Friday, July 22, 2016

Introducing Her Father, Ivanka Trump is Character Witness


Ivanka Trump on growing up Trump, father"s campaign
Video Ivanka Trump Softens Fathers Image

Donald J. Trumps eldest daughter, Ivanka, introduced the Republican presidential nominee on Thursday night. In her speech, Ms. Trump offered a different tone than most of the other convention speakers.

By NICK CORASANITI on Publish Date July 22, 2016. Photo by Stephen Crowley/The New York Times. Watch in Times Video

CLEVELAND Ivanka Trump, the eldest daughter of the Republican presidential nominee, Donald J. Trump, and perhaps the most poised and articulate defender of his character and ideas, introduced her father as a fighter who will fight for you.

I ask you to judge my father by his results, Ms. Trump told the rapt crowd in a speech that was equal parts familial praise and a recitation of his accomplishments. He is colorblind and gender-neutral.

She discussed the number of female executives at her fathers company, describing them as treated well even as new mothers, in an attempt to build a bridge to female voters with whom Mr. Trumps ratings are low. She also said that as a young girl, her father told her that if she was going to think at all, she should think big.

The speech was a sharp departure in tone from some of the earlier presentations at the convention the first three nights were filled with thunderous oratory and chants of lock her up! about Hillary Clinton. But Ms. Trump presented a far different approach to the convention delegates.

Video Ivanka Trump: A Real First Lady?

Donald Trumps daughter Ivanka has been playing an active role in his campaign, while his wife, Melania, has preferred to take a back seat. The Timess Jennifer Steinhauer explains how Ivanka Trump is taking a lead.

By NATALIA V. OSIPOVA and JENNIFER STEINHAUER on Publish Date July 21, 2016. Photo by Eric Thayer for The New York Times. Watch in Times Video

Ms. Trumps influence with her father is almost unrivaled in their family. And her goal at the convention was to serve as one of his strongest character witnesses, offering a warmer portrait of one of the most famous celebrities in the world yet someone who is known mostly superficially, and most recently in a negative light through his slashing campaign.

I think for someone so famous, in certain regards my father is not very well known, and his warmth and compassion have not been fully experienced by the American public, Ms. Trump said in a brief interview before her speech.

In recent months, Ms. Trump, 34, has operated as something of the superego of the evolving Trump campaign, gingerly influencing and promoting her fathers ambitions while avoiding becoming ensnared in his controversies. Her efforts have impressed donors, Republican members of Congress, skeptics and delegates here at his nominating convention.

Mr. Trumps wife, Melania, has been a reluctant co-campaigner, preferring to remain out of the spotlight and focused on the couples young son, Barron. When Mr. Trump announced his once-seemingly quixotic candidacy in June, it was Ivanka Trump who introduced her father, while Melania Trump lingered behind them.

In an interview this week with People magazine, Ms. Trump defended her stepmother, calling her an unbelievable mother while offering praise for her decision to let parenting take priority over being on the campaign trail on behalf of her husband. The remarks came as Melania Trump has been dealing with accusations that passages from the convention speech she gave Monday night were plagiarized.

How we analyzed the last night of the Republican National Convention, which featured Ivanka Trump, Peter Thiel, Donald J. Trump and more.

I do think Ivanka has the key family role, said Representative Chris Collins, Republican of New York, who has worked closely with the campaign. Melania has said she wants to take a more behind-the-scenes role, Mr. Collins said, adding that Ms. Trump has her fathers ear. The bond between a father and daughter is just very different.

She has had an outsized influence on the campaign, particularly as her father fought to wrap up the nominating fight and then battled this week with delegate efforts to thwart his nomination. She counseled him on ways to broaden his support and nudged him toward moving into a new phase of his campaign, one less reliant on his own gut instincts, according to people briefed on those discussions.

This is about talking to her father, said Representative Lee Zeldin, another New York Republican. Not a presidential candidate who will fire her.

