Latest news with #KarenMcCormick
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Co Down pre-school at risk of closure due to funding cuts
The future of a pre-school in Co Down is at risk due to a funding shortfall with staff saying they are "deflated." Little Stars Pre-School, a cross-community playgroup located at St Mary's Primary School in Killyleagh, has had its funding axed this year. Stormont budget cuts have reduced cash to The Pathway Fund, which Little Stars and many other pre-schools rely on for key funding. Last Friday, staff were informed that the funding had not been granted, with the community grouping together to fight to keep the doors open. Thanks to a fundraising drive, playgroup leader Karen McCormick said they will be able to stay open until at least the end of June. They hope political support can help the school get the finance it needs to guarantee the doors open for the new term in September. Read more: 'I have to prepare every day for a life-threatening allergic reaction' Read more: MLA 'deeply concerned' as hundreds of SEN children remain without school place Speaking to Belfast Live, Karen said the playgroup was informed in March it was getting finance but would have to wait for the Stormont funds to come through. However, an email last week detailed that finance was allocated on a points system, with Little Stars missing out. The Department of Education said although Little Stars met all eligibility requirements to receive an award through The Pathway Fund, "funding was exhausted before reaching their score on the ranked list." Karen explained: "In March we received an email to say we were eligible for The Pathway Funding and when the budget comes through, they would let us know how much we were getting and when. Last Friday, we got the email to say there wasn't enough money in the budget. "We would usually get £30,000 then this year the total actually increased to £40,000. You weren't guaranteed to get that full amount, but what they're saying is because it went up higher this year, the money wasn't in the budget to pay out the smaller groups. "The parents pay a small fee for their children, but we keep our fees as low as possible to help our families. We depend on the other funding coming in because in this day and age, families don't have money to spare, but they know how important it is for their child to get a good early years education." Karen said the news is "heartbreaking and deflating", but said the team aren't giving up. Little Stars currently has 38 children across their pre pre-school and pre-school sessions, with 25 enrolled to start in the new term. However, if funding isn't secured by then, there will be no places for them. "You look at the smiles on the kids faces, and you just want to make sure you're there for them," Karen added. "I look at them and think of the heartbreak that some of them kids may not have somewhere to go in September when they start pre-school. You're in this kind of limbo. "I'm very passionate about my job, and the job isn't just about our children, we're very family orientated. To stand there on Monday and have to explain to our parents about the funding, you could just see the look of devastation in their faces. They couldn't believe this could happen to us. "It's heartbreaking, but I'm not a person who gives up easily. We're fundraising like mad, we're hoping that will take us through to the end of June and we're hoping between now and then we'll get good news. But if we don't get good news very soon, our future is very bleak." Two years ago, Little Stars fought off the threat of closure, with the community now devastated to be facing a similar situation. Karen said the wait to hear if they will receive funding has been painstaking. The playgroup leader added: "Every year, our numbers continue to rise, so we are doing something right. I just don't know what else we can do. I feel like bringing all my kids to Stormont and asking the politicians to look after them, I'm sure they wouldn't be long with the funding then!" Pathway funding is administered on behalf the Department of Education by Early Years – the Organisation for Young Children (EYO) who undertake the application, scoring and award process. The Education Minister has sought Executive approval to enhance the Pathway Fund budget, with the currently available budget having been allocated already. A Department of Education spokesperson said: 'The increased level of demand for the Pathway Fund exceeds what can be funded from the Department's 2025-26 opening resource allocation. 'The Minister has sought Executive approval to enhance the Pathway Fund budget from the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy (ELCS) funding being held centrally, in line with 2024-25 arrangements. 'The currently available Pathway Fund budget has been allocated to eligible settings in ranked order by score against the Pathway criteria, as assessed by EYO. While Little Stars Pre School has met all eligibility requirements to receive an award, funding was exhausted before reaching their score on the ranked list. 'The Department will confirm any further Pathway awards when the Executive position regarding additional ELCS funding for Pathway is known.' For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
Axios
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Colorado bill puts limits on new veterinary associate position
State lawmakers advanced a bill to create a veterinarian associate position despite questions about whether it contradicts what voters approved in the 2024 election. Why it matters: Colorado is the first state to authorize a midlevel veterinarian position and how it is defined is a multimillion-dollar fight. State of play: The legislation seeks to put guardrails on what voters approved in Proposition 129 last November by limiting the scope of practice. A veterinarian could supervise up to three associates and must sign an agreement with each for accountability. A state board will determine whether the veterinarian must be on the premises or in the room at the time of care by the associate. An associate must inform patients they are not a veterinarian. What they're saying: The bill's sponsor is state Rep. Karen McCormick (D-Longmont), a veterinarian and vocal critic of the ballot measure. She described the legislation as "clear guidelines" that "in no way overturn the will of the voters." Yes, but: Critics — including Gov. Jared Polis' administration — blasted the bill, saying it overrides voters who approved a more open-ended role in the ballot measure and overrides current rule-making happening at the state level. "This is not what the voters intended, and revising their decision after the vote is both irresponsible and unnecessary," said Apryl Steele, CEO of Humane Colorado, formerly known as the Dumb Friends League, which spent more than $1 million in support of the ballot measure. What's next: The legislation moves to a vote of the full House.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Misgendering' trans people on their death certificates could be jailable offense under blue-state bill
