Latest news with #RobertNichols
Scotsman
17-07-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Edinburgh homes soar £22,000 in a year
Homeowners in the Scottish capital have seen their homes increase in value as the UK experiences a nationwide boom in property prices. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... UK property values increased by 1.1% in this week's House Price Index, with an annual increase of 3.9% to the delight of homeowners across the country. . Those owning property in Edinburgh gained £2,648 from April to May this year thanks to a modest 1% monthly gain. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It will be the yearly increase which is sure to have left homeowners ecstatic as an 8% increase in Auld Reekie has added £22,357 to house prices. The average UK home is now worth £269,000 following the 3.9% rise over the last 12 months The average home in Edinburgh now costs £294,181, above the UK national average for a property. Homes in East Lothian had the strongest year-on-year gain across Edinburgh and the Lothians, with £24,357 added to the average property in the area. However, of the four areas it still remains the most expensive to buy in with the average home costing £297,042. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In Scotland there was no monthly increase but an annual 6.4% rise, meaning the average Scottish home now costs around £192,000. The average UK home is now worth £269,000 following the 3.9% rise over the last 12 months which added £10,000 to prices. House prices in England saw an annual price rise of 3.4%, making the average property worth £290,000, while Wales had a 5.1% increase and homes stood at £210,000 on average. . The report revealed more than 80,000 properties were sold in March 2025 surpassing the totals from both 2023 and 2024. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tom Evans, sales director at Purplebricks Estate Agency said: 'Great news once again for the nation's homeowners, and at a promising time for first-time buyers too. 'The falling interest rates over the last 12 months has helped drive down mortgage rates and drive up property prices - and the forecast base rate cut in August should continue that trend. 'We are confident house prices will continue to rise into next year, meaning your home at the start of 2026 will be worth more than it is today.' Robert Nichols, managing director of Purplebricks Mortgages said: 'This is the best time to be a first-time buyer in recent years. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Lower interest rates, means lower mortgage rates. And, while that is pushing up house prices, it also acts as a confidence booster to would-be buyers that owning property pays dividends. 'And, the government's new 'Helping Hand' scheme for first-time buyers - making more mortgages available at 4.5 times a buyer's income - will drive more movement in the market.'
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State of Texas: Republicans announce campaigns, Democrats plot strategy for 2026
AUSTIN (Nexstar)– Texas lawmakers have more work to do with a special session now just weeks away. But the end of the regular session has also highlighted the work some lawmakers are doing to prepare for political campaigns leading up to the March 2026 primary elections. Among the changes coming at the Capitol, east Texas Senator Robert Nichols announced he will not run for reelection. Nichols has served in the Senate since 2007. In recent sessions, he's been known for occasionally breaking with fellow Republicans on votes, which has become rare in the GOP-dominated Senate. Moments after Nichols made his announcement, State Rep. Trent Ashby, R–Lufkin, announced he would run for the seat. Nichols plans to serve the remainder of his term, which ends in January. Nichols' announcement came a few days after Tarrant County Republican Kelly Hancock resigned from the Texas Senate. The move set the stage for Hancock to serve as interim State Comptroller when Glenn Hegar steps down next week to become Texas A&M System Chancellor. Governor Greg Abbott on Friday called a special election in November to fill the open District 9 seat. But the biggest campaign announcement of the week may have come from Senator Joan Huffman. The Houston Republican announced she will join the race for Texas Attorney General. Huffman is a former state prosecutor and also served as a district court judge. In this session, she chaired the Senate Finance committee and also served on the Senate Criminal Justice committee. Huffman will face fellow Senator Mayes Middleton in next year's Republican primary. Middleton announced in April that he would run, pledging $10 million of his own money to back his campaign. A third Republican candidate, Aaron Reitz, is also in the race. He recently left a role serving in the U.S. Justice Department. Current Attorney General Ken Paxton is not running for reelection. He is campaigning for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by John Cornyn. New polling from the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas suggests that neither candidate is particularly popular with Texas voters. The poll of 1,200 registered voters was done between June 6 to June 16. One question in the poll asked if voters had favorable or unfavorable opinions of Cornyn and Paxton. The results showed 29% had a favorable opinion of Paxton, while 43% in the poll view him unfavorably. Cornyn's overall numbers in the poll showed 23% having a favorable opinion of the senator, with 46% giving him an unfavorable rating. Poll numbers like that are raising hopes for Democrats, who have not won a statewide election in Texas in more than 30 years. But it's not yet clear who will be on the ballot in next year's election. Former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke has not shied away from politics despite three failed runs for office. The former U.S. Senate, presidential and gubernatorial Democratic candidate has spent most of his year racing around the state, holding town halls to discuss what issues matter most to voters. Now, he is also looking ahead to the 2026 midterm elections. In an interview, O'Rourke confirmed that a meeting took place between himself and top Texas Democrats U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin and former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas. He said the meeting was to look ahead to the midterms and decide which Democratic candidates should run for which offices. 