Latest news with #KeithWilliams
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Ex-minister Greg Hands to advise Royal Mail after takeover by 'Czech Sphinx' billionaire
A former trade minister has been appointed as an adviser to the new owner of Royal Mail. Greg Hands, who lost his seat as a Conservative MP in last year's election, will advise Daniel Kretinsky's EP Group on business matters in the UK and Germany. The appointment came as Royal Mail's parent company, International Distribution Services (IDS), formally left the London Stock Exchange after being bought by Czech billionaire Kretinsky. The departure from the stock market also saw a number of IDS board members resign, including chairman Keith Williams. The £3.6billion takeover by Kretinsky saw the more than 500-year-old firm fall into foreign hands for the first time.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man arrested, Etna police work to identify other thieves after string of recent car break-ins
Several streets in the Etna, Sharpsburg, and Shaler areas have recently been the targets of thefts and vehicle break-ins. Etna police have made at least one arrest, but they believe there are more thieves out there and are asking neighbors to be vigilant. Etna police arrested Keith Williams after court documents said he was seen on surveillance video checking door handles and attempting to break into vehicles. One victim who lives on Middle Street in Etna told police her purse and gift cards, valued at more than $150, were stolen out of her car. Williams was also seen doing the same thing in Sharpsburg. People there are also on the lookout. 'People should lock their cars at all times, so it's just unfortunate that something like this is going on in any of the neighborhoods,' said Ted Tucker, who visits the area frequently. In a separate incident, Ring doorbell video shows a group of individuals, believed to be minors, driving through a neighborhood, checking for unlocked cars. In a Facebook post, Etna's mayor, Robert Tuñón, said they're wearing masks, gloves, and dark clothing, running ahead of a vehicle as they search. Carrie Napiecek, whose car was parked in the neighborhood along High Street, said her car was locked and left alone, but that wasn't the case for everyone. 'There were three people down the street, I guess two cars that they did not lock, so they ransacked their cars. And then there was a car, it was locked, and somehow they jimmied the door open,' Napiecek said. Etna's mayor is urging residents to lock their car doors and remove valuable items. He said borough police are continuing to patrol neighborhoods while working to identify suspects. Anyone who believes they may be a victim is encouraged to report it to police. You can send video to etnapd@ Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Business Wire
14-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Crestline Raises $3.5 Billion for Fourth Flagship Direct Lending Fund
FORT WORTH, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Crestline Investors, Inc. ('Crestline'), a global alternative investment manager, today announced the final close of Crestline Direct Lending Fund IV ('CDLIV' or the 'Fund'), with $3.5bn of investable capital across the Fund, related vehicles and anticipated leverage. Crestline's direct lending strategy provides tailored financing solutions to sponsor and non-sponsor backed companies across North America. The strategy lends to companies across the middle market with a focus on the lower and core segments. 'This marks another significant milestone in our commitment to providing flexible, scalable capital solutions for the companies with which we invest,' said Keith Williams, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer. 'Our investors' confidence reinforces our position as a trusted steward of capital, and we're deeply grateful for their support.' The Fund attracted a globally diversified investor base of new and existing limited partners, including public and corporate pension plans, sovereign wealth funds, asset managers, RIAs and other financial institutions across North America, Europe and Asia. 'The support we received from new and existing investors is a testament to our partnership approach and our track record of delivering both returns and capital preservation through credit cycles,' said Chris Semple, Partner and Co-Head of US Corporate Credit. 'It also reflects the growing demand for alpha-driven direct lending strategies that aren't predominantly focused on the upper-end of the market.' Crestline's direct lending strategy, launched in 2014, has closed over 150 transactions with more than $5.9 billion of capital invested. To date, CDLIV has completed 46 transactions across a broad array of borrower profiles, industries and sponsors. About Crestline Investors Crestline Investors, Inc. is an alternative investment management firm founded in 1997 and based in Fort Worth, Texas, with affiliate offices in London, New York, Toronto, and Tokyo. The firm has over $16 billion of alternative credit assets under management (as of December 31, 2024) across its direct lending, opportunistic, and portfolio finance platforms. For more information, visit In the United Kingdom, this communication is being made only to, or directed only at, persons who are: (i) investment professionals within the meaning of Article 19 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (' FP Order '); (ii) high net worth companies and certain other entities falling within Article 49 of the FP Order; or (iii) any other persons to whom such communication may lawfully be made. It must not be acted, or relied, upon by any other persons. The concept of financial promotion is very broad in the UK. Even though we are announcing a fund close, we are discussing financial products and that is in scope for financial promotion in the UK.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Disabilities community ‘concerned' by proposed cuts, changing landscape
Advocates for the disabled say they are concerned about proposed cuts to Medicaid and other funding streams that may mean a reduction in supportive services to those with disabilities. Keith Williams, director of advocacy and outreach at the Northeast PA Center for Independent Living (CIL), points out the importance of advocacy for funding to meet the needs of those with disabilities, as well as active in involvement in the political process. He often shares a quote from Justin Dart, known as the Father of the Americans with Disabilities Act: 'Vote as if your life depends on it. Because it does.' At a Wednesday press conference, service providers and lawmakers pushed for continued funding and improved payment models, including Medicaid capitation and decreasing administrative burden in the state's 2025/2026 budget. (SUBMITTED)Richard Edley, President and CEO of Rehabilitation and Community Providers, speaks to a group gathered at a media event in Harrisburg Wednesday. (SUBMITTED)Manager of OVR Grant and Advocacy Keith Williams poses for a photograph in the multipurpose room at the MyCil Center for Independent Living in Scranton Thursday, March 27, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)Manager of OVR Grant and Advocacy Keith Williams poses for a photograph in the multipurpose room at the MyCil Center for Independent Living in Scranton Thursday, March 27, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Lesley Corey, vice president and chief operating officer at Step by Step Inc., agrees. This week about 20 administrators and employees from the organization, which serves multiple counties in Northeast Pennsylvania, including Lackawanna and Luzerne, made a trip to Harrisburg to voice concerns to their legislators. The conference was sponsored by the Rehabilitation & Community Providers Association and was attended by multiple service providers across the state. Legislators and industry leaders spoke of millions of state residents served by support programming, describing it as having a 'transformative role.' Richard Edley, the organization's president and CEO, said sometimes service providers get accustomed to being underfunded, in spite of a continuing need for services to those with disabilities and other challenges. 