Latest news with #Hornby
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Close call for Christchurch rail contractors after distracted trainee wrongly gives all clear to work
Rail contractors in Christchurch were given the all clear to work on the tracks, but realised a train was approaching when level crossing bells started ringing. Photo: daboost/123RF Contractors working on a rail line in Christchurch managed to avoid being struck by an oncoming train after they were given the all clear to work on the track, the Transport Accident Investigation Commission says. In a report released on Thursday, the Transport Accident Investigation Commission found a trainee rail protection officer had authorised Fulton Hogan workers to start work on the main south line in Hornby on 7 March 2024, before a scheduled train had passed through. The workers realised a train was approaching when level crossing bells started ringing and were able to get off the track in time. The investigation found the trainee was carrying out tasks unsupervised that required a high level of proficiency. They had limited experience and became distracted, which led to an important step in the process of track protection being missed. The supervising officer was absent while the trainee was performing the safety-critical tasks associated with track protection and was not available to provide the guidance necessary to rectify the situation. They also did not have any training in coaching and mentoring personnel undertaking safety-critical roles, and the level of supervision required had not been clearly articulated or documented. It identified three safety issues; that KiwiRail did not take all steps to ensure that Fulton Hogan staff carried out work in accordance with its safety systems, that Fulton Hogan's procedures for supervision of trainee rail protection officers were inadequate and that the track work protection largely relied on administrative controls, which were subject to human error. The commission said there were lessons for all industries where the supervision of safety-critical tasks performed by inexperienced or unqualified staff was necessary to maintain safety. It recommended improvements to training and supervision and use of engineering controls. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
West Virginia school board will pursue lawsuit after lawmakers get authority over education rules
The West Virginia Capitol in Charleston, (Perry Bennett | West Virginia Legislative Photography) The West Virginia Board of Education will pursue litigation over a recently-passed bill that gives lawmakers the ultimate authority over school board policies. The Republican-backed measure was designed to trigger litigation for a likely review by the state Supreme Court that will favor lawmakers' side. The Legislature signed off on the bill earlier this year despite a clear voter rejection of a similar proposal three years ago. It became law last month without the governor's signature. 'I move that the board pursue litigation to contest the constitutionality of House Bill 2755 regarding the board's independent policy making authority,' said State School Board President Nancy White, who announced the legal challenge Wednesday at the board's monthly meeting in Charleston. No other comments were made by board members about the litigation. Bill sponsor Del. Mike Hornby, a Republican from Berkeley County, said he expected a legal challenge to the bill. He believes lawmakers have constitutional authority to intervene in education and noted the state's near-bottom ranking in academic outcomes. 'I hope we will come out with the right decision here, and I look forward to the results,' he said. The bill requires that all legislative rules enacted by the state board must first be authorized by the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability, a lawmaker committee known as LOCEA. The proposed rules would then be submitted to the full Legislature for review. 'I think the point of the bill is to work with the Department of Education,' Hornby said. 'A lot of people keep saying we want control — it's not the intent.' In 2022, West Virginia voters rejected a constitutional amendment that would have given the Legislature authority to review and approve the state board of education's rules and policies. Fifty-eight percent of voters were against it. Opponents of this year's legislation consistently argued that it was ignoring West Virginians' decision on the matter and injecting politics into classrooms. Hornby also said he sponsored the bill because he wanted the West Virginia Supreme Court to revisit the issue. The state school board has independent authority to oversee schools. The state Supreme Court upheld this in 1988 in West Virginia Board of Education vs. Hechler, determining that the state Board of Education has the 'general supervision' of schools under the Constitution. Any statutory provision that interferes with authority and rule-making is unconstitutional, the opinion read. 'A lot of people think that decision was wrong,' Hornby said. 'That's why I figured we'd do this, and that's why we got a lot of sponsors.' Ten other House Republicans sponsored the measure, including House Education Committee Chairman Joe Ellington, R-Mercer. During bill debate, Democratic lawmakers predicted that the bill would likely result in a lawsuit. They argued — like the state school board — that the measure wasn't constitutional since the state Supreme Court had already ruled on the matter and the proposed amendment was defeated by voters three years ago. Hornby said money spent on the case would be 'well spent' if it fixes the education system. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
BBC News
04-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Osborne's toy shop in Rushden celebrates 70 years in business
