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The Magic Valley Area Humanitarian Center blossoms during its first year

Volunteers work Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, at the Magic Valley Area Humanitarian Center in Rupert.

RUPERT The Magic Valley Area Humanitarian Center is a non-profit volunteer-based organization that uses donations of supplies, time and labor to help people in need with school supplies, hygiene kits and supplies for newborns, along with handcrafted quilts, sleeping mats for those experiencing homelessness and learning games for youth or people who experienced a stroke.

Leslie Garner, Ruperts special projects manager, nominated the nonprofit. Volunteers come together to give of their time, talents and resources to care for those in need, she wrote in her nomination.

The Magic Valley Area Humanitarian Center President Becky Schow said the number of regular volunteers that come to lend their time and talents to the project has doubled since the center opened 10 months ago.

Its easy to understand why people love to come into the center because they know the person who will receive the items really needs the help, she said.

From left, Becky Schow, Sally * and Kathy Duncan have a photo taken Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, at the Magic Valley Area Humanitarian Center in Rupert.

The center networks with about 35 organizations across the region, including schools, nursing homes, domestic violence and homeless shelters, among others to provide supplies.

Basically, people want to help people, she said. People want to help their neighbors and they know they are making a difference.

Rupert really benefits from having such a quality organization in the city, Rupert Mayor Mike Brown said.

But, Rupert isnt the only place to benefit, he said. The benefits extend all over the Magic Valley and Idaho.

The Magic Valley Area Humanitarian Center sits Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, in Rupert.

Along with all the products they are delivering to people in need, they are providing people with the opportunity to help others, Brown said.

It makes you feel good when you are able to help someone else, he said. I really commend those folks for doing this.

People are often hooked when they come into the center, which is clean and bright and nicely stocked with project materials, Schow said.

People with all types of skill sets are able to help with the various steps of each project.

People come into the center and they love how it makes them feel, Schow said. Its a win-win situation whether people are receiving the items or serving and volunteering. Its just an incredible happy space.

About: The Magic Valley Area Humanitarian Center is a non-profit organization that helps people in need with handcrafted items and kits that are made by community volunteers.

Years in the Magic Valley: The organization opened its doors in March 2019

Number of regular volunteers: 70

Interesting fact: The center logged 29,750 service hours by volunteers through Jan. 23, 2020.

Community contributions: The center networks with about 35 organizations across the Magic Valley that help people in need and provides a variety of items and kits to make peoples lives a little easier. The center also provides an opportunity for volunteers to get involved and help others.

Former owners, Kirt and Carol Martin, left, talk with new owners, Jennifer and Arthur Reece, on Jan. 23 at Snake River Grill in Hagerman. The Reeces say they will continue to use Chef Martin's menu and recipes.

HAGERMAN Chef Kirt Martin says his dedication to local growers, fish farms and wineries has kept Snake River Grill customers happy for a quarter of a century.

Now, the Cordon Bleu-educated chef is giving up his grill at the south end of Hagerman to teach culinary arts and food science at Hagerman High School.

The Hagerman Valley, known as the banana belt of Idaho, grows a unique variety of food from melons and wine grapes to sturgeon and alligator.

Its my Shangri-La, Martin said. I dont take any of this for granted.

Former owners Kirt and Carol Martin, left, pose for a portrait with new owners Jennifer and Arthur Reece on Jan. 23 at Snake River Grill in Hagerman.

He plans to inspire his students at the high school many of whom were raised on microwaved meals with the same appreciation for fresh food and community.

These kids are a sponge, absorbing what hes teaching, Gooding County Commissioner Mark Bolduc said. Kirt is showing them how to get fresh ingredients and how to cook them. I think people are becoming more and more interested in knowing where their food comes from.

Bolduc and Judy Osborne, treasurer of the Hagerman Valley Chamber of Commerce, say they are happy to have Martin and his wife, Carol, stay in Hagerman.

Snake River Grill supports the whole economy of the valley, Bolduc, a business owner and real estate agent, said.

Part of the dining area sits closed during morning hours Jan. 23 at Snake River Grill in Hagerman. Snake River Grill has been selected as one of the businesses featured for the Making it in the Magic Valley award.

The Martins have been great supporters of everything in the valley, he said. They are very enthusiastic about life in general.

Meanwhile, Arthur and Jennifer Reece, the new owners of the Snake River Grill, plan to continue Martins focus on buying local.

Theyre keeping the same crew and the same recipes, Martin said.

About: Snake River Grill is a family restaurant serving customers from Twin Falls to Boise.

Years in the Magic Valley: 25 years

Number of employees: 23

Interesting fact: After a quarter-century at Snake River Grill, Chef Kirt Martin has sold his business to teach food science and culinary arts at Hagerman High School.

Community contribution: Snake River Grill's menu includes as many locally grown products as possible. "Fresh is what we strive for," Chef Kirt Martin said.

Vice President of Customer Experience Retha Nesmith poses for a portrait Jan. 24 at Plant Therapy. The company was founded nine years ago and now has 100 employees, most of whom work in Twin Falls.

TWIN FALLS Plant Therapy is growing like a weed.

The essential oils company opened in Twin Falls in 2011. Since then its been named Idahos fastest growing company and the 31st fastest growing business in the country.

Essential oils are extracted from plants. Theyre basically a concentrated, bottled version of the aromatic chemicals within plants. Some say that using essential oils as a form of aromatherapy, or rubbing them on the skin, can help with a wide variety of ailments.

They have a lot of different therapeutic benefits, said Plant Therapy Vice President of Customer Experience Retha Nesmith.

Nesmith said essential oils can relieve anxiety, depression, insomnia and pain.

Products sit for sale Jan. 20 at Plant Therapy inTwin Falls. Plant Therapy develops and manufactures its products here.

Peppermint essential oils are typically said to increase energy. Lavender is thought of as a stress reliever. Sandalwood can help with focus. Plant Therapy sources some of its peppermint and lavender essential oils from Idaho.

Our oils come from all over the world, Nesmith said.

Plant Therapy isnt the first essential oils company. But Nesmith said part of the business success is due to finding a unique sales niche.

Essential oils are often sold as part of multi-level marketing efforts. Plant Therapy sells its products directly to consumers.

We were one of the first direct-to-consumer essential oils companies, Nesmith said.

Plant Therapy continues to grow fast. The Twin Falls-based company has 100 employees, and four retail stores in Idaho.

