Latest news with #Hutt
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cleburne wins distinguished budget award
Thirty-four consecutive years and counting, Cleburne Finance Director Craig Boonstra said of the city's latest award. Boonstra, during Tuesday's meeting of the Cleburne City Council, announced that Cleburne has once again won the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. The Association announced the award March 11. This year's award is in connection with Cleburne's annual budget for the 2025 fiscal year, which began Oct. 1. 'This award is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting,' Boonstra said. 'Its attainment represents a significant achievement by a city organization.' In choosing recipients for the award, the Association consider several criteria, Boonstra said. 'In order to receive this award, a governmental unit must publish a budget document that meets program criteria as a policy document, as a financial plan, as an operations guide, and as a communications device,' Boonstra said. Cleburne's long running tradition of receiving the award each year speaks volumes, Mayor Scott Cain said. 'It speaks to the professionalism and quality of our finance department,' Cain said. 'It also speaks to our other city departments who support and work with the finance department in creating the budget.' Amendments and renovations Based on a desire to support the development of non-profit, affordable housing within the city, council members unanimously approved an amendment to city codes dealing with impact fees. 'The hope is to provide financial relief through the exemption of impact fees [in certain cases],' Public Works Director Jeremy Hutt said. 'This effort aims to reduce development costs and encourage the construction of affordable housing units by non-profit entities.' Such an exemption already exists within the city for public school construction projects. This addition, Hutt and others said, should help spur construction of affordable housing. Hutt, in answer to Councilman Oliver Cozby's question, said the exemption will apply both to construction projects involving single homes as well as multiple home projects. 'To request an exemption, the applicant must submit a formal letter to the director of public works, which includes a description of the proposed development, including location and number of housing units as well as documentation verifying the applicant's non-profit status and supporting information demonstrating compliance with the requirements for affordable housing,' Hutt said. 'If an exemption is granted but the development is not constructed as affordable housing or later ceases to qualify, the city shall assess and collect applicable impact fees based on the rates in effect at the time of building permit or water meter issuance.' Council members also approved the replacement of 39 windows at city hall for a cost not to exceed $115,000. Council also agreed to hire Strong Commercial for the project. The post office previously occupied the current city hall building, which dates to the early 20th Century. 'The existing windows are in poor condition and require full replacement to improve energy efficiency, aesthetics, and overall building performance,' Hutt said. 'The project scope includes the replacement, demolition, and proper disposal of a total of 39 windows.'
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Sounds By The Awa In Lower Hutt To Celebrate NZ Music Month
Local artists will be the stars of the show in Sounds by the Awa - the first outdoor concert organised by Hutt City Council to specifically celebrate NZ Music Month. The family-friendly event will be held at the new Te Tōpūnga Hapori i Daly Street community space from 11am-3pm on 31 May (rain day 1 June). Entry is free. On the bill are Valley Kids, Ras Judah, DJ Kaysee Savali, Kiridox, DJ Stefrose and legendary vocalist Lisa Tomlins. Economy and Development Director Jon Kingsbury says Sounds by the Awa is a perfect event for the Daly St site. "It's all about bring the community together for a fun day out in the heart of the city. To be able to do that whilst celebrating NZ Music Month, and local Hutt musicians, makes it extra special." It's a unique event where you can combine live music with some cycling action on our pump track or enjoy some kai from a local food truck. But the new Daly St community space is only a one-minute saunter away from the Hutt River and a two-minute walk from High St and its amazing offering of local cafes. You may even want to take the time to do your weekly veggie shop at the Riverbank Market. Valley Kids will bring their collective experiences with Kiwi heavy hitters such as Katachafire, Tomorrow People, Sons Of Zion, NLC, and Creative Nātives in their acoustic set at Daly St. Guitarist/vocalist Daniel Sugrue says Valley Kids are into "groove based" music incorporating soul, RnB, Reggae, rock and three-part harmonies. "All of us are kids from the Hutt Valley, hence the band name. A couple of us lived together and a lot of the songs were written in that house. We really wanted to reflect the environment the band was reared in. "We are going to be doing a few our songs and a few covers that we really enjoy. We think people will enjoy them too." Valley Kids have released six singles, including their latest Stuck in your Head.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
White House report to outline causes of America's declining health
Washington: A commission led by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and tasked by President Donald Trump with investigating chronic illness is set to deliver a report outlining its findings on Thursday. Trump signed an executive order in February establishing the Make America Healthy Again Commission to investigate chronic illness and deliver an action plan to fight childhood diseases. Thursday's report outlining the causes was due this week and will be followed by a strategy document due in August. The commission is jointly run by HHS and the White House, with Kennedy serving as its chair and the Domestic Policy Council chief as executive director. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and other cabinet members sit on it, as do federal health agency chiefs and senior White House officials. Supporters of Kennedy's Make America Healthy Again, or MAHA, movement for which the commission is named, said they expected it to outline causes they had long blamed for the decline in American health and sum up Kennedy's accomplishments during his first 100 days in the job, but that it would bring no surprises. "Nobody's talked about any bombshells coming out or anything like that," said Jeff Hutt, who was national field director of Kennedy's presidential campaign and now runs a group supporting his food and health goals. The report is likely to outline efforts Kennedy has already announced, said Hutt, including studying the safety of vaccines, making changes to the food safety process, and removing some dyes and petroleum-based products from the food supply. The report will also tackle pesticides, drawing concern from farm groups that are wary of what it will say about glyphosate. Some environmental groups argue the use of the chemical to dry crops and harvest them faster leads to human exposure of it. Farm lobby groups warned that criticizing specific farm practices could impede collaboration on the administration's health agenda and put food production at risk. The groups should not be worried, said Hutt, because Kennedy has already publicly reassured them there would be nothing in the report they would find shocking or upsetting. It will likely focus on data and raising awareness, rather than policy proposals, said prominent MAHA activist Vani Hari, who authors "The Food Babe" blog. "Once somebody learns this information, they can't unlearn it, and it changes their behavior," she said. "They make different purchasing decisions at the grocery store."
