Latest news with #JustinKing
CBS News
21-07-2025
- CBS News
SNAP benefits are still being stolen in Pennsylvania. Here's how to protect your money.
Kathy Swingon is taking the month of July day by day. The 57-year-old, who lives in West Philadelphia, recently tried to use her EBT card to access her SNAP benefits, only to find out there was no money in the account. "When I went to go swipe, it was no money on the card, so I just was like devastated. I just left out the market," Swingon said. "It says zero, zero, zero." Swingon said she relies on those benefits to put food in the refrigerator for herself and the three family members who live with her. Swingon showed CBS News Philadelphia the transactions made within minutes of each other before 2 a.m. While one location was in Philadelphia, the others were outside the city, including one as far as Wilkes-Barre. "Never been there. I don't even know how to get there, to be honest, because I don't drive," she said. READ MORE: What should I do if I'm a victim of stolen SNAP benefits? She shared emails showing her card was "locked," which is thought to prevent bad actors from draining benefits. "That's why I was like, how did they get it and it was locked?" she said. Justin King is with Propel, an app used by Swingon and some 5 million others to manage SNAP benefits. "There are real limitations to the tools that have been put into place," King said. Propel is a private service that is not affiliated with the state of Pennsylvania, but King said it mimics the features offered in the state's app. "In Pennsylvania, people have the choice to either lock their card totally or to block out-of-state transactions. In many states, people can do both of those things at the same time," King said. With Swingon's permission, we provided her information to the company to look into her case further. They confirmed her account was locked, but it was only set to block out-of-state purchases. Her benefits were used at stores in the state. "The states need to step up and put more and better protections into place to help stop this terrible wave of EBT theft that's happening," King said. King said the issue "is a national problem." The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services confirms it has "no relationship" with Propel. A spokesperson added, "The Connect EBT app is the only app that Pennsylvania partners with to manage EBT card transaction history and lock and unlock features." Connect EBT offers two card lock features — "lock my card everywhere," which prevents any purchases in store or online, or "lock my card outside of PA," which stops transactions outside the state but allows all others in Pennsylvania and online, the spokesperson said. Swingon still has questions as she waits to see what happens in August "I just hope it don't happen next month because if it happens next month, I'm really messed up," she said. Until then, Swingon says she'll continue to check food banks and lean on her family for support. Replacement benefits for those that are stolen stopped at the end of last year. Still, experts urge anyone who has had their benefits stolen to report it immediately to their county assistance office and the state department of human services. Community Legal Services of Philadelphia offers free legal assistance to those in need. "We are advising families about changing their PIN as much as they can and using card-locking features to the degree that they help, but unfortunately, this is still a huge problem in Pennsylvania. ... We think that the only solution is for Pennsylvania to invest in more secure EBT cards," Lydia Gottesfeld, managing attorney with Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, said. A bill in Harrisburg that would require Pennsylvania to move to chip-enabled EBT cards, which experts say are more secure, remains in the Senate after it passed out of the House.
