Latest news with #MaryRichardson
RNZ News
19 hours ago
- General
- RNZ News
Part of Christchurch council building shut down for months
The annex on the Worcester Boulevard side of the civic offices was closed last month. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon Part of the Christchurch City Council building will remain closed for months after an engineering report showed it was an earthquake risk. The annex on the Worcester Boulevard side of the civic offices, which usually housed the council chamber and mayor's working space, was closed last month. An engineering seismic assessment showed it only had a new building-standard (NBS) rating of 40 percent. A building with an NBS rating of less than 34 percent was considered earthquake-prone, while a rating between 34 and 67 per cent was deemed "moderate risk". Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon Council chief executive Mary Richardson said the area would remain off-limits to staff as a precaution so strengthening work could be carried out. "The likelihood of a large earthquake is considered low, however based on the potential consequences and the temporary mitigation measures available, we have determined that the council should continue to vacate the annex area," she said. "Safety of council staff, elected members and visitors is paramount and after discussing the risks, mitigations and options with the council engineers and the executive leadership team, we're not willing to take any risks on that." The work was expected to take six months. The investigation and construction could happen promptly because the annex would be unoccupied during this period, Richardson said. "Although, we are still working on logistics for how the remedial programme will run," she said. "Due to the longer period of restricting occupancy of the annex, we will be looking at options to improve the working environment for staff and elected members, particularly those who have been relocated." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Seismic strengthening of council building could take 6 months
Christchurch City Council staff and the mayor will be unable to use part of their central city offices for up to six months as work to strengthen the building gets under way. An engineer's seismic assessment indicated the main Te Hononga Civic Offices building off Hereford St is 100% of the New Building Standard (NBS), but the annex floor connections on the Worcester Boulevard side are at 40%. Council staff forced to relocate Council chief executive Mary Richardson said while the NBS rating for the building is above 34% - meaning it is not quake-prone - the annex floor connections could behave unpredictably or fail abruptly during a strong earthquake. "The likelihood of a large earthquake is considered low, however, based on the potential consequences and the temporary mitigation measures available, we have determined that the council should continue to vacate the annex area," Richardson said. "Safety of council staff, elected members and visitors is paramount and after discussing the risks, mitigations and options with the council engineers and the executive leadership team, we're not willing to take any risks on that." The design and seismic strengthening of the building is expected to take up to six months. "There is an advantage of the annex (being) unoccupied over this time to allow for investigation and then construction works to happen as quickly as possible. Although we are still working on logistics for how the remedial programme will run," Richardson said. "Due to the longer period of restricting occupancy of the annex, we will be looking at options to improve the working environment for staff and elected members, particularly those who have been relocated." The entrance on Worcester Boulevard has reopened and the civil servant café is operating with some tables in the main building. "Having assessed the usage of the Worcester Boulevard ramp and entrance, we consider there is a lower risk to users of this entrance due to the shorter time the area is occupied," Richardson said. "Once again, I want to thank staff for continuing to provide advice and services to our residents, in spite of the disruption, as well as the mayor and councillors and visitors to our civic offices for their patience and understanding."