Maggie Cordish, who was introduced to her husband by Ms. Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, said that her friend had developed a new level of comfort in dealing with her father.

She skipped Saturdays with the girls to go to job sites in New Jersey or New York with her dad, Ms. Cordish said. This is something thats been part of her persona. Theyve been working together now for over a decade.

Video Trump Children Take Convention Spotlight

If the convention has any stars, its Donald J. Trump"s children. And their presence reflects the influence they have on their father and his presidential campaign.

By QUYNHANH DO and MICHAEL BARBARO on Publish Date July 21, 2016. Photo by Doug Mills/The New York Times. Watch in Times Video

Ms. Trump, who has built her own business brand over many years, is an established businesswoman herself, with licensing agreements and her own clothing line.

At his rallies, her father often refers to her by her first name only, exuding pride. And during convention week in Cleveland, she has shown herself to be a trusted confidante and defender of her father, however quietly.

Moments after Senator Ted Cruz of Texas subtly eviscerated Mr. Trump from the convention stage Wednesday night, cameras captured a visibly displeased Ms. Trump as she stood to her fathers left. She whispered into her fathers ear as the crowd booed and hissed.

And Tuesday night, she beamed as she stood on the convention floor with her oldest siblings while her brother, Donald Jr., cast the delegate vote that officially made their father the Republican nominee. She was spotted, smiling, as she talked on the phone with her father soon after.

One of the ways I judge a person is the quality of their children, said Dan Perrier, a delegate from Washington state. Everyone should bring their best role to the table and she has with him.

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Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/22/us/politics/donald-ivanka-trump.html

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The Show Must Go On: Sia, Adele and More Musicians Who Suffer From Stage Fright


Sia - Chandelier (Official Video)

The Show Must Go On: Sia, Adele and More Musicians Who Suffer From Stage Fright

Gary Miller/Getty Images

There"s more to Sia"s wig than just style.

The "Chandelier" songstress is as famous for her identity-concealing wig as she is for her musical pipes. However, while it has shaped her signature look, the platinum bob has also become a personal barricade to help calm her crippling stage fright. In fact, the Australian native was so nervous for her scheduled performance onGood Morning AmericaFriday that she admitted to getting emotional before it was time to hit the stage.

"I just cried in the dressing room," she told co-host Amy Robach. "I"m really croaky and I was like "I"m not going to hit the high note and I want everyone to like me." It"s scary to perform!"

The chart-topping performer may appear cool, calm and collected with a mic in her hand, but the 40-year-old admitted she"s actually quite afraid of her profession."I do not love performing," she said during the show. "I get really scared."

Fortunately, Sia is in successful company. She"s just one of many award-winning musicians who have admitted to major pre-show jitters, including a 40-time Grammy Award nominee.

Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

Barbra Streisand, a legendary singer in the industry, became a household name for her portrayals of passionate and steadfast performers like f***y Brice in Funny Girl. Ironically, the actress is admittedly bashful about singing in front of people. In fact, the Oscar winner says the darker the room, the better.

"I"m very shy," she previously told Oprah Winfrey."I don"t like singing. I could never perform in a living room. I could never get up and sing in a living room. I can"t do that...seeing the people"s faces."

Lorde shares the legend"s anxiety."I, like, totally threw up before my show last night," she told The West Australian."I am reduced by nerves. I can be completely crushed by feelings of all kinds." While the 19-year-old "Royals" singer has earned herself two Grammy Awards since she first arrived on the music scene, those jitters still creep up.

"It"s definitely feeling like a really comfortable place for me now," she continued to the newspaper. "But I get nervous, I get freaked out, I get, you know, the usual stuff."

Michel Porro/Getty Images

Adele is another famous voice rolling in deep stage fright. While the 28-year-old British star is in the middle of her latest world tour, she admitted years ago that touring triggers anxiety attacks for her.

