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Voices, The Peoples News No. 2021-03-02

Voices, The Peoples News

March 2, 2021
Published by Jedi Selman Since March 2000 To Inform and Educate

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“When the power of love overcomes the love of power there will be peace.” Sri Chinmoy
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This almost daily Voices, The Peoples News is posted through the blog function of www.MPEN-Ohio.net
You can visit the website and leave your comments if you desire.

# Indigenous
Funders want to help ensure Native food sovereignty. Many in those communities want philanthropy to do better.
https://thecounter.org/philanthropy-acess-to-capital-native-food-sovereignty/

# Border / Immigration
A Demographic and Economic Profile of Undocumented Workers on the Pandemic’s Front Lines. These individuals are making sure that produce gets from the fields to our grocery stores and treating patients throughout the health care system; they are caring for our children and our grandparents and ensuring that the nation’s infrastructure remains safe.
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/news/2021/02/18/495992/demographic-economic-profile-undocumented-workers-pandemics-front-lines/

# CoronaVirus
Death Rates Skyrocket in Israel Following Pfizer Experimental COVID “Vaccines.” Pfizer’s shot causes “mortality hundreds of times greater in young people compared to mortality from coronavirus without the vaccine, and dozens of times more in the elderly https://healthimpactnews.com/2021/death-rates-skyrocket-in-israel-following-pfizer-experimental-covid-vaccines/

Tanzanian President Says Citizens Will Not Be Guinea Pigs in COVID Vaccine Trials.
He said Tanzanians must not be used as guinea pigs in vaccine trials.
https://www.voanews.com/africa/tanzanian-president-expresses-doubt-coronavirus-vaccines

Johnson & Johnson vaccine could be a “game changer.” Here’s why a third option matters.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/j-j-vaccine-could-game-224439369.html

New York farm workers removed from vaccine eligibility without explanation. Despite being essential workers with a high risk for
Covid-19 infection, New York farm workers were not included in vaccination Phase 1B.
https://thecounter.org/new-york-farm-workers-removed-vaccine-eligibility-without-explanation-covid-19/

President Biden said that the United States will have enough vaccine supply to vaccinate all American adults for coronavirus by the end of May, crediting a “stepped up process” under his administration.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/541283-biden-us-will-have-vaccine-for-all-adults-by-end-of-may

# Economy / Trade
Progressives Won’t ‘Accept’ a Loss on $15 Minimum Wages https://www.thedailybeast.com/progressives-wont-accept-a-loss-on-dollar15-minimum-wage

Liberal senators and outside pressure groups are steaming over the Senate’s seeming failure to move a COVID-19 relief package with a provision hiking the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/541137-liberals-on-fire-over-failure-on-15-minimum-wage

Minimum-Wage Misfire Also Harms Disabled People. Bundled in the minimum-wage increase in the COVID relief bill was an abolition of subminimum wage for disabled people. That’s now gone too https://prospect.org/health/minimum-wage-misfire-also-harms-disabled-people/

Bernie Sanders to Force Vote on $15 Minimum Wage Amendment. The senator made clear that he will continue pushing to raise the federal minimum wage if his amendment fails to pass https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/541114-sanders-to-force-vote-on-15-minimum-wage-urges-democrats-to-ignore

# Energy / Pipelines / Mining
Fractured, Part 2: The stress of being surrounded: Jane Worthington moved her grandkids to protect them from oil and gas wells—but it didn’t work. In US fracking communities, the industry’s pervasiveness causes social strain and mental health problems.
https://www.ehn.org/fractured-fracking-mental-health-toll-2650516366.html

The natural gas industry reveals its playbook for subverting local clean energy policy by pushing line-by-line revisions of proposed ordinances, activating customer opposition, and lobbying top state and local officials.
https://www.texasobserver.org/a-texas-city-had-a-bold-new-climate-plan-until-a-gas-company-got-involved/

When the Kids Started Getting Sick: After pressure from families, Pennsylvania has launched studies into whether fracking can be linked to local illnesses.
https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/when-the-kids-started-getting-sick

# Food / GMOs / Chemicals
Pandemic “doom shopping” is clogging up shipping ports. That means a lot of American food destined for export is getting stuck.
https://thecounter.org/pandemic-shopping-shipping-ports-american-food-exports-covid-19/

# Gov / Political
Supreme Court faces landmark challenge on voting rights. The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Tuesday over a set of Arizona voting restrictions alleged to be racially discriminatory in a dispute that could set the most important voting rights precedent in nearly a decade.
https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/541107-supreme-court-faces-landmark-challenge-on-voting-rights

American opinions regarding Russia and China reaching historic lows:
Both pro- and anti-war voices have stated that the U.S. is on the cusp of entering a second Cold War, and a new Gallup poll suggests that the groundwork for such a conflict has already been laid.
https://thehill.com/homenews/news/540952-americans-views-of-china-russia-at-record-lows-gallup

Trump’s reemergence poses risks for GOP, media, exacerbates challenges for political leaders in both parties, as well as the media.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/541072-trumps-reemergence-poses-risks-for-gop-media

What if we replaced elected politicians with randomly selected citizens?
Congress would be made up of ordinary people, selected in lotteries, not elections. It’s an idea that goes back thousands of years—but is getting new attention.
https://www.fastcompany.com/90606492/what-if-we-replaced-elected-politicians-with-randomly-selected-citizens

The political fortunes of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) have dropped like a stone, and his decline is sharpening hard questions about the favorable image he enjoyed in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/541113-the-memo-cuomos-fall-raises-questions-for-media

The Biden administration on Tuesday is announcing new sanctions on Russia in response to Moscow’s poisoning and jailing of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/02/biden-administration-sanctions-russia-over-navalny-imprisonment-472397

Trump’s Strategy for Returning to Power Is Already Clear. The former President is positioning himself and his audience as the only true Americans https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/trumps-strategy-for-returning-to-power-is-already-clear

Biden’s Syria Attack: An Actual Impeachable Offense. President Biden should be impeached for his attack on Syria, as should have Trump and Obama before him.
https://www.eurasiareview.com/01032021-ron-paul-bidens-syria-attack-is-an-actual-impeachable-offense-oped/

Is mob justice now poetic justice? Obama’s “kill list” policy, reserved the right to unilaterally order the death of any American deemed an imminent threat.
https://thehill.com/opinion/judiciary/540820-is-mob-justice-now-poetic-justice

If Biden Wants to Protect Troops, He Should Bring Them Home, Not Bomb Syria.
Biden seems determined to continue the failed policies of his predecessors, regardless of their illegality.
https://truthout.org/articles/if-biden-wants-to-protect-troops-he-should-bring-them-home-not-bomb-syria/

In the Middle of a Pandemic, We Shouldn’t Be Funding a New Cold War With China The U.S. is in a crisis of the first order. Focusing on the wrong threats is the last thing we can afford now.
https://truthout.org/articles/in-the-middle-of-a-pandemic-we-shouldnt-be-funding-a-new-cold-war-with-china/

# Law Enforcement
15-Year-Old Dead After ‘Targeted’ AR School Shooting: “This was not random,” Pine Bluff Police Lt. David DeFoor told NBC of the shooting at Watson Chapel Junior High.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/progressives-wont-accept-a-loss-on-dollar15-minimum-wage

