Latest news with #VTC
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Weber County establishes first veteran treatment court in northern Utah
WEBER COUNTY, Utah () — Weber County announced that it is establishing the 2nd District Veteran Court, the first veteran treatment court in northern Utah, which will serve veterans in Davis, Morgan and Weber Counties. A veteran treatment court (VTC) is a specialized court that is meant to help veterans with mental health and substance abuse issues who become involved in the criminal justice system. These are courts designed to help veterans who received honorable or general discharges through evidence-based approaches that 'focus on treatment and support, rather than punishment,' with the goal of helping veterans stay sober, recover, and achieve long-term stability, according to a press release from Weber County. They can also help veterans with housing and employment issues. Jim Retallick, Director of the Weber Public Defender Group, has been working to establish the Second District VTC since the fall of 2023. In an interview with Retallick said that veterans are more likely to be involved in the justice system. He added that about a third of veterans have been arrested compared to only a fifth of the general population. 'Veterans also face some specific and different issues and problems, but using the commonality, probably the base rock of being a veteran, they're able to respond better to treatment,' Retallick said. Passenger with measles travels through SLC airport, determined low risk for spread Veteran treatment courts have been proven to reduce re-offending rates among veterans. Retallick cited studies that show only 14% of veterans in veteran treatment courts re-offend, whereas recidivism rates for veterans in traditional courts range from 23% to 46%. According to Retallick, the court provides treatment that the veterans earned through their military service, and Veteran's Affairs works with the VTC to provide treatment. Retallick said that the greatest part of the VTC is the mentor program. 'We have a mentor coordinator who is a veteran, and he coordinates other volunteer veterans who will mentor every participant in the program,' Retallick said. 'So hopefully everybody is matched up with a veteran who understands their needs and will help them proceed through the process.' 'You can't force anybody to succeed, but you can point them and get them on the path and provide them the support to help them succeed,' Retallick said. The VTC in Weber County will join other VTCs in Salt Lake County and Utah County in providing support to Utah's veterans. Celebrate National Cheese Day (June 4) with Heber Valley Cheese Weber County establishes first veteran treatment court in northern Utah Treat yourself to a slice of paradise at Four Seaons Maui at Wailea Aloha! Hawaii's Governor Josh Green welcomes Utahns to GTU's Maui Week Chile-Coffee Braised Beef + Sesame Slaw Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Star
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Star
People prefer to pay money to save time: study
Time is money when it comes to ride-sharing. — AFP Time is money. This saying has never sounded so true as it does today, in a world where every minute seems to count. An international study published in the journal Econometrica provides quantified evidence of this. It reveals that, on VTC platforms (Spain's Vehiculo de Transporte con Conductor, or private hire vehicle), users are ready to put their hand in the pocket to gain a few moments. Researchers from several universities, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), have studied Liftago, a Czech ride-sharing platform with an original approach. On this application, drivers are not assigned automatically, but submit offers that passengers can compare. From wait times to fares to availability, everything is part of the negotiation on Liftago. 'It's like an eBay for taxis,' says MIT economist and study coauthor, Tobias Salz, quoted in a news release. When faced with wait times, Liftago's users are prepared to pay more. — Freepik By analysing nearly two million ride requests and over five million bids, the researchers found that time has become a precious resource that can effectively be bought and sold. Indeed, faced with wait times, users are prepared to pay more. On average, they value their time at US$13.21 (RM56.40) per hour. This figure rises significantly during working hours, when every minute 'taken' from their schedule is worth its weight in gold. This behaviour has tangible effects. By saving time, users contribute – often without realising it – to increasing Liftago's revenues. In fact, offers for fast journeys result in an average increase of 5.2% over the minimum price. This mechanism increases the company's gains, but reduces those of consumers. In other words, the better these kinds of VTC platforms understand their customers' habits, the better they know how far they can raise prices without driving users away. Creating inequalities This race against time also creates inequalities. Not all customers are on an equal footing when it comes to the cost of the service. The study shows that the top 25% of bids put a value on time that is three and a half times greater than the lowest 25%. As a result, some consumers can afford faster journeys, while others have to put up with longer delays. Although based on an uneven logic, this system continues to appeal. 'The majority of consumers still benefit,' says Tobias Salz. 'But the flip side is that the firm, by knowing every consumer's choke point, can extract the surplus. Welfare goes up, the ride-sharing platform captures most of that, and drivers – interestingly – also benefit from the system, although they do not have access to the data.' More broadly, this study questions our relationship with time in an economy where data is valuable. What happens when companies know everything about our habits? What impact does this have on prices, our well-being and fairness? In a world where every second can be bought, time is becoming a new social marker, separating those who can afford to pay more to save time from those who just have to wait. – AFP Relaxnews
Local France
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Local France
French PM to meet representatives of protesting taxi drivers
Bayrou will open the meeting, which will be held in the transport ministry, an aide in his office said on Thursday. Taxi drivers have since Monday been protesting in Paris and other cities in France over a government decision to set a new fare rate from October for the subsidised transport of certified ill passengers. Their actions have included rolling roadblocks and blockades of key sites such as Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. READ ALSO What to expect from this week's taxi protests The change is part of French government efforts to rein in soaring health costs. Last year, the subsidised taxi system cost France €3 billion. But drivers have complained that lower fares for transporting people to medical appointments would cut their revenues by more than a quarter. They are also angry over what they see as laxer rules and regulations for VTC drivers, such as Uber. Advertisement So far, the protests, which began on Monday, have been disruptive. In the Paris area on Wednesday, a go-slow campaign caused over 450km of traffic jams, Actu France reported. Meanwhile blockades have hit towns and cities including Marseille, Toulon, Amiens, Bordeaux and Pau - the hometown of PM Bayrou.
