Latest news with #Ronayne
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cuyahoga County exec. addresses Senate's budget plan for Browns dome
CLEVELAND (WJW) – Cuyahoga County executive Chris Ronayne spoke out after state Senate leaders introduced a new proposal to assist the Cleveland Browns in getting $600 million in state funding to build a dome in Brook Park. 'When we look at what's being proposed by our state Senate, we see a proposed budget that will benefit billionaires to the expense of everyday working residents of Ohio and this county of Cuyahoga,' Ronayne said. The FOX 8 I-Team first learned about the proposal Tuesday afternoon. Senate leaders promised that the new plan would mean less risk to taxpayers. As the I-Team previously reported, the Browns have asked for $600 million in bond money to be paid back with profits made from the project. Ohioans can soon buy over twice as much nonmedical marijuana State Democratic senators told the I-Team the Senate Finance Committee is now proposing using money from Ohio's unclaimed funds to pay for the dome. Ohio's unclaimed funds are described as 'unclaimed or abandoned money and other assets,' which could include a bank account, rent or utility deposit, uncashed check and more. I-X Center one step closer to being repurposed — what it would mean for events The current total of unclaimed funds in Ohio is $4.8 billion, with $528 million received in fiscal year 2024 alone. 'Don't pick the pocket of hardworking Ohioans for the single purpose of a new stadium in Brook Park, but that's what you've done, state Senate, by proposing an allocation from the unclaimed funds department,' Ronayne continued. 'This is your money, this is your parents' money, this might be your grandmother's money, this might be your kids' future money.' Ronayne urged Governor Mike DeWine to veto those portions of the budget. 'We urged you to think about restoring some of that $600 million to our libraries, to our schools, to our Medicaid coverage for our citizenry,' he said. He also urged Ohioans to check for unclaimed funds on at unclaimedfund The final state budget must be approved by the end of the month. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
eNCA
24-05-2025
- General
- eNCA
In tune with nature: Expert sounds out all of Ireland's bird species
COBH - On a mission to record all of Ireland's bird species, many of which are dying out, Irishman Sean Ronayne calls his unique audio archive a tool to both raise alarm and bring hope. According to conservation bodies, some 63 percent of Ireland's birds are currently either red or amber-listed, meaning they are at severe or moderate extinction risk. "Birds are in trouble in Ireland like they are across the world, the loss of wildlife -- sonically and physically -- is devastating to me," said the 37-year-old. "But I focus on hope and beauty, which is essential," the ornithologist told AFP at his home near Cobh (pronounced "Cove") in County Cork. More than four years into his recording project he has sampled 201 different Irish bird species, stocking over 12,000 audio clips from around the country, Ronayne told AFP. Just two remain to be documented: the great skua, and red-breasted merganser. "If people realise just how spectacular wildlife is, there's no way they would let it disappear, attitudes would change," Ronayne said. Most of Ireland comprises intensively farmed fields bounded by trimmed hedgerows, drained and mined peatlands, overgrazed uplands, and minimal native woodland, he told AFP. Non-native conifer plantations -- approximately nine percent of Ireland's 11 percent forest cover -- are also a biodiversity villain, described by Ronayne as "a species-poor industrial cash-crop". AFP | Paul Faith "I try to show people the beauty of what we're erasing and what we must stand up and fight for," said the wildlife expert. Last year he published an award-winning book, released two albums, and made an acclaimed documentary film. His talk tour is currently selling out venues around Ireland. "Wildlife sound is such a great engaging tool to connect people to nature itself and get them acquainted with everything that's on their doorstep," Ronayne told AFP. "If you know your neighbour, you're more likely to help them in times of need," he said. At the shows Ronayne, who was diagnosed with a form of autism as an adult, presents the story of his life and how nature is woven through it. He also plays audio of warbles, tweets, trills, screeches and chirps, and mystery sounds, inviting the audience to guess the origin. Some clips show birds mimicking other animals like dogs, people and other bird species. "Some species in my collection can mimic 30 to 40 other species in their song," he said.
