Latest news with #TomRoss
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Minot Job Corps Center shutting down; officials hope ‘pause' doesn't mean finished
Stephanie Evans, left, director of the Quentin Burdick Job Corps Center in Minot, holds an all-hands meeting with students and faculty on May 30, 2025 to announce a pause in operations that will go into effect June 30. (Tom Ross/Quentin Burdick Job Corps Center) Less than a week after receiving word that Job Corps centers across the country will pause operations by the end of June, students, faculty and administrative staff in Minot have already begun packing up for the inevitable move off campus. On May 29, the U.S. Department of Labor announced the Quentin Burdick Job Corps Center in Minot, along with nearly 100 other contractor-operated Job Corps centers nationwide, will pause operations by June 30 because of operational deficits, low graduation rates and a high number of incident reports involving students. 'I was just saying goodbye to a gentleman today who was offered a job as a welder and before he came to Job Corps, probably 15-16 months ago, he had no idea what welding was,' Tom Ross, workforce development officer for the Burdick Job Corps Center, said Wednesday. The Job Corps program has about 25,000 enrolled students nationwide between ages 16-24, many from low-income families. Ross said the Burdick Job Corps Center graduates 25 to 40 students every year and employs outreach staff who serve Fargo, Bismarck and Grand Forks. Students take courses to get their GEDs and learn skills and certifications in the electrical, plumbing and construction trades, among others. Ross said two other students recently went through the welding program and are living in Mississippi, welding ships for the U.S. Navy. 'For all of the bad news that's out there, I can match it with a good news story of students who are just rocking it,' he said. 'What I have seen every day since I've been here is a group of professionals that are focused on the success of students.' It does not make sense to beat the 'we need workforce' drum over and over again, and then close one of the leading workforce development sites in North Dakota, Ross said. 'To me, those two pieces of the puzzle will never fit together,' he said. Senators object to Trump push to ax Education Department programs for low-income students In a statement from Sen. John Hoeven's office, the Republican said he has always supported the mission of the Job Corps program and the Burdick Job Corps Center, but recent statistics have shown performance levels are not where Americans expect them to be. He added more data is needed to determine what reforms and changes are necessary. North Dakota Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer also raised concerns about the program costs. 'While I'm a big fan of Job Corps centers, the average cost per student each year is over $80,000 while only graduating 38%,' Cramer said in a text message. 'We can't ignore the broader fiscal reality and the need to set priorities. We have a $37 trillion debt and it's headed for $50 trillion.' The Job Corps program operated at a $140 million deficit in 2024 and the deficit was expected to increase to $213 million in 2025, according to Labor Department data. 'Job Corps was created to help young adults build a pathway to a better life through education, training, and community,' said U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, in a statement. 'However, a startling number of serious incident reports and our in-depth fiscal analysis reveal the program is no longer achieving the intended outcomes that students deserve.' Examples of incidents are drug use, violence, or an accident requiring a trip to the hospital. Trump-backed giant tax and spending bill bloats deficit by $2.4T, nonpartisan CBO says Chavez-DeRemer said the department will be evaluating the long-term possibilities of the program and is committed to assisting students as they transition back into their communities. The National Job Corps Association, a professional trade association comprised of business, labor, volunteer, advocacy, academic and community organizations, filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking a temporary restraining order against the Department of Labor in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to prevent the nationwide closures. 'Closing Job Corps campuses would not only jeopardize the lives and futures of tens of thousands of students currently in training, but it would also eliminate a workforce pipeline that many industries depend on, needlessly weakening our labor market and economy,' said Marty Walsh, former labor secretary under President Joe Biden, in a statement from the association. Addie Nelson worked as an administrative assistant at the Burdick Job Corps Center for nearly 30 years. She said the program has always helped students find their futures and she worries there won't be another place like the Job Corps program to help them along their career paths. 'It's so rewarding to see them succeed when they didn't think they were anybody,' Nelson said. 'When they come and they think they are not worth anything and they start achieving these small little goals that they've set themselves. … They see results and I think that's what hurts me the most is that I've seen so many kids come and see what a world of difference Burdick (Job Corps Center) did for them. It just gave them hope.' She added that she had planned to retire in August to enjoy some early-morning cups of coffee on her front porch, but the pausing of the program sped up her timetable. Ross said there are about 20 Job Corps centers across the country run by the Department of Labor that are not closing. He said he's hopeful the pause announced by the department will only be a pause and the skills-training program will restart in some form in the future. 'The Job Corps program is not a perfect program, but … show me a federal program that is perfect,' he said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Grants of up to £20,000 offered to encourage waste prevention in Greater Manchester
Grants of up to £20,000 offered to encourage waste prevention in Greater Manchester Recycle for Greater Manchester offers up to £20,000 in grants (Image: GMCA) Grants of up to £20,000 are on offer for projects across Greater Manchester pioneering innovative solutions to prevent waste and increase recycling. In the last four years, the Recycle for Greater Manchester Community Fund has supported an incredible 89 projects with £880,000 of funding. Now in its fifth year, the scheme - one of the largest of its kind in the country - is back with a new name: the Renew Community Fund. With the new name comes a refreshed purpose. The fund is looking for projects that can help bring the Renew principles to communities across Greater Manchester. Two different award categories for the fund are available: ADVERTISEMENT - Small grants between £2,000 and £10,000, with a total of £180,000 available - Large grants between £10,000 and £20,000, with a total of £40,000 available Cllr Tom Ross, Greater Manchester lead for waste and recycling, said: 'The Renew Community Fund aims to increase the number of projects providing repair and sharing services to make it easier to get your items repaired or to buy something second-hand. 'When we fix something, borrow something instead of buying it, or buy second-hand instead of new, we're keeping these items in use and saving precious resources. 'SUEZ has achieved this on an industrial scale at the Renew Hub and in doing so has raised £880,000 that has gone back into local communities.' Like the Renew Hub in Trafford Park, operated by SUEZ recycling and recovery UK projects should focus on activities that help to make fixing, donating, sharing, borrowing and buying pre-loved or second-hand items a normal part of everyday life. ADVERTISEMENT Projects that have been awarded funding in previous years include the Manchester Library of Things in Levenshulme, where residents can borrow most types of power tools and household equipment rather than buying their own. Other projects set up include bike repair, laptop repair, repair cafés, and school uniform redistribution services - which enable families to share school uniform to families in need. Claire Williams, renew manager from SUEZ, added: 'We are proud that the Renew Community Fund will continue to support repair and reuse projects in the local community. 'The benefits are significant, not only in reducing what we throw away but providing more affordable household items for families and offering the opportunity to learn new repair skills and bring the community together. 'I'm looking forward to seeing the innovative projects applying for this year's fund. Our vision is to see a repair café or sharing service like the library of things on every high street.'
