Latest news with #McFarland
Hypebeast
37 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
After Cancelling Fyre Fest 2, Billy McFarland Announces New Fyre Event in Honduras
Summary Billy McFarlandcontinues his attempts at revivingFyre Festivalwith the announcement of the a new event in the Caribbean. The upcoming 'Fyre Coral View Pop-Up in Utila' will take place on September 3 to September 10 in Utila, Honduras — a small, undeveloped island. A statement from the Fyre Hotels website reads, 'After news broke a few weeks ago that we were putting the FYRE IP up for sale, we got a message. A small beach resort and the island of Utila, Honduras had seen the headlines — and they had an idea. They have tapped FYRE to bring global attention to this off-the-map gem, programming unforgettable experiences, and simply enjoying life at the edge of the reef.' 'This was a no-brainer for us, so just like that, FYRE has found its way back to the spark that started it all,' the statement continued. 'In early September, FYRE returns to the Caribbean for the FYRE Resort Pop-Up at Coral View Utila—a weeklong escape blending adventure, spontaneity, and paradise. What better way to make our return to the Caribbean after 8 years?' As history remembers it, the original 2017 Fyre Fest took place on the Bahamian island of Great Exuma. McFarland recently tried to host Fyre Fest 2 and was scheduled for April 25 to April 28, this time on Isla Mujeres in Quintana Roo, Mexico. It waspostponed indefinitelyin mid-April thensubsequently cancelledby late April. McFarland also announced that the brand was up for sale.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Long Covid campaigner co-authors ground-breaking international study
A LONG Covid campaigner has co-authored a new study highlighting the seriousness of the condition. Sammie McFarland, from Weymouth, said she was 'honoured' to contribute to a landmark international study which confirms the condition is debilitating, and the global response must be drastically scaled up. The Delphi study, involving more than 150 experts across medicine, research, and patient advocacy, represents a first-of-its-kind consensus on the priorities, gaps, and urgent needs surrounding Long Covid. It comes after the news that Covid services throughout England - including Dorset - are being scrapped. Mrs McFarland, has been at the forefront of campaigning to raise awareness of the condition, that she and her daughter live with, and set up the Long Covid Kids charity to support children living with the condition. She said: "As a Dorset resident and founder of Long Covid Kids, I was honoured to contribute to this newly published international consensus on Long Covid. "Bringing together perspectives from over 150 experts across 28 countries including clinicians, researchers, and people with lived experience. "This study represents a significant step forward in how we understand and respond to this complex condition. READ: Dorset Long Covid campaigner backs NHS doctors plan to sue "Long Covid affects hundreds of millions of people around the world, including many children and young people. Yet too often, it remains under-recognised and under-resourced. "Through this work, we reached consensus on nearly 190 recommendations to guide better diagnosis, treatment, research, and support." Mrs McFarland is a vocal advocate of children suffering with the debilitating condition and through her charity has sought to improve the support network for children and their families. She said that new study concluded that the impact of Covid-19 on children 'must be a research priority' from understanding the long-term health effects to supporting learning, development, and mental wellbeing. READ: Weymouth woman's fight against long Covid amid inquiry She added: "This consensus is more than a scientific document. It's a foundation for action to improve care, guide policy, and provide the clarity that so many families have been waiting for. "Here in Dorset and across the UK, children and families affected by Long Covid deserve to be seen, heard, and supported - as with any significant childhood disease.' The study identified ten critical areas requiring immediate action. This includes educating frontline providers to recognize Long COVID as a complex, multi-system condition involving neurological, immune, and organ dysfunction READ: Weymouth mother develops resource for kids with long Covid It also says that a universal definition for the condition should be created and that the condition should not just be recognised as 'tiredness' but includes serious complications such as immune dysregulation, neurological injury, and organ damage. The study also concludes that Long Covid is an invisible disability and that current diagnostics fall short due to lab limitations, with advanced diagnostics needed as it is not one disease, but a cluster of overlapping conditions. Experts also emphasized the need for long-term studies on how SARS-CoV-2 affects developing immune systems, brains, and hormonal balance as children are as much at risk to the condition. READ: Weymouth Long Covid campaigner hits out at clinic closures Clean indoor air and reducing airborne transmission of the virus through improved ventilation and air purification - particularly in schools and workplaces - is also essential for public health infrastructure, it concludes. Finally experts came to the consensus that Long Covid requires coordinated international funding and that it is not just a medical issue but a socioeconomic one and warns that continued inaction is a policy failure with long-term consequences.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cleetus McFarland apologizes after causing ARCA pileup at Charlotte