'We don't lack Democrats who can run powerful, strong statewide races. My concern is making sure that everyone is in the right position,' O'Rourke said. 'If you have everybody clustered in a Senate primary, for example, well then who's going to run for governor, lieutenant governor, Attorney General?' Currently, only a few Democrats have declared candidacy for statewide office — State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, announced she would run for lieutenant governor earlier this year. NASA Astronaut Terry Virts also announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate, and East Texas Farmer Bobby Cole is running for governor. But the rest of the Texas Democratic bench has remained in place despite rumors surrounding their potential candidacies. O'Rourke's town halls suggest he may be pursuing statewide office in 2026, but he was not ready to announce anything just yet, staying focused on what he can do in this moment. 'If it makes sense to be a candidate … then I will. My only guiding principle, my north star, is what can I do now for this country in its moment of truth,' O'Rourke said. 'If that includes being a candidate at some point, I'm open to that.' His town halls are not just in big Democratic areas, but also in smaller, more Republican cities around the state, including places like Midland, Tyler and Beaumont. His message focuses on policies that may affect Texans, including increasing Medicaid access, keeping THC products legal, raising the minimum wage above $7.25 per hour and protecting abortion access for women. Asked if a Democrat taking back a state or federal office in Texas was more important, O'Rourke seemed to suggest the U.S. Senate race was top of mind as a way to counter the Trump administration. 'It's tough not to say that we need to do it all at the federal level. I really do think it's existential,' O'Rourke said. 'This idea of self government, it might really perish from the planet unless we stand up to take it back. And that means winning that seat in the Senate.' A Democrat has not won statewide in Texas since 1994, but O'Rourke has come the closest of anyone since. He lost the 2018 U.S. Senate race to Sen. Ted Cruz by roughly 2.5 points before failing to seek the Democratic nomination for president and losing the 2022 governor's race to Gov. Greg Abbott by nearly 11 points. Still, O'Rourke said Texas is misunderstood as a state, and a Democrat can win if they campaign on the issues that matter the most to Texans. 'The national media and the country at large have written us off as this red conservative state,' O'Rourke said. 'It is up to Democrats, even though the playing field is tilted against us, to go out there and seize that power by meeting with voters, by listening to them, by reflecting their values in the campaigns that we run.' After vetoing Senate Bill 3, which would have banned all THC in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott immediately moved to call a special session of the legislature, demanding lawmakers act swiftly to regulate hemp-derived THC. But Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who spearheaded the effort to pass SB 3, quickly responded in a news conference, saying he strongly disagreed with the governor's decision. The dispute sets up a political showdown between the state's two highest office holders. Abbott's veto pointed out that SB 3 would likely be tied up in court for years, preventing the state from taking action on the issue of protecting children from accessing THC products. He also listed a set of specific regulations that the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission already enforces on alcohol products, saying the legislature should consider those regulations in a special session. But Patrick doubled down, saying he sees the governor's move as a sign that Abbott wants to legalize marijuana for recreational use in Texas. He said the hemp industry is too big and extensive to regulate, and that banning the product is the best solution. 'I'm not mad at the governor, but I'm not going to legalize marijuana in Texas, and if people want to vote me out of office for that, so be it,' Patrick said. With the path forward unclear — regulation, ban or status quo — business owners in the hemp industry say the fight to stay afloat is not over. Chris Karazin is the CEO and founder of Carolindica, a hemp-derived THC vendor based in North Carolina. He said the company is an advocate for smart legislation surrounding THC products, based on science, and opposed SB 3. He called Abbott's veto a win for both the industry and the country, saying the ban would have pushed people off-market as it would not reduce demand. 'You can jumble it all under protect our children verbiage, but you are just taking options from people that want those options,' Karazin said. 'And let's be real, they're going to go find them somewhere else. You're just going to push them to an unregulated market.' Karazin opposed the total ban, along with Roger Volodarsky, the CEO and founder of Puffco, a company that makes vaping devices for cannabis products. Though Puffco does not sell any THC directly, he still said banning THC in a state as large as Texas would impact his business. Both Volodarsky and Karazin agreed with Abbott's calls for regulating the industry. 