Latest news with #Pauling
USA Today
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Notre Dame head coach already impressed with a former Wisconsin wide receiver
Notre Dame head coach already impressed with a former Wisconsin wide receiver Former Wisconsin wide receiver Will Pauling appears to be making a significant impact at Notre Dame, just months after joining the program. When meeting with the local media last week, Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman highlighted Pauling's first impression on the practice field. On3's Tyler Horka shared the coach's comments on a recent podcast episode. "[Freeman said] he's never seen a wide receiver practice with the intensity and the purpose and the intentionality that Will Pauling does," Horka said. The Notre Dame beat writer then added his own sentiment, saying, "I'd be looking out for Will Pauling. Because we didn't get to see him much during the spring, he was coming back from the injury he sustained at Wisconsin. So you haven't seen the best of Will Pauling in a Notre Dame uniform, and you might really see it when it matters the most." Pauling transferred to Notre Dame during the winter transfer window. He spent two seasons at Wisconsin (2023-24), during which he appeared in 23 total games and caught 116 passes for 1,244 yards and nine touchdowns. His best season with the program came in 2023, during which he led the team with 74 catches, 837 yards and six scores. The rising senior wideout originally joined the Badgers as a transfer in 2023, following head coach Luke Fickell and wide receivers coach Mike Brown from Cincinnati. Brown then left for the same position at Notre Dame following the 2023 campaign, making Pauling's connection to the program an easy one after he entered the portal in December. 247Sports lists the wide receiver as a three-star transfer. It ranks him specifically as the No. 655 overall player of the transfer cycle and the No. 117 recruit at his position. While those marks put Pauling far from the portal's best, his production at the Power Four level makes him an intriguing addition to the Fighting Irish's wide receiver room. According to Freeman, the former Badger is already making a strong impression. Wisconsin saw two starting wideouts in Pauling and C.J. Williams (Stanford) transfer out after the 2024 season. The program added Jayden Ballard (Ohio State) and Mark Hamper (Idaho) during the winter transfer window, though it then saw Hamper transfer to Cal during the spring. Entering 2025, Ballard projects to start with returning contributors Vinny Anthony and Trech Kekahuna. Chris Brooks Jr., Joseph Griffin Jr. and Kyan Berry-Johnson should follow that top trio. While the Badgers appear well-set with Kekahuna starting in the slot, Pauling's production at Notre Dame will be worth watching. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
Scoop
5 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Rates Rise Trimmed To 5.8% For Canterbury Ratepayers
Canterbury ratepayers are set to get some relief, with the regional council slashing its proposed average rate rise to 5.8 percent. Environment Canterbury consulted on an average rate rise of 9.9 percent, after signalling a rates hike of 15.5 percent in last year's 2024/34 Long Term Plan. But staff found further savings, following cuts to public transport funding, allowing councillors to endorse a revised rate rise of 5.8 percent during annual plan deliberations on Tuesday, May 28. The council has been under pressure from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency to increase bus fares, with less funding available for public transport. Chairperson Craig Pauling said the annual plan had produced a good outcome for the region. ''I was pleased with council's detailed and good-spirited debate, and our consistent focus on strategic outcomes for Waitaha. ''We don't always get the things we want, and some of the decisions we had to make were unfortunately the result of changing government policies and investment priorities. ''But I feel we've landed in a good place for the region.'' Pauling said public transport, river resilience and biodiversity remained priorities for the council, despite the pressures of the economic climate and changing government policy. The council was forced to rethink its investment in public transport due to reduced funding from central government. As signalled in the consultation, bus fares will increase, with the flat fare trial coming to an end in February next year. Standard adult fares will increase from $2 to $3 from July, with increases for child fares, total mobility card holders and community service card holders. A two-zone fare structure in be introduced in February, with Waimakariri and Selwyn bus users paying $3 to travel within their own own district and $4 to travel into Christchurch. A proposed two-year trial to establish a third zone linking Darfield, Kirwee and West Melton with Rolleston was dropped following submissions. Councillor John Sunckell proposed the council go ahead with the trial, funding $150,000 a year from reserves to reduce the targeted rate. But staff noted it was not eligible for NZTA funding and proposed investigating further support for the Malvern Community Vehicle Trust. The council will meet again on June 25 to adopt the annual plan.
