Latest news with #JamesWright
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Police investigate Lyndon barn fire as possible arson
LYNDON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) – Authorities suspect a fire that burned a Lyndon barn to the ground early Saturday may have been intentionally set. Lyndon firefighters arrived just before 6:30 a.m. to find a barn at Greenpoint Lane and Grimes Road so consumed by fire that they made no attempt to put it out, they told Vermont State Police. The state's Public Safety Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit was called to the scene. Troopers say the fire is considered 'suspicious at this time' and the investigation will continue. The barn was used as storage space at the time and did not house any livestock. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Sgt. James Wright at the state police's St. Johnsbury Barracks at 802-748-3111, leave an anonymous tip online at or contact the Vermont Arson Tip Award Program hotline at 1-800-32-ARSON (1-800-322-7766). The program is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for tips leading to an arrest in this case. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Telegraph
25-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Farmers face losing harvests under Starmer's Brexit reset
Farmers have said they face losing harvests because crucial agricultural chemicals will be banned under Labour's deal with the European Union. The UK will have to ban almost 30 widely used pesticides and fungicides after Sir Keir Starmer committed Britain to following EU laws. Growers warned that removing them could lead to significant falls in food production, further eroding their already tight profit margins. A raft of products will have to be taken off shelves, including treatments to prevent potato blight, which threatened crops during last year's wet winter. The move will be yet another blow to struggling family farmers already reeling from Rachel Reeves's inheritance tax raid. Olly Harrison, a cereal farmer in the North West, said he would have lost his entire potato crop last year had the treatment for potato blight been banned. 'It would be devastating if we had to ban all these products,' he said. 'The UK has taken a more science-led approach since Brexit on pesticides, whereas EU regulation is often based on emotion and green lobbying. 'We need to paddle our own canoe when it comes to food security.' James Wright, a farmer from Exmoor who stood as a Tory candidate at the last election, said many of the pesticides available in Britain are 'cheaper than in the EU'. 'There's a lot of worry, particularly in arable farming at the moment, because the margins are really tight,' he said. 'The arable guys are really struggling at the moment, prices are way down, and this is just another kick.' Britain now faces having to ban the chemicals because previous Tory governments took a lighter touch approach to regulation than the EU after Brexit. The deal Sir Keir agreed with Brussels - under which he also allowed EU fishermen access to British waters for 12 years - explicitly states that pesticide regulations will be covered by the agreement. A paper setting out the 'common understanding' says that the pact 'should ensure the application of the same rules at all times by providing for timely dynamic alignment of the rules applicable to and in the United Kingdom acting in respect of Great Britain with all the relevant European Union rules'. The dossier adds that 'where necessary to ensure the European Union's level of food, sanitary, and phytosanitary safety' this should be done 'through the immediate application of the relevant European Union rules' in the UK. The deal includes scope for Britain to negotiate 'limited exceptions' to following EU regulations, which would have to be agreed with Brussels. But it makes clear these will only be acceptable where they do not 'lead to lower standards as compared to European Union rules' and that they respect the principle that only animals and goods compliant with European Union rules move into the EU. Brussels is renowned for being heavy-handed on pesticides, with farmers accusing the EU Commission of becoming captive to green lobbying groups. As a result a wide gap has grown between the two sides' laws, with the UK allowing the use of 28 existing and new products that the EU has not permitted. Earlier this year, Christophe Hansen, the EU's agriculture commissioner, suggested that Brussels would take a tough line on pesticides in the talks. Addressing farmers in Dublin, he vowed to introduce 'stricter' import controls on crops grown with chemicals banned by Brussels. 'This is something farmers do not understand, consumers do not understand either, and we have to be bolder on that,' he said. In return for Britain following its rules, the EU will drop almost all import checks on agricultural produce, slashing costly red tape for exporters to the continent. Farmers have widely welcomed the improved market access, with the border controls and bureaucracy put in place since Brexit negatively affecting many growers. But they have also warned that dynamic alignment will come with major pitfalls, particularly on pesticides, which are vital to the industry. Hazel Doonan, the head of crop protection and agronomy at the Agricultural Industries Confederation, said one benefit of Brexit had been the UK's nimbler approach to pesticide regulation. She said that four new active substances - two herbicides and two fungicides - had come onto the market in Britain that are still awaiting approval in the EU. Rules on weedkiller She also said there were questions over whether Britain will now have to apply EU conditions on products that are authorised for use. In particular, owing to the UK's wet weather, farmers in the north and west often use glyphosate, a weedkiller, to dry out their crops pre-harvest. The practice helps with harvests and reduces crop drying costs, but it is now banned in the EU. 