genie outfit female

Jefferies on tanker stocks following U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil exports

BJP leader B. Sriramulu, who launched a hunger strike outside the district hospital in Ballari over the maternal deaths reported there and at Ballari Medical College and Research Centre, called off his agitation after Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao persuaded him with concrete assurances on Saturday. In the evening, Mr. Rao visited the spot and briefed him about his government’s measures to handle the issue. “Just as we received the information about the deaths of lactating mothers in Ballari Hospital, we ordered a probe by a team of experts from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. The team expressed its apprehensions about the quality of the IV fluid [Compound Sodium Lactate Injection I.P intravenous fluid]. We immediately stopped the use of the IV fluid in question. We have decided to send another team of experts to conduct another round of thorough investigation into the deaths,” Mr. Rao told Mr. Sriramulu and appealed to the latter to end the agitation. When the Health Minister said that he was ready to tender his resignation if that would solve the problem, Mr. Sriramulu said he sought a permanent solution to the problem, not the resignation of the Health Minister. Substandard IV fluid “The Health Minister need not resign. What is required is that maternal deaths should stop and the health system should be strengthened. Hundreds of lactating mothers have died in a year. The deaths are the direct result of the use of substandard IV fluid manufactured and supplied by West Bengal-based Paschim Banga Pharmaceuticals. It is not due to the negligence of doctors but that of the government, People are scared of visiting government hospitals. The government should sternly act upon and pay a compensation of ₹25 lakh to the families of each lactating mother who died recently,” Mr. Sriramulu demanded. Mr. Rao pointed out how the drug company got a stay order against the ban on its IV fluid in the State and how the Central Laboratory certified the quality of its product. “When the reports of the State laboratories underlined the substandard quality of the IV fluid supplied by the company, we stopped its usage. However, they moved to court and got a stay order. The Central laboratory upheld the quality of the drug. We will not cover up these cases of maternal deaths. As many as 327 lactating mothers have died in the state in one year. We will investigate each case and take stringent legal action against the people responsible,” the Health Minister said. After the Minister appreciated Mr. Sriramulu’s agitation as a correct measure of pressurising the government in a democratic system and assured him of addressing the issues he raised, Mr. Sriramulu called off the agitation. Mr. Rao also met a few lactating mothers and authorities in the District Hospital and took stock of the situation. Published - December 07, 2024 09:37 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Karnataka / ministers (government) / death / children / health / hospital and clinic / demonstration / GulbargaNone