"I"m scared of audiences," she told Rolling Stonein 2011."I get s****y scared. One show in Amsterdam, I was so nervous I escaped out the fire exit. I"ve thrown up a couple of times. Once in Brussels, I projectile-vomited on someone. I just gotta bear it. But I don"t like touring. I have anxiety attacks a lot."

It"s a challenge she still struggles with today, admitting toToday"s Matt Lauer in 2015 that the nerves came on before she hit the stage for her one-night-only special at Radio City Music Hall."I saw the crowd and I just melted," she said. "After the second or third song, I was chill, I was alright."

She"s spent her entire life in the spotlight, first as Judy Garland"s daughter and later as an Oscar-winning actress, but all that time has not prevented Liza Minnelli from clamming up in front of the lights and cameras. However, by the time she reached her 60s, the icon explained her nerves had taken on a new form."It"s a different kind of nervous," she told Harper"s Bazaarin 2011."It"s like a race horse gets nervous. Because I want to do it right."

E! Online - Your source for entertainment news, celebrities, celeb news, and celebrity gossip. Check out the hottest fashion, photos, movies and TV shows!

Source: http://www.eonline.com/news/782076/the-show-must-go-on-sia-adele-and-more-musicians-who-suffer-from-stage-fright

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Roger Ailes Cant Build a Fox News Rival...Yet


Megyn Kelly: I Was Sexually Harassed By Fox News" CEO Roger Ailes

The ex-chairman signed a non-compete clause when he was forced to resign, but industry insiders say he could easily secure funding should he want to set up a rival network.

With shocking swiftness, Roger Ailes has been forced to resign effective immediately as chairman and CEO of the Fox News and Fox Business cable channels he built from scratch, just 15 days after fired Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson filed a sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation lawsuit against the 76-year-old Ailes.

A Thursday afternoon press release from parent company 21stCentury Fox announced Ailess abrupt resignation as well as executive chairman Rupert Murdochs interim role in Ailess former jobs, which also include the chairmanship of the Fox broadcast television stations, as the company searches for a successor.

Ailes deputies Bill Shine, Jay Wallace, and Mark Kranz will run the channels day to day until a successor is named, the press release announced.

The corporate shakeup represents a win for Rupert Murdochs sons and fellow top 21stCentury Fox executives, Lachlan and James, who have clashed with Ailes in the past and have reportedly used Carlsons lawsuit, and ordered up an internal review of her allegations and those of other female employees, as a wedge to drive him out of his powerful perch.

But it also represents a victory of sorts for Ailes, who is stepping down under undisclosed but assuredly generous financial termsa leaked but unsigned term sheet mentioned a figure of $40 millionand with an official company statement that showers him with praise and makes no explicit mention of the controversy that prompted his exit.

There was no mention in the release of whether 21stCentury Fox will be underwriting Ailess legal bills.

Especially damaging were reports that Fox News prime-time star Megyn Kelly had told lawyers from Paul, Weiss, the law firm conducting the internal investigation, that Ailes had sexually harassed her a decade ago when she was a cub legal reporter.

Dear Rupert, Ailes wrote in his resignation letter released by Fox News contributor Susan Estrich, one of his attorneys involved in the exit negotiations. With your support, I am proud that we have built Fox News and Fox Business Channels into powerful and lucrative news organizationsthat inform our audience and reward our shareholders.

Apparently with an eye toward Kellys alleged account to the Paul, Weiss attorneys and Carlsons ongoing lawsuitwhich claims Ailes suggested in September 2015 that having s*x with him would help her career at Fox News, and then retaliated by firing her when she rebuffed his unwelcome advancesAiles added: I take particular pride in the role that I have played advancingthe careers of the many women I have promoted to executive and on-air positions. Many of these talented journalists have deservedly become household names known for their intelligence and strength, whether reporting the news, fair and balanced, and offering exciting opinions on our opinion programs.

Rupert Murdoch, meanwhile, said in part in his effusive farewell statement: Roger Ailes has made a remarkable contribution to our country and to our company. Roger shared my vision of a great and independent television organization, and executed it brilliantly over 20 great years.

