Latest news with #MikeMorgan
Daily Mail
25-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Close Brothers sells Winterflood as it slims down ahead of car finance ruling
Close Brothers has sold market maker Winterflood as part of a simplification drive ahead of an imminent ruling on compensation related to the motor finance commissions scandal. London-based financial services group Marex will buy Winterflood for just under £104million in a deal set to complete early next year. Close Brothers said the sale, which follows the agreed disposal of Close Brothers Brewery Rental last week, will help 'simplify' the business, and 'enhance operational efficiency and drive sustainable growth'. Winterflood is a leading equity market maker in the UK, offering a range of trading services to institutional investors, retail brokers and other financial institutions. Close Brothers, which sold its asset management business in February, told shareholders on Friday now 'is the right time to sell Winterflood and focus on the group's core lending activities' as it continues 'actively evaluating its portfolios to ensure that returns are maximised'. Boss Mike Morgan said the Winterflood sale 'marks another important step in simplifying the group to focus on our core specialist lending business'. It comes amid a looming decision on potential compensation payments related to the motor finance commissions scandal from the Supreme Court. Close Brothers shares have been back in favour this year amid growing expectations that total redress payments will not be as large as initially feared. The shares added more than 9 per cent on Friday morning to 450.6p, taking 2025 gains to around 93 per cent. However, the shares remain around 13 per cent lower over the last year and more than 70 per cent below their April 2021 peak, reflecting continued concerns about the lender's exposure to potential compensation payments. Gary Greenwood, equity research analyst at Shore Capital, said Close Brothers had obtained a 'decent price' for Winterflood, which 'in recent times has been operating around a break-even level due to a combination of cyclical and structural factors'. He added: 'This means the group should have plenty of headroom in its capital ratios prior to the conclusion of the Supreme Court's judgement on motor finance commissions and subsequent FCA interpretation. 'To the extent that any excess capital is available after this, we would expect this to either be reinvested in faster and higher returning parts of the business or returned to shareholders. We will update our forecasts in due course. 'We currently have a HOLD recommendation on Close Brothers' shares with a fair value of 370p, being below the current share price albeit on a conservatively struck basis.'
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
57 days until Saints season opener: Every player to wear No. 57
The New Orleans Saints kick off their 2025 regular season 57 days from today at home against the Arizona Cardinals. Currently wearing No. 57 for New Orleans is undrafted rookie linebacker Tyreem Powell. There have been 15 players who have worn No. 57 for the Saints previously. We take a look at all of them today, with none better than a New Orleans icon and first predominantly Saints player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Saints' History of No. 57 LB Mike Morgan (1969-70) LB Jim Merlo (1973-79) C Larry Coombs (1980) LB Rickey Jackson (1981-93) LB Scott Leach (1987) LB Curtis Holden (2001) LB Colby Bockwoldt (2004-05) LB Jason Kyle (2009-10) LB David Hawthorne (2012-15) DE Jason Trusnik (2016) LB Chris McCain (2016) DE Alex Okafor (2017-18) DE Jalyn Holmes (2021) DE Christian Ringo (2021) DE Ryder Anderson (2022) LB Tyreem Powell (2025) Shreveport native and former LSU product Mike Morgan was also the first to wear 57 for the Saints. He was with the team for two seasons, intercepting one pass and returning one of his 3 fumble recoveries for a touchdown in 23 outings. Larry Coombs was the first and only offensive player to wear 57 for New Orleans, doing so for just one game during the 1980 season. Between Morgan and Coombs in No. 57 was Jim Merlo, the first New Orleans draft choice to wear the number. A fourth round pick in the 1973 NFL draft, Merlo was with the Saints for all of his six years in the NFL, playing 88 games with 68 starts. It is the second longest tenure of any player who has worn No. 57 for New Orleans. Merlo had 8 interceptions in his Saints career, returning three for touchdowns, in addition to 6 sacks and 11 fumble is no doubting that the best to wear No. 57 was Rickey Jackson. An All-American with the Pitt Panthers, Jackson somehow fell to the late second round of a star-studded 1981 NFL Draft, where New Orleans grabbed him with the 51st overall choice. He made an immediate impact for the Saints and throughout the league, quickly developing into an elite talent. Jackson's 13 years and 195 games are by far the most by any Saints player to wear 57. The initial member of the iconic Dome Patrol foursome of linebackers, Jackson carved out a place at the top of New Orleans record books in several categories. He had 123 sacks as a Saint, along with 7 interceptions and 38 forced fumbles. Jackson was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 1997 and into the franchise's Ring of Honor in 2013. In 2010, Jackson received the highest possible honor in football when inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After Jackson departed as a free agent to the hated San Francisco 49ers in 1994, there wouldn't be another Saint to wear his number until 2001. Over the 24 years since, 10 players have worn No. 57 for New Orleans during a regular season contest. Only one of them, David Hawthorne, managed to do so for more than two years. Hawthorne had 6 sacks and one interception in his 50 games with the Saints. It is the third longest tenure of anyone to wear No. 57 for the franchise. Alex Okafor had a short tenure with New Orleans, but probably the most productive one outside of Rickey Jackson and Jim Merlo of the players in 57. Okafor appeared in 26 regular season games as a Saint. Over that span, he'd record 8.5 sacks with 10 tackles for loss and forced 3 fumbles. The three players since Okafor to wear No. 57 have done so for a combined 10 games. This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 57 days until Saints season opener: Every player to wear No. 57
