Latest news with #Ryll
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NH House votes to increase maximum payout to injured first responders
House Bill 282 would double the total cap the state can pay out to all injured first responders through this benefit program from $500,000 to $1 million every two years. (Photo by) The New Hampshire House of Representatives voted, 296-76, Thursday to pass a proposal to increase the maximum amount of money injured first responders can receive through the First Responder's Critical Injury Benefit. If the Senate and governor approve as well, House Bill 282 will double the total cap the state can pay out to all injured first responders through this benefit program from $500,000 to $1 million every two years. The vote goes against the wishes of the majority in the House Labor, Industrial, and Rehabilitative Services Committee, which voted, 11-9, in February to recommend that the full House reject the bill. Legislators opposed to the bill argued it was unnecessary after they heard testimony in January from Brian Ryll, president of the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire and captain of the Portsmouth Fire Department, that the state has yet to hit this $500,000 cap. However, the Finance Committee, which also reviewed this legislation, voted unanimously, 25-0, to recommend approval in March. Ryll, despite noting that the state hasn't yet hit the current cap, was in favor of the bill because he believes the benefit will be paid out more over time as more first responders become aware of it. Legislators in favor of the bill pointed out how inherently dangerous jobs in firefighting and law enforcement are, and how injuries can require extensive medical treatment and be a financial burden on first responders' families. The First Responder's Critical Injury Benefit was created through a 2014 piece of legislation following the grisly shooting of Manchester Police Officer Daniel Doherty. The benefit's cap has never been increased before. Through the benefit, each individual injured firefighter is eligible to receive up to $125,000, and the state is currently allowed to distribute a total of $500,000 to all firefighters. This bill would double that amount. The benefit is in addition to other worker's compensation claims.
CBS News
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Chicago North Side movie theater offering yearly memberships for filmgoers
Movie theaters are popular places to go on a weekend, but at smaller theaters in Chicago, many seats remain open. One historic theater, however, is using a creative way to bring people back to the cinema. The popcorn is popping, the customers are finding their seats, and the movie is about to start. That describes a busy Saturday at the Davis Movie Theater at 4614 N. Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Square, but it was still not as busy as before the COVID-19 outbreak. "We are still not up to the same attendance percentages," owner Mary Fencl said. Fencl is the majority owner of the theater. Like many other independent movie houses, the Davis is having a tougher time recovering from the pandemic. "We're a smaller theater, and we only have three screens," she said. Fencl says films are often in theaters in less time, which means there are fewer chances to earn money on a popular movie. "It used to be a 90-day window, and that's gone down sometimes it's less than 30 days, so people might wait for streaming," she said. So Fencl and co-owner Brittany Ryll got creative to bring people back to their theater. "We launched our annual member program in January of this year. Currently, we're inching toward a thousand members," Ryll said. Attendees can now buy a movie ticket and a membership with some perks. "You get discounts on movie tickets, you get access to early showings of some new films, discounts in concessions," Ryll said. In return, the theater gets valuable information about its customers. Other theaters are using this strategy as well, but for independents like the Davis, it's a way to face their own unique challenges. "Cinema has always been a community space, but how do we bring that back post-COVID," Ryll said. Memberships cost $50 per year for one person and $90 for two. The Davis Theater dates back to 1918 when it was known as the Pershing Theater.