Austin Green captured the checkered flag at Charlotte Motor Speedway, becoming a first-time winner in the ARCA Menards Series. Meanwhile, Garrett Mitchell, who is better known as Cleetus McFarland on his popular YouTube channel, finished ninth in his third career ARCA start and his first at a non-superspeedway. He also earned a top-ten finish at Talladega Superspeedway earlier this year, bettering that result by one position today. But it was not all smooth sailing for Cleetus. Beginning the race from 11th position on the 32-car grid, he steadily moved forward, reaching seventh before choosing to stay out during the first caution of the race. Advertisement McFarland restarted on the outside of the front row with 62 laps to go, but he spun the tires as the leaders accelerated through the restart zone. The No. 30 Rette Jones Racing Ford fishtailed before connecting with the right rear of Isabella Robusto's car, sending her head-on into the outside wall. Several other cars were collected as well with about ten drivers sustaining damage. McFarland escaped with only minor damage to the left front. He was visibly frustrated with himself, slamming the wheel and even slapping the top of his helmet inside the race car. "I blew it," he radioed to the team, calling it a rookie mistake. McFarland was still keeping decent pace even after the incident, running seventh at the halfway break. As the race carried on, he avoided any further drama, climbing as high as fifth before dropping to ninth in the final green flag run. He also fell off the lead lap near the end as Green made his way by. McFarland apologizes for restart pileup "I want to start out by apologizing to the team that I took out," McFarland told FOX Sports 1 after the race. "I think it was several cars. I just feel terrible. Every time I go racing, I don't want to get taken out. I've felt it. It sucks. I've been sent home and I made a complete rookie maneuver on the restart. I zigged and then I zagged and then (she) was blowing my door off and on the zag. I hit her and put her in the wall. I feel terrible about it. I know those guys work hard to be out here. It sucks to send them home." Advertisement He admitted that racing at Charlotte was "100x harder" than competing at superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega, saying that he got "humbled" in this race. Speaking further on the incident, he added: "I forgot there was no dang restrictor plate on this thing. I'm like 'wham,' gave her the beans. It steps out, steps out and then I clipped (Robusto). Just feels bad, but we'll move forward." McFarland's next planned ARCA start will be at Bristol Motor Speedway in September. Read Also: Four NASCAR Cup stars who will reach major career milestones in the Coke 600 William Byron signs extension to remain with Hendrick through 2029 20 years later: Remembering the wildest Coke 600 in NASCAR history To read more articles visit our website.
Miami Herald
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Florida bill could block communities from rebuilding stronger after hurricanes
Florida communities could be blocked from rebuilding stronger after a hurricane, and more than 44,000 Floridians could see higher flood insurance costs this year if Gov. Ron DeSantis signs into law a new bill designed to help the state respond to storms. Senate Bill 180, which passed with nearly unanimous support in the House and Senate, includes some provisions to help storm-weary Floridians, like a streamlined permitting system for rebuilding homes after a hurricane and additional training for emergency management officials. But it also would weaken local efforts to build stronger structures after hurricanes — freezing any tougher rules for at least two years, potentially allowing developers to rebuild homes under the same codes that had failed to protect property. Another provision would mean a bump upwards in flood insurance rates for tens of thousands of Floridians in twelve communities across the state, including Hialeah and Hollywood. But it's the building code freeze that has drawn the most criticism, including from local leaders in Manatee County and other coastal communities — a measure that would potentially block efforts to make homes more resilient and reduce storm damage. 'It's short-sighted,' said Kim Dinkins of 1000 Friends of Florida, a nonprofit planning advocacy group. 'We said that we want to be more resilient. When is the time going to be to do that if you can't do anything right after a storm?' 'It takes a long time to develop these types of policies.' The bill's House sponsor, Rep. Fiona McFarland, R-Sarasota, says the bill is meant to prevent local governments from over regulating in response to a storm. 'When there's a tragedy, people demand action. Lawmakers and policymakers sometimes feel that they need to pass a law to prevent this from ever happening again.' McFarland says the bill has a fix: 'For one year after a disaster, let's take a pause,' McFarland said. 