Latest news with #Nobles
NZ Herald
03-08-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Rotorua housing boost: 40 sections for growing Redwood Park site
Green said the Nobles had owned the farm since the early 1990s and were now looking to develop the land into higher-end residential sections. Green said Rotorua had become known nationally for its housing shortage, and there was a big emphasis in recent years to grow the housing stock in the social housing sector. However, he said it was good for buyers to know there were more than just social houses being built in the city. The Nobles had gone into a subdivision partnership with the neighbouring farm owner, where the first Redwood Park homes were built over the past few years. Now the Nobles' land has been divided into sections, ready to be sold over three stages. Green said there had already been strong interest in the first 15 sections, particularly from seven potential buyers. 'Some are out-of-towners and want to buy sections to build houses as holiday homes ... We have barely promoted the land and every day we have a lot of interest.' Ben Green at the site where new sections are on the market as part of the Redwood Park development. Photo / Kelly Makiha Green said that showed Rotorua was an attractive destination and they were pleased the development was attracting 'new money' to the city. He said there were home and land package options available from $1.4 million, and the land packages started at $700,000. Green said it was different from some other subdivisions because the Nobles intended to continue living on-site long term. 'Their genuine intent is to create an environment where communities can grow together and thrive. That is their vision and hope.' An aerial view of the new sections at Redwood Park. Green said the showhome used cladding from redwood trees in Taupō that were planted at the same time as the Rotorua redwoods about 100 years ago. He said it was special that potentially local materials could be used on a local project. About 15,000 native trees had also been planted to prevent erosion, help prevent stormwater run off and attract native birds. Green estimated work to start in the spring. Stage two is with the Rotorua Lakes Council, awaiting consent and stage three would then follow. Council district development general manager Jean-Paul Gaston said there had been a drop in new housing consent applications in Rotorua following what he described as the highest level of completion of new homes for 15 years. He said the drop was from a reduction in the Kāinga Ora build programme since the Government's renewed focus on its spending. He said the council expected activity to increase again, although to a more limited peak than recently, through Community Housing Provider and iwi housing developments, supported by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. He said the ongoing progression of housing development at Eastside and fast-tracking for Sommerset's retirement village on Fairy Springs Rd would also support additional homes during the next few years. He said the council was supporting another 28 developments that each had more than 10 dwellings, including 14 Māori housing developments. 'We look forward to seeing the progression of all planned developments to contribute towards our goal to address the housing shortage in Rotorua.' Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.
USA Today
02-07-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Alaska Republican senator stares down reporter after casting yes vote on Trump's tax bill
WASHINGTON - If only looks could kill. Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski stared down a reporter in a tense exchange that quickly went viral on social media, after she had voted in favor of President Donald Trump's sweeping tax and domestic policy bill on July 1. Murkowski was crucial to getting the legislation across the finish line in the Senate, as Senate Majority Leader John Thune could only afford to lose three votes. After pressure from Republican leadership, Murkowski ultimately voted yes on the bill, despite her concerns about Medicaid reform and cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Ryan Nobles, an NBC News correspondent, had asked Murkowski what she thought of Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul's criticism that Murkowski's vote was 'a bailout for Alaska at the expense of the rest of the country.' Murkowski then said, 'Oh my god,' before looking at Nobles, who remarked, 'That's what Senator Paul said.' Murkowski stared Nobles down for more than 10 seconds before saying, 'My response is I have an obligation to the people of the state of Alaska, and I live up to that every single day.' She noted that she didn't like the bill. But, she said, 'I tried to take care of Alaska's interests.' Murkowsi had noted in a tweet after the vote that the bill included many advantages for Alaskans, including a larger child tax credit, investment in the Coast Guard, and enhancing border security. However, she said she hopes the bill is not the final product and that both chambers work on it more 'to get this right.' The bill is now in the House, where lawmakers must go over the changes from the Senate and give it a final stamp of approval before it heads to the president's desk. Trump and GOP leaders have a self-imposed deadline of July 4 for Congress to pass the bill.