Contrary to rumors that Ailes would stay on as a corporate consultant through 2018, a role unmentioned in the 21stCentury Fox press release, Ailes wrote in his resignation letter: Having spent 20 years building this historic business, I will not allow my presence to become a distraction from the work that must be done every day to ensure that Fox News and Fox Business continue to lead our industry. Ailes, however, will advise the elder Murdoch, said a corporate source.

Gretchen Carlsons legal team, meanwhile, issued this statement reacting to Thursdays developments:

Within just two weeks of her filing a lawsuit against Roger Ailes, Gretchen Carlsons extraordinary courage has caused a seismic shift in the media world. We hope that all businesses now understand that women will no longer tolerate sexual harassment and reputable companies will no longer shield those who abuse women. We thank all the brave women who spoke out about this issue.We will have more to say in coming days as events unfold.

Team Carlson says the lawsuit will proceed. Lawyers for Ailes are trying to force Carlson into confidential arbitration, while lawyers for Carlson are fighting that maneuver, with the goal of securing a jury triala process that could take many months.

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Depending on the terms of his departure from Fox, Ailes might have agreed to a non-compete clause that would sideline him for a period of time from the television business or from joining or launching a rival outlet to Fox News and Fox Business.

If, however, Ailes managed to avoid those golden handcuffs, industry observers said he could very well do just that (although Bloombergs Lucas Shaw reports that Ailes did sign a non-compete provision, an assertion confirmed by The Daily Beast, though details were unclear).

I think he could do whatever he feels like doing, said a media industry executive who spoke to The Daily Beast on condition of anonymity, so as not to get involved in the ongoing controversy. Hes got a ton of money and a reputation as a gold mine, a builder of empires, and if he decided that he wanted to go off and launch a conservative cable channel to rival Fox News, and he went off to a private equity firm, he could raise as much cash as he needed.

That sanguine view of Ailess future, never mind his current spot of bother, was echoed by an Internet and technology maven who suggested that the legendary Republican media strategist-turned-television mogul would have no trouble attracting tens of millions of dollars from any number of Silicon Valley venture capitalists.

This tech expert mentioned Gawker arch enemy Peter Thiel, a self-described libertarian and Donald Trump delegate from California at this weeks Republican convention in Cleveland, as a promising source of cash for Ailes through his wildly successful Founders Fund.

Hes vindictive, and he would take revenge if he could, the media industry executive said. If theres any way that he could make James and Lachlan look bad, that would be his first choice.

The Murdoch sons, perhaps ironically, issued their own statement heaping praise on Ailes: We join our father in recognizing Rogers remarkable contributions to our company, it began. But they pointedly added: [W]e continue our commitment to maintaining a work environment based on trust and respect. We take seriously our responsibility to uphold these traditional, long-standing values of our company.

The media exec, meanwhile, said Ailes could also team up with an existing conservative outlet like Newsmaxwith or without such on-air talent as Bill OReilly, Sean Hannity and Greta Van Susteren, who reportedly are contractually permitted to follow Ailes out the doorin order to try to create a television powerhouse to rival Fox News.

If he went to Newsmax, hed have no troubling attracting the money he would need to hire people, said the exec. Dont forget: He built that channel [Fox News] on no names. He believes his playbook. He doesnt believe he needs stars. He believes he makes stars. He wouldnt require OReilly and Hannity. Hes going to have a philosophy and hes going to know how to execute.

It would be problematic, however, if Ailes were to join a large publicly traded companysay, if Verizon, succeeded in its quest to acquire Yahoo and needed someone to beef up television and video operationsbecause of Ailess baggage as an accused sexual harasser who is facing damaging litigation.

Beyond the public relations challenges to sucha move, employees of the company might rise up against it, said the media industry exec.

