon Platform Launch
GRANTS PASS, OR, May 16, 2025 (EZ Newswire) -- Vetr, an upcoming telehealth platform focused on providing pet owners with access to veterinary products and services, has announced its intention to include ToltraMax, a toltrazuril-based oral solution, as part of its product offerings when the platform launches later this year. ToltraMax is an oral solution formulated for use in multiple species, including dogs, cats, horses and other non food chain animals. Its active ingredient, toltrazuril, is widely used in veterinary settings to manage intestinal health challenges related to coccidia, a common protozoan parasite affecting a variety of animals. While Vetr's platform is still in development, ToltraMax is currently available for purchase through Amazon, Walmart, and serving caretakers of equine and companion animals. 'Expanding access to essential veterinary products is a core part of Vetr's mission,' said Andrew Hamilton, founder and CEO of Vetr. 'ToltraMax aligns with our goal of providing practical, broad-use solutions and compounded drugs for pet owners and animal caretakers, making it an important addition to our future product lineup.' Vetr aims to simplify the process of obtaining veterinary-recommended medications through a digital platform designed for convenience and accessibility. The platform will offer an online pharmacy, educational resources, and telehealth consultations, supporting responsible pet care and providing guidance on product usage. Recently, Vetr secured $21 million in funding from Palehorse Capital to support the platform's development and product expansion, including a nationwide online pharmacy. This investment will assist in launching a comprehensive online marketplace for veterinary products, including ToltraMax, alongside efforts to lower the overall cost of pet medications for consumers. Upon launch, Vetr will provide pet owners with a streamlined purchasing experience, while emphasizing the importance of professional veterinary consultation. The platform will not replace veterinary care but will serve as an additional resource for accessing trusted products and information. For updates on Vetr's launch and product availability, visit About Vetr Vetr is a telehealth platform transforming pet healthcare by making veterinary services more affordable, accessible and efficient. Through its easy-to-use app, pet owners can schedule appointments, consult remotely with licensed veterinarians and access low-cost, over-the-counter animal prescriptions. Founded by Andrew Hamilton, Vetr is dedicated to delivering high-quality, cost-effective care for pets nationwide. With a focus on generic medications and virtual care, Vetr is redefining how modern pet owners manage their animals' health. Learn more at Media Contact Media Relations [email protected] ### SOURCE: Vetr Copyright 2025 EZ Newswire
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A model for removing encampments in Lodi? Newsom pushes cities to do more to tackle homelessness
May 13—Gov. Gavin Newsom is again asking cities to address homelessness this week, urging leaders to remove tents from sidewalks and other public properties. Newsom released a model ordinance on Monday that his office described as a starting point for local jurisdictions to craft their own policies without delay. His plan calls for cities to prohibit persistent camping in one location, as well as encampments that block sidewalks. It also requires local officials to offer shelter to homeless individuals before removing a temporary dwelling. "There's nothing compassionate about letting people die on the streets," Newsom said in a statement. "Local leaders asked for resources — we delivered the largest state investment in history. They asked for legal clarity — the courts delivered. Now, we're giving them a model they can put to work immediately, with urgency and with humanity, to resolve encampments and connect people to shelter, housing, and care. The time for inaction is over. There are no more excuses." The announcement was coupled with the release of $3.3 billion in Proposition 1 funding approved by voters in 2024, for communities to expand behavioral health housing and treatment options for their mentally ill and homeless populations. The funding adds to the $27 billion the state has already given to local governments to address homelessness, and is not contingent upon cities banning encampments. Lodi Mayor Cameron Bregman supported the governor's announcement. "We, as a city, should hold all citizens to the same laws and standards across the board. That includes our homeless population," he said. "Any action to be taken on the front of cleaning up our city, we should take. We have decreased the number of tents and camps within the city over the last 2 1/2 years and will continue to push for such." Newsom's office said the model draws from the state's approach that has cleared more than 16,000 encampments and more than 311,873 cubic yards of waste and debris from sites since July of 2021. The governor issued an executive order last year requiring state agencies to remove homeless encampments on state property and urged local governments to do the same. Councilwoman Lisa Craig echoed concerns Newsom highlighted in Monday's statement that encampments pose a serious public safety risk, including fires, unsanitary conditions and exposing encampment residents to increased risk of sexual violence, criminal activity, property damage and break-ins. "After the Grants Pass decision, the City of Lodi was an early enactor of an anti-camping ordinance, making changes to relevant sections of our municipal code defining and prohibiting camping in public or private space not permitted or authorized for camping," she said. "(Giving individuals) 48-hour notice, the discretion of law enforcement to determine what possessions should be inventoried and stored, and issuance of citations has given our Lodi PD the additional tools they needed to protect the public from the serious threats that homeless encampments have brought to our city." In a 6-3 decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson last summer, the Supreme Court ruled that cities enforcing anti-camping bans are not violating the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment, even if homeless individuals have to place to go. The ruling struck down the Martin v. Boise decision of 2018, that said cities cannot enforce anti-camping ordinances if they do not provide enough homeless shelter beds for their unsheltered populations. Craig said the city has spent more than $22 million in grant funds to address homelessness, including $7.7 million on the access center located at 714 N. Sacramento St. More than $11 million in grant funds is encumbered in contracts to build the permanent center, she said, leaving about $805,000 for continuation operation of the temporary center and an additional $2.8 million for future operations. The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors received an update on the access center Tuesday morning. Since 2021, the county has allocated about $11 million toward the project, which will provide 100 beds and wrap-around serves to unsheltered individuals once complete.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Newsom unveils aggressive plan to clear homeless encampments across California: 'No more excuses'