Jordan Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
Vocational Training Corporation, US cultural attaché discuss cooperation
By JT - May 20,2025 - Last updated at May 20,2025 Director-General of the Vocational Training Corporation Ahmad Gharaibeh meets with US Embassy Cultural Attaché in Amman Jed Dornburg to explore ways to enhance cooperation and expand cultural exchange opportunities (Photo courtesy of Vocational Training Corporation) AMMAN — Director-General of the Vocational Training Corporation (VTC) Ahmad Gharaibeh met with US Embassy Cultural Attaché in Amman Jed Dornburg to explore ways to enhance cooperation and expand cultural exchange opportunities. During the meeting, Gharaibeh stressed the importance of boosting international partnerships, integrating technology and future skills into 'promising' professional sectors, according to a VTC statement. He highlighted VTC's programmes that aim at achieving the objectives of the Kingdom's Economic Modernisation Vision. For their part, the US delegation expressed appreciation for the 'vital' role played by the corporation in equipping Jordanian youth with skills that meet labour market demands. Both sides agreed to develop joint initiatives and organise collaborative awareness sessions aimed at familiarising trainees with cultural exchange opportunities and academic scholarships available in the US.
Local France
20-05-2025
- Local France
What to expect from this week's French taxi driver strikes
French taxi drivers are beginning a week of action - including demos and rolling roadblocks - in their long-running dispute over changes to the fare structure for medical transport. Monday saw tense scenes in Paris as drivers blocked roads and set fire to wooden pallets and tyres, with police responding with tear gas. However the action was not only in Paris, with towns including Bordeaux, Pau and Amiens also seeing actions. Rest of the week The Federation of taxi unions has called for a week-long action - although in general French strikes tend to have stronger support at the beginning as workers are either unwilling or unable to lose multiple days of earnings. Advertisement Paris - taxi drivers say they will be mobilising daily on the Boulevard Raspail in the city centre. Monday saw around 1,000 taxis block the road, and organisers hope to have a similar turnout for the rest of this week. Pau - the small south-west town of Pau also saw confrontations between police and taxi drivers on Monday. Drivers' unions say they plan to continue on Tuesday with go-slow protests (known as an opération escargot ) in the town centre. Pau is seeing especially determined protests because its mayor François Bayrou is also the prime minister and is an especial target for the drivers' anger. Marseille and Toulon - the southern towns of Marseille and Toulon have go-slow protests on Tuesday with drivers blocking the A50 and the Toulon tunnel. Local organisers say similar actions are planned for the rest of the week. Bordeaux - taxi drivers on Monday refused fares for medical transport on Monday, with the exception of dialysis patients. It is not clear whether further protests of this type are planned. It is likely that other protests will take place later in the week, but at the time of writing no details had been announced - previous protests by taxi drivers about this issue have involved rolling roadblocks on motorways and blockades of airports. Transport tips for strike week This protest is mainly affecting travel by road - public transport is unaffected and trains continue to run as normal. In Paris the Metro, trams and RER are running as normal, while other city public transport is running as normal. If you are driving you may be affected by roadblocks or blockades - check local news before setting off. The protests affect only official taxis, not VTC services like Uber - in fact taxi drivers are also protesting against what they see as laxer rules and regulation for VTC services. Uber is present in most French cities, along with Bolt and the French start-up Heetch, offering app-based ride hailing services. Be aware, however, that these operators use dynamic pricing so fares may be more expensive if the local taxi services are disrupted. Advertisement Most French cities also offer bike-hire services (eg Vélib in Paris). It's also worth checking on the map exactly how far your journey is, most French cities are very walkable and even Paris is surprisingly compact, making travel by foot a real option. Apps such as CityMapper and GoogleMaps can give you routes based on public transport, walking or cycling.
