Latest news with #JohnKavanagh
Irish Independent
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Saoirse Hanley: Is refusing to engage in small talk the perfect example of boundary-setting – or just a symptom of Gen Z rudeness?
Our columnist prides herself on being an approachable and polite but she can't summon the energy to chit-chat with strangers A few weeks ago I lost my virginity. Sorry, I should clarify, I lost my Gravediggers virginity, and had my first lovely pint in the Dublin institution that is John Kavanagh's pub. They say you never forget your first. The bar does not serve food on a Monday, which means only the smaller side is open. So while I went searching for a seat in what space remained, I came to a conclusion about myself: I'm really bad at small talk. My boyfriend was joining me but wouldn't arrive for another half hour, so I was holding down the fort alone armed with a book and a Guinness (my dream). However, because I was one girl with a booth to herself, some other pub visitors asked to join my table. 'Asked' in the loosest possible sense, since I quickly realised that it was one of those questions that is more like a statement: their bums were in the seats before they finished the sentence.
Daily Mail
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Brit left stunned after ordering a pint of Guinness abroad
A British YouTuber has slammed the quality of Guinness in the UK as 'depressing' compared to its 'creamy' Irish counterpart during a recent trip to Dublin. Danny, the face behind the Honest Places YouTube channel, has been busy touring Ireland's boozy hotspots, knocking back pints and rating pubs along the way. In a video posted to his channel in March, the content creator was left reeling at what he calls the 'ridiculous' difference in Guinness quality between the UK and its homeland. Documenting each sip he savoured of the black stuff during his pub crawl experience, Danny remarked: 'You can never get the taste like you get over here. It's more creamy.' After further reflection, he added: 'The only annoying thing about Ireland is, which is sad and depressing, is when you get home and you want a Guinness, it is just nothing comparable. 'I feel like I need to stop drinking Guinness when I get home because it is like a completely different pint.' He noted that it felt similar to switching from a Stella Artois to a Peroni - a huge downgrade in his opinion. The content creator added: 'It is ridiculous. That is literally just Guinness to Guinness in the UK to Ireland. And that is annoying... so when you get back you can never get that. But it is what it is - it's only 30 quid a flight if you want to come back.' During his trip, Danny visited some of the capital's most celebrated pubs, including the legendary John Kavanagh The Gravediggers, which he hailed as serving the 'best pint of Guinness in the world.' But not all of Dublin's famed pubs lived up to expectations, with Danny admitting he was left unimpressed by the price of a pint at the iconic Temple Bar. Observing the total cost of two pints, at €20.90, while ordering, he said: 'It is a really good pub, I can't knock the pub, just the prices. That's ridiculous. That's what, £8.80 a pint?' He also commented on the hustle and bustle inside the tourist hotspot, adding: 'First time I've had a bit of a dirty glass because you know they are rushing it out here.' Despite the complaint over costs, Danny concluded his pub crawl on a more positive note after visiting The Guinness Storehouse, the brand's famous visitor centre and brewery experience. He crowned their pint the best of the trip, a 'ten out of ten,' but flagged one major drawback. Danny said: 'If you want to come here, because you should come here if you like Guinness, but the best Guinness you can get is at the Storehouse. But you have to pay €40, you can't just go there for a pint unfortunately.' The content creator also enjoyed standout pints at The Confession Box and Mulligan's, showcasing both the highs and the lows of Guinness tourism in Dublin. Meanwhile, Guinness fans in the UK can finally toast to the opening of a new attraction in London later this year. A brand-new Guinness microbrewery is set to open its doors in Covent Garden before Christmas. The £73 million venue spans 50,000sq ft across five buildings, and will feature various food and drink outlets, a glass rooftop with panoramic views, events spaces and a merchandise shop. The brewery will serve up 14 different limited-edition brews, including no and low alcohol options, offering a unique tasting experience for fans of the black stuff.