'That's what the thinking was.' Critics say bill could prevent building back better after storms Under the proposed law, local governments across Florida could see sweeping new restrictions on their ability to control how and where development occurs — and how they build back after storms. One part of the bill prevents cities and counties listed in federal disaster declarations for Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton — a majority of the state — from adopting tougher development rules until October 2027. The ban is retroactive to August 2024, also threatening to undo any recent rule changes. Another part of the bill calls for a similar one-year ban anytime a local government is listed in a federal disaster declaration and lies within 100 miles of a hurricane's path. It could renew each time a storm strikes Florida's coast, a regular occurrence for the storm-plagued state. But most worrying to some local governments is a line that explicitly allows developers, or anyone, to sue a local government if it finds any changes 'burdensome or restrictive.' 'Every single developer in the state benefits from this language,' said Manatee County Commission Chairman George Kruse. Local governments, including New Smyrna Beach, Polk County, and Volusia County, all say the bill would block them from implementing already-approved updates to the drainage plans to keep their communities dry. Rep. Linda Chaney, R-Pinellas, one of the lone representatives who voted against the bill, said in a committee hearing that Lee County had already raised concerns to her about the unintended consequences of this bill. 'Charlotte County also contacted me, saying it's prohibiting them from addressing flooding, sea level rise, resiliency issues,' she said. The fight is already playing out in Manatee Manatee County is a case study for how the bill's freeze on local development regulations could play out across Florida, and one of the bill's sponsors directly cites it as inspiration for the provision. When county leaders recently tried to reinstate local wetland protections meant to prevent flooding and environmental damage caused by development, state agencies claimed that the move would violate a 2023 law known as Senate Bill 250. The law bans 10 counties impacted by Hurricane Ian from passing 'more burdensome or restrictive' development rules until October 2026. 'Clearly, wetlands are important when you're getting flooded all over the place,' Kruse said. But under fear of legal action due to Senate Bill 250, commissioners voted to delay passing the environmental protections. Now, Senate Bill 180 could expand such restrictions onto local governments statewide. Kruse argues the legislation goes too far in limiting how communities decide to build back after storms. He also said it gives the state power to 'supersede and take over control' of community planning. 'Finally, Tallahassee was passing a bill that made sense for once. And then you sneak this in under the cover of darkness … you destroyed a bill,' Kruse said. Manatee County residents voted in a majority of the county's board on campaign promises to rein in development and restore local environmental protections. But as they try to make those changes, county leaders are facing opposition from state agencies and local developers who say they'd be violating state law. Four state agencies pointed to Senate Bill 250 in letters opposing the county's recent move to restore wetland protections. And an attorney representing local developers cited the law in objection to the county's move to prevent thousands of new homes from being built beyond the county's development boundary. Legislators defend Senate Bill 180 'That language was in the bill from the very moment I filed it,' she said. 'We worked on it, we amended it. We heard from the League of Cities and the Association of Counties. I worked with them super closely on the bill. I was surprised that suddenly people seem to have an issue with it.' Specifically, DiCeglie points to Manatee County and St. Pete Beach as the inspiration for this portion of the bill. Both places considered a moratorium on development for a short period, but neither ultimately passed one. 'What I don't want to see is those local jurisdictions use a natural disaster as an excuse for a development moratorium,' he said. 'These moratoriums paralyze recovery.' Both sponsors waved away concerns that the provision would have 'unintended consequences' beyond barring the moratoriums it was designed to stop. McFarland said she was not aware of how similar language in Senate Bill 250 has proved to be a roadblock for counties like Manatee that are trying to make local planning changes unrelated to storm recovery. 'That's interesting,' McFarland said. When asked about New Smyrna Beach, where city officials said the proposed bill would block their much-needed drainage improvements after a previous hurricane, DeCeglie said he didn't see how it would impact stormwater regulations and said he'd need to learn more about it. DeSantis has yet to sign the bill into law or veto it, as some local governments have asked. DiCeglie said he worked with the governor's office to develop the bill, as well as alongside the state's emergency management department. 'I can't imagine the governor wouldn't want to support this,' he said. Is your flood insurance going up? Another provision of the bill would raise flood insurance rates for tens of thousands of Floridians and make it easier for residents to avoid doing what disaster experts say the state desperately needs to do — elevate more homes. It bans a practice that adds to the already complicated formula for deciding if someone with a storm-ravaged home can simply rebuild as-is or tear it all down and start over. It brings the state back to the bare minimum required by FEMA and the Florida Building Code, which says that a home with storm damage totaling more than 50% of the value of the home must raze and rebuild. 