Small Business Funding

Lawmakers raise concerns about Postal Service overhaul [Video]
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Lawmakers raise concerns about Postal Service overhaul [Video]

The U.S. Postal Service says its ready for the holiday rush after recent upgrades, but the agency faces tough questions about its future on Capitol Hill.Lawmakers are concerned about how a major reform effort, including plans to consolidate facilities and collection routes as early as next year, could impact service for their constituents. The Postal Service says key investments in delivery centers and package sorting machines are helping them pick up the pace in its peak season. The growing focus on the package business is part of a broader system overhaul, branded as the Delivering for America Plan. The 10-year roadmap is aimed at fixing a long-standing problem.The fundamental issue is USPS has an unsustainable business model, said David Marroni, who has studied the agencys operations for the Government Accountability Office. During a testy Senate Oversight Committee hearing last week, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said mail volumes have plummeted over the years, and the agency needs to cut costs to make up lost revenue.”The survival of mail and the Postal Service itself depends on successfully navigating this irreversible volume shift,” DeJoy said.But that has proven challenging, despite additional funding for the Postal Service passed by Congress two years ago. “You are not meeting your financial targets. You are hemorrhaging cash when you said you would be making money. Delivery in Georgia has been abysmal this year. You have not recovered as you said you would, ” said Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Georgia). Senators also raised concerns about mail delays impacting prescriptions, rent payments, and Social Security checks, among other important items. “When can we expect mail delivery back down to the two-day standard?” asked Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada).”We are at about 85% on time, 95% a day later. We will be in that condition for probably the next 8 to 12 months,” DeJoy responded.But lawmakers fear wait times will get longer in some places as the Postal Service proposes consolidating facilities across the country.I oppose the plan because implementation of it will harm service and delay delivery, said Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire).Hassan is specifically raising concerns about plans to move some postal operations from Manchester, New Hampshire to Boston and from White River Junction, Vermont to Hartford, Connecticut. She asked for an independent review, which DeJoy wouldnt commit to. Another part of the cost-saving plan calls for reducing evening mail collection trips far away from regional hubs, a concern for rural areas.”I hate this plan and I’m going to do everything I can to kill it,” said Sen. Josh Hawley, (R-Missouri).DeJoy said streamlining truck trips won’t negatively impact mail delivery and could even improve it. However, he said collections could be pushed back between 12 to 24 hours in some cases.I need to get costs down. I dont believe this is a punitive way, DeJoy said. These plans are currently under review but could take effect as early as next year.They are going to have to make trade-offs in some areas, Marroni said. If there was an easy answer this wouldve been fixed a long time ago.

Sen. Warren shares bridge funding, ‘political corruption’ concerns with OTR [Video]
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Sen. Warren shares bridge funding, ‘political corruption’ concerns with OTR [Video]

