
India mourns the loss of Dr. Manmohan Singh, a man who not only transformed the nation’s economy but also demonstrated unparalleled personal integrity and devotion to public service. Known for his intellect, humility, and steady leadership, Dr. Manmohan Singh’s contributions to the country extended far beyond his economic policies. His personal life, marked by simplicity and deep dedication, resonated with the same values he brought to his work. He played a key role in launching the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act . He epitomized an element of inclusive growth along with the welfare of the poorest of India’s citizenry. Born in 1932 in Gah, now in Pakistan, the early life of Dr. Manmohan Singh was shaped by the challenges of partition, but it also instilled a deep sense of resilience within him. His academic brilliance led him to pursue economics at the University of Cambridge, followed by a doctorate in economics. Despite his global recognition as a leading economist, Dr. Manmohan Singh lived a life of remarkable humility. He was known to be a private and dignified man, who avoided the media and preferred policy over publicity. In his personal life, he was a devoted family man, deeply committed to his wife, Gursharan Kaur, and his two daughters. Personal warmth and modesty, by contrast, stood stark against the often dramatic world of politics. Colleagues and friends remember him for his kindness, sincerity, and integrity—which made him not only a respected leader but also a person of profound moral character. His personal values of honesty, hard work, and empathy were reflected in his policies. He was a man by nature quiet, but his action spoke volumes about the great commitment to lifting the country out of poverty and fostering economic equity. Also Read: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Passes Away At 92, Breathes His last In Delhi AIIMS One of the most important legacies of Dr. Manmohan Singh is the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, a program that was designed to provide guaranteed employment to rural households. The program, launched in 2005, became a cornerstone of Dr. Manmohan Singh’s government, reflecting his deep concern for India’s rural poor and his belief in the power of employment as a tool for development. Dr. Singh knew that economic growth would not bring the severe disparities in urban and rural populations together in India. Economic liberalization brought prosperity to most of the people, while millions of rural Indian people remained backward. According to Dr. Manmohan Singh, MNREGA is his vision, which aims at providing a right to work to millions of poor and marginalized citizens, particularly rural people. MNREGA aimed to offer a safety net for the rural population by guaranteeing 100 days of wage employment to every household that sought work. The act sought to address not only poverty but also issues like underemployment, migration, and rural distress. Dr. Manmohan Singh viewed this as a means to promote social justice and dignity, ensuring that work was not just about earning money but also about empowering individuals and communities. Still, the implementation of the program was not easy. While MNREGA has been appreciated for relieving rural poverty and creating employment for millions, its implementation was criticized for being inefficient, corrupt, and beset with bureaucratic bottlenecks. But Dr. Manmohan Singh always held on to the dream of rural empowerment through employment and often emphasized that this was an integral part of India’s development strategy. This was part of his wider vision for inclusive growth in economics. Dr. Singh’s work with MNREGA wasn’t a policy role only but, rather a testament to the larger empathy of India’s poor. While most of his other reforms were liberalization, trade, and global integration, MNREGA stands out as an example of his commitment to bridging the gap between India’s rich and poor. He understood that growth needed to be inclusive and that a nation’s strength lay in the well-being of all its citizens, especially the most vulnerable. The very quiet moments of Dr. Manmohan Singh were filled with discussions and talks about giving dignity to every citizen and equal opportunity, regardless of origin. He knew that his country could only grow further as its development story would not be able to reach the rural section, which forms the crux of the country’s population. MNREGA was not just a program for providing jobs; rather it was a statement of the belief in equitable growth. Dr. Singh’s personal life and professional achievements are intertwined with a legacy of compassion and dedication to public service. As much as his work as an economist and his role in opening up India’s economy in the 1990s hogged the headlines, the focus on welfare and social equity shaped the lives of millions, especially through initiatives like MNREGA. Leadership by Mr. Manmohan Singh was always the antithesis of the self-promotional agenda rather than an agenda that assuredly India’s growth brought into the lives of the ordinary person from there. His quiet determination in favor of the underprivileged in rural India would leave one of the enduring parts of his legacy for history. Dr. Manmohan Singh was a reminder that truly leading men is not about who roars the loudest but is, instead, about whom one hears most. It would do India well to remember him for more than just his economic reforms; it would be a fitting tribute to his quiet force of compassion. Dr. Manmohan Singh was a man who believed in the power of inclusive development, and his legacy—especially through MNREGA—will continue to impact generations to come. Also Read: Nation Mourns The Loss Of Manmohan Singh: A Leader, Mentor, And Architect Of Economic Revolution Written By Aditya Mallick Updated By Aditya MallickBad Bunny announces a new album, 'Debí Tirar Más Fotos'
Updated: Otremba helps Mavericks past No. 2 Ohio StateTULSA, Okla., Dec. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ONE Gas, Inc. (NYSE: OGS) today issued financial guidance for 2025 and updated its five-year growth rates. "We enter 2025 focused on creating long-term value for our stakeholders, supporting growing customer demand, and enhancing the safety and reliability of our system," said Robert S. McAnnally, president and chief executive officer. "Our strategic plan supports a long runway of growth opportunities and investments in system reinforcements." 2025 FINANCIAL GUIDANCE ONE Gas (the "Company") expects 2025 net income to be in the range of $254 million to $261 million, with earnings per diluted share of $4.20 to $4.32. The midpoints of 2025 guidance are net income of $257 million and earnings per diluted share of $4.26. The Company's 2025 earnings guidance includes the benefit of new rates and customer growth, partially offset by higher operating expenses, including employee-related and contractor costs, depreciation expense from capital investments, and interest expense. Capital investments, including asset removal costs, are expected to be approximately $750 million in 2025, primarily targeted for system integrity and replacement projects. Capital investments for extensions to new customers are expected to be approximately $180 million, largely due to continued growth opportunities in Texas and Oklahoma. The anticipated average rate base for 2025 is $5.8 billion. The Company has outstanding forward sale agreements covering approximately 3.6 million shares of its common stock at an average price of approximately $77 per share. Had all forward shares been settled at the end of the third quarter, net proceeds would have been