Latest news with #Banfield
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Charges pile up for ex-teacher accused of sexually abusing student
An indictment has been unsealed in the case of former Downers Grove, Illinois, high school teacher Christina Formella, who faces dozens of new charges for allegedly sexually abusing a student. Abby Escobar, a true-crime digital creator known as Abby Blabby, joins 'Banfield' to discuss what transpired in court this week. #Crime #SexualAbuse #Teacher
7NEWS
11-06-2025
- Business
- 7NEWS
Nando's serves up first Australian drive-thru restaurant and talks huge expansion over next five years
Hungry customers have a new way to pick up their next 'cheeky' order of peri-peri chicken, with Nando's pitting itself against other fast food giants by opening its first Australian drive-thru. The flagship restaurant has opened in Roxburgh Park in Melbourne, with Nando's saying it was driven by changing customer habits. Drive-thru sales generate up to 70 per cent of revenue for quick service restaurants, and close to four in 10 people say it is their preferred way of ordering food, reports QSR. 'We've been privileged to be part of the Australian restaurant industry for 35 years and this marks yet another milestone of how Nando's is evolving,' Amanda Banfield, the company's chief executive for Australia and New Zealand, said. Nando's plans to open another 25 restaurants across the ANZ region in the next three years, and 70 new stores by 2030. 'Drive-thrus like Roxburgh Park are a key part of that growth story,' Banfield said. Nando's also appeared to fire a shot at its competitors 'turning to AI', saying it wants its drive-thru experience to be 'unique, vibrant and enjoyable' for customers. Hungry Jack's confirmed this month it was using artificial intelligence to take orders after a customer posted their shock at being greeted by an AI assistant, rather than a human employee, at a restaurant in St Peters in Sydney. Hungry Jack's told it was trialling a new 'digital voice-activated customer ordering system'. More restaurants are set to be included in the trial before the end of the year. 'The test aims to determine the effectiveness of the technology in delivering service improvements,' the spokesperson said. 'Customer feedback will be sought during the trial period.' McDonald's and KFC are among eateries that have previously trialled AI-based order systems.
Malaysian Reserve
10-06-2025
- Health
- Malaysian Reserve
Banfield Delivers its Most Robust Preventive Care Packages Yet to Support Pets in their Golden Years
Nation's leading provider of preventive veterinary care launches new offerings to support senior pets, empowering veterinary professionals and pet owners to help identify age-related issues VANCOUVER, Wash., June 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — For more than 30 years, Banfield Pet Hospital—part of the Mars Veterinary Health family of practices—has been at the forefront of affordable, high-quality preventive care through its innovative Optimum Wellness Plans® (OWPs). Today, the practice is proud to announce its first-ever Senior Care Optimum Wellness Plans, designed specifically to proactively support aging pets. The new offerings underscore Banfield's commitment to lifelong pet wellness, providing over two million OWP clients nationwide with flexible, budget-friendly packages that enhance access to high-quality veterinary care. Introducing: Banfield's new Senior Care OWPsInformed by insights from Banfield's extensive medical record database and industry best practices—including the American Animal Hospital Association's (AAHA) Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats—the new Senior Care and Senior Care Plus OWPs bundle essential preventive services with advanced diagnostics. This proactive approach aims to detect signs of age-related illnesses when intervention is most effective and affordable. The Senior Care OWP is designed to help identify signs of age-related illness, combining essential services like vaccinations and exams with comprehensive diagnostic testing. The Senior Care Plus OWP builds upon this foundation by including all the services in the Senior Care plan, plus a professional dental cleaning to maintain oral health. 'This evolution of our OWP offerings exemplifies Banfield's leadership in innovative, data-informed, and high-quality preventive veterinary care—meeting the needs of pets and the people who care for them at every stage of life,' said Dr. Alea Harrison, Chief Medical Officer of Banfield Pet Hospital. 