IndyTalks: Lombardo wants to expand Opportunity Scholarship eligibility, reform eviction law

IndyTalks: Lombardo wants to expand Opportunity Scholarship eligibility, reform eviction law

Gov. Joe Lombardo, right, in an interview with Jon Ralston at an IndyTalks forum in Las Vegas on Jan. 27, 2023. (Daniel Clark / The Nevada Independent) Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo promised a new bill on Friday that would expand access to the state’s Opportunity Scholarship program to families with higher incomes, while still defending his decision not to pursue funding for the state’s abandoned voucher-style school choice program, Education Savings Accounts. The comments came as part of a sweeping 90-minute discussion with Nevada Independent CEO Jon Ralston in Las Vegas, in an interview that ranged from the governor’s new $11 billion budget to plans to inject $2 billion into the state’s public education system to critical comments Lombardo made over the state’s universal mail-in elections and his assertion that the state needs to reform its summary eviction process. Lombardo also touted proposed investments into additional mental health services, and defended a lack of specific proposals on several major issues in his State of the State address this week — including gun violence and the state’s housing crisis. The governor also suggested that he could find common ground with Democrats on some key issues. Lombardo said he had already […]

PERSONALITIES: Commercial diver cleans up; Sees new TV show as an opportunity to make people think before they flush

PERSONALITIES: Commercial diver cleans up; Sees new TV show as an opportunity to make people think before they flush

Rick Simons of Coventry, who owns Shoreline Diving, finds that his job takes him “into the pipe,” sometimes into sewers. He is featured on the Discovery Channel’s new series, “Sewer Divers.” COVENTRY — For most people the idea of traveling up a city’s sewer system would sound like a foul, disgusting experience, but for Rick Simon, it’s just another day at the office. Who he is: Owner of Shoreline Diving in Coventry, a commercial diving company. Latest accomplishment: Featured on Discovery Channel’s “Sewer Divers.” Quote: “People just don’t think about what they put down the storm drain.” Simon’s business is Shoreline Diving, a locally-based business that does much of its work either doing salvage work offshore, or sewer maintenance in major cities throughout the state, a task that is now being featured in a new series on Discovery Channel called “Sewer Divers.” Originally from Manchester, Simon lives in Coventry where he keeps the home office of his business. “I grew up in the dive industry, so it’s kind of all I’ve known,” he said. “My father was a commercial diver, so it’s what I know. You do what you’re good at. So I’m very lucky that I get to […]

Opinion: The rare bipartisan opportunity House Republicans should take advantage of

Opinion: The rare bipartisan opportunity House Republicans should take advantage of

Editor’s Note: Patrick T. Brown is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, a conservative think tank and advocacy group based in Washington, DC. He is also a former senior policy adviser to Congress’ Joint Economic Committee. Follow him on Twitter . The views expressed in this piece are his own. View more opinion on CNN. CNN — With only a thin and fractious majority in the House, the GOP is facing two years of struggling to set any kind of positive agenda. But one thing every elected Republican would agree on is the need to scrutinize the Biden administration. Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the new chairman of the House Oversight Committee, has already been hard at work, firing off letters demanding answers to pointed questions on border photo ops , President Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents , presidential visitor logs , remote work among top federal employees and Hunter Biden . This is, of course, business as usual. The party that doesn’t control the White House will always seek to score political points on possible bureaucratic scandals. In return, Democrats’ instinctive reaction might be to circle up the wagons and seek to stonewall or […]

How to Seize the Opportunity in Uncertainty

How to Seize the Opportunity in Uncertainty

In an industry where the only constant is change, uncertainty is so prevalent that it has become a certainty. Thus, when successful growth depends on strong logistics and transportation management, the ability to confront disruption rapidly and confidently is necessary. That means developing operational procedures that adapt to changes, no matter the situation. Macro-level events quickly trickle down and impact all aspects of supply chains. Sometimes things get better, sometimes worse, and other times, they are just different. In supply chains and beyond, there are only two certainties: that change will be constant and that winners will take on the challenge of uncertainty instead of running from it. Impact on brokers and 3PLs While brokers and third-party logistics (3PL) providers may never be sure where goods will go, there is one sure thing: they will have to move. And when they do, most will go by truck. However, securing space and pricing capacity is subject to constant fluctuation. Sometimes there is a capacity shortage, and it becomes a carrier’s market, while other times, excess capacity forces a pricing race to the bottom. Not knowing when the pendulum will swing or how far can be disconcerting – for some, even […]

Chinese carmakers line up for 'phenomenal opportunity' in the UK

Chinese carmakers line up for ‘phenomenal opportunity’ in the UK

Few cars manage to attain the name recognition of the Fiesta, Ford’s cheap, reliable runabout in which millions of Britons learned to drive. But after sales of 4.8 million in the UK alone, the American car maker has called time on the model. Production is to end this year after almost 50 years after its debut. The withdrawal creates a gap at the bottom of the market as more and more car makers ditch cheaper models in favour of pricer – and more profitable – SUVs. Yet nature abhors a vacuum and there are already new manufacturers lining up to take the place of the old guard. The vast majority are from the same country: China. Up to 30 new electric vehicle brands are eyeing up the UK car market, according to an industry report seen by The Telegraph, with most of them Chinese. Challengers have designs on the cheaper end of the market, preparing to sell mass market battery-powered cars to Britain. Companies like BYD and Ora, which already have agreements in place with UK dealers, will be joined by a raft of other car makers including Chery, Dongfeng and Haval. They are big brands in China but […]

Meta Offers New Business Certification to Showcase Your Facebook and Instagram Marketing Expertise

Meta Offers New Business Certification to Showcase Your Facebook and Instagram Marketing Expertise