# Legal / Judicial / DOJ
FBI Director Christopher Wray said Tuesday that officials have classified the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by former President Trump’s supporters as domestic terrorism.
https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/541185-wray-fbi-deemed-jan-6-attack-domestic-terrorism

Litigation Tracker: Pending Criminal and Civil Cases against Donald Trump https://www.justsecurity.org/75032/litigation-tracker-pending-criminal-and-civil-cases-against-donald-trump/

Pics Show Group of Men Watching Jan. 6 Riot From Memorial. The photos could bolster prosecutors’ claims that armed Trump supporters were ready to help take the building on behalf of the former president.
https://www.arlnow.com/2021/03/01/exclusive-while-the-capitol-was-stormed-a-group-of-men-gathered-near-the-marine-corps-war-memorial/

The FBI tracked down some of the Capitol rioters in truly surprising ways. When Maryland State Police arrested Daniel Egtvedt, the Capitol riots weren’t a part of the discussion. Egtvedt was arrested trying to stop an older relative from leaving home to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetillman/capitol-insurrection-rioter-cases-fbi-search

# Marijuana / Hemp / CBD Oil
A former Food and Drug Administration chief scientist said there is “promise” in the medical benefits of cannabis components but that more data is needed.
https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pagopvideo/554799478.mp4

# Medical / Global
President Biden will announce Tuesday that Merck will help make Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, administration officials said, a partnership between rival companies that could help produce more doses.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/541165-merck-to-help-make-johnson-johnson-vaccine

# Other News
Messages Reveal Proud Boys Infighting: ‘Traitors Everywhere’: Members have been shaken by the number of arrests in the aftermath of the Capitol riot, as well as revelations about leader Enrique Tarrio.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/proud-boys-infighting-revealed-by-leaked-telegram-messages-claiming-traitors-are-everywhere?ref=home

FRATERNAL ORDER OF ALT-KNIGHTS (FOAK) Formed as the “tactical defense arm” of the Proud Boys, the Fraternal Order of Alt-Knights (FOAK) has become an accelerant for violence at right-wing rallies.
https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/fraternal-order-alt-knights-foak

Proud Boys Infighting Sees Leading Member Form Breakaway Group to Fight ‘White Genocide’: Infighting has broken out between two leading members of the Proud Boys group, with one announcing he will be taking control of the far-right organization to address “White Genocide” and the “failures of multiculturalism.”
https://www.newsweek.com/proud-boys-based-stickman-enrique-tarrio-goys-1546597

The War Between the Rich and Super-Rich Over a Golf Course. A Chinese holding company run by billionaire Yan Bin bought the Wentworth golf club in 2015, spurring a backlash from its membership.
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/mar/02/wentworth-golf-club-reignwood-yan-bin

# Science
What Are Sperm Telling Us? Endocrine disruptors are everywhere:
plastics, shampoos, cosmetics, cushions, pesticides, canned foods and A.T.M. receipts. They often aren’t on labels and can be difficult to avoid.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/20/opinion/sunday/endocrine-disruptors-sperm.html

# Social
Did James Plymell need to die? Homelessness is criminalized in cities and towns across the West.
https://www.hcn.org/issues/53.3/north-law-enforcement-did-james-plymell-need-to-die

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Voices, The Peoples News No. 2021-02-28

Voices, The Peoples News

February 28, 2021
Published by Jedi Selman Since March 2000 To Inform and Educate

# Border / Immigration Biden says ICE will not target undocumented immigrants at Covid-19 vaccination sites President Joe Biden said during an interview Friday that undocumented immigrants should be able to have access to the Covid-19 vaccine without fear of deportation.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/540810-biden-ice-wont-target-undocumented-immigrants-at-vaccine-sites

# CoronaVirus
FDA panel endorses Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine https://www.statnews.com/2021/02/26/tracking-an-fda-advisory-panels-meeting-on-jjs-covid-19-vaccine/

28-Year-Old PhD Physical Therapist DEAD 2 Days After Being Injected with COVID Experimental mRNA Vaccine https://medicalkidnap.com/2021/02/26/28-year-old-phd-physical-therapist-dead-2-days-after-being-injected-with-covid-experimental-mrna-vaccine/

Biden Can Save Lives From COVID by Supporting Intellectual Property Rules Waiver. World Trade Organization rules are currently blocking equitable distribution of COVID-19 tests, treatments and vaccines.
https://truthout.org/articles/biden-can-save-lives-from-covid-by-supporting-intellectual-property-rules-waiver/

Scientists Discover “All-Natural” COVID Treatment That Can Prevent “Cytokine Storm” In Severe Patients. A team of scientists from Israel and Iceland has published a new report showing that an extraction of spirulina algae has the potential to reduce the severity of COVID-19 in advanced cases.
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/israeli-scientists-discover-all-natural-covid-treatment

FDA gives green light to Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Saturday cleared the nation’s third coronavirus vaccine, giving hope that the end of the pandemic could soon be in sight https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/540778-fda-gives-green-light-to-johnson-johnson-covid-vaccine

# Economy / Trade
House Dems pass sweeping $1.9T COVID-19 relief bill. House Democrats passed their sweeping $1.9 trillion coronavirus aid package in a party-line vote early Saturday morning, advancing President Biden’s top legislative priority.
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/540805-house-democrats-pass-sweeping-19t-covid-19-relief-bill-with-minimum-wage-hike

House Passes Biden’s $1.9T Stimulus Plan With $1,400 Checks
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/26/house-biden-covid-relief-bill-passage-471733

White House noncommittal on ‘Plan B’ push to add wage increase to relief bill https://thehill.com/policy/finance/540745-white-house-noncommittal-on-plan-b-push-to-add-wage-increase-to-relief-bill

# Energy / Pipelines / Mining
Water Protectors Say Enbridge Is Pressuring Local Governments to Silence Them Opponents of the Line 3 pipeline in Minnesota are concerned about recent curbs on their free speech and assembly rights https://truthout.org/articles/water-protectors-say-enbridge-is-pressuring-local-governments-to-silence-them/

Delaware River Basin Commission Votes to Ban Fracking in Historic Victory https://www.ecowatch.com/fracking-ban-delaware-river-basin-2650813864.html

# Environment / Climate / Interior
Nature at it’s worst
https://1funny.com/10-most-insane-natural-phenomena-caught-on-camera/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=getresponse&utm_content=Best+of+Pets+Translated&utm_campaign=1Funny.com+Newsletter

House passes major public lands package. The House on Friday passed a sprawling conservation bill 227-200 aimed at preserving land and water in Arizona, Colorado, California and Washington state.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/26/us-house-public-lands-preservation-bill-passes

It’s not just oceans: scientists find plastic is also polluting the air https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/26/not-just-oceans-plastic-polluting-air-delhi-smog

Cost of flood damage to U.S. homes will increase by 61% in 30 years.
Rising sea levels and extreme weather could cause $20 billion of flood damage to at-risk U.S. homes this year, rising to $32 billion by 2051 https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2021-02-22/cost-of-flood-damage-to-us-homes-will-increase-by-61-in-30-years#:~:text=Cost%20of%20Flood%20Damage%20to,Investing%20News