NOW, WITH AN INCOMING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION? WELL, LETS START WITH WITH ANY OTHER ADMINISTRATION ON GODS GREEN EARTH, OF COURSE IT WOULD BE GUARANTEED. ITS ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED AND SO ON. WHAT WE ARE WORKING FEVERISHLY TO DO IS LITERALLY TO LOCK THE DOORS AND WINDOWS. SO THERE IS NO WAY TO PULL THAT MONEY. CUT THE CHECK. YEAH. SO THATS WHAT WERE LOOKING FOR. THATS THE QUESTION. WHEN WILL THAT CHECK BE CUT? WELL, LIKE ANYTHING WHEN YOURE TALKING ABOUT A COUPLE OF BILLION DOLLARS, IT ACTUALLY COMES IN DIFFERENT PIECES. REMEMBER THE FUNDING CAME IN DIFFERENT PIECES. REMEMBER HOW WE GOT 25 MILLION AT THE BEGINNING AND THEN WE GOT 650 MILLION, AND THEN WE GOT RIGHT OTHER PIECES. SO THAT MEANS THEYRE ALL ON SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TRACKS. THERE IS NO I LOVE THE METAPHOR OF CUT THE CHECK, BUT THERE IS NO SINGLE. SO WE HAVE LOCKED SOME OF THE PIECES DOWN AND WORKING VERY HARD. AND I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO GOVERNOR HEALEY, HER TEAM HAS BEEN JUST TERRIFIC IN WHAT THINGS DO WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WEVE DOTTED EVERY I CROSSED EVERY T, AND JUST QUICKLY, THE BOURNE BRIDGE. WHERES FUNDING FOR THAT? THATS GOING TO BE NEW FUNDING. OKAY. AND THATS GOING TO BE HARDER RIGHT NOW IN A BLUE STATE. YEAH. YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO SAY THOUGH, THE IRONY HERE THAT WERE TALKING ABOUT STATES IN THE FOUR YEARS THAT JOE BIDEN WAS PRESIDENT AND THE EIGHT YEARS THAT BARACK OBAMA WAS PRESIDENT, A LOT MORE MONEY ACTUALLY WENT TO RED STATES ON THINGS LIKE INFRASTRUCTURE, HEALTH CARE, BECAUSE THE NEED WAS GREATER AND THE IDEA THAT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN A TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS JUST STRIKE BACK SIMPLY BECAUSE WE ARE A BLUE STATE. I THINK I THINK IT REALLY TELLS US ABOUT A, A LEVEL OF OF CORRUPTION. ITS ANOTHER FORM OF CORRUPTION. ITS ABOUT A POLITICAL CORRUPTION T

New Mexicans celebrate Old Town’s annual Christmas tree lighting [Video]
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New Mexicans celebrate Old Town’s annual Christmas tree lighting [Video]

ALBUQUERQUES ANNUAL HOLIDAY STROLL AND CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING HELD TONIGHT. ALYSSA MUNOZ HAS THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM OLD TOWN. BIG SMILES AND BIG CROWDS AT THIS YEARS HOLIDAY STROLL. A SISTER AND HER FAMILY FROM TIJERAS CAME OUT TO WATCH HER BROTHER SING. HE USED TO REALLY LIKE BEING IN FRONT OF PEOPLE, SO IM EXCITED TO SEE HIM. IM EXCITED TO SEE HIS SCHOOL. ITS ALWAYS FUN. I USED TO DO THIS WHEN I WAS A KID TOO, SO ITS ALWAYS FUN. ITS ALWAYS A GOOD TIME. ONE. THE FAMILY ALSO BRINGING ALONG A FRIEND TO SEE IT FOR THE FIRST TIME. ORIGINALLY FROM SANTA FE. SO I GET TO I GET TO FINALLY GET TO EXPERIENCE. I ALWAYS HEAR THE HYPE FOR THE OLD TOWN TREE LIGHTING, SO NOW IM REALLY EXCITED TO GO SEE IT. RACHEL LANGER AND HER FAMILY ARE VISITING FROM CALIFORNIA AND FOUND OUT ABOUT THE EVENT. ITS EXACTLY WHY WE CAME TO OLD TOWN TODAY TO ENJOY THE SHOPS AND THE FOOD AND TO SEE THE LIGHT CEREMONY, SO WERE EXCITED FOR IT AND FOR THOSE WHO STILL NEED TO DO HOLIDAY SHOPPING, YOU HAVE A LOT OF OPTIONS HERE IN OLD TOWN. STARTING OFF WITH SOME MUGS YOU GET RIGHT HERE, BUT ALSO SPICES. NOW WERE KNOWN FOR RED AND GREEN CHILI AND YOU HAVE THOSE OPTIONS RIGHT HERE. AND YOU CAN ALSO EVEN GET SOME STOCKING STUFFERS. THE WHOLE AREA IS EXCITED, AND WERE EXCITED BECAUSE IT REALLY REMINDS PEOPLE TO COME INTO THESE LOCAL SHOPS AND SPEND THEIR DOLLARS LOCALLY BECAUSE IT KEEPS THE DOLLARS IN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. WHEN YOU SHOP LOCAL AND SMALL BUSINESSES AND YOU FEEL THE IMPACT. JASPER RIDDLE IS THE OWNER OF NOISY WATER WINERY. HE HOPES THIS EVENT WILL HELP BUSINESSES. ITS BEEN A WEIRD YEAR FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE AND SO I KNOW A LOT OF BUSINESSES. I THINK ARE DOWN A LITTLE BIT SO FAR IN THE YEAR, BUT ITS BEEN A SLOW START T