'Governor Abbott proposed some things that are just common sense regulations we can put out there, like lab testing, labeling, age restricted access … to make sure it's not getting in the hands of kids and the people who are using it are able to use safe product,' Volodarsky said. Some proposed regulations include banning smokable products — currently prohibited under the state's medical marijuana program — or banning THC products created synthetically, typically found in Delta-8. Volodarsky did not support banning smokable products. He said the effects of edible products take time to hit the body and take several hours to wear off. He said that taking away the option to inhale THC products is a matter of restricting personal freedoms above all else. 'I know that there's a lot of stigma around inhaling cannabis in general … but it is the fastest and most effective way to administer cannabinoids into the body, and I think people should have that as an option,' Volodarsky said. Karazin also opposes the idea of banning synthetic products, disputing the term synthetic and saying it has become weaponized to scare people. 'No matter how you frame this, all the cannabinoids … are natural to this plant. In order to extract them, you are using chemistry … using heat, pressure, etcetera,' Karazin said. 'The definition of the synthetic is an incredibly vague, and I would go so far as saying an arbitrary term.' In the special session, Karazin said he wants the product to be regulated, citing age restrictions and lab test to ensure quality and safety as well as clear labeling so people know what they are ingesting. He said he would even go as far to say that there should be a regulatory body overseeing THC products for the state, taking enforcement and regulation out of the hands of local law enforcement — something Patrick was concerned about. And what happens during session is a sign of what may be to come nationally, as Volodarsky sees the fate of the hemp industry in Texas as 'ground zero' for federal marijuana legislation. 'What's happening in Texas is a big fight between the stigma of cannabis and the community that's grown around it, and I think if Texas is able to flip and offer safe access to users, that is a great omen for the future of cannabis in the federal world as well,' Volodarsky said. Glenn Hegar has served at State Comptroller for more than 10 years. He's leaving that job behind for a new challenge. Next week, Hager will become Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. While wrapping up his duties as Comptroller, which included certifying the budget passed by Texas lawmakers, Hegar has also been preparing for the transition to his new role. 'I've been in College Station, usually a couple days every week. I've probably been spending more time on that job than I have my current role,' Hegar said. 'Essentially, just visiting with staff, traveling our campuses across the state of Texas, trying to learn and ramp up, engaging in this transfer, in this transition to make sure I have my team in place, and making sure that it's just a another day at the office come July 1 when we make the transition. Affordability is one challenge for colleges around the country. Some Texans are forgoing higher education, in part because of the cost. Hegar said affordability is an important issue for A&M. 'Every single way that we can make affordability better for our students is a way that we can help them make sure they don't have debt, they have an opportunity in the beginning when they get a job, and making sure, not just that they enter college, they graduate college, have the affordability and also being able to obtain a job when they get out of school is all at the forefront,' Hegar said. In his final weeks on the job as Comptroller, Hegar certified the state budget. It comes at a time of economic uncertainty, with tariffs looming and military conflicts creating concern. Hegar expressed confidence in the Texas economy amid the uncertainty. 'You know, the first and foremost to realize is the state's Foundation is a very strong foundation in the state of Texas,' Hegar said. 'The direction of the Texas economy is strong. We have people that continue to move here every day. We have businesses that want to set up shop, businesses that want to move here. And so the trajectory is really strong, even though we don't know what's on the horizon globally today, tomorrow, and especially as we look off into the next year.' Looking back at his time as Comptroller, Hegar said he's proud of how the agency has evolved during his tenure. 'I think first and foremost is just driving a culture at the agency of customer service. Our job is the people of the state of Texas serving them, the taxpayers of the state of Texas, making sure that that culture in that agency, when someone reaches out to us for customer assistance, for help, that we are doing everything that we can, and using all modes of communication to make it easier for them,' Hegar said. 'The less time people are spending trying to figure out, how do they set up a business? How do they get their taxes filed? Those are things they can be doing to make real life impacts for their employees, for their coworkers, and making sure they're growing state economy, rather than worrying about, how do I do this and how do I do that? So that culture of customer service is first and foremost,' Hegar said. Gov. Greg Abbott signed the state budget bill into law Sunday, and tucked into a single paragraph in the 1,000-page document is a change sparked by two years of KXAN investigations into the Office of Attorney General's Crime Victims' Compensation Fund. New rules outlined in Senate Bill 1 revamp the OAG's measurement for how quickly it makes a first payment to a victim, ensuring more accurate reporting. There is also now a 90-day average benchmark for the agency to meet. EXPLORE KXAN's coverage of the Attorney General's Crime Victims' Compensation Fund Under the current system, KXAN discovered a flawed formula that makes it appear victims are paid far faster than reality. The CVC fund reimburses victims and their family members for costs resulting from violent