Latest news with #Kingsway
South Wales Argus
8 hours ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Senedd hears Swansea Bay city deal ‘well on its way'
Rob Stewart said six projects had been completed – to a value of £210m – by the end of 2024/25 as part of the £1.3bn Swansea Bay city deal, which was signed in 2017. Cllr Stewart, who chairs the Swansea Bay city region joint committee, told the Senedd's economy committee a further 19 projects, valued at £761m, are in the pipeline. The leader of Swansea council pointed to 'significant progress' in moving projects from the feasibility stage to completion, with the 71/72 Kingsway project in Swansea set to open. He stressed the Swansea deal had very different terms and conditions to the Cardiff capital region city deal, which was agreed with a different UK Government. The Labour politician said 896 jobs have been created so far – against an initial target of 9,700 – and the city deal has leveraged £133m of private-sector investment. Pressed about jobs numbers, Cllr Stewart said councils had to jump through a lot of hoops, which took a long time, and the job creation numbers have started to accelerate. He was hopeful of hitting or even exceeding the 9,700 target. Giving evidence on June 26, he told the committee that Pembroke Dock infrastructure upgrades and Trinity Saint David's 'innovation matrix' building have been completed.
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Quedgeley traffic petition calls on alternative routes
A petition calling for action to tackle ongoing traffic problems on a road in Gloucestershire has been signed by more than 700 B4008 Bristol Road in Hardwicke, Gloucester, has been closed at the A38 flyover to allow a new junction to be built at the Hunts Grove petition suggests opening three alternative routes from Kingsway during busy County Council said it will consider the petition once it is submitted but added "opening up the suggested alternative routes to all traffic during peak times would likely create new issues". The petition, started by Quedgeley Town Council, is calling on Gloucestershire County Council to open three alternative routes out of Kingsway during the morning rush hours of 07:00 to 09:00 to "alleviate this significant issue".Chairman Steve Wilcox said the council has had complaints from local schools who say the traffic is making children late for school and leaving locals and drivers "frustrated".Sarah, who lives in Gloucester but whose children are at school in Kingsway, said "It's been difficult to get the kids to school on time. It's [also] really hard to get to work on time". Inga, whose kids are also at school in Kingsway said while the school has been understanding, collecting children "takes a very long time". 'Give us solutions' The petition suggests routes through Matalan, Copeland Park and Snetterton Heath could be used. Mr Wilcox added: "We are not the experts, we are asking them [Gloucestershire County Council] to give us the solution."In a statement, county councillor Joe Harris said opening up the roads as suggested in the petition "could result in increased congestion" while also delaying buses and causing more disruption for residents on quieter streets."The roads and junctions weren't designed to handle that level of traffic," he said."A signed diversion is in place via the A38 and Bristol Road (Cole Avenue junction) and we appreciate everyone's patience while these essential works are completed," added Mr petition is due to be presented in the next full council meeting on 16 July.