New ARDOT director shares plans for road projects across NWA and the River Valley [Video]
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New ARDOT director shares plans for road projects across NWA and the River Valley [Video]

AS THE POPULATION AND TRAFFIC ACROSS NORTHWEST ARKANSAS AND THE RIVER VALLEY CONTINUES TO GROW- SOME OF OUR AREA’S BIGGEST ROAD PROJECTS WILL SOON BE IN THE HANDS OF A NEW LEADER. 40/29’S LAKYRA BANKS SPOKE WITH THE NEW DIRECTOR FOR THE ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. LAKYRA- WHAT ARE HIS PLANS FOR TACKLING KEY PROJECTS IN OUR AREA? STARTING IN JANUARY- JARED WILEY WILL TAKE OVER AS THE DEPARTMENT’S NEW DIRECTOR. HE SAYS ADDRESSING THE AREA’S GROWTH IS A TOP PRIORITY- STARTING WITH ROAD PROJECTS ALREADY UNDERWAY. “Frankly, it’s a it’s a big job. it’s, it’s an important job. And I’m so thankful that we have such a great and outstanding staff here to support me as, transitioned into that new role.” JARED WILEY WILL SOON LEAD ARDOT- TAKING OVER FROM RETIRING DIRECTOR- LAURIE TUDOR. “we’re going to work on building on the legacy that Director Tudor is leaving behind. She’s she’s built such a culture of collaboration and partnership with our elected officials, our industry, the industry leaders. So we’re going to carry that forward.” HIS EXPERIENCES WITH THE DEPARTMENT SPANS NEARLY 20 YEARS- STARTING AS AN INTERN AND RISING TO CHIEF ENGINEER OF PRECONSTRUCTION. NOW AS DIRECTOR- HE TURNING HIS FOCUS TO THREE MAJOR ROAD PROJECTS ACROSS OUR AREA. “We know here at ARDOT that that part of the state is just growing by leaps and bounds. Right. The statistics you hear, you know, nearly 40 new people move into the area each day is just astounding. And that that growth has been sustained for decades.” ONE PROJECT IS THE SPRINGDALE BYPASS. “That’s a a major project in and of itself.” ONCE COMPLETE- HE SAYS IT WILL WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THE X-N-A CONNECTOR PROJECT TO MAKE TRAVEL TO THE AIRPORT EASIER. ANOTHER KEY FOCUS IS IMPROVING HIGHWAY 112. WILEY SAYS THE ROAD NEEDS TO BE WIDENED TO HANDLE TRAFFIC AS N-W-A GROWS. “the first project is scheduled to take bids in the spring. It’ll be the project starting at 49, moving north in Fayetteville.” IN THE RIVER VALLEY- THE I-49 EXPANSION BETWEEN BARLING AND ALMA IS MOVING FORWARD- WITH A GROUNDBREAKING SET FOR NEXT SPRING. WILEY SAYS WHILE THESE PROJECTS MAY CAUSE DELAYS NOW…. “the big challenge is providing capacity improvement so that folks can get where they need to go reliably without getting into fender benders” THEY’RE NEEDED TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW. “those orange barrels are a necessary part of the equation. And when you have that rapid, sustained growth and you have to tackle, tackle it, we try to put our projects together to manage traffic in a smart and effective way.” WILEY WILL OFFICIALLY STEP INTO THE NEW ROLE AS DIRECTOR IN JANUARY. HE SAYS HE PLANS TO CLOSELY WORK WITH STATE LEADERS TO SECURE MORE FUNDING FO

