Latest news with #Larry
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
New Hartford veteran inducted into Senate Veteran's Hall of Fame
ALBANY, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — A New Hartford veteran was given a high honor by the New York State Senate on Wednesday, according to State Senator Joe Griffo. Griffo announced on Wednesday, May 28 that Lawrence Badger of New Hartford has been inducted into the New York State Senate's Veterans' Hall of Fame. Badger is a veteran of the United States Army and served during the Vietnam conflict. 'It is an honor to recognize Larry and all the other men and women who have been inducted into the New York State Senate Veterans' Hall of Fame this year,' Senator Griffo said in a statement. 'Larry has selflessly and courageously served his nation with distinction. He remains committed to supporting and advocating for other veterans and their families and continues to be an active, dedicated and instrumental part of several organizations that support veterans in the region. I am grateful for Larry's service and all that he has done for the veteran community in the 53rd Senate District.' Badger graduated from Proctor High School, and was a student at Mohawk Valley Community College when he enlisted in the Army. He served during Vietnam as a Paratrooper infantryman, serving in several campaigns, including two phases of the Tet Counter Offensive. Badger received the Purple Heart in 1968 after being wounded in Vietnam. When he departed Vietnam in July of 1969 as a squad leader of the 93rd MP Batallion, he had received the following awards and medals: The Purple Heart, The Combat Infantry Badge, The Army Commendation Medal with 'V' Device, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Parachute Badge, The Air Medal Citation, The Good Conduct Medal, and three Overseas Service Bars. After leaving the Army, Badger was employed at the U.S. Postal Service until he retired in 2008. He works behind the scenes at several Central New York veteran-related ceremonies and other events. He is a member and ranking member of several Central New York veteran organizations, including: Vice President of the local chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Finance Officer of the local chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, an officer in the local post of the Masonic War Veterans, a Trustee of the Yorkville Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a Director of Wreaths across America in Rome. Badger is also a member of the American Legion Post in New Hartford. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Borneo Post
3 days ago
- Health
- Borneo Post
Kuching's Hospital Sentosa receives RM946,000 equipment donation
Dr Sim (seated centre) and other guests (from left) Wee, Yevette, Larry, Dr Rosliwati, Yap in a photo call with the hospital staff members at the handover ceremony today. – Photo by Jude Toyat KUCHING (May 29): Hospital Sentosa here today received a donation of medical and non-medical equipment worth RM946,000 from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, facilitated by the Rotary Club of Urban Kuching. The handover ceremony, held at the hospital, was officiated by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, who is also Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister. In his keynote address, Dr Sim expressed appreciation to both organisations for their generous contribution, which he said would significantly enhance mental healthcare services in the state. 'This morning, we are coming together not just to deliver love, but actually deliver with patience and enthusiasm,' he said. The donation is part of a broader initiative totalling RM1.9 million, which also saw Hospital Bau receiving RM511,000 worth of equipment on May 26, and Hospital Lundu receiving RM395,000 on May 27. Dr Sim commended Elder Larry and Sister Yevette Hathaway of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, for their dedication and contributions. He said the contribution is aimed at strengthening hospital operations by equipping healthcare professionals with essential tools, especially in the field of mental health. 'Even though Hospital Sentosa is the only major specialist hospital institute to focus on mental health in Sarawak, this shows how inclusive it is. 'It's always very hard in our community when you say mental hospitals, everybody has this stigma, but they forget that mental health now is really quite common and crying for help in the community,' he said. Dr Sim also highlighted the pressing need for healthcare development in Sarawak, stating that 70 per cent of the state's healthcare facilities are currently in a dilapidated state. He reiterated Sarawak's call for greater autonomy in healthcare management under Article 95C of the Federal Constitution, in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963. He noted that the Sarawak government remains committed to improving healthcare infrastructure, citing the state's RM1 billion allocation for the upcoming cancer hospital in Kuching. He further emphasised the importance of collaboration between local and international partners to enhance public health services, stating that the impact of current efforts will be felt for years to come. 