Latest news with #Wells
Business Wire
6 hours ago
- Business
- Business Wire
CenterPoint Energy reports solid Q2 2025 results; reiterates 2025 full year guidance; increases 10-year capital investment plan by $500MM
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) or 'CenterPoint' today reported net income of $198 million, or $0.30 per diluted share on a GAAP basis for the second quarter of 2025, compared to $0.36 per diluted share in the comparable period of 2024. Non-GAAP EPS for the second quarter of 2025 was $0.29, versus $0.36 for the comparable quarter of 2024. These second quarter results include an unfavorable variance of $0.01 per share attributable to growth and rate recovery. This lower relative impact was driven by the timing of recoveries from interim capital mechanisms not available during recent rate case activity that is now largely completed. Additional unfavorable items for the quarter include increased financing costs of $0.03 per share and increased operating and maintenance expense of $0.03 per share. Weather and usage were favorable, contributing $0.01 per share when compared to the second quarter of 2024. 'I'm incredibly proud of our teams as they have worked to deliver about a year and a half's worth of work since last summer as part of the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative. We've met all of our Phase II public commitments on-time or ahead of schedule, and we are on a positive path forward as we work to build and operate the most resilient coastal grid in the nation. Our customers are already seeing the benefits with nearly 50% less outage minutes in the first six months of 2025 compared to 2024. This is great progress, and we aren't done yet,' said Jason Wells, President & CEO of CenterPoint. 'While our focus has been on resiliency, we are not losing sight of the incredible pace of diverse growth our service territories continue to experience, especially those in Texas. This year alone we have increased our capital investment plan by $5.5 billion, including the $500 million increase we announced today,' continued Wells. 'Even though we are taking a conservative approach to this growth, we continue to see an upward bias towards investment opportunities that are not yet reflected in our current plan. We believe these opportunities, combined with our ability to efficiently finance and a lighter regulatory calendar over the next few years, are strong tailwinds that we will incorporate into our refreshed 10-year plan that we're excited to share by the end of September,' said Wells. ____________________ 1 CenterPoint is unable to present a quantitative reconciliation of forward-looking non-GAAP diluted earnings per share without unreasonable effort because changes in the value of ZENS (as defined herein) and related securities, future impairments, and other unusual items are not estimable and are difficult to predict due to various factors outside of management's control. Expand Earnings Outlook In addition to presenting its financial results in accordance with GAAP, including presentation of net income (loss) and diluted earnings (loss) per share, CenterPoint provides guidance based on non-GAAP income and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's historical or future financial performance that excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Management evaluates CenterPoint's financial performance in part based on non-GAAP income and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share. Management believes that presenting these non-GAAP financial measures enhances an investor's understanding of CenterPoint's overall financial performance by providing them with an additional meaningful and relevant comparison of current and anticipated future results across periods. The adjustments made in these non-GAAP financial measures exclude items that management believes do not most accurately reflect the company's fundamental business performance. These excluded items are reflected in the reconciliation tables of this news release, where applicable. CenterPoint's non-GAAP income and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, net income and diluted earnings per share, which respectively are the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures also may be different than non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. 2024 and 2025 non-GAAP EPS and 2025 non-GAAP EPS guidance range 2024 and 2025 non-GAAP EPS and 2025 non-GAAP EPS guidance excludes: Earnings or losses from the change in value of CenterPoint's 2.0% Zero-Premium Exchangeable Subordinated Notes due 2029 ('ZENS') and related securities; Gains, losses and impacts, including related expenses, associated with mergers and divestitures, such as the divestiture of our Louisiana and Mississippi natural gas LDC businesses; and 2025 non-GAAP EPS and 2025 non-GAAP EPS guidance also exclude impacts related to temporary emergency electric energy facilities ('TEEEF') once they are no longer part of our rate-regulated business. In providing 2024 and 2025 non-GAAP EPS and 2025 non-GAAP EPS guidance, CenterPoint does not consider the items noted above and other potential impacts such as changes in accounting standards, impairments, or other unusual items, which could have a material impact on GAAP reported results for the applicable guidance period. The 2025 non-GAAP EPS guidance range also considers assumptions for certain significant variables that may impact earnings, such as customer growth and usage including normal weather, throughput, recovery of capital invested, effective tax rates, financing activities and related interest rates, and