France 24
23-05-2025
- General
- France 24
In tune with nature: expert sounds out all of Ireland's bird species
According to conservation bodies, some 63 percent of Ireland's birds are currently either red or amber-listed, meaning they are at severe or moderate extinction risk. "Birds are in trouble in Ireland like they are across the world, the loss of wildlife -- sonically and physically -- is devastating to me," said the 37-year-old. "But I focus on hope and beauty, which is essential," the ornithologist told AFP at his home near Cobh (pronounced "Cove") in County Cork. More than four years into his recording project he has sampled 201 different Irish bird species, stocking over 12,000 audio clips from around the country, Ronayne told AFP. Just two remain to be documented: the great skua, and red-breasted merganser. "If people realise just how spectacular wildlife is, there's no way they would let it disappear, attitudes would change," Ronayne said. - Sound: 'an engaging tool' - Ireland may be famed for its green fields, but Ronayne paints a bleak picture -- "realistic" he says -- of a degraded landscape and a bird population decimated by vanishing habitats. Most of Ireland comprises intensively farmed fields bounded by trimmed hedgerows, drained and mined peatlands, overgrazed uplands, and minimal native woodland, he told AFP. Non-native conifer plantations -- approximately nine percent of Ireland's 11 percent forest cover -- are also a biodiversity villain, described by Ronayne as "a species-poor industrial cash-crop". "I try to show people the beauty of what we're erasing and what we must stand up and fight for," said the wildlife expert. Last year he published an award-winning book, released two albums, and made an acclaimed documentary film. His talk tour is currently selling out venues around Ireland. "Wildlife sound is such a great engaging tool to connect people to nature itself and get them acquainted with everything that's on their doorstep," Ronayne told AFP. "If you know your neighbour you're more likely to help them in times of need," he said. At the shows Ronayne, who was diagnosed with a form of autism as an adult, presents the story of his life and how nature is woven through it. He also plays audio of warbles, tweets, trills, screeches and chirps, and mystery sounds, inviting the audience to guess the origin. Some clips show birds mimicking other animals like dogs, people and other bird species. "Some species in my collection can mimic 30 to 40 other species in their song," he said. Laughter is common at his talks, but also tears and grief as listeners learn of Ireland's endangered birdlife. 'Sonic diversity' Ronayne regularly holds "dawn chorus" walks, bringing small groups into silent forests far from road noise to experience the birdlife waking up. A gradually building cacophony of sound, the dawn chorus is "a reflection of the health of a given environment", he told AFP in an old woodland near his home while waiting for sunrise. "The more sonically diverse it is, the healthier the habitat is," he said. After unpacking his audio recorder, parabolic microphone and tripod, he quickly identified the melodies of song thrushes, robins, blackbirds, goldcrests and others as they greeted the day. "Chiffchaff! Did you hear that?! There's a grey wagtail!" he exclaimed, head twitching toward each sound in the lifting gloom. Ronayne also hides recorders for weeks and even months in remote untouched places where birds congregate. On Ballycotton beach near Cobh, migrating birds swirled overhead before settling on an adjacent lagoon. Ronayne carefully placed a waterproof recorder -- able to run for up two weeks -- in grass by the shore. "They have to fly right over here to there," he said pointing upwards at their route. "After I collect it I'll be able to monitor the birds, capture their calls, and tell environmental stories from the audio," he said. Back home, he scrolled on a computer showing thousands of archived sonogram clips -- visual representations of sound -- of birdsong audio. Each entry included data on the behaviour, calls and protected status of each bird: many either red or amber. "First we must realise how wonderful nature is, then how fragile it is, and how much we have kicked it down," Ronayne told AFP.
