Latest news with #LisaReynolds
IOL News
26-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Design matters: discerning homeowners and investors shape the future of property aesthetics
Bespoke interiors by Lucy Harris Studio blend nature, modern eclecticism, and comfort for a growing family in In a new Brooklyn brownstone home. Image: Brian W. Ferry Discerning homeowners and investors were demanding more from design (both inside and out) as South Africa's property market continues to evolve. According to the team at Fine & Country Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), who specialise in premium residential property across the region, the sector was on the cusp of a design shift, shaped by changing values, technological innovation, and a growing desire for permanence and personalisation. Real estate is no longer about location or price per square metre only. Increasingly, how a home looks, feels, and functions is as important as where it is. The open plan living, long favoured for its sense of space and sociability, is giving way to more intentional spatial zoning. This is not a complete departure from the open-plan ethos, but rather an evolution. "We're seeing a move toward multi-functional spaces that balance openness with privacy," says the Fine & Country team. "Homeowners want connection, but they also want dedicated areas for focus, fitness, or retreat." Designers were responding with innovative partitions, sliding screens, and level changes to create zones within zones, offering flexibility without forfeiting flow. Sustainability has matured from a buzzword into a baseline expectation as today's buyers are more educated and more discerning. 'It's not enough to add a few solar panels and call a property green. Sustainability must be deeply embedded, from passive climate control and greywater systems to locally sourced, low-impact building materials.' Green buildings are not only for the privileged few; they are accessible and beneficial to all. As South Africa faced rising energy costs, water shortages, and growing investor pressure for assets that meet ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) criteria, the property industry must adapt. Contrary to common misconceptions, green buildings are not inherently more expensive. They deliver long-term financial and environmental benefits, often at little to no extra cost. The Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA), an independent third-party verifier, defines a green building as one that reduces its environmental impact across multiple areas, including energy and water efficiency, material use, waste, indoor air quality, transport access and socio-economic benefits. 'People often assume green buildings are about extravagant add-ons like solar panels,' said Lisa Reynolds, CEO of GBCSA, recently. 'In reality, they prioritise efficient design-reducing resource consumption while enhancing occupant well-being and long-term sustainability.' Natural ventilation, high-performance glazing, and smart home systems that actively manage energy use have become standard in high-value homes. In turn, design must accommodate these technologies while maintaining aesthetic harmony. The Absa's Homeowners Sentiment Index (HSI) for the first quarter of this year also revealed a growing aspiration among South African homeowners to live off-grid, with many seeking to replace municipal and state-provided services, particularly electricity and water, in pursuit of greater sustainability and self-sufficiency. More than three-quarters (76%) of respondents indicated a desire to move away from state-supplied electricity, while nearly half (49%) expressed interest in replacing municipal water sources. In parallel, households are actively adopting more sustainable practices in their daily lives, with 57% cultivating fruit and vegetable gardens and 42% using solar power for electricity. A majority of homeowners (64%) are exploring borehole and filtration systems, while 53% are considering rainwater harvesting to improve water security. The stark minimalism of the 2010s is giving way to a softer, warmer approach. This includes textured plaster walls, soft curves, and tactile surfaces like limewash, fluted wood, and natural stone. 'The aesthetic is pared back but layered. There's a greater emphasis on craftsmanship, heritage finishes and a neutral palette that feels calm, not cold.' This trend is also practical as homeowners spend more time in their spaces, working, entertaining, and relaxing, there is a need for comfort as well as style. Interiors are expected to be intuitive and inviting. While restraint rules much of today's design thinking, personalisation is back in a big way. "We're seeing a renewed interest in bold, singular design elements, arched doorways, sculptural staircases, or one-off art commissions. It's about grounding a home with character and creating moments of surprise or narrative." In architecture, this translates to stronger façades with texture, depth, and asymmetry, rather than flat or formulaic silhouettes. As lifestyle and wellness continue to shape how people live, homes are being reimagined as holistic ecosystems. Biophilic design, the integration of nature into built environments, is gaining traction through indoor gardens, natural light corridors, and even living walls. 'People want homes that not only reflect their style, but also support their health, productivity and wellbeing. This is especially true for buyers in the upper end of the market, where design must elevate daily living.' There is a movement toward what some architects are calling 'honest architecture', a rejection of mimicry or over-decoration in favour of authenticity. Raw materials are celebrated rather than covered up. The function of a space is expressed clearly in its form. In South Africa, this dovetails with a celebration of local context: embracing vernacular architecture, indigenous plantings, and indoor-outdoor transitions that connect people to place. As buyers become more design-savvy, the expectations placed on homes are becoming more nuanced. The challenge for architects, designers and developers is to create spaces that are not only beautiful, but intelligent, sustainable and deeply personal. 'Our clients are seeking more than properties, they're seeking homes that express who they are and how they want to live. Design plays a central role in that story,' says Fine & Country SSA. Independent Media Property
