(C) Daily Kos
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Good News Roundup for Tuesday, September 5 [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2023-09-05
The PCSRF funds will continue expert state and tribal programs that have demonstrated success in implementing high priority and effective projects benefiting salmon populations and their habitats. The BIL and IRA funds will amplify targeted investments in communities, expand partnerships and continue building place-based climate and economic resilience. Of the 16 applicants recommended to receive funding, 11 applicants are individual tribes or tribal commission/consortia including one new tribal applicant.
Programs and projects recommended for funding will benefit four Species in the Spotlight: Central California Coast coho salmon, Sacramento River winter-run chinook salmon, Southern Resident killer whales and Cook Inlet beluga whales. In addition, programs and projects recommended for funding will aid in the recovery of 28 salmon and steelhead species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), as well as salmon and steelhead species that are necessary for native subsistence and tribal treaty fishing rights. ✂️
[On August 17th,] the Department of Commerce and NOAA announced more than $106 million in recommended funding for 16 West Coast and Alaska state and tribal salmon recovery programs and projects under the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF). The funds, including $34.4 million under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and $7.5 million under the Inflation Reduction Act, will support the recovery, conservation and resilience of Pacific salmon and steelhead in Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. This funding is part of President Biden’s historic Investing in America agenda, which includes over $2 billion for fish passage investments across the country.
Salmon are pivotal to the health of the economies of Alaska and the Northwest, especially the local tribes. Every dollar spent on salmon recovery gets multiplied many times as fishermen (and women), allied businesses, and consumers turn the salmon harvest into money that circulates throughout Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and northern California. The healthfulness of wild-caught salmon is an extra bonus.
“Just as it is intellectually dishonest to categorize cannabis in the same placement as heroin, it is equally disingenuous to treat cannabis in the same manner as anabolic steroids. The majority of Americans believe that cannabis ought to be legal and that its hazards to health are less significant than those associated with federally descheduled substances like alcohol and tobacco. Like those latter substances, we have long argued the cannabis plant should be removed from the Controlled Substances Act altogether, thereby providing state governments — rather than the federal government — the ability to regulate marijuana in the manner they see fit without violating federal law.”
And a further very sensible observation from Paul Armentano, Deputy Director of NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), published on norml.org :
The Biden administration had hoped to announce the rescheduling of the drug sometime in the fall, around the one-year mark of the president's request for the review, according to five sources familiar with planning. It's not yet clear how long the DEA’s public review process will take.
Now that HHS has made its recommendation, all eyes are on the DEA, which has the ultimate authority on scheduling substances. The Biden administration had hoped to announce the rescheduling of the drug sometime in the fall, around the one-year mark of the president's request for the review, according to five sources familiar with planning. It's not yet clear how long the DEA’s public review process will take.
If the DEA were to reschedule cannabis to Schedule III, it would most notably eliminate an IRS code intended to prevent drug dealers from claiming tax deductions for business expenses. That alone could save the marijuana industry hundreds of millions of dollars a year. Small-business owners who spoke to NBC News said the inability to deduct what would otherwise be ordinary business expenses is their single biggest financial burden.
In the eyes of the DEA, cannabis is in the same category as other Schedule I drugs like heroin and LSD, meaning it’s considered to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. A spokesperson for HHS said it has “expeditiously” responded to the directive in providing its recommendation to the DEA.
The Department of Health and Human Services is formally recommending that the Drug Enforcement Administration ease government restrictions on marijuana, which remains illegal at the federal level even though 40 states allow its use in some form. The move comes 11 months after President Joe Biden ordered the top health agency to conduct a review of the drug. The recommendation is to move marijuana from what’s known as a Schedule I drug to Schedule III, under the Controlled Substances Act.
At last!! This can’t some soon enough for dispensaries, who not only can’t deduct business expenses under the current rule but also can’t use banks, meaning that they have to handle large amounts of cash that make them constant targets of thieves.
Millions of Americans making less than $33,000 a year will see their payments lowered to zero dollars, Cardona said in a White House briefing, and all other borrowers will save at least $1,000 per year. The SAVE plan will cut payments on undergraduate loans in half compared with other income-based plans, according to the Department of Education, and it ensures borrowers who keep up with payments won't see their balance ratchet up.
Introduced by Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, the Saving on a Valuable Education plan replaces the current Revised Pay-As-You-Earn plan. Like REPAYE, the SAVE plan is an income-driven repayment plan, based on salary and family size. But payments are capped at 5% of a borrower's discretionary income, down from the current 10%.
To aid the more than 43 million Americans facing the return of loan payments, the Biden administration has announced a yearlong "on-ramp" period, in which borrowers who miss monthly payments will not be considered delinquent, placed in default, reported to credit bureaus or referred to debt collection agencies. Interest will accrue during the period, however, which will run from Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2024.
The US Supreme Court struck down President Joe Biden's original plan for student loan forgiveness in June, but he's already laid out a new multipronged approach. Part of that strategy is a new income-driven repayment program, the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan. According to the Department of Education, many borrowers will see their monthly payments cut in half with the SAVE plan, and some will have no monthly bill at all. ✂️
After a pause of more than three years, interest on federal student loans resumed Friday and payments will begin again in October.
Biden is on it! Take one path away from him, and he’ll find another.
CONTEXT: During the pandemic, more than 200,000 nursing home residents and workers died, accounting for one-fifth of all COVID deaths in the country, the White House said in a fact sheet on the proposed changes. Staffing shortages, it said, may force nursing home residents to go without basic necessities like hot meals and regular baths, or even lie in wet and soiled diapers for hours. They also may suffer more falls and bedsores.