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
White House report to outline causes of America's declining health
By Ahmed Aboulenein, Renee Hickman and Leah Douglas WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A commission led by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and tasked by President Donald Trump with investigating chronic illness is set to deliver a report outlining its findings on Thursday. Trump signed an executive order in February establishing the Make America Healthy Again Commission to investigate chronic illness and deliver an action plan to fight childhood diseases. Thursday's report outlining the causes was due this week and will be followed by a strategy document due in August. The commission is jointly run by HHS and the White House, with Kennedy serving as its chair and the Domestic Policy Council chief as executive director. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and other cabinet members sit on it, as do federal health agency chiefs and senior White House officials. Supporters of Kennedy's Make America Healthy Again, or MAHA, movement for which the commission is named, said they expected it to outline causes they had long blamed for the decline in American health and sum up Kennedy's accomplishments during his first 100 days in the job, but that it would bring no surprises. "Nobody's talked about any bombshells coming out or anything like that," said Jeff Hutt, who was national field director of Kennedy's presidential campaign and now runs a group supporting his food and health goals. The report is likely to outline efforts Kennedy has already announced, said Hutt, including studying the safety of vaccines, making changes to the food safety process, and removing some dyes and petroleum-based products from the food supply. The report will also tackle pesticides, drawing concern from farm groups that are wary of what it will say about glyphosate. Some environmental groups argue the use of the chemical to dry crops and harvest them faster leads to human exposure of it. Farm lobby groups warned that criticizing specific farm practices could impede collaboration on the administration's health agenda and put food production at risk. The groups should not be worried, said Hutt, because Kennedy has already publicly reassured them there would be nothing in the report they would find shocking or upsetting. It will likely focus on data and raising awareness, rather than policy proposals, said prominent MAHA activist Vani Hari, who authors "The Food Babe" blog. "Once somebody learns this information, they can't unlearn it, and it changes their behavior," she said. "They make different purchasing decisions at the grocery store."
Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
White House report to outline causes of America's declining health
WASHINGTON, - A commission led by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and tasked by President Donald Trump with investigating chronic illness is set to deliver a report outlining its findings on Thursday. Trump signed an executive order in February establishing the Make America Healthy Again Commission to investigate chronic illness and deliver an action plan to fight childhood diseases. Thursday's report outlining the causes was due this week and will be followed by a strategy document due in August. The commission is jointly run by HHS and the White House, with Kennedy serving as its chair and the Domestic Policy Council chief as executive director. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and other cabinet members sit on it, as do federal health agency chiefs and senior White House officials. Supporters of Kennedy's Make America Healthy Again, or MAHA, movement for which the commission is named, said they expected it to outline causes they had long blamed for the decline in American health and sum up Kennedy's accomplishments during his first 100 days in the job, but that it would bring no surprises. "Nobody's talked about any bombshells coming out or anything like that," said Jeff Hutt, who was national field director of Kennedy's presidential campaign and now runs a group supporting his food and health goals. The report is likely to outline efforts Kennedy has already announced, said Hutt, including studying the safety of vaccines, making changes to the food safety process, and removing some dyes and petroleum-based products from the food supply. The report will also tackle pesticides, drawing concern from farm groups that are wary of what it will say about glyphosate. Some environmental groups argue the use of the chemical to dry crops and harvest them faster leads to human exposure of it. Farm lobby groups warned that criticizing specific farm practices could impede collaboration on the administration's health agenda and put food production at risk. The groups should not be worried, said Hutt, because Kennedy has already publicly reassured them there would be nothing in the report they would find shocking or upsetting. It will likely focus on data and raising awareness, rather than policy proposals, said prominent MAHA activist Vani Hari, who authors "The Food Babe" blog. "Once somebody learns this information, they can't unlearn it, and it changes their behavior," she said. "They make different purchasing decisions at the grocery store."
