Latest news with #Huddleston
Chicago Tribune
15-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Hobart mayor, residents debate merits of data centers; city has two pending requests
A cordial crowd of about 200 people voiced concerns and asked questions to Hobart Mayor Josh Huddleston Monday about the impact data centers would have on nearby residential neighborhoods. The city has two pending requests from developers proposing data centers at 61st Avenue and Colorado Street. Data center growth, fueled by the rise of artificial intelligence, streaming and social media, is touching communities across the country as concerns mount about power and water usage. Housed in typically nondescript brick buildings, they contain rows and rows of servers that enable the daily 'click' activities people rely on for work, fun and storage of medical and financial data. Huddleston provided a lengthy background lesson on what he's learned about data centers, including a recent visit he made with city council members to Loudoun County, Virginia, known as the U.S. data center capital, with about 200 centers in use. The development proposals come at a time when cities like Hobart and school districts are struggling to pay employees and continue services after state lawmakers slashed property taxes earlier this year. 'If we don't do something, we'll be laying off police and fire,' Huddleston said of the property tax reform measure known as Senate Bill 1. Hobart could lose more than $3 million in 2028. He said the city is already having trouble staffing a fire station. Some residents who live near the proposed development area weren't convinced of the doom scenario. A handful of residents wore red T-shirts with '61st Avenue No Data Center' on them. 'The environmental concerns are still unknown,' said Carla Houck. 'We didn't know about lead or asbestos… Put it somewhere where we can mitigate those concerns.' Huddleston said data centers are coming to Northwest Indiana because of its proximity to Chicago and the availability of high-tension electrical power lines and water. He said the 61st Avenue site has high-tension power lines nearby. He said the proposed data centers mesh with the city's master plan requirements. 'I can play offense or I can play defense… I can try to have something with the least impact to residents, and I live in this community as well. I would never purposely lead us down a path that I feel would be detrimental to our community,' Huddleston said. He said it's difficult to reach a consensus on new developments since residents who live nearby, whether it's a senior living complex, a school, or an orchard, often voice objections. 'Business parks work next to residential; Hobart is apparently the exclusion to that. I go to other places and they work,' he said, showing a slide of a large Crown Point subdivision adjacent to a warehouse. 'If done carefully, you can make it work,' Huddleston said. Jennifer Williams, who lives in Amber Creek at 61st and Colorado, still thinks it's a bad idea. '61st Avenue has a legacy. How will a data center or anything else draw anyone down to our lakefront?' she asked. 'Why don't you come to us and ask what we want? I'm from the outside and I can't wait to get out,' she said. Resident Helen Engstrom thanked Huddleston for the meeting, saying she didn't object to a data center in the city, but stressed 61st Avenue has become a residential area. She also mentioned neighboring communities, including Valparaiso and Chesterton, which rejected data center development. 'What do they know that we don't?' she asked. 'I just think we have to keep that area the way it is.' Terry Butler, a former Hobart School Board member who lives near the proposal in Deep River Estates, said he's not sure about the location for the data center, but he does know Hobart schools are scrambling to make ends meet. 'Senate Bill 1 is a back breaker,' he said. The school board has agreed to open its enrollment beyond its borders and has renewed its property tax referendum to keep its buses afloat. 'They're still running short.' Because it's located in a tax increment finance zone, the school district wouldn't gain tax money from it, Huddleston said. He didn't know how much the infusion of taxes would mean to the city, estimating it at $2 to $5 million. Neither data center has gained city approval yet, although the City Council did approve the rezone of a 168-acre parcel proposed by Hobart Devco LLC. It plans to build a six-building complex for its servers. Hobart Devco said it would build a landscape berm and fence to shield the data center from its neighbors. While the rezone gained approval earlier this year, the city still needs to approve site plans, which have not been submitted yet, according to Huddleston. Meanwhile, Wylie Capital, a real estate developer that builds data centers, is seeking a rezone for 400 acres on 61st Avenue, east of Colorado and north of 69th Avenue. The rezone petition, from R-3 to M-1, will be heard at the Plan Commission's Aug. 7 meeting.
