Latest news with #Kansas-based
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Resignation of Crater Lake head leaves Oregon congressional delegation concerned
Crater Lake on a hazy afternoon Aug 4, 2021, caused by wildfires in southern Oregon. (Photo by Alex Baumhardt / Oregon Capital Chronicle) While Democratic members of Oregon's congressional delegation expressed alarm at the sudden resignation of the leader of the state's only national park, the Republican who has the park in his district declined to take a position Friday. Kevin Heatley, the new superintendent of Crater Lake National Park, resigned from his post May 30 over staffing concerns after just five months on the job. Heatley, who had previously worked at the Bureau of Land Management, told Oregon Public Broadcasting, KGW, The Washington Post and several other news organizations that staffing was already lean at Crater Lake, and layoffs of probationary employees President Donald Trump ordered, followed by hiring freezes, mandates to leave vacant positions unfilled and new federal incentives from the Office of Personnel Management and the office known as the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, to resign or retire were making it worse. Oregon's congressional delegation met the news with differing levels of concern. U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter, representing Oregon's 3rd Congressional District, wrote Wednesday to Doug Burgum, secretary of the Department of the Interior, demanding to know if he or the agency had undertaken any analysis of what staffing levels were like there or how bad it had gotten. Dexter is also a member of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. On X, formerly known as Twitter, Oregon's U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat, said it is clear to him that Trump is 'hellbent on destroying natural treasures like Crater Lake.' U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, who represents Oregon's 2nd District —his district includes southern Oregon's Crater Lake — said on the phone Friday he'd 'look into it.' 'The person's (Heatley) concern may be well founded. It may not. Until I know the facts better, I'm not going to take a position on it, but now that you've raised an issue, we'll look into it,' he said. The national park in southern Oregon, famous for its vibrant and translucent volcanic lake that is among the deepest in the world, typically sees about half-a-million visitors each year. But this summer, 60 to 65 seasonal positions will need to be filled, Heatley told journalists in several reports, and just eight ranger positions have so far been filled to keep visitors in the 286-square-mile park safe. 'I mean, the train is still running on the tracks, but it's not heading in the right direction,' Heatley told OPB on June 2. 'I cannot, in good conscience, manage an operation that I know is moving in the wrong direction.' Spokespeople for Crater Lake did not respond to Capital Chronicle requests for staffing and hiring data. The federal jobs portal USA Jobs does not list any current vacancies at Crater Lake. The Kansas-based company running Crater Lake's lodging, concessions, retail and boating operations had 18 vacant positions listed on its site as of June 5. The National Parks Conservation Association, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit conservation group, called the staffing issues at the 63 National Parks a 'full-blown staffing crisis.' They report that the Department of the Interior's own workforce database shows that as of May 13, the Park Service had just over 18,000 employees across all parks, a more than 16% drop from 2023, the previous fiscal year — a decrease equal to that of the previous ten years combined. The association said the recent sharp drop was driven by Trump-incentivized buyouts, early retirements, deferred resignations and leaving vacancies unfilled. Interior Department data also shows 39% of seasonal and temporary staff at the national parks have been hired so far — about 3,300 employees. That's less than half the number of seasonal employees Park Service officials said they'd hire in a February memo. In her letter to Burgum, Dexter called Heatley's resignation a 'flashing red warning sign that something is very wrong,' in a news release Wednesday. This article was first published by the Oregon Capital Chronicle, part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Julia Shumway for questions: info@
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Resignation of Crater Lake head leaves Oregon congressional delegation concerned, clueless
Crater Lake on a hazy afternoon Aug 4, 2021, caused by wildfires in southern Oregon. (Alex Baumhardt / Oregon Capital Chronicle) While Democratic members of Oregon's congressional delegation expressed alarm at the sudden resignation of the leader of the state's only national park, the Republican who has the park in his district declined to take a position Friday. Kevin Heatley, the new superintendent of Crater Lake National Park, resigned from his post May 30 over staffing concerns after just five months on the job. Heatley, who had previously worked at the Bureau of Land Management, told Oregon Public Broadcasting, KGW, The Washington Post and several other news organizations that staffing was already lean at Crater Lake, and layoffs of probationary employees President Donald Trump ordered, followed by hiring freezes, mandates to leave vacant positions unfilled and new federal incentives from the Office of Personnel Management and the office known as the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, to resign or retire were making it worse. Oregon's congressional delegation met the news with differing levels of concern. U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter, representing Oregon's 3rd Congressional District, wrote Wednesday to Doug Burgum, secretary of the Department of the Interior, demanding to know if he or the agency had undertaken any analysis of what staffing levels were like there or how bad it had gotten. Dexter is also a member of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. On X, formerly known as Twitter, Oregon's U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat, said it is clear to him that Trump is 'hellbent on destroying natural treasures like Crater Lake.' U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, who represents Oregon's 2nd District —his district includes southern Oregon's Crater Lake — said on the phone Friday he'd 'look into it.' 'The person's (Heatley) concern may be well founded. It may not. Until I know the facts better, I'm not going to take a position on it, but now that you've raised an issue, we'll look into it,' he said. The national park in southern Oregon, famous for its vibrant and translucent volcanic lake that is among the deepest in the world, typically sees about half-a-million visitors each year. But this summer, 60 to 65 seasonal positions will need to be filled, Heatley told journalists in several reports, and just eight ranger positions have so far been filled to keep visitors in the 286-square-mile park safe. 'I mean, the train is still running on the tracks, but it's not heading in the right direction,' Heatley told OPB on June 2. 