Sky News
07-07-2025
- Business
- Sky News
Former Sainsbury's chief King in frame to head Channel 4
Justin King, one of Britain's most prominent businessmen, is in the frame to become the next head of Channel 4, the state-owned broadcaster. Sky News has learnt that Mr King is among the contenders to replace Sir Ian Cheshire as Channel 4 chairman. A Whitehall source said on Monday that the former J Sainsbury chief executive - who now chairs companies including Allwyn, the National Lottery operator, and Ovo Energy - had been shortlisted for the post and was expected to be interviewed for it this month. It was unclear who else remained in contention for the Channel 4 post, although the government insider suggested that Debbie Wosskow, who already sits on the broadcaster's board, had also made it to the shortlist. The status of a number of other reported candidates - including Tristia Clarke, the former TalkTalk boss - could not be established on Monday. If chosen for the post, Mr King would be the latest in a string of heavyweight names to take the post, following the likes of Sir Ian and Luke Johnson, the hospitality entrepreneur. Mr King also sits on the board of Marks & Spencer, as well as a number of privately owned companies. Sir Ian stepped down earlier this year after just one three-year term in the role. The Channel 4 chairmanship is currently held on an interim basis by Dawn Airey, the media industry executive who has occupied top jobs at companies including ITV, Channel 5 and Yahoo!. The race to lead the state-owned broadcaster's board has acquired additional importance since after the resignation of Alex Mahon, its long-serving chief executive. At the weekend, Broadcast, the trade publication, reported that Alex Burford, another Channel 4 non-executive director and the boss of Warner Records UK, was interested in replacing Ms Mahon. Ms Mahon, who was a vocal opponent of the last Conservative government's proposed privatisation of Channel 4, is leaving to join Superstruct, a private equity-owned live entertainment company. The appointment of a new chair is expected to take place by the autumn, with the chosen candidate expected to lead the recruitment of Ms Mahon's successor. Recruitment to the board of Channel 4 is technically led by Ofcom, the media regulator, in agreement with Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary. The Channel 4 search is taking place at a time when the BBC is under growing pressure from Ms Nandy over its decision not to curb the broadcasting of musician Bob Vylan's Glastonbury Festival set, in which he called for the death of Israeli armed forces.
Scottish Sun
28-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Energy giant with 5million customers in merger talks to create UK's 3rd BIGGEST gas & electricity supplier
The combined company could serve six million British households SAY WATT Energy giant with 5million customers in merger talks to create UK's 3rd BIGGEST gas & electricity supplier TWO major energy suppliers are in talks about a merger. If it goes ahead it would create the UK's third-largest gas and electricity retailer. Advertisement 3 Spanish-owned Scottish Power could be set to join Ovo Energy in a merger Credit: Alamy 3 The combined companies could serve six million British households Scottish Power, owned by Spain's Iberdrola, and Ovo Energy are in talks to create a merger. It would create a company serving more than six million households, Sky News reports. Talks are still in the early stages, and any formal agreement will take months if it goes ahead. With Ovo being the larger company, serving four million customers, they are likely to be the acquiring entity. Advertisement Iberdrola would potentially contribute cash and remain as a shareholder. If they do merge, it would create the third-largest supplier, behind Centrica-owned British Gas and Octopus Energy. Scottish Power currently serves around 2.4 million households. Alongside the potential merger, Ovo is aiming to raise £300 million from the sale of shares in the company. Advertisement Last year the company hired Rothschild to explore options around new investors or a sale. Rothschild has reportedly contacted financial investors in recent weeks. Stop Making This Air Conditioning Mistake: How to Slash Your Summer Energy Bill Ovo became one of the UK's leading suppliers in 2020 after it bought the retail supply arm of SSE. Since Justin King became Ovo's chair, the company has prioritised repairing its regulatory relationships. Advertisement Iberdrola bought Scottish Power in 2007 for over £11 billion.