The company is planning a major launch of 30 broad-spectrum CBD products sometime in the next few months, as well as new lotions.

LeeAnn Cline is the Times-News ambassador to the Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce. She said Plant Therapy does a lot to give back to the Magic Valley.

Their contributions to the community go above and beyond, Cline said. You will see a Plant Therapy team volunteering their time at all the local charitable and fundraising events. Theyre always smiling and always willing to help.

Nesmith said that charitable streak comes from the top.

Chris (Jones, the owner,) is just one of the most charitable people I know, she said. She noted that Plant Therapy has helped build wells and an orphanage in Africa, and that company employees participate in trash clean up days.

About: Plant Therapy makes essential oils strongly scented liquids extracted from plants and used primarily for aromatherapy and sells them directly to consumers.

Years in the Magic Valley: 9

Number of employees: 100, mostly in Twin Falls, but also in Boise.

Interesting fact: Plant Therapy uses lavender and peppermint grown in Idaho in some of its oils.

Community contribution: Company employees often volunteer at local charitable and fundraising events, and help pick up trash.

Children play outside Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, at the Boys and Girls Club of the Magic Valley in Rupert.

RUPERT The Boys & Girls Clubs of Magic Valley in Rupert opened in the summer of 2018. The programs continued growth allowed the program to expand to a third location at Heyburn Elementary School this year.

Community partnerships with the Minidoka County School District and the city of Rupert allowed the program to easily expand, said Lindsey Westburg, the groups executive director.

The response in the community to this program has been tremendous, Rupert Mayor Mike Brown said. We knew we needed something like this but we didnt know how much we needed it.

Yeliah Juarez picks up her snack Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, at the Boys and Girls Club of the Magic Valley in Rupert.

The club offers after school and summer activities along with kindergarten. Activities include homework help, learning about healthy lifestyles, art, snacks and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) program, along with community service and leadership activities.

They have provided much-needed youth programming, Leslie Garner, the citys special projects manager, wrote in nominating the group. The B&G Club provides a structured environment while offering a safe alternative to latch-key kids. They have assisted in educational excellence.

The Rupert program serves students at Rupert, Heyburn, Paul and Acequia schools, with the school district providing busing for students to the locations. Parents pick their students up from the club.

Brown commends the school districts commitment to the program because the busing allows the program to serve children in several communities.

The club is a safety net for the community, Westburg said. The organization has been in southern Idaho for 25 years.

Children hang outside Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, at the Boys and Girls Club of the Magic Valley in Rupert.

Brown said one of the best parts of the program is that it serves children regardless of their familys ability to pay.

After school programs are offered free of charge and summer programs have a nominal fee. There is an annual $20 membership fee, and scholarships are available.

The program serves children ages 5 to 18 years old and provides an opportunity for them to build relationships with caring mentors and learn the benefits of community service, Westburg said.

We are always working hard to figure out how to serve more kids and serve them the best we can, she said.

About: The Boys & Girls Clubs of Magic Valley in Rupert operates in three locations at Rupert Elementary School, 323 First St. and Heyburn Elementary School. The organization offers kindergarten classes along with after school programs for youth ages 5 to 18 years old.

Years in the Magic Valley: Establish summer 2018, Boys & Girls Clubs of Magic Valley have been in the area for 25 years

Number of employees: 25

Interesting fact: The Rupert program was made possible through a community partnership with the city of Rupert and the Minidoka County School District.

Community contributions: It provides a safe space for children during non-school hours where they can build relationships with caring mentors where they can feel empowered and build character through community service.

TWIN FALLS When Koto Brewing Co. owner Shane Cook visited Twin Falls for a weekend from his native Salt Lake City 14 years ago, he fell in love with the community right away. The smaller city also gave him new opportunities in the restaurant business.

I would never dare to open my own place in Salt Lake, Cook said. But the community support here its the reason I moved here.

After just more than a year, Koto earned this years Making it in the Magic Valley award for a Twin Falls small employer.

Cook opened Twin Falls Sandwich Co. in 2012. A few years later, he set his sights on another venture: A brewery and restaurant.

Pierre Tusow, head brewer fills a keg Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, at Koto Brewing Company in downtown Twin Falls.

The right spot was just down the street from Sandwich Co. downtown. But the building, which was nearly 100 years old, required quite a bit of restorative work before it could start brewing and hosting guests.

It was a six-month project that turned into a year and a half, Cook said. Once we started tearing into it, we had to start replacing all of the plumbing, all of the electrical.

Koto officially opened on Dec. 7, 2018. The revitalization came just after the rest of the downtown underwent its massive renovation.

Nathan Murray, the director of economic development for the City of Twin Falls who nominated Koto for this honor, said Cooks efforts with both of his businesses have been key in the recent growth downtown.

Shane was one of the early investors that helped begin the renaissance of downtown Twin Falls with the establishment of the Twin Falls Sandwich Co., Murray said in his nomination. His most recent venture, Koto Brewing Company, has also been a success and brought vibrancy to the local nightlife.

Koto Brewing Company currently has 11 beers on tap Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, in downtown Twin Falls.

Cook has home-brewed for more than 20 years, but he put the chief brewing duties in the hands of his friend, Pierre Tusow. Koto uses almost exclusively ingredients from Idaho.

He does it much better than I do, Cook said. But between the two of us, it was a no-brainer. Its definitely something the community needs, a place to hang out.

On top of its food and drinks, Koto has acted as an all-purpose entertainment hub downtown. Once-a-month events include a trivia night in partnership with the Magic Valley Young Professionals and stand-up comedians. The comedians come from all across the country.

When there isnt trivia or comedy going on, Koto hosts its share of live music.

Cook said Twin Falls has taken good care of Koto so far in its short history, and he wants the company to be a positive in the community. Having a place where people can gather and share ideas is great for locals.

Read more:
Making it in the Magic Valley: 12 local organizations that found success and give back - Twin Falls Times-News

Following the termination of Windows 7 technical support, South Korean Govt has drafted a strategy to replace Windows 7 dependency with a Linux-based open source OS at full scale.

In May last year, the Korean govt announced the migration from Windows to Linux. Subsequently,the Ministry of Public Administration and Security plans to adopt the Open OS fully for all public institutions and local governments by 2026.

Open OS is an open-source operating system that is free to use by anyone who can also modify or inspect the OS source code available freely.

According to the report by Newsis, the Ministry of National Defense is already using Ubuntu 18.04 LTS-based Harmonica OS and the Postal Service division is going to utilize TMAX OS.