A bill before the Colorado state legislature would require a deceased person's gender identity be recorded on their certificate of death under penalty of a fine and/or jail time for anyone who "knowingly and willfully violates" the measure, which one critic told Fox News was an "insane" effort that compels speech. Under the proposed law – sponsored by Democratic state Reps. Karen McCormick and Kyle Brown and state Sen. Mike Weissman – if a document memorializing the decedent's gender identity is presented, the individual completing the death certificate must record the decedent's sex based on that identity. If this is thwarted in any way, the penalty is a class 2 misdemeanor, which in Colorado is punishable by up to 120 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $750. "The state registrar must also amend the certificate of death to reflect a legal name change if the appropriate legal name change documentation is submitted to the state registrar," the bill states. Colorado Councilwoman Encourages People To 'Report' Ice Activity To Help Illegal Immigrants Avoid Capture If there is no official document showing the decedent's gender identity, and the person who is responsible for managing the decedent's remains such as a family member or legal representative disagrees with the sex recorded on the death certificate, they have the right to request a change, the bill states. Specifically, before the death certificate is officially filed, the person in charge of the remains can inform the individual completing the death certificate of their objection. If this happens, the person completing the certificate must update the record to reflect the gender identity that the individual controlling the remains states, rather than the biological sex. Read On The Fox News App Trump Border Czar Tom Homan Vows To Probe Leak That Stifled Ice Raid Targeting Venezuelan Gang In Colorado Current law allows coroners, medical examiners, forensic pathologists and other "qualified individuals" to determine the cause of death and complete the death certificate. State rules define "qualified individuals" as a physician or the chief medical officer of the institution where the death occurred. Other liberal states have passed similar laws in recent years, but do not have a criminal penalty tacked onto it. California's law allows for the update of gender on death certificates, but it does not specifically include criminal penalties for failing to record gender identity properly. If a death certificate is incorrectly issued, the family or legal representative can request an amended certificate. New York, Washington and Oregon also have these laws. Trump's 'Two Sexes' Order Spurs State-level Efforts To Crack Down On Trans Treatments For Minors "And the idea that it's under compulsion, that's unprecedented," Dr. Travis Morrell, a Colorado physician and fellow with the conservative medical coalition Do No Harm, told Fox News Digital in an interview. "Although the misdemeanor is maybe a new little feature that they've added, it's kind of situation normal here in Colorado." Morrell said he plans to speak at the bill's hearing next week. "This is very much in line with Colorado's overall war on reality and war on scientific truth," he said. "The idea that not only does a doctor or mortician have to lie, they're being tried with jail, that's insane. It's compelled speech." The bill comes on the heels of President Donald Trump declaring that there are only "two sexes" in an executive order last month, as well as a slew of other gender-related executive actions seeking to weed out "radical gender ideology." Fox News Digital has reached out to the legislators for comment but did not hear back by time of article source: 'Misgendering' trans people on their death certificates could be jailable offense under blue-state bill
Fox News
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Misgendering trans people on their death certificates could be jailable offense under blue-state bill
A bill before the Colorado state legislature would require a deceased person's gender identity be recorded on their certificate of death under penalty of a fine and/or jail time for anyone who "knowingly and willfully violates" the measure, which one critic told Fox News was an "insane" effort that compels speech. Under the proposed law – sponsored by Democratic state Reps. Karen McCormick and Kyle Brown and state Sen. Mike Weissman – if a document memorializing the decedent's gender identity is presented, the individual completing the death certificate must record the decedent's sex based on that identity. If this is thwarted in any way, the penalty is a class 2 misdemeanor, which in Colorado is punishable by up to 120 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $750. "The state registrar must also amend the certificate of death to reflect a legal name change if the appropriate legal name change documentation is submitted to the state registrar," the bill states. If there is no official document showing the decedent's gender identity, and the person who is responsible for managing the decedent's remains such as a family member or legal representative disagrees with the sex recorded on the death certificate, they have the right to request a change, the bill states. Specifically, before the death certificate is officially filed, the person in charge of the remains can inform the individual completing the death certificate of their objection. If this happens, the person completing the certificate must update the record to reflect the gender identity that the individual controlling the remains states, rather than the biological sex. Current law allows coroners, medical examiners, forensic pathologists and other "qualified individuals" to determine the cause of death and complete the death certificate. State rules define "qualified individuals" as a physician or the chief medical officer of the institution where the death occurred. Other liberal states have passed similar laws in recent years, but do not have a criminal penalty tacked onto it. California's law allows for the update of gender on death certificates, but it does not specifically include criminal penalties for failing to record gender identity properly. If a death certificate is incorrectly issued, the family or legal representative can request an amended certificate. New York, Washington and Oregon also have these laws. "And the idea that it's under compulsion, that's unprecedented," Dr. Travis Morrell, a Colorado physician and fellow with the conservative medical coalition Do No Harm, told Fox News Digital in an interview. "Although the misdemeanor is maybe a new little feature that they've added, it's kind of situation normal here in Colorado." Morrell said he plans to speak at the bill's hearing next week. "This is very much in line with Colorado's overall war on reality and war on scientific truth," he said. "The idea that not only does a doctor or mortician have to lie, they're being tried with jail, that's insane. It's compelled speech." The bill comes on the heels of President Donald Trump declaring that there are only "two sexes" in an executive order last month, as well as a slew of other gender-related executive actions seeking to weed out "radical gender ideology." Fox News Digital has reached out to the legislators for comment but did not hear back by time of publication.
