Latest news with #McLane
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Circle K taps McLane for third-party logistics
This story was originally published on C-Store Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily C-Store Dive newsletter. Alimentation Couche-Tard, parent company of c-store chain Circle K, has partnered with McLane Company to receive third-party logistics services from the distributor, according to a Tuesday announcement. Through the agreement, McLane will operate three distribution centers in the Midwest dedicated to supporting operations in 1,600 Circle K and Holiday c-stores in 14 states. This announcement comes less than a week after McLane announced it was expanding its partnership with Wawa to support the retailer's Midwestern growth. Couche-Tard and McLane's partnership is intended to 'enhance control and efficiency within its merchandise supply chain,' according to the announcement. It will help Couche-Tard's stores be more agile, ensure deliveries arrive on time and make inventory management more efficient. The new distribution centers — which Couche-Tard agreed in December to lease — are located in Otsego, Minnesota; Lockbourne, Ohio; and Hazelwood, Missouri. They will supply items including national brand and private label snacks, candy and beverages. 'This partnership with McLane allows us to streamline our supply chain operations and improve overall service to our stores,' said Trey Powell, senior vice president of global merchandising for Circle K. 'By tapping into McLane's extensive logistics network and expertise, we're enhancing our ability to serve our customers with the right products at the right time, in the most efficient way possible.' With the three new sites, Couche-Tard will have five hybrid distribution centers supplying more than 2,600 company-owned c-stores in the U.S. The other two are not managed by McLane, a spokesperson for the distributor confirmed. Supply chains are in the spotlight thanks to growing uncertainty around proposed and implemented tariffs on imports from a number of countries. McLane noted that in addition to services like transportation and marketing, it can also offer support for warehousing and tariff management for retailers of all sizes. Circle K has been working on network and logistics updates across its global network in recent months. In addition to the McLane agreement, it also partnered with Quorso earlier in April to deploy the tech company's Intelligent Management Platform in Circle K locations in 12 European countries. Recommended Reading Couche-Tard to service 1,600 US c-stores via new 'hybrid' distribution centers Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Homeowners outraged after insurers abandon disaster zones without warning: 'We need to maintain access to affordable insurance'
As wildfires worsen across the Western United States, homeowners are facing another threat: being dropped by their insurance providers. As Oregon Public Broadcasting reported in late March, two state lawmakers — a Democrat and a Republican — are demanding that major insurance companies pause use of internal wildfire risk maps to deny or cancel policies. Senators Anthony Broadman and Mike McLane sent a joint letter to State Farm, Allstate, Liberty Mutual, and other major insurers, making a bipartisan request that the companies stop using their own private wildfire risk maps to drop homeowners' policies, at least until January 2026. "Constituents contact us with increasing frequency to say that they have been 'dropped' or not renewed by one of you," the senators wrote, according to OPB. The lawmakers, who described this system as "rigged," say these decisions are often based on data gathered by companies like Verisk. Verisk uses drones to assess risk from above, rather than on-the-ground assessments. Some states are now considering restrictions on insurers' use of drone footage to make policy decisions. Delaware recently established some new regulations regarding the practice, the Delaware News Journal reported last month. Meanwhile, a committee of Oregon lawmakers from both major parties unanimously endorsed Senate Bill 83, which would repeal the state's official wildfire hazard map, according to local news outlet KGW. Critics say the map fails to accurately reflect individual risk and even has the potential to devalue property. As dirty energy sources are burned and trap heat in our atmosphere, rising global temperatures are fueling more frequent and more destructive wildfires, floods, and hurricanes. In response, some insurance companies are cutting coverage, especially in high-risk areas. But in Oregon, insurers have still managed to turn a profit. In 2023, companies paid out just 52 cents in claims for every dollar collected in premiums, even as rates rose by nearly 11% over the previous year, according to the Consumer Federation of America. Broadman and McLane argue that using undisclosed, private risk models rather than transparent and standardized ones leaves