Korea Herald
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Korea Herald
OMRON Introduces the OL-450S – A Complete Autonomous Mobile Robot Solution for Material Handling
PLEASANTON, Calif., May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- OMRON Robotics and Safety Technologies has released the OL-450S, a low-profile, omni-directional Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) designed to optimize workflows, maximize efficiency, and improve safety. Featuring an integrated lifting plate, advanced navigation, and centralized fleet management, the OL-450S offers a complete solution for automating material transport in automotive, semiconductor and electronics, food and household goods, medical, and other fast-paced industries. Streamlined and Safe Material Handling The OL-450S efficiently handles the transport of load carriers with a payload capacity of up to 450kg and a lifting range from 108 to 308mm. Its integrated lifting plate reduces customization investments and time-consuming engineering. This allows businesses to improve operational efficiency without infrastructure changes. Advanced Navigation and Wireless Charging for Smarter Operations Equipped with 360° safety coverage and omni-directional drive, the OL-450S navigates complex layouts with ease, avoiding obstacles and ensuring safe operation around personnel. Strategically positioned sensors enhance localization, while its flexible movement—including forward, reverse, and lateral. With wireless charging, the OL-450S offers flexible deployment, simplified management, and uninterrupted workflows. Centralized Fleet Management for Maximum Efficiency As with all OMRON AMRs, the OL-450S is managed by OMRON's FLOW Core software, a centralized platform capable of managing fleets of up to 100 mobile robots with varying payload capacities. This enterprise-level system ensures seamless integration into existing infrastructure, enabling streamlined operations and optimal fleet performance. "The OL-450S represents a significant advancement in autonomous material handling," said Justin King, Vice President, Product Management and Marketing at OMRON Robotics and Safety Technologies. "Its low-profile design, combined with its powerful navigation and fleet management capabilities, makes it an ideal solution for businesses looking to automate their material transport processes and improve safety and productivity." For more information about the OL-450S, visit our website: to connect with our team. About OMRON Robotics and Safety Technologies, Inc. In October 2015, OMRON acquired Adept Technology Inc., a U.S. based leader in robotics, as part of OMRON's acceleration of its "Complete Automation Solution" strategy for its Industrial Automation Business. In 2019, OMRON Robotics and Safety Technologies was formed as a merger of OMRON's safety and robotics businesses to provide comprehensive solutions for automation and safety. The company aims to contribute to realizing a new manufacturing environment where people and robots work safely in harmony.
Cision Canada
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Cision Canada
OMRON Introduces the OL-450S - A Complete Autonomous Mobile Robot Solution for Material Handling
PLEASANTON, Calif., May 1, 2025 /CNW/ -- OMRON Robotics and Safety Technologies has released the OL-450S, a low-profile, omni-directional Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) designed to optimize workflows, maximize efficiency, and improve safety. Featuring an integrated lifting plate, advanced navigation, and centralized fleet management, the OL-450S offers a complete solution for automating material transport in automotive, semiconductor and electronics, food and household goods, medical, and other fast-paced industries. Streamlined and Safe Material Handling The OL-450S efficiently handles the transport of load carriers with a payload capacity of up to 450kg and a lifting range from 108 to 308mm. Its integrated lifting plate reduces customization investments and time-consuming engineering. This allows businesses to improve operational efficiency without infrastructure changes. Advanced Navigation and Wireless Charging for Smarter Operations Equipped with 360° safety coverage and omni-directional drive, the OL-450S navigates complex layouts with ease, avoiding obstacles and ensuring safe operation around personnel. Strategically positioned sensors enhance localization, while its flexible movement—including forward, reverse, and lateral. With wireless charging, the OL-450S offers flexible deployment, simplified management, and uninterrupted workflows. Centralized Fleet Management for Maximum Efficiency As with all OMRON AMRs, the OL-450S is managed by OMRON's FLOW Core software, a centralized platform capable of managing fleets of up to 100 mobile robots with varying payload capacities. This enterprise-level system ensures seamless integration into existing infrastructure, enabling streamlined operations and optimal fleet performance. "The OL-450S represents a significant advancement in autonomous material handling," said Justin King, Vice President, Product Management and Marketing at OMRON Robotics and Safety Technologies. "Its low-profile design, combined with its powerful navigation and fleet management capabilities, makes it an ideal solution for businesses looking to automate their material transport processes and improve safety and productivity." For more information about the OL-450S, visit our website: to connect with our team. About OMRON Robotics and Safety Technologies, Inc. In October 2015, OMRON acquired Adept Technology Inc., a U.S. based leader in robotics, as part of OMRON's acceleration of its "Complete Automation Solution" strategy for its Industrial Automation Business. In 2019, OMRON Robotics and Safety Technologies was formed as a merger of OMRON's safety and robotics businesses to provide comprehensive solutions for automation and safety. The company aims to contribute to realizing a new manufacturing environment where people and robots work safely in harmony.