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Yahoo
Northeast Ohio officers joining hundreds across the country for Police Unity Tour
CLEVELAND (WJW) – 'We ride for those who died,' is their motto and inspiration. It's called the Police Unity Tour and brings hundreds of officers together from across the country to honor those who have died in the line of duty. Rain or shine, they bicycle from New Jersey to Washington, D.C. and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, raising money to support the memorial. 'Sadly it's the only memorial in Washington, D.C. that grows,' said Cleveland Police Sgt. Tom Ross. 'In 100 years, they'll still be adding names to that memorial and it's not lost on us at all.' NE Ohio school official shares concerns about dismantling Dept. of Education The annual and emotional event takes place in May during National Police Week but is front and center right now for those participating. Team Ohio is comprised of 18 members from Bluffton Police Department, Brooklyn Heights Police Department, Cleveland Division of Police, Euclid Police Department, Macedonia Police Department, Toledo Police Department and Xavier University Police Department. Additionally, three Richfield officers will be riding with a different team. A fundraiser to support Team Ohio is being held Saturday, March 22 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Mary Queen of Peace Parish Center, 4427 Pearl Road in Cleveland. 'All money raised goes to the National Law Enforcement Memorial,' he said. Ross will be riding with Team Ohio for the second time. He and detective Jim Skernivitz had discussed taking part in the fundraiser, but tragically, the 53-year-old was killed while undercover on Sept. 3, 2020. So last year, Ross rode with Jim's picture on his bike. 'So it's quite a journey for us,' he said. Spring means increase in littering across Ohio: How you can help Around 24,000 names are currently on the national memorial, including many from Ohio. This year will be especially emotional for Northeast Ohio officers after 23-year-old Euclid Officer Jacob Derbin was ambushed in May and 27-year-old Cleveland Officer Jamieson Ritter was killed in July serving an arrest warrant. 'Especially our local officers who were so young and had an entire life ahead of them at the same time we have Macedonia officers who are riding for officers killed decades ago,' said Ross. The entire effort, he said, makes sure everyone in law enforcement and their loved ones know that their sacrifice will never be forgotten. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BBC News
04-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Trafford Council has 'no option' but to pass 7.5% council tax hike
The leader of a council where taxes have risen by 7.49% - the highest of any authority in Greater Manchester - has said the hike was was backed by Labour-led Trafford Council at a budget-setting meeting on Monday to help plug a £12.8m financial deficit. Conservative opposition leader Nathan Evans said Labour had driven the authority "to the brink of bankruptcy" since taking control in council leader Tom Ross said the shortfall was largely down a Conservative government council tax freeze between 2011 and 2015, which "cost us £14m in today's money". He told BBC Radio Manchester the council was in a "very difficult" position, so the hike was required to put Trafford on a "sustainable financial footing".The area had low levels of funding compared to other councils and an ageing population meant "the financial envelope with which we operate in is getting more and more restricted", Ross said: "We need to have a fundamental review of the way that government is funding local government that has to reflect the demographics of the area." Trafford is one of four struggling council's in the north-west of England where the government relaxed budgeting rules to help them tackle a £12.8m deficit. A £9.6m loan will be handed to the council by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to help plug the gap. Evans said the Labour group, in control since 2018, have had seven years "to get it right" but had left Trafford "in crisis".He said the National Insurance hike during the Labour government's autumn budget had "put a further strain on already stretched finances". "We are left with the fourth highest council tax hike in England, borrowing to pay debt interest and no end in sight," he said. 'Failing basics' The council meeting heard that repaying that loan could cost nearly £1m a year in interest payments for the next 20 shortfall has grown by £3m since October, partly due to chancellor Rachel Reeves' hike in National Insurance contributions for Jo Harding, the executive member for finance, said increases in the costs in child services, adult social care, and temporary accommodation for the homeless had also put pressure on council finances. Liberal Democrat leader Shaun Ennis said the hike was a "short-term solution that will destroy public confidence in the council in the long-term".He said: "This budget will do nothing to improve out local services. Go out for a walk, anywhere in Trafford and look around. Look at the roads, the drains the state of the pavements and be honest with yourselves. "Trafford Council is failing on the basics."Meanwhile Greens leader Michael Welton leader said residents would see their bills rise "two-and-a-half times the rate of inflation" and a decline in the quality of services. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