A nursing home would need two registered nurses for each eight hour shift and 10 nurse aids per eight-hour shift, the White House said. To meet the requirements, 68% of nursing homes would have to hire nurse aides and 36% of nursing homes would have to hire RNs, it said.
BY THE NUMBERS: The nursing home industry takes in nearly $100 billion a year from U.S. taxpayers, yet many understaff their facilities, the White House said. The new rule proposes that facilities have a registered nurse (RN) on site around the clock. It says each resident should receive 2.45 hours (two hours and 27 minutes) of care from a nurse aide every day, plus at least 33 minutes of care from an registered nurse every day.
THE TAKE: Biden, a Democrat, pledged last year to protect American seniors' lives and life savings by cracking down on nursing homes that commit fraud or endanger patients' safety and address the chronic understaffing at long-term care facilities that was exposed during the pandemic.
President Joe Biden's administration on Friday proposed setting federal minimum staffing levels for nursing homes, a move aimed at addressing longtime complaints about abuse and neglect in the industry that were highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here’s a favorite song of mine, written during the pandemic. As usual, Michael Franti’s message fits perfectly with Gnuville’s beliefs about moving righteously through the world: “Just work hard and be nice to people.” Amen.
Good morning, Gnusies! I hope you had plenty of good times over the long weekend. Fortunately the news that the MSM ignores continues to be exciting and inspiring, and I’ve found lots of it to share with you today. So pour yourself a mug of your favorite morning beverage, find a comfortable seat, and let’s get going.
🍿 Repellent Republicans Rushing toward Ruin 🍿
DeSantis’ super PAC head honcho privately admits he’s spreading dirt on Ramaswamy
Let the games begin!!
From Politico:
The top strategist for Ron DeSantis’ super PAC privately told donors that Vivek Ramaswamy posed a threat to the Florida governor — and bragged that the super PAC was behind an avalanche of opposition research targeting the rival candidate. “Everything you read about him is from us,” Jeff Roe, the leader of the DeSantis-aligned Never Back Down told the gathering of donors. “Every misstatement, every 360 he’s conducting or 180 that he is going through in life, is from our scrutiny and pressure. And so, he’s not going to go through that very well, and that will get worse for him.”
Ted Cruz embarrasses himself yet again
Don’t miss the absolutely perfect Newsmax chyron at the beginning of the video: “Ted Cruz tours Texas farms to discuss the real issues.” There’s nothing realer in MAGAland than fake outrage over fake news about beer. The Morning Joe folks have a lot of fun with this idiocy.
x YouTube Video
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The media misbehaving
The Media Still Doesn’t Get Biden Voters — and barely even tries.
This is a terrific piece. Please click on the link to read the whole thing!
By Nicholas Grossman on The Bulwark:
I’ve never seen centrists like [Matt] Yglesias say to people on the right (or center) that it’s important to read progressives (even if they’re super woke, or whatever the left-wing equivalent of Hanania’s racism is). Nor have I seen traditional conservatives like [David] Brooks call for empathy with people on the left, or claim that any left-wing extremism is merely an inevitable reaction to centrist and conservative elites’ mistakes. Reporters don’t do safaris to “Biden Country,” seeking to understand the voters who put him in the White House. ✂️ Many journalists, editors, and political analysts at mainstream outlets headquartered in New York or Washington, D.C. were surprised by the rise of Trump and his 2016 win. Sensitive to accusations that they have a liberal and/or pro-establishment bias, and believing that his rise could represent a political shift worth studying, they bend over backwards to try to understand the mind of the Trump voter. But here’s the thing: Many journalists, editors, and political analysts were also surprised by Biden’s strong win in the 2020 primaries after he lost the first two contests in Iowa and New Hampshire. His nomination defied the narrative that the Democratic party had lurched to the left, becoming obsessed with identity politics and eager for socialism. Even more surprise followed the 2022 midterms: ...Democrats defied historical patterns, a mediocre economy, and a relatively low presidential approval rating to keep the House close, gain a seat in the Senate, and make state governments bluer. It was the best midterm election for a president’s party since George W. Bush a year after 9/11. ✂️ [Referencing David Brooks’ argument...in his New York Times column early this month...that “elites” have been “behaving in ways that make Trumpism inevitable,” Grossman comments]: Joe Biden was swept into the White House by a record number of votes from a wide variety of Americans...If conservative elites don’t like it, maybe they should stop behaving in ways that make Bidenism inevitable.
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Good news from my corner of the world
There is a different story to tell on Measure 110
Oregon has taken a lot of flak, including in the NY Times, over the ballot initiative Measure 110, which passed in 2020. Essentially, Measure 110 decriminalized simple possession of many controlled substances and replaced misdemeanor possession charges with a $100 fine (dismissed if the addict contacts an addiction screening facility), with no risk of jail time. Because drug addiction among Oregon’s homeless population is still rampant and deaths from fentanyl are so tragically frequent, Measure 110 has become a scapegoat for Oregon’s continuing drug problems. But as the author of this piece (Joe Bazeghi, director of engagement for Recovery Works NW) notes, there are significant successes going unreported, and the problems have mostly been due to slow funding .