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Legislative lawyers clear state Sen. Lisa Reynolds over conflict of interest
Newly appointed Oregon Sen. Lisa Reynolds at her pediatrics clinic in Portland on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. (Photo by Rian Dundon/Oregon Capital Chronicle) A Portland-area lawmaker facing scrutiny over a bill she wrote that could benefit her medical practice has been cleared by legislative lawyers of any potential conflict of interest. Oregon Sen. Lisa Reynolds, D-Portland, told the Capital Chronicle in an email Tuesday that a May 16 opinion from the Office of the Legislative Counsel 'clarifies that I am a member of an exempted class, and as such, have no legal conflict of interest, nor a need to declare one' when it comes to Senate Bill 28. Reynolds is co-sponsoring the bill, which would require commercial insurers to reimburse independent primary care clinics at similar rates to hospital-owned clinics. Reynolds' position as a doctor in a Portland-based primary care clinic raised questions about whether she would improperly benefit from the legislation. A May 30 Capital Chronicle article reported that the Oregon Government Ethics Commission referred Reynolds to Legislative Counsel for further clarity on whether she was exempt from declaring a conflict of interest. Reynolds had previously told the Capital Chronicle the advice was 'reassuring,' and that she would consider seeking further counsel. But in fact, she already had. In its May 16 opinion, Legislative Counsel found Reynolds qualifies for a 'class exemption,' a rule that allows public officials to take official action that would equally impact all members of a 'class,' such as business owners or members of a particular industry. The opinion, which Reynolds shared with the Capital Chronicle on Tuesday, is signed by the Legislative Counsel Dexter Johnson and staff attorney Wenzel Cummings. 'Because you are a member of the smaller class of primary care providers who would be permitted the reimbursement rate under the terms of SB 28, you are excluded from the obligations to announce a conflict of interest, whether actual or potential, prior to voting on the measure in committee or on the floor of the Senate,' the opinion reads. Reynolds apologized for 'not having this clarification ahead of your article of May 30' in her email to the Capital Chronicle. 'I have still been very open about the impacts this bill could have, and I strive to always be very open and honest with the public and with my constituents,' she wrote. 'The legislature's rules around conflicts of interest are complicated and I am learning as I go, as well, and trying my best to follow the advice I'm receiving.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oregon House votes to limit smartphones in statewide classroom ‘culture-shift'
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Oregon lawmakers want to limit online distractions in classrooms by banning smartphone use in schools, and a bill that passed the Oregon House on Tuesday will do just that. requires each school district in the state to adopt a policy that prohibits students from using any personal electronic devices like cell phones. However, the bill will allow each district to decide how to implement this policy, such as with magnetized pouches or an 'off and away' system that requires students to turn off their devices and store them in their backpacks. Lithium-ion battery explosion causes fire in PSU engineering building The bill passed with bipartisan support on Tuesday and is set to make its way to the Oregon Senate for its next review. There, it will be championed by Sen. Lisa Reynolds (D-Portland), a former pediatrician who says smartphones have a negative impact on student health. 'As we discuss our largest ever school budget, I fear we keep one hand tied behind our students' and teachers' backs with the distraction of cell phones and their mental health impacts,' Dr. Reynolds said. 'This is a chance to create a culture shift in our schools, make a positive impact on students' learning and brain development, and make our lunchrooms loud again with community and conversation.' If passed, Oregon will become one of 17 other states — including California and Idaho — that have taken measures to limit smartphone use in class. Rep. Kim Wallan (R-Medford), who introduced the bill, said she will be proud when Oregon joins the list. 'I find it notable that no state that has curbed phone use in schools has reversed course,' Wallan said. 'I'm confident that this legislation will improve outcomes for Oregon's students and teachers.' Here's how much Portlanders think they need to retire comfortably Some school districts in Oregon have already instituted their own cell phone ban policies. Earlier this year, Portland Public Schools adopted its new , which requires students to turn off their phone and keep them off throughout the school day. PPS board member Patte Sullivan said in a that the district chose to implement the policy after receiving complaints from teachers of cell phone distractions in the classroom interfering with their lessons. 'We started this because teachers came to us, and they were so frustrated,' Sullivan said. 'There were teachers who were trying to keep cell phones out of the classroom. It wasn't working, and they said, 'Please make a policy so we can teach, so we don't have to spend our whole time telling people to put away their cell phones.' I've listened and listened. I've seen really good arguments, but I still think for the sake of the education of all of our children, we need to get cell phones out of the classroom.' Homelessness, cost-of-living are Portland's greatest challenges, according to residents The state law will provide exemptions for students who require personal laptops or iPads for school as well as others who carry devices that are medically necessary. Legislators said the evidence shows that districts who limit their students' cell phone use 'have seen improvements in behavior, attendance, and academic performance.' 'We have to improve outcomes for Oregon students,' said Rep. April Dobson (D-Happy Valley/N Clackamas County). 'Our teachers shouldn't have to compete with trillion-dollar tech companies and the most advanced social media algorithms for students' attention in the classroom.' Stay with KOIN 6 News as we continue to follow this legislation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gun control vs. gun rights: More than 2 dozen Oregon firearm bills introduced this session