But currently, Open OS lacks some software support that needs to be solved to run the essential productivity applications effectively.

The ministries and agencies are targetting to replace the Windows OS to eliminate the dependencies of certain companies and reduce the high budget for technical support.

The ministry also intends to switch to Desktop as a Service (DaaS) in the later months to support the Open OS in the private cloud using the Internet.

Hence, DaaS will save up to 72 percent of the cost of purchasing an existing PC, along with the reduction in the budget for additional support.

Via Daum

Link:
South Korea To Replace Windows 7 With Linux-Based Open OS - Fossbytes

Photo Credit: Independent

The January transferwindow failed to live up to expectations for a number of different reasons.

Manchester Unitedfinally secured the signature of Bruno Fernandes and Tottenham Hotspur havereplaced Christian Eriksen with Steven Bergwijn and Gedson Fernandes, but thedifficulty numerous different Premier League clubs experienced in attempting torecruit a new forward encapsulated the difficulties of the January market.

United, Spurs,Chelsea and others had all hoped to recruit a new striker, only to struggle torecruit players with the desired profile. Gone are the days when such clubscould pick off the likes of Louis Saha from Fulham or Nicolas Anelka from BoltonWanderers. Now top-flight clubs from around Europe have little incentive tosell their star assets mid-season, particularly if worried by the prospect ofrelegation.

Much has been made ofBarcelonas struggles this window. The Spanish giants wanted to sign a newstriker to replace the injured Luis Surez and quickly began offloading theirdeadwood in order to raise the necessary funds.

Two forwards were offloaded Carlos Prez to Roma and Abel Ruiz to Braga but Barcelona failed to replace them with tentative interest in Evertons Richarlison and Arsenals Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang failing to lead anywhere. Things then went from bad to worse for Barcelona on Tuesday, when it was announced that Ousmane Dembl will miss the rest of the season with a ruptured tendon in his thigh.

read more

The Haitian Times was founded in 1999 as a weekly English language newspaper based in Brooklyn, NY.The newspaper is widely regarded as the most authoritative voice for Haitian Diaspora.

Read this article:
The 50 transfer sagas that will define the summer window for Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal and more - Haitian Times

The 32- year-old has actually been in great goalscoring type for high-flying Getafe this period, and his launch provision is quickly obtainable for Barca

Barcelona are looking to indication Getafe leading marker Angel Rodriguez outside of the transfer window as they attempt to replace damaged assaulting duo Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele.

Barcas efforts to replace Suarez throughout the January window showed useless as a late step for Valencias Rodrigo damaged down, and passion in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Fernando Llorente to name a few stopped working to materialise.

Sources have actually validated to Goal that Angel has actually been determined as the following target, though Getafe head of state Angel Torres Sanchez decreased to discuss the issue.

Angel is thought to have a EUR10 million ( 8m/$11 m) launch provision, and is popular to Ramon Planes, aide to showing off supervisor Eric Abidal, from his time at Getafe.

La Liga clubs can authorize gamers outside the transfer window if a participant of their team experiences a lasting injury throughout the period, yet should obtain dispensation from the Spanish FA (RFEF) to do so.

LFP self-control code short article 124.3 mentions that the anticipated lack for the injury should be 5 months or even more for authorization to be offered.

The transfer needs to occur in between 2 Spanish clubs, so an abroad gamer would certainly not be an alternative.

The injury should have taken place after completion of one of the most current transfer window, indicating it is Dembeles scenario which will certainly be thought about as opposed to Suarez.

The Frenchman has actually endured a torn hamstring, though an anticipated return day has actually not yet been revealed by the club.

Barca would certainly have 15 days to full thetransfer Dembele would certainly not obtain an additional permit to play this period, also if he returns to physical fitness prior to completion of the project.

Suarez, at the same time, has actually undertaken surgical treatment on a major knee injury and might miss out on the remainder of the period therefore.

If an exception is provided by the RFEF, the EUR10 m charge for Angel ought to absent any type of barrier as Barcas assaulting situation deepens.

Quique Setiens side had actually likewise thought about the sort of Gironas previous Middlesbrough ahead Cristhian Stuani, Loren Moron of Real Betis, and also a recall for previous amulet David Villa.

However, it is the seasoned Angel that they will certainly transform to.

Article proceeds listed below

Formerly of Tenerife, Elche and Real Zaragoza to name a few, Rodriguez had a brief spell with Real Madrid B earlier in his job and has actually been with Getafe given that the summertime of 2017.

He has actually been in excellent type this period, netting 13 objectives in 27 video games in all competitors.

Getafe are flying high in La Liga, simply 7 factors behind Barca in 3rd, and will certainly deal with Ajax in the last 32 of the Europa League.

Visit link:
Barcelona hopeful of signing Getafe star Angel outside of transfer window in bid to replace Dembele and Suarez - The Union Journal

Date published: Sunday 9th February 2020 4:00

The January transfer window oftentimes resembles a fire sale, a month-long Black Friday event offering underpriced, often needless, always fleeting items to customers with more money than sense, and quite often, not much of either. Three toasters for 50? Heck, Ill take six; thats toast in every room of the house. To find value and the quality to improve your stock at the right price becomes increasingly difficult in a dull Championship season being adversely affected by the ongoing threat of Financial Fair Play. So step forward West Bromwich Albion, the unofficial winners of the winter transfer window.

Even before the start of the window, there were cracks appearing in the table topping Baggies, who had lost some of their boing boing around the festive period and seen their dual dominance with Leeds United dwindle thanks to runs of two wins in 15 games between the automatic promotion runways-cum-contenders. The fact that Slaven Bilics side were in such a dominant position to begin with stemmed from such a successful summer window where the right mix of Championship experience, exciting youngsters, and foreign flair were brought into the club.

Now unlike almost all of their second tier contemporaries, who were either struck by fear of panic to bring in bodies or fear of FFP to bring in nobody, the Hawthorns side saw where the holes were in their team, and duly went around applying the Polish poly filler of winger Kamil Grosicki, the steel plaster of forward Callum Robinson and the insurance policy of experienced defender Lee Peltier from Cardiff City.