From Oregon 360 Media:
Measure 110 shifted our state’s approach to addiction from a criminal one to a public health approach. Across the state substance use treatment funded by Measure 110 increased 44% from July to December last year. The number of people receiving treatment through Measure 110 providers far outpaces the people receiving citations. It’s time to stop using citations as a measurement of the effectiveness of treatment. The [NY Times] reporter should have talked to providers to get the true story here. They should have shadowed us on the streets of Portland. That’s the real story of the miracle that is happening with Measure 110. My organization, Recovery Works NW, is rapidly expanding substance use treatment services. This week we are holding a grand opening celebration for Oregon’s first Measure 110-funded detox center in Oregon. This 16-bed Portland facility will serve at least 1,200 people a year, dramatically slashing our waitlist for services. It will be staffed by physicians, nurses, support, and administrative staff, providing 24/7 care where people experiencing dangerous substance addictions can be weaned off under medical supervision. Individuals will stay an average of 5 days before being offered a transition to alcohol and drug treatment and/or supported housing. Medications to support abstinence and reduce overdose will be made available to all patients. ✂️ This is one of three new facilities we are opening thanks to Measure 110. ...The Measure 110 local Behavioral Health Resource Networks (BHRNs) are active in every county. ✂️ Everyone in Oregon would agree that it took too long for Measure 110 funding to get out the door to increase substance use services and provide treatment without punishment. But in 2023, the Measure 110 approach is starting to take hold. … Already nearly $40 million was reinvested from Oregon's criminal legal system to addiction service and we are proudly putting those dollars to work. Those who say we need to recriminalize addiction to get people into care don’t see the waiting lists of those seeking help. People don’t need to be arrested; they need treatment doors to open. Measure 110 can’t make up for all the chronic underfunding of Oregon’s behavioral health programs, but we are adding essential capacity to the system and we are bringing hope and recovery to our communities. It would be expensive, foolhardy, and cruel to the people we serve to turn back now.
Washington state on track to achieve 100% clean energy by 2045, leaders say
Fox13 Seattle is the only media outlet who ran this very important story! No one else even picked it up from them. So I’m forced to use their story, but I refuse to link to them.
State leaders say Washington is making significant strides toward its goal of achieving 100% clean energy by 2045 through collaborative efforts among government, and local communities, backed by investments in renewable energy projects and power grid enhancements. ✂️ With a focus on bolstering the transition to clean energy, Washington's government is funneling millions of dollars into various investments and power grid upgrades. Solar installations and energy storage initiatives, in particular, are being developed in collaboration with tribal communities. Funding for these projects derives from the proceeds of policies like the Climate Commitment Act, which underscores the state's dedication to combating climate change through concrete action. ✂️ Washington state has already made significant strides in its journey toward clean energy. Currently, 60% of the energy consumed in the state is sourced from renewables, predominantly hydropower. The commitment to clean energy is further exemplified by Governor Jay Inslee's endorsement of additional legislation that mandates better planning for transmitting electricity. The emphasis on sustainability and environmental stewardship extends beyond the public sector, with private companies taking an increasingly active role. ✂️ Prominent companies with local ties, such as Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram) and Salesforce, are joining forces under the umbrella of the ZEROgrid initiative along with other companies like Akamai, General Motors, Prologis and Walmart. Peter Freed, Head of Energy Strategy at Meta, emphasized the benefits of collaboration in decarbonizing the power grid. "When you bring it all together as a collaboration, we think that we can go faster, and we think that we have a greater impact than we could alone." This approach facilitates shared expertise, resources, and strategies, accelerating the transition to cleaner energy sources.
Portland Clean Energy Fund unveils 5-year plan, $750M projected spending after overhaul
I’m delighted that tree-planting is part of the plan. Researchers at Portland State University studied the temperature difference between tree-covered neighborhoods and heavily paved areas. According to their report, “paving over places that previously had a lot of tree canopy could raise the temperature as much as 25 degrees Fahrenheit on a summer day.” And conversely, of course, planting trees in heavily paved areas will lower temperatures significantly when the trees reach maturity.
From Oregon Public Broadcasting:
[On August 24th,] Portland’s first-of-its-kind climate justice program unveiled its five-year plan...to invest hundreds of millions of dollars toward climate action. The revealed plan increases focus on community resilience, transparency and accountability. That’s after the Portland City Council voted for a major overhaul of the fund after a series of setbacks last year. The Portland Clean Energy Fund’s (PCEF) $750 million climate investment plan lays out how the city aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure the residents most impacted by climate change are prepared. Under the fund framework, grants would go to a wide range of projects, from energy-efficient retrofits to adding renewable energy, to increasing incentives for electric vehicles. ✂️ [This] climate investment plan was built after nearly a year of climate research and multiple rounds of input from Portland residents, business, subject matter experts and community organizations. ✂️ If approved, the plan would immediately launch two strategic programs, totaling $100 million over the next five years. One of the programs would focus on adding energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies in new and redeveloped affordable multifamily housing. The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions quicker, reduce energy costs and help improve residents’ health. The second strategic plan would immediately begin planting trees in heat-vulnerable neighborhoods to increase tree canopy. The program estimates it will plant at least 25,000 trees in public and private property and provide maintenance. The plan would also invest $50 million to make schools more resilient, which could include infrastructure upgrades, energy-efficient retrofits and supporting youth-led climate initiatives.
A classic American concession was first fried in Oregon: the corn dog
As WineRev has been telling us for the past week, the Minnesota State Fair is claiming Minnesota’s pickle pre-eminence, so I feel the need to inform all of you that Oregon is responsible for the corn dog, the other most popular item at the Minnesota state fair and many other state fairs as well.
BTW, the Pronto Pup stand in Rockaway Beach is walking distance from our favorite place to stay on the Oregon coast. We always gawk at the massive corndog sculpture on the roof, but we haven’t eaten corndogs since we were teenagers.
