Latest news with #McKeon
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Barry University's new women's hoops coach learned tips from NBA legend
Allison Bustamante, a former Notre Dame recruit and one of the greatest women's basketball players ever to come out of Miami, is the new coach at Barry University. Bustamante, in a phone interview with the Miami Herald on Wednesday night, let it be known that she's 'ready' for this opportunity. 'I'm ready to compete,' said Bustamante, 42. 'I'm ready to recruit, and I'm ready to grow something special at Barry.' Bustamante, a 6-foot guard, was a four-time, first-team All-Dade player at Lourdes Academy, where she was coached by her stepfather, Chris McKeon. In addition, Bustamante was twice named first-team All-State, and she was twice named The Herald's girls' basketball Player of the Year. She split her college career between Notre Dame – where she was part of the Fighting Irish's 2001 national championship team – and FIU. After college, Bustamante sold medical equipment for nearly two years. But one day, McKeon came home and found Bustamante watching his old Hubie Brown 'coaching tips' VHS tapes. 'She was working in sales, but I knew her passion for basketball was still there,' McKeon said. 'I just had to give her a nudge toward coaching, but she was a natural.' After that 'nudge,' Bustamante started showing up at Lourdes practices, giving the girls her own tips. From there, she took a seat on the bench as a Lourdes assistant coach. By then, Bustamante had found a new passion, going back to school to become a physician's assistant. Ultimately, though, she had to choose her path, and basketball won her heart … just like always. From there, she became a high school head coach, leading Carrollton to the first district title in program history. For the past couple of years, Bustamante coached at Doral Academy, leading the Firebirds to the state semifinals in 2023 and 2024. Prior to her arrival, Doral had never reached that far in girls' hoops. Since 2017, Bustamante has also had her own skills-development business, 'AB Basketball', where she trains players of all ages. And, she started a girls' basketball travel team named Miami Impact. 'I wanted to make an impact, hence the name,' Bustamante said. Bustamante has indeed made an impact, and she wants to continue that at Barry, where there are currently just three players on the roster and no assistant coaches. 'We have a lot of work to do,' Bustamante said. Still, this feels right for a woman who grew up with basketball in her life on the daily. 'After I graduated college, I thought I was done with basketball,' she said. 'My body had been put through the ringer because I played such a reckless style, and I wasn't the most patient person when it came to rehab.' But then the opportunity to coach came her way, and she's not looking back. 'I'm a Miami kid born and raised,' she said. 'I'd love to stay at Barry for a long time. 'It may sound crazy, but I'm going to try to build it in a year. If not, I think in two years we're going to have a program that everyone in the community will be proud of. 'I want to compete nationally.' Hubie Brown would expect nothing less. THIS AND THAT ▪ Barry's men's tennis team (21-4) lost 4-3 to ninth-ranked Washburn in the second round of the recent NCAA Division II national tournament at Altamonte Springs. Barry had been ranked third in the nation. ▪ Nova Southeastern University's women's golf team finished 10th in the national NCAA Division II tournament at Boulder City, Nevada. ▪ St. Thomas University's softball team finished its impressive season with a 49-8 record, losing twice to Georgia Gwinnett in an NAIA regional.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Blow to Asda as key executive quits turnaround after only six months
A key Asda executive has left after less than six months in a blow to the supermarket's turnaround plan. The retailer has begun searching for a replacement for Adrian McKeon, its vice president for commercial ambient, just five months after hiring him. His departure was first reported by The Grocer magazine. Mr McKeon, a well-known figure in the industry who previously worked for Asda in the early 2010s, rejoined the supermarket in January amid a push by executive chairman Allan Leighton to reinvigorate the ailing grocer. Mr Leighton's turnaround effort has seen the supermarket kick off a spiralling price war with its high street rivals as it attempts to claw back lost market share. Asda's share of UK grocery sales has plummeted since it was taken over by the private equity company TDR Capital and the billionaire brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa in a deal that lumbered it with billions of pounds of debt. Its market share has dropped from as high as 15pc in March 2021 to 12.3pc last month. Experts have speculated that, should its decline continue, it could be overtaken by Aldi, which is now the UK's fourth-largest supermarket. Mr Leighton made his name running Asda during the late 1990s, and he is credited with pulling off a spectacular turnaround of the