HICKSVILLE, N.Y. , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Flagstar Financial, Inc. (NYSE: FLG) (the "Company") today announced the appointment of Brian Callanan , Senior Managing Director and General Counsel at Liberty Strategic Capital ("Liberty"), to its Board of Directors, effective December 16, 2024 . Commenting on the appointment, Joseph M. Otting , Chairman, President, and CEO said, "I'm pleased to have Brian join our Board. His proven track record and expertise in financial services, along with his strategic insights will be instrumental as we continue to execute on our transformation and long-term vision. Brian's perspectives will provide valuable guidance, and his leadership will play a critical role in driving sustainable growth, ensuring we achieve long-term success and maximize the value we deliver to our shareholders, employees, and clients." Callanan is a distinguished lawyer with extensive experience in financial regulation, regulatory compliance, and financial technology. At Liberty, Callanan leads the firm's legal function, serves on its Investment Committee, and focuses on financial sector investments. Prior to joining Liberty, he served as General Counsel of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, overseeing 2,000 lawyers across the department. As Chief General Counsel, he played a key role in major initiatives such as economic rescue programs during COVID-19, the design of new economic sanctions, and the implementation of tax reform. While serving as Deputy General Counsel, Callanan managed major litigation and advised on regulatory reform efforts, among other responsibilities. For his service, he received the Alexander Hamilton Award, the department's highest honor. This appointment aligns with the $1.05 billion equity investment in March 2024 , which stipulated that two Board seats would be granted to lead investor Liberty Strategic Capital. With Callanan's addition, the Company's Board of Directors, which was reconstituted earlier in 2024, expands to nine members, including Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Joseph M. Otting , Milton Berlinski , Alessandro P. DiNello , Alan Frank , Marshall Lux , Lead Independent Director Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin , Allen Puwalski , and Jennifer Whip. About Flagstar Financial, Inc. Flagstar Financial, Inc. is the parent company of Flagstar Bank, N.A., one of the largest regional banks in the country. The Company is headquartered in Hicksville, New York . At September 30, 2024, the Company had $114.4 billion of assets, $73.0 billion of loans, deposits of $83 .0 billion, and total stockholders' equity of $8 .6 billion. Flagstar Bank, N.A. operates over 400 branches, including a significant presence in the Northeast and Midwest and locations in high growth markets in the Southeast and West Coast. In addition, the Bank has approximately 80 private banking teams located in over 10 cities in the metropolitan New York City region and on the West Coast, which serve the needs of high-net worth individuals and their businesses. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This release may include forward‐looking statements by the Company and our authorized officers pertaining to such matters as our goals, beliefs, intentions, and expectations regarding (a) revenues, earnings, loan production, asset quality, liquidity position, capital levels, risk analysis, divestitures, acquisitions, and other material transactions, among other matters; (b) the future costs and benefits of the actions we may take; (c) our assessments of credit risk and probable losses on loans and associated allowances and reserves; (d) our assessments of interest rate and other market risks; (e) our ability to execute on our strategic plan, including the sufficiency of our internal resources, procedures and systems; (f) our ability to attract, incentivize, and retain key personnel and the roles of key personnel; (g) our ability to achieve our financial and other strategic goals, including those related to our merger with Flagstar Bancorp, Inc., which was completed on December 1, 2022, our acquisition of substantial portions of the former Signature Bank through an FDIC-assisted transaction, and our ability to fully and timely implement the risk management programs institutions greater than $100 billion in assets must maintain; (h) the effect on our capital ratios of the approval of certain proposals approved by our shareholders during our 2024 annual meeting of shareholders; (i) the conversion or exchange of shares of the Company's preferred stock; (j) the payment of dividends on shares of the Company's capital stock, including adjustments to the amount of dividends payable on shares of the Company's preferred stock; (k) the availability of equity and dilution of existing equity holders associated with amendments to the 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan; (l) the effects of the reverse stock split; and (m) transactions relating to the sale of our mortgage business and mortgage warehouse business. Forward‐looking statements are typically identified by such words as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "outlook," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "should," "confident," and other similar words and expressions, and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, which change over time. Additionally, forward‐looking statements speak only as of the date they are made; the Company does not assume any duty, and does not undertake, to update our forward‐looking statements. Furthermore, because forward‐looking statements are subject to assumptions and uncertainties, actual results or future events could differ, possibly materially, from those anticipated in our statements, and our future performance could differ materially from our historical results. Our forward‐looking statements are subject to, among others, the following principal risks and uncertainties: general economic conditions and trends, either nationally or locally; conditions in the securities, credit and financial markets; changes in interest rates; changes in deposit flows, and in the demand for deposit, loan, and investment products and other financial services; changes in real estate values; changes in the quality or composition of our loan or investment portfolios, including associated allowances and reserves; changes in future allowance for credit losses, including changes required under relevant accounting and regulatory requirements; the ability to pay future dividends; changes in our capital management and balance sheet strategies and our ability to successfully implement such strategies; recent turnover in our Board of Directors and our executive management team; changes in our strategic plan, including changes in our internal resources, procedures and systems, and our ability to successfully implement such plan; changes in competitive pressures among financial institutions or from non‐financial institutions; changes in legislation, regulations, and policies; the imposition of restrictions on our operations by bank regulators; the outcome of pending or threatened litigation, or of investigations or any other matters before regulatory agencies, whether currently existing or commencing in the future; the success of our blockchain and fintech activities, investments and strategic partnerships; the restructuring of our mortgage business; our ability to recognize anticipated expense reductions and enhanced efficiencies with respect to our recently announced strategic workforce reduction; the impact of failures or disruptions in or breaches of the Company's operational or security systems, data or infrastructure, or those of third parties, including as a result of cyberattacks or campaigns; the impact of natural disasters, extreme weather events, military conflict (including the Russia / Ukraine conflict, the conflict in Israel and surrounding areas, the possible expansion of such conflicts and potential geopolitical consequences), terrorism or other geopolitical events; and a variety of other matters which, by their nature, are subject to significant uncertainties and/or are beyond our control. Our forward-looking statements are also subject to the following principal risks and uncertainties with respect to our merger with Flagstar Bancorp, which was completed on December 1, 2022 , and our acquisition of substantial portions of the former Signature Bank through an FDIC-assisted transaction: the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the transactions will not be realized when expected or at all; the possibility of increased legal and compliance costs, including with respect to any litigation or regulatory actions related to the business practices of acquired companies or the combined business; diversion of management's attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities; the possibility that the Company may be unable to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies in or as a result of the transactions within the expected timeframes or at all; and revenues following the transactions may be lower than expected. Additionally, there can be no assurance that the Community Benefits Agreement entered into with NCRC, which was contingent upon the closing of the Company's merger with Flagstar Bancorp, Inc., will achieve the results or outcome originally expected or anticipated by us as a result of changes to our business strategy, performance of the U.S. economy, or changes to the laws and regulations affecting us, our customers, communities we serve, and the U.S. economy (including, but not limited to, tax laws and regulations). More information regarding some of these factors is provided in the Risk Factors section of our Annual Report on Form 10‐K/A for the year ended December 31, 2023, Quarterly Report on Forms 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2024 , June 30, 2024 , and September 30, 2024 , and in other SEC reports we file. Our forward‐looking statements may also be subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those we may discuss in this news release, on our conference call, during investor presentations, or in our SEC filings, which are accessible on our website and at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov . Investor Contact: Salvatore J. DiMartino (516) 683-4286 Media Contact: Nicole Yelland (248) 219-9234 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/flagstar-financial-inc-appoints-brian-callanan-to-board-of-directors-302331692.html SOURCE Flagstar Financial, Inc.