California Gov. Gavin Newsom released details about his multibillion-dollar plan to tackle the homeless crisis in the Golden State and is pushing cities and counties to take "immediate action." On Monday, Newsom shared a model ordinance for cities and counties to "immediately address dangerous and unhealthy encampments and connect people experiencing homelessness with shelter and services." "There's nothing compassionate about letting people die on the streets," Newsom said in a news release. Dem City Uses 'Bait-and-switch' Tactic To Approve Homeless Shelter, Locals Erupt The ordinance is backed in part by $3.3 billion in new Prop 1 funding, Newsom's office announced, adding that the governor is "calling on all local governments to act without delay." Newsom is also encouraging local leaders to use their authority, affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court, to address encampments. Read On The Fox News App "The Governor is calling on every local government to adopt and implement local policies without delay," Newsom's office said. Newsom's office said this model ordinance draws from the state's "proven and workable approach," an approach that between July 2021 and May 2025 cleared more than 16,000 encampments and more than 311,873 cubic yards of debris from sites along the state right-of-way. "These results demonstrate that the policy is both effective and scalable, offering a sound, adoptable framework for jurisdictions to resolve encampments with urgency and dignity," Newsom said. Progressive Journalist Says Newsom Must Take 'Accountability' For How He 'Destroyed' California Monday's announcement is in addition to the release of $3.3 billion in voter-approved Proposition 1 funding, which Newsom's office said will be made available later today to communities statewide. Those funds are being used to expand behavioral health housing and treatment options for the "most seriously ill and homeless in California." "This model ordinance is not intended to be comprehensive or to impose a one-size-fits-all approach for every city. Tailoring is expected and appropriate to account for local differences and priorities," Newsom's office said. The guidance doesn't say whether criminal penalties should be enforced but instead would leave it up to cities to enforce how severely those who violate the ban should be punished. Newsom's office said all local approaches should reflect three basic principles, which include: No person should face criminal punishment for sleeping outside when they have nowhere else to go. Encampment policies must prioritize shelter and services and ensure that people experiencing homelessness and their belongings are treated with respect. Policies must not unduly limit local authorities to clear encampments, meaning officials must be able to enforce "commonsense policies" to protect the health and safety of their residents and maintain their public spaces. Newsom's announcement comes following the Supreme Court's decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson in 2024, which found laws restricting sleeping in public areas did not violate the constitutional restriction against "cruel and unusual punishment." Dem Mayor Fed Up With Homeless Crisis Proposes Jailing Vagrants Who Refuse Housing Newsom had encouraged the Supreme Court to take up the case, claiming court decisions preventing the government from punishing vagrants occupying public spaces had created an "unsurmountable roadblock" to addressing the crisis. Newsom's office told Fox News Digital that the governor has "actively held communities accountable who do not follow state law to address homelessness", sharing an example of when the state sued the City of Norwalk in 2024 for "its unlawful ban on homeless shelters." The governor's office added that while the nation's unsheltered homelessness last year went up by nearly 7%, California's increase was only 0.45% and was lower than 44 other states. "Governor Newsom is the first governor to actively address this issue in our state, and he is reversing a crisis that was decades in the making," Newsom's office said. In addition to cleaning up homeless encampments, Newsom's office also announced $3.3 billion in grant funding to create over 5,000 residential treatment beds and more than 21,800 outpatient treatment slots for behavioral healthcare services. "Californians demanded swift action to address our state's behavioral health crisis when they voted for Prop 1 in March 2024," Newsom's office said. "Today, we're delivering our biggest win yet. These launch-ready projects will build and expand residential beds and treatment slots for those who need help. Whether it's crisis stabilization, inpatient services, or long-term treatment, we're ensuring that individuals can access the right care at the right time," the statement continued. When fully awarded, Newsom's office said funding from Proposition 1 bonds is estimated to create 6,800 residential treatment beds and 26,700 outpatient treatment slots for behavioral health and will build on other major behavioral health initiatives in California. "Today marks a critical milestone in our commitment to transforming California's behavioral health system," said Kim Johnson, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency. "Through these awards, we are investing in bold, community-driven solutions that expand access to care, promote equity, and meet people where they are. These projects are a reflection of our values and vision for a healthier, more compassionate California." Newsom's office also said the Department of Housing and Community Development will oversee up to $2 billion in Proposition 1 funds to build permanent supportive housing for veterans and others who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and have mental health or substance-use disorder challenges. "This is a generational investment in California's behavioral health future. We are not just building facilities. We are building hope, dignity, and pathways to healing for thousands of Californians," said Michelle Baass, director of the state Department of Health Care Services, in a article source: Newsom unveils aggressive plan to clear homeless encampments across California: 'No more excuses'