'We have and will highlight to Defra that if we are to lose some active substances that are currently available then that could mean that growers face, in some areas and for some crops, very few alternatives to tackling weeds, pests and diseases,' she said. Environmental groups welcomed the move as a 'massive win for human health, nature and British farmers' and described the pesticides as 'harmful'. The Pesticide Action Network has compiled a list of 28 products that are banned in the EU but not in the UK, and 15 of them are actively marketed in Britain. Josie Cohen from the charity said: 'The agreement to align with EU pesticide standards is a massive win for human health, nature and British farmers. ' The reset deal draws a line under the past five years during which the UK government has been quietly weakening our national pesticide standards.' Downing Street did not deny that Britain faces having to ban more pesticides, but said the new EU agreement will give ministers input into EU policy making. A Government spokesman said: 'Our new agreement with the EU will support British farming by opening up access to EU markets and making agrifood trade with our biggest trading partner cheaper and easier. 'It will cut red tape and costs, benefitting British producers, retailers and consumers. We will be having detailed negotiations with the EU, and it's important not to get ahead of those discussions.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Greenville City Council approves $291.2 million budget to go into effect July 1
GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) — A multi-million dollar budget was approved for the City of Greenville's upcoming fiscal year. It's set to improve housing, safety and quality of life. Greenville's City Council unanimously approved the $291.2 million operating budget Monday night for Fiscal Year 2026, along with $25.9 million for the Capital Improvement Program. Set to take effect July 1, the budget focuses on key priorities including public safety, affordable housing, mobility, economic development, and quality of life. 7NEWS spoke with several residents who said they're pleased to see the city investing back into the community. 'I'm glad to see that they got an interest in the people with what they need. I think that's important,' said James Wright. 'We really like it to be spent on these kinds of things,' said Abdurrahman Housari, Greenville resident. Public safety received the largest share of general fund spending, with new positions being added to the police and fire departments, according to city leaders. Funding will support four new police roles, including traffic and community engagement officers as well as six fire department positions. Investments also include body cameras, upgraded patrol shields, new emergency radios, and the construction of a fire station near Stone Avenue. 'It's needed,' Wright said. 'Some of these fire departments are old and they need to be redone.' Affordable housing is another major focus. City council's budget approval included plans to invest $2.5 million in development projects, and using $1.65 million from state and local tax revenues for workforce housing. A portion of the FY 2026 budget also allocated funds for land purchases for future projects. On the recreational side, funding is set aside for projects which include a 10-acre skate park, a 4.5-mile airport loop trail and a North Main extension of the Swamp Rabbit Trail. City leaders also plan to improve greenways and make improvements at the Greenville Zoo. 'It's great that they're spending money over here and that they are also improving and building. I really am happy that we're going this and I think that we should keep improving our parks,' said Housari. On the roads, Pleasantburg Drive will be the focus of major mobility and safety improvements. It's one of the most accident-prone corridors in the city, officials said. 'They roads maybe need a little repairing on Pleasantburg. We've got a few areas that are pretty rough,' said Wright. Intersection enhancements and pedestrian safety projects are also included in the new budget. 'That's makes me feel amazing because I can feel safer. It's already great now, but also just those little like things that can be polished up,' said London Kimbrell, Greenville resident. Within the budget approval, $500,000 was set aside for future economic development and the addition of a new Micro-Grant Program for underrepresented entrepreneurs. City employees will also receive cost-of-living raises and new incentives for overnight and public safety shifts, according to officials. Despite significant investments, there are no tax hikes or business license changes. However, solid waste fees will increase by $3 per month, and stormwater and wastewater fees will rise by 3.1% annually, according to the City of Greenville. While the City of Greenville's budget was unanimously approved Monday, Greenville County's proposed budget has faced pushback from residents. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
South China Morning Post
19-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
UK visa rules blocked Hong Kong footballer's West Ham trial. Now Japan beckons
Hong Kong Football Club's teenaged goalkeeper James Wright has said the weekend's HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens provided a rare gateway for local talent to play at an elite level overseas. Following a string of impressive displays in last year's tournament, Wright was invited for a trial with West Ham United, the club he supports. That opportunity fell through after Wright arrived in England, because despite owning a British passport, he counted as a foreigner under Fifa rules and West Ham opted against giving a triallist one of its quota of slots for those not meeting UK work permit criteria. A week-long stint with Charlton Athletic was arranged instead, with Wright not offered a deal but told he was welcome to train in future with this season's League One play-off finalists. Soon after playing in this year's Sevens, 17-year-old Wright was poised to jet to Japan for a four-day tryout with Kamatamare Sanuki, set up by former Hong Kong international Au Yeung Yiu-chung, who used to play for the J3 League team. James Wright plays for HKFC Captain's Select at the Soccer Sevens. Photo: HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens 'This tournament gives young players like me exposure to big clubs like Aston Villa and West Ham, and I had the contact from West Ham after last year,' Wright said.