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Meet RFK Jr.'s budding model daughter Kyra Kennedy as she makes waves at Italian fashion week
.'s budding model daughter Kyra Kennedy made waves at Italian Fashion Week on Thursday. The daughter of the US secretary of health and human services, 30, turned heads as she attended the Gucci Cruise 2026 runway show in Florence, Italy, wearing a chic, gray skirt and jacket combo. Underneath the jacket she donned a sheer turtleneck top, which left her bra on full display. She completed the look with some black pumps and a Gucci purse. Kyra left her long, brown locks in loose waves around her face and opted for striking makeup that included a smokey eye and pink lipstick. Kyra - the youngest child of RFK Jr. and his second wife, Mary Richardson - found herself in hot water back in 2016 after she was accused of 'cyberbullying' a reporter. New York Magazine writer Allie Jones had written a piece commenting on a New York Times profile about Kyra and her friends entitled Move Over, Rat Pack and Brat Pack: Here Comes the Snap Pack. Allie called the story a 'delightfully nauseating look into the lives' of the privileged 20-somethings in a fierce article. Underneath the jacket she donned a sheer turtleneck top, which left her bra on full display And it seemed to anger Kyra, who left a slew of sarcastic comments on Allie's profile, including one that said, 'I can play games too b***h,' along with a devil emoji. '@allierileyjones are you maybe gorgeous,' Kyra wrote on another post, this time using the tears of joy emoji. '@alliereilyjones clearly taking your insecurities out on others. We can play too,' she added in a third comment. At the time, Allie responded by writing an essay for The Cut entitled, I'm Being Cyberbullied on Instagram by a Kennedy. She recapped the entire ordeal and included screenshots of Kyra's comments. 'I [replied to] Kennedy this morning to see if she'd like to email me about her concerns. Whatever game we're playing, I hope it inspires others,' Allie wrote. In the aftermath, it was revealed that Kyra's dad had forced her to shut down her Instagram account altogether. A rep for RFK Jr. - who is known for being an anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist - told The New York Post: 'Mr. Kennedy has spoken to Kyra and informed his daughter that their family does not bully people. 'He has instructed her to shut down all of her social media accounts immediately.' It was also reported that she had been 'shipped off to strict boarding school in Italy' around that time, after her excessive partying allegedly got in the way of her school work. 'She was really having a tough time, partying a lot,' a family friend told Page Six. 'It's a very strict therapeutic school, with no internet, no phones. The only communication is by mail.' She was absent from Instagram for three years, but since her return in 2019, she has become a star in her own right - gaining more than 35,000 followers by showcasing her extremely jet-set lifestyle as an up-and-coming model. A graduate from Fashion Institute of Technology, Kyra has interned at Kenneth Cole and Dior, per Harper's Bazaar. Kyra seems to be supportive of her father's controversial opinions as she was by his side when he posed with President Donald Trump at the White House after he was sworn in for his new role in February. She seems to be supportive of her father's controversial opinions as she was by his side when he posed with Donald Trump at the White House after he was sworn in for his new role Plus, she was one of three of RFK Jr.'s six kids who were with him on stage at an event in Boston in June 2023 as he kickstarted his 2024 Presidential campaign. 'There are other members of my family who are not here today,' he said to the crowd with a laugh. 'I know most American families - they never have any differences with each other,' he added sarcastically. Kyra made her modeling debut in 2019, when she posed for her close friend Andrew Warren's clothing line. She also walked in his runway show at New York Fashion Week that year. Now, she is often spotted at elite fashion events hosted by brands like Giorgio Armani, Max Mara, and Louis Vuitton. Back in October, she announced that she was starring in a campaign for BVLGARI Official, writing, 'A dream come true! So excited.' Most recently, she graced the cover of ¡HOLA! Fashion in January.