# Environment / Climate / Interior / Global Border disputes threaten climate science in the Himalayas. Cross-border teams of scientists collaborate on climate models, even as their countries’ militaries clash.
https://www.wired.com/story/border-disputes-threaten-climate-science-in-the-himalayas/

# Gov / Politics
Auditions for the 2024 Republican nomination have begun and several big names are trying out for the role of the future Donald Trump. There’s one problem, however. The former president may not be ready to cede the stage to an understudy.
https://thehill.com/homenews/the-memo/540786-the-memo-cpac-fires-starting-gun-on-2024

Why Congress must invoke the 14th Amendment now. Could Trump really become president again after the events of Jan. 6? The 14th Amendment to the Constitution directly addresses that question in a way that impeachment does not.
https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/540674-why-congress-must-invoke-the-14th-amendment-now

US to impose sweeping rule aimed at China technology threats
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-to-impose-sweeping-rule-aimed-at-china-technology-threats-11614362435

Democrats don’t trust GOP on 1/6 commission: ‘These people are dangerous’
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/540779-democrats-dont-trust-gop-on-1-6-commission-these-people-are-dangerous

Trump seeks to cement hold on GOP as he makes his first major post-presidential appearance https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2172352005586/trump-seeks-to-cement-hold-on-gop

McCarthy: ‘I would bet my house’ GOP takes back lower chamber in 2022
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/540848-mccarthy-i-would-bet-my-house-gop-takes-back-the-lower-chamber-in-2022

President Biden has brought back bipartisan meetings at the White House that diminished under his predecessor, trying to find common ground with Republicans even as they remain far apart on issues related to the next round of coronavirus relief.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/540780-biden-brings-back-bipartisan-meetings-at-the-white-house

# Law Enforcement
FBI probe of Capitol riot focuses on video of chemicals being sprayed on officer who later died. Investigators have uncovered video appearing to show someone spraying a chemical irritant at Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick and other law enforcement personnel fending off rioters in last month’s attack, though they have yet to identify the person or tie the activity directly to Sicknick’s death https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/fbi-focus-chemical-spray-video-brian-sicknick-death

Law Enforcement and the Problem of White Supremacy: Police chiefs have tended to dismiss the political activities of their officers as their First Amendment right to express themselves.
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/hidden-plain-sight-racism-white-supremacy-and-far-right-militancy-law

# Legal / Judicial / DOJ
NY DA Cy Vance Investigating Steve Bannon for State Crimes: Trump’s Pardon Can’t Help Him Now. Steve Bannon may have won a battle by accepting a Trump pardon to help him get out of his federal prosecution, but may end up losing the war https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-steve-bannon-manhattan-da-trump-pardon-20210224-lb2ovg243bcbxfubszinrsgc5y-story.html

People within the Trump Organization could turn on the former president.
The investigation from the Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance could target people who will flip ‘if they’re exposed to criminal liabilities,’ including Trump’s main accountant Allen Weisselberg https://www.veteranstoday.com/2021/02/27/family-of-thieves-and-grifters-terrified-of-prison-trumps-accountant-could-turn-on-him/

Prosecutors: Oath Keepers had armed SWAT team ready to kill members of Congress-Pence on Jan 6 https://news.yahoo.com/oath-keepers-militia-ready-jan-165856299.html

# LGBTQ
Backlash Over the Equality Act Is Fueling State-Level Attacks on Trans Youth. Let’s not let the spectacle of congressional action lure us away from the life-threatening fights playing out locally.
https://truthout.org/articles/backlash-over-the-equality-act-is-fueling-state-level-attacks-on-trans-youth/

# Media
White Journalists’ Use of the N-Word Is an Intolerable Assault on Black Freedom Two white journalists have stirred debate over their use of the n-word.
Historian Elizabeth Pryor offers her analysis.
https://truthout.org/articles/white-journalists-use-of-the-n-word-is-an-intolerable-assault-on-black-freedom/

# Medical / Health
By Putting Big Pharma’s Patents Before Patients, Doctors Will Further Erode Trust in Expert https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/02/24/putting-big-pharmas-patents-patients-doctors-will-further-erode-trust-experts

# Military / DOD
Pentagon releases training materials to address extremism. The Pentagon on Friday released documents meant to serve as training materials for the recent departmentwide stand down order to address extremism.
https://www.realcleardefense.com/2021/02/27/pentagon_releases_training_materials_to_address_extremism_685652.html

Biden Ordered U.S. Attack On Syria KillS 17. Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, affirmed that US troops’ presence in Syria is illegitimate.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-56205056

# Murmurs of War
Threat level raised for US troops in Iraq; American contractors put on high alert https://americanmilitarynews.com/2021/02/us-urgently-raises-troop-threat-levels-in-iraq-over-possible-airstrike-retaliation-report/

US firepower in Syria strike is revealed as officials brace for Iran’s next move https://www.pehalnews.in/us-firepower-in-syria-strike-is-revealed-as-officials-brace-for-irans-next-move/586469/

# National Guard
# Nuclear / Radiation
# Other News
Anthony Hopkins Remembers It All: At eighty-three, the actor says, performing is easier than it’s ever been. Every role slips into the story of life. https://wbhnews.com/anthony-hopkins-remembers-it-all/

# Technology
Big Tech Shouldn’t Be the Arbiter of Our Free Speech Rights.
Corporations mustn’t be designated gatekeepers with the power to decide who gets to communicate and who doesn’t https://truthout.org/articles/big-tech-shouldnt-be-the-arbiter-of-our-free-speech-rights/

# Water
Biden Urged to Back ‘Bold, Reparative’ Water Justice Bill https://www.ecowatch.com/water-justice-bill-biden-2650811832.html

Like developing nations, Texas confronts lingering water crisis. More than 1,100 water suppliers have been affected, and nearly half the state’s residents scavenge for clean water. Among the places on Earth that best know calamity born of severe ecological disruption, Texas ranks near the top https://www.circleofblue.org/2021/world/like-developing-nations-texas-confronts-lingering-water-crisis/

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Voices, The Peoples News No. 2021-02-26

Voices, The Peoples News

February 26, 2021
Published by Jedi Selman Since March 2000 To Inform and Educate

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This almost daily Voices, The Peoples News is posted through the blog function of www.MPEN-Ohio.net
You can visit the website and leave your comments if you desire.
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# Indigenous / Global
How colonial systems have left some First Nations without drinking water https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2021/02/18/how-colonial-systems-have-left-some-first-nations-without-drinking-water/#.YDhWNmhKhxA

# Animals / Pets / Food Recalls
Land use tied to ‘intersex’ smallmouth bass in Bay rivers. Scientists are still trying to sort out exactly what’s causing sexual abnormalities among smallmouth bass in Chesapeake Bay rivers. Study suggests farm conservation practices could reduce hormone-disrupting contaminants https://www.bayjournal.com/news/fisheries/land-use-tied-to-intersex-smallmouth-bass-in-bay-rivers/article_9c309c5e-76d4-11eb-b040-33d12a3b432e.html

‘Localized harassment’: RCMP patrol Wet’suwet’en territory despite UN calls for withdrawal https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2021/02/23/localized-harassment-rcmp-patrol-wetsuweten-territory-despite-un-calls-for-withdrawal.html