Another possibility for Ailess future would be a return to his roots as a Republican political strategist, although he has worked hard since he founded Fox News 20 years ago to shed that identityoccasionally threatening reporters who continued to describe him that way with legal action (as when he was caught sending a memo to then presidential aide Karl Rove, now a Fox News contributor, advising George W. Bush on how he should respond politically to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001).

At the Republican convention in Cleveland, unsubtantiated rumors in media circles name Ailes, one of the most successful campaign admakers in history, as a possible leader of or consultant to his longtime friend Donald Trumps presidential effort, driving a disciplined message for a frequently anarchic-seeming campaign organization.

Or he could also say, Screw it. Im 76 years old. I dont feel that great, said the media exec. And go home to Garrison, New York, and say Im gonna kick back, take it easy, and write a book. Im sure hes going to want his legacy to be couched in the correct way.

Source: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/07/21/roger-ailes-quits-fox-news-under-pressure.html

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Thursday, July 21, 2016

Mike Pence"s top seven most homophobic moments (out of many)


Ask a Homo: What Does the Q in LGBTQ Mean?

Indiana Governor Mike Pence DonkeyHotey via Flickr

Indiana Governor Mike Pence is a darling of the religious right, and with good reason. Over the course of his political career, he has been a crusader (in his white-bread way) for the rights pet causes. Chief among these, of course, is stopping the homosexual agenda.

While Pence is best known for his bumbling attempt to rebrandantigay bigotry as religious libertylast year, that was hardly his first foray into the fields of homophobia. In fact, both as governor and as a Congressman, Pence took the lead in attacking legalequality. He is far and away the most anti-gay candidate torunon a national GOP ticket, which is saying a lot.

Now that hes acceptedthe Republican vice presidential nomination, heres a roundup of some of his choicest moments. Unfortunately, theres no shortage of them

1. Supporting a constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality

In 2006, then-Rep. Pence told 100 of his fellow Republicans that he supporteda constitutional amendment to ban same-s*x weddings. Or as Pence put it, supported Gods plan in the face of the destruction of civilization.Societal collapse was always brought about following an advent of the deterioration of marriage and family, Pence complained.

2. Signed a bill to jail same-s*x couples for applying for a marriage license

In an effort to make a bad idea even worse, as governor Pence signed a bill in 2013 thatwould jail same-s*x couples in Indiana who applied for a marriage license. To prove that he wasnt singling gay people out, Pence was also willing to jail marriage clerks who supplied a license or clergy who performed the wedding.

3. Wanted to divert funding from HIV prevention to conversion therapy

This ones a two-fer: as a Congressional candidate in 2000, Pence wrapped two awful ideas into a single dreadful proposal. He wanted to ensure that federal dollars were no longer being given to organizations that celebrate and encourage the types of behaviors that facilitate the spreading of the HIV virus. So where should the money go? Resources should be directed toward those institutions which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behavior.In other words, conversion therapy.

4. Opposed repeal of Dont Ask, Dont Tell

Longing for the good old days of complete invisibility for gay people, Pence predictably ignored the preponderance of evidence in support of repealing Dont Ask, Dont Tell. Instead, Pence put himself out there as a leading opponent of the policy change. Theres no question to mainstream homosexuality within active duty military would have an impact on unit cohesion, Pence argued, dismissing the repeal as some liberal domestic social agenda.

5. Complained about the passage of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes bill

In Pences ideal world, there would be zero protections. So its no surprise that he groused when the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes bill was signed into law in 2009. Pence didnt cite legal objections. Instead, he complained that it advanced a radical social agendaand would have a chilling effect on religious expression, from the pulpits, in our temples, in our mosques and in our churches.

6. Served on the board ofan antigay group

Pence has had a close relationship with the antigay leadership in his state. He served on the board of theIndiana Family Institute, an affiliate of Focus on the Family, which has been in the forefront of attacks on LGBT rights in the state, including a state constitutional amendment banning marriage equality. Thanks to its connections to Pence and other Republicans, IFI has been the recipient of funding for the states Health Marriage program.The former head of IFI has served as an aide to Pence both in Congress and the state house and as acampaign consultant.