Otago Daily Times
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
Mitchell wants answers on Selwyn flood response
Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell is urging councils to have a frank and honest assessment of how to mitigate flooding. Mitchell has written to all councils asking them to review current decision-making processes around flood protection and control and report back by next Friday. 'As you will be aware, there has been heightened public interest in how regional and local authorities have managed flood protection and control works during, and in the lead-up to significant weather events,' Mitchell wrote. 'Even when local authorities and staff have done exceptional work to respond to events, the perceived inability to effectively manage the flood protection schemes and waterways has contributed in some places to a lack of public trust in the emergency management system's ability to prepare for and respond to significant weather events.' The letter specifically mentioned Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere and Lake Forsyth. In the aftermath of flooding caused by two months' worth of rainfall in eastern Selwyn over 48 hours, debate has emerged over whether opening Lake Ellesmere earlier could have reduced the damage. Environment Canterbury chair Craig Pauling told Selwyn Times it was in the process of preparing a response to Mitchell. 'We are confident our opening decision-making processes are robust, but are planning to meet with representatives from Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and the Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere consultation group soon to debrief and discuss future management approaches.' The opening of Lake Ellesmere is governed by the National Water Conservation (Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere) Order 1990. Under the order, the lake can be opened anytime from April 1 to June 15 to assist fish passage. Otherwise it can be opened between April 1 and July 31, only when it reaches a water level of 1.13m. Selwyn Times recently reported community concerns about the increase in subdivisions worsening the impact of floods. Said Pauling: 'We're also working with our communities to review how we manage and fund flood and river resilience so we can strengthen and have appropriate infrastructure into the future.' Mitchell's letter also asked councils to identify any additional regulatory powers they may need. Pauling said ECan was considering this as part of its response. However, Mayor Sam Broughton said no additional powers were necessary. 'The council currently has a strong framework of legal instruments to respond to a weather emergency, and we are not looking for any additional legislative levers to enhance our response.' A Christchurch City Council spokesperson said staff were working on a response to Mitchell's letter and could not comment further until it was complete.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Public Transport Woes For Canterbury's Big Growth Areas
It is back to the drawing board on proposed bus services in the Selwyn district as Canterbury's regional council struggles with growing demand and limited funds, chairperson Craig Pauling says. Residents have expressed the need for more public transport in housing growth areas, including Selwyn in Canterbury, but submissions to ECan's 2025/26 annual plan indicated Selwyn residents did not want to pay the proposed targeted rate for it. Meanwhile, nearly $1 billion of Government transport funds has been allocated to a single project, the Woodend Bypass, while just $220m was allocated to public transport. The council also has been under pressure from NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi to increase bus fares, amid a growing demand and a reduction in public transport funding in the 2024/27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP). ECan confirmed last month it will increase the standard adult fare from $2 to $3 in the Greater Christchurch area from July 1. Child and youth fares, and charges for community service and total mobility card holders will also increase. In the annual plan, ECan proposed moving to a two-zone or three-zone fare structure from February next year. Under the proposal, Waimakariri bus users would pay $3 to travel within the Waimakariri district and $4 to travel into Christchurch. The third zone, if adopted, would apply in the Selwyn district to support population growth. Environment Canterbury is proposing an average rates rise of 9.9 percent. The regional council is due to resume its annual plan deliberations on Tuesday, May 27, after receiving more than 740 submissions. The Selwyn District Council received a large number of submissions in last year's Long Term Plan calling for more bus services. But Mr Pauling said without Government funding, it is difficult for the council to fund an extension of bus services to Darfield, Kirwee and West Melton. With Selwyn residents not keen on paying increased targeted rates to establish a third zone, the council will need to look at other option. There is also interest in extending services to Ashburton and Amberley. Before NZTA Waka Kotahi funding could be approved, ECan needed to provide a business case, which could include a trial, and this took time and money. The 2024/27 NLTP allocated $1.8 billion to the Canterbury region, around 5% of the nationwide budget, even though Canterbury is around 13% of the population. The inclusion of proposed housing developments in Waimakariri and Selwyn in the Government's Fast-track Approvals Act could pose a headache for ECan, if these are approved, deputy chairperson Deon Swiggs said. Several proposed developments, such as Ohoka, near Kaiapoi, were outside the designated urban areas in the Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan, which was adopted last year. ''When you get out of sync development, we don't have the planning in place to respond,'' Mr Swiggs said. Bus patronage has returned to pre-earthquake levels, but ECan is struggling to rebuild its bus fleet. Electric buses have been added to the core routes, including the Orbiter, number 3 (Airport to Sumner) and number 7 (Queenspark to Halswell) bus routes to increase bus frequency. ECan is proposing to invest in the number 1 (Rangiora to Cashmere) and number 5 (Rolleston to New Brighton) bus routes, if it gets support from NZTA. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
09-05-2025
- Scoop
Bikes Are Back On Canterbury Buses
A bike ban on buses in the Greater Christchurch area will be fully lifted from Monday, May 12. Environment Canterbury (ECan) chairperson Craig Pauling said council staff have been working with operators and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency to resolve the issue since the ban was imposed in November. It means commuters on all Metro buses in Christchurch and surrounding towns including Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Woodend, Pegasus, Rolleston and Lincoln, can ride on the bus with their bikes on the front mounted cycle racks. The ban had followed a safety notice from NZTA, after the agency found the way some front mounted bike racks were fitted could partially obscure headlights. The ban was relaxed last month to allow bikes on the front of buses during daytime hours. Operators have installed additional lights on the buses to ensure they provide the necessary visibility. ''We are so pleased to be able to offer this service fully to our community again,'' Mr Pauling said. He said operators and council staff had spent several days and nights testing lights to come up with a solution. ''It has been no small feat.'' ECan said it has been working to make public transport more accessible, as demand continues to grow. Last week (April 29) it announced it had added five new electric buses to its number 7 (Queenspark to Halswell) route to increase bus frequency to every 10 minutes during the day. It followed service increases to the Orbiter and number 3 (Airport to Sumner) routes. The council also has plans to add buses to the number 1 (Rangiora to Cashmere) and number 5 (Rolleston to New Brighton) routes, as funding allows. Pets on buses is also being considered, and rail remains on the agenda as part of the new Canterbury Public Transport Plan, which ECan is due to adopt later this month. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
