Latest news with #Reigel
Chicago Tribune
29-04-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Data center opponents urge rallying residents for May 13 meeting in Porter County
Opponents of the proposed data center development in Union Township mobilized Monday. A forum at Wheeler High School brought about 50 interested people together to answer questions and sign up to canvass neighborhoods in advance of a May 13 meeting at the Porter County Expo Center. 'Really, we're here to organize and get people involved,' said Matt Carpenter, of Union Township. 'You can be creative in the way you get out and contact people,' he said. 'Don't wait for somebody else to do what you need to do,' urged Wendy Reigel, of Chesterton, who helped lead the fight against the data center proposed last year for The Brassie, a former golf course. 'Tell your neighbor what you're telling us,' Reigel urged. When canvassing, attitude is important. Carpenter offered pointers. Canvass in pairs for protection, he said. 'Hit your own neighborhoods if you can.' 'Do try to find some common ground to be relatable,' he urged. Wear Wheeler Bearcats attire and say things like, 'I'm the guy who walks these dogs. That's my wife whose truck you see all the time.' Be respectful of property. Don't park in their driveway, and don't walk on their grass, Carpenter said. Try to keep conversations to five minutes, and don't bring up politics, Carpenter said. 'This isn't about red or blue or independent.' If they disagree, just nod and smile, then move on to the next house, he suggested. 'What seems to be the most negativity we can bring in a positive manner,' one resident asked. 'Tell them to google Virginia, Loudoun County, Virginia, data center alley,' Reigel said. That area, in northern Virginia, has a high concentration of data centers with more in development. In Union Township, AXPK, LLC, has petitioned to build on two parcels totaling 800 acres. Sale of the parcels to AXPK is contingent on rezoning. AXPK wants a planned unit development, a zoning category tailor-made for the project, a common practice for many developments. The proposed projects are called Jeremiah A and Jeremiah B. The first is proposed for a 351.85-acre parcel at the northeast corner of County Roads 450 N and 750 W. John Loxas of Hammond owns that land. The second, owned by Johnson Sunnybrook Farm, LLC, and Ceres Cedar Creek Farm, LLC, of Hobart, is at the southeast corner of 450 N and 650 W, due north of Union Township Middle and High Schools. Kyle Duarte, of Union Township, put that 800-acre development in perspective. 'All of Ameriplex (in Portage) is under 400 acres,' he said. The data center being built in New Carlisle, which is on 220 acres, will use 500 backup generators, said Bryce Gustafson, an organizer with Citizens Action Coalition. 'The driver for the data centers is artificial intelligence,' to facilitate language learning, he said. 'That's when we started seeing these hyperscalers coming to Indiana.' 'I think every community should have agency in what they want in their community,' he said, despite actions in the Indiana General Assembly that would take away local decisions on issues like where to locate small nuclear reactors. That's an issue relevant to data centers because of their high demand for electricity and reliability. NIPSCO has asked the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to allow it to create GenCo, a separate company devoted to powering data centers. The Citizens Action Coalition opposes it, Gustafson said, saying it would essentially be self-regulated. NIPSCO's integrated resource plan suggests 3,900 gigawatts generated by natural gas plants to meet data centers' demand. In comparison, peak demand for other customers is 2.2 gigawatts, Gustafson said. 'We've never seen anything close to what's happening right now,' he said. 'All of us know there's going to be a power plant back there behind our schools,' a resident said. Data centers have previously been proposed for locations in Chesterton, Burns Harbor and Valparaiso, all of which have been shot down by opponents. Smaller data centers have proliferated in Indiana, including one at Ameriplex in Portage. 'We knew it was QTS data centers proposing this,' a resident said, citing a web page that gave brief details about a proposed site in Porter County. That web page has since been taken down. Gary Brown, a member of the Porter County Izaak Walton League, urged the Union Township group to be vocal at the May 13 meeting. 'It's not how loud you scream, it's how you tell your personal story.' 'We need as many people as possible to let the commissioners know it's not right to charge the zoning right by our schools to light industrial,' Marissa Barnes said. The Porter County Planning Commission will hear the proposal first and decide whether to recommend the project go forward. It's up to the county Board of Commissioners to make the final decision. So far, Commissioner Barb Regnitz has expressed her opposition, Barnes said. Commissioners Jim Biggs and Ed Morales have said they want to see the process go through before voting on it. Concentrate on residents in their districts – north county and south county, respectively – to pressure Biggs and Morales, Barnes urged.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ronald McDonald House in Morgantown largely unfazed by state funding cut