regulatory and judicial proceedings. To the extent actual results deviate from these assumptions, the 2025 non-GAAP EPS guidance range may not be met, or the projected annual non-GAAP EPS growth rate may change. CenterPoint is unable to present a quantitative reconciliation of forward-looking non-GAAP diluted earnings per share without unreasonable effort because changes in the value of ZENS and related securities, future impairments, and other unusual items are not estimable and are difficult to predict due to various factors outside of management's control. Reconciliation of consolidated net income (loss) and diluted earnings (loss) per share (GAAP) to non-GAAP income and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share Three Months Ended June 30, 2025 Dollars in millions Diluted EPS(1) Consolidated net income (loss) and diluted EPS on a GAAP basis $198 $0.30 ZENS-related mark-to-market (gains) losses: Equity securities (net of tax expense of $9)(2)(3) (35) (0.05) Indexed debt securities (net of tax benefit of $9)(2) 34 0.05 Impacts associated with mergers and divestitures (net of tax expense of $12)(2)(4) (21) (0.03) Impacts associated with TEEEF Units removed from Rate Base (net of tax benefit of $3)(5) 12 0.02 Consolidated income and diluted EPS on a non-GAAP basis(6) $188 $0.29 Expand 1) Quarterly diluted EPS on both a GAAP and non-GAAP basis are based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the quarter, and the sum of the quarters may not equal year-to-date diluted EPS 2) Taxes are computed based on the impact removing such item would have on tax expense. Taxes related to the gas LDC sale are booked proportionately by applying the projected annual effective tax rate percentage to income earned each quarter in accordance with GAAP. Additional tax expense related primarily to the write-off of non-deductible goodwill will be reflected in tax expense over the remainder of 2025 and excluded from non-GAAP EPS 3) Comprised of common stock of AT&T Inc., Charter Communications, Inc., and Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. 4) Includes gain on early extinguishment of debt with proceeds from the divestiture of the Louisiana and Mississippi natural gas LDC businesses 5) Represents impacts related to temporary emergency electric energy facilities following the removal of the units from our rate regulated business 6) The calculation on a per-share basis may not add down due to rounding Expand Reconciliation of consolidated net income (loss) and diluted earnings (loss) per share (GAAP) to non-GAAP income and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share Six Months Ended June 30, 2025 Dollars in millions Diluted EPS(1) Consolidated income (loss) available to common shareholders and diluted EPS $ 495 $ 0.76 ZENS-related mark-to-market (gains) losses: Equity securities (net of tax expense of $26)(2)(3) (98 ) (0.15 ) Indexed debt securities (net of tax benefit of $25)(2) 96 0.15 Impacts associated with mergers and divestitures (net of tax expense of $12)(2)(4) 27 0.04 Impacts associated with TEEEF Units removed from Rate Base (net of tax benefit of $3)(5) 12 0.02 Consolidated on a non-GAAP basis(6) $ 532 $ 0.81 Expand 1) Quarterly diluted EPS on both a GAAP and non-GAAP basis are based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the quarter, and the sum of the quarters may not equal year-to-date diluted EPS 2) Taxes are computed based on the impact removing such item would have on tax expense. Taxes related to the gas LDC sale are booked proportionately by applying the projected annual effective tax rate percentage to income earned each quarter in accordance with GAAP. Additional tax expense related primarily to the write-off of non-deductible goodwill will be reflected in tax expense over the remainder of 2025 and excluded from non-GAAP EPS 3) Comprised of common stock of AT&T Inc., Charter Communications, Inc., and Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. 4) Includes $43 million loss on sale associated with the divestiture of our Louisiana and Mississippi natural gas LDC businesses and gain on early extinguishment of debt with proceeds from the divestiture of the Louisiana and Mississippi natural gas LDC businesses 5) Represents impacts related to temporary emergency electric energy facilities following the removal of the units from our rate regulated business 6) The calculation on a per-share basis may not add down due to rounding Expand Reconciliation of consolidated net income (loss) and diluted earnings (loss) per share (GAAP) to non-GAAP income and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share Three Months Ended June 30, 2024 Dollars in millions Diluted EPS (1) Consolidated net income (loss) and diluted EPS on a GAAP basis $ 228 $ 0.36 ZENS-related mark-to-market (gains) losses: Equity securities (net of taxes of $4) (2)(3) (15 ) (0.02 ) Indexed debt securities (net of taxes of $3) (2) 15 0.02 Impacts associated with mergers and divestitures (net of taxes of $1) (2) 6 0.01 Consolidated income and diluted EPS on a non-GAAP basis (4) $ 234 $ 0.36 Expand 1) Quarterly diluted EPS on both a GAAP and non-GAAP basis are based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the quarter, and the sum of the quarters may not equal year-to-date diluted EPS 2) Taxes are computed based on the impact removing such item would have on tax expense 3) Comprised of common stock of AT&T Inc., Charter Communications, Inc., and Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. 