'What you do today, in 20 years, may be very different. You have to sow the seed. Whether through government efforts or other initiatives, we will continue to evolve and transform,' he said. Also present were Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap, Hospital Sentosa director Dr Rosliwati Mohd Yusoff and Nigel Wee, who represented the President of the Rotary Club of Urban Kuching.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Larry Bird Museum draws more than 12,000 visitors in first year
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)— In the first year, the Larry Bird Museum in downtown Terre Haute has drawn more than 12,000 visitors from around the globe. Since its opening on May 30, 2024, the museum has drawn visitors from nearly every state and beyond to put Terre Haute on the map for basketball enthusiasts. In addition to in-person traffic, the website has had over 26,000 visitors, with traction continuing to grow. 'The success of the Larry Bird Museum is a success for our entire community,' said Karen Dyer, Executive Director of the Terre Haute Convention and Visitors Bureau. 'It celebrates the pride we feel in Larry's legacy and the way his story continues to inspire people of all ages. This museum has added momentum and a sense of thriving for our downtown and connected us with fans from far beyond Indiana.' The museum, which is contained inside the Terre Haute Convention Center, holds personal memorabilia, interactive exhibits, free-throw shooting areas, trivia challenges, exclusive video footage, a wingspan measuring wall, and historical storytelling chronicling Bird's journey from French Lick to the global stage. 'The museum represents the power of partnership,' said Chris Switzer, President of the Vigo County Capital Improvement Board. 'It took years of vision and community commitment to bring this to life, and now we get to see the payoff — not only in tourism numbers, but in what it means to our local pride and our identity.' The museum has also hosted multiple school tour groups. Tours for school and community groups can be scheduled in advance through the museum's website. To celebrate the anniversary of the museum's opening, guests during the month of June will receive a free mini commemorative basketball while supplies last. Due to the museum's success, local leaders are already planning enhancements to expand the experience next year and continue to grow the Hoops Heritage Trail. the museum is free and open to the public. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Indianapolis Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
'I don't know about that': Why Quinn Buckner keeps Larry Bird high on his all-time players list
Quinn Buckner pushed back on the notion that Larry Bird would ever fall out of the top 10 of all-time basketball players. The national champ at Indiana who was a teammate of Bird's for three seasons with the Boston Celtics appeared Wednesday on the "Dan Patrick Show" to talk Pacers (he's the local TV broadcast analyst), and about an upcoming documentary on the 1983-84 Celtics. Patrick suggested that some of today's stars could someday move Bird down the list of all-time greats. "I don't know about that," Buckner responded. "Larry has a uniqueness about him, but I'll tell you who is comparable," Buckner continued. "Larry has said there's only one guy he watches play. It's (Nikola) Jokic. (Teammates) play at a higher level for having played with them, because I did. I may be biased, but I don't this so. "If you look at pure basketball players, Larry is as pure a basketball player as you're ever going to find. There's nothing he could not do. "Larry's staying in the top 10." Buckner has watched Tyrese Haliburton since his trade to the Pacers, and has seen what he offers on the court, and off. "He's a young man, but he really gets what winning basketball is about. It's important for him to share it with his teammates, and that's one of the reasons this team can run. Guys will run if you know you're going to get the ball. ... "That's why he can play with his teammates, and they're not jealous. He's not trying to take the limelight and carry it for himself." Haliburton had 32 points, 15 assists, 12 rebounds, 4 steals and 0 turnovers in Indiana's 130-121 win over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night that puts the Pacers within one game of the NBA Finals. Buckner said he has also seen Haliburton's humanity up close.