New York Post
02-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Sen. Lisa Murkowski silently stares down NBC reporter asking about her ‘Big Beautiful Bill' vote
Advertisement Alaskan Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski had a tense moment with NBC News reporter Ryan Nobles after he pressed her on the backlash she faced for her vote on the 'One Big, Beautiful Bill' (OBBB) on Tuesday. Nobles caught up with Murkowski after she voted in favor of President Donald Trump's $3.3 trillion spending bill, asking her to respond to criticism from Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who claimed that she supported OBBB because it was a 'bailout for Alaska at the expense of the rest of the country.' 'Oh my God,' Murkowski mumbled angrily before looking at Nobles. 'That's what Sen. Paul said,' Nobles responded. Advertisement She then stared at Nobles without making a response for more than ten seconds. 3 Alaskan Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski had a tense moment with NBC News reporter Ryan Nobles after he pressed her on the backlash she faced for her vote on the 'One Big, Beautiful Bill' (OBBB) on Tuesday. NBC News 'I didn't say it, ma'am,' Nobles reiterated. 'I'm just asking for your response.' 'My response is I have an obligation to the people of the state of Alaska, and I live up to that every single day,' Murkowski answered. Advertisement She added that it was 'offensive' to claim that federal dollars being sent to a state is considered a 'bailout.' 3 Nobles caught up with Murkowski after she voted in favor of President Donald Trump's $3.3 trillion spending bill, asking her to respond to criticism from Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who claimed that she supported OBBB because it was a 'bailout for Alaska at the expense of the rest of the country.' NBC News 'Do I like this bill? No. Because I tried to take care of Alaska's interests, but I know that in many parts of the country there are Americans that are not going to be advantaged by this bill. I don't like that. I don't like the fact that we moved through an artificial deadline, an artificial timeline, to produce something—to meet a deadline rather than to actually try to produce the best bill for the country,' Murkowski answered. 'But when I saw the direction that this is going—you know, you can either say, 'I don't like it,' and not try to help my state, or you can roll up your sleeves.' Fox News Digital reached out to Paul's office for a comment. Advertisement Senate Republicans successfully passed the bill on a 51-50 vote with Vice President JD Vance casting the tiebreaking vote. 3 Murkowski reacting to a spending and tax bill. REUTERS Paul, along with Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, were the only Republicans who voted against the bill. All Democrats voted no. Ahead of the Senate vote, several last-minute deals were made, including the doubling of the rural hospital fund to $50 billion, which was pushed by Collins, and a rollback of the start date of supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) work requirements for states with higher payment error rates, like Alaska. The bill now heads to the House, where Republican leaders are determined to have a final bill ready to be signed by Trump by Friday.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lisa Murkowski Stares Down Reporter for 10 Seconds After Being Confronted Over ‘Big Beautiful Bill' Vote
Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski stared down NBC News' Chief Capitol Hill Correspondent Ryan Nobles on Tuesday after he questioned her about her involvement in the Senate's approval of the GOP-led 'One Big, Beautiful Bill.' 'Sen. [Rand] Paul said that your vote was a bailout for Alaska at the expense of the country,' Nobles told Murkowski on-camera. More from TheWrap Lisa Murkowski Stares Down Reporter for 10 Seconds After Being Confronted Over 'Big Beautiful Bill' Vote | Video CNN Argues Its Report on ICE Location App Did 'Nothing Illegal' as Trump White House Threatens Prosecution Senate Approves Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' With VP Vance as Tiebreaker Trump: CNN, New York Times Demean the 'Great Soldiers' Who Bombed Iran Nobles' inquiry stemmed from remarks Paul reportedly made about Murkowski after the Senate passed the legislation on Tuesday. Per the Daily Beast, Rand stated that Republicans 'chose subsidies and carveouts for the Senator from Alaska,' claiming the party modified the bill to benefit the state of Alaska in exchange for Murkowski's vote. 'Oh my…' Murkowski replied, in apparent shock. 'That's what Sen. Paul said,' Nobles responded. Murkowski, who appeared to be irritated by the question, blinked her eyes one last time at Nobles before launching into a stare down. Breaking the silence, Nobles shared the first word, which was a him clarifying that he did not make the statement himself, though he still wanted a response. 'I didn't say it, ma'am. I'm just asking for your response,' Nobles noted. After a second more of nothing, a visibly frustrated Murkowski answered. 'My response is, I have an obligation to the people of the state of Alaska, and I live up to that every single day,' she said, adding that this has been an 'agonizing' experience. 'I fight for my state's interest and I make sure that Alaskans are understood. I work hard to take care of a state that has more unique situations, more unique people and it's just different. So when people suggest the federal dollars go to one of our 50 states in a quote, 'bailout,' I find that offensive.' Another brief moment of silence between the two then set in. Murkowski eventually continued to explain her reasons for voting 'Yes' on the bill while acknowledging that the bill will allow Alaskans to reap benefits that Americans in other states will not. 