4) The calculation on a per-share basis may not add down due to rounding Expand Reconciliation of consolidated net income (loss) and diluted earnings (loss) per share (GAAP) to non-GAAP income and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2024 Dollars in millions Diluted EPS (1) Dollars in millions Diluted EPS (1) Consolidated net income (loss) and diluted EPS on a GAAP basis $ 578 $ 0.91 $ 1,019 $ 1.58 ZENS-related mark-to-market (gains) losses: Equity securities (net of taxes) (2)(3) 51 0.08 (15 ) (0.02 ) Indexed debt securities (net of taxes) (2) (53 ) (0.09 ) 11 0.01 Impacts associated with mergers and divestitures (net of taxes) (2)(4) 8 0.01 26 0.04 Consolidated income and diluted EPS on a non-GAAP basis (5) $ 584 $ 0.91 $ 1,041 $ 1.62 Expand 1) Quarterly diluted EPS on both a GAAP and non-GAAP basis are based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the quarter, and the sum of the quarters may not equal year-to-date diluted EPS 2) Taxes are computed based on the impact removing such item would have on tax expense 3) Comprised of common stock of AT&T Inc., Charter Communications, Inc., and Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. 4) Includes professional fees associated with execution of transactions from the sale of Louisiana and Mississippi LDC businesses 5) The calculation on a per-share basis may not add down due to rounding Expand Filing of Form 10-Q for CenterPoint Energy, Inc. Today, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2025. A copy of that report is available on the company's website, under the Investors section. Investors and others should note that we may announce material information using SEC filings, press releases, public conference calls, webcasts, and the Investor Relations page of our website. In the future, we will continue to use these channels to distribute material information about the company and to communicate important information about the company, key personnel, corporate initiatives, regulatory updates, and other matters. Information that we post on our website could be deemed material; therefore, we encourage investors, the media, our customers, business partners and others interested in our company to review the information we post on our website. Webcast of Earnings Conference Call CenterPoint's management will host an earnings conference call on July 24, 2025, at 7:00 a.m. Central time / 8:00 a.m. Eastern time. Interested parties may listen to a live audio broadcast of the conference call on the company's website under the Investors section. A replay of the call can be accessed approximately two hours after the completion of the call and will be archived on the website for at least one year. About CenterPoint Energy, Inc. As the only investor owned electric and gas utility based in Texas, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) is an energy delivery company with electric transmission and distribution, power generation and natural gas distribution operations that serve more than 7 million metered customers in Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio and Texas. As of June 30, 2025, the company owned approximately $44 billion in assets. With approximately 8,300 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. For more information, visit Forward-looking Statements This news release includes and the earnings conference call will include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release and the earnings conference call are forward-looking statements made in good faith by CenterPoint and are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements concerning CenterPoint's expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future operations, events, financial position, earnings and guidance, growth, costs, prospects, capital investments or performance or underlying assumptions and other statements that are not historical facts. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "goal," "intend," "may," "objective," "plan," "potential," "predict," "projection," "should," "target," "will" or other similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The absence of these words, however, does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. Examples of forward-looking statements in this news release or on the earnings conference call include statements about Houston Electric's Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative ('GHRI') and System Resiliency Plan ('SRP') (including with respect to timing, filings related thereto, anticipated benefits, and related matters), the proposed sale of our Ohio natural gas LDC business (including with respect to timing, anticipated benefits, and related matters), Houston Electric's release of its 15 large 27 megawatt ('MW') to 32 MW TEEEF units to the San Antonio area and its ability to complete one or more other future transactions involving various sizes of TEEEF units (including with respect to timing, filings related thereto, corresponding reductions in Houston Electric's TEEEF fleet capacity, anticipated benefits including with respect to rates, expected market demand for the units, and related matters), capital investments (including with respect to incremental capital opportunities, deployment of capital, financing of such projects, and anticipated benefits related thereto), the timing of, projections for, and anticipated benefits from the settlement of, rate cases for CenterPoint and its subsidiaries, the timing and extent of CenterPoint's recovery, including with regards to its restoration costs for, among other things, the severe weather events in May 2024 ('May 2024 Storm Events') and Hurricane Beryl, generation transition plans and projects, projects included in CenterPoint's Natural Gas Innovation Plan and System