NoneFLAGSTAR FINANCIAL, INC. APPOINTS BRIAN CALLANAN TO BOARD OF DIRECTORSBEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the suburbs of the capital and that government forces had withdrawn from the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The capture of Homs is a major victory for insurgents, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama , as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said Homs falling into rebel hands would be a game-changer. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. For the first time in the country's long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. No details were immediately available. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama , the country’s fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria and Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed to this report.

Critical Role teases video game, hope to ‘pass the torch’ in future - Polygon

Titans their own worst enemy as they fail again to string together winsThe avoided arbitration with two pitchers Friday, agreeing to contracts for next season with right-handers and both of whom will be returning to the mound after missing all of this past season because of injuries. According to people with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly, May settled with the Dodgers at $2.135 million and Gonsolin at $5.4 million. The Dodgers on Friday also non-tendered relief pitchers Brent Honeywell Jr. and Zach Logue, making them free agents and clearing two spots on the club's 40-man roster. The moves came ahead of Friday's deadline for teams to tender contracts to pre-arbitration and arbitration-eligible players. May, 27, has a 3.10 earned-run average in 46 appearances but has yet to fulfill his promise as a top prospect because of struggles with injuries. Since the start of 2021, May has made just 20 starts. In May 2021 he underwent Tommy John surgery. After returning near the end of 2022, his 2023 season was cut short by another elbow surgery, this time to repair his flexor tendon. Then, after hoping to return this past season, May required esophageal surgery in July, sidelining him for the remainder of the year. Despite that, the Dodgers still envision May as a potential impact player in his final season under team control before free agency, hopeful that he still will possess much of his old, wicked stuff. Gonsolin, 30, is in a similar situation. After his breakout All-Star campaign in 2022 was derailed by a late-season arm injury, Gonsolin struggled in 2023 before undergoing Tommy John surgery that August. He came close to returning at the end of this past season, including completing a minor-league rehab assignment. But the Dodgers didn't put him on their postseason roster, deciding against rushing him back. Both Gonsolin, who won’t be a free agent until after the 2026 season, and May are expected to be ready for opening day. The Dodgers have six other players still eligible for arbitration: Evan Phillips (who is estimated to receive $6.2 million, ), Michael Kopech ($5.2 million), Brusdar Graterol ($2.7 million), Gavin Lux ($2.7 million), Alex Vesia ($1.9 million) and Anthony Banda ($1.1 million). Another arbitration-eligible player, reliever Connor Brogdon, was outrighted to triple-A Oklahoma City last week. Honeywell was non-tendered Friday after serving in a notable — and, to both the team and its fans, much-appreciated — innings-eating role in the postseason; including a 42⁄3 innings outing in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series that saved the rest of the bullpen ahead of the Dodgers' pennant-clinching win in Game 6. He also had a 2.63 ERA in 20 outings in the regular season. Logue was a late-season pick-up who made just two outings with the Dodgers. The team's 40-man roster now has four open spots as they proceed into the rest of the offseason. This story originally appeared in .