Chicago Tribune
10-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Data centers are focus of Monday meeting with Hobart mayor
Hobart Mayor Josh Huddleston is hosting an informational meeting on data centers and their impact on the city from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Monday at the Hobart Community Center, 111 E. Old Ridge Road near Festival Park. Two data centers are under probable consideration by city leaders. Both are south of 61st Avenue and east of Colorado Street. 'There's a lot of misinformation about data centers that's out there that people have kind of latched onto… people say something on social media and run with it. I want to clear the air,' said Huddleston, who said he's visited data centers and talked to people in Virginia, the data center capital of the world with about 300 centers. 'I think it will be good, I think it will be educational,' said Huddleston. 'My goal is to tell how we got there.' Huddleston said he wants residents to understand why data centers represent an economic driver as more Americans consume streaming media and rely on smartphones, as well as the rise of artificial intelligence. He cited Loudoun County, Virginia, as having one of the lowest tax rates but among the richest in the country. 'Every development we've ever had in the city has had pushback from citizens,' Huddleston said, citing the senior housing complex on South Lake Park Road and Joan Martin Elementary as examples. Data center opponents voiced concerns about the environmental impact, citing their need for a large volume of water and the noise they create. They launched a No Re-Zone social media site to detail concerns. In Porter County, a handful of communities, including Burns Harbor, Chesterton and Valparaiso, have fought back against data center plans for the same reasons. A proposal is now pending in unincorporated Union Township before county officials. The location is near the Union Township schools. Neither data center has gained city approval yet, although the City Council did approve the rezone of a 168-acre parcel proposed by Hobart Devco LLC. It plans to build a six-building complex for its servers. The company lists itself as a foreign limited liability company, headquartered in McLean, Virginia, on the Indiana Secretary of State's website. Its plans also call for 450,000 yards of outdoor equipment, six small support buildings and an 11-acre detention pond. Hobart Devco said it would build a landscape berm and fence to shield the data center from its neighbors. While the rezone gained approval earlier this year, the city still needs to approve site plans, which have not been submitted yet, according to Huddleston. Meanwhile, Wylie Capital, a real estate developer that builds data centers, seeks rezoning for 400 acres on 61st Avenue, east of Colorado and north of 69th Avenue. The rezone petition, from R-3 to M-1, will be heard at the Plan Commission's Aug. 7 meeting. Earlier, residents opposed a proposed warehouse facility on the Devco data center site, saying it would trigger too much truck traffic. The city turned down the rezone request. To manage time, Huddleston asked for questions to be submitted by 9 a.m. Monday at this link: 'Often things get railroaded, I want to keep it focused,' Huddleston said of the submitted questions. 'I want people to have legitimate questions.'
Business Wire
01-07-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
Holon Health Welcomes National Justice Reform Leader West Huddleston as Chief Growth Officer
RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Holon Health, a primary care and psychiatry provider that bridges gaps in care for people with substance use disorder (SUD) and/or mental health conditions, announced that West Huddleston — one of the nation's top leaders in justice reform and behavioral health — has joined its leadership team as the Chief Growth Officer. With more than three decades of leadership at the intersection of public safety, justice, and behavioral health, Huddleston has authored over 35 prominent works, served as a keynote speaker at national justice events, testified before the U.S. Congress, state legislators, and international parliaments, executive produced the documentary, 25 Years of Drug Court: The Beginning, and played a key role in developing the modern treatment court movement. Also featured on NPR, CNN, C-SPAN, and in The Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today, West's contributions resulted in his induction to the Judge Stanley Goldstein Drug Court Hall of Fame at the 2015 NADCP Conference alongside other honors including the White House ONDCP Director's Award, U.S. Congressional Horizon Award, AATOD Friend of the Field Award, and America Honors Recovery Award. 'West Huddleston's life's work has shaped national policy and created new pathways to health and justice for Americans,' said Jason Herzog, Holon Health's CEO, 'His exemplary track record of driving change across the justice system is exactly the bold leadership Holon needs.' Huddleston most recently served as an executive at SCRAM Systems, before that serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (AllRise) from 2006-2015, where he transformed the organization into the world's largest justice and behavioral health trade association. While tenured, he also founded and served as the Executive Director of Justice for Vets, the nation's only organization focused solely on justice-involved veterans. From 1998-2006, he was the founding Director of NADCP's National Drug Court Institute. 'I sought out Holon Health due to their innovative approach to physical, mental, and behavioral healthcare for those involved in the justice system–a forward-thinking approach that's long overdue, with remarkable results including improved client engagement, increased sober days, and decreased recidivism and unnecessary ER visits,' West Huddleston shared. 'This team understands that health equity depends on dismantling the silos between whole-health and justice, and I'm honored to help lead that work.' In addition to his new role at Holon, Huddleston continues to serve on the Advisory Board of the Division on Addiction at Harvard Medical School and chairs the board of WarriorNow, a nonprofit supporting justice-involved veterans. With Huddleston's leadership, Holon Health is poised to accelerate its impact, expanding to several states in the next 6 months, furthering the commitment to innovative healthcare services, justice-system support, and hope for communities across America. About Holon Health Holon Health is a multi-specialty provider, including primary care and psychiatry, that bridges the gaps in care for people with substance use disorder (SUD) and/or mental health conditions by providing health evaluations and care plan management. The company's services combine face-to-face telehealth with technology via a digital therapeutic app, Holon Vibe, to increase patient engagement. With multiple levels of support – from full-spectrum care to assisting traditional treatment – Holon Health improves patient health literacy and the overall patient experience while aiming to reduce recidivism, relapse rates, and unnecessary ER visits. For more information, visit