Resiliency Plan, and projects included under its 10-year capital plan, electric demand growth in CenterPoint's service territories (including our forecasts of, capital investment opportunities related to, the timing of investments related to, and anticipated benefits of such growth), the extent of anticipated benefits of the completed sale of our Louisiana and Mississippi natural gas LDC businesses, future earnings and guidance, including long-term growth rate, dividend growth, customer charges, operations and maintenance expense reductions, financing plans (including with respect to the restoration costs for the May 2024 Storm Events and Hurricane Beryl and the timing and anticipated benefits of any future equity issuances, forward sales, securitization, credit metrics and parent level debt), the timing, funding, and anticipated benefits of our 10-year capital plan, the Company's 2.0% Zero-Premium Exchangeable Subordinated Notes due 2029 ('ZENS') and impacts of the maturity of ZENS, CenterPoint's continued focus on credit, balance sheet strength, liquidity and credit ratings, tax planning opportunities, future financial performance and results of operations, including with respect to regulatory actions and recoverability of capital investments, customer rate affordability, value creation, opportunities and expectations, and expected customer growth. We have based our forward-looking statements on our management's beliefs and assumptions based on information currently available to our management at the time the statements are made. We caution you that assumptions, beliefs, expectations, intentions, and projections about future events may and often do vary materially from actual results. Therefore, we cannot assure you that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement contained in this news release or discussed on the earnings conference call speaks only as of the date of this release or the earnings conference call. Some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to: (1) the business strategies and strategic initiatives, restructurings, joint ventures and acquisitions or dispositions of assets or businesses involving CenterPoint or its industry, including the ability to successfully complete such strategies, initiatives, transactions or plans on the timelines we expect or at all, such as our plan to sell our Ohio natural gas LDC business or the completed sale of our Louisiana and Mississippi natural gas LDC businesses, which we cannot assure you will have the anticipated benefits to us; (2) industrial, commercial and residential growth in CenterPoint's service territories and changes in market demand, including in relation to the expansion of data centers, energy export facilities, including hydrogen facilities, electrification of industrial processes and transport and logistics, as well as the effects of energy efficiency measures and demographic patterns, and our ability to appropriately estimate and effectively manage business opportunities relating to such matters; (3) CenterPoint's ability to fund and invest planned capital, and the timely recovery of its investments, including those related to Houston Electric's GHRI and SRP; (4) the ability to timely execute Houston Electric's GHRI and SRP; (5) our ability to successfully construct, repair, maintain and restart electric generating facilities, natural gas facilities, TEEEF and electric transmission facilities; (6) the timing and success of, and our ability to obtain approval for, Houston Electric's release of its large TEEEF units to the San Antonio area, reduction of its TEEEF fleet capacity and reduction of rates to reflect the removal of the large TEEEF units from Houston Electric's TEEEF fleet, as well as our ability to complete one or more other future transactions involving various sizes of TEEEF units on acceptable terms and conditions within the anticipated timeframe; (7) financial market and general economic conditions, including access to debt and equity capital, inflation, potential for recession, interest rates, and their effect on sales, prices and costs; (8) disruptions to the global supply chain and volatility in commodity prices, including resulting from tariffs, trade agreements, retaliatory trade measures or changes in trade relationships; (9) actions by credit rating agencies, including any potential downgrades to credit ratings; (10) the timing and impact of regulatory proceedings and actions and legal proceedings, including those related to, among other things, the May 2024 Storm Events, Hurricane Beryl, Houston Electric's TEEEF units and the February 2021 winter storm event, and requested or favorable adjustments to rates and approval of other requested items as part of base rate proceedings or interim rate mechanisms; (11) federal, state and local legislative, executive, regulatory and political actions or developments, including any actions resulting from Hurricane Beryl, actions pertaining to trade (including tariffs, bans, retaliatory trade measures taken against the United States or related government action), tax legislation (including effects of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Executive Order 14315, and the Inflation Reduction Act) and developments related to the environment; (12) the impact of public health threats; (13) weather variations and other natural phenomena, including severe weather events, and CenterPoint's ability to mitigate weather impacts, including the approval and timing of securitization issuances; (14) the impact of potential wildfires; (15) changes in business plans; (16) advances in, our ability to timely adopt, develop and