La Joya school district approves $10.5 million in retention stipends
The La Joya Independent School District board approved using $10.5 million in federal funds for retention stipends for employees at their meeting Wednesday. The district’s 4,200 employees will receive $2,500 apiece during the next school year, half in August and half in December. “And we have studied it and identified additional funds that we can use to pay our employees a retention stipend for the 22-23 school year,” she said. Retention stipends have become relatively commonplace since the pandemic began. PSJA, for instance, paid out a $3,000 retention stipend in August 2021.
myrgv.comLa Joya school district approves $10.5 million in retention stipends
The La Joya Independent School District board approved using $10.5 million in federal funds for retention stipends for employees at their meeting Wednesday. The district’s 4,200 employees will receive $2,500 apiece during the next school year, half in August and half in December. “And we have studied it and identified additional funds that we can use to pay our employees a retention stipend for the 22-23 school year,” she said. Retention stipends have become relatively commonplace since the pandemic began. PSJA, for instance, paid out a $3,000 retention stipend in August 2021.
myrgv.comElon Musk joins Twitter board after becoming biggest shareholder
Elon Musk has been appointed to Twitter’s board of directors, the company announced Tuesday, a day after the Tesla chief became the platform’s biggest investor despite voicing concerns about its free speech policies. “Through conversations with Elon in recent weeks, it became clear to us that he would bring great value to our Board,” Twitter’s CEO Parag Agrawal said Tuesday in a tweet. “He’s both a passionate believer and intense critic of the service which is exactly what we need on Twitter, and in the boardroom, to make us stronger in the long-term.”
washingtonpost.comValley native to serve on state’s new broadband board
A Rio Grande Valley native has been appointed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to serve on a board that will oversee the state’s broadband efforts and decide which communities qualify for financial assistance. Sergio Contreras, president and CEO of the Rio Grande Valley Partnership, was appointed to the Broadband Office Board of Advisors, state Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, announced Monday. Governor Patrick appointing Sergio Contreras to the Broadband Office Board of Advisors,” Hinojosa said in the news release. He is a lifelong resident of the Rio Grande Valley and understands the needs of our communities.”Hinojosa added that Contreras’ nearly 20 years of working for AT&T familiarized him with broadband issues.
myrgv.comPower struggle continues among South San ISD top leaders
South San ISD leaders held a special meeting Monday to discuss the possibility of placing the school Superintendent Marc Puig on paid administrative leave and asking the Texas Education Agency for a monitor, citing a conflict of interest with the recently placed monitor.
South San ISD board members call for special meeting following comments heard on open mic
Three South San ISD board of trustees have requested a special meeting to discuss comments captured by an open mic following the end of a regular meeting and just before the start of a closed meeting on November 17th.
Weslaco schools audit dives deep into HR problems, bus repairs
The Weslaco school district’s much-discussed forensic audit reveals a number of irregularities and inefficiencies in district operations, including potential nepotism violations regarding the then-human resources director, a friendly relationship between the district’s transportation director and bus repair vendor.
myrgv.comMISD trustees approve stadium press box renovation layout
McALLEN — Board trustees here unanimously approved a conceptual layout for a McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium renovation at their Aug. 9 meeting, a renovation that is now expected to cost anywhere from $500,000 to $1 million over its original maximum cost due to the current construction climate. The project originally had a maximum $3 million budget, but engineers for the project say material cost increases have made that goal unattainable. The layout did face some concerns from trustees over being overbuilt, largely because of those Division 1 football dreams. He said the proposed box is comparable to others in the area and includes an elevator, which satisfies ADA requirements. The current press box is simply not up to standard, McClenny said, a sentiment he shared with Trustee Marco Suarez.
myrgv.comRenovations for New Braunfels HS and construction of Long Creek campus make up largest chunks of the $348 million bond voters will weigh in November
The New Braunfels ISD board of trustees unanimously approved calling an election in November 2021 for a $348 million bond that would largely center on the district’s two high school
herald-zeitung.comUN-backed program trims forecast to supply COVID-19 vaccine
A public health group that manages the U.N.-backed program to ship COVID-19 vaccines to poor countries is paring back its supply forecast for this year by more than 100 million doses, largely because a key Indian manufacturer has focused on needs at home
washingtonpost.comDid Tarrant water district directors violate open meetings law when they discussed manager?
The Tarrant Regional Water District may have violated the open meetings law by not providing clarity on why the board went into a closed door session during a special meeting, according a retired attorney who urged the board to discuss hiring a top executive in public.
news.yahoo.comGoldman Sachs CEO David Solomon gets $10 million pay cut over bank's role in 1MDB scandal
Goldman Sachs CEO David Michael Solomon attends a discussion on "Women Entrepreneurs Through Finance and Markets" at the World Bank on October 18, 2019 in Washington, DC. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon saw his pay slashed by just over a third for 2020 as part of a punishment for the bank's role in the 1MDB scandal. The pay cut for Solomon, which at $10 million constitutes roughly 36% of his yearly salary, reflects prior penalties imposed on the bank and not Solomon's own conduct. Solomon has been CEO of the bank since 2018. Solomon's pay package is comprised of $2 million in base salary, a $4.65 million cash bonus, and $10.85 million compensation in stock form, which is based on the bank's performance.
cnbc.comCoronavirus in Illinois updates: Here’s what happened Jan. 20 with COVID-19 in the Chicago area
As this week marks the one-year anniversary of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s first confirmed coronavirus case in the United States, the CDC has a new director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky. She spoke to the Journal of the American Medical Association’s network Jan. 19 about President Joe Biden’s goal of delivering 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine within the first 100 days of his presidency. This was on the heels of the announcement of four new Cook County vaccination locations (available for health care workers who are part of phase 1a before opening to those eligible for phase 1b on Jan. 25).