# Border / Immigration
Stimulus Checks to Be Issued to Illegal Immigrants as Part of New COVID Relief Package https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-covid-checks-mixed-status-f/fact-check-new-covid-19-relief-grants-checks-to-legal-members-of-mixed-immigration-families-not-to-illegal-immigrants-idUSKBN29A2KS

# Children / Youth
Lost Generation? America’s War Against Parents and the Destruction of Childhood https://healthimpactnews.com/2021/lost-generation-americas-war-against-parents-and-the-destruction-of-childhood/

# CoronaVirus
5 things to know before key FDA panel votes on Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot COVID-19 vaccine today.
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/26/jj-covid-vaccine-what-to-know-before-key-fda-panel-vote.html

Vaccine distribution to jump 40 percent next week, UPS executive says.
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/540525-vaccine-distribution-to-jump-40-percent-next-week-ups-executive-says

As coronavirus infection numbers drop, governors ease restrictions.
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/536462-connecticut-governor-mulls-easing-restrictions-following-coronavirus

Vaccination “passports” may open society, but inequity looms.
https://apnews.com/article/travel-pandemics-israel-united-nations-coronavirus-pandemic-7a8ce11ce37c309d97969ab71df26e62

The White House is asking social media companies to clamp down on chatter that deviates from officially distributed COVID-19 information as part of President [sic] Biden’s “wartime effort” to vanquish the coronavirus https://nypost.com/2021/02/19/white-house-working-with-social-media-to-silence-anti-vaxxers/

Paid to stay home – coronavirus aid bill pays Federal employees with kids out of school up to $21K
https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamandrzejewski/2021/02/23/paid-to-stay-home–coronavirus-aid-bill-pays-federal-employees-with-kids-out-of-school-up-to-21k/?sh=378fe7051223

“Long Covid”: 1 in 10 COVID-19 Survivors Face Lingering and Debilitating Symptoms, WHO Warns
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-long-term-effects/art-20490351

# Economy / Trade
Can Uncle Sam afford a $1.9 trillion stimulus? President Joe Biden and Democrats in Congress are pushing for a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package. Congress has already approved $4 trillion in pandemic relief and stimulus measures and billions of that money has yet to be spent.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/op-ed-can-uncle-sam-afford-a-1-9-trillion-stimulus/article_1291af3c-77bb-11eb-b6c6-3759abc85137.html

# Employment / Labor
Senate parliamentarian rules against inclusion of the minimum wage.
https://www.npr.org/2021/02/25/970637190/senate-cant-vote-on-15-minimum-wage-parliamentarian-rules

# Energy / Pipelines / Mining
Texas’s deregulated electricity market raised consumer costs by $28B
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/540271-texass-deregulated-electricity-market-raised-cost-to-consumers-by-28

Amid lawsuits, Delaware River Basin Commission makes fracking ban permanent The formal ban came a month after a federal judge set an October trial date to hear a challenge to the drilling moratorium.
https://www.inquirer.com/business/fracking-ban-delaware-river-permanent-drbc-20210225.html

The Quiet Winner of the Texas Energy Crisis, Macquarie. An Australian investment bank, is poised to profit heavily off Texas’s briefly surging energy prices during the snowstorm. The Biden infrastructure program could be its next conquest https://prospect.org/environment/macquarie-quiet-winner-of-the-texas-energy-crisis/

# Energy / Pipelines / Mining / Global
Here’s why Alberta’s ban on mountaintop-removal mining won’t affect proposed coal mines in the Rockies https://thenarwhal.ca/alberta-mountaintop-removal-mining-ban-mines-unaffected/

‘This is something to celebrate’: B.C. defers logging in home of Canada’s last three wild spotted owls https://thenarwhal.ca/logging-deferred-bc-valleys-spotted-owls/

# Environment / Climate / Interior
The Terrifying Warning Lurking in the Earth’s Ancient Rock Record. Our climate models could be missing something big.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/03/extreme-climate-change-history/617793/

Five things to watch at CPAC: Republicans are gathering in Orlando this week for the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), an annual event that allows grassroots activists, prominent commentators and lawmakers to rub elbows while discussing the present and future state of the GOP https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/374968-five-things-to-watch-for-at-cpac

# Food / GMOs / Chemicals
Information on factory farms is spotty at best. CAFOs have been a point of contention between the livestock industry and environmental activists since they began to proliferate in the 1990s https://investigatemidwest.org/2021/02/25/information-on-factory-farms-is-spotty-at-best-the-government-has-been-hogtied-from-doing-more/

Portland group key to convincing General Mills to drop chemical from mac-and-cheese processing https://www.pressherald.com/2021/02/24/portland-group-key-to-convincing-general-mills-to-drop-chemical-from-mac-and-cheese-brand-packaging/

Pandemic may have left over 250 million people with acute food shortages in 2020 As Black and Latinx families experience disproportionate food insecurity, experts warn of famine in dozens of countries.
https://www.counterpunch.org/2021/02/26/pandemic-may-have-left-over-250-million-people-with-acute-food-shortages-in-2020/

Flying Robo Harvester Picks Ripe Fruit, Set To Displace Humans. It’s no secret by now that the rise of automation and robots is projected to displace millions of jobs in the coming years.
https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/watch-flying-robo-harvest-picks-ripe-fruit-set-displace-jobs

# Global Politics and other news
Annals of Inquiry: Seeking the true story of the comfort women. A Harvard professor’s dubious scholarship reignited a history of mistrust between South Korea and Japan. (Scroll for story)
https://github.com/duty-machine/duty-machine/issues/10212

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the October 2018 killing of U.S.-based journalist and Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, according to a declassified report released by the Biden administration
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/26/intel-report-saudi-prince-khashoggi-murder-471756

# Gov / Politics
Native American nominee Haaland’s grilling raises questions of bias.
https://apnews.com/article/biden-cabinet-confirmation-hearings-john-barrasso-native-americans-700b7b4c6ece06ba735c288492caa257

Blockbuster: Biden Speaks to Saudi King, Demands MBS Be Removed from Any Authority https://www.veteranstoday.com/2021/02/25/blockbuster-biden-speaks-to-saudi-king-demands-mbs-be-removed-from-any-authority/

Austin eyes rolling back Trump-era policy on special operations/political assassinations https://finance.yahoo.com/news/austin-eyes-rolling-back-trump-174924742.html

Dozens of House Democrats want Biden to give up sole authority to launch nuclear weapons. Democrats offered some alternatives to sole nuclear authority, such as requiring the vice president and House speaker to agree with a launch order from the president before it is executed, according to Politico.
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/02/25/dozens-of-house-democrats-call-biden-give-sole-nuclear-launch-authority.html

Cost of War: US ‘counterterrorism’ activities in 85 countries. “If the U.S. is truly to end the post-9/11 wars and related activities around the world, then the U.S. public and its leaders must take a broader view of their reach.”
https://www.nationofchange.org/2021/02/26/the-cost-of-war-us-counterterrorism-activities-in-85-countries/

Jan. 6 Militia Truck Belongs to Hitler-Quoting Rep’s Husband. At least one baseball-bat-wielding man tied to the far-right militia group has been arrested for his alleged role in the insurrection.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/rep-mary-millers-husband-owns-three-percenter-militia-truck-at-capitol-riot