approximately $275 million. The Company expects to settle approximately $245 million of its outstanding equity under forward sale agreements at year-end 2024 and roll forward approximately $30 million to settlement in 2025. FIVE-YEAR FINANCIAL GROWTH RATES For the five years ending 2029, capital investments, including asset removal costs, are expected to be in the range of $750 million to $850 million per year, or approximately $4.0 billion for the five-year period, including growth capital of approximately $1.0 billion. Capital expenditures support estimated average rate base growth of 7% to 9% per year through 2029. Annual net income and diluted earnings per share are expected to increase by an average of 7% to 9% and 4% to 6%, respectively, over the long term and the Company expects to be at the high end of these respective ranges through 2029. Operating costs over the five-year period are expected to increase an average of approximately 4% per year, down from the 5% average annual increase indicated in the 2024 guidance. The Company estimates total net long-term financing needs for the period 2025 through 2029 of approximately $1.5 billion, of which approximately 40% is expected to be equity. Consistent with last year's guidance, the Company expects to achieve an average annual dividend growth rate of 1% to 2% through 2029, subject to the board of directors' approval, with a target dividend payout ratio of 55% to 65% of net income. CONFERENCE CALL, WEBCAST AND INVESTOR PRESENTATION The ONE Gas executive management team will conduct a conference call on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, at 8 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (7 a.m. Central Standard Time). The call also will be carried live on the ONE Gas website. To participate in the telephone conference call, dial 833-470-1428, passcode 934495, or log on to www.onegas.com/investors and select Events and Presentations. If you are unable to participate in the conference call or the webcast, a replay will be available on the ONE Gas website, www.onegas.com , for 30 days. A recording will be available by phone for seven days. The playback call may be accessed at 866-813-9403, passcode 503269. Additional information can be found in the 2025 Financial Guidance investor presentation on the ONE Gas website at https://www.onegas.com/investors/financials-and-filings/guidance . Guidance estimates may be impacted by the variables in the forward-looking statements listed below. ONE Gas, Inc. (NYSE: OGS) is a 100% regulated natural gas utility, and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "OGS." ONE Gas is included in the S&P MidCap 400 Index and is one of the largest natural gas utilities in the United States. Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, ONE Gas provides a reliable and affordable energy choice to more than 2.3 million customers in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Its divisions include Kansas Gas Service, the largest natural gas distributor in Kansas; Oklahoma Natural Gas, the largest in Oklahoma; and Texas Gas Service, the third largest in Texas, in terms of customers. For more information and the latest news about ONE Gas, visit onegas.com and follow its social channels: @ONEGas , Facebook , LinkedIn and YouTube . Some of the statements contained and incorporated in this news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. The forward-looking statements relate to our anticipated financial performance, liquidity, management's plans and objectives for our future operations, our business prospects, the outcome of regulatory and legal proceedings, market conditions and other matters. We make these forward-looking statements in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The following discussion is intended to identify important factors that could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include the items identified in the preceding paragraph, the information concerning possible or assumed future results of our operations and other statements contained or incorporated in this news release identified by words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "should," "goal," "forecast," "guidance," "could," "may," "continue," "might," "potential," "scheduled," "likely," and other words and terms of similar meaning. One should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are applicable only as of the date of this news release. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Those factors may affect our operations, costs, liquidity, markets, products, services and prices. In addition to any assumptions and other factors referred to specifically in connection with the forward-looking statements, factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statement include, among others, the following: These factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other factors could also have material adverse effects on our future results. These and other risks are described in greater detail in Part 1, Item 1A, Risk Factors, in our Annual Report. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or change in circumstances, expectations or otherwise. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/one-gas-issues-2025-financial-guidance-302322972.html SOURCE ONE Gas, Inc.
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Crane (NYSE:CR) Sets New 1-Year High – Still a Buy?Lisa Weston has announced her candidacy for La Crosse’s District 12 city council seat, challenging long-time incumbent Doug Happel’s bid for reelection. District 12 begins at state Highway 33 and follows Pammel Creek to Hintgen Elementary School. Weston Weston has spent much of her adult life in La Crosse. She graduated with a degree in secondary education from UW-La Crosse in 2005 and later returned to the area after earning her master's degree from the University of Northern Iowa. She is an as an associate director of residence life at UW-L and wants to continue making a difference in the community. “La Crosse is a great, family friendly place to live and work,” said Weston. “I have always been civically engaged, as I grew up with parents who role-modeled the importance of giving back to the community and doing the hard work of public servants. Even as a teenager, I knew a great deal about how the school board, fire department, and church decisions were made because of how my parents spent their time.” This background has influenced her decision to run, and if elected, she hopes to use her experience to make a difference in La Crosse. “I value collaboration, effective communication, and being a problem solver. I care a great deal about ensuring that community members can share their voice, feedback, and ideas,” said Weston. “I know that most La Crosse residents want a sense of belonging, safety, and a variety of opportunities for social interaction and meaningful work. We want our children to have the same in this community. And I know, first hand, that many college students who come here to study at our institutions of higher education, experience this, and often want to stay.” While Weston has not previously run for elected office, she has a history of community involvement. Currently, she volunteers at several local organizations including the Mormon Coulee Lion’s Club, State Road PTO, and the English Lutheran Church. The spring election for La Crosse mayor, council members in districts 7-13, and a special election for the District 5 seat will take place Tuesday, April 1. All positions are elected to four-year terms. The deadline to file ballot documents is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, at the city clerk’s office.