chicagotribune.comElliott tries to turn around a decade-long laggard with new real estate investment
The stock has underperformed storage peers by more than 300% in the last decade. The company's segments include Self-Storage Operations, Ancillary Operations, Investment in PS Business Parks, Inc. and Investment in Shurgard Europe. Activist Commentary: Although Elliott is known for their activism in the technology sector, they have been successful activists in many sectors. Elliott has made a substantial investment in the company, making it one of the largest shareholders, and has already been in communication with the company. Elliott sees Public Storage as a company with first mover advantage in this $40 billion industry, which has given it a moat of irreplaceable assets.
cnbc.comMovement turns abandoned housing into beautiful furniture, fighting climate change and growing jobs in the process
For five years, Pollock has been a part of what could be described as an urban lumber movement. Brick and Board is just one of the private partners in the Urban Wood Project. Urban Wood Project co-leader Sarah Hines now wants to help the cities replicate what she calls an urban wood economy. Jennifer Szeliga, who leads the Urban Wood Rescue in California, has a similar mission. Also part of the Urban Wood Project, the company turns reclaimed wood from Baltimore, Sacramento, Detroit and Minneapolis into sustainable furniture and decor.
cbsnews.comIllinois college enrollment down as COVID-19 pandemic disrupts higher education plans for scores of would-be students
“Within Illinois, we actually experienced a slightly larger enrollment decline than what was being reported nationally at the undergraduate level,” said Eric Lichtenberger, the board’s deputy director for information management and research. “And our growth in graduate and professional enrollments was actually somewhat more muted.”
chicagotribune.comFacebook oversight board to start operating in October
The board is intended to rule on thorny content issues, such as when Facebook or Instagram posts constitute hate speech. If those tests go to plan, the board said it would start accepting and reviewing appeals from users in mid to late October. The board was initially expected to start operating in early 2020 but the launch was delayed. It will start by hearing appeals from users whose content has been taken down by Facebook before expanding to appeals from users who want the company to remove content. Facebook can also refer cases to the board on its own.
Stocks making the biggest moves after hours: Tesla, Dollar Tree, Jefferies Financial Group & more
A Tesla Inc. vehicle charges at a charging station in San Mateo, California, U.S., on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. Check out the companies making headlines after the bell:Jefferies Financial Group — Shares of the financial services firm jumped more than 14% following the company's third quarter earnings results. Jefferies earned $1.07 per diluted share, up from 15 cents in the same quarter a year ago. Dollar Tree — The bargain retailer gained more than 1% after the company said it will resume its share repurchase program. Tesla — Shares of the electric vehicle company slid 1%, building on the stock's 10.34% decline during the normal trading session.
cnbc.comTEA Expands Investigation in South San, Looks at Purchasing and Contracts
An ongoing State investigation into South San Antonio Independent School District has expanded, according to a recent letter from Texas Education Agency officials to the districts superintendent and board president. Last spring, TEA officials notified South San trustees that the agency had opened an investigation amid concerns of dysfunctional board governance. Trustees who resigned their positions last September said they had not been contacted by TEA for interviews as part of the expanded investigation. The TEA is in the middle of an open investigation into neighboring Harlandale ISD. In 2018, the State removed the conservator, citing efforts by the board to act in the best interests of its students.
therivardreport.comExpedia replaces CEO and CFO in leadership shakeup
Expedia announced Wednesday that CEO Mark Okerstrom and CFO Alan Pickerill are stepping down because of a fight over the travel company's strategy. Expedia Chairman Barry Diller will manage day-to-day operations and will oversee its executive leadership team. Okerstrom moved up from CFO to CEO in 2017 when then-CEO Dara Khosrowshahi left the company to become chief executive of Uber. Peter Kern, our Vice Chairman, and I, will oversee the company's executive leadership team, managing day-to-day operations, while the Board determines the long-term leadership of the Company. We are creating an Expedia Business Services organization which will be comprised of Expedia Partner Solutions and Egencia.
cnbc.comLongtime Judson ISD Trustee Richard LaFoille Resigns
Judson Independent School District Trustee Richard LaFoille submitted his resignation letter to Board President Rene Paschall, Superintendent Jeanette Ball confirmed Thursday. LaFoille has served on the board since 2004. Trustees are expected to accept LaFoilles resignation at the regular board meeting next week and begin the process to appoint LaFoilles successor. LaFoille became the second Judson ISD board member to resign in the last two months. Trustee Jos Macias stepped down from his position in August to accept a position on the Alamo Colleges board.
therivardreport.comFederal retirement savings should not fund China's Communist Party
Yet the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Boardthe body that manages the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), the 401(k) for federal employeeswants to funnel the retirement savings of these Americans directly to a regime that poses one of the greatest threats to our nation's long-term security and prosperity: the Chinese Communist Party. Investable Market Index as a benchmark means TSP retirement accounts will effectively fund companies that engage in human rights abuses and support China's efforts to undermine America. It exposes nearly $50 billion in assets to severe and undisclosed material risks associated with many Chinese companies listed on the index. Many Chinese companies included in MSCI indexes are state-owned or state-directed enterprises Beijing uses to undermine American workers. Investable Market Index as a benchmark means TSP retirement accounts will effectively fund companies that engage in human rights abuses and support China's efforts to undermine America.
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