Latest news with #Willingham
Axios
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Axios
New North Carolina laws include one allowing guns in private schools
The Republican-led N.C. General Assembly, with the help of several Democrats, overrode several vetoes by Gov. Josh Stein on Tuesday, including one on Duke Energy's carbon reduction goals and another allowing guns in private schools. Why it matters: The votes highlight the weakness of Stein's veto power over the Republican-led General Assembly, especially with multiple Democrats joining to pass bills despite Stein's opposition. Republicans already held a supermajority in the state Senate, but were one vote shy in the state House, meaning they needed to recruit at least one Democrat to get the bills past the veto. Driving the news: The first bill to bypass the veto was Senate Bill 266, which eliminated an interim goal that requires Duke Energy to reduce carbon emissions by 70% by 2030. It will also change how Duke Energy can set its rates and recover costs from its under-construction plants. Stein said he vetoed it because he believes it will cause ratepayers to pay higher bills. Two Charlotte Democrats, Reps. Nasif Majeed and Carla Cunningham, and Edgecombe County Rep. Shelly Willingham voted to override the veto. State of play: So far, the General Assembly has overridden Stein's veto of eight of 14 bills, including: House Bill 193: A bill that permits private schools to allow some employees or volunteers to carry guns on campus and act as security guards. Democratic Rep. Willingham joined Republicans to pass the law. House Bill 318: The bill strengthens a previous statute that requires sheriff departments in the state to comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Democratic Rep. Cunningham joined Republicans. Senate Bill 416: The bill prohibits public agencies from collecting or releasing personal information about members, volunteers and donors to certain nonprofits. Supporters said the bill protects people from being intimidated based on their giving, while Stein said in his veto that it will encourage more dark money in politics and make it harder to crack down on tax fraud. Democratic Reps. Cecil Brockman, of Guilford County; Cunningham and Willingham joined Republicans. Senate Bill 254: This bill shifts some oversight for charter schools in the state from the state Board of Education to the Charter School Review Board, a board that is majority-controlled by the Republican-led legislature. Reps. Brockman, Cunningham and Willingham joined Republicans in the vote. House Bill 805: The bill included several changes, including excluding gender identity from state definitions of biological sex, allowing lawsuits against medical providers who perform gender transitions and banning state funds from being used for gender transition surgery. Democratic Rep. Majeed joined Republicans in the vote. House Bill 549: This bill gives the state auditor access to data and records from any business or nonprofit that gets public funds. It's the latest power that Republican state Auditor Dave Boliek has added since his election. Democratic Rep. Willingham voted with Republicans.
National Post
16-07-2025
- Business
- National Post
Serta Simmons Bedding Launches Serta® Perfect Day® Mattress in a Box Collection
Article content DORAVILLE, Ga. — Serta Simmons Bedding (SSB), a leading global sleep company, today announced the launch of the new Serta ® Perfect Day ® Mattress in a Box (MIB) collection – designed to deliver refreshing sleep, zoned support, and Serta-quality comfort at compelling price points and ultimate convenience. Article content Article content The new Perfect Day collection includes a range of wrapped coil mattresses engineered for instant recovery and support the moment they're unboxed: from Box-to-Bed in Seconds ™ making setup simple for consumers for immediate use. Article content With breathable materials, layers of cushioning foam, and signature 3-Zoned Body Support for enhanced lower-back support, the collection is designed to offer consumers a perfect night's sleep for an unbeatable value. Article content 'Perfect Day represents the sweet spot between performance, value and convenience,' said Mitch Willingham, Senior Vice President, Brand Marketing. 'Whether it's a guest room upgrade or a first mattress out of college, consumers want reliable comfort from a brand they trust – and Perfect Day delivers exactly that in a box.' Article content About the Serta ® Perfect Day ® Mattress in a Box Collection Article content The Perfect Day collection includes four comfort tiers – from a 7″ firm entry-level model at suggested Queen pricing of $199 (level 1) to a 16″ plush pillow top at suggested Queen pricing of $1,099 (level 4) – each designed to meet different sleep preferences while maintaining a consistent standard of quality, breathability, and support. Article content Key product benefits include: Article content Made in the USA with global components, and available in sizes from twin through California king, the line spans nine models, including firm, medium, plush and pillow top comfort options, with suggested Queen pricing starting at $199 and going up to $1,099. Article content Driving Growth in the Value Segment Article content 'With Perfect Day, we're extending the Serta promise to a new generation of value-conscious and convenience-focused shoppers,' said Willingham. 'We are meeting consumers where they are – whether that's online or in-store – and driving performance for our retail partners.' Article content Perfect Day models are compressed, boxed, and ready to ship or carry home, and they're also available as flat mattresses for retailer in-store display. Article content For more information on all Serta products, visit About Serta Simmons Bedding Serta Simmons Bedding (SSB) is one of the leading global sleep companies. With a 150-year heritage in delivering industry-leading sleep solutions and a mission to help people sleep better so they can live healthier lives, the company is headquartered in Doraville, GA, and owns top brands such as Serta ®, which has five other independent licensees, Beautyrest ®, Tuft & Needle ® and Beauty Sleep ®. For more information about SSB and its brands, visit Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Media Contact: Article content Article content Article content
Business Wire
16-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Serta Simmons Bedding Launches Serta ® Perfect Day ® Mattress in a Box Collection