STV News
12-06-2025
- STV News
Youth workers call for urgent action ahead of knife crime summit
The head of a Glasgow community group says the city must take a new approach to youth violence or risk more lives being lost. Speaking ahead of a knife crime summit at Holyrood on Thursday, Lainy Bedingfield told STV News that 'nobody can do this on their own' and called for a multi-pronged effort to reduce violent crime. Lainy manages Kingsway Community Connections in Knightswood, which she says was plunged 'into crisis response mode' earlier this year following the death of one of its attendees – Amen Teklay, who was fatally stabbed near St George's Cross in March. Two boys aged 14 and 16 have appeared in court charged with murder following the death of 15-year-old Amen in the Maryhill area of Glasgow. 'What happened to Amen has had a ripple effect,' said Lainy. 'Some of the children we work with are just 11 years old. They understood something had happened – something they'll carry with them forever. STV News Lainy Bedingfield. 'Nobody can do this on their own. We're a community development organisation, not just a youth project, but we knew we needed help.' Now Lainy is calling for serious investment and a public health approach to tackling youth violence. She will participate in a roundtable with Glasgow City Council later this month, just days after the Scottish Government hosts its own knife crime summit on Thursday. In the meantime, Kingsway staff continue to support young people as best they can with limited funds. One example is Thursday night football sessions, delivered voluntarily by two staff members, alongside additional support from charity Achieve More Scotland. 'Young people are flocking to us. They want this and that's half the battle,' said Ms Bedingfield. In a bid to find long-term solutions, the team reached out to The Marcus Lipton Centre in Brixton, south London – a community hub that faced its own tragedy in 2019 when a young person was killed on site. Wayne James, who manages youth services at the centre, said: 'No one starts out trying to be an anti-knife crime hub. STV News Wayne James. 'But when tragedy strikes, you adapt. Glasgow was once the model we looked to in London, but now it feels like some of those gains are slipping. We're all facing a resurgence in youth violence, and it's time to call it what it is: a crisis.' Both Wayne and Lainy agree that quick fixes don't work. They say throwing short-term cash at the problem won't build the trusted relationships that protect young people from harm. Jamie O'Neill, a youth worker at Kingsway, said: 'We were advised to simply open our doors to more young people. And it worked – within a week, we had 40 coming through. That's the power of community. But we need support to sustain that.' The parents of a teenage boy who was stabbed in Glasgow have organised a march to raise awareness of knife crime. Kory McCrimmon's family said his life 'will not be in vain' as they urged people to join the Parents Against Knives walk later this month. STV News From left to right: Kory McCrimmon, Amen Teklay and Kayden Moy. The march will set off from Rangers' Ibrox stadium at 1pm on June 22 and those taking part will walk to Celtic Park in the east end. Kory died after he was found seriously injured in Greenfield Park in the east end of Glasgow on May 31 last year. A 14-year-old was last month sentenced to five years detention after admitting culpable homicide. The march also takes place in the wake of Kayden Moy's death. The 16-year-old was was found seriously injured on Irvine beach in North Ayrshire after police were called to the area on May 17. A 14-year-old boy and two 17-year-old boys have appeared in court charged with murder following his death. Youth centres like Fuse in Shettleston want to see change. The centre opens six nights a week, offering everything from tyre-changing workshops to gaming and music. But manager Gerry Baldwin says that even in neighbouring areas, there are no youth projects at all. STV News Gerry Baldwin. 'Are we always going to be reactionary?' he asked. 'In places like Greenfield Park, where there was a recent tragedy (referring to Kory's death), there's nothing – no youth work, no outreach. We need a two-pronged approach: drop-ins and proper street work. That's how we prevent harm before police even get involved.' Across both Glasgow and London, the influence of social media is becoming a growing concern. Staff describe group chats involving hundreds of young people, where arguments and threats can escalate rapidly – often without schools or adults ever knowing. Sunnie Ighoe, who works with vulnerable teens at the Marcus Lipton Centre in Brixton, said: 'What used to be minor issues are now amplified ten or 20 times because of social media. The strategies we used even five years ago aren't enough. We have to adapt.' Jamie from Kingsway agrees. 'We're seeing extreme violence being normalised through screens,' he said. 'Kids as young as nine are filming fights. If adults don't step in and offer guidance, young people are only going to learn from each other – and that's dangerous.' Despite the challenges, Lainy and her team are determined to keep pushing for change. A trip to Brixton is on the cards, but for now, she's focused on the conversations happening here in Scotland. 'I don't feel like I'm shouting into a void – people are listening,' she said. 'But we need more than parachute projects. We need real, rooted work that gives young people the chance to become the best versions of themselves. That's the only way we stop this cycle.' Thursday's summit is expected to focus on actions through education and community engagement with young people at risk of violence. Justice secretary Angela Constance said: 'It's important to be clear that Scotland remains a safe place to live. 