From Oregon Public Broadcasting:
Along Highway 101 in Rockaway Beach, an offbeat roadside attraction can’t be missed. Drivers likely do a double-take at the sight of a giant corn dog on the roof. It’s a massive fiberglass corn dog. A Pronto Pup, to be exact. ✂️ The birth of the Pronto Pup goes back to Labor Day 1939. It was on that day that George Boyington, who ran a hot dog stand in Rockaway Beach with his wife, had an idea as he sat with overstocked stale buns. What about a batter that could be cooked on demand? Boyington determined a delicious, pronto solution. The new snack on a stick became a point of local pride. The Original Pronto Pup first opened in 2016, as an homage to the culinary creation invented in town roughly eight decades earlier. Soon after Boyington nailed down the recipe, he started the mass production of the Pronto Pup batter mix out of Portland. The product soon gained nationwide attention. Boyington trademarked the brand name and began to franchise the business. Today, Pronto Pups are especially popular in the Midwest. ...Over the course of the Minnesota State Fair, people buy [hundreds of thousands] of Pronto Pups. ✂️ If those numbers don’t prove Minnesota’s love of Pronto Pups, state lawmakers officially recognized them in 2016. ✂️ While Minnesota has embraced the Pronto Pup for generations, the trademarked batter still all comes from Portland.
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Good news from around the nation
UAW files unfair labor practice charges against GM, Stellantis
I hope a strike can be avoided, but I enthusiastically applaud Fain’s tenacity and fearless truth-telling. Here’s how he explained the demand for a 46% wage increase (as reported in The Detroit News): "Big Three CEOs saw their pay spike 40% on average over the last four years," Fain said...during a Facebook livestream. "We know our members are worth the same and more."
From Reuters:
The United Auto Workers union said on Thursday it filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board against General Motors and Chrysler-parent Stellantis, saying they have refused to bargain in good faith. Both GM and Stellantis denied the unfair labor charges. Ford Motor said it offered a 9% wage increase through 2027, much less than the 46% wage hike being sought by the union. ✂️ UAW President Shawn Fain said in online remarks that the sides are far apart. "We're going to fight like hell to get our equitable share of justice for workers," he said. "We can get there - but these companies better buckle down and they better get serious." Fain said the Detroit automakers want the ability to close U.S. auto plants and move them to low-wage countries, adding that threats by the automakers to close U.S. plants are "economic terrorism." Ford said its "generous offer" would provide hourly employees with 15% guaranteed combined wage increases and lump sums, and improved benefits. … The union's demands include a 20% immediate wage increase, defined-benefit pensions for all workers, shorter work weeks and additional cost of living hikes. ✂️ Last week, the UAW said about 97% of members voted in favor of authorizing a strike if agreement is not reached by Sept. 14.
In parts of California, a prescription will pay for your fresh fruits and veggies
This idea is catching on all over the country.
To read the Biden administration’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health (including food prescriptions), click here.
From The Mercury News:
Every other Friday, the Stockton Emergency Food Bank hosts two live cooking classes — one in English and one in Spanish. Last week, Brenda Munoz made a classic tuna melt with an orange, romaine and dandelion salad. “Dandelion is completely edible,” said Munoz, holding the small leaves from the flower. “They’re really high in vitamin A and folate.” But this isn’t your typical cooking lesson on Zoom and Facebook. It’s part of a “food prescription” experiment — prescriptions for healthy food instead of pills. Diabetics get a free box full of fruits, vegetables, chicken breast, quinoa and other nutritious food delivered to their homes every two weeks — and then can learn some recipes. Advocates who want to expand the program across California say it could very well be a way to improve chronic conditions, lower health care costs and reduce hunger, all at the same time. ✂️ National momentum for food prescriptions is growing. Last year, the White House released a national strategy on hunger, nutrition and health that prioritizes “food is medicine” interventions including food prescriptions.
Health Rebounds After a Coal Processing Plant Closes in Pittsburgh
It’s no surprise that closing a coke oven would result in a healthier nearby environment, but it’s definitely a surprise that it took only four years to see actual clinical health improvements in the local population: “...this research shows that cutting carbon emissions offers more than an abstract, long-term, far-ranging result. It can actually save lives, almost immediately.”
To read the research paper, click here.
From Yes! Magazine:
Pittsburgh, in its founding, was blessed and cursed with two abundant natural resources: free-flowing rivers and a nearby coal seam. Their presence made the city’s 20th-century status as a coal-fired, steelmaking powerhouse possible. It also threw so much toxic smoke in the air that the town was once described as “hell with the lid off.” Though air quality laws strengthened over the decades, pollution in Pittsburgh and surrounding Allegheny County has remained high, ranking among the 25 worst metro areas in the United States for fine, easy-to-inhale particles known as PM2.5. ... Allegheny County’s inhabitants are among the top 1% in the nation for cancer risk, and the area is notorious for its high rates of asthma and heart issues, both of which, like the biggest emitters, are concentrated in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. ... However, the January 2016 closure of the Shenango Coke Works coal-processing plant provided an astonishing example of how quickly those same communities can recover from the most dire impacts of pollution. Shenango was a coke oven—a facility that heats coal to around 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit to produce coke, which is in turn used to make steel. Such operations are famously nasty particle polluters, emitting not only carbon dioxide but also contaminants like benzene, arsenic, lead, and mercury. The research, led by the New York University Langone School of Medicine, ...found an astonishing 42% drop in weekly emergency cardiovascular admissions after 2016. That immediate drop was followed by a downward trend that continued for three years. The study also found corresponding steep drops in sulfur dioxide—as high as 90% near the facility and 50% at a monitoring station six miles away. Arsenic levels plummeted by two-thirds. Study co-author George Thurston compares the sudden improvement to the benefits of quitting smoking. “Over time the body recovers,” he says. “Instead of at an individual level, you’re really looking at a community healing after the removal of that exposure.” To Thurston, and study lead author Wuyue Yu, this research shows that cutting carbon emissions offers more than an abstract, long-term, far-ranging result. It can actually save lives, almost immediately.