'I cannot, in good conscience, manage an operation that I know is moving in the wrong direction.' Spokespeople for Crater Lake did not respond to Capital Chronicle requests for staffing and hiring data. The federal jobs portal USA Jobs does not list any current vacancies at Crater Lake. The Kansas-based company running Crater Lake's lodging, concessions, retail and boating operations had 18 vacant positions listed on its site as of June 5. The National Parks Conservation Association, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit conservation group, called the staffing issues at the 63 National Parks a 'full-blown staffing crisis.' They report that the Department of the Interior's own workforce database shows that as of May 13, the Park Service had just over 18,000 employees across all parks, a more than 16% drop from 2023, the previous fiscal year — a decrease equal to that of the previous ten years combined. The association said the recent sharp drop was driven by Trump-incentivized buyouts, early retirements, deferred resignations and leaving vacancies unfilled. Interior Department data also shows 39% of seasonal and temporary staff at the national parks have been hired so far — about 3,300 employees. That's less than half the number of seasonal employees Park Service officials said they'd hire in a February memo. In her letter to Burgum, Dexter called Heatley's resignation a 'flashing red warning sign that something is very wrong,' in a news release Wednesday. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Associated Press
15-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
NCTC Promotes Jeff Nourse to General Counsel
OVERLAND PARK, Kan., May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Cable Television Cooperative, Inc. (NCTC) is pleased to announce the promotion of Jeff Nourse to General Counsel, effective immediately. Nourse, who most recently served as Senior Vice President of Legal & Regulatory Affairs, has been with NCTC for over 15 years and has played a critical role in guiding the organization's legal and business strategy through a time of dynamic industry change. In his new role as General Counsel, Nourse will serve as the chief legal officer of NCTC and a key member of the senior leadership team. He will oversee all legal, regulatory, and compliance matters affecting the organization, including supervising NCTC's internal legal team and managing outside counsel. Additionally, he will act as NCTC's Corporate Secretary and Compliance Officer, supporting the NCTC Board of Directors on various governance issues. 'Nourse's deep understanding of the legal landscape, combined with his institutional knowledge and strategic insight of the NCTC, makes him an ideal choice to serve as our General Counsel,' said Lou Borrelli, CEO of NCTC. 'He has been an indispensable part of our leadership team, and we're excited to see him step into this critical role.' As General Counsel, Nourse will continue to provide counsel on a wide range of issues impacting NCTC's members and operations, including regulatory developments in television, broadband, and telecommunications; antitrust and cooperative risk; contract negotiation; employment law; and the legal aspects of employee benefits and healthcare plans. He will also lead internal compliance initiatives, training, and audits, promoting a culture of ethics and accountability across the organization. 'I'm honored to take on the role of General Counsel at a time when our members' industry is more complex and transformative than ever,' said Nourse. 'Over the past 15 years, I've had a front-row seat to our members' remarkable shift from traditional video service providers towards embracing more diversified and dynamic solutions to serve their customers and communities. I am immensely proud to have a small role contributing to their success.' About the National Content & Technology Cooperative The National Content & Technology Cooperative (NCTC) is a Kansas-based, not-for-profit corporation comprised of nearly 700 independent cable and broadband operators serving one-third of the connected households in all 50 United States and territories. The NCTC negotiates content, connectivity, and technology solutions for its member companies that create operational efficiencies, new products, and revenue streams for sustainable growth. For more information, visit: Media Contact: Christy Drummond, VP Marketing and Communications (913) 310-1551 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE NCTC
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Missouri company ready to make new home in Topeka
TOPEKA (KSNT) – A Missouri-based company is getting ready to move into the Capital City later this year and help local workers get their home improvement projects finished. 27 News got in touch with Roofers Mart this week to learn more about its plans to set up shop in southeast Topeka, marking the opening of the company's first Kansas location. Digital Marketing Manager Bridget Rivet confirmed the company will be opening a new branch in the city at 2220 Southeast Lakewood Boulevard. 'It's absolutely heartbreaking': Seven puppies found abandoned in Jefferson County Roofers Mart CEO Buzz Vierling elaborated on the company's Topeka plans, saying the new branch should be opened sometime in the fall of 2025. It will mark the first Kansas-based location for the company which has its roots set in nearby Missouri. 'Our customers are professional contractors, and our primary products include asphalt shingles, low-slope commercial roofing materials, and vinyl siding, but we sell products for the entire building envelope, including hardboard siding, decks, windows, doors, coatings, slate and tile,' Vierling said. 'We also have long-standing partnerships with several manufacturers with operations in the state as well as the Kansas City area, including DaVinci Roofscapes, Ply Gem, and GAF.' Roofers Mart is new to Kansas with the company operating eight locations in Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky. The company got started in 1983 with its first location in Rockhill, MO. It now provides supplies and services to those who are completing professional roofing projects. Vierling said the new location will be open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the work week. Exceptions will be made whenever national holidays roll around. 2025 graduation plans released for Topeka area high schools Roofers Mart will be set up at an existing building, and plans to add another building to the property. 'Roofers Mart is a regional building products distributor that is both independent and family owned, and we are excited to join the Topeka building community,' Vierling said. You can learn more about the services Roofers Mart provides by heading to its website. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SelectQuote: Fiscal Q3 Earnings Snapshot
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — SelectQuote, Inc. (SLQT) on Monday reported net income of $26 million in its fiscal third quarter. The Overland Park, Kansas-based company said it had profit of 3 cents per share. The company posted revenue of $408.2 million in the period. SelectQuote expects full-year revenue in the range of $1.5 billion to $1.58 billion. _____ This story was generated by Automated Insights ( using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on SLQT at Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