'But more needs to be done to change the attitudes and behaviours of some who are at risk of violence, or those young people who are considering carrying a weapon. There is no place for violence in Scotland and anyone who commits a crime, will face the consequences. 'Our work remains focused on ensuring our prevention and punishment measures respond to the changing behaviours of young people. This includes ensuring good school and community engagement with young people, appropriate police powers and tackling the root causes of violence.' Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton spent almost 20 years as a youth worker, helping disengaged young people get their lives back on track. He said: 'That experience taught me that no child is inherently bad. Most of the time, they are just in need of some direction, a need that has only been fuelled by the isolating impact of lockdown. 'That's where youth work comes in: it provides young people with the direction they need and gives them a positive adult role model who is neither a teacher nor a parent. 'It teaches teenagers to come out of their comfort zone, helps them rebuild their sense of self-worth and fosters a whole host of key life skills.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
CTV News
11-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Aviation museum in Edmonton close to buying its historic home
The Alberta Aviation Museum is working with the City of Edmonton to buy Hangar 14, a historic WWII airplane hangar. An Edmonton museum is close to owning its longtime home, which is a part of Canadian war history. Hangar 14, located on Kingsway near 117 Street and 114 Avenue on the grounds of the former Edmonton Municipal Airport, has been home to the Alberta Aviation Museum for more than three decades. The 84,400-square-foot warehouse has been for sale since October 2023, after the City of Edmonton decided not to spend $41 million renovating it. The city received offers from three other potential buyers but decided to negotiate with the museum. Hangar 14 is the only one of its kind remaining in Canada from the Second World War and is a protected provincial and municipal historic resource, meaning both the city and the province would have to approve any additions or alterations to it. 'It's not a simple buy and sell like you would for an average everyday house,' Jean Lauzon, the executive director of the museum, told CTV News Edmonton on Tuesday. 'There's a number of conditions that need to be met, and we're in the process of figuring out those timelines and those dates. 'We'll be able to sign off on the agreement soon.' Lauzon said the museum hopes to complete the transaction by the end of August.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (KFS): A Bull Case Theory
We came across a bullish thesis on Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (KFS) on Andvsri's Substack. In this article, we will summarize the bulls' thesis on KFS. Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (KFS)'s share was trading at $12.86 as of 30th May. A professional insurance agent at work in a modern office, representing the company's independent agents. Kingsway Financial Services (KFS) has undergone a significant transformation from a troubled Canadian insurance company into a unique, publicly traded search fund platform. After years of poor management and failed investments, activist investor Joseph Stilwell took control and installed Larry Swets as CEO to utilize the company's substantial net operating losses (NOLs). However, Swets' tenure saw limited success until the 2016 acquisition of Argo Management Group and its founder, J.T. Fitzgerald. In 2018, Fitzgerald became CEO and began a comprehensive cleanup, exiting legacy assets, selling the insurance business, reincorporating in the U.S., and dramatically reducing debt. Under Fitzgerald, Kingsway launched the Kingsway Search Accelerator (KSX) to institutionalize the search fund model. Search funds—vehicles where entrepreneurs acquire and operate small businesses—have historically generated strong returns, and Kingsway's platform improves on the model with superior capital access, operational infrastructure, and a selective pipeline. Notably, the company's PWSC exit yielded a 10x return, and current portfolio companies are demonstrating strong performance. Recent catalysts include the addition of respected investors David Patinkin and Josh Horowitz to the board, strategic leadership changes in the warranty segment, and the acquisition of Bud's Plumbing, led by Rob Casper, a seasoned aggregator CEO. These moves suggest a path toward becoming a self-funded, pure-play search fund company, potentially unlocking greater valuation multiples. With substantial NOLs expiring by 2029, the urgency to monetize or streamline operations further supports the bullish outlook. Recent share price appreciation reflects growing investor recognition of Kingsway's evolving business model and strategic potential. For a comprehensive analysis of another standout stock covered by the same author, we recommend reading our summary of this on Copart, Inc. (CPRT). Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (KFS) is not on our list of the 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 4 hedge fund portfolios held KFS at the end of the first quarter which was 5 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of KFS as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