AZ Gov. Hobbs touts bill expanding trauma therapy to 911 dispatchers
Tending to the mental health of essential workers in high-stress jobs, like 911 dispatchers, is extremely important and has up to now been largely overlooked.
From The Tucson Sentinel:
Arizona’s 911 dispatchers now have access to trauma therapy paid for by their employers, under a new law that comes as the state grapples with a shortage of dispatchers. Gov. Katie Hobbs held a celebration for HB 2717 [on August 23rd] at the Phoenix Fire Department’s 911 regional dispatch center with state Rep. Melody Hernandez, D-Tempe, who introduced the bill, along with first responders. “Many of these calls can mean the difference between life and death for the caller, and those on the receiving end are tasked with putting their emotions aside and acting decisively to get help where it’s needed,” Hobbs said. “To say the least, our 911 dispatchers have the grave responsibility of keeping our neighbors and communities safe.” The new benefit for dispatchers comes amid a shortage of them – both in Phoenix and statewide – and it is being viewed as a potential recruitment tactic and retention tool for dispatchers who often hear traumatic incidents over the phone. Traumatic incidents that are covered in the bill include “visually or audibly” witnessing the death of a person. The bill, which expands a benefit that was already available to police officers and firefighters, was signed by Hobbs on May 1. Twelve visits are covered, but an employer will be required to pay for up to 24 additional sessions if a licensed mental health professional deems it necessary. “Ensuring dispatchers get the care they need will help us fill gaps in our workforce. With recent reports of dispatcher shortages across the state, it was clear that we needed to take action,” the governor said. “In order to entice people to take these jobs, we must give them the tools they need to thrive outside of the workplace as well. Especially in this field, that includes the necessary health care services that promote the emotional and mental well-being of our dispatchers.”
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Good news from around the world
Homeless people were given lump sums of cash. Their spending defied stereotypes.
This headline infuriated me. Dammit, how many times do we need to re-learn the lesson that when people without money are given money, they spend it to improve their lives and governments save money. May we please move on now to implementing this as a win-win policy?!?
From The Washington Post (gift link) — bolding mine:
Efforts to alleviate the growing crisis of homelessness typically avoid putting money directly in the hands of the unhoused, reflecting the stigma that it will be misused. But new research challenges that perception, suggesting that when some homeless people are given cash, they are likely to put it toward essentials such as housing, furniture and transportation. Researchers at the University of British Columbia, in collaboration with Vancouver-based charity Foundations for Social Change, provided a lump sum of 7,500 Canadian dollars in 2016 (about $5,540 today) to 50 people experiencing homelessness in Vancouver. They found that the recipients spent fewer days homeless, increased their savings and put more money toward essentials compared with a control group of 65 people who received no cash transfer. The study, which was published in the peer-reviewed PNAS journal this week, followed individuals for one year after they received the lump sum and reported no increase in spending on what researchers call “temptation goods,” defined as alcohol, drugs and cigarettes. By decreasing time spent in shelters, the intervention led to a decrease in public spending of about $574 per person, the paper said. The authors of the Vancouver study write that traditional strategies to address the issue, such as focusing on health care or housing support, do not directly target a core cause of homelessness — the lack of money.
Eight countries in the Americas ban electronic cigarettes
We need a federal ban on these deadly products. Complaints from sellers of e-cigarettes about losing income don’t weigh much against their dire health impacts, especially on young people.
From the Pan American Health Organization (🎩 to Future Crunch for pointing me to this story):
With the recent ban on the use and marketing of electronic cigarettes in Venezuela, more countries in the Americas are adopting measures in line with the World Health Organization's (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) to protect the health of their populations from novel tobacco products. ✂️ Currently, 21 countries in the Americas regulate electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), such as e-cigarettes and vapes, in some way. Eight of them (Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela) prohibit their sale altogether, and the other 13 have partially or totally adopted one or more regulatory measures. Meanwhile, 14 countries lack any regulation of these products. ✂️ E-cigarettes are the most common form of electronic nicotine delivery systems. When used, they heat a liquid to create aerosols that are inhaled by the user. These "e-liquids" contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance found in tobacco, and other additives, flavorings and chemicals, some of which are toxic to the health of both the user and those exposed to them.
Tree-Loving Brits Crowdsource a National ‘Ancient Tree Inventory’ – 200,000 Unique Trees
I love the fact that “the number of species living on or inside” these massive trees is also being measured and recorded.
From Good News Network:
A UK non-profit has leveraged the special relationship that the British have for trees to create an ‘Ancient Tree Inventory’ to coordinate conservation, environmental activism, and scientific research by allowing anyone familiar with an ancient tree to record and share its existence with the country. Tom (ATI Citizen Science Officer), Hilary and Jeremy measuring a huge ancient oak at Petworth Park Perhaps a lesser-known trait in the world at large of the British is their faithful love and dedication to the surprising numbers of ancient and elder trees on their islands. … Despite [British woodlands having been cleared since the Neolithic era], there are hundreds of thousands of trees on the British Isles that are hundreds of years old. The Ancient Tree Inventory organized by the Woodland Trust is more than just a national tree registry, such as they have in Italy; it’s crowdsourced, and each tree is not only measured by its size but by the number of species living on or inside it. ✂️ Ancient trees are fundamental to the health of forested ecosystems worldwide. Having survived myriads of storms, insects, cold snaps, and droughts, their seeds contain vital genetic memories to help future trees adapt to changing conditions. Studies done on woodland health have shown that when a forest loses too many ancients or elders, the overall survival of the whole ecosystem falls precipitously. By contrast, forests that have their ancients are much more likely to maintain high biodiversity and canopy cover, even those that exist in unstable areas.