Business Insider
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
Americans are looking to stock up on gas masks, emergency meal kits, and power banks as anxiety builds
When the going gets tough, Americans go shopping. Following the US bombing of Iran last weekend, Google search interest for topics including "Survival kit" and "Nuclear fallout" spiked in the US to levels not seen since the early days of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022, data through Thursday shows. On Amazon, data from marketplace analytics company Jungle Scout shows searches and sales for products like gas masks, first aid kits, and solar-powered flashlights have ticked up notably in the past 30 days. The data also show increased searches for "riot gear" and "hurricane preparedness kit" during the same period, which suggests US shoppers have a lot more on their minds than nuclear war alone. The product with the largest increase in search interest in the Jungle Scout data was a Uvex Bionic Face Shield that went viral earlier this month in connection with the anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles. The search terms offer a lens into customer concerns this summer, though actual demand is affected by multiple factors, said Jungle Scout's chief operating officer Tom Werle. While the prospect of World War III may have loomed large last weekend, it seems Americans might also be anxious about a host of domestic concerns: a trade war possibly interfering with essential supplies; civil unrest surrounding arrests and deportations; or increasingly hot and violent wildfires, tornadoes, and hurricanes. The military uses the acronym OBE, or "overcome by events," when circumstances spiral out of control and beyond the scope of a mission's plan and preparation. Chad Huddleston, an anthropology professor at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville who has studied prepper communities for more than a decade, said that may describe how Americans are feeling about recent events. "People are looking in their immediate area to see what's going on with that to determine, 'Well, what should I be worried about?'" he said. Huddleston started following preppers back in 2008 when the phenomenon was becoming more mainstream. He found that the events that motivated people to start prepping then weren't the 9/11 attacks or subsequent wars in the Middle East — it was something closer to home. "They all said Katrina," he said. "When Katrina happened, they could watch on TV all these people suffering." "They're like, 'Oh no, that could happen here,'" he added. Among the TikTokers posting about a possible World War III this week, one user shared a video showing how to build a survival kit for less than $20 at Dollar Tree. Her items included a headlamp, some paracord, batteries, a can of beans, body wash, and a bottle of water. A bit of retail therapy in the form of off-the-shelf solutions can offer people the illusion of preparedness. "I think for a lot of people — and people that I probably would not call preppers — it is a first and only step," Huddleston said. "They go and buy the Costco food bucket, and then a bag off Amazon, and they throw it in the closet, like, 'Cool, we're done.'" He said true preppers are more focused on skills and planning than on gear: "The more you know, the less you need." For some (who can afford it), that sense of comfort has taken the form of investing in safe rooms, underground bunkers, or survival condos advertised as able to withstand threats ranging from weather to war. Two such companies told BI they typically receive a spike in new customer interest following incidents like the Iran bombing, but calls to several other builders did not indicate a significant uptick in inquiries in the past week. Of course, a five- or six-figure underground shelter is likely less of an impulse buy than a ready-made bug-out bag from Amazon. "I think that more immediate stuff is much more prominent in people's minds and maybe in their algorithms," Huddleston said. If doomsday comes to the US, it's BYOB: Bring Your Own Bomb Shelter America's retail-first approach to disaster prep also stands in stark contrast to other nations' civil defense strategies. In some countries like Switzerland or Finland (which have seen invasions and ground wars on their doorsteps in the past 100 years), there is a more communitarian attitude toward preparedness. When warning signals go off, entire towns can seek cover in well-provisioned, blast-proof shelters under soccer fields and parking garages nearby. "America doesn't know what a real bomb shelter looks like," said Paul Seyfried, a disaster preparedness consultant in Utah. Seyfried has designed and built bunkers for several clients in the US based on principles from nuclear science and European practice. He said he's skeptical of the efficacy of many of the more heavily promoted doomsday survival concepts on the market today. Unlike other nations that invest heavily in hardened civil defense infrastructure and detailed emergency planning, Seyfried said the US does far less than it did during the height of the Cold War. He said the main messaging now is "stay inside and listen to your radio." In the US, individuals typically bear responsibility for building, supplying, and maintaining their own families' disaster response options. Americans also generally have high levels of mistrust toward the government. Public trust in the federal government remains at historic lows, according to Pew Research. A 2024 FEMA survey found that about half of Americans expect any level of government to provide help in the event of a disaster or emergency, though health and financial worries far outranked disaster concerns in the survey. "It follows our general American ideal of individualism and bootstrap mentality," Huddleston said. "I filled my bunker with Kirkland stuff. If you didn't do that, then too bad. That's your fault." That could speak to the ultimate driving force behind any surge in sales of disaster supplies: if people see that their friends and neighbors have a stockpile of survival supplies, they may want their own as well.
Bloomberg
20-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Texas Oil Dynasty Targets Payout With $8 Billion Mitsubishi Deal
By and Pui Gwen Yeung Save Albert and Gordon Huddleston are on the cusp of cementing their place in a gilded lineage of Texas oil tycoons who amassed fortunes drilling across the world. The father and son — part of the H.L. Hunt family — are in advanced talks to sell the assets of Aethon Energy Management to Mitsubishi Corp. for nearly $8 billion, people familiar with the matter say.