policyholders in the dark and at risk of losing critical coverage with little warning. In the event of a disaster, homeowners often rely on insurance to help them navigate property loss and financial hardship while rebuilding their lives. Should the government be allowed to restrict how much water we use? Definitely Only during major droughts No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "This isn't about denying insurers the ability to assess risk — it's about making sure that assessment is based on actual, individualized data, not abstract scoring models," McLane said in the press release announcing the joint letter. "We need to maintain access to affordable insurance for rural and fire-prone communities while promoting a competitive and responsible market." This kind of corporate behavior fits into a broader pattern: power structures and business practices that ignore the role of burning dirty energy sources in driving extreme weather, while shifting the consequences onto consumers. Climate advocates are calling for stronger oversight of the insurance industry and more transparency around risk data. Meanwhile, SB 83, which would officially scrap Oregon's map, has been passed by the Senate as of late April and now heads to the House, per the Statesman Journal. Next, according to April reporting from OPB, state lawmakers and advocates say they need to find new funding strategies to pay for wildfire prevention and risk mitigation after federal cuts that have impacted much of the country. Groups like Firewise USA and the Insurance Information Institute offer tools to help homeowners reduce wildfire risk and advocate for fair coverage. Nationally, legislation like the Wildfire Defense Act and efforts to reform the insurance market could offer longer-term solutions. But until insurance practices are reined in, experts warn that more homeowners may be left without a real safety net. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
CBC
25-04-2025
- Health
- CBC
Lack of French-speaking staff leading to burnout at P.E.I. long-term care home, MLA says
Social Sharing Issues were raised in the P.E.I. Legislature around staffing shortages and patient safety at a provincially operated long-term care home in Charlottetown. Some nurses from Beach Grove Home were looking on Friday as Opposition health critic Gord McNeilly brought up their concerns about vacant bilingual nursing positions. The Liberal MLA said staff told him up to 84 resident-care worker (RCW) shifts go unfilled every month at the home due to a lack of French-speaking workers. "A nurse reached out to me and she said that… she's stressed. She goes home, can't relax. She used to do things like run and cycle and she had to put those on hold," said McNeilly, who represents Charlottetown-West Royalty where the home is located. "This is the dedication of our health-care staff, but we're burning them out… and it was heartbreaking to get that message." P.E.I. Health Minister Mark McLane confirmed that one of two bilingual licensed practical nurse positions at Beach Grove Home is vacant, while five of eight French-speaking RCW positions are unfilled. While he admitted it can be challenging to hire bilingual health workers, McLane said Collège de l'Île has restarted its training program for French-speaking RCWs, and the province is trying to recruit internationally. "At this time, there's actually only one bilingual resident at [Beach Grove Home], so the demands aren't too great," he said. "With New Brunswick being our neighbour, it's tough to compete for bilingual positions." In the legislature, the health minister pointed to efforts Health P.E.I. is making to recruit more nurses to its system, including grant programs and an expansion of UPEI's nursing program. McLane also said 500 nursing positions across the Island are being made permanent, which he said will help stabilize the workforce. But McNeilly said those efforts do little to help the burned-out staff at Beach Grove Home in the short-term. "We want the French services, but… you're leaving vacant shifts because of this technicality," he said. "It's not a language issue; it's a service issue." McNeilly asked whether McLane would commit to directing Health P.E.I. to hire English-only term roles for one year to complement the home's staff until those permanent positions can be filled. The health minister said he would take that suggestion back to his department. Unsafe shower facilities, says staff Beach Grove staff also wrote to McNeilly with concerns about subpar shower facilities for patients on the facility's Harbour wing. They said the stall's flooring is not designed for a shower, so water leaks out into the common area — conditions that caused injury to one worker, who slipped on the wet floor. The workers wrote that the shower also doesn't have a temperature gauge, which is against provincial policy. McLane said he would visit the home to speak to staff about the issues, adding that there is money in the provincial budget for upgrades.