Digital marketing agencies take note: Meta has launched a new certification for businesses , which will give you another way to showcase your Meta marketing expertise to prospective clients. The new program aims to highlight businesses whose staff have accumulated a level of knowledge about Meta’s platforms, via its Blueprint training courses. “ A Meta Certified Company is a company or organization that is recognized for their advanced expertise on the Meta Platform. For the first time, we’re offering Certification at the Organizational level, awarded to companies who achieve a threshold of individual Meta Blueprint certifications in specific focus areas.” As you can see there are five different company certifications available: Meta Media, Certified Company Meta Marketing Science, Certified Company Meta Creative Strategy, Certified Company Meta Community Management, Certified Company Meta Spark, Certified Company For each, a percentage of your employees will need to have undertaken the respective Blueprint training, which then enables you to apply for official recognition. What are those percentages exactly? So at least 20% of your staff have to have undertaken individual certification courses via Meta’s Blueprint offering. Those courses are free, but taking the certification exams does cost money , so there is a […]

US To Support Nigeria’s Digital Transformation

US To Support Nigeria’s Digital Transformation

Representatives of American tech companies, and Nigerian technology and business leaders attend the opening of Digital Expert Academy in Lagos on January 23, 2023. Credit: US Embassy Lagos The United States Government is committed to supporting programs that provide Nigerian youth with quality technological learning opportunities. Advertisement This is according to the Consul-General at the Consulate General in Lagos State, Will Stevens, who spoke during the official opening of the Digital Expert Academy in Lagos on Monday. Speaking on the theme “Technology as an Enabler and Tool for Empowerment,” Stevens highlighted the importance of tech skills to Nigeria’s future prosperity and economic competitiveness. According to him, the President Joe Biden administration’s US Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa aims to drive digital transformation and foster a digital ecosystem built on open, interoperable, reliable, and secure internet and information and communication technology. Advertisement “This initiative is investing in some of Nigeria’s richest resources – its young people. We hope that by developing local talent in tech fields, we help accelerate medium and long-term growth in Nigeria’s and indeed Africa’s digital economy,” Stevens said. On his part, the Chairman, 21st Century Technologies Group, Wale Ajisebutu, explained that the Digital Expert Academy will help […]

eFinance signs partnership MoU with F5 to protect and optimise Egypt’s Digital Transformation priorities

eFinance signs partnership MoU with F5 to protect and optimise Egypt’s Digital Transformation priorities

eFinance has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with F5, a multi-cloud application services and security specialist, to help protect and optimise Egypt’s Digital Transformation priorities. eFinance, a partner of choice for Egypt’s growing digital economy and financial transformation, as well as in-country public cloud provider, is now set to offer F5’s extensive solutions portfolio to organisations across the country. Initially, the partnership will focus on cloud and cybersecurity-based technologies. “We are delighted to partner with F5, which is already supporting many of eFinance’s customers in Egypt,” said Atef Mohamed, IT and Cloud Director, eFinance. “Our mission is to enable organisations across the country to lead cutting-edge, transformative initiatives that are aligned with vital social development goals. F5 is an ideal partner for us in this respect.” F5 offers a unique portfolio of automation, security, performance and insight capabilities. It empowers customers to create, secure and operate the applications – whether monolithic or modern – that help reduce operational cost and complexity, protect users’ experience and create business value. “eFinance is integral to the Egyptian government’s Digital Transformation strategy, so it is a huge honour to finalise this MoU,” said Bassem Saleh, Sales Lead for Egypt at F5.

MCIT signs MoU with HEC Paris, supporting Qatar's digital transformation

MCIT signs MoU with HEC Paris, supporting Qatar’s digital transformation

Doha: The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with HEC Paris in Qatar to enhance cooperation in supporting Qatar’s digital transformation. The MoU was signed on Wednesday at MCIT headquarters by the Assistant Undersecretary of Digital Society Development at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology Reem Mohammed Al Mansoori and the Dean of HEC Paris in Qatar Dr. Pablo Martin de Holan. Under the terms of the MoU, the two parties will support strategic and national plans for the development of the digital sector, initiatives and methodologies that will support the initiatives of the Qatar Digital Government and the Smart Qatar Program that aims to improve the quality of life of all citizens and residents of Qatar. Reem Al Mansoori said that signing the MoU "comes within the framework of MCIT’s mechanisms and efforts aimed at developing and enhancing the competitiveness of the digital and technological industry sector in Qatar in general by supporting the fields of entrepreneurship, research and innovation." "MCIT is committed to supporting and inspiring a strong and smart ICT sector as one of the main pillars in the transformation of a knowledge-based economy, and today’s note […]

The Pace of Digital Transformation is Accelerating

The Pace of Digital Transformation is Accelerating

Digital transformation promises to make engineering companies better, faster and more profitable. But that transformation doesn’t come easily. That’s because digital transformation is a lofty goal: it’s nothing less than the end-to-end digitization of your company’s data and processes, all of it seamlessly connected to enable optimization, automation and the generation of novel business insights. Hardly an overnight upgrade. Many companies have taken a slow-and-steady approach to digital transformation, but the overall pace is changing. In a 2021 survey on digital strategy in the post-pandemic era, consulting firm McKinsey spelled it out plainly: “What was considered best-in-class speed for most business practices in 2018 is now slower than average.” There are a few explanations for the acceleration of digital transformation. It’s not all because of COVID, although the pandemic played a role. A timely convergence of maturing technology and a changing workforce is creating increasing pressure to transform, and the average company must now think more deeply about its digital strategy—and act decisively—to keep up with the competition. Technology is Ripe for Digital Transformation Digital transformation requires a coalescence of many technologies: semiconductors, battery storage, telecommunication protocols, enterprise engineering software, artificial intelligence and many more. As each of these […]