Fever tickets 2025: Cheapest prices, seat map, full schedule for WNBA games in Indianapolis | Sporting NewsAflac Incorporated Announces 16.0% Increase in the First Quarter 2025 Dividend

Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten have emotional reunion as fans say ‘don’t separate' them

Netanyahu's office says his security Cabinet has approved ceasefire deal with Hezbollah[Written by ] Bermudian motocross rider Jazuri Easton Thompson has reached a new milestone in his career, securing a podium finish at the prestigious Thor Mini O’s competition held at Gatorback Cycle Park in Alachua, Florida. The 17-year-old impressed in the 250cc Limited Supercross main event, earning third place – a result he described as the “highlight” of his blossoming career. The Thor Mini O’s is one of the largest and most competitive amateur motocross events in the United States. “I’m pretty stoked with how the competition has gone so far,” Easton Thompson told Bernews. “I’ve got a few more days of racing left this week.” Easton Thompson’s motocross journey began at the age of six on the Southside Motocross Track in St David’s. Now, he trains full-time at the South of the Border Motocross Facility in South Carolina, dedicating himself to the sport. “It’s like a football school, but for motocross,” he explained. “I’m training there five days a week as I look to achieve my dream of turning pro.” The former Warwick Academy student is joined in Florida by a close-knit team, including his father and team manager Jamel Thompson, younger brother Jazai Easton Thompson, and fellow Bermudian riders Aaron Cannonier and his son A’Kyo Cannonier. Bermudian Motocross rider Jazuri Easton Thompson claimed a third-place finish in the 250cc Limited Supercross main event at the Thor Mini O's in Florida — BernewsSports (@BernewsSports) Jazai, 12, is also gaining valuable experience at the Mini O’s as he continues to develop his skills. “It’s been good so far,” said Jazai, a Warwick Academy student. “I’m definitely getting better and hope to do well in my next two races. “I’ve been working on my technique, jumping, [and] getting on the throttle. “I want to be able to beat my brother one day!” : , ,