Against one of the toughest home sides in the Championship, not to mention one of the most dangerous sides in the EFL on form in recent months, West Brom made a mockery of the inclement weather conditions to inflict just Millwalls third Den defeat of the season. Peltier didnt have a part to play as he races to fitness but Robinson and Grosicki both looked strong and played their contributing parts in the victory, the Poles quick thinking, fastly taken corner providing the second goal which assured Albion of the victory after replacing fellow new boy Robinson who impressed once more after a man-of-the-match display on his debut.

So, while Leeds allowed themselves to be caught within touching distance by the chasing pack this weekend, West Brom knew three points were imperative in the final Championship fixture of the round to keep the likes of Fulham, Brentford and Nottingham Forest at bay.

While the Elland Road side were adding a man with three goals in 18 months to challenge one of the worst finishers in the division in Patrick Bamford and being shocked at losing their last two games without goal scoring reply, Bilic and his Baggies put excuses to one side and provided a performance worthy of champions that their winter transfer window exploits allowed. Now thats value for money.

Nathan Spafford is on Twitter

Read more here:
West Brom are the unofficial winners of the winter window - Football365.com

Last February, the B.C. Lions signed 11 free agents from other Canadian Football League teams and saw 18 of their own leave for greener and whiter, greener and golder, or double-blue pastures.

They also lost two players to retirement Travis Lulay and Marco Iannuzzi and released kicker Ty Long to pursue his National Football League aspirations.

It was a massive overhaul of their roster, and the daily comings and goings put them at the centre of the free agency periods many machinations. Their Day One signing of quarterback Mike Reilly kicked off proceedings, and the reverberations were felt most profoundly in Ottawa and Edmonton, as former Redblacks pivot Trevor Harris replaced Reilly with the Eskimos. The Redblacks were left to pick up the pieces, plugging in erstwhile Lion Jonathon Jennings to pair with incumbent Dominique Davis.

At the same time, the Saskatchewan and Toronto were making their plays for Bo Levi Mitchell, who eventually spurned a massive offer from the Argos and re-signed with the Stampeders. The Riders re-signed Zach Collaros and grabbed Cody Fajardo from B.C. while the Argos went with James Franklin and McLeod Bethel-Thompson.

There wont be a repeat of the QB derby this year. When Matt Nichols signed a three-year deal with Toronto on Thursday, all nine teams had their starters locked up.

Instead, it appears defensive linemen and wide receivers will move most of the market.

Those two positions have definitely been the most talked about, agent Rob Fry said of league-wide chatter provoked by the negotiating window that opened Feb. 2 and will close on Sunday. It seems the highest numbers being talked about with regards to those players. Youre definitely seeing teams looking to strengthen their D line and theres always a few upper end wide receivers who are difference makers who get higher numbers thrown their way as well.

Reigning defensive player of the year Willie Jefferson is likely at the top of the pyramid this time around. TSN was first to link Jefferson with Toronto, where he would essentially take over the $250,000-plus contract vacated by wide receiver Derel Walker, who could be on the move to the Lions.

The reverberations of a Jefferson signing would obviously be felt first in Winnipeg, as the Bombers would have cap space to replace Jefferson, and they might also lose defensive tackle Drake Nevis.

Elsewhere, Montreals new GM Danny Maciocia made it clear he wants to upgrade the Als D line, and a source said they were one of five teams that inquired early in the negotiating period about Saskatchewans Micah Johnson. The Als registered a league-low 27 sacks last year, so improvement is vital.

So too in B.C. and Ottawa, as they were tied for second low number of sacks at 28, half as many as the league leaders in Regina and Edmonton.

Luckily enough for anyone in the hunt, the free agent class of defensive linemen is deep and talented; Dylan Wynn in Hamilton, Torontos Cleyon Laing, Calgarys Chris Casher and Johnson are in the top echelon.

Walker might set the dominoes in motion at the wide receiver spot, and the Lions are apparently in hot pursuit. There should certainly be a secondary market for players like Dominique Rhymes, DaVaris Daniels and DeVier Posey. There is reasonably good depth at this position also, with the likes of Juwan Brescacin and Naaman Roosevelt available.

If its time to hand the ball to a different running back, how about C.J. Gable, Don Jackson and Terry Williams in Calgary, Cameron Marshall and Chris Rainey?

There are solid options at linebacker where Larry Dean should be first off the board, followed by Don Unamba, Patrick Levels, Justin Tuggle, Micah Awe and Marcus Ball. Headlining the defensive backs will be Ciante Evans, with Anthony Cioffi, Branden Dozier and Richard Leonard in a tightly packed group behind him.

And last but hardly least, a few offensive linemen will be prized commodities for some teams. The Lions, for instance, were a disaster up front at the beginning of last season. They fired line coach Bryan Chiu and his replacement, Kelly Bates, seemed to settle the big men down. Still, they could use an upgrade, and will be able to choose from the likes of Derek Dennis, Justin Renfrow and Ryker Mathews.

This isnt a real strong class of Canadian O linemen at their prime, which we have seen in past years, said Fry. You just dont have a big group of starting O linemen in their mid-20s. In past years, that has been a very highly discussed, higher-priced position.

Last year Sukh Chungh made a pricey move from the Bombers to the Lions, and SirVincent Rogers left the Redblacks to join the Eskimos.

Last year, and for all years prior, players and agents werent free to speak to teams prior to the first day of free agency, though it surely happened. The new CBA opened up the formal negotiating window, and will also offer GMs from each team a 48-hour exclusive negotiating period with their own pending free agents, a period that will expire two hours before free agency begins. Each team will be made aware of any formal offers made by other clubs, and will therefore be able to make informed decisions on contract offers for those players before the market opens on Feb. 11 at noon ET.

I dont think there has been a ton of formal offers throughout the league, but personally I have had a couple for my clients, Fry said on Friday afternoon. It doesnt feel like free agency quite yet. Its been slower communication, with everybody just feeling each other out. Its like a controlled chaos right now.

That said, he views the negotiating window as a league-wide experiment and there are parts of it that he sees as valuable.

I like that it gives my clients the ability if there is interest from a club to have productive conversations, not only with a management staff but also a variety of people on the coaching staff to really get a sense of what that fit will look like, especially if there is not a lot of familiarity in the building for that player. It gives them a chance for open communication about how they are going to be used as a player, what are the facilities like, what is the city like, what is the culture of the building like.

I like that because come February 11th, when things are happening quick, you run out of time to really get into those details. So I feel going into February 11th, my clients have a bit better sense of their priorities in making this decision.