deploy, artificial intelligence; (17) the availability of, prices for and our ability to procure materials, supplies or services and scarcity of and changes in labor for current and future projects and operations and maintenance costs; (18) CenterPoint's ability to timely obtain and maintain necessary licenses and permits from local, federal and other regulatory authorities on acceptable terms and resolve third-party challenges to such licenses or permits, as applicable; (19) CenterPoint's ability to execute on its initiatives, targets and goals, including its net zero and greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals and operations and maintenance goals; and (20) other factors discussed in CenterPoint's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 and CenterPoint's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2025, and June 30, 2025, including under 'Risk Factors,' 'Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information' and 'Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Certain Factors Affecting Future Earnings' in such reports and in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') by CenterPoint, which can be found at on the Investor Relations page or on the SEC website at
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Woman Goes to PetSmart for Cat Litter, Then She Sees a Rescue Dog
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A woman has gone viral after revealing how she went into PetSmart to run an errand but ended up leaving with a four-legged best friend instead. In June 2024, Felicia Wells found herself sitting in traffic on her way to pick up some cat litter. She almost didn't go, though, because she knew how busy and chaotic everywhere would be on a Saturday afternoon. But when she pulled into the parking lot, Wells, of Burlington, Vermont, spotted a sign about an adoption event the PetSmart store was hosting that weekend, with multiple dogs from KC Pet Rescue. Indeed, after seeing that, Wells told Newsweek that her first thought was "if there's a shepherd in there, they're coming home." Kratos the rescue dog is seen in a pen inside PetSmart during the adoption event. Kratos the rescue dog is seen in a pen inside PetSmart during the adoption event. @feliciawells666 / TikTok As it turned out, she met an adorable Belgian Malinois and Dutch shepherd mix named Kratos. He was found digging through garbage when KC Pet Rescue saved him. Wells learned that he was merely "skin and bones" back then, and he had spent 10 months waiting for a home. "I had huge reservations about adopting him, and I immediately left the store so I could send the video I took to my mom, expecting her to talk me out of adopting him," Wells said. "But she did the exact opposite, insisting that it was fate. "Another concern was his ability to be adopted into a home with cats. But, as fate would have it, the foster home he was in had cats," Wells added. She adopted Kratos that weekend and was delighted to offer him a second chance. She only went in for cat litter, but she left with a new family member. Watching Kratos adjust to his new normal has been challenging but incredibly rewarding. For the first few weeks, he was "completely shut down" and very nervous. During his first night, Wells said she noticed how he just stood around looking lost and confused. "He had no interest in treats, did not understand toys, tried to escape and run away on walks, and was reluctant to eat the first several meals I offered to him. The first night, I don't think either of us slept a wink," Wells said. As a result, she couldn't resist picking Kratos up and putting him in her bed. He stayed there all night, trembling with fear but cuddling up to her appreciatively. Kratos has come a long way since then. He has been in his home for a year and developed such a strong personality with so much confidence. Wells said she recalls the "breakthrough moment" when she made herself some macaroni and cheese, only to discover that it was also her dog's favorite food, given his reaction. Now, Kratos loves snoozing on the couch with his cat siblings, playing with his toys, and being spoiled by his owner. After reflecting on her impromptu decision to adopt Kratos, Wells shared a video on TikTok (@feliciawells666) showing footage of her pup at the adoption event. The clip went viral with over 342,000 views and more than 63,000 likes on TikTok at the time of writing. The online response is beyond anything Wells expected, although many people misunderstood the viral clip and believed that Kratos was being sold by PetSmart. That, of course, wasn't the case. "The biggest thing I would like to accomplish from sharing his story is to provide support for KC Pet Rescue, who saved him and held onto him for 10 months until I found him," Wells said. She continued: "They are a small, volunteer-based organization that provides rescue for homeless, abused and neglected dogs. He was found just outside of Morrilton, Arkansas, digging through a woman's garbage. "The rescue tested, treated, and paid for his heartworm treatment, which is expensive and lengthy to treat. I am endlessly grateful to KC Pet Rescue for keeping my boy safe and well-cared for." In just a matter of days, the viral TikTok video has generated over 600 comments so far. Plenty of internet users praised Wells for giving Kratos his forever home. One comment reads: "You went home with a best friend." Another TikTok user wrote: "He looks so much healthier now that he's with you." A third person replied: "You'll never regret this save!" Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@ and they could appear on our site.