Senate Republicans are setting their sights on California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, President Biden’s choice to head the Department of Health and Human Services, as their next target in the battle over Biden’s Cabinet.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/540623-republicans-see-becerra-as-next-target-in-confirmation-wars

# Law Enforcement
Ex-undercover officer admits role in FBI and NYPD conspiracy targeting Malcolm X The FBI and New York City Police Department face renewed calls to open their records into the assassination of Malcolm X.
https://truthout.org/video/ex-undercover-officer-admits-role-in-fbi-and-nypd-conspiracy-targeting-malcolm-x/

# Legal / Judicial / DOJ
Black officers who defended the Capitol against rioters tell of confronting racism as well as a mob.
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/emmanuelfelton/black-capitol-police-racism-mob

Colorado Sgt. to Judge: Show Mercy to Rioter Who Beat Cop. “I still believe Jeff Sabol to be an honorable person… and a good human being,”
the unnamed sergeant wrote in a letter of support.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/denver-sergeant-asks-judge-to-show-leniency-to-capitol-rioter-accused-of-beating-cop

# Military / DOD
The United States carried out an airstrike in Syria against a structure belonging to what it said [but not yet proven] were Iran-backed militia, two officials told Reuters https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-syria-strike/exclusive-u-s-carries-out-airstrike-against-iranian-backed-militia-target-in-syria-officials-idUSKBN2AP33D

# National Guard
The National Security State Doesn’t Protect Us. Let’s Redefine Security for All.
Living under COVID for the past year has driven home the reality that militarization doesn’t buy security.
https://truthout.org/articles/the-national-security-state-doesnt-protect-us-lets-redefine-security-for-all/

# Nuclear / Radiation
Water leaks indicate new damage at Fukushima nuclear plant https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-02-19/water-leaks-indicate-new-damage-at-fukushima-nuclear-plant

# Other News
QAnon Shaman Whines: Trump Groomed Me and Millions of Others. The most famous Capitol rioter has recently become far more willing to publicly criticize the former president than most Republican lawmakers.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/qanon-shaman-whines-that-trump-groomed-him-and-millions-of-other-americans

Trump reemerges to legacy being erased by Biden.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/540618-trump-reemerges-to-legacy-being-erased-by-biden

At conservative gathering, ideas fall to an airing of Trump grievances.
https://www.pehalnews.in/at-conservative-gathering-ideas-fall-to-an-airing-of-trump-grievances/581414/

McConnell says he’d back Trump as 2024 GOP nominee.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/540625-mcconnell-says-hed-back-trump-as-2024-gop-nominee

# Technology
Elon Musk: Tesla Business Is Not About ‘Winning Anyone Over’ – Battery Cells Are to Supplement Max Production of Suppliers! Elon Musk explains the nature of its business, and its not about profit or appeasing anyone over its products!
https://www.techtimes.com/articles/257431/20210225/teslas-battery-cell-supplement-max-production-suppliers-not-winning-anyone-over.htm

Apple Glass Specs and More: Microphones Could Locate Indistinct Audio, Capable of Self-Cleaning! A rumored device is believed to be incorporated with Apple Glass which comes with a microphone with an audio-detection feature.
https://www.techradar.com/news/apple-glass-ar-specs-may-be-self-cleaning-and-feature-3d-audio

Big Tech Shouldn’t Be the Arbiter of Our Free Speech Rights.
Corporations mustn’t be designated gatekeepers with the power to decide who gets to communicate and who doesn’t.
https://truthout.org/articles/big-tech-shouldnt-be-the-arbiter-of-our-free-speech-rights/

# UFO’s
FBI Investigating Mystery Object Seen Over New Mexico. The radio transmission regarding a rogue cylindrical-shaped object traveling at high-speed near the Airbus A320 is authentic. American Airlines confirmed that their flight crew called in a flying object that “almost looked like a cruise missile” somewhere over New Mexico.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39416/american-airlines-confirms-pilot-report-of-bizarre-cylinder-shaped-object-over-new-mexico

# United Nations
Leaked Emails Confirm UN Gave Names of Dissidents to CCP –At least one dissident identified by the UN and detained by the CCP before leaving for Geneva, Cao Shunli, died while in detention.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/emails-confirm-un-gave-names-of-dissidents-to-ccp_3711143.html

# Water
Congress on track to approve millions more in federal funding for water debt relief First-ever federal program for household water-bill assistance could see another $500 million.
https://www.circleofblue.org/2021/world/congress-on-track-to-approve-millions-more-in-federal-funding-for-water-debt-relief/

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Voices, The Peoples News No. 2021-02-23

Voices, The Peoples News

February 23, 2021
Published by Jedi Selman Since March 2000 To Inform and Educate

# Indigenous
Standing Rock activist imprisoned for resisting grand jury. There are signs of hope for anti-pipeline movements, yet water protectors are still facing recriminations years after Standing Rock.
https://theintercept.com/2021/02/19/standing-rock-indigenous-water-protector-imprisoned/

# Indigenous / Global
Bad water sickens First Nations. But government doesn’t track the toll.
Data to identify and fix problems don’t exist. The ‘black hole,’ say critics, lets feds off the hook. A special report.
https://thetyee.ca/News/2021/02/22/Bad-Water-Sickens-First-Nations-Government-Track-Toll/

# Archaeology
# Border / Immigration
Biden Admin Reopens Trump-Era Migrant Child Center in Carrizo Springs, Texas. Government officials justified the move by saying there’s been a massive recent spike in unaccompanied children crossing the border.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/02/politics/migrant-children-facility-immigration/index.html

Anti-Immigrant Racism Complicates COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout in the South.
The aggressive anti-immigrant attitudes of the Trump era are hindering vaccination efforts among immigrant populations.
https://truthout.org/articles/anti-immigrant-racism-complicates-covid-19-vaccine-rollout-in-the-south/

# Bundy Rides Again
Far-Right Leader of Bundy Crew Busted for Wild Threats. A top player in a crew behind aggro COVID-19 protests got popped over a bizarrely personal beef with local law-enforcement.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/far-right-peoples-rights-leader-joshua-martinez-tied-to-bundy-family-busted-for-threats-in-vegas?ref=home

# CoronaVirus
What’s Safe After COVID-19 Vaccination? Don’t Shed Masks Yet
https://apnews.com/article/whats-safe-after-covid-19-vaccine-masks-f74a703c32fbfed6d8a2f066b9cda3f8

‘Why would anyone get the jab after this?’: AP criticized for saying Covid vaccination WON’T bring life back to normal https://www.npr.org/2020/12/11/945360045/dr-paul-offit-discusses-fda-panels-vote-on-pfizer-vaccine

Pandemic May Have Left 265 Million People With Acute Food Shortages in 2020. As Black and Latinx families experience disproportionate food insecurity, experts warn of famine in dozens of countries.
https://truthout.org/articles/pandemic-may-have-left-265-million-people-with-acute-food-shortages-in-2020/

World Health Organization Urges Rich Countries to Stop Undermining Efforts to Vaccinate Poorer Ones. Experts are urging advanced economies to share their vaccine stockpiles in order to end the pandemic sooner.
https://truthout.org/video/who-urges-rich-countries-to-stop-undermining-efforts-to-vaccinate-poorer-ones/