Axios
04-06-2025
- Business
- Axios
Budget talks underway as Hobbs and GOP lawmakers negotiate spending issues
Budget negotiations are underway at the Arizona Capitol as the clock ticks toward the end of the fiscal year, but the governor's office, state House and Senate still have differences to sort out. The big picture: The Legislature and governor must pass a new budget by the start of the 2025-26 fiscal year on July 1. The intrigue: The GOP-controlled Legislature and Democratic governor don't see eye to eye on spending, Senate Appropriations Committee chair John Kavanagh (R-Fountain Hills) said, while state Republicans still disagree over how to give their members a lump sum to spend on projects of their choosing, as was done in the fiscal year 2024 budget. Senate Republicans want $90 million to divvy up among themselves — Democrats wouldn't be included — with an identical amount for the House and a similar, if not slightly higher, sum for Hobbs. Meanwhile, their colleagues in the state House have balked at the idea and want to focus on larger-scale projects. What they're saying: "Many of the things our members pick are things there's consensus on … [I]t also provides an opportunity every now and then to get some local projects done that ordinarily would get lost in the shuffle," Kavanagh said. The other side: Rep. Matt Gress (R-Phoenix), vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee, told Axios that House Republicans agree there should be some funds "set aside for legislative and executive priorities, while also balancing some statewide large-scale projects." That could mean small allocations for GOP lawmakers, or they could find money elsewhere in the budget to make up the difference. Meanwhile, Hobbs spokesperson Christian Slater declined to comment on specific points of disagreement between the governor and the Legislature. But he emphasized that Hobbs' budget priorities include alleviating veterans' homelessness, raising pay for law enforcement and firefighters, and making child care more affordable. Threat level: Legislative budget analysts estimated in April that the state's projected revenue growth for next year dropped to about $277 million from the previous projection of $612 million. The threat of federal funding cuts looms over the budget, as does the possibility of an economic downturn. Gress said the state likely won't be able to address those issues until after the budget is passed, with the possibility that changes will be needed later. "The most important element is we have a structurally balanced budget with sufficient cash reserves to address these known unknowns," he said. What we're watching: One reason for the delay in the start of budget negotiations was the extension of Proposition 123, an expiring provision in the Arizona Constitution that provides increased K-12 funding from the state land trust, Capitol Media Services reported last week. Republican lawmakers are looking to include protections for Arizona's school choice programs, including the controversial voucher-style Empowerment Scholarship Account program, with Prop. 123 renewal. Sen. J.D. Mesnard (R-Chandler), who's been working on the Prop. 123 plan, told Axios there are still conversations "happening in the background" and it "could go either way" in terms of whether lawmakers vote this year to put something on the ballot.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Anti-trans bills and executive orders are reshaping campus life in Arizona
Pride flags wave on the building of a Community Church of Hope on 7th Avenue in Phoenix's Melrose District on March 3, 2025. The Melrose District is a very popular area for members of the LGBTQ+ community, with several businesses and bars that proudly offer a place for community. Photo by Brian Petersheim Jr. | Cronkite News Lawmakers across the country are introducing anti-trans bills at increasing rates, with the number spiking more than 28 times higher, from 30 in 2018 to 859 bills this year. These bills often make accessing health care and, some argue, the right to exist publicly difficult by creating legal red tape, which exacerbates mental and emotional distress. Some members of queer communities report feeling more vulnerable to discrimination in public, at schools, in workplaces and within health care systems. Currently, the Arizona Legislature is considering 11 anti-trans bills, in addition to two that have been vetoed. They would impact education, birth certificates, employment, health care and more. In March, the Arizona Senate passed Senate Bill 1002 in its third reading. It's now also passed through the House. For students under 18, written parental consent would be required for school district employees or independent contractors to call students by names that differ from the ones on their government-issued documents. They are also prohibited from using pronouns that don't match the person's biological sex. At a Senate meeting on Feb. 20, Sen. John Kavanagh (R-Fountain Hills), who sponsored SB1002 and other bills like it, defended his vote, saying, 'This bill was very simply about parents' rights to direct the health care of their child.' He cited gender dysphoria treatment as a reason for needing parental consent. 'Some of these children that are transgendered may suffer from a psychological condition called gender dysphoria, which causes depression and, in some students, suicidal thoughts,' Kavanagh said. 'These students may be under treatment for this condition, which their parents arrange, and their health care provider may have said not to entertain the different pronouns. It would be dangerous and bad for your child.' According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), treatment plans for people with gender dysphoria include judgment-free therapy with supported exploration of the person's experiences and feelings of gender identity and expression. The APA states that attempts to force a transgender person to be cisgender, such as conversion therapy, 'are considered unethical and have been linked to adverse mental health outcomes.' Democratic senators spoke out against SB1002 during the meeting. 