'I advocated for my state's interest. I will continue to do that, and I will make no excuses for doing that. Do I like this bill? No. I tried to take care of Alaska's interests, but I know that in many parts of the country there are Americans that are not going to be advantaged by this bill. I don't like that,' she explained. 'I don't like the fact that we moved through an artificial deadline, artificial timelines to produce something to meet a deadline, rather than to actually try to produce the best bill for the country. But when I saw the direction that this was going … you can either say I don't like it and not try to help my state or you can roll up your sleeves.' On Tuesday, the Senate voted 51-50 in favor of the controversial spending bill, with the tie-breaking vote cast by Vice President JD Vance after a handful of Republicans sided with Democrats and Independents against it. Some of the unique privileges Alaska will receive that differ from the other 49 states will be an exemption from new Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (S.N.A.P.) requirements and state cost-sharing, only if the state implements a plan to reduce administrative errors as the state has had the highest S.N.A.P. payment error rate in the country for the past two years. Republican Sens. Rand, Susan Collins and Thom Tillis voted 'No' against the legislation, while zero Democrats voted in favor of it. The 'Big, Beautiful Bill' will now head back to the House of Representatives for approval, following some alterations that came during a marathon weekend session that stretched into the early hours of post Lisa Murkowski Stares Down Reporter for 10 Seconds After Being Confronted Over 'Big Beautiful Bill' Vote | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
CNBC
01-07-2025
- Business
- CNBC
GOP Sen. Murkowski cast crucial vote for Trump's megabill after getting key carveout
Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska cast a critical vote Tuesday for President Donald Trump's massive tax-and-spending bill, helping to push the controversial legislation through the GOP-controlled Senate. But not before she secured a key carveout for her constituents from one of the bill's strictest new provisions. "Do I like this bill? No. But I tried to take care of Alaska's interests," she told NBC News' Ryan Nobles Tuesday. "I advocated for my state's interests, I will continue to do that and I will make no excuses for doing that," Murkowski said after she cast the final 'yea' that Republicans needed to reach 50 votes and trigger a tie-breaking vote from Vice President JD Vance. "I know that in many parts of the country, there are Americans that are not going to be advantaged by this bill," she told Nobles. "I don't like that." But she voted for it anyway, she said, because her state would benefit overall. Murkowski, a moderate Republican who has criticized Trump, has raised concerns about the bill's provisions making cuts to SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — also known as food stamps. One-tenth of Alaskans received help from SNAP in 2024, according to data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Alaska also has by far the nation's highest SNAP payment error rate, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. But she ultimately backed the bill after securing last-minute benefits, including a boost in funding for rural hospitals and a carveout on SNAP cuts for her state. The final Senate bill exempts states with the highest SNAP error rates from the cuts for two years. In a lengthy statement later Tuesday, Murkowski touted her efforts to improve the bill for her state. "My goal throughout the reconciliation process has been to make a bad bill better for Alaska, and in many ways, we have done that," Murkowski wrote on social media. "While we have worked to improve the present bill for Alaska, it is not good enough for the rest of our nation—and we all know it," she wrote. The bill passed the Senate 51-50 after Vice President JD Vance cast the tiebreaker vote. Three Republicans — Susan Collins of Maine, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Kentucky's Rand Paul — sided with all of the chamber's Democrats. The legislation now returns to the House for a final vote. If it passes, it will head to Trump's desk to be signed into law. Paul had characterized the GOP leadership's final deliberations over the bill as a choice between "dealing with me and reducing the debt ceiling or giving pork and subsidies to Alaska." "They chose to add more pork and subsidies for Alaska to secure that," Paul said, Nobles reported. Murkowski took offense at Paul's critique, which was summarized to her as him calling her vote "a bailout for Alaska at the expense of the rest of the country." "Oh my," Murkowski said. She then stared at Nobles for about 15 seconds without speaking. "My response is, I have an obligation to the people of the state of Alaska, and I live up to that every single day. I fight for my state's interests, and I make sure that Alaskans are understood. I work hard to take care of a state that has more unique situations, more unique people, and it's just different," she said. "And so when, when people suggest that federal dollars go to one of our 50 states in a quote, bailout, I find that offensive," she said. Murkowski told reporters after the vote that her decision was "agonizing." She also said she hopes that the House will continue to make changes to the bill, rather than try to ram it through in order to send it to Trump by his aspirational deadline of Friday, which is Independence Day. "We do not have a perfect bill by any stretch of the imagination. My hope is that the House is going to look at this and recognize that we're not there yet," she said. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., the ranking member of the House Rules Committee, tore into Murkowski over that remark later Tuesday. "My question to her is, If you really believe that, why the hell did you vote for this bill?" McGovern said. Rep. Daniel Goldman, D-N.Y., wrote on X, "Murkowski votes yes and hopes it doesn't pass ... It's pretty simple: words don't matter. Votes do."