DORAVILLE, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Serta Simmons Bedding (SSB), a leading global sleep company, today announced the launch of the new Serta ® Perfect Day ® Mattress in a Box (MIB) collection – designed to deliver refreshing sleep, zoned support, and Serta-quality comfort at compelling price points and ultimate convenience. The new Perfect Day collection includes a range of wrapped coil mattresses engineered for instant recovery and support the moment they're unboxed: from Box-to-Bed in Seconds ™ making setup simple for consumers for immediate use. With breathable materials, layers of cushioning foam, and signature 3-Zoned Body Support for enhanced lower-back support, the collection is designed to offer consumers a perfect night's sleep for an unbeatable value. 'Perfect Day represents the sweet spot between performance, value and convenience,' said Mitch Willingham, Senior Vice President, Brand Marketing. 'Whether it's a guest room upgrade or a first mattress out of college, consumers want reliable comfort from a brand they trust – and Perfect Day delivers exactly that in a box.' About the Serta ® Perfect Day ® Mattress in a Box Collection The Perfect Day collection includes four comfort tiers – from a 7" firm entry-level model at suggested Queen pricing of $199 (level 1) to a 16" plush pillow top at suggested Queen pricing of $1,099 (level 4) – each designed to meet different sleep preferences while maintaining a consistent standard of quality, breathability, and support. Key product benefits include: Made in the USA with global components, and available in sizes from twin through California king, the line spans nine models, including firm, medium, plush and pillow top comfort options, with suggested Queen pricing starting at $199 and going up to $1,099. Driving Growth in the Value Segment 'With Perfect Day, we're extending the Serta promise to a new generation of value-conscious and convenience-focused shoppers,' said Willingham. 'We are meeting consumers where they are – whether that's online or in-store – and driving performance for our retail partners.' Perfect Day models are compressed, boxed, and ready to ship or carry home, and they're also available as flat mattresses for retailer in-store display. For more information on all Serta products, visit About Serta Simmons Bedding Serta Simmons Bedding (SSB) is one of the leading global sleep companies. With a 150-year heritage in delivering industry-leading sleep solutions and a mission to help people sleep better so they can live healthier lives, the company is headquartered in Doraville, GA, and owns top brands such as Serta ®, which has five other independent licensees, Beautyrest ®, Tuft & Needle ® and Beauty Sleep ®. For more information about SSB and its brands, visit
Associated Press
16-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Serta Simmons Bedding Launches Serta® Perfect Day® Mattress in a Box Collection
DORAVILLE, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 16, 2025-- Serta Simmons Bedding (SSB), a leading global sleep company, today announced the launch of the new Serta ® Perfect Day ® Mattress in a Box (MIB) collection – designed to deliver refreshing sleep, zoned support, and Serta-quality comfort at compelling price points and ultimate convenience. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: The new Serta® Perfect Day® Mattress in a Box (MIB) collection, designed to deliver refreshing sleep, zoned support, and Serta-quality comfort at compelling price points and ultimate convenience The new Perfect Day collection includes a range of wrapped coil mattresses engineered for instant recovery and support the moment they're unboxed: from Box-to-Bed in Seconds™ making setup simple for consumers for immediate use. With breathable materials, layers of cushioning foam, and signature 3-Zoned Body Support for enhanced lower-back support, the collection is designed to offer consumers a perfect night's sleep for an unbeatable value. 'Perfect Day represents the sweet spot between performance, value and convenience,' said Mitch Willingham, Senior Vice President, Brand Marketing. 'Whether it's a guest room upgrade or a first mattress out of college, consumers want reliable comfort from a brand they trust – and Perfect Day delivers exactly that in a box.' About the Serta ® Perfect Day ® Mattress in a Box Collection The Perfect Day collection includes four comfort tiers – from a 7" firm entry-level model at suggested Queen pricing of $199 (level 1) to a 16" plush pillow top at suggested Queen pricing of $1,099 (level 4) – each designed to meet different sleep preferences while maintaining a consistent standard of quality, breathability, and support. Key product benefits include: Made in the USA with global components, and available in sizes from twin through California king, the line spans nine models, including firm, medium, plush and pillow top comfort options, with suggested Queen pricing starting at $199 and going up to $1,099. Driving Growth in the Value Segment 'With Perfect Day, we're extending the Serta promise to a new generation of value-conscious and convenience-focused shoppers,' said Willingham. 'We are meeting consumers where they are – whether that's online or in-store – and driving performance for our retail partners.' Perfect Day models are compressed, boxed, and ready to ship or carry home, and they're also available as flat mattresses for retailer in-store display. For more information on all Serta products, visit About Serta Simmons Bedding Serta Simmons Bedding (SSB) is one of the leading global sleep companies. With a 150-year heritage in delivering industry-leading sleep solutions and a mission to help people sleep better so they can live healthier lives, the company is headquartered in Doraville, GA, and owns top brands such as Serta ®, which has five other independent licensees, Beautyrest ®, Tuft & Needle ® and Beauty Sleep ®. For more information about SSB and its brands, visit View source version on CONTACT: Media Contact: Jamie Wallis [email protected] KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA GEORGIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HOME GOODS RETAIL OTHER RETAIL SOURCE: Serta Simmons Bedding Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 07/16/2025 07:51 AM/DISC: 07/16/2025 07:51 AM
BBC News
29-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
New Brighton i360 owner Sarah Willingham reveals purchase price
The new owner of the Brighton i360 viewing tower says she paid £150,000 for the company Nightcap, run by ex-Dragons' Den judge Sarah Willingham, announced its purchase of the site in Willingham claims to have spent £400,000 to get the pod working again, in addition to £150,000 to take the attraction out of administration, a spokesman confirmed to the BBC, after The Argus first reported the story on & Hove City Council wrote off £51m worth of debt in January to facilitate the purchase. Brighton i360 entered administration in November 2024 before closing suddenly the following month, with the loss of over 100 reopened in March following Nightcap's company plans to invest an additional £1.5m in hospitality space at Brighton i360 by September 2026, according to a March trading city council agreed to finance construction of the observation tower in 2014 after planning permission was originally granted in 2006. The tower opened in 2016.