NBC Sports
19-05-2025
- Business
- NBC Sports
Cuyahoga County executive accuses Haslam Sports Group of "greed and opportunism" in stadium effort
It appears that the Bengals and the Browns are in a competition to have the most contentious relationship possible with the counties where they currently play their home games. And they're both winning. Not to be outdone by the current hostilities between the Bengals and Hamilton County over a new lease at Paycor Stadium, the Browns are battling with Cuyahoga County over the team's determination to leave Cleveland for a domed stadium in Brook Park. The latest escalation came on Monday, when Cuyahoga County executive Chris Ronayne sent a letter to Haslam Sports Group accusing Browns ownership of 'greed and opportunism.' The one-page correspondence also says Jimmy Haslam and company are 'distorting the facts' and 'attempting to bully the public and fleece County taxpayers for [Haslam Sports Group's] private gain.' Ronayne accuses Browns ownership of 'pushing a costly, risky, and poorly conceived plan that uses public subsidy to diminish our region, our communities, and our businesses.' He calls the team's effort to build a $3.4 billion facility a 'boondoggle.' Last week, Haslam Sports Group COO Dave Jenkins sent a letter to Ronayne accusing him of 'communicating misleading information' about the Brook Park project and describing the opposition to the domed stadium 'truly disheartening.' The exchange of nastygrams comes at a time when the Browns are trying to secure $600 million in Ohio funding through the issuance of bonds. Separate from the funding fight is pending litigation between the Browns and the city of Cleveland regarding the application of Ohio's Art Modell Law to the team's effort to leave its downtown stadium. Even if both teams end up getting what they want, there's an ugliness to the process that is unhelpful and unbecoming to everyone involved. And while public unpleasantries are hardly unprecedented when it comes to stadium politics (e.g., the time the Browns left Cleveland 30 years ago), the two fronts of animosity in the Ohio cities that currently host NFL teams invite speculation as to one or both situations will eventually catch fire like the Cuyahoga River once did. A dozen times, apparently.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cleveland Browns say they are building a dome with or without Cuyahoga County's help
**Related Video Above: Latest on money for road projects around Browns dome site in Brook Park CLEVELAND (WJW) — The Fox 8 I-Team has obtained an email an official with the Haslam Sports Group sent to the Cuyahoga County executive stating the Browns will move forward on plans for an enclosed stadium with or without the county's help. 'To further clear up misinformation, while we have not given up on our elusive goal of local unity, and the upside for the public is far greater with the county's partnership, we remain undeterred and are not relying on the county's participation to execute this project,' states the email written by Dave Jenkins, chief operating officer for the Haslam Sports Group. Social Security retirement age is changing: what to know about full benefits The email was sent to Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne Thursday afternoon. Ronayne told the I-Team he went to Columbus last week to hand deliver a letter that he and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb signed. The letter urges Ohio senators not to give money to help the Browns build a new enclosed stadium and development in Brook Park. Instead, Ronayne and Bibb want senators to support the Cleveland lakefront transformation plan, which includes renovating the current stadium. 'The lakefront stadium transformation plan is a far more reasonable and responsible one for Ohio taxpayers,' Ronayne said. 'And so for us and the fans and the taxpayers, we want to have a conversation about the Cavaliers, the Guardians and the Cleveland Browns together.' The email from Jenkins states the HSG has 'made every effort' to work with him to find a unified vision for a long-term solution for the city, county and state. Cleveland Browns' 2025 schedule released 'It is truly disheartening to see you, as County Executive, actively work against a potential $600 million investment from the State that would be paired with $2 billion+ in private investment for an unprecedented $3 billion+ economic development project centrally located in Cuyahoga County,' the emails states. 'These are the types of inexplicable decisions that keep the Greater Cleveland region from thriving, while other regions like Columbus and Cincinnati continue to grow and evolve.' The Browns are requesting $600 million in bonds from the state. That money would be paid back with profits from the project. The Browns are also contributing $1.2 billion towards the stadium and another $1 billion to the mixed-use development. Gov. Mike DeWine has said he believes the dome project is a 'good thing' for the state. He, however, has proposed raising the gambling tax to pay for stadium projects. The Ohio House approved the Browns' $600 million funding plan for the dome. It is now under consideration by the Ohio Senate. A final decision on state funding is not expected until June. Read the full letter bellow: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