Gun control vs. gun rights continues to be a hot-button issue in Oregon, with more than two dozen bills relating to firearms introduced this legislative session. None have yet to gain serious traction for a combination of reasons. A barrage of bills is clogging the system, Measure 114 is facing ongoing court challenges, and the state has already reformed several gun laws in recent years. Many of the record 3,317 bills, resolutions and memorials introduced this session will inevitably die. Separate state and federal challenges have left Measure 114, a sweeping expansion of Oregon gun laws voters narrowly passed in 2022, in legal limbo. Even without the muscle of Measure 114, which would require Oregonians to apply for and obtain a permit before purchasing a gun and outlaw large-capacity magazines that hold more than 10 rounds, Oregon has some of the strictest gun safety laws in the nation. It ranks just outside the top 10 by the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence (No. 11) and Everytown for Gun Safety (No. 12). The Giffords Law Center annually ranks states based on new and preexisting gun laws. Oregon's grade has risen from a D+ to an A- in the past 10 years and has what the organization recognizes as the 11th-strongest gun laws in the U.S. 'We probably could be doing a better job publicizing what we have on the books, but there's still more work to do,' said state Sen. Lisa Reynolds, D-Portland, a chief sponsor for a handful of firearms-related bills this session. Here is a look at some of those and others introduced this session. Senate Bill 697 would limit gun possession for people who are under 21 years old with exceptions for certain groups such as police officers and military personnel. The bill is also known as the Russell Paul Evans Act, after the late grandfather of Rep. Paul Evans, D-Monmouth, and a carryover from a bill introduced by Evans during the 2023 session. House Bill 2006 received a public hearing but died in committee upon adjournment. While Senate Bill 697 addresses concerns about the role of young people in gun violence incidents, including mass shootings, opponents argue it infringes on the Second Amendment rights of 18- to 20-year-olds. The bill would make it illegal for someone under 21 to use or possess semiautomatic rifles or shotguns, and it would have a significant impact on high school trap shooting, one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. An estimated two-thirds of firearms used in trap shooting are semiautomatics. Senate Bill 429 would implement a mandatory 72-hour waiting period for transfers of a firearm or unfinished frame or receiver from the time a gun dealer requests a criminal background check and has received an approval number from Oregon State Police. Supporters say waiting period laws delaying the purchase by a few days can reduce gun homicide and suicide rates and allow for more thorough background checks. Opponents argue the bill has no provisions for OSP accountability or timely response to the application, leading to what they would expect to be an indefinite waiting period. House Bill 3076 would direct the Department of Justice to study the establishment of a state gun dealer licensing program, which sponsors believe necessary to deal with a handful of bad-faith gun dealers who skirt regulations and whose guns sold are disproportionately found among those used in crimes. Opponents argue a state-level licensing program would be redundant. Oregon gun dealers already need a Federal Firearms License from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and they must renew it every three years. Seventeen states and the District of Columbia require dealers to obtain a license, including Washington and California, to engage in the retail sale of firearms. House Bill 3742 would allow members of the Legislature and their staffers with concealed handgun licenses to possess a firearm in the Capitol, a response to concerns for their safety walking to and from vehicles and an increasingly hostile political climate. The bill comes four years after armed protesters breached the security at the Capitol, which was closed to the public at the time. That same year, lawmakers passed a bill banning firearms in the Capitol. Oregon gun rights organizations and CHL carry permit holders are outraged. 'We adamantly oppose this attempt to, once again, elevate the members of the legislature over the people they work for,' the Oregon Firearms Federation posted on its website, calling it an 'outrageous insult' to deny citizens this right while allowing legislators to be armed. Senate Bill 696 would create the crime of unlawful transport, manufacture or transfer of a rapid-fire activator, a device attached to a firearm to increase the trigger rate and mimic automatic weapon fire. The crime would be punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both. The bill also would create the crime of unlawful possession of a rapid-fire activator, punishable by a maximum of 364 days in prison, a $6,250 fine or both. Matching House Bills 2396 and 2780 would automatically qualify a person to obtain a permit to purchase a firearm if they hold a valid concealed handgun license. A permit-to-purchase system, part of Measure 114, has yet to be established, let alone defined or resourced, because of the ongoing court challenges. The permit system would require anyone who wants to buy a firearm in Oregon to pass a background check and take a firearms safety course first. No permit is currently required, and a gun can be given to a buyer after three business days, even if the background check is unfinished. Three identical bills have been introduced, two in the House (2606 and 3074) and one in the Senate (243), requiring the Department of State Police to study the efficiency of background checks for gun transfers. All three bills direct the department to submit findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to the judiciary no later than Sept. 15, 2026. Senate Joint Resolution 27 proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution establishing a right to carry concealed firearms. The resolution would refer the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election. Capi Lynn is a senior reporter for the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips to her at clynn@ and follow her work on X @CapiLynn and Facebook @CapiLynnSJ. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon gun control legislation among barrage of bills in 2025