MORGANTOWN, (WBOY) — The Ronald McDonald House in Morgantown says that recent reductions in state funding announced last week should not have a significant impact on their operations. On Friday, Governor Morrisey's office released a list of items the governor had vetoed from the state's 2026 financial plan. Among those was a 60% reduction in state funding for the Ronald McDonald House of Morgantown, amounting to $3 million, and a 73% reduction for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), totalling $800,000. On Monday, 12 News was able to speak with the CEO of the Morgantown and Pittsburgh Ronald McDonald houses, Eleanor Reigel, who said that the $3 million loss in 2026 will not significantly impact their services or operations. 'First and foremost, I want to express our appreciation for the funding. It takes the community to support a mission to our extent, and the West Virginia legislature and Governor Morrissey has indicated that that support is critical and needed,' Reigel said. 'We don't receive annual operating funds from the state, so this is [for] a specific project.' These items were vetoed from West Virginia's 2026 budget The project in question is a renovation and expansion of the Morgantown Ronald McDonald House that began in September of 2023, and will add 11 new rooms once finished. Reigel said that the remodelling is nearly done, and the fact that the house has a number of different donors should lessen the impact of reduced state funding. 'Although we're close to the end of the construction, as most nonprofits will tell you, every dollar counts,' Reigel said. For more updates on the Ronald McDonald House of Morgantown, you can follow the house on Facebook. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Meet the candidates running for Marshfield City Council District 10 in the April 1 election
MARSHFIELD − Incumbent Andrew Reigel will face challenger Debbie Katona for the District 10 seat on the Marshfield City Council in the April 1 election. Marshfield alderpersons serve two-year terms with half of the council's seats up for election each year. In 2025, the even-numbered districts, 2 through 10, are on the ballot. To learn more about registering to vote and to find your polling place, visit My Vote Wisconsin. The Marshfield News-Herald asked each of the candidates to address important issues in the district and why they are running for the position. Residence: Marshfield Age: Candidate did not respond. Occupation and education: Retired, previously employed by Marshfield Clinic for over 40 years; bachelor's degree in business/management from Upper Iowa University Relevant experience: While I have not held an office, I feel my management experience understanding budget processes, listening and dealing with people at all levels is a plus. Campaign website/Facebook page: Katona For Alderman on Facebook Residence: Marshfield Age: 38 Occupation and education: Attorney Relevant experience: Two years on Marshfield City Council Katona: As a property owner, I feel direct impact to decisions made in city government. Also, I have availability to address any concerns expressed to me by constituents in District 10. Lastly, I feel there should be choices for the people, not just one person running for the office. Reigel: To continue to make improvements to the local government and make difficult, but well-informed decisions for the citizens of Marshfield. Katona: I feel my availability is a strong factor. Also, I have lived in Marshfield for approximately 50 years. I have experienced the many changes the city has gone through. Reigel: I am able to understand complex issues and comprehend how these issues will affect Marshfield and its citizens in both the near term and long term. I have not been afraid to asked difficult questions and make difficult decisions to ensure that we can maintain the current services offered by the city with minimal negative impact on Marshfield citizens. I also offer a unique perspective as one of the youngest council members and bring wide breadth of experience. Katona: Financial stability is currently the most pressing issue. If elected, I would work with the other council members to evaluate revenue avenues and spending. Reigel: The budget. I will continue to ask difficult question and make difficult decisions to intelligently balance the budget, while impacting services provided as little as possible. Katona: Financial stability and roads seem to be a consistent theme. Reigel: The concerns are essentially one: how to maintain the same level of services provided by the city without negatively impacting Marshfield citizens. This is currently the greatest challenge and can only be addressed by careful review and analysis of current services provided, how these are provided, current government practices and identifying alternatives. Katona: My goal is to work with all members of the Common Council to address these issues. No one wants cuts, but they don't want higher taxes. We need to address wants vs. needs, keeping common sense and evaluating safety and long-term effects of the decisions. Reigel: The tight city budget can only be addressed through creation of new development within the city and careful, thoughtful review of current city services and how those services are offered. This means that we must encourage new business growth while ensuring that government expenditures are both necessary and fruitful. More election news: What Marshfield voters should know about the public safety referendum on the April 1 ballot Local development news: City selects developer for Weinbrenner Shoe Co. factory building in downtown Marshfield Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA TODAY NETWORK - Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Contact him at epfantz@ This article originally appeared on Marshfield News-Herald: April 2025 election: Marshfield City Council District 10 candidates