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Good news in medicine
The key to depression, obesity, alcoholism – and more? Why the vagus nerve is so exciting to scientists
This is fascinating information that was totally new to me.
From The Guardian:
The vagus nerve is, in fact, a pair of nerves that serve as a two-way communication channel between the brain and the heart, lungs and abdominal organs, plus structures such as the oesophagus and voice box, helping to control involuntary processes, including breathing, heart rate, digestion and immune responses. They are also an important part of the parasympathetic nervous system, which governs the “rest and digest” processes, and relaxes the body after periods of stress or danger that activate our sympathetic “fight or flight” responses. ✂️ Today, vagus nerve stimulators are increasingly being investigated as an alternative to antidepressants in patients with treatment-resistant depression. Surgically implanted stimulators are also an approved treatment for epilepsy – although they only seem to work in a subset of patients. Using electrical stimulation to treat brain disorders such as epilepsy and depression makes intuitive sense – nerves and brain cells communicate using electricity, after all. However, in the late 1990s, [Kevin] Tracey [a professor of molecular medicine and neurosurgery] and his colleagues made a surprising discovery. They were testing an experimental drug that they expected to dampen inflammation in rats’ brains, but when they injected it, it dampened inflammation throughout the body. This was puzzling, because the brain is physically separated from the rest of the body by the blood-brain barrier – a tightly packed layer of cells that regulates the passage of large and small molecules into the brain, to help keep it safe. Tracey and his colleagues tried severing the vagus nerve and repeated the experiment. This time, the drug’s anti-inflammatory effects were confined to the brain. It was an extraordinary discovery: conventional wisdom held that there was no connection between the nervous and immune systems – but the vagus nerve appeared to provide that link. Further research revealed that the brain communicates with the spleen – an organ that plays a critical role in the immune system – by sending electrical signals down the vagus nerve. These trigger the release of a chemical called acetylcholine that tells immune cells to switch off inflammation. Electrically stimulating the vagus nerve with an implanted device achieved the same feat. Tracey immediately recognised the therapeutic implications, having spent years trying to develop better treatments for inflammatory conditions such as sepsis, arthritis and Crohn’s disease. Existing drugs dampen inflammation, but carry a risk of serious side effects. Here was a technique with the potential to switch off inflammation without the need for drugs.
New Blood Test Could Diagnose Parkinson’s Before it Begins Damaging the Nervous System
My dear father-in-law died of Parkinson’s. It’s a cruel disease that, like Alzheimer’s, impacts not only the patients but also everyone around them. Diagnosing it early with a blood test will be a godsend.
From Good News Network:
Current diagnoses of Parkinson’s are largely based on clinical symptoms after significant neurological damage has already occurred, and researchers hope this new test could be used to diagnose patients prior to such damage occurring. ✂️ The study team, led by neuroscientists at the Duke University School of Medicine focused their work on DNA damage in mitochondria. ...previous studies have shown the association between mitochondrial DNA damage and an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease. ✂️ “A simple blood test would allow us to diagnose the disease earlier and start therapies sooner,” said Duke University neuroscientist and senior author Dr. Laurie Sanders. “Additionally, a clear-cut diagnosis would accurately identify patients who could participate in drug studies, leading to the development of better treatments and potentially even cures.” This new test also identified high levels of the damaged DNA in the blood samples of people who carry the genetic mutation LRRK2—which has been associated with an increased risk of the disease and was able to detect patients with Parkinson’s disease with and without LRRK2 mutations.
Ultrasound Scanners Inside of a Bra Could Detect Breast Cancer Earlier, and Between Screenings
The prototype looks a little too large and awkward, but I’m sure they’ll find ways to make it easier to wear and use.
From Good News Network:
A miniature ultrasound device, fitted to a flexible polymer strap, can be slipped into a bra and detect breast cancer tumors among those most at risk of developing one. The invention is significant for several reasons, and if perfected and developed, could save hundreds of lives. The first reason it could be a major medical advancement is that developing breast cancer tumors in their earliest stages leads to a nearly 100% survival rate. The second is that developing a tumor even in the space between mammograms does happen, and not at a small rate. Depending on the country, 20-30% of all tumors are found in people who were in between routine screenings. The device was developed at MIT, and once worn, it allows the user to move an ultrasound tracker across the bra and check for tumors. Similar devices are being pioneered in Nigeria, the Guardian reports, where an entrepreneurial robotics graduate is developing a product called the Smart Bra to help reduce cancer rates in Nigeria where breast cancer is the most common type. Other wearable tech bras are being developed in Mexico and Switzerland. x YouTube Video
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Good news in science
Scientists have finally decoded mysteries of the Y chromosome. Here’s why it matters
From CNN:
Scientists have fully sequenced the Y chromosome for the first time, uncovering information that could have implications for the study of male infertility and other health problems. The first attempt to determine the building blocks of our genetic code took place 20 years ago, but there were still significant gaps left in the sequences of all 23 pairs of human chromosomes. Those blanks were largely filled in last year by an international group of 100 scientists called the Telomere-to-Telomere (T2T) Consortium. However, over half of the sequences within the Y chromosome, the smallest and most complicated of the 46 human chromosomes, remained unknown. Now, the same group of researchers has filled in the missing information, publishing a complete Y chromosome sequence... in the journal Nature . ✂️ Recent research suggests the Y chromosome is also important for health and longevity, said Kenneth Walsh, a professor of biochemistry and molecular genetics at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, who was not involved in the new research. “Genes have been identified on the Y chromosome that have been shown to be required for the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease,” Walsh said via email. “The Y chromosome has represented the ‘dark matter’ of the genome,” he added. “This new analysis will allow us to better understand the regions of the Y chromosome that have regulatory functions and may encode mRNA and proteins.”