A family-run shop that was the UK's first retailer of Lego is celebrating its 70th anniversary with a special in Rushden, Northamptonshire, was established in 1955 and has since had four generations of the family working mark the anniversary, it has a window display showcasing vintage toys from each decade from the 1960s to the Osborne, current owner and son of founder Jim Osborne, said: "We thought we'd have a little celebration on Saturday to mark the occasion. [The anniversary] is important to us but it's important to the community as well." Jim and Pam Osborne opened the shop in 1955 and placed an order for Lego after seeing it at a trade fair while on honeymoon in Brighton in Osbourne said his parents "walked up to the Lego stand as the first customers".It was for the Danish toymaker's 60th birthday in 2018 it checked its records and discovered that Osborne's were the first shop in the UK to sign up as a year the company transformed the shop's frontage with 277,500 Lego bricks, replicating the storefront in intricate detail.It took 41 people to create, but was only there for three days before being dismantled earlier this week. The shop remains a family-run business and offers traditional toys, including teddy bears, Hornby trains, and Lego sets, as well as more contemporary toys. Sales assistant Kasey Cheetham, granddaughter of Will's wife Libby Osborne, said: "It's like a second home. We're here all week, and we treat customers like they're part of our family." Mr Osborne said: "When my father started he had a few guiding principles: he wanted a full-stocked shop with good quality products, and a friendly and personal service. "And we've tried to do that right up until this day. The fact we're still here means there's probably something in it!" Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Revealed: Why supercoach Wayne Bennett will have a shock new look at the NRL's Magic Round footy festival
Eyebrows were raised last Friday night among members of the press after Wayne Bennett did not appear for his routine post-match press conference. The Rabbitohs had suffered their fourth defeat of the season, going down by eight points against the Storm and members of the press were ready to gather in the media rooms at AAMI Park to quiz the South Sydney boss following the ANZAC Day clash. Reporters were ready to quiz the super coach on everything from the team's performance to Latrell Mitchell's high tackle. But in his place appeared the Bunnies' assistant boss, Ben Hornby, who shared the news that the Rabbitohs boss had lost a tooth. 'Wayne's tooth fell out, so he's not talking too clearly, so he's not talking real clearly, so he's let me have a go tonight,' Hornby said. 'Ask him to smile,' he joked before delving into the match. It has now been revealed by The Courier Mail that Bennett, 75, had been chomping on a liquorice chocolate bullet prior to the match, with his tooth subsequently falling out. The outlet reports that the Souths boss has made multiple trips to the dentist since the match. The footy coach has reportedly had his tooth glued back in but it keeps falling out. Bennett will be back at the helm for this weekend's Magic Round fixture against the Newcastle Knights, still without his tooth, with the footy great now booked in for an emergency dental procedure next week. 'I'm coming to Brisbane toothless,' he said laughing. 'I was eating one of those liquorice chocolate bullets before the game and my front tooth just snapped on me. 'I went to the dentist to get it glued back in, but I've had it fall out about three or four times now. 'I had to keep going back to the dentist so I thought stuff it, I'll just wait until next week to get it fixed. The Rabbitohs were beaten by Melbourne Storm on ANZAC Day in what was their third loss on the bounce 'I was a bit embarrassed at first but now I'm getting used to looking at myself with a missing tooth. 'I'm getting it fixed next Tuesday.' The Rabbitohs will be looking to bounce back this weekend having suffered three defeats on the bounce slumping to 11th in the table. The Knights have also endured a torrid run of form at the start of 2025 having lost their last five matches including a 26-12 defeat against the Warriors in their last run out. Reflecting on the Rabbitohs defeat to the Storm last week, Hornby revealed that changes to the squad have hampered them but that wasn't an excuse, with the side needing to front up. 'There was a lot of effort, the boys really tried hard, but the execution wasn't there, hasn't been for the last couple of weeks,' Hornby said. 'In some ways, it is an easy fix but when you're making the changes we are from week to week it's getting difficult.' On swapping out players in the line-up he added: 'It's not ideal but we've persevered and done pretty well so far this year with the changes that we've had. We're not using that as an excuse but it does make it more difficult to build more cohesion. So that's where we're at.'
Otago Daily Times
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Pummelled by the Panthers
Sports reporter Sam Coughlan is a footballer who plays in goal, so we decided to take him out of his comfort zone. In the second of a series, he trained with Hornby Panthers, the defending Canterbury Rugby League champions. It's a dreadful evening for training at Hornby's Leslie Park home ground – the rain is bucketing down, making both ball and field slick and slippery. Sports reporter enters the boxing ring My first act is to try and kick a goal from the sideline. As a footballer, it's the one thing I thought I could do well, but my shot falls miserably short although the direction was good. After a short warm-up we get into some passing drills, running up and down the field. Sounds easy? I thought so. That was until a full-contact drill had me charging at speed into four defenders, prompting head coach Corey Lawrie to remind the team I haven't played rugby league before. Copping a shoulder in the cheek on my first run makes me regret my decision not to bother with a mouthguard. I fear for my teeth if I take another heavy hit and I'm thankful to have the soft, muddy ground to cushion my fall. Welcome to the Panthers! Even in the pouring rain, the standard was clear – sharp runs, crisp passes and total focus for the duration of the drills. Except, of course, for the one guy who didn't know where to stand or run or what position he was playing. That's me, in case it wasn't clear. It's an unusual feeling – I'm used to running around on a muddy field, but this is with ball in hand rather than at feet. The team is welcoming and happy to instruct me, where they can, on what I need to do to get more involved. The Panthers were going through attacking formations and moves in preparation for their match, a repeat of last season's grand final with the Halswell Hornets, but with calls of 'wedge', 'China', and 'diamond' around me, I am dumbfounded. Hooker Kyan Rosie throws me a lifeline: 'Just run it up,' he says, tossing me the ball. I obey, only to sprint straight into a brick wall. It hurts, but not much. I can tell they aren't tackling the newbie at 100%, because I'm sure I'd be in a lot more pain. In the end, the only bruise is to my ego after feeling mostly useless for the best part of 90-minutes. I make it out alive with no broken bones, all my teeth intact, and a whole new respect for those who spend their Saturdays smashing into each other and rolling in mud. I'll take that as a win – my influence clearly inspired the Panthers, who won their next game 22-12.