Business Wire
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Wire
Newsom Lays Homeless Blame on Local Governments by Call for Ordinance Banning Encampments, Says HHR
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Housing advocates from AHF's Housing Is A Human Right (HHR) division and National Coalition for the Homeless blasted California Governor Gavin Newsom for his call earlier today on cities and towns across the state to ban homeless encampments—criminalizing many of their unhoused occupants in the process. After two terms in office and despite allocating $24 billion in state funding to address the homeless crisis, Governor Newsom has little to nothing to show that he has meaningfully addressed homelessness in California. Worse, state officials under his watch cannot even account for how the $24 billion may have been spent. Newsom may feel empowered by last year's disastrous Supreme Court ruling in the Grants Pass case, which now allows for the criminalization of homeless communities living on our streets nationwide. 'Governor Newsom signed housing legislation with no mandate for low-income affordable housing, opposed rent control and cozied up to market-rate developers, all of which increased homelessness, and now he wants to lay all the blame on local government,' stated Susie Shannon, Policy Director for Housing is a Human Right. 'It is unconscionable to take away the right of people to sit, lay or sleep on public property in California when there are approximately 187,000 people homeless and nowhere for them to live. How many housing bills will Newsom sign this year alone that provide no relief for high rents for working families, children and seniors and no housing for those experiencing homelessness?' "The solution requires addressing the structural issues. Without having housing in place along with supportive services, this is going in the wrong direction,' added Donald Whitehead, Executive Director, National Coalition for the Homeless. 'It only exacerbates homelessness and while we are not promoting encampments, we understand that this is a symptom of California not addressing the structural cause of homelessness, which is a lack of housing for people who are marginalized.'
San Francisco Chronicle
12-05-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Newsom escalates efforts to get cities to crack down on homeless encampments
Gov. Gavin Newsom is calling on cities to outlaw homeless encampments, nearly a year after the Supreme Court gave them broad power to do so. As part of his push for more aggressive crackdowns on encampments, Newsom unveiled a template that local lawmakers could adopt and modify at the city level that would prohibit camping for more than three days, creating a semi-permanent shelter or camping in a way that blocks sidewalks. Cities wouldn't be forced to pass such a law, but Newsom is enticing them to do so by releasing $3.3 billion in funding to expand housing and residential treatment facilities for people with severe mental illness and addiction. 'There's nothing compassionate about letting people die on the streets. Local leaders asked for resources — we delivered the largest state investment in history. They asked for legal clarity — the courts delivered,' Newsom said in a statement Monday. 'We're giving them a model they can put to work immediately, with urgency and with humanity, to resolve encampments and connect people to shelter, housing, and care.' The model ordinance doesn't specify penalties for camping, so cities will decide how far they want to penalize the unhoused who violate the law. The governor's office said localities should ensure that 'no person should face criminal punishment for sleeping outside when they have nowhere else to go.' Advocates for the unhoused feared this type of city ordinance — and the ensuing crackdowns on homelessness — after the Supreme Court's 2024 ruling in the Grants Pass v. Johnson case. Prior to that ruling, federal courts found that law enforcement could only ticket homeless people when they refused to use available shelter space. The Supreme Court, however, gave cities broad power to evict people from street encampments and confiscate their property, even if the city was unable to provide a shelter bed. At least 120 cities passed 'anti-camping' laws in the last six months of 2024, according to the National Homelessness Law Center. The ruling was a rare example of agreement between Newsom, a Democrat, and the conservative Supreme Court. Though Newsom has frequently criticized decisions by the court, he filed an amicus brief in the case urging the justices to rule in favor of encampment bans and praised the decision when it was announced. Homelessness has long plagued Newsom as a particularly stubborn problem and symbol of dysfunction in the state. Visible encampments in San Francisco, where he was once mayor, have been especially frustrating for the governor. Newsom's announcement is unlikely to dramatically change practices in many Bay Area cities. In San Francisco, police have significantly increased arrests of people illegally camping on public property since the Grants Pass ruling. As a result, the number of tents counted citywide has plunged. Oakland has ramped up its encampment closures and this week is set to begin clearing one of the city's largest camps. San Mateo County last year made it a crime for homeless people to refuse an available shelter bed, though officials have not issued a single citation or arrested anyone; Fremont recently enacted a camping prohibition on all public property; and San Jose is weighing a controversial proposal by the mayor there to cite and arrest homeless people who reject several shelter offers. Major cities in California and across the country have faced an increase in the homeless population over the past few years. About 771,500 people were homeless in 2024, with 187,000 of those in California, and two in three were unsheltered, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Maggie Angst contributed to this report.