supermarket that culminated in its sale to Walmart in 1999, before stepping down in 2001. In November, he returned to the helm of the supermarket, founded in Yorkshire in 1949, vowing to 'fix the basics' and return it to growth. However, the retailer been plagued by a string of departures of high-ranking staff since he rejoined. Hayley Tatum, its chief people and corporate affairs officer, left in April, while David Hills, the former chief customer officer, stepped down in McKeon was in charge of teams running its alcohol, grocery, non-edible foods and healthcare products before stepping down. A spokesman for Asda said staff had been informed of his departure in an email this week. He said: 'Ade rejoined Asda to support a significant period of change and has played a key role in helping to deliver this during the last six months. 'Ade has signalled his desire to be nearer to home (he lives in west London) and get some balance back into his life. 'Given the amount of work we have to do, it was felt that the time was right to make a change now and to implement the right succession plan which we will communicate in due course.' The Telegraph contacted Mr McKeon for further comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Third time's a charm? Bellingham's infamous I-5 sloth returns
The infamous sloth stuffed animal seen in the trees near Bellingham is back. And it appears he will be hanging around for a while. Someone on the Bellingham Reddit page spotted the sloth at the end of last month, posting a video of its new location: The Washington State Department of Transportation confirmed that a third stuffed animal mysteriously made it into a tree along I-5. In March, WSDOT crews removed the original sloth, dubbed 'Slothy,' after it spent nearly a year hanging out in a 90-foot tree. Although cute to look at, WSDOT deemed it a dangerous distraction for drivers. 'Let's keep our 8-foot stuffed animals in their proper habitats: on a bed made for giants, not near our right of way. Leave the tree-dwelling to real sloths and keep your eyes on the road ahead,' wrote the agency in an online post. One month later? A second sloth showed up. Same size. Same spot. But a different sloth. Once again, crews removed it. KIRO 7 reached out to WSDOT about the third sloth. 'We regret that individuals have continued to compromise their safety and the safety of the public to put these up in trees,' WSDOT Communications Manager RB McKeon wrote. 'The removal of the sloth at this location presents additional challenges, risk, and puts additional strain on already limited resources.' At this time, it remains a mystery who is putting the sloths in the trees and how they are getting up there to do it. McKeon told KIRO 7 that WSDOT crews will keep an eye on the cuddly creature, but at this time, 'does not plan to take further action.'
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bellingham's landmark I-5 sloth can stay for now, WSDOT says
Bellingham's beloved stuffed fake sloth, situated high in the trees on northbound Interstate 5 south of Bellingham, will remain there for the time being. 'Crews will continue to monitor but at this time, WSDOT does not plan to take further action,' said Washington State Department of Transportation Communication Manager RB McKeon in a May 6 news release. WSDOT recently began removing stuffed sloths from trees on northbound Interstate 5 about a mile and a half south of Fairhaven. The first sloth, which became known as a popular landmark among Whatcom County locals, was removed on March 18 after originally being put up by an unknown person. A short while later, a second sloth was put up, only to be taken down again by WSDOT. At the time, WSDOT said the sloth was distracting for drivers. Since then, a third sloth has been seen in the trees, much higher up than the other two. McKeon said the sloth is likely to remain, stating that the resources needed to remove it would require the closure of I-5 to stage equipment for crews to safely reach the stuffed animal, which would put additional strain on already limited WSDOT resources. 'We regret that individuals have continued to compromise their safety and the safety of the public to put these up in trees,' McKeon said in the release. It is still largely unknown who has been putting the sloths in the trees, or how they are getting them up there. The third sloth was first reported on the Bellingham Reddit page on April 27, with many comments in support of keeping the sloth in the trees. 'In a world that gives me so many reasons to be down, seeing this makes my day just a little bit brighter and gives me the hope that I need,' one comment said. 'Kinda silly, but these days I'll take what I can get.' 'Even (though) I don't condone the sloth, this is so so so impressive,' read another comment on a different post about the sloth. 'At this point, WSDOT should permit the sloth.' Some people around Bellingham have taken to leaving additional stuffed sloths around town, recent internet posts appear to show. One sloth made it onto the 'Signs Plus' sign on Marine Drive.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Legislation would protect Nebraska veterans' benefits from ‘predatory claim sharks'