Fry said some teams have approached the negotiating window as a chance to have many conversations with several players and agents, while others have hung back and are loathe to offer any sense of the kind of money they are willing to allocate to certain players.

I still feel like there is a bit of mystery going into February 11th just because it is such a small league and some teams want to be careful how much information they give out.

THE FREE AGENT MARKET

Heres a look at the most likely free agents to move, by position, excluding quarterbacks and kickers because there isnt a large enough sample size:

Defensive backs

Ciante Evans

Frankie Williams (extended by Hamilton)

Richard Leonard

Anthony Cioffi

Branden Dozier

Abdul Kanneh

Jonathan Rose

Garry Peters

Money Hunter

Chandler Fenner

Linebackers

Larry Dean

Don Unamba

Patrick Levels

Justin Tuggle

Micah Awe

Marcus Ball

Cory Greenwood

Solomon Elimimian

Chris Ackie

Sam Hurl

Defensive linemen

Willie Jefferson

Dylan Wynn

JaGared Davis (extended by Hamilton)

Micah Johnson

Cleyon Laing

Chris Casher

Tobi Antigha

Drake Nevis

Shawn Lemon

Odell Willis

Wide receivers

Derel Walker

Dominique Rhymes

Davaris Daniels

SJ Green

Darvin Adams (extended by Winnipeg)

Juwan Brescacin

Rodney Smith

DeVier Posey

Naaman Roosevelt

Nate Behar

Running backs

CJ Gable

Don Jackson

Terry Williams

Jeremiah Johnson

Cameron Marshall

Marcus Thigpen

Tyrell Sutton

Chris Rainey

Mossis Madu

Anthony Coombs

Offensive linemen

Sean McEwen (signed by Calgary)

Derek Dennis

Ryker Mathews

Dariusz Bladek

Philip Blake

Thaddeus Coleman

Michael Couture (extended by Winnipeg)

Tommie Draheim

Josiah St. John

Justin Renfrow

Link:
Defensive linemen and wide receivers driving the CFL free agent market through negotiating window - Toronto Sun

Quotations for a standard silver package:

House type/size

Price

Studio apartment

Dh1,350

1-bedroom apartment

Dh1,650

2-bedroom apartment

Dh2,000

3-bedroom apartment

Dh3,000

4-bedroom apartment

Dh3,500

5-bedroom apartment

Dh4,000

1-bedroom villa

Dh1,900

2-bedroom villa

Dh2,700

3-bedroom villa

Dh3,850

4-bedroom villa

Dh4,800

5-bedroom villa

Dh6,200

* Mr Usta packages with five service providers

* Includes: yearly AC maintenance, checks of electrical fittings & plumbing units, minor repairs, 1 handyman service, 5 emergency call-outs, 10% discount on out-of-scope jobs

* +Dh250 for maids rooms in apartments and +Dh500 for maids rooms in villas

In the middle of the night last month, Dirar Abdallah found the kitchen and bathroom in his three-bedroom Dubai villa flooded with sewage. He had just signed up for an annual maintenance contract in December, spending around Dh5,000, and this was the first real test.

In the middle of the night, if you find someone who comes and does a perfect job for you, then you will not regret a single dirham that you paid for them.

Dirar Abdallah, Dubai homeowner

With emergency call-outs included in his package, he called the company and the team was on-site within 30 minutes. They opened up the main drain line, which was blocked, and after finishing they returned everything including the artificial grass as it was before in a very professional and efficient way, says Mr Abdallah.

Thats priceless for anyone, says the physician who has lived in the UAE for 10 years. In the middle of the night, if you find someone who comes and does a perfect job for you, then you will not regret a single dirham you paid for them ... even if you dont need them for the rest of the year.

When it comes to deciding between an annual contract or paying per visit, Mr Abdallah says there is no contest. In addition to emergency call-outs, his package covers AC cleaning four times a year, electrical and plumbing checks three times a year, pest control twice a year and water tank cleaning once a year.

Experts agree that signing up for an annual maintenance contract will save you money in the long run, as per-hour or per-time services can quickly add up.

You should definitely go for an annual maintenance contract because doing so would be much cheaper than paying for each of these services, says Bana Shomali, founder and chief executive of UAE online marketplace ServiceMarket.

Aside from the peace of mind that annual maintenance packages can give in times of emergency, preventive measures can help avoid future problems. Buying an annual maintenance contract for your home is a bit like regular servicing for your car. Perhaps your car is running smoothly, but you should still periodically change the oil and check everything from your engine to your brakes and tyres.

Annual maintenance contracts are the same, says Ibrahim Colak, founder and chief executive of UAE online service marketplace Mr Usta. Maybe there are very minor problems that can be fixed and you get it done, so you dont pay more later when it becomes a major problem.

Yet Mr Colak says less than 10 per cent of customers on the Mr Usta site which also offers maintenance, home improvement, moving, cleaning, car, business and insurance services buy an annual home maintenance package. The buyers are predominantly landlords who dont want to deal with headaches or owners who have experienced major problems in their homes.

Mainly people need to have a big problem to understand what an annual maintenance contract means, he says. When they dont see the problem coming, they dont want to invest. Its a long-term investment.

The prohibitive costs can be a barrier. Depending on the services included and the size of the apartment or villa, a package can range from Dh1,350 to as much as Dh12,000 a year, or even more.

It is therefore important to comparison shop, decide the services you actually need and work out the best deal before committing to an annual contract. Here we guide you through the process.

There are two ways to get quotes for an annual maintenance contract (AMC): directly from the service provider or through a marketplace such as Mr Usta or ServiceMarket. Both marketplaces were founded in 2013 and offer a variety of services on their websites.

Mr Usta works with five vetted companies to offer silver and gold annual contracts. These are smaller providers looking for extra business, rather than large companies who have their own databases of customers, says Mr Colak.

The companies are first given tier two status and are tested through basic jobs. We talk to customers. We check the jobs and the quality of the jobs, Mr Colak says. If the companies are rated positively by customers and pass tests by Mr Usta, they can get upgraded to tier one.

When we first started Mr Usta, we were an open marketplace and anyone could come to our platform and give a quotation, Mr Colak says. In the last two and a half years, we changed this model we only work with the service providers we are 100 per cent sure of their quality.

ServiceMarket has 18 AMC providers that are also vetted for quality. Customers can see the companies star ratings and reviews before selecting three to receive comparison quotations. Unlike Mr Usta, which offers the same price for the five companies, the providers on ServiceMarket offer their own quotes directly to the client to decide.