Held to ransom’: Pfizer demands governments gamble with state assets to secure vaccine deal. “Pfizer and BioNTech are firmly committed to working with governments and other relevant stakeholders to ensure equitable and affordable access to our Covid-19 vaccine for people around the world.”
https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2021-02-23/held-to-ransom-pfizer-demands-governments-gamble-with-state-assets-to-secure-vaccine-deal

# Economy / Trade
Trump Salary: Donation Was 0.1 Percent of Reported $1.6 Billion He Made in Office.
Financial disclosures show that Trump earned over $1.6 billion from his own properties, much of it at taxpayer expense.
https://truthout.org/articles/trump-salary-donation-was-0-1-percent-of-reported-1-6-billion-he-made-in-office/

# Education / Schools
Surge of Student Suicides Pushes Las Vegas Schools to Reopen. The spate of student suicides in and around Las Vegas has pushed the Clark County district, the nation’s fifth largest, toward bringing students back as quickly as possible https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/24/us/politics/student-suicides-nevada-coronavirus.html

# Employment / Labor
‘This is unacceptable’: Progressives reject Manchin plan to cut $15 minimum wage proposal to $11. The $15 minimum wage is overwhelmingly popular with the American people. One person should not be allowed to hold relief hostage.
https://www.nationofchange.org/2021/02/23/this-is-unacceptable-progressives-reject-manchin-plan-to-cut-15-minimum-wage-proposal-to-11/

Big Texas Corporations Demand Storm Survivors Go Without Pay. A slew of big-time companies are slapping those reeling from historic devastation with an ugly choice: Use vacation days or go without pay.
https://news.yahoo.com/survived-hell-bosses-want-them-095052449.html

# Energy / Pipelines / Mining
How Texas repeatedly failed to protect its power grid against extreme weather. Texas regulators and lawmakers knew about the grid’s vulnerabilities for years, but time and again they furthered the interests of large electricity providers.
https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/22/texas-power-grid-extreme-weather/

Texas Blackout Reveals Deep Impact of Environmental Racism, Aid Organizers Say Calls are growing for Texas to join national power grids — and for a broader reckoning on environmental justice.
https://thehill.com/changing-america/resilience/natural-disasters/539273-texas-blackouts-disproportionately-impact-low

Texas Electric Grid Board Members Resign After Mass Outages. ERCOT chairwoman Sally Talberg and at least three other board members announced their departures in a joint letter Tuesday.
https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/23/ercot-members-resign-texas/

# Environment / Climate / Interior
Texas’ freeze was one part of a long disaster we’re still living through. It’s been just four years since Texas’ last “once in a century”
disaster, and it’s the latest in a long line of previously unthinkable climate catastrophes along the Gulf Coast region. After each one, the recovery effort seems to go slower, take longer, and leave more people in the cold.
https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2021/02/texas-freeze-was-one-part-of-a-long-disaster-were-still-living-through/

As Millions in Texas Lack Safe Water, Activists Rally for Green New Deal. Youth leaders with the Sunrise Movement rallied at Texas’ capitol in response to the state’s cascading crises.
https://truthout.org/articles/as-millions-in-texas-lack-safe-water-activists-rally-for-green-new-deal/

# Food / GMOs / Chemicals
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is confirmed (again). After a 92-7 vote, the former governor of Iowa will reprise his role heading up USDA.
https://thecounter.org/secretary-of-agriculture-tom-vilsack-confirmed-biden-usda/

USDA is letting schools serve free meals during the pandemic. Officials fear an unintended funding gap.
https://thecounter.org/cdc-farm-workers-texas-florida-covid-19-vaccine/amp/

The CDC recommended states prioritize farm workers for the Covid-19 vaccine. Some large agricultural states have not.
https://thecounter.org/cdc-farm-workers-texas-florida-covid-19-vaccine/amp/

# General News
Trump campaign paid millions to Jan. 6 Capitol riot. “It was his duty as commander-in-chief to stop the violence. And he alone had that power because they believed that they were following his orders. They said so.”
https://www.nationofchange.org/2021/02/23/trump-campaign-paid-millions-to-jan-6-capitol-riot/

# Global Politics and other news
Iran and IAEA reach ‘temporary’ agreement to maintain nuclear surveillance https://www.euronews.com/2021/02/21/un-nuclear-chief-in-iran-ahead-of-sanctions-deadline

FM Zarif: Iran expects compensation for $1 trillion damage inflicted by US sanctions: FM Zarif:: “Compensations will take the form of reparation, or the form of investment”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/21/us-sanctions-inflicted-1-trillion-damage-on-irans-economy-fm

# Gov / Politics
NATO’s expanding role hides the reality of a US empire in decline. The pivot toward defining Russia and China as potential adversary is drawn, from the insecurity of a U.S. in decline.
https://www.rt.com/op-ed/515981-nato-expanding-us-decline/

Escalating the new Cold War with Russia via Ukraine. A look at “Ukrainegate” and Joe Biden’s part in it.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/56354.htm

Congress Escalates Pressure on Tech Giants to Censor More, Threatening the First Amendment. House Democrats are getting closer and closer to the constitutional line, if they have not already crossed it.
https://greenwald.substack.com/p/congress-escalates-pressure-on-tech

What Planet Is NATO Living On? Despite its recent failures in Afghanistan and Libya, NATO is turning its military madness toward two more formidable, nuclear-armed enemies: Russia and China.
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/02/23/what-planet-nato-living

Watch live: Senate hearing on Capitol security breach: Two Senate committees are holding a joint hearing to examine the failures that led to the breach of the Capitol by a mob of former President Trump’s supporters on Jan 6.
https://thehill.com/video/senate/540016-watch-live-senate-hearing-on-security-breached-during-capitol-riot

# Law Enforcement
Police Probe Video of Cop With Arm Around Black Teen’s Neck. A short clip shared by the 13-year-old boy’s family shows him lying face up while the officer restrains him with one arm below his neck.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/23/us/baton-rouge-police-investigation-teen-arrest-video/index.html

Yet Another Proud Boy Charged With Conspiracy for Riots. Ryan Ashlock was caught on camera clad in tactical gear and pushing against police barriers as his fellow Proud Boys stormed the Capitol.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/ryan-ashlock-another-proud-boy-charged-in-conspiracy-to-attack-the-capitol

Five charged with Proud Boys conspiracy in deadly U.S. Capitol attack https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-capitol-arrests/five-charged-with-proud-boys-conspiracy-in-deadly-u-s-capitol-attack-idUSKBN2AB24L

Ahmaud Arbery’s Estate Alleges Massive Police ‘Cover Up’: A lawsuit filed on the one-year anniversary of Arbery’s killing also alleges the men charged with his murder were unlawfully deputized by Glynn County cops.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/ahmaud-arberys-estate-files-federal-civil-rights-suit-against-georgia-county-police-officers
See also: Arbery Lawsuit
https://www.scribd.com/document/495697752/Arbery-Lawsuit

The FBI Warned Congress of Right-Wing Violence Before Jan. 6th. Capitol Police Leaders Never Saw the Report. Former security officials pointed fingers at each other over failures that led to the insurrection.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2021/02/the-fbi-warned-congress-of-right-wing-violence-before-jan-6th-capitol-police-leaders-never-saw-the-report/