'The Senior Care plans help make caring for aging pets more convenient and accessible. With advanced diagnostics, veterinary teams and pet owners can identify age-related health issues and manage care more affordably.' Banfield's most comprehensive preventive care packageThe Senior Care Plans are Banfield's most comprehensive preventive care packages yet to help catch some of the most common issues seen in older pets. Seniors, and adult pets of any age that would benefit from additional screening, can take advantage of six types of diagnostic tests offered with Senior Care OWPs to help detect changes in organ function and overall physical health. This includes: Bloodwork, which can help monitor changes in the body as pets age and detect common age-related issues like kidney and heart disease. Radiographs (X-rays), which can help monitor changes in bones, joints, and organs. This includes an expert consultation by a radiologist to provide a second set of eyes, reviewing the films and giving guidance on next steps. Urine testing to provide additional insight into kidney function and help detect urinary tract infections (UTIs), diabetes, and kidney disease. Blood pressure monitoring, which is essential for older pets that have specific conditions or take medications that require monitoring. An electrocardiogram, which can detect signs of heart abnormalities. Seventeen percent of the over 500,000 senior dogs and cats examined annually at Banfield's 1,000+ hospitals are diagnosed with cardiac issues, while 11% are diagnosed with diabetes. This underscores the need to equip veterinary teams and pet owners with a comprehensive way to understand a pet's health, helping to enable high-quality care that's tailored as they age. Custom preventive care that grows with your petBanfield's suite of Optimum Wellness Plan packages can be customized for every age and stage of a pet's life—from puppy and kittenhood through the golden years. In addition to unlimited office visits, vaccinations, exams, and more, all OWPs include access to Pet Chat™, Banfield's 24/7 text-based veterinary advice service. All Banfield clients have digital access to their pet's medical records, payment information, and appointment scheduling via Banfield's website or app. Plus, clients can enjoy discounts on eligible products and services, convenient AutoShip options, and the flexibility to pay monthly or in full—all while benefiting from care at any one of Banfield's network of more than 1,000 hospitals nationwide. OWPs are not insurance, rather they are a set package of preventive care services at a fixed cost, covering unlimited office visits, vaccinations, exams, and more. With insurance, you pay a premium and hope your pet's services are reimbursed. With an OWP, you pay in monthly or yearly installments for a package of preventive care services. Learn more here. About Banfield Pet HospitalBanfield Pet Hospital was founded in Portland, Ore. in 1955 and today is a pioneer in preventive veterinary care with more than 1,000 general veterinary hospitals in 42 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and Mexico. Every year, Banfield's veterinary teams provide high-quality veterinary care to over three million pets, including more than two million Optimum Wellness Plan clients. As part of the Mars Veterinary Health family of practices—which includes nearly 70,000 Associates around the world who are united in delivering high-quality veterinary care at every stage of a pet's life—Banfield's more than 19,000 Associates nationwide are committed to positively impacting society through the Banfield Gives Back program and to its Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS, because pets make a better world for us. Press seeking additional information are invited to call the Banfield Media Hotline: (888) 355-0595.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Epic Charter School superintendent resigns after major cuts to staff, facilities
Epic Charter School Superintendent Bart Banfield speaks at a meeting of the school's governing board on Nov. 14 at the 50 Penn Place complex in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — Amid mass layoffs of educators, the superintendent of Epic Charter School has resigned. The virtual charter school announced Monday that Bart Banfield has stepped down after six years in charge. Deputy Superintendent of Instruction Justin Hunt will lead the school in the interim while Epic's governing board searches for a permanent hire. Banfield led Epic during multiple turbulent periods while the school weathered criminal investigations, a forensic audit, a threat of closure and up-and-down enrollment. 'Bart Banfield's leadership has helped shape our school and strengthen its mission to provide an exceptional, personalized education for students across Oklahoma,' Ginger Casper, president of Epic's school board, said. 