crimes like aggravated and sexual assault, robbery and homicide. Victims can get assistance for medical expenses, attorneys' fees, childcare, lost earnings and more. The fund is meant to keep victims on their feet. Last fiscal year, it paid out more than $66 million. The fund is replenished mainly through court fees and federal grants. It is a 'last source of payment,' meaning other sources – like health insurance and workers' compensation – must be used first, according to the program's annual reports. Every year, the OAG submits performance measurements to the Legislative Budget Board and lawmakers showing how quickly it makes first payments to victims — measurements meant to inform lawmakers making budget decisions. KXAN began investigating the CVC fund in mid-May 2022. We soon found numerous victims and advocates who explained it was taking six months to a year to get a first payment on a claim. The victims described a tedious and tough-to-navigate application process that left them feeling retraumatized and exasperated. Meanwhile, the OAG's performance measurements showed victims were being paid in just over a month. The cause of the misleading measurement: a formula averaging victim claims with sexual assault examination reimbursements. Former AG official: skewed math obscures Texas victim compensation delays The formula is flawed because those two payments are processed very differently. Victim claims are submitted and handled by victims themselves or advocates. On the other hand, sexual assault examination claims are submitted by medical providers and reimbursed in less than a week, according to OAG data. Averaging the two claims together has skewed the data and made it appear that victim claims were paid months faster, on average, than reality. Under the new rules, the two types of claims will be measured separately. The new goal is to make a first payment to victims in less than 90 days, on average, and reimburse providers for sexual assault examinations in a week or less. The OAG's office did not respond to KXAN's requests for comment for more than a year. Attorney General Ken Paxton said nothing to us following a budget hearing in January. However, at a Capitol hearing, an OAG executive acknowledged the data discrepancies KXAN uncovered. 'Our numbers did not, I think, properly reflect the work that we were doing,' Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Justice Josh Reno said. 'And, we want this body to understand exactly how long it's taking for us to pay separate categories of claims.' Another bill signed by the governor on Friday, HB 3745, will allow 'emergency' payments to be made if a victim will 'suffer undue hardship if immediate economic relief is not obtained.' That takes effect Sept. 1. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nichols announces he will not seek reelection, Ashby to run for State Senate seat
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — State Sen. Robert Nichols announced Tuesday that he will not seek reelection in Senate District 3, based in East and Southeast Texas. Nichols has served as the senator from SD 3 since 2007. Nichols, who is 80-years-old, said in a statement that he is honored to have served the people of SD 3. 'It had always been my goal to make things better, to stop bad things, to do it in a way I thought was right, never forgetting who I represented,' Nichols wrote. Immediately after Nichols announced his retirement, State Rep. Trent Ashby, R-Lufkin, announced he would run for the seat. First elected to the House in 2012, Ashby currently represents House District 9, also based in East Texas. In a statement, his campaign said he has a proven track record of delivering results for rural Texans. 'In the Texas Senate, Ashby will continue to defend the conservative values that define East and Southeast Texas, standing up for private property rights, strengthening law enforcement, supporting public schools and teachers, and protecting our constitutional freedoms,' the statement reads. If Ashby wins the Republican primary in 2026, he is very likely to retain SD 3 for Republicans. Nichols won reelection in the district by 56 points in 2022. The Republican primary for SD 3 will be held March 3, 2026, and the general election will be held Nov. 3, 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Newsweek
23-06-2025
- General
- Newsweek
Photos Show US Air Force Training for Pacific War
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United States conducted aerial refueling training earlier this month, deploying aircraft from bases across the Pacific to demonstrate the reach of its air power in the vast region. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese defense and foreign ministries for comment by email. Why It Matters The training exercise comes against the backdrop of the Pentagon's designation of the Indo-Pacific as its "priority theater," where China continues to challenge U.S. military dominance. The U.S. Air Force has deployed various types of aircraft—including stealth fighter jets, bombers, and spy planes—in allied Pacific nations near China, including at Kadena Air Base and Misawa Air Base in Japan, which serve as front line staging areas for power projection. While combat aircraft play a major role in both offensive and defensive operations, aerial refueling aircraft—also known as tanker aircraft—provide critical support, as shown during U.S. bomber strikes on Iran's nuclear sites in Operation Midnight Hammer over the weekend. What To Know Aircrews assigned to Travis Air Force Base in California were deployed to Misawa Air Base in Japan with a KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling aircraft—which has a fuel capacity of over 212,000 pounds—for off-station training, according to a U.S. Air Force news release on June 18. A United States Air Force F-16 fighter jet receives fuel from a KC-46A aerial refueling aircraft near Misawa Air Base in Japan on June 5, 2025. A United States Air Force F-16 fighter