'There's no other way to look at this. It was a law that was intended for trans people to be bullied,' Sen. Mitzi Epstein (D-Tempe) said. Epstein reflected on her childhood experience and said she is thankful her parents didn't need to write a note justifying her desire to be called Mitzi instead of her birth name, Denise. 'By the time I was in high school, I think I was old enough to know what name I wanted to be called,' Epstein said. 'So this is a horrible travesty of freedom. I really dislike this bill. It hits me personally, and I vote no.' Along with state and national bills, executive orders from President Donald Trump are affecting queer communities. One of them, titled Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness, was blocked by federal Judge Ana C. Reyes. She called the order 'animus,' meaning intentionally discriminatory against transgender people in the military and having no legal basis. The executive orders also hit DEI, pressuring universities and other academic institutions to change their resources to comply with Trump's Jan. 20 executive order requiring government agencies to terminate all DEI 'actions, initiatives, or programs' or face federal funding cuts. Despite rallying club support and institutional efforts, many in the queer community at colleges and universities say they are scared and need validation that they are allowed to take up space. On March 5, several Arizona State University social media accounts' posts announced the university's systematic removal of LGBTQIA+ mentions from their pages. A search for trans-specific resources on the ASU website redirects to the Student Connection and Community page, with no mention of LGBTQ+ resources or clubs. Access to Displayname Changes and other resources have been consolidated into a drop-down menu on the Rainbow Coalition (RainCo) at the bottom of the page under Campus Resources. At the end of April, five Instagram accounts affiliated with the university reported that ASU's Global Education resource page had removed the T in LGBT. The page has a variety of guiding questions for queer students to consider when studying abroad. The reflection and research questions, along with things to keep in mind, are designed with students' safety and comfort as they travel in mind. The State Press later reported the letters were removed without the university's permission and have been restored throughout the page to include the T in every mention of LGBTQIA. Antonio Duran, the president of the, LGBTQ+ Faculty/Staff Association, acknowledged the negative ramifications of changes due to executive actions. 'We are seeing that an increasing amount of institutions are pulling their services specifically for trans and queer communities,' Duran said. 'Whether that's the closing of centers or the shutting down of staff positions that are specifically tasked with serving trans and queer communities.' Cronkite News reached out to LGBTQIA+ students on campus and got no response. Duran said this is because students are feeling unsafe and vulnerable. Duran said resources and facilities are still available to queer students and staff are doing their best. However, he said student organizations are better equipped to support one another as institutions comply with federal and state laws. 'Because many of the people who are in the staff positions are at-will employees, and they don't have a strong sense of job security,' Duran said. 'If they are told not to put on a specific event and they try to move forward with that, they do have the potential of losing their jobs. Student groups are frequently allowed a little bit more freedom in being able to put on events, and we're seeing this at ASU, where I think students are starting to step up and try to mobilize.' Alyssa-Leigh Alcantara, an ASU student and Planned Parenthood Generation Action officer, echoed the sentiment: 'We've lost the school's support, but we're gaining more support from clubs. … People are fighting back way harder, but you can just tell it has a really sad undertone.' Alcantara said the student queer community has worked overtime to support one another by hosting club meetings and private events to share information and resources safely. ASU students participate in about 65 LGBTQ+ affiliated clubs, covering a wide range of interests and experiences, from Greek life and performance groups to lawyers and drag communities. Qmunity, an ASU LGBTQ+ social club, hosts regular events that include movie and game nights, dances, professional workshops and drag shows. An ASU student who attended the Astral Allure: Qmunity Drag Dinner on April 9 and whose identity Cronkite News agreed to withhold to protect their association within queer clubs said, 'It's a space for queer people to just exist and be queer and not have to feel queer about it to finally be normal and queer at the same time. There are so many other spaces for all different types of people.' 'Right now, I know a lot of queer students on campus are feeling really, really disenfranchised and really not taken care of,' said another queer ASU student. Cronkite News agreed to withhold the student's identity. Alcantara noted that the increase in hostility has exacerbated anxieties and made the campus feel less safe. 'It's microaggressions. They are really small things, where on their own it doesn't feel like that big of a deal, but in the grand scheme of it, it does feel like a big deal,' Alcantara said. 'I go out with my queer friends, and I get text later, like, 'Hey, do you think what we did at XYZ location was OK?' And I was like, we sat down and did nothing. We are fine.' Topics like sharing locations, setting aside funding and packing a go-bag are commonly discussed in the queer community. While being prepared is important, Alcantara acknowledged that many, particularly trans and non-binary individuals, feel worn down by the bombardment of coverage, from social media to family and club facilitators. 'A lot of the conversation is like, 'Hey, I saw this. I don't really want to talk. I don't know what to do. I'm going to go shut off for a little bit,'' Alcantara said. Despite the fear, frustration and anxiety, she stresses the importance of learning from the past and being inspired by the resilience of queer movements. 