Customers can also request quotes from the companies themselves, either by email or phone. They must supply basic information, such as whether they live in an apartment or villa, the number of bedrooms and the number of AC units. They should also consider whether their community has its own service provider.

Mr Ustas packages start from Dh1,350 for a studio apartment silver package up to Dh12,000 for an eight-bedroom villa gold package.

The silver package, for example, includes yearly AC cleaning, preventive maintenance of plumbing units and electrical fittings, minor repairs, one handyman service and five emergency call-outs. The gold package doubles the number of preventive maintenance visits, handyman services and emergency call-outs, and adds on pest control.

ServiceMarket says its contracts range from Dh1,500 to Dh5,000, also depending on the size of the house and required services. The lower end standard package will usually include bi-annual AC cleaning, plumbing and electrical services, as well as emergency call-outs. More expensive packages may include pest control and water tank cleaning; some will even add in windows and pool cleaning.

When booking directly with a provider, the cost also depends on how established the company is.

The more high-end, top-tier maintenance companies that have more certifications, a larger workforce, etcetera will generally charge higher than smaller, newer ones, says Ms Shomali.

It is always worthwhile to ask for a discount and getting several quotes will make it easier to negotiate on price.

Call-out charges for companies outside a contract usually cost Dh150 to Dh200 per hour. That includes just coming to your home to diagnose a problem, which is usually then followed by a quotation for the cost to fix it. Typically, Dubai residents book handyman services six to eight times per year on ServiceMarket, says Ms Shomali.

Basic AC filter cleaning alone costs Dh150 to Dh200 per unit, while more extensive AC duct and coil cleaning costs Dh500 to Dh600 per unit, says Mr Colak. Pest control for a two-bedroom apartment costs around Dh200 to Dh300 and cleaning a small water tank approximately Dh500 while a medium tank costs Dh900.

For a two-bedroom apartment, if you get a silver package, its Dh2,000. If you clean the AC units two times per year, you will pay Dh2,000. But if you get an annual maintenance package, you will get electrical, plumbing, handyman and also 24-hour call-out service, Mr Colak says.

Some service providers offer expensive packages with AC servicing and preventive maintenance four times a year, which can be unnecessary. It is possible to customise packages and negotiate on price accordingly.

For example, a young couple in a small property may want to ask to reduce the number of handyman call-outs they can request in a year, compared to a family with kids in a bigger home, says Ms Shomali.

Air conditioning servicing is a must in the UAE one to two times a year, says Mr Colak. If you dont do it, the air quality will be very low in your home and it will affect your health, too. This is another cost, he adds.

Duct cleaning is more expensive, as it needs a special machine and sanitisation techniques, so it is often not included in annual maintenance packages. This, however, is recommended once a year.

Mr Colak says pest control should be done once or twice a year. Maybe you dont see those bugs, but they are there in the AC ducts or in the false ceiling, he says.

Preventive checks of electrical and plumbing units, as well as water tank cleaning, should be done once annually.

When signing up for an AMC, read the fine print for exclusions. Labour is usually included, but parts are not. The contract will include the scope of work which should list excluded services. For example, one companys proposal had 24 exclusions, such as: picture hanging, painting, home appliance repairs, internal leakages, carpet cleaning, broken window replacement and swimming pool repairs.

Mr Colak says many in the UAE dont sign up because they are betting they wont need all the services, such as pest control, for example. It also depends on the general market environment.

Lately, in the last one to two years, as people are changing their houses more or theyre worried about the economic situation they dont want to invest in a long-term contract, so they prefer to pay when they have the problem, he says.

Mr Abdallah, who signed up for a package as soon as the one-year warranty on his home finished, says he has a friend living nearby who does it the segmented way. But he thinks it is more of a hassle, especially because the provider needs to apply for a gate pass every time to access the community.

I believe always in preventive maintenance for anything in life, he says. To prevent something is better than to act on something after the problem happens.

Updated: February 10, 2020 03:04 PM

House type/size

Price

Studio apartment

Dh1,350

1-bedroom apartment

Dh1,650

2-bedroom apartment

Dh2,000

3-bedroom apartment

Dh3,000

4-bedroom apartment

Dh3,500

5-bedroom apartment

Dh4,000

1-bedroom villa

Dh1,900

2-bedroom villa

Dh2,700

3-bedroom villa

Dh3,850

4-bedroom villa

Dh4,800

5-bedroom villa

Dh6,200

* Mr Usta packages with five service providers

* Includes: yearly AC maintenance, checks of electrical fittings & plumbing units, minor repairs, 1 handyman service, 5 emergency call-outs, 10% discount on out-of-scope jobs

* +Dh250 for maids rooms in apartments and +Dh500 for maids rooms in villas

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How to get the best deal on an annual maintenance package for your UAE home - The National

Episode 3 "How bad is it really?" the Boss asks.

"It's bad." the PFY whispers with some urgency. "It's like the Y2K thing times 10!"

And given that the Y2K thing was a big fat zero, the PFY is technically correct.

"What are we looking at?" the Director asks.

"Well I don't think it's at the level of human sacrifice and dogs and cats living together yet, but it's bad," I say.

"I..." the Boss starts, then thinks the better of it. "What do we do?"

"I don't know. I mean obviously you're going to have to prepare for a world with different Paint and Minesweeper but the rest of it well it's anyone's guess."

"Paint and Minesweeper are gone?" the Boss blurts, no doubt wondering what he's going to be doing to fill in his day.

"Gone. Replaced with 'better' alternatives."

"Isn't there something you can do? Are they hidden somewhere or can they be downloaded?"

"No" I lie. "They'll be gone."

"Can't we just leave things as they are?" he whines.

"What, you mean without support, updates and security?" I gasp.

"I... suppose you're right. But what are we going to do?"

"Upgrades. We have to upgrade everything," the PFY says.

"The users won't like it."

"We're not worried about the users, we're worried about everything else!" I say.

"What... else?"

"The lift controller is a Windows 7 machine," the PFY says.

(It's not.)

"And the aircon that's got a Windows 7 controller."

(Nope.)

"Really?"

"Yep!" the PFY says. "Not to mention the security system, the BMS system, and the drinking water service controller computer."

(Nope, nope, and there isn't one.)

"So what are we going to have to do?"

"My priorities are the underlying infrastructure the users will have to come second in this instance," I say.

"Why did no one know anything about this?" our IT Director asks.