Scientists uncover the secret of the deep-sea ‘octopus garden’
I’ve read several wonderful books about octopuses (BTW, that’s the correct plural), but after seeing the documentary “My Octopus Teacher,” I became even more fascinated by these amazing creatures.
To read the research paper, click here.
From The Washington Post (gift link):
About 80 miles from the coast of central California, thousands of octopuses gather on rocks two miles below the surface of the ocean. This location, dubbed “octopus garden,” is the largest known aggregation of these mollusks in the world, though it doesn’t attract much else of equal size. Scientists have been puzzled why so many octopuses plant themselves in these abysmal, colder waters — until now. After three years of monitoring the area, researchers found the site is a popular mating and nesting ground for pearl octopuses, where hot springs help embryos develop twice as fast as expected at this depth. The faster development increases a hatchling’s likelihood of survival through the brooding period, according to a study released [on August 23rd] in the journal Science Advances. The findings, which investigate an unexplored corner of the ocean, help researchers better understand how coldblooded animals adapt in a variety of environments. ✂️ The team thinks the octopus garden is just one of many deep sea octopus environments out there. Just five miles away from the garden, researchers found another octopus nursery near thermal springs. In June, another group of researchers discovered a nursery near thermal springs in Costa Rica.
Study finds yet another potential use for aloe plants—Natural insecticide
Another clever win-win from science.
From Optimist Daily:
The green skin and stomach protector aloe vera unveiled a new weapon in its arsenal: its discarded peels. Previously discarded as agricultural trash, these peels are now set to become nature’s response to crop-munching pests. Scientists at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley developed a mechanism for converting this underutilized resource into a powerful natural insecticide, presenting a novel approach to pest management. ✂️ “Millions of tons of aloe peels are likely discarded globally each year,” the driving force behind this botanical discovery, Dr. Debasish Bandyopadhyay, stated, “We wanted to find a way to add value and make them useful.” ✂️ The researchers started their examination into the mechanics by drying aloe peels in a dark environment to preserve their bioactivity. Their efforts were rewarded when they extracted a number of compounds, each with its own set of properties. Octacosane stood out among these for its ability to repel mosquitos. In terms of insecticidal activity, DCM, a separate molecule, outperformed hexane extract. During this procedure, more than 20 compounds were isolated from aloe vera peels, six showing considerable insecticidal activity. Field testing of the newly found insecticidal compounds is on the horizon when they will be pitted against hungry insects that wreak havoc on agricultural areas. The enigma, however, does not end there. Bandyopadhyay envisions a bigger future where these chemicals could be employed as general-purpose insect and tick repellents.
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Good news for the environment
Federal judge halts Black Ram logging project in Kootenai National Forest
This is good news especially because the ruling underlined the importance of following “up-to-date information” and “the best science available.”
From Bozeman Daily Chronicle:
A federal judge has halted an expansive logging project in the Kootenai National Forest, often referred to as the “Black Ram Project,” after finding that the U.S. Forest Service made critical errors in evaluating the project, especially its impact on grizzly bears. The Black Ram Project encompasses more than 90,000 acres of federal forest land, while clear-cutting some areas, harvesting timber from others, and completing more than 90 miles of road construction. The U.S. Forest Service, along with the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, defended the project, saying it is necessary for the forest health because of the increased risk of catastrophic fire, as well as the economic benefit the project would bring. However U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy said in his 62-page ruling that the Forest Service had violated several federal laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act in approving the project, and sharply criticized the U.S. Forest Service for not using up-to-date information or the best science available. ✂️ Because the agency either ignored or discounted materials presented by the plaintiffs — which included the Center for Biological Diversity, the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, and the Native Ecosystems Council — Molloy ruled the biological opinion on grizzly bears, prepared by the United State Fish and Wildlife Service, was also “flawed,” and the forest service’s reliance on it was “arbitrary and capricious.”
Remarkable Man Averts Oil Tanker Disaster by Crowdfunding to Remove Crumbling Ship From Red Sea
A wonderful example of how the efforts of one very determined person can prevent an ecological disaster.
From Good News Network:
[The FSO Safer], a derelict oil tanker off the coast of Yemen, had more than a million barrels of crude...on the verge of leaching into the Red Sea, until one determined American orchestrated a last-ditch cleanup operation. ✂️ David Gressly [the UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen] took advantage of a truce between warring factions in Yemen, where the FSO Safer was abandoned off shore in 2015 when war broke out. The recent truce opened a window of opportunity to do something about this environmental ticking time bomb hanging over the region. The oil technically belongs to the Yemen state—but who represents that country isn’t yet settled. After a peace agreement was reached in May of 2022, the race was on for Gressly to spearhead a hugely-ambitious fundraiser to find $144 million to buy a new tanker and pay a salvage company to drain the oil and bring the massive bulker to shore. He knew that the amount of oil was greater—by far—than the barrels spilled in the Exxon Valdez tragedy, so Gressly...continued his dogged search for funding over many months. ✂️ After government and private sector donations weren’t adding up, Gressly opened the fundraising to citizens of the world: anyone with a dollar to spare was invited to contribute to this admittedly massive goal. ...by September 2022 the campaign had gathered $75 million—more than half of the required amount—an astonishing return driven by individuals, from Yemeni businessmen to schoolchildren in the US. When the campaign reached $121 million in July this year, the emergency humanitarian fund of the UN provided a low-interest loan to cover the rest. From there, work was turned over to Boskalis, a salvage company that finished the cleanup operation on August 11th after a brand new oil tanker, dubbed the MT Yemen, weighed anchor alongside Safer to siphon off the last of her oil before the old girl was towed to Yemen’s shore for scuppering. x YouTube Video
Welcome to the world’s first zero-waste island
It took years to implement this program, but it was well worth the effort.