Jail Won’t Solve White Supremacist Violence. Here’s How to Truly Confront It. To fight white supremacist violence, we must abolish the systems that perpetuate it, like the prison-industrial complex.
https://truthout.org/articles/jail-wont-solve-white-supremacist-violence-heres-how-to-truly-confront-it/

All 7 Cops Off the Hook for Daniel Prude’s Suffocation Death. Prude was pinned on the ground as Rochester cops handcuffed him and put a mesh spit hood over his head.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/all-seven-rochester-cops-off-the-hook-for-daniel-prudes-suffocation-death

Police had no legal reason to stop or frisk Elijah McClain, an independent report found. The new independent review found it was the first in a series of unjustified and violent actions taken by officers that led to the 23-year-old Black man being placed in a chokehold and injected with ketamine before he died.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/feb/22/elijah-mcclain-independent-investigation-police-colorado

# Legal / Judicial / DOJ
Officials charged with protecting the Capitol the day a mob overwhelmed police and forced the evacuation of lawmakers are expected to be grilled at a Tuesday hearing as Congress begins a public examination into the security lapses of the Jan. 6 insurrection.
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/539955-officers-set-for-grilling-over-mob-attack

The Republicans Finally Face Merrick Garland—and Act as if They Were the Ones Unfairly Treated.
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/merrick-garland-ag-confirmation-hearing-02-22-21/

Corporate Lawyers Line Up for Justice Department Top Slots. Attorney General nominee Merrick Garland defended hiring lawyers with Big Tech experience at yesterday’s confirmation hearing.
https://prospect.org/cabinet-watch/corporate-lawyers-line-up-for-justice-department-top-slots/

# Marijuana / Hemp / CBD Oil
Feds Shouldn’t Waste Resources On Marijuana Enforcement In Legal States, Biden AG Pick Says https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-enforcement-is-a-perfect-example-of-racial-discrimination-biden-ag-pick-garland-says/

Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) tweeted, “States that have legalized marijuana have seen a boom in business, tourism, and tax revenue, & a drop in incarceration. As a co-sponsor of the MORE Act, I hope to see New Mexico join them and help restore communities hurt by the failed War on Drugs.”
https://twitter.com/TeamHeinrich/status/1363933330291494917

# Space
# Technology
A new form of exploitation, known as “stakeholder capitalism,” is already being tested in many places around the world and prisons are among the main targets for its implementation, as they provide an ideal and literally captive market for its proof of concept.
https://mronline.org/2021/02/20/prisons-prime-testing-ground-for-dehumanizing-hi-tech-advances/

Facebook Ends Australia News Ban After Talks With Zuckerberg https://www.thedailybeast.com/facebook-ends-australia-news-ban-after-talks-with-zuckerberg

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Voices, The Peoples News No. 2021-02-21

Voices, The Peoples News

February 21, 2021
Published by Jedi Selman Since March 2000 To Inform and Educate

# Indigenous
Urging Biden to Stop Line 3, Indigenous-Led Resistance Camps Ramp Up Efforts to Slow Construction. Biden has pledged to make environmental justice, including Native rights, a cornerstone of his climate policy, but his response to Line 3 remains uncertain.
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/16022021/biden-line-3-minnesota-enbridge-pipeline-indigenous-resistance/

# CoronaVirus
Robotic dogs, laughter therapy and mindfulness are some of the ways that might help people — particularly the elderly — cope with loneliness and social isolation while social distancing, say researchers.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/feb/17/mindfulness-laughter-and-robot-dogs-can-help-relieve-loneliness-study-says

Whistleblower Video Footage of Forced COVID Vaccines in German Nursing Homes Goes Public – Attorney: “We’re Dealing with Homicide, Maybe Even Murder”
https://healthimpactnews.com/2021/whistleblower-video-footage-of-forced-covid-vaccines-in-german-nursing-homes-goes-public-attorney-were-dealing-with-homicide-maybe-even-murder/

CDC: 929 Dead 15,923 Injured Reported Following Experimental mRNA COVID Injections https://healthimpactnews.com/2021/cdc-929-dead-15923-injured-reported-following-experimental-mrna-covid-injections/

Wuhan Lab Eligible to Receive US Taxpayer Funding Through 2024, NIH Confirms https://nypost.com/2021/02/19/china-lab-probed-for-covid-to-get-us-funds-until-2024-report/

Central N.Y. school district closes after many staff sick with side effects from COVID vaccine https://www.syracuse.com/schools/2021/02/central-ny-school-district-closes-after-many-staff-sick-with-side-effects-from-covid-vaccine.html

78-year-old woman dies at California vaccination site after being inoculated https://www.dailyhindnews.com/78-year-old-woman-dies-at-california-vaccination-site-after-being-inoculated/

House Resolution to Recognize the Significant Role Vitamin D Plays in the Fight Against COVID-19
https://clinicalmolecularallergy.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12948-020-00139-0

# Education / Schools
Depression, anxiety, loneliness are peaking in college students. New nationwide survey data uncovers college students’ current mental health challenges and needs.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/02/210219190939.htm

# Energy / Pipelines / Mining
‘Man-Made Disaster’: Texas Death Toll Keeps Growing From Brutal Cold Snap. “When the dust settles, people deserve answers and accountability,” Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/10-dead-of-hypothermia-in-houston-area-alone

Billions in damage across the South prompts focus on who’s to blame, and who will pay https://oltnews.com/billions-of-damage-in-the-south-prompt-focus-on-who-is-to-blame-and-who-will-pay-washington-post

A Disillusioned ExxonMobil Engineer Quits to Take Action on Climate Change and Stop ‘Making the World Worse’
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/08022021/a-disillusioned-exxonmobil-engineer-quits-to-take-action-on-climate-change-and-stop-making-the-world-worse/

Nevada lithium mine kicks off a new era of Western extraction. The hastily approved project went forward without comment from the Fort McDermitt Paiute Shoshone Tribe.
https://www.hcn.org/issues/53.3/indigenous-affairs-mining-nevada-lithium-mine-kicks-off-a-new-era-of-western-extraction

‘He Is Lying. People Are Dying’: Calls for Texas Governor to Resign as He Blames Power Outages on Wind and Solar https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/17/he-lying-people-are-dying-calls-texas-governor-resign-he-blames-power-outages-wind

# Environment / Climate / Interior
The United States has Rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement. Now Comes the Daunting Part.
https://www.ecowatch.com/paris-agreement-biden-us-rejoin-2650622946.html

Transforming to an Ecological Civilization: The Alternative Is Unthinkable. A society based on natural ecology might seem like a far-off utopia—yet communities everywhere are already creating it.
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/02/19/transforming-ecological-civilization-alternative-unthinkable

# Food / GMOs / Chemicals
3 technologies poised to change food and the planet
https://www.econotimes.com/3-technologies-poised-to-change-food-and-the-planet-1602599

# Food Recalls / Alerts
Ineligible French company sent pork pâté to U.S.; nationwide recall now underway https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2021/02/ineligible-french-company-sent-pork-pate-to-u-s-nationwide-recall-now-underway/

Listeria outbreak investigation leads to recall of soft, Queso style cheeses https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2021/02/listeria-outbreak-investigation-leads-to-recall-of-soft-queso-style-cheeses/