New Mexico State Fair’s future uncertain amid relocation talks [Video]
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New Mexico State Fair’s future uncertain amid relocation talks [Video]

It was big news this week. The state fair is moving.But a Target 7 investigation has revealed it could stay where it is, who could be paying for it, and what it could mean for Albuquerques troubled International District.While the state has issued a request for proposals to explore options for Expo New Mexico, home of the fairgrounds, there is a lot of uncertainty about what is now being called the largest public works project in state history.Concerns among local businessesJim and Rene Grout, whose family has operated an auto shop near San Pedro and Lomas for 70 years, worry about the uncertainty. We dont have any information about it. We dont have any details as far as what they want to do, Jim Grout said.Their shop has benefited from the proximity of the fairgrounds, which have been part of the neighborhood since 1939. The states announcement to explore new uses for the site including mixed-use housing, retail development and potentially a new stadium has left local business owners unsure about the areas future.I’ve heard about the low-income housing, and that’s what I’ve heard about, Jim Grout said. And I’ve heard that they’re going to take out all of the take the Coliseum and everything else out there. So, who knows what they’ve got planned for it.Deep dive: Target 7 InvestigatesA $500,000 study to guide decisionsGov. Michelle Lujan Grisham raised everyones curiosity this week when she hosted a news conference and said, We are identifying the future location of Expo New Mexico.And in doing so, she announced the state is willing to spend up to $500,000 for a study to determine the best course of action for the fairgrounds. Martin Chavez, a former Albuquerque mayor and now the governors senior advisor, is spearheading the project.All options are on the table, Chavez explained. That includes keeping the fair where it is and rebuilding in place, moving it redeveloping where the fair is, which would be a real boost for that part of the city of Albuquerque.Chavez acknowledged that the area around the fairgrounds faces significant challenges, including crime and economic decline. You cross Central from the fair; its a cesspool of crime and drugs and murder. Pharmacies have left, Walmarts gone, people are evacuating, Chavez said. This could change that trajectory entirely.The future of Expo New MexicoWhile the study will examine various options, the sites long-term leases and recent investments complicate the decision. Tingley Coliseum, for example, recently underwent $2 million in renovations. Chavez said, Im not sure they saw this initiative coming when they first appropriated the money for it.Chavez said there is interest from the private sector in building a new arena tied to an entertainment district, raising questions about the fate of existing facilities like the racetrack and casino, which are both under long-term leases.That’s something that has to be addressed and navigated, Chavez said. There are long-term leases in place. And, you know, I don’t know how those can be changed.Follow us on social: Facebook | X/Twitter | Instagram | YouTubeWhere could the fair move?If the fair is relocated, Chavez mentioned several potential sites, including Balloon Fiesta Park, Mesa del Sol, Edgewood and the far South Valley. He emphasized that funding for any relocation or redevelopment would not involve new taxes, relying instead on oil and gas revenue and private sector contributions.The funding would be private sector and then existing capital outlay from that legislature, Chavez said. So, no tax increases, nothing of that nature for the taxpayers to be concerned about.A tight timelineThe state has given companies just 45 days to submit proposals, a shorter time frame than the typical 60 to 90 days. Chavez said the urgency is driven by the upcoming legislative session, where lawmakers will be asked to make appropriations for the project.The governor wants it done yesterday, Chavez said, underscoring the push to gather data before mid-January.Action 7 News On The Go: Download our app for freeWhats next?With no final decisions made, many questions remain about the fairs future. Chavez hinted that the 2025 state fair could be the last one held at the current location. For now, businesses like the Grout familys auto shop remain hopeful the fairgrounds will stay.I like it where it is, Grout said. Its right across the street.Full Martin Chavez interview