CBC
24-04-2025
- Health
- CBC
Mobile X-ray program coming to P.E.I. long-term care homes next month
Social Sharing The P.E.I. government is launching a new mobile X-ray program in May, allowing residents in both public and private long-term care facilities to receive some types of diagnostic scans without leaving their homes. Minister of Health and Wellness Mark McLane said the new unit is expected to reduce ambulance wait times and improve care for seniors. Last year, Island EMS transferred more than 1,000 patients for diagnostic imaging, he said. "They've taken up a lot of time in order to pick up a resident and take that resident to the hospital for an X-ray," McLane told reporters Wednesday. He said that while offering a better experience for the patient by providing care in familiar settings, the new service will eliminate many round trips for ambulances and relatives alike, taking patients between care homes and hospitals. "By reducing hospital visits, we improve patient comfort, lower stress and ease the burden of our hospital system," he said at the legislature. Some residents will still need to visit a hospital, though. For now, the mobile service will be limited to chest X-rays, used to diagnose things like pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cracked ribs. More imaging options will be added in the coming months, McLane said. First mobile X-ray Edna MacInnis received the first mobile X-ray last month at Whisperwood Villa Seniors Home in Charlottetown. "I was very surprised that they took the machine in, and I was the first one on the Island to have this done," she told CBC News. "I was really shocked. I couldn't believe it… to have a machine to come in a place like this, and you don't have to go to hospital or anything like that to have it done. "It's easy on my family. They don't have to take me here and there." She hopes more Islanders can benefit from the convenience and comfort of the mobile service. "And all seniors out there, I hope they have the same experience that I did," she said. Nadine Hooper Thompson, a medical radiation technologist involved in the project, agrees the new service is helpful for seniors, especially those with dementia. "It's very disruptive for them to come out of their home, and it can take days after to kind of get them re-acclimatized, so it's much easier on them," Hooper Thompson said. She described the mobile unit as a compact setup that includes a laptop, an X-ray detector, and an X-ray tube. The detector is placed behind the resident's back, and once the image is taken with the mobile unit, it appears instantly on the laptop screen. Hooper Thompson said the entire process typically takes just five to 10 minutes, with most of the time spent on carefully positioning the resident. 'A little bit slow to get going' Liberal MLA Gord McNeilly welcomed the initiative but pointed out it stems from a federal agreement signed back in 2023. The plan to improve access to diagnostic imaging was part of a $94-million health care agreement signed with the federal government in December 2023. That agreement outlined several priorities that the province will need to implement by 2026, including improving access to diagnostic services and reducing wait times. In March 2024, officials announced more details about how part of that $94 million would be spent on measures to help Islanders age with dignity, including the establishment of a mobile X-ray unit. "And here we are the next year, it's just getting started, so although a little bit slow to get going, I think this is a great program," McNeilly said in the legislature. Green Party MLA Matt MacFarlane also voiced support. "Anything that can make lives easier for residents of long-term care facilities, by having the service come to them and minimize transfer and potential for injury and disruption, is a good thing," MacFarlane said. "Hopefully, there will be no issues in the scans, the X-ray results getting into the right files of the patients. [We] want to make sure that the continuity of the file is there, if those patients are lucky enough to actually have a primary-care provider for the files and the X-ray results to get into."
CBC
17-04-2025
- Health
- CBC
Opposition questions spending plans, with P.E.I. set to get $168M in tobacco settlement
Social Sharing There were questions in the P.E.I. legislature this week about how the province will spend its share of a massive settlement with the tobacco industry. The $32.5-billion agreement among Canadian provinces and territories and the major tobacco companies — JTI-Macdonald Corp., Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd., and Rothmans, Benson & Hedges — compensates governments for health-care costs related to smoking-related illnesses. The legal battle dates back decades. P.E.I. is set to receive $168 million over the next 15 to 20 years. In the legislature on Wednesday, Liberal MLA Robert Henderson asked Justice and Public Safety Minister Bloyce Thompson for details on how the money will be allocated. "In the recent budget tabled in this legislature under revenue from provincial sources, P.E.I. is receiving a $36.4-million windfall from tobacco litigation," Henderson said. "This money seems to be going to general revenue, but I can't find any budget lines that say how that money goes to families of smokers who have health-related deaths from tobacco. How do families claim that money?" In response, Thompson said: "The money is designated for the health-care system to help deal with the situations from smoking over the years. It will be a great help to our health-care system and there is a way that individuals can apply for some money. "I would be happy to table the procedure on how individuals can apply for that here today or tomorrow." Smokers, former smokers or their representatives living in Canada will be able to seek individual compensation through Tobacco Claims Canada, but the claims process hasn't begun yet. That's a separate process from the funding going to the P.E.I. government. Fund to help improve smoking cessation program Henderson also questioned Minister of Health and Wellness Mark McLane about whether any of the settlement funds will go toward groups that have been pushing for smoking reduction efforts. "The Cancer Society and the P.E.I. Tobacco-Free Spaces have been advocating for increased funding for enhanced smoke reduction programming. Yet I see in the Department of Health and Wellness budget under health promotion, grants have been reduced over last year's allotment," Henderson said. "Will these groups receive any funding from the tobacco settlement dollars to P.E.I.?" McLane responded that the province is using the extra funding for preventative measures, including improvements to the smoking cessation program available through Island pharmacies. Henderson also questioned the province on why the $36.4 million went into general revenue without a specific budget line to compensate families affected by smoking-related health issues. In response, McLane said: "It does go into general revenues, like every other province in Canada, to continue to improve smoking cessation programs, and we talked about the lung screening program, that those investments will go towards in the future." Elsewhere in the Maritimes, New Brunswick is set to receive about $614 million from the settlement, while Nova Scotia's share is roughly $809 million.