7. Argued that passing ENDA would ban Bibles from the workplace

Of course, in Congress Pence voted against federal workplace protections. What was unique was his reasoning, which was that ENDA would discriminate against Christians. To comply with the law, Pence claimed, the employer has to ban employees from having a Bible at the workplace for their break time, or displaying Bible verses. Foreshadowing the Indiana religious liberty law, hewent on: We must stand for the right of every American to practice their faith according to the dictates of their conscience, whether it be in the public square or in the workplace.

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Source: http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2016/07/mike-pences-top-seven-homophobic-moments-many/

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"Ice Age Collision Course": Lukewarm End To A Fantastic Franchise


Ice Age: Collision Course Official Trailer #3 (2016) - Ray Romano, Simon Pegg Movie HD

Ice Age is back with its fifth instalment titled Ice Age: Collision Course. Sequel to Ice Age: Continental Drift released in 2012, Collision course is said to be the final film of the mega franchise. The film stars the famous trio Sid, Manny and Diego and the beloved crazy rodent Buck in lead roles.

This time it"s upto these four to fend off a meteor strike that would destroy the world. While the last film of the series was not able to attract good reviews, the final film is expected to end the franchise on a good note. With lots of emotions and memories attached with the geographically inclined animation film franchise, let"s see how much the final one lives up to the expectations.

Sameeksha from News18 is inside the theater to tweet review the film.

12:26 PM: #IceAge #CollisionCourse begins with Scrat and his constant battle with his acorn!

12:28 PM: #Sid the stallion is here and his failed attempt to get a partner continues! #IceAge #CollisionCourse

12:41 PM: The most fun loving and carefree weasel is here. Good to see you again #Buck! #IceAge #CollisionCourse

12:49 PM: And a new adventure begins! Let"s evade a cosmic collision! #IceAge #CollisionCourse

1:00 PM: So basically Scrat created the whole universe for his acorn. That"s one h**l of a love story! #IceAge #CollisionCourse

1:25 PM: Crystal world inside an asteroid! Proves will can create anything and everything. Plus film feels a bit draggy now #IceAge #CollisionCourse

1:29 PM: Lots of urban slang references here #Thisisubercool #IceAge #CollisionCourse

1:41 PM: And the adventurous, #IceAge franchise comes to an end with a visually stunning #CollisionCourse

1:45 PM: Nothing too out of the box, could"ve been better. Although with no more juice left, the makers did a decent job. #IceAge #CollisionCourse

Source: http://www.news18.com/news/movies/ice-age-collision-course-tweet-review-live-1269799.html

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Amber Heard Is Reportedly Hanging Out With Billionaire Elon Musk After Her Bad Breakup With Johnny Depp!


Elon Musk: Elon Musk"s Vision for the Future [Entire Talk]

We can"t say we saw this one coming!

According to Page Six, Amber Heard has been "spending time" with billionaire Elon Musk following her contentious split from Johnny Depp.

The actress and the Tesla Motors CEO were reportedly spotted leaving the SAME ROOM while staying at the Delano South Beach hotel in Florida this past weekend.

Related: Amber WON"T Sign Confidentiality Agreement For Johnny

Onlookers reveal that the pair was basically inseparable the entire trip:

"They were seen arriving and leaving the same room many times, but always separately."

Hmm what a very inneresting choice to leave "separately". It"s clear the duo did NOT want to be seen together!

Despite the allegations of a brewing romance, Musk"s rep quickly shot down the juicy report:

"I believe your sources are mistaken. Elon was in Cape Canaveral, Florida for a SpaceX rocket launch this weekend."

Wait! E.M. deals with f*cking ROCKETS too??? Dayum

As for the rich guy"s excuse, it"s important to note that Cape Canaveral is only a three hour drive from Miami. Given the fact that Elon has a ton of transportation methods available, we don"t doubt it would be possible for him to pay Ambs a visit.