'Look around,' he said, glancing at hundreds of people gathered for the event, 'We have some strength here. Let your voice be heard. Let your legislators know what you do and why it's important.' Earlier in the week, Gov. Josh Shapiro's office sponsored a roundtable discussion about funding for programs which support those with disabilities in their homes and communities. In a release following the discussion, Department of Human Services Secretary Val Arkoosh said, 'Every Pennsylvanian deserves the freedom to chart their own course. People with intellectual disabilities and autism are no exception, but to do that, they need access to the right services at the right time so they can live healthy, independent lives.' She noted historic investments in the 2024-25 bipartisan budget which grew funding for those services in the context of a multiyear model aimed at continued growth. Shapiro wants to increase funding for those services this year, further reducing wait lists for those in need of services. 'Pennsylvania has moved the needle in the right direction, making critical investments and fighting for a better future for the ID/A community. We still have work to do, and that is why continued funding for ID/A services and its workforce are critical to the future health of this community,' Arkoosh said. Setback after decades of progress When asked if he is concerned about federal funding in the midst of a political environment that seems to be veering away from the concept of inclusion, Williams said he was 'very concerned.' Not only does much of the funding supporting those with disabilities come from the federal government, he said, but it is the federal government that sets the tone for states, municipalities and school districts. Federal law has historically often been the remedy for disputes between students with disabilities and their school district or the state, he said. 'A lot of times, the federal government has come in and said, 'These are the policies that we've created that help people with disabilities and these are the policies states are required to follow,'' Williams said. Those federal laws and policies aren't new, he said, but have been 'on the books' for decades. When asked about the current federal administration and leadership that seems to eschew inclusion and funding to assist those with disabilities, Williams said, 'My gut reaction is that there is a group of public officials who think that, on the federal level, the government knows best and is going to tell you what's best for someone with a disability. 'And it's going to be 'our way, case closed,'' he said. Williams said many legislators and administrators don't understand the battle those with disabilities have had over the years and the progress they've made in terms of legislation and education. 'It just seems to me, they don't care if this is a setback to those with disabilities,' he said. Corey said those with disabilities live quality lives, just as those around them do, including taking vacations, watching baseball games and finding jobs. Like Williams, she is concerned with potential reduction in federal funding streams. Service providers, she said, are 'on the edge of their seat,' hoping their funding doesn't get cut. 'Absolutely, we're concerned,' she said. 'It impacts the services we provide.' Federal and state funding streams One area of funding of special concern to those with disabilities and their advocates is the state 'waiver' program, which is funded through Medicaid. The program allows states to offer services outside of traditional nursing homes, like home and community-based services for individuals with disabilities or chronic health conditions. The waivers cover a wide range of services, including personal care, homemaker services, respite care and transportation. Each state designs and implements its waiver program to best suit the needs of its residents. The program's services allow Williams and others like him to live a full life, which includes full-time employment, activities and independence. States have flexibility in designing and implementing their waiver programs, allowing them to tailor services to the needs of residents. Williams points out that there are multiple funding streams and types of services provided by the waiver programs, which draw funding from federal, state and private insurance sources. Williams receives funding from the state-funded Act 150 program, which provides assistance to those primarily with physical disabilities who otherwise would need a nursing home level of care. That type of waiver, he explained, does 'just that,' diverting funds which would otherwise be used for nursing home care and redirecting them to funding to support people in the community. Organizations including the Center for Independent Living have long advocated to 'rebalance' those funds so a greater portion of Medicaid funding goes into home- and community-based care, rather than nursing home care. Supporting a life well lived Williams, who was born with a condition called arthrogryposis and uses a wheelchair full time, is well acquainted with the impact policies can have on the quality of life for those with disabilities. He looks back to his grade school years, when he was not only in a separate classroom from his peers, but in a separate building in the Abington Heights School District. At 15, he finally had the opportunity to join his peers in the classroom, after his mother and another parent took their case to the school board. It was only then, with the assistance of an aide, that Williams was able to fully fuel his passion for education, in what was then called 'mainstreaming' and is now called 'inclusion.' Williams points out he didn't get a power wheelchair until he was in 11th grade and three community organizations chipped in to fund the purchase. Williams went on to get a bachelor's degree from King's College and a master's degree from the University of Scranton. For 40 years, he has worked at the Center for Independent Living as manager of vocational rehabilitation services (OVR) grant and advocacy. The organization, itself, embodies the principles of inclusion and support for those it serves. 'By law and by philosophy, both our board of directors and our staff are comprised of a minimum of 51% people with disabilities,' William said of the CIL.