jet receives fuel from a KC-46A aerial refueling aircraft near Misawa Air Base in Japan on June 5, 2025. Senior Airman Robert Nichols/U.S. Air Force The U.S. West Coast-based tanker transited the Pacific and conducted aerial refueling with Misawa Air Base's F-16 fighter jets upon entering Japanese airspace, demonstrating what the U.S. Air Force described as "worldwide mission capability" to extend operational readiness. Aerial refueling serves as the critical enabler of air superiority, stated the U.S. Air Force. It is an indispensable capability for global operations, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, where it is essential for mission execution. The ability to rapidly redeploy fighter aircraft and keep them fueled in flight is a cornerstone of strategy, as regional tensions and contingencies continue to evolve, the news release read. U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Bradford Waldie, who serves as director of operations of the 14th Fighter Squadron at Misawa Air Base, said distance is the "greatest challenge" to projecting power in the Pacific, noting that the tanker took 10 hours to reach its destination. The KC-46A—which is also capable of carrying passengers and cargo, as well as performing medical evacuations—is equipped with a number of self-protection, defensive, and communication features that enhance its survivability in contested environments, according to an official fact sheet. A United States Air Force F-16 fighter jet receives fuel from a KC-46A aerial refueling aircraft near Misawa Air Base in Japan on June 5, 2025. A United States Air Force F-16 fighter jet receives fuel from a KC-46A aerial refueling aircraft near Misawa Air Base in Japan on June 5, 2025. Senior Airman Robert Nichols/U.S. Air Force What People Are Saying U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Bradford Waldie, director of operations of the 14th Fighter Squadron, said in a news release: "Seeing the KC-46 successfully launch from Travis [Air Force Base] and meet us on time after a 10-hour sortie builds confidence in our ability to overcome the challenge of distance and deliver combat power anywhere it is required in the area of responsibility." The U.S. Air Force said in a news release: "The KC-46, the newest tanker aircraft in the Department of Defense, with advanced refueling systems and defensive capabilities, delivered critical fuel support to the F-16's midair—extending their range, preserving their combat readiness and reinforcing the Air Force's commitment to global power projection." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether the U.S. Air Force will forward-deploy some of its KC-46A aircraft to bases in the western Pacific to enhance overall operational flexibility.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas State Senator voices concerns over groundwater well permit
TYLER, Texas (KETK) – A Texas State Senator is joining several other Texas officials to voice his concerns about a pending permit that would authorize the drilling of 21 new groundwater wells in Anderson County. East Texas officials express opposition to new high-capacity wells State Senator Robert Nichols of District 3 sent a letter to the Neches and Trinity Valleys Ground Water Conservation District stating his concerns about the authorization of the drilling and how it could impact residents and livestock in Anderson County. 'This kind of large-scale withdrawal poses serious risks to existing water users, particularly rural landowners, farmers and municipalities who rely on stable aquifer conditions to support homes, crops and livestock,' Nichols said. Nichols went on to urge the board to consider the long-term implications this permit would have on the district and the impact it would have on their groundwater resources going forward. 'Denying this permit would be consistent with the District's responsibility to prevent waste and ensure the conservation of groundwater for all stakeholders,' Nichols said. The groundwater production permit application was submitted by Redtown Ranch Holdings LLC for 21 high-capacity groundwater wells that Nichols said could extract 10 billion gallons of water a year from the Carrizo and Wilcox aquifers. 'The proposed wells would reportedly authorize the extraction of over 10 billion gallons of water annually from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer,' Nichols said. 'Further, 11 additional proposed wells in neighboring Houston County, outside of the District's jurisdiction, could raise the total volume to 15 billion gallons annually. This is a staggering figure, especially considering that none of the water appears to be designated for use by the communities from which it would be drawn.' State Rep. Trent Ashby also expressed his concerns about the potential permit earlier this month, stating the negative impact it could have on private and municipal wells. 'As a lifelong resident of East Texas and a member of the Texas House of Representatives, I have consistently supported responsible groundwater management and local control over water resources,' Ashby said. This proposed project is deeply troubling. 'The sheer volume of water involved, equivalent to the annual usage of more than two million Texans, raises serious concerns about aquifer depletion, potential impacts on surrounding private and municipal wells, and the long-term sustainability of our region's water supply.' Cody Harris, the Chair of the Texas House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources, also expressed his concerns with the permit. 'While we are working rigorously at the state level to propose and enact significant legislation that will help ease the ongoing burdens across the state, I will not stand by while attempts are made to drain my own district,' Harris said. To hear from more public officials and the company behind the application, click here for KETK's previous coverage of the proposed wells. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