Global News
3 days ago
- Sport
- Global News
Kainai rodeo pays tribute to Jon Wells and Mike White Quills
Two of the Blood Tribe's most respected rodeo cowboys were honoured in a heartfelt way at this year's Kainai Fair and Rodeo. Jon Wells and Mike White Quills, both known for their dedication to the sport and their communities, were commemorated with a special memorial jackpot in their names. The event brought out 38 bulldoggers and 42 calf ropers, many of whom personally knew Wells and White Quills. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'We lost them quite young,' said Clarence Black Water, a rodeo committee member. 'We want to keep their legacy going to encourage our younger competitors to follow suit.' Both men were seen as role models on and off the circuit. 'They were well respected and looked up to,' Black Water added. The rodeo announcer also noted the healing power of the event. Story continues below advertisement 'Seeing the people come out and supporting them, know how much they were loved — I think that really helps the family a lot.' While Wells and White Quills may be gone, their presence is still felt in the arena. Through this tribute, their legacy continues to inspire the next generation of Indigenous rodeo talent. Watch the video above for more.
Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Aurora University student earns FAA drone pilot license after taking course
As technologies emerge, college courses are springing up to teach them – something that Alayna Nosalik, a student at Aurora University, knows after becoming the first AU student to earn an FAA Drone Pilot License. Nosalik, 20, of Mendota, is set to graduate next year with a double major in marketing and communications. She said the drone license, which she earned after completing the university's new FAA Drone License Examination Prep Course, was something she was drawn to after learning it was being taught by a previous instructor she had enjoyed. The new course goes in-depth in preparing students to earn their FAA Drone Pilot License. 'The drone class that was being offered – I had Dr. [Christopher] Wells for a previous class. I liked him as an instructor, and it sounded like a cool class and I thought – why not?' Nosalik said. 'I was also part of PREMSA, the PR and Event Management student association on campus, and we had gotten someone who did fly drones for marketing for a living so I had seen what you can do with them and it looked like it might be a fun experience.' Wells, 63, of Belvidere, who currently serves as professor of parks and recreation leadership, said the course has been offered for just a year at AU and that it 'is still in the catching-on stage where it's not tied to any particular major.' 'I teach parks and rec so I started the course primarily for those students so they could use a drone to assess parks and do surveying and those sorts of things, but students in the criminal justice program are also showing interest in the course,' Well said. 'Law enforcement officers and first responders are using drones in their work.' Wells spoke about Nosalik and his impressions of her as a student, noting 'I first had her in an interdisciplinary studies course.' 'It's a first-year student course called 'Discover What Matters' and it introduces students to college and helps them develop a sense of what they want to do with their major,' he said. 'I met her [Nosalik] in that course, and introduced the drone as just kind of an extra topic. Alayna definitely saw it was something that she might be able to apply in marketing and communications. 'When I first offered the drone course, she was one of the first to sign up for it – she definitely took to it and I think she sees the potential for drones in her work and was the first AU student to get her license,' Wells added. Wells acknowledges technology is, in fact, driving some of the curriculum these days. 'Definitely – we have to keep up with the tech and prepare the students to be able to use that tech in their careers,' he said. Nosalik says there is no pressure being the first to own a license and said there has been some additional interest shown from other friends 'who have reached out.' 'They've said, 'Oh, that's so cool – I didn't know AU offered this' and I told them about the class,' she said. 'A lot of people have actually asked about it and I'm hoping a lot more people will take it and have an interest in it.' In yet another turn on the road not taken, Nosalik made a detour earlier in her college career and stepped away from her course work at AU in order to take the Disney College Program, a paid internship that she attended at Walt Disney World in Florida. 'I think it would be really cool to work in marketing or coordinating events for Disney one day – I've always been a fan of Disney and wanted to go down and be a part of the program,' she said. 