Powys County Times
13-07-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Powys business Hafren Furnishers celebrate 60th anniversary
Wales' largest independent furniture retailer Hafren Furnishers is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The family-run Powys business has flourished since it was founded by Mike Morgan spotting a market while working his milk round in the Llanidloes area in 1965. What started by offering his customers to buy small pieces of furniture direct from his milk float, has evolved to two stores showcasing the latest collections for the home and home office. Today, the business is run by Mike's son Tim along with an experienced and knowledgeable team supporting him, operating the flagship store in Llanidloes and a showroom in Llanbadarn Fawr, on the outskirts of Aberystwyth. Both stores offer dedicated Bed Studios, where customers can try out multiple bed brands at their leisure, experience state-of-the-art in-store Stressless recliner studios, and browse the latest ranges of living room, dining room, bedroom and conservatory furniture. Giftware, bedding and accessories, rugs, lamps and pictures feature too. "The philosophy remains unchanged from 60 years ago," said Hafren Furnishers director Tim Morgan, "offer customers leading furniture brands at the best possible prices with exceptional service and free delivery across England and Wales. "This has earned Hafren an enviable reputation amongst its loyal customer base and within the furniture industry itself." To mark the family-run business' milestone year, a summer sale will run from Monday, July 21, to coincide with the Royal Welsh Show, until the end of August. Exclusive offers will be available across all leading furniture brands, across both stores and online.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Memorial Day celebrations both grand and quiet
EDMOND, Okla. (KFOR) — On this Memorial Day, families and communities across the nation are coming together, not just to remember, but to feel the presence of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. From Civil War-era music, to simple tokens of thanks on graves, veterans are being honored both grand and quiet. Band students from Edmond Memorial High School performed at the Edmond History Museum. Morgan is not only the Edmond Memorial Band Director; he is also the son of News 4 Chief Meteorologist Mike Morgan. 'It's the only high school historical brass program that I know of in the country,' said Tanner Morgan, the Edmond Memorial Band Director. It's not just music, but the soundtrack to a different America during the Civil War. 'In fact, it's from a book that he would have been calling his Marine band to perform on in the days right before he was assassinated,' said Morgan. Not only were the songs from the past, but so were the instruments. 'They're artifacts,' said Morgan. 'There's no reproduction instruments. They're all period instruments. The youngest instrument is 100 years old this year.' 'I think that [the students] make them sound great. They're not easy to play on,' said Morgan. There's a specific way to fly your US flag on Memorial Day: What to know Just two miles up the road, at Gracelawn Cemetery, a different kind of tribute is unfolding. Volunteers with the Travis Manion Foundation laid tokens of thanks on gravestones and markers. It's a non-profit close to the heart of Aaron Hudgins, an army veteran, especially on Memorial Day. 'I lost my wife on April 29, 2018, while in service to our country and after that I was lost. And so I needed a new tribe,' said Hudgins. 'It has changed my life completely.' Hudgins said about 2,000 veterans are buried at the cemetery. For that amount, they needed about two dozen volunteers. 'My wife, a friend of mine, and my daughter we came out and participated with the Travis Manning Foundation,' said Jonathan Reid, a volunteer. Reid is a Marine Corps veteran and a purple heart recipient. He chose not to speak of his own service, but instead chose to speak for the fallen. 'We took our time. Looked at the names, the dates, branches of service,' said Reid. Reid said you don't have to visit a cemetery or play in a band to honor those who gave their lives so we could live ours. 'It's enjoying the time with their families. And they didn't get that,' said Reid. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
27-04-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Colorado officials provide update on 2025 wildfire forecast