'I feel like with everything that's been happening, it's easy to forget how much queer people have persevered,' Alcantara said. 'Learn your history, attend a few events, and watch a video on Marsha P. Johnson.' The Trevor Project's LGBTQIA+ Youth Specialized Services branch of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline faces uncertainty after a leaked Trump administration budget draft proposed cutting all funding for the hotline, as the Washington Post first reported. The Trevor Project, the leading queer suicide prevention organization, estimates that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ youths ages13-24 seriously consider suicide each year in the United States. On April 22, more than 400 officials from educational institutions signed a letter to the Trump administration denouncing 'unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education.' ASU did not sign the letter, nor did any of Arizona's other public universities. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7. Call or text 988. 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Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Watch your wallets, Arizona. Legislature wants 2 massive pay raises
Fresh off clinging to their immunity from speeding tickets, Arizona's legislators are now working on a plan to give themselves massive pay raises. The House Appropriations Committee on March 31 approved not one but two proposals to bulk up their wallets. First, by asking voters to approve a nearly 100% pay raise. Under this plan, voters next year would be asked to index legislative salaries to inflation and backdate those increases to the last time voters gave them a raise. Meaning, 1998. Instead of making $24,000 a year, legislative salary would jump to upwards of $48,000 a year, with automatic annual increases after that. Not bad for what's supposed to be a part-time job. Senate Concurrent Resolution 1003, sponsored by Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Scottsdale, sailed out of the committee on a 14-3 vote. Next stop, a full House vote, then it's on to the November 2026 ballot. But wait, there's more. Our leaders also passed a bill that would increase the daily expense pay doled out to Maricopa County legislators from $35 a day to about $200. As in $200 a day, seven days a week during the first 120 days of the legislative session, with reductions in per diem pay after that. I am not making this up. This one would go into effect later this year. No voter permission needed. Lawmakers have whined for years about their paltry salaries. Then they spend tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to get elected. Meanwhile, voters have repeatedly rejected proposals to raise their pay — possibly because last time we gave the Legislature a raise, we tied that 60% pay boost to ending the per diem scam. This, on the theory that legislators ought to actually have expenses before they can be reimbursed for those expenses. The Legislature quickly figured out a way around voters, pocketing the pay raise and keeping their per diem, too. And never again have we given them a raise. Certainly, the case can be made for paying the reasonable expenses of legislators who live outside of Maricopa County and must be in Phoenix four days a week. They collect the federal per diem rate, thanks to a bill passed a few years ago. Right now, that's about $229 a day. But Maricopa County lawmakers? They already live here. They already collect mileage reimbursements for their commute to and from the Capitol. So, what expenses are we covering for our $35 a day, seven days a week? Or, if this bill passes, close to $200 a day? (The bill sets Maricopa County lawmakers' per diem at 80% of what out-of-county lawmakers collect.) Opinion: One of Arizona's kookiest senators wants to run our elections This last-minute cash grab is the brainchild of House Appropriations Chairman David Livingston, R-Peoria. He actually gutted a bill that offered raises to state troopers, corrections officers and court workers and replaced it with a five-fold increase in expense pay for Maricopa County legislators — who, by the way, comprise the majority of the Legislature. The rewritten Senate Bill 1061 cleared his committee on a 10-7 vote in the only public hearing his proposal will get. Livington reasoned that it's only fair to boost their take. 'I know there's members that live outside of this county that do get literally three times the amount of gross pay versus myself and other members of this county,' he said during the March 31 hearing on Senate Bill 1061. 'This needs to be fixed.' Actually, the whole per diem scam needs to be ended. This is nothing more than an end run around the state constitution — the part that says voters set legislative pay. Still, it's been 27 years, and I'm sympathetic to their plea for a raise. So, here's what I'd suggest. Ask voters for a reasonable pay raise next year and forget tying it to inflation. That, too, is an end run on voters. Respect what voters decided in 1998 and eliminate per diem piracy for Maricopa County legislators. If you've actually got expenses, you can file expense reports just like every other state employee. Commit to adjourning in April, as you're supposed to do. We don't need 1,700 bills filed every year, and we certainly don't need 300 new laws. Get in, pass a budget and go home. Perhaps then, more average citizens could serve in what is supposed to be a citizen Legislature. We are now beginning Month Four of this year's legislative session. Can anybody name anything of consequence that our leaders have accomplished? Anybody? Reach Roberts at Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @LaurieRobertsaz, on Threads at @LaurieRobertsaz and on BlueSky at @ Like this column? Get more opinions straight into your email inbox by signing up for our free opinions newsletter, which publishes Monday through Friday. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona could pay lawmakers $200 a day for fake expenses | Opinion