American Press
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- American Press
High-energy JigJam ready to take SW La. by storm
The iGrass band JigJam will perform Friday, April 25, in Bulber Auditorium for the McNeese Banners Series. (Special to the American Press) By Mary Richardson JigJam, an Irish group self-described as 'what happens when virtuoso Irish playing jumps the pond and runs through the wide-open fields of bluegrass and Americana' will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, April 25, in the historic F.G. Bulber Auditorium for the McNeese Banners Series. Banners Director Brook Hanemann said the people of Lake Charles are in for 'some foot stompin', high-energy badassery!' Hanemann said that Lake Charles people will recognize the Irish roots of JigJam. 'Once you've stood in the wild wind of Ireland, you recognize it instantly in JigJam's music,' she said. 'It's joyful, untethered, and full of the kind of jubilant rhythm that feels like it's leaping straight off the Irish hillside.' She said their music will speak to Southwest Louisiana: 'There's something about the Irish spirit — generous, funny, fierce — that speaks to the South. It feels like home and a celebration all at once.' Band members, all Offaly- and Tipperary-born, debuted at the Grand Ole Opry in 2023 and received a standing ovation from the sold-out crowd on country music's most renowned stage. The group was joined that night by Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Steve Earle, Lauren Alaina, and many more. In their words, they started 'the first wave of attack in the new Irish invasion of Americana' on that night. Founding members of the 'iGrass' (Irish Bluegrass) quartet are Offaly-born Jamie McKeogh (lead singer and guitar) and Daithi Melia (five-string banjo and dobro). In 2016, they were joined by Tipperary-born Gavin Strappe (mandolin and enor banjo), and this year they were joined by Kevin Buckley (fiddle). Reviews for the group have been positive. One reviewer described them as 'the best Irish band in bluegrass' and 'sparkling, infectious,' adding that 'these lads have been hailed as Ireland's answer to New Grass Revival.' Another said that 'iGrass and JigJam is what happens when the Irish find their prodigal son.' a TICKETS: $20 each. Included in all Banners memberships and sold at the door. Advance tickets are available at All events are free to McNeese and Sowela Technical Community College students and children 12 and younger.
American Press
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- American Press
Voices of hope: Ukrainian group brings their earthy message of resilience to LC
YAGÓDY, a Ukrainian folk group making its first U.S. tour, will be in Lake Charles on April 24 to introduce Southwest Louisiana to 'songs of wild tribes.' The group's music is rooted in Ukrainian, Bulgarian and Serbian folk songs. (Special to the American Press) By Mary Richardson T he Ukrainian group YAGÓDY will present an ethnodrama performance designed to be a testament to the country of Ukraine and the spirit of its people for the McNeese Banners Series in the F.G. Bulber Auditorium at 7 p.m. April 24. 'We snagged them the night before they will perform at Festival International in Lafayette,' said Banners Director Brook Hanemann. 'This is their first tour in the United States, and I'm sure you will never forget this performance.' YAGÓDY consists of women who have created a unique sound featuring what they describe as 'immersive ethno-drama' with primal percussion and hypnotic vocal harmonies. They revive and reinterpret folk songs, while dressed in the traditional clothing and ornately embroidered costumes of Ukraine. They describe their performance as 'the songs of wild tribes. This is the voice of your ancestors. This is live energy. It is a dance with voices. This is how our nature smells. This is how our blood sounds.' The group debuted a self-titled album, YAGÓDY, in 2020, which introduced the world to their unique, powerful renditions of Ukrainian, Bulgarian and Serbian folk songs. In 2024, the group won over audiences at the Eurovision Song Contest with their original song 'Tsunamia,' and placed fifth at the national selection finals. The group was founded in 2016 by actress and vocalist Zoriana Dybovska. Dybovska left her home in Donetsk in 2015 because of a Russian military invasion. She moved to Lviv, where she gathered a group of musicians and fellow educators to create a project to 'breathe new life into ancient Ukrainian sounds.' The musicians are Dybovska — vocals, percussion instruments; Vasylyna Voloshyn — vocals; Tetiana Voitiv — vocals, Tibetan bowl, percussion instruments, and drymba; Nadiia Parashchuk — vocals, accordion, Vadym Voitovych — bass guitar, Teimyraz Gogitidze — drums, Vasyl Parashchuk — cymbals. The lineup of musicians who play in Lake Charles might change. Hanemann said, 'Ukrainian artists live with the reality that they may be called home at a moment's notice. However, despite the unpredictability, what remains constant is the depth, spirit, and power of their performance. Every note feels like a heartbeat of preservation, and it's an extraordinary thing to witness.' a TICKETS: $20 each. Included in all Banners memberships and sold at the door. Advance tickets are available at All events are free to McNeese and SOWELA Technical Community College students and children 12 and younger. Free full-season memberships — with tickets to all events in the series — will also be given to first responders, educators, active and retired military and seniors 80 years and older. Sign up for the free memberships at the door or contact the Banners Series office at 337-475-5997 or email rpartin2@