A veteran attends a county fair. () LINCOLN — For-profit consultants make millions each year charging veterans for help in filing benefits claims. Nebraska is moving to crack down on what some call 'predatory claim sharks.' It is already against federal law for companies not accredited with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to charge veterans fees for help in claiming benefits. But in 2006, a 'clear enforcement method' vanished from federal law, State Sen. Dan McKeon of Amherst told the Nebraska Legislature's Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee in March. New York, New Jersey and Maine are among states that recently passed protections against 'claim sharks,' who McKeon said use 'aggressive tactics and false promises.' 'Our veterans who have sacrificed so much for our nation deserve better than this,' McKeon, a veteran, said at the hearing for his Legislative Bill 693. 'We owe them a duty to protect them from being defrauded.' LB 693 would change state law so that anyone receiving compensation for preparing, advising or consulting someone for earned veterans' benefits or making referrals for such services would commit a 'deceptive trade practice' unless otherwise allowed by state or federal law. Attorneys, agents or companies properly accredited by the federal VA, for instance, would not be impacted by LB 693, according to the Nebraska chapter of Veterans of Foreign Wars. A previous version of the bill was introduced in 2024 by former State Sen. Tom Brewer of north-central Nebraska, a decorated veteran and former Government Committee chair. Brewer's bill did not move forward. This time, McKeon's LB 693 has advanced unanimously from the Government Committee but hasn't yet been scheduled for debate. It is McKeon's personal 2025 priority bill, increasing the likelihood it could be scheduled. Attempts to regulate the for-profit industry have stalled in Congress. Among those supporting the Nebraska legislation are major veterans service offices that offer free services, including: AMVETS. The American Legion. Marine Corps League. Veterans of Foreign Wars. Nebraska Veterans Council. Disabled American Veterans. Paralyzed Veterans of America. Military Order of the Purple Heart. County Veterans Service Officers Association of Nebraska (including those from Lancaster, Dawes and Sioux Counties). At the bill's hearing, Ray Colas of Veterans Benefits Guide and John Blomstrom of Veterans Guardian opposed LB 693. Neither service is accredited with the VA. Colas said LB 693 could create unintended consequences. He said many veterans are unaware of free services that exist but Veterans Benefits Guide tries to publicize those options. 'They still sign on the dotted line because they know they need help or, for purposes of convenience, prefer to use our services fully,' Colas testified. Blomstrom, a Marine Corps veteran for Veterans Guardian, said he was concerned LB 693 would limit an 'option' that he said should be protected under the First Amendment. He said his organization ensures veterans 'have an option' amid the VA's 'very archaic, broken system.' Colas said his organization could support LB 693 if it more closely mirrored federal law for accreditation. Blomstrom said consumer protections were a better route than accreditation. Ken Yount, state commander for the Nebraska chapter of Veterans of Foreign Wars, said in a statement to the Nebraska Examiner that organizations like his have met with lobbyists for the out-of-state companies in 'good faith.' However, such companies have refused 'to be held to the same ethical standards' of VA accreditation or accept a reasonable fee cap, he said. 'They claim to give veterans 'another choice,' but what they're really offering is exploitation,' Yount said. 'Veterans deserve better — and Nebraska has the chance to stand up for them.' Mike Sheets, on behalf of the Military Order of the Purple Heart in Nebraska and the Great Plains Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, said his organizations provide services at no charge while still advocating for veterans beyond one-on-one services Sheets said veterans swear their oath to protect the country, 'knowing that we would be protected by lawmakers, ensuring that we are not preyed upon by for-profit companies.' Spike Jordan, a county veterans service officer in Dawes and Sioux Counties, said veterans 'who put life and limb on the line' for the county often exit with physical and mental wounds that will follow them for the rest of their lives. 'We owe our heroes more than the symbolic debt of our gratitude,' Jordan said in a statement. McKeon, one of three veterans on the Government Committee, said the status quo is unacceptable and that LB 693 is about doing 'the right thing.' 'Protecting our veterans must be our top priority that shouldn't be delayed,' McKeon said last month. 'Our heroes deserve better than to be continued to be taken advantage of by the scammers.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
