Latest news with #BusinessDepartment
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Texas wildlife center says it was given 60 days to move or shut down
A group of animal caregivers in the Lone Star State said they need the public's support after city officials gave them an ultimatum to either relocate or close their doors. The North Texas Wildlife Center, in a June 28 Instagram post, said it is "at risk of being shut down." "At this time, our organization is striving to be as resilient as the wildlife we care for," the North Texas Wildlife Center posted on its Facebook page Tuesday, July 1. "We need your voice. We need your action. We need your support." The facility, according to its website, helps rescue, rehabilitate and release orphaned and injured "native Texas wildlife." The center needs a new facility with outdoor space to continue helping local wildlife, the center's spokesperson, Rebecca Hamlin, confirmed to USA TODAY. Hamlin said the center, the biggest multispecies wildlife center in North Texas, operates out of a house its founders and president previously purchased. The center is permitted for all native wildlife, ranging from opossums, skunks, raccoons to songbirds, waterfowl, reptiles, and amphibians, Hamlin said. The facility, which consists of 50 volunteers and five staff members, has taken in more than 2,600 sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife since Jan. 1, a 50% increase since last year, according to Hamlin. "Our onsite team is caring for 200 animals daily and around the clock," Hamlin said. "Between offsite rehabbers (we have 50), we have 600 animals under our care for rehab to release back into the wild." Hamlin confirmed that the center's goal is to raise $250,000, and as of July 1, it had raised about $100,000. "We started fundraising for a bigger facility in April," she said. According to the center's June 28 Instagram post, it received a phone call from the City of Plano's Business Department informing the facility it was "not permitted to operate a facility that generates foot traffic from a residential area." "As a result, we have 60 days to find a new location or we will be forced to close our doors," the post continues. USA TODAY reached out to the City of Plano on July 1 but has not received a response. If a new location is not found within 60 days, the center will close, according to facility leaders. "This isn't about us − it's about the countless injured, orphaned, and displaced wild animals we care for each year, our volunteers who dedicate their time, and the community we serve every day," the Instagram post reads. "We're now in a race against the clock to secure a new property that fits city requirements." In addition to the donations, the center asked the public to share any information on "available properties, land, or partnerships that could help (them) relocate." The Facebook post includes links that allow people to help the center. Rehabilitation Wishlist: Volunteer Snack Wishlist: Purchase SWAG: To donate cash: PayPal: Cash app: $NTXWC Zelle: accounting@ Venmo: Mailing address: North Texas Wildlife Center, PO Box 830212, Richardson, TX 75083 Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: North Texas Wildlife Center says it has 60 days to move or close
USA Today
01-07-2025
- General
- USA Today
Texas wildlife center says it was given 60 days to move or shut down
The North Texas Wildlife Center, according to its website, helps rescue, rehabilitate and release orphaned and injured "native Texas wildlife." A group of animal caregivers in the Lone Star State said they need the public's support after city officials gave them an ultimatum to either relocate or close their doors. The North Texas Wildlife Center, in a June 28 Instagram post, said it is "at risk of being shut down." "At this time, our organization is striving to be as resilient as the wildlife we care for," the North Texas Wildlife Center posted on its Facebook page Tuesday, July 1. "We need your voice. We need your action. We need your support." The facility, according to its website, helps rescue, rehabilitate and release orphaned and injured "native Texas wildlife." The center needs a new facility with outdoor space to continue helping local wildlife, the center's spokesperson, Rebecca Hamlin, confirmed to USA TODAY. Hamlin said the center, the biggest multispecies wildlife center in North Texas, operates out of a house its founders and president previously purchased. What kind of animals are at North Texas Wildlife Center? The center is permitted for all native wildlife, ranging from opossums, skunks, raccoons to songbirds, waterfowl, reptiles, and amphibians, Hamlin said. The facility, which consists of 50 volunteers and five staff members, has taken in more than 2,600 sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife since Jan. 1, a 50% increase since last year, according to Hamlin. "Our onsite team is caring for 200 animals daily and around the clock," Hamlin said. "Between offsite rehabbers (we have 50), we have 600 animals under our care for rehab to release back into the wild." Hamlin confirmed that the center's goal is to raise $250,000, and as of July 1, it had raised about $100,000. "We started fundraising for a bigger facility in April," she said. How long does the center have to find a new location? According to the center's June 28 Instagram post, it received a phone call from the City of Plano's Business Department informing the facility it was "not permitted to operate a facility that generates foot traffic from a residential area." "As a result, we have 60 days to find a new location or we will be forced to close our doors," the post continues. USA TODAY reached out to the City of Plano on July 1 but has not received a response. If a new location is not found within 60 days, the center will close, according to facility leaders. "This isn't about us − it's about the countless injured, orphaned, and displaced wild animals we care for each year, our volunteers who dedicate their time, and the community we serve every day," the Instagram post reads. "We're now in a race against the clock to secure a new property that fits city requirements." In addition to the donations, the center asked the public to share any information on "available properties, land, or partnerships that could help (them) relocate." How to help North Texas Wildlife Center The Facebook post includes links that allow people to help the center. To donate cash: Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Civil servants allowed to ‘work from the beach' despite plummeting productivity