'We are grateful for his contributions and wish him continued success in his future endeavors.' During Banfield's tenure, Epic rapidly grew into the largest school district in Oklahoma in 2020 as families sought online schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Epic, now the state's third-largest district, has experienced declining enrollment ever since, which contributed to pay cuts and layoffs in October. District officials at the time said they overestimated their yearly enrollment by 4,000 students. This month, the school eliminated 357 teaching and administrative jobs in the latest round of staff cuts. It will close its in-person learning centers in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, as well. Epic's finances have been under the microscope for several years. The school's co-founders, Ben Harris and David Chaney, were charged in 2022 with embezzlement, racketeering and a litany of other financial crimes stemming from their leadership of Epic. Harris and Chaney deny allegations that they wrongfully pocketed millions of taxpayer dollars intended for Epic students. Former Epic CFO Josh Brock also was charged in the case and has agreed to testify against the co-founders in exchange for no prison time. Banfield succeeded Chaney as Epic's superintendent in 2019. He first joined Epic in 2014 as assistant superintendent of instruction. Harris and Chaney, whose company was paid to manage the school, remained intricately linked with Epic until 2021, when the school's governing board cut ties with them and their business. While facing threats of closure from the state, Epic's governing board and Banfield's administration implemented financial, organizational and transparency reforms that converted the school into a self-run entity without an outside company involved in its management. Until 2021, Harris and Chaney's company had run and profited from Epic since they founded the school in 2011. Hunt, who is now interim superintendent, experienced the transition along with Banfield. He was hired in 2017 as managing director of instruction and became deputy superintendent of instruction in 2021. 'Mr. Hunt brings with him a strong commitment to Epic's mission and a deep understanding of our community's needs,' Casper said. 'We are confident that his leadership will ensure continuity and stability as we move forward.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
"No trial:" Sammy 'The Bull' says Diddy would have been killed in the Mafia
The Brief Sammy "The Bull" Gravano said if the Mafia had known about Sean "Diddy" Combs' alleged activities for which he is being tried, Combs "would have been killed." Gravano is an ex-Mafia underboss who confessed to being involved in 19 mob-related murders. Combs is being tried on sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges. NEW YORK - During an interview on News Nation, ex-Mafia underboss Sammy "The Bull" Gravano gave his two cents on the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial. Gravano made it quite clear that if the Mafia had known about Combs' alleged activities for which he is being tried currently, the hip hop mogul would not have fared very well. Gravano didn't mince words when it came to the accusations brought against Combs during an interview on "Banfield." What they're saying "I think they have a clear-cut case without the RICO (law). I mean, what this guy did was disgusting. I don't think there's a person alive – a man or a woman – especially a woman, who are not going to hate this guy. Whatever he did was completely disgusting, it's beyond criminal," Gravano said. "He disgraced everybody," Gravano continued. Gravano went on to share his opinions on how he believes Combs' actions painted an unflattering picture of Black people. And since the case has garnered such national, and somewhat international attention, Gravano said if Combs' isn't given a lengthy sentence, he believes "the whole world" will "think, 'This is a disgusting country.'" Gravano was asked to compare some of the more horrific alleged actions carried out by the Mafia and what Combs is accused of doing. "If we did that in the mob, we would be killed for it. We would never touch women and children," he said. "If he (Combs) was in the Mafia and we knew what he was doing, he would have been killed. There would be no trial." The backstory Gravano was a former underboss for the Gambino crime family and confessed to being involved in 19 murders. Gravano later became a government informant in 1991 and helped bring down 39 mobsters including the family's boss John Gotti. He went on to serve a five-year prison sentence after reaching a plea deal and moved to Arizona in 1994 under the federal witness protection program. In 2000, Gravano was arrested in connection with a drug trafficking ring and ended up serving 20 years in prison. Follow Diddy trial recaps here. The Source Information for this article was taken from a News Nation interview published on May 29, 2025. The Associated Press also contributed.