The Colorado wildfire forecast is mixed for 2025. Although officials said parts of the state will see an average year, southern Colorado will see higher risks. Authorities warned residents it's important not to let their guard down. Even during an average year, around 6,000 fires will likely spark across the state, scorching around 160,000 acres. Fire season in Colorado is year-round, which Director of the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control Mike Morgan said has become the new normal. "We've had major fires and disasters every month of the year in the state of Colorado, and we can't afford to let our guard down," Morgan asserted. Despite cuts across agencies that directly support the state's wildfire mitigation and firefighting efforts, like the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, officials said they feel Colorado has enough staff to handle them. Colorado Director for the Bureau of Land Management Doug Vilsack said, "We're confident in our firefighting capability for this summer. Obviously, we are managing through a transition, but, for example, we have hired 54 of our seasonals so far for the summer. Generally, I think last year we had 58." Drought forecasted for much of southern Colorado CBS While some of the state is expected to see an average wildfire season, southern Colorado will experience a higher risk this year because of dry conditions in the area. Southeast Colorado will see heightened conditions in April and May, with an increase in fire danger in the southwest this summer. Executive Director of Colorado Department of Public Safety Stan Hilkey said, as in previous years, they expect wind events to drive much of the state's wildfire activity and urged Coloradans to take extra precautions during them. He explained fire season in Colorado is busy and urged Coloradans to sign up for local alert programs, be cautious with anything that can start a fire and have an evacuation plan ready. Morgan said that during the summer months, fires happen on a near daily basis and are quickly extinguished, but the state is bound to see some large fires break out. He assured that they're ready for when that happens. Homes damaged in Marshall Fire CBS Gov. Jared Polis said destructive fires like the Marshall Fire in Colorado and the Palisades Fire in California, which affected major population centers, are examples of the increasing danger to cities. "Today, it's more of a question of when, not if, a fire will affect our communities. And that's why we're hard at work upping the bar on fire preparedness at the state level," he asserted. Polis said those efforts include prevention measures through forest health and fire mitigation work. He said agencies are expanding the tools they have available, including satellite surveillance and electrical line video, to attack fires more quickly before they can grow out of control. Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control "We've also, as a state, made historic investments in state firefighting resources, including multiple state-owned helicopters like the Firehawk and multi-mission fixed-wing aircraft, fire engines and crews, contracting air tankers that allow us to quickly respond to fires across the state rather than wait for resources that are shared among multiple states," Polis explained. He said that depending on out-of-state resources is too much of a risk because they may not be available when needed. Large parts of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona are under an elevated risk for wildfires this season. "We've also created a state-wide dispatch system to help first responders locally order resources quickly and effectively with shorter response times," said Polis. "I recently signed an executive order to make sure that all the Colorado state employees who serve as volunteer firefighters and first responders get leave, and I continue to encourage our private sector employers to do the same to make sure that when they are needed, their employees are able to take leave to be able to participate as firefighters and first responders." Director of the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control Mike Morgan said the state's efforts towards fire mitigation are encouraging. "At the end of the day, all of these decisions and all of the work that's being done here is for you as citizens and the visitors of Colorado and all of you fine people in the back of the room that risk your life every day to go out there and keep our community safe." CBS A major concern for Colorado residents is the increased cost of homeowners' insurance in high-risk areas and the struggle to find coverage. Polis urged Colorado residents to take steps to mitigate risks from wildfires and hail, which he said will help improve risk ratings and make rates more affordable. Officials stressed that community involvement is essential in preventing the spread of wildfires, particularly as more people are moving into higher risk areas. They encouraged residents to work with their HOA and city councils to organize mitigation efforts and create community wildfire protection plans. The Colorado State Forest Service offers a guide with steps that can help protect homes and property from wildfires, including: Ensure the roof has a Class A fire rating Remove all leaves, needles and other debris from decks, roofs and gutters Screen attic, roof, eaves and foundation vents with 1/8-inch metal mesh Screen or wall-in stilt foundations and decks with 1/8-inch metal mesh Use tempered glass for windows; two or more panes are recommended Create 6 inches of vertical clearance between the ground and home siding Replace combustible fencing or gates, at least within 5 feet of the home Colorado State Forest Service The service's website advises working in zones to protect your home. "As you address the home ignition zone on your property, always start with the home or structure and work outwards. Remember, taking action to prepare for wildfire is not a one-time effort — it requires ongoing maintenance to give your home the best chance of surviving a wildfire."