"We mentioned it multiple times. Your predecessors adopted the tried and true Climate Change methodology of ignoring impending disaster."

"What do we do NOW?" the Boss asks.

"For a start you'll need to pay that Windows 10 preparedness consultant's bill," the PFY says, no doubt contemplating the cheque he'll want made out to "Computer Assistance Service Helpline".

"Right," the Boss nods.

"Order these two new desktops >shuffle< to replace the ones that couldn't be upgraded."

"Uh, yes," he says, with a tinge of doubt in his voice, if I'm not mistaken.

"Order these graphics cards, monitors, keyboards and headsets."

"Uh... that's a little excessive isn't it?"

"Sorry?"

"It says here that you want a gaming headset, mouse and keyboard."

"Of course. Gaming gear's built for resiliency. You hardly want your lift crashing into the sub-basement 40 metres per second because a cheap keyboard switch didn't open at the right time."

"Oh... I.. but headsets? Why do those machines need headsets?"

"You mean why would I need a headset to Skype to the PFY to tell him how to reset the security system to let people out of the basement?"

"Oh, I see."

"And why are you getting them delivered to your homes?" the Director asks.

"It's simple" I explain, as if to an idiot "they'll require advanced configuration which needs to be done precisely and sequentially. We can't have people interrupting us when the installation is going on."

"What advanced configurations that?" the Boss asks.

"Hardware drivers, BIOS handshaking, flux capacitor decoupling. Miss one of those steps and you're left with an expensive pile of melted copper and a couple of 3ft beancounters at the bottom of a lift shaft with knees where their hips should be..."

"Ah."

"So obviously we'd do the complete install, swap the computers over after hours and it'll be so smooth it'll seem like nothing happened."

"And how would we KNOW that something had happened?" the Boss asks, the seeds of doubt sprouting blooms of suspicion.

"I guess I could drop the old machines off to you," I say.

"Yes, but how would we know that you didn't pick up a couple of dusty old relics at a car boot sale?" the Boss asks.

"Just tell your wife and sister-in-law not to go car-boot-sale-ing that weekend," the PFY chips in.

...

"I think maybe we should just take a couple of steps back here," the Director says, once the shouting has stopped and the ozone smell of the Boss's impromptu "sedation" has started to waft out the air-conditioning relief vents.

"Hmm.." the Boss says blankly.

"Look, it's simple," I say. "We replace those two desktop machines, then we start to roll out the rest of the infrastructure before moving on to the users."

"Yes, but how do we protect the users meantime?"

"Good point. I think that there's really only one way of protecting the company," I say.

"Replacing every desktop in the building?" the Director asks.

"No."

"Mmmmm mm mnnn?" The Boss drools.

"Probably not," I reply.

"Relying on the antivirus software, spam protection and firewall which already protects us?" the PFY asks.

"Yes but also."

"Oh, clicking on the 'Don't remind me again' text?"

"Precisely."

(See, and no one even had to mention moving to Linux and Libre office.)

Sponsored: Detecting cyber attacks as a small to medium business

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BOFH: Darn Windows 7. It's totally why we need a 1k graphics card for a business computer - The Register

A new restaurant and micropub are among the new business expected to open in Durham city centre.

There have been a lot of changes to the city's outlets on Saddler Street, Elvet Bridge and Silver Street in recent years.

Marks and Spencer, Pret Manger and Kripsy Kreme have closed their doors, but TJ Hughes and M&Co have opened.

The Riverwalk is bringing new restaurants and bars to the city, as well as the North East's first Odeon Luxe cinema.

Here we look at four buildings in the heart of the city and what is happening with them.

Elvet Bridge

This former clothes shop and bank is currently being transformed into a new restaurant.

Located on Elvet Bridge, the 1920 Bar and Grill will operate over two floors and serve up breakfast, lunch and dinner, while there will be a pavement cafe outside.

Plan for the site were submitted by Cetin Koroglu, who also runs the Blue Eye bar, also on Elvet Bridge.

The business recently had an application to sell alcohol until 2.30am over the weekend rejected.

But it was granted a licence to serve alcohol until 1am on Friday, Saturdays and Sundays and midnight the rest of the week.

Saddler Street

This historic building is set to be turned into a micropub and student flats.

Plans were approved for the former shop on 34-35 Saddler Street in August last year.

Formerly known as the 'Estate House', the Grade II listed building dates back to the 17th century and has had a number of uses which includes a confectioner, gunmaker and pub.

Repairs will take place that will aim to enhance the centuries-old building.

There will be a revamped shop front, window replacement and roof works, with student facilities across four floors.

Saddler Street

This former betting shop is expected to be transformed into a bar.

Holmwood Commercial Properties Ltd lodged a change of use application that was approved in July last year.

An application to sell alcohol and food was submitted to Durham County Council at the end of 2019.

As well as selling alcohol, applicant Halil Olmez is also seeking permission to play music and sell late night refreshments.

Looking for the latest news in your postcode? We have launched a brand new website InYourArea.co.uk allowing you to stay up to date with what's happening near you. It also has an app.

Search the latest news, property listings, jobs, planning applications, public notices and more. To get breaking news sent to your phone, download the ChronicleLive app here.

Silver Street

Formerly Pret A Manger, the Silver Street shop was expected to become a charity shop.

Cats Protection lodged plans to turn the outlet into a charity shop last summer.

But, the charity says it will no longer being opening after negotiations with the landlord fell through.

The building has been empty since Pret announced it would be closing its doors in March 2018.

The closure was another blow for the high street after Marks and Spencer announced it would be shutting its Silver Street store.

See original here:
Micropub, bar and restaurant: This is what's happening to these vacant shops in Durham city - Chronicle Live

In California, there is this debate between market dynamics and the need to invest in some sort of subsidized housing, said Matt Schwartz, president and CEO of the California Housing Partnership, a San Francisco-based nonprofit createdby the legislature in 1988.

Twenty-eight states and Washington, D.C., last year passed a variety of legislation that addresses the housing affordability problem, from tax credits for developers to rental assistance and eviction protections for residents, said Sarah Scherer, a policy associate at the National Conference of State Legislatures, a nonprofit with offices in Denver and D.C.California, Washington and Hawaii passed the most laws.

This year, legislators in eight states pre-filed housing bills before their sessions began, Scherer said.