Prep football | Ferndale advances to NCS championship with 43-7 drenching of PiedmontNEW YORK — It’s almost that time of year: Spotify is gearing up to release its annual Wrapped, personalized recaps of users' listening habits and year in audio. Spotify has been giving its listeners breakdowns of their data since 2016. And each year, it’s become a bigger production — and internet sensation. Spotify said its 2023 Wrapped was the “biggest ever created,” in terms of audience reach and the kind of data it provided. So, what will 2024 have in store? Here’s a look at what to know ahead of this year’s Spotify Wrapped. What exactly is Spotify Wrapped? It’s the streaming service's annual overview of individual listening trends, as well as trends around the world. Users learn their top artists, songs, genres, albums and podcasts, all wrapped into one interactive presentation. The campaign has become a social media sensation, as people share and compare their Wrapped data with their friends and followers online. Past iterations have provided users with all kinds of breakdowns and facts, including whether they’re among an artist’s top listeners, as well as a personalized playlist of their top 100 songs of that year to save, share and listen to whenever they’re feeling nostalgic. Spotify also creates a series of playlists that reflect national and global listening trends, featuring the top streamed artists and songs. In 2023, Taylor Swift was Spotify's most streamed artist , unseating Bad Bunny who had held the title for three years in a row. Each year has something new in store. In 2019, Wrapped included a summary of users’ streaming trends for the entire decade. Last year, Spotify matched listeners to a Sound Town based on their artist affinities and how it lined up with those in other parts of the world. When is the expected release date? So far, the streaming platform has kept the highly anticipated release date of Wrapped under ... er, wraps. In past years, it’s been released after Thanksgiving, between Nov. 30 and Dec. 6. Each year, rumors tend to swell on social media around when Spotify stops collecting data in order to prepare their Wrapped results, and this year was no exception. Spotify quickly squashed those presumptions , assuring on social media that “Spotify Wrapped doesn’t stop counting on October 31st.” A representative for Spotify did not respond to a request for comment on when the company stops tracking data for Wrapped. Where can I find my Spotify Wrapped? When Wrapped is released, each user's Spotify account will prompt them to view their interactive data roundup. It can be accessed through the Spotify smartphone app, or by logging on to the Spotify website . Wrapped is available to users with and without Premium subscriptions. What else can I learn with my Spotify data? There are a handful of third-party sites that you can connect your Spotify account to that will analyze your Wrapped data. How Bad is Your Spotify is an AI bot that judges your music taste. Receiptify gives you your top songs on a sharable graphic that looks like, yes, a receipt. Instafest gives you your own personal music festival-style lineup based on your top artists. How NPRCore Are You assesses how similar your music taste is to NPR Music's. What if I don’t have Spotify? Other major streaming platforms such as Apple Music and YouTube Music have developed their own versions of Wrapped in recent years. Apple Music’s Replay not only gives its subscribers a year-end digest of their listening habits but monthly summaries as well — a feature that helps differentiate itself from the one-time Spotify recap. That's released at the end of the calendar year. YouTube Music, meanwhile, has a similar end-of-the-year release for its listeners, as well as periodic seasonal releases throughout the year. It released its annual Recap for users earlier this month.The artist’s concept portrays a sleek and modern new building with sharp angles and generous natural light. The Butte Community Wellness and Resilience Hub would be built near the Butte Civic Center and on formerly contaminated ground associated with the Parrot Tailings. As envisioned, the center would serve a host of functions, ranging from providing recreation and wellness programming and facilities to a shelter during times when wildlife smoke diminishes air quality and threatens health — an increasingly common scenario given climate change. Butte-Silver Bow County appears destined to benefit from EPA’s Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program. The city-county learned recently that it would receive a multi-million grant from the program. Fine-tuning will follow, according to Taylor Gillespie, a regional spokeswoman for EPA. “After a grant is selected, they go through work plan negotiations which is a back-and-forth process between Butte-Silver Bow and the EPA project officer to make sure that the details are solid and that they are on track to meet the requirements of the grant,” Gillespie said. “This would include going line by line through their budget, looking at all of the specifics in the work plan, etc.” EPA has not yet announced the grant amount, but Butte-Silver Bow’s application last spring sought $20 million. And that’s the amount J.P. Gallagher anticipates local government will receive. “This is going to be a huge benefit to the community,” said Gallagher, chief executive of Butte-Silver Bow. “We are very confident that we will be fully funded but before we go into final engineering and design, we need the full confirmation of that funding,” he said. “The cost of construction could affect the square footage of what can be built. There are still some unknowns.” An estimate of total square-footage was not available Thursday. Gallagher said the city-county received feedback that its application, completed in consultation with Water & Environmental Technologies, was one of the most complete received by EPA for funding from the agency’s Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program. No taxpayer money was involved in preparing the ambitious grant application, Gallagher said. The proposal had to fall within the grant program’s environmental and climate justice framework. The grant application alluded to the human and economic costs of federal Superfund designation for Butte because of historic mining and smelting pollution. “With an active Superfund site, prolonged disinvestment and significant indicators of poverty and negative environmental impacts, Butte-Silver Bow has been designated as a disadvantaged community and continues to struggle with the impacts of social, economic and environmental decline,” the application noted. Given that status, how will Butte-Silver Bow pay to operate the new facility? One estimate puts annual operating costs at about $560,000. The feasibility study completed by Water & Environmental Technologies cites a variety of ways, in fees and rentals, that the facility could cover expenses. Gallagher weighed in. “The analysis is that the facility would make money to pay for operation,” he said. The feasibility study observes, “One of the most important criterion when selecting and evaluating potential programming is the ability of that programming to recover at least 100% of its expense.” The study adds, “Providing spaces for event, birthday, meeting, fitness and gymnasium rentals offers potential for recovering expenses.” Gallagher said the recreational functions of the facility will likely be less like a fitness center and more like a gym — with basketball and volleyball courts and probably pickleball, too. Programming at the Community Wellness and Resilience Hub would focus on such things as community resiliency, emergency preparedness and wellbeing activities. Several regional environmental consulting businesses and contractors benefit from the so-called remediation economy tied to Butte’s status as a federal Superfund site. And a few cleanup projects have benefitted the community in tangible ways. But a cost/benefits analysis of the Superfund status hitched like a lamprey to Butte since 1987 would have to consider a host of costs, including environmental stigma. Some residents of Butte-Silver Bow are routinely critical of EPA’s handling of Superfund work in the region. But relationships recently improved when EPA proposed a dramatic decrease in the action level for lead in residential soils and interior dust.

Vancouver fans will enjoy 5G network upgrades at BC Place