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Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Almost £49m of £114m spent on public realm schemes in NI was in Belfast
City accounts for £49m invested in projects compared to £65m for rest of Northern Ireland Spending on public realm schemes varies greatly across Northern Ireland, new figures show. Almost £49m of the £113.8m spent on schemes over a five-year period was in Belfast — 36% of the total. It has prompted calls for more investment outside the capital. SDLP communities spokesperson Daniel McCrossan voiced his concern at the funding disparity. 'Given Belfast's size and strategic role, it is reasonable it receives a significant share of public investment,' he said. 'But with so many towns, cities and villages across the North crying out for support, it is impossible to justify such a large concentration of public realm funding in one area.' Public realm schemes are designed to improve the overall attractiveness of an area and can range from the creation of public squares to seaside promenades. For years there have been concerns, not just relating to public realm schemes, but to the geographical allocation of public funds across Northern Ireland, with many in more rural or less-populated areas believing they are overlooked compared to major towns and cities. This disparity is also cited in areas such as foreign direct investment, arts funding and business investment from bodies like Invest NI. The Department for Communities is responsible for allocating tens of millions in public money for public realm schemes here. Figures obtained via a Freedom of Information request reveal where this money has gone from the beginning of the 2019/20 financial year to the end of 2023/24 — the latest data available. Broken down by council area, Belfast has received the most in public realm investment over this period, with £48,661,702 spent. Next came Mid and East Antrim council area, which received £17,406,600. The Antrim and Newtownabbey council area received the least amount of public realm funding (£1,353,044), followed by Lisburn and Castlereagh, which received £3,768,600. Mr McCrossan added: 'These schemes have the potential to transform communities, boosting tourism, supporting local businesses and making places more attractive to live and work. That kind of impact should be felt in every corner of the North, not just in Belfast. 'In Strabane, I've been campaigning for years to secure public realm investment. While close to delivery, we're still waiting for work to begin. When completed it will make a huge difference to the town and every community deserves the same opportunity to benefit.' Weekend News Catchup - 16th June 2025 A spokesperson from the Department for Communities said, 'Belfast is, by far, the largest urban settlement and so it has attracted the greatest amount of spending on public realm. 'Investments in public realms per council area fluctuate depending on the schemes that are developed up, largely in partnership with councils. 'At present the department is delivering a £5m public realm scheme in Derry~Londonderry and has approved significant investment in public realm schemes in Strabane (£6m DfC investment), Downpatrick (£2.6m) and Glengormley (£2.4m).' Last year, it emerged there was a significant east-west disparity in potential foreign direct investment visits hosted here by Invest NI. Between 2013 and 2023, the economic development agency hosted 1,772 visits. Of these visits, 92% were in the east and 8% in the west. Some 1,445 (82%) took place in Belfast and just 66 (3.7%) in Derry.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Yahoo
Escaped Galveston County fugitive found in Santa Fe, Texas
The Brief Sylvester Thompson escaped while being transported to jail. Thompson was found in a vehicle in Santa Fe, Texas. Thompson faces several charges. GALVESTON COUNTY - The Galveston County Sheriff's Office has recaptured a fugitive who had escaped custody. What we know On Saturday morning, the sheriff's office shared a warning about escaped fugitive Sylvester Thompson, 36. They say Thompson was being taken to jail for evading arrest when he was able to escape. Law enforcement mainly searched in the area of IH-45 and FM 519. Shortly after noon, the sheriff's office said Thompson was taken back into custody. He was allegedly found in his handcuffs as a passenger in a vehicle in Santa Fe, Texas. Thompson is now facing several charges, including assault on a peace officer, escape from custody and taking or attempting to take a weapon from a peace officer. What we don't know Details of Thompson's escape have not been released. Jade Flury is following this story. Updates will be shared on FOX 26 Weekend News at 5. The Source Information in this article comes from the Galveston County Sheriff's Office.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
FCC investigating San Francisco radio station that shared location of undercover ICE agents
The Federal Communications Commission has launched an investigation into KCBS Radio after the San Francisco station broadcast information on the live locations of undercover U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in San Jose. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr told Fox News that the commission had sent a formal letter of inquiry to the station in response to its Jan. 26 discussion of ICE operations, which he called "really concerning." He said that the station had a matter of days left to explain "how this could possibly be consistent with their public interest obligations" under their FCC license. "You had ICE agents undercover doing operations in east San Jose and part of the town known for violent gang activity, and you had this radio station broadcasting the live location, identifying the unmarked vehicles that they were in," Carr told Fox News, "against the backdrop of Democrat leaders in Congress saying it's time for people to take fights to the street against Trump's agenda." Audacy, the broadcasting company that owns KCBS, declined to comment on the investigation. Read more: Newsom meets with Trump to move past the 'noise' of the election On Jan. 26, the host of "KCBS Radio Weekend News" shared the location of agents and the vehicles they were in based on information from the Rapid Response Network in Santa Clara County, a community organization developed to protect immigrant families from deportation threats. "The County's Response Network says agents in San Jose were in unmarked vehicles," the host said, describing the color, make and model of the vehicles before listing the streets and locations where they were spotted. "Stay with KCBS, we'll be tracking it for you." The Communications Act of 1934 requires that broadcast licensees operate in the 'public interest, convenience and necessity." The FCC reserves the right to fine a station or revoke its license if it is found in violation of the public interest standard. Trump first appointed Carr to serve on the FCC in 2017 and tapped him to lead the commission in November. During his interview with "Fox & Friends" on Thursday, Carr said he was "trying to look on the bright side," which is that an "unprecedented number of deportations" are taking place, and "for that, thank goodness for President Trump." Fox host Brian Kilmeade noted that Carr previously opposed the effort of billionaire George Soros, a vocal supporter of Democratic candidates and causes, to become the majority shareholder of Audacy by purchasing $400 million of its debt in 2024. The FCC approved this restructuring of Audacy in September. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Fox News
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
FCC chair says it's ‘really concerning' that a Soros-backed radio station exposed undercover ICE agents
Federal Communication Commission chairman Brendan Carr said it's "really concerning" that a radio station backed by left-wing billionaire George Soros broadcasted live locations of undercover Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Carr's FCC is looking into San Francisco-based KCBS 740 AM, which has come under fire for revealing live locations of undercover ICE vehicles and agents that were conducting deportation operations in the area. "I try to look on the bright side of things, and here I think that's the fact, that we were having an unprecedented number of deportations taking place in this country, and for that, thank goodness for President Trump," Carr told Brian Kilmeade on Thursday on "FOX & Friends." "Promises made, promises kept. He came in and said he's the person that can not only secure the border, but also deport people here illegally, and he's carrying that out with unprecedented speed," Carr continued. "This is really concerning, so what happened was you had ICE agents undercover doing operations in East San Jose, part of the town known for violent gang activity, and you had this radio station broadcasting the live location, identifying the unmarked vehicles that they were in." Carr noted that this occurred as high-profile Democrats such as Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., has urged critics of Trump's agenda to take their fights "to the streets." "We have sent a letter of inquiry, a formal investigation into that matter, and they have days left to respond to that inquiry and explain how this could possibly be consistent with their public interest obligations," Carr said. The Enforcement Bureau proceeding is inquiring whether the radio station--which is licensed to operate by the FCC--is violating the terms of their FCC license, which requires that they operate in the "public interest." The formal Enforcement Bureau Letter notes that the ICE agents were operating at the time in an area known for violent gang activity. A group backed by Soros, a far-left kingmaker, purchased a stake in more than 200 Audacy radio stations across America last year. Among them was KCBS 740 AM. Audacy declined comment when reached by Fox News Digital. On the January 26 edition of "KCBS Radio Weekend News," it revealed specific information about undercover ICE agents who were "carrying out an operation on the east side of town." "The Santa Clara County Rapid Response Network, which is a community defense projecting system for immigrant communities against deportation threats, first report the activity on its platforms," the host told listeners. The "KCBS Radio Weekend News" host then revealed the specific make, color and model of several unmarked vehicles used in the operation. The station also revealed the exact locations of several ICE agents working in the area. Trump selected Carr to serve as FCC chairman. He was previously the senior Republican member of the FCC, first nominated to the commission by Trump in 2017.
Fox News
04-02-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
FCC launches probe into Soros-backed radio station that revealed live locations of undercover ICE agents
FIRST ON FOX -- Federal Communication Commission chairman Brendan Carr has opened an investigation into a radio station backed by left-wing billionaire George Soros that broadcasted live locations of undercover Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. A group backed Soros, a far-left kingmaker, purchased a stake in more than 200 Audacy radio stations across America last year. Among them was the San Francisco-based KCBS 740 AM, which has come under fire for revealing live locations of undercover ICE vehicles and agents that were conducting deportation operations in the San Jose area. The FCC's Enforcement Bureau has already sent a formal Letter of Inquiry to the radio station as part of the FCC investigation. The Enforcement Bureau proceeding is inquiring whether the radio station--which is licensed to operate by the FCC--is violating the terms of their FCC license, which requires that they operate in the "public interest." The formal Enforcement Bureau Letter notes that the ICE agents were operating at the time in an area known for violent gang activity. "I want to express my thanks and appreciation to DHS and ICE agents. These law enforcement professionals are honorably serving this country and carrying out vital missions. Their safety is paramount. The FCC will hold broadcasters accountable for complying with their public interest obligations," Carr told Fox News Digital. Audacy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On the January 26 edition of "KCBS Radio Weekend News," it revealed specific information about undercover ICE agents who were "carrying out an operation on the east side of town." "The Santa Clara County Rapid Response Network, which is a community defense projecting system for immigrant communities against deportation threats, first report the activity on its platforms," the host told listeners. The "KCBS Radio Weekend News" host then revealed the specific make, color and model of several unmarked vehicles used in the operation. The station also revealed the exact locations of several ICE agents working in the area. President Trump selected Carr to serve as FCC chairman. He was previously the senior Republican member of the FCC, first nominated to the commission by Trump in 2017.