'I think it was second semester my freshman year. I was in my advisor's office and was asking how could I move my schedule around so I can have an entire semester free and she said we could figure that out.' In the end, Nosalik was one of just 10 individuals selected to be in the program and said her greatest takeaway 'was that I still want to work for Disney – it's one of my goals.' 'You never know if you're going to get tired going to parks or don't like the work anymore but every day there was so much fun going to work and some of my best friends were there,' she said. Wells said there are two ways the FAA allows people to fly drones – recreationally and for professional purposes, from surveillance work compiling statistics. His course description notes that 'Drones (unmanned aircraft systems) are increasingly used in a wide range of careers to accomplish things such as gather pictures and videos, collect environmental data, and assist first responders in managing complex situations. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) remote pilot license is required to fly a drone professionally.' 'The enforcement of this – the analogy I use is how to people enforce things like auto insurance– it's usually when you're caught,' he said. 'You get caught and have to show insurance. With work, it's obvious you're out working. I have a friend who sprays fields with a drone and he's constantly stopped by people driving by asking how do you do this – do you have a license? Nosalik also reflected on her drone license and acknowledged that while there are lot of kids as well as adults flying drones on weekends, her certification brings with it other caveats. 'With the license, you can start to fly in different places and have the ability to do more because you can put in requests to fly in different places, whereas if you're flying for fun – you have to stay below a certain height,' she said. Nosalik said her parents have been very supportive of her choices. 'My dad is really big on trying new things and getting my brother and I to try things and experience things and open opportunities for yourselves,' she said.
News18
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Freida Pinto To Star In Netflix Series ‘Unaccustomed Earth', Deets Inside
Inspired by Jhumpa Lahiri's short story collection of the same name, Unaccustomed Earth is an epic, soapy, and culturally vibrant drama about a tight-knit Indian American community navigating love, desire, and belonging. Rich with nuance, passion, and unforgettable characters, the series invites you into the elite and insular Indian-American community of Cambridge, MA. When a star-crossed romance between a devoted wife and her long-lost love comes to light, a scandalous affair is born and new battle lines are drawn in this intensely interconnected immigrant community. Wells executive produces via John Wells Productions' overall deal with Warner Bros. Television, the show's studio. Ritesh Batra, Jhumpa Lahiri, Nisha Ganatra, Erica Saleh, Erin Jontow, and Celia Costas also executive produce, with Batra directing episodes 101 and 102. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Freida Pinto (@freidapinto) In other news, Freida Pinto recently reacted to criticism over Deepika Padukone's Hollywood Walk of Fame star, urging South Asians to uplift, and not undermine each other's success. Freida Pinto took to her Instagram story to share a post that mentioned Deepika Padukone has made history by becoming the first Bollywood actor to receive a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame. Freida congratulated Deepika, and also shared a message for her fellow South Asians. 'To my fellow South Asians- Let's celebrate our own and not bring them down please. News like this should make us feel proud to see a hardworking, talented Indian woman of substance being celebrated on a global platform. This topic doesn't need to lend itself endless debate. Congratulations Deepika, you deserve the recognition!" she wrote. Freida Pinto rose to fame with her film debut in Danny Boyle's 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire, co-starring Dev Patel, Madhur Mittal, Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan and others. The film was nominated for 10 Academy Awards in 2009 and won 8. She has also been a part of the science fiction film 'Rose Of The Planet Of The Apes' (2011), in which she played Dr. Caroline Aranha. She was also seen in 'Love Sonia', 'Intrusion', 'Immortals', 'You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger' and many others. On the personal front, Freida Pinto married photographer Cory Tran in 2020. They welcomed their son Rumi Ray in November 2021.