Both Democratic and Republican governors are calling for affordable housing fixes. In New Hampshire, Republican Gov. Chris Sununu backs a pair of bills filed by a bipartisan group of young lawmakers that would offer localities more planning assistance and tax incentives and require planning and zoning boards to streamline building approvals.

It really is an issue that affects everyone, but especially young people, said Republican state Rep. Joe Alexander, whos sponsoring one of the housing bills.

Among the diverse efforts, state zoning proposals have become a hot topic, said Flora Arabo, national senior director of state and local policy at Enterprise Community Partners, a housing nonprofit based in Columbia, Maryland. Ive only seen the conversation increasing.

In addition to Wieners bill in California, Democrats have put forward legislation that would allow the construction of accessory dwelling units also known as granny flats or duplexes and townhomes on single-family plots in Virginia, Maryland and Nebraska.

Oregon last year became the first state to require most cities to allow duplexes on single-family properties, and larger cities to allow townhouses, triplexes and fourplexes.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, filed legislation that would let cities and towns make zoning changes by a simple majority vote.

Its market economics, said Democratic Virginia state Del. Ibraheem Samirah, of his proposals to allow accessory dwelling units and duplexes on all single-family plots. Its a zero-cost solution.

A Georgia bill would copy North Carolina and Arkansas and ban cities from requiring most one- or two-family homes to have a particular aesthetic, such as a certain number of windows. Supporters of the bill argue that such requirements violate private property rights and can raise development costs.

I dont want the government to tell me what color my house has to be, said Georgia state Rep. Vance Smith, the bills Republican sponsor.

Wiener said his bill would increase the supply of both market-rate and affordable housing, and he recently announced amendments that would give cities more control over how they increase density.

But his critics arent satisfied. When Wiener held a news conference in Oakland this month to tout his Senate Bill 50, he was shouted down by members of an anti-homelessness group called Moms for Housing, who in an online statement argued that the bill would benefit real estate speculators.

Americans struggle to find affordable rental housing nationwide not just in expensive, coastal cities. Everybodys feeling the pinch, said Chris Herbert, managing director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.

Nearly half of U.S. renters spend more than a third of their earnings on housing, according to the center, down 3 percentage points from 2011. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) counts people who spend that much on housing as cost-burdened.

However, the share of cost-burdened middle-class renters increased and the share among very-low-income renters stayed the same.

Inexpensive units $800 or less a month are disappearing, the center found. At least half of the low-cost units in metro areas such as Austin, Texas; Denver, Colorado; and Portland, Oregon, havegone since 2011. Most new housing these days is built for the high end of the market, the center found.

Fewer people are experiencing homelessness today than in 2011, but the number has ticked back up in recent years. Since 2015, the homeless population jumped by double-digit percentages in five Western states, led by California at 30%, according to HUD.

Housing experts say many factors are to blame for housing price increases. Land, labor and material costs have gone up in many jurisdictions. Developers have been slow to embrace cheaper production technologies, such as factory-built modular homes.

Local regulations and planning bureaucracy can restrict what can be built and slow projects down. City and state development fees and requirements add to building costs.

And as housing prices have risen, many peoples earnings havent kept pace.Increasing rents alone are not problematic, if wages can keep up, said Arabo, of Enterprise Community Partners. They just havent.

Meanwhile, inadequate congressional funding means only a quarter of very-low-income people get the federal housing vouchers they are eligible for.

The federal government stopped paying for new public housing decades ago, leaving cities and states to piece together money to subsidize units.

Housing affordability is particularly pressing in California, which is home to 12% of U.S. residents but, according to HUD, 27% of the nations homeless people.

Homebuilders and real estate agents there have championed efforts to roll back zoning regulations, such as Wieners plan to override single-family zoning rules near public transit and job centers.

In California, it can take 20 years to complete a development that in Texas would take a year or less, said Dan Dunmoyer, president and CEO of the Sacramento-based California Building Industry Association. Local fees can increase the price of a California home by hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Its cheaper to build three units as a triplex than it is to build three separate single-family houses, Dunmoyer said. You get some economies of scale.

Cities, however, oppose bills that would take away local control. We obviously have serious concerns about allowing developers to dictate land-use policy in our jurisdictions, said Jason Rhine, assistant legislative director for the League of California Cities, a Sacramento-based association.

The league opposes Senate Bill 50 and expects California lawmakers to put forward new bills this year that would override local rules, such as by allowing the construction of accessory dwelling units.

I dont know where were going to end up on those, Rhine said, but thats certainly been a hot topic among cities.

The league supports a bill that would give cities money for affordable housing and other development projects. But Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom last year vetoed a prior version, saying that a program costing $2 billion a year should be part of budget negotiations.

Zoning changes put a much smaller dent in the state budget. Legislativeanalysts projectedit would cost about $325,000 to administer Senate Bill 50.

Some affordable housing advocates worry that increasing the overall housing supply will accelerate gentrification and fail to create more homes for low-income people.

Were really interested in legislation that specifically targets families that are struggling the most, said David Zisser, associate director of Housing California, a Sacramento-based group advocating for people who are homeless or in need of affordable housing.

California lawmakers have introduced so many housing bills that they may end up passing a package that addresses land-use policy and money for affordable housing, he said. We need both.

Existing state law may prod city leaders to make zoning changes anyway, Rhine said.

Thats because California law requires cities to plan to house all residents and update their plans every eight years. Some cities are seeing big increases in housing need this planning cycle, Rhine said. Our cities are going to have to increase allowable densities, in all likelihood, in order to address those numbers.

Some governors this year have proposed big spending increases for affordable housing and combating homelessness. Minnesotas Democratic Gov. Tim Walz has called for investing $276 million in affordable housing. Newsom in California has proposed spending $1 billion to address homelessness.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige, a Democrat, wants to build 17,000 affordable rental units. And Floridas Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has recommended spending $387 million to fully fund the states affordable housing programs.

Yet some activists say the federal government needs to step in. I dont see the states and the cities replacing the loss of federal funding, said Paul Boden, executive director of the Western Regional Advocacy Project, a San Francisco-based group that advocates for homeless people.

Boden said hes weary of state and local programs that fall short of building enough subsidized housing.Thats why hes backing a long-shot proposal from U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, to spend $800 billion on 8.5 million new units of public housing.

Lets get freaking real, Boden said, lets pass Omars bill.

Sophie Quinton, Stateline

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Single-Family Homes No Longer Sacred as States Turn to Zoning Laws to Lower Housing Costs - FlaglerLive.com