Entrepreneur
3 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Stop Losing $500+ a Month — The Mistake Starts With a Missed Call
Every missed call could mean a missed customer, and over time, thousands in lost revenue. Discover how AI voice agents are helping SMBs stay responsive, scale faster and serve smarter. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. For many small business owners, the ringing phone is a lifeline. But what happens when it goes unanswered? According to a new survey by my company, Vida, 42% of SMBs estimate they lose at least $500 every month to missed calls. That's over $6,000 a year — vanishing without a trace. Yet despite growing awareness of the issue, only 22% have adopted AI-powered voice agents to help solve the problem. What businesses are doing When teams are stretched thin and customer demands keep growing, staying on top of inbound calls is tough, and usually means hiring more staff, which drives up costs. That's where AI voice agents come in. These tools step in to fill customer service and sales gaps, ensuring every call is answered, common questions are addressed, and new opportunities aren't missed. Many SMBs are already putting AI voice agents to work, handling inbound sales, responding to support inquiries and even serving customers in their preferred language, extending accessibility without the need for additional hires. Related: Is It Always PR's Job to Make the Phone Ring? Take Larry, for example, who runs an independent cleaning business. Before implementing an AI voice agent, Larry estimates he was missing 8-10 calls a week, often during jobs or after hours. Now, his AI agent books appointments, answers after-hours inquiries and provides updates to clients while his team is en route. He's not only retaining more leads but also improving customer satisfaction simply by being available, even when he can't pick up the phone. AI voice agents also offer a major advantage when it comes to scaling a business. Whether it's a seasonal surge or a promotional push, automation helps absorb spikes in call volume so staff can stay focused on more complex tasks. And it pays off — according to a global study by Qualtrics, customers who have a 5-star experience are 3 times more likely to recommend a business. Overcoming misconceptions Adoption still lags in part because many business owners associate AI voice agents with the clunky, robotic systems of the past, or feel overwhelmed by the idea of implementing them. There's also a lingering concern that customers will reject automation. But the reality? Most customers don't care how they get help, as long as they get it quickly and accurately. Today's AI tools sound natural, respond dynamically and work seamlessly alongside your team. Actually, Zendesk reports that 59% of consumers expect generative AI to change how they interact with companies within the next two years, highlighting just how quickly customer expectations are shifting. And the results speak for themselves. With the right setup, AI voice agents quickly go from a "nice to have" to a critical part of the team. How to get started Bringing AI voice agents into your business doesn't require a massive overhaul. In fact, the most effective implementations start small and scale up: Start small. Focus on high-volume, low-complexity tasks like scheduling appointments, qualifying leads or answering FAQs. Focus on high-volume, low-complexity tasks like scheduling appointments, qualifying leads or answering FAQs. Train your team. Help employees understand how to work with the AI agent, not against it. Help employees understand how to work with the AI agent, not against it. Scale gradually. As confidence builds, expand the agent's responsibilities to include other repetitive or time-consuming tasks. As confidence builds, expand the agent's responsibilities to include other repetitive or time-consuming tasks. Track and optimize. Monitor performance, gather insights and adjust workflows to improve outcomes over time. Getting started is easier than many business owners expect. Today's AI voice agents are built to plug into existing systems, whether a CRM, calendar or phone platform, making the transition minimally disruptive and requiring no technical expertise. Some solutions even allow business owners to simply forward calls to the AI agent. For business owners like Larry, setup took just minutes. He provided a bit of background, shared a few of his existing marketing materials and FAQ documents to help train the system, and the AI agent was ready to go. Now, it effortlessly handles appointment bookings, inquiries and client updates. And because these agents are adaptive, they learn and improve over time, creating more value the longer they're in use. According to Vida's SMB AI Voice Agent Adoption & Impact Survey, 97% of businesses already using AI voice agents reported increased revenue. Another 82% saw stronger customer engagement, and 80% saved five or more hours each week, time that can be reinvested into higher-value work. Related: How to Turn Your Key Employees Into Your Business Successors (and Avoid the Headache of Outside Buyers) Why it matters AI voice agents are becoming a strategic necessity for SMBs aiming to stay responsive and competitive. As more companies embrace digital tools, those who stay complacent risk falling behind. Small slips like a missed call might seem minor, but over time, they lead to lost revenue, missed connections and stalled growth. Forward-thinking businesses go beyond streamlining operations; they embrace intelligent systems that evolve alongside customer needs and technological change. In a world where speed, personalization and 24/7 availability are becoming the norm, AI voice agents help SMBs make every call count. Every missed call is a missed opportunity, one that your competitors may be ready to catch. Fortunately, staying competitive doesn't require a full operational overhaul. It starts with taking one smart step forward. And with the right AI voice agent in place, businesses can become more responsive, more reliable and more profitable, without burning out their teams or breaking the bank. The difference between a missed call and a booked customer is often just a few seconds. AI voice agents help you win those moments — and in business, moments matter.