But, a source close to Miz Heard also shut down speculation, contending:

"Amber was there with her sister. She has been friends with Elon for four years. She had rented a standard suite at the hotel, and he had a bungalow, a poolside duplex room. He offered Amber and her sister use of his room so they could use the pool and have extra privacy as he was working on a rocket launch."

Another insider insists it was just a coincidence that they were all in the same place at the same time:

"They all happened to be staying at the Delano. The group hung out at the hotel, rather than in public, understandably, due to all the recent press scrutiny."

However, the blonde and the billionaire aren"t entirely strangers. The gorgeous gal starred in the 2013 flick Machete Kills, which features a cameo by Elon, himself!

What do you think of this rumored romance, Perezcious readers?!

[Image via Apega/Dennis Van Tine/Future Image/WENN.]

Tags: amber heard, breakups, elon musk, johnny depp, love line, spacex, tesla, the delano south beach

Source: http://perezhilton.com/2016-07-21-amber-heard-elon-musk-spending-time-florida-same-hotel-room

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Pratt Community College Board of Trustees: Looking at different revenue sources


College Board Announces Big Changes in SAT Exam
Funding continues to dominate the future plans for educational institutions in Kansas. Funding was a prominent topic at the Pratt Community College Board of Trustees meeting July 18 at the college. With the future of state funding uncertain, the college is looking at different revenue sources, said PCC President Michael Calvert. Reduced state funding, reduced valuations, small levy increases all impact what the college can expect from various resources. The governor has approved a four percent cutback for all community colleges that will go through fiscal year 2017. If the state continues to have revenue short falls, additional cuts could be coming from Topeka. Since there is little to indicate that revenue will increase, the college has to be prepared to deal with serious financial decisions. "It will not be shocking at all if they (the state) takes additional dollars from higher education," Calvert said. And its not just higher education that is feeling the revenue pinch. It"s happening to all education levels and other areas like health, transportation and other state departments. "A lot of folks are in some real challenging times," Calvert said. We"ll make it work. There"s just so much unknown." While the college looks to possible revenue sources, they continue to remember they have a responsibility to the taxpayers to be prudent with their tax dollars. "Taxpayers provide a base and we"re grateful for that," Calvert said. One resource the college is tapping into is the non-traditional student who is already working but wanting to complete an associates degree without having to deal with college algebra. The Click2Connect program is a new outreach of the college that is aimed at the student that won"t live on campus and is not involved with sports or on-campus activities. The program has flexible options and is available online through EDUKAN and is in partnership with Fort Hays State University that offers a bachelor"s degree that also doesn"t require college algebra, Calvert said. The college is using a wide variety of media including TV, radio, print, and social media to reach the potential students. With the combined efforts of the staff and faculty at PCC, the hope is to bring in some fall enrollment outside of the service area in addition to high school numbers. With the start of classes about a month away, the enrollment numbers continue to look good. Enrollment is up nine percent over the same time last year and residence hall capacity is about 85 percent. Those numbers tend to fluctuate but for now, the college is ahead of where it was last year and the outlook is good for 2016-2017. Trustee officer elections were conducted as part of the new fiscal year requirements. Trustees voted to retain Mike Koler as chair and Jeff Shumway as vice chair. Other trustees are Dwane DeWeese, Michele Hamm, Stan Reimer, Darrell Shumway and Ken Van Blaricum. Page 2 of 2 - The Board and administration took some time to reflect on the unexpected death of ag instructor and friend Bill "Doc" Hunter on July 15. Hunter, who taught at PCC for 23 years, left some big shoes to fill. "The college and community has lost a dear friend. What a treasure we had in Doc," Calvert said. "He"ll be terribly missed." @GaleR_Tribune

Source: http://www.pratttribune.com/news/20160721/pratt-community-college-board-of-trustees-looking-at-different-revenue-sources

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