Latest news with #NCAS
Eyewitness News
4 days ago
- Health
- Eyewitness News
Ahead of World No Tobacco Day, NCAS calls for tighter restrictions on accessibility of nicotine products
CAPE TOWN - Ahead of World No Tobacco Day, the Department of Health is calling on South Africans to consider becoming an organ donor. The latest statistics from the National Council Against Smoking show that 25,000 South Africans die from tobacco-related diseases every year. And non-smokers aren't spared risk - they're at risk of developing smoking-related illnesses by being around those who do smoke. Spokesperson for the National Council Against Smoking (NCAS), Ingrid Bame, said that there should be tighter restrictions on the accessibility of nicotine products. "We should also remember that tobacco products contain nicotine, which is the addictive chemical in the product which leaves users dependent and addicted to their preferred tobacco product. Due to the addictive cycle of chasing the dopamine effects, smokers are prone to mood swings, increased anxiety and depression and an overall life that displays something that is unhealthy." Bame added that the advertising of nicotine products at grocery checkout counters should be banned. "We also see people who smoke be less fertile than those who don't smoke and with women that smoke, they stand a higher chance of complications during pregnancy, which includes low birth rate and miscarriages."
BBC News
18-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Isle of Man government steps in to keep northern tip open
An amenity site serving residents in the north of the Isle of Man will continue to operate after a government department stepped in to keep it going beyond Northern Civic Amenity Site (NCAS), on Bride Road, had faced a £67,000 funding gap after Bride Commissioners withdrew from the facility last NCAS board, made up of representatives of the northern local authorities, had said the site would close from 1 April after it handed by the contract to run Department of Infrastructure (DOI) has now set to take over the administration of the site for the next year, with funding from all authorities, including Bride. Details of how the site will run, including its opening hours, have not yet been March 2024, Bride Commissioners stopped using or contributing to the facility, which led to the NCAS board terminating its lease and reducing its opening hours amid staff and cost pressures. 'Positive talks' Ramsey Commissioners has operated the site on behalf of its fellow northern authorities Ballaugh, Lezayre, Garff, Andreas, Jurby, and Bride since the DOI is now set to take control of the tip, it said it the Ramsey authority would continue to operate it on its Minister Michelle Haywood said she was "confident" the agreement would see the site continue to operate for the next 12 months following "positive talks" between the department and NCAS."Department officers have led negotiations to enable the cooperation of all the northern local authorities, which will continue to fund running costs," she of Ramsey Commissioners Robert Cowell said it was a "fantastic result" for residents in the north."I am extremely grateful to the entire northern community for seeing the value of this asset in the north and continuing to fund the site," he added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Axios
06-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
North Carolina sports betting revenue helps fund youth sports projects
North Carolina is approaching its first full year of legal mobile sports betting, and youth sports are feeling the financial benefits. Why it matters: While the long-term ramifications of legal mobile sports betting in North Carolina remain unclear, the immediate results reflect what experts expected — additional revenue streams, including to support youth sports. Driving the news: North Carolina Amateur Sports, a Durham-based nonprofit, is awarding grants of up to $20,000 per county to local government agencies and nonprofits to help purchase youth sports equipment or upgrade public facilities used by youth sports. The deadline to apply is April 1. $1 million annually is allocated to NCAS from sports betting revenue. Grants of up to $10,000 per county will be available annually after fiscal year 2024-25. By the numbers: The state and NCAS awarded $722,825.61 during their November grant cycle. Mecklenburg County was awarded $20,000 total for two projects: $15,000 for new soccer goals for Area B at the Sportsplex at Matthews. The goals are in place, a Mecklenburg County spokesperson told Axios. $5,000 for volleyball equipment, Pineville Parks & Recreation director Matthew Jakubowski, confirmed to Axios. The grant helped Pineville Parks & Recreation purchase nets, a stand for the referee, and poles. "We asked for funding for new athletic equipment that was not in our budget," Jakubowski told Axios. "We just started a new youth volleyball league for girls, and we did not have any equipment to provide this program." What they're saying: "These grants have provided athletics equipment, fields and facilities, and leagues to get our children playing and competing," N.C. Rep. Zack Hawkins said in a recent statement about the funds legal mobile sports betting has generated in North Carolina. Between the lines: More than half the state's counties still have $20,000 available, NCAS data indicates. Counties with a healthy youth sports environment are more likely to pursue these grants, UNC Charlotte economics professor Craig Depken told Axios. "Grants that are small tend to have an impact that's measurable," Depken said. However, he added, they'll need another year of data to assess the impact of these grants. He's looking to see if these grants are affecting or drawing youth sporting events to areas that receive grants. Context: Sportsbook operators are taxed at 18%, which creates revenue for the state. Tax proceeds are allocated to a number of entities, including: $2 million annually to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services for gambling addiction education and treatment. 13 state college athletic departments, including the Charlotte 49ers, also receive funds. See the full breakdown of where state revenue goes here. The bottom line: "The legalization of sports betting in North Carolina has achieved what people expected, which is a significant new revenue stream that can support a whole range of important initiatives, and youth sports is one of them," Elon University sport management professor Bill Squadron told Axios. Zoom out: While sports betting does provide additional state revenue, it comes with the concern of gambling addiction. Technology makes gambling more accessible and potentially more problematic, as you can bet on something at 3am without needing to go anywhere. But as with many other issues for those studying North Carolina's first chapter in legal mobile sports betting, they need more data before they can truly analyze its impact.
BBC News
25-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Isle of Man's northern tip to close next month amid funding gap
A tip serving residents in several northern local authority areas on the Isle of Man will close at the end of next month as the result of a funding Commissioners said the Northern Civic Amenity Site (NCAS) would be handed back to the Department of Infrastructure on 1 April after Bride's decision to withdraw from the facility last Rob Cowell said the £67,000 shortfall that had created was and "irreconcilable operational funding gap" and the closure could lead to job Department of Infrastructure said it was "working to establish how the facility may continue to operate beyond the end of March". In March 2024, Bride Commissioners stopped using or contributing to the facility, which led to the NCAS board terminating its lease and reducing its opening hours amid staff and cost Commissioners has operated the site on behalf of fellow northern authorities Ballaugh, Lezayre, Garff, Andreas, Jurby, and formerly Bride since 2017. 'Positive discussions' Cowell said Bride's withdrawal from the site had left a "significant" funding gap, which despite tireless efforts has proven impossible to resolve".He said: "The future for the provision of an amenity site now rests with the DOI and we are hopeful a resolution with them will be found."The board recognised the "significant impact" the loss of the site would have on northern residents, he urged residents to "plan for the closure date" and clear big items that would not fit into domestic refuse local authority said the closure may result in redundancies and it was "committed" to looking after staff who were directly a statement the DOI said: "While it is not possible to confirm at this stage whether the NCAS will remain in use for the forthcoming financial year, positive discussions are taking place to find a way forward which serves the north of the island."A full update would be provided at a later date, it added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