'If we can keep one more person in their home to keep them out of the 50% rule, that's one person that does not have to deal with the incredibly stressful situation of tearing down their home and elevating,' said DiCeglie. It's a long-standing practice in some coastal communities, where experts say it forces people to rebuild stronger — and higher — to face the next storm by lowering the threshold where people have to elevate their properties. Banning the practice would result in fewer elevated homes, said Del Schwalls, a floodplain management consultant who works for many communities in Florida. 'It's really frustrating. It prevents anybody from trying to fix this flood, repair, flood, repair cycle,' he said. But, after three hurricanes flooded tens of thousands of homes on the Gulf Coast last year, exposing more people to the practice, the tide turned. The state conducted a study of the practice, which found that it 'constrains renovation activity' and does not necessarily lead to more people purchasing flood insurance in those communities. If DeSantis signs the bill into law, it would bar communities from using this cumulative practice. Of the 122 communities that use it, state data show 44 communities would lose points toward discounts on flood insurance premiums. And 12 of those communities would lose enough points that they would no longer qualify for their current level of discount. Per the state study, the communities are: Bay County, Leon County, Orange County, Dania Beach, Jupiter Beach, Palm Springs, Estero, Lake Mary, Hialeah, Bonita Springs, Hollywood and the Pensacola Beach Santa Rosa Island Authority. That would drop about 8,600 Hollywood residents from a 20% discount to a 15% discount, an increase of about $38 for the average policyholder with a premium of $737 a year, according to the study. Statewide, the study found, this change would affect about 44,000 people and raise the cost of flood insurance by $1.6 million statewide, or an average of $36 per person, per year. It's unclear how long it would take from the time the bill is signed until residents face higher flood insurance prices, but it could occur in October, when the agency reviews discounts in all communities. A FEMA spokesperson said the agency does not comment on pending legislation, 'and determinations about CRS retrogrades are made in consultation with local and state officials.' Those communities could go after other policy changes to regain points and re-attain the discount, but it could take months or years to pass those policies through city or county commissions, as well as earn state approval, Schwalls said. 'It's not as easy as just go get more points,' he said. 'It could take a while.'
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Louisiana legislative panel funds teacher pay raises in surprise move
Louisiana's House budget committee fully funded teacher stipends Monday for next year in a surprise move that previously seemed unlikely after voters rejected an amendment to the state Constitution that would have freed up funding for permanent raises. Republican House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jack McFarland of Winnfield said he turned over every rock to find the $198 million to fund the $2,000 stipends for teachers and $1,000 for support workers. The House Appropriations Committee advanced House Bill 1 with no objections. "I genuinely felt this was the right thing to do, and the members felt it should be a priority," McFarland said in an interview with USA Today Network. "I still think we need to find a permanent revenue stream to fund the raises, but until then, this is what we had to do, but I don't want to have to do it again." McFarland had previously said he thought funding the full $2,000 was unlikely because the state faced a deficit. But McFarland was able to find one-time money from a number of sources, the largest being $91.3 million from agency acquisitions like vehicles. He also diverted smaller amounts from sources like $20 million in unfilled vacancies, $25 million from what he described as excess Medicaid funding, $25.5 million from interest savings after paying down $148 million on the State Police retirement debt, $20 million from Gov. Jeff Landry's hiring freeze and $30 million from "high dosage" tutoring funding for elementary and secondary schools. McFarland left early childhood education funding intact. Democratic Rep. Denise Marcelle of Baton Rouge praised the inclusion of teacher stipends in the budget. "I want to thank the chairman and administration and everyone who has worked on getting these amendments done, particularly for teacher stipends," Marcelle said during Monday's committee hearing. "Thank you for looking under tables and around the corners (for the money)." The budget bill will be debated by the full House Thursday. If it clears the House as expected, the House Bill 1 will head to the Senate Finance Committee, where McFarland said he has consulted with leadership, including Republican Chairman Glen Womack of Harrisonburg and Republican Senate President Cameron Henry. "I've met with the leadership in the other chamber to make sure we're aligned on our priorities," McFarland said. More: Governor Jeff Landry bans soda, candy to advance RFK Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again movement Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1. " This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Louisiana teacher raises could be on the way after budget proposal