Thousands of civil servants are being allowed to work from exotic locations including the Bahamas and the Seychelles, the Telegraph can reveal. Whitehall bosses granted almost 2,500 requests for overseas working last year amid growing concern over plummeting public sector productivity. The Business Department allowed almost 500 staff to clock in from abroad, whilst Angela Rayner's local communities department green-lighted 437 personnel. The figures can only be revealed after The Telegraph sent freedom of information requests to all 20 government departments, of which 13 provided answers. It sheds light for the first time on the scale of Whitehall staff working from abroad at a time when the Civil Service's performance is under the spotlight. The findings show that ministries received 2,641 requests from mandarins to work abroad last year of which 2,348 were approved – a grant rate of 89 per cent. European holiday hotspots including Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal and France were the most popular destinations for remote working officials. But civil servants were also allowed to clock in from more exotic locations around the globe including Jamaica, Barbados, Mauritius, and Thailand. The Business Department, which has around 6,000 employees, was the most generous ministry of all, granting 459 overseas working requests. Staff at the ministry, which also covers international trade, were allowed to clock in from Argentina, Australia and Brazil amongst other locations. Next was Ms Rayner's Housing Department on 437 followed by the Department of Health, run by Wes Streeting, which allowed 385 staff to work overseas. In all departments, requests were green-lighted to work across 101 countries – almost half the nations on the planet – ranging from New Zealand to Colombia. Government departments can typically allow staff to work from abroad for up to a month at a time, but only do so under certain circumstances. Some of the approvals issued by the Business Department concerned 'blended travel' where officials added some personal days onto official trips. Ms Rayner's department said it only allowed staff to work abroad 'for a very limited time' and for 'urgent welfare reasons' such as a family illness. Other departments, such as the Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence, allow overseas working for the civil servant partners of officials who are posted abroad. The figures will add to growing pressure on the Government to clamp down on remote working amid fears it is hampering the Civil Service's efficiency. The Telegraph revealed last December how Whitehall has reverted to working from home under Labour, with attendance at 13 departments falling. Flexible working has remained ingrained across Government departments at the same time as many private businesses are ordering their staff back into the office five days a week. This is despite ministers having publicly and privately expressed growing frustration with the slowness of the Civil Service in implementing their plans. Sir Keir Starmer took aim at Whitehall lethargy in December, accusing too many mandarins of being 'comfortable in the tepid bath of managed decline'. Figures published last week show how public sector productivity is still lagging well behind pre-pandemic levels despite the private sector fully recovering. The Office for National Statistics found public sector output is still 8.4 per cent lower than before the pandemic despite the number of civil servants growing by 100,000 in that time. The Institute for Directors has warned the weakness of the public sector is 'dragging down the economy as a whole and must be urgently addressed'. A Government spokesman said: 'These requests include those made for official travel or taking work mobile phones abroad whilst on leave for business continuity. 'We expect most civil servants to spend the majority of time working from the office – and departments must comply with strict regulations when making decisions to allow individual staff members to work abroad, with cases only approved in exceptional circumstances, such as a close family bereavement.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
15-02-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Civil servants allowed to ‘work from the beach' despite plummeting productivity
Thousands of civil servants are being allowed to work from exotic locations including the Bahamas and the Seychelles, the Telegraph can reveal. Whitehall bosses granted almost 2,500 requests for overseas working last year amid growing concern over plummeting public sector productivity. The Business Department allowed almost 500 staff to clock in from abroad, whilst Angela Rayner 's local communities department green-lighted 437 personnel. The figures can only be revealed after The Telegraph sent freedom of information requests to all 20 government departments, of which 13 provided answers. It sheds light for the first time on the scale of Whitehall staff working from abroad at a time when the Civil Service's performance is under the spotlight. The findings show that ministries received 2,641 requests from mandarins to work abroad last year of which 2,348 were approved – a grant rate of 89 per cent. European holiday hotspots including Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal and France were the most popular destinations for remote working officials. But civil servants were also allowed to clock in from more exotic locations around the globe including Jamaica, Barbados, Mauritius, and Thailand. The Business Department, which has around 6,000 employees, was the most generous ministry of all, granting 459 overseas working requests. Staff at the ministry, which also covers international trade, were allowed to clock in from Argentina, Australia and Brazil amongst other locations. Next was Ms Rayner's Housing Department on 437 followed by the Department of Health, run by Wes Streeting, which allowed 385 staff to work overseas. In all departments, requests were green-lighted to work across 101 countries – almost half the nations on the planet – ranging from New Zealand to Colombia. Government departments can typically allow staff to work from abroad for up to a month at a time, but only do so under certain circumstances. Some of the approvals issued by the Business Department concerned 'blended travel' where officials added some personal days onto official trips. Ms Rayner's department said it only allowed staff to work abroad 'for a very limited time' and for 'urgent welfare reasons' such as a family illness. Other departments, such as the Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence, allow overseas working for the civil servant partners of officials who are posted abroad. The figures will add to growing pressure on the Government to clamp down on remote working amid fears it is hampering the Civil Service's efficiency. The Telegraph revealed last December how Whitehall has reverted to working from home under Labour, with attendance at 13 departments falling. Flexible working has remained ingrained across Government departments at the same time as many private businesses are ordering their staff back into the office five days a week. This is despite ministers having publicly and privately expressed growing frustration with the slowness of the Civil Service in implementing their plans. Sir Keir Starmer took aim at Whitehall lethargy in December, accusing too many mandarins of being 'comfortable in the tepid bath of managed decline '. Figures published last week show how public sector productivity is still lagging well behind pre-pandemic levels despite the private sector fully recovering. The Office for National Statistics found public sector output is still 8.4 per cent lower than before the pandemic despite the number of civil servants growing by 100,000 in that time. The Institute for Directors has warned the weakness of the public sector is 'dragging down the economy as a whole and must be urgently addressed'. A Government spokesman said: 'These requests include those made for official travel or taking work mobile phones abroad whilst on leave for business continuity. 'We expect most civil servants to spend the majority of time working from the office – and departments must comply with strict regulations when making decisions to allow individual staff members to work abroad, with cases only approved in exceptional circumstances, such as a close family bereavement.'