From Positive News:
“I already believe that nowhere else will match the quality of life I experience here in Tilos,” says Emmanouil Antonios Fotaras, one of 745 residents living on the small Greek island, located between Rhodes and Kos. Aged 24, Fotaras has seen Tilos achieve national park designation and accomplish energy self-sufficiency with renewables. Now it has become the world’s first zero-waste island. ✂️ The changes have been vast. Before the project began, the island sent 87 per cent of its waste to landfill; now 100 per cent of it is diverted from the dump. The scheme has proved such a success that the island no longer has any rubbish bins and the landfill site has now closed completely. In their place is the Centre for Creative Upcycling, where items can either be repaired, reused, or turned into raw art supplies or building materials. The project was overseen and paid for by Polygreen, a Greek company that specialises in circular economy solutions, but much of their success came through education. ✂️ “In the beginning, it was fun but time-consuming and energy-draining at the same time,” says Fotaras, “but we all helped each other until we could master it… I was amazed how old people embraced the idea of no rubbish like the good old times – and that gave me hope and courage to do it.”
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Good news for and about animals
Brought to you by Rosy, Nora, and Rascal.
Stray Dog Escapes Michigan Shelter 3 Times in Order to Find New Home Among Elderly Care Facility
Rosy chose this story of a lovely win-win for a pup and the folks living at an elder care facility. The entire story is worth reading, so here’s a link to it in the Detroit Free Press.
From Good News Network:
Scout was a mutt and a stray and was kept at a shelter in Michigan until [he] decided he was tired of waiting to be adopted and went trotting out looking for someone to adopt, successfully escaping the shelter and its fences 3 separate times in pursuit of a permanent home.✂️ One day in mid-July, Antrim County Animal Control was called to Meadow Brook Medical Care Facility where they found one of their shelter’s dogs, Scout, curled up on the couch in the waiting room. He had escaped last night from their shelter just down the road, and somehow managed to scale the 10-foot chain link fence, another 6-foot solid privacy fence, cross a busy highway without being run over, find the nursing home, go in through the front door undeterred and curl up on the couch to sleep. ...they took Scout back to the shelter only for him to escape again a few nights later and turn up on the couch in the Meadow Brook waiting room. Then, a few nights after that, there Scout was again, and the staff felt they had a decision to make. “I’m a person who looks at outward signs, and if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be,” Marna Robertson, the nursing home’s administrator, told the [Detroit] Free Press. ✂️ Formally adopted by the nursing home, Scout, who the staff says clearly had been abused in his past life, quickly set about the business of making friends with the residents. A long-term/permanent care facility that houses dementia patients, elderly without any other family support, and those in the end-of-life stages, having the dog around has turned out to be a priceless addition.
Sweet Reason Behind Woman Rescuing 115 Grieving Cats Whose Owners Have Died
Nora and I both think this is a wonderful idea, long overdue. Winding up in a shelter after having been a beloved pet is deeply traumatizing for any animal, so I hope this idea catches on for dogs, birds, and horses as well as cats.
From Newsweek:
Pets are great sources of comfort and company at any age, but they can be particularly beneficial to older adults. With age, however, comes a higher risk that the pet might outlive the owners. If there's no one to take on the beloved animal, it is likely to end up in a shelter. One woman decided to set up an organization to tackle this problem after her own grandfather died. "My Grandfather's Cat was inspired by my experience adopting my grandfather's cat, Mackenzie, when he passed away," Angela Rafuse told Newsweek. "Knowing the options were either to adopt her or take her to a shelter, I adopted her in December 2019. ...When I realized many families go through a similar experience when their loved ones pass away, and many are not able to adopt the animal themselves, I launched My Grandfather's Cat as a solution to this need." ✂️ Mackenzie and Angela [Her] nonprofit operates in all Canadian provinces and territories, and there are no costs associated with using its services or adopting through the group. Expenses are covered by merchandise sales and donations from supporters who follow My Grandfather's Cat on social media. ✂️ My Grandfather's Cat also connects older people, who might not want to get a kitten and risk adding to the cycle, with senior pets.
Ospreys Breed in Ireland for the First Time in More Than 200 Years
Rascal applauds this great news for these magnificent birds. BTW, I’ve been using the Merlin app on my phone to identify bird sounds in our neighborhood, and I was delighted to capture the cry of an osprey a couple of days ago.
From Good News Network:
Osprey Irish conservationists report that the magnificent osprey has successfully bred in the wilds of the Emerald Isle for the first time in almost 250 years. Worldwide, ospreys are doing great—listed as “Least Concern” by the IUCN who add they are increasing in population. However their massive brown and white wings have been absent from Irish skies for two centuries after being hunted to extinction. The last recorded osprey to nest in Ireland was found in 1779... ✂️ A nesting pair (ospreys mate for life) was discovered by experienced birdwatcher Giles Knight, the Environmental Farming Scheme Advisor with Ulster Wildlife, a conservation non-profit. “Along with my son Eoin, I have watched the adults return to the same site since 2021, so you can imagine my excitement the moment that I saw three chicks and two adults this year,” said Knight in a statement. ... “With at least two of the chicks fledging this season, this is a huge conservation success story and indicates a healthy wetland ecosystem with plenty of suitable habitat and fish to bring this apex predator back to our skies and plunging into the Fermanagh Lakelands. Truly the return of a living countryside!”
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