# General News
Cities Are Razing Homeless Encampments Despite Record Cold Weather and COVID. Municipalities are flouting CDC advice and carrying out forcible evictions of the unhoused during a record-cold winter.
https://truthout.org/articles/cities-are-razing-homeless-encampments-despite-record-cold-weather-and-covid/

# Gov / Politics
Republicans are worried that the battle between former President Trump and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) could torpedo their efforts to win back majorities in the House and Senate in 2022.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/539658-gop-mcconnell-trump-civil-war-will-hurt-republicans

Cancun fallout threatens to deal lasting damage to Cruz. The political fallout from Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-Texas) ill-timed flight to Mexico this week is poised to last much longer than his 24-hour trip south of the border.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/539636-cancun-fallout-threatens-to-deal-lasting-damage-to-cruz

The elephant in the room: Trump’s lingering power. Americans should pause to talk about the elephant in the room: the continued political relevance of Donald Trump even though he no longer holds elected office.
https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/539195-the-elephant-in-the-room-trumps-lingering-power

New stars on the American flag? Fresh hope as Puerto Rico and DC push for statehood https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/feb/20/puerto-rico-washington-dc-statehood-politics

Capitol assault a more sinister attack than first appeared
https://apnews.com/article/14c73ee280c256ab4ec193ac0f49ad54

Trump is set to speak at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) later this month in Orlando, Fla., his first public appearance since leaving the White House.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/539737-trump-to-speak-at-cpac-in-first-public-appearance-since-leaving-white

Donald Trump (R-Mar-a-Lago) Is the Republican Party Now. All it took for Republicans to fall back in line is the threat of death-by-primary, since for so many of them, political death is more frightening than the real thing.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-r-mar-a-lago-is-the-republican-party-now

Mar-a-Lago used to be an example of Trump’s corruption. Now it’s a pilgrimage destination for those who want an audience with a failed former president.
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/mar-lago-becomes-center-republican-party-s-world-n1258363

Trump gears up for war with his own party. Cocooned in Mar-a-Lago, the newly acquitted ex-president is stepping up his political activities.
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/20/trump-republican-party-midterms-470370

Republicans condemned Trump. Now they’re seeking his help.
https://apnews.com/article/gop-seeking-donald-trump-support-346c6ddc007807fa7221de4f34d4de43

Trump wants to help GOP win in 2022, McCarthy says after Mar-a-Lago meeting https://nypost.com/2021/01/28/trump-wants-to-help-gop-win-in-2022-after-mar-a-lago-meeting-mccarthy/

Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel appears poised to take on a high-profile ambassadorship for President Biden, a step likely to trigger contention with progressives who’ve balked at him taking a Cabinet role.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/539680-biden-seems-set-to-pick-fight-over-rahm-emanuel

The Temporary Collapse Of Texas Is Foreshadowing The Total Collapse Of The United States https://www.lewrockwell.com/2021/02/michael-snyder/the-temporary-collapse-of-texas-is-foreshadowing-the-total-collapse-of-the-united-states/

# Law Enforcement
Unprepared for COVID, Texas Women’s Prison Was Equally Unprepared for Uri. The recent winter storm left the nation’s only federal medical prison for women without heat or hot water.
https://truthout.org/articles/unprepared-for-covid-texas-womens-prison-was-equally-unprepared-for-uri/

# Legal / Judicial / DOJ
Oath Keeper Retirees Charged With Conspiracy in Capitol Riot https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/539658-gop-mcconnell-trump-civil-war-will-hurt-republicans

‘No Regrets’: PA Police Officer Charged in Capitol Riots. North Cornwall Township patrolman Joseph Fisher was charged after posting a video of himself rushing a line of police officers during the Jan. 6 siege.
https://www.businessinsider.com/pa-officer-charged-role-capitol-riot-has-no-regrets-2021-2

Six Capitol Police officers suspended, others investigated after Capitol riot https://thehill.com/homenews/news/539540-six-capitol-police-officers-suspended-others-investigated-after-capitol-riot

New York City tax agency subpoenaed in Trump criminal probe
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-investigation-subpoena-excl/exclusive-new-york-city-tax-agency-subpoenaed-in-trump-criminal-probe-idUSKBN2AK037

Cy Vance hires top RICO (‘Racketeering’) prosecutor for Trump family criminal investigation https://www.veteranstoday.com/2021/02/19/cy-vance-hires-top-rico-prosecutor-for-trump-family-criminal-investigation/

‘He Wants Us To Make It WILD’: Feds Lay Out How Trump Rhetoric Fueled Oath Keepers. Six additional people associated with the Oath Keepers organization were arrested this week in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/oath-keepers-trump-capitol-attack_n_60302260c5b6cc8bbf3b9304

# Marijuana / Hemp / CBD Oil
Case Study Shows Cannabis Led to Remarkable Improvement in Childhood Autism Symptoms https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-37570-y

# Media
Cruz Went to Cancun. This MC Gave Out Free Water to Houston. Amid rampant price-gouging and a certain U.S. senator being a jerk, A.J.
McQueen stood up.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/ted-cruz-went-to-cancun-but-rapper-aj-mcqueen-gave-out-free-water-to-houston

# Medical / Health
Democrats are hoping 2021 will be the year they accomplish their long-held goal of reigning in rising prescription drug costs by allowing the government to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies.
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/539724-democrats-plan-crackdown-on-rising-drug-costs

# Science
Scientists find unexpected animal life far beneath Antarctica’s floating ice shelves. The geologists used hot-water equipment to drill the borehole through more than half a mile of the ice shelf, on the southern edge of Antarctica’s Weddell Sea. The discovery of what appear to be sponges in the pitch-black seawater beneath almost half a mile of ice has biologists baffled.
https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/scientists-find-unexpected-animal-life-far-antarcticas-floating-ice-sh-rcna285

Direct cloning method cartures novel microbial natural products https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/02/210219190942.htm

# Weather
Texas power crisis points to challenges of renewable energy future https://news.yahoo.com/texas-power-crisis-points-challenges-110052216.html

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Voices, The Peoples News No. 2021-02-18

Voices, The Peoples News

February 18, 2021
Published by Jedi Selman Since March 2000 To Inform and Educate

# Border / Immigration
Biden pushes expanded pathways to citizenship as immigration bill lands in Congress The Biden administration formally rolled out its major immigration bill, introducing legislation that would give 11 million people a path to U.S.
citizenship.
https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/539336-biden-pushes-expanded-pathways-to-citizenship-as-immigration-bill

Tom Homan: ‘Biden has declared the entire country a sanctuary jurisdiction’
https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2161274908609/tom-homan-biden-has-declared-the-entire-country-a-sanctuary-jurisdiction

# CoronaVirus
DeSantis Threatens to Pull Vaccine From Places That Complain. “I wouldn’t be complaining,” the Florida governor said.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2021/02/17/ron-desantis-threatens-to-pull-vaccines-from-florida-counties-that-criticize-distribution/

Why Politicians and Doctors Keep Ignoring the Medical Research on Vitamin D and Covid. Many doctors have ignored a growing body of evidence suggesting that Vitamin D can play a critically important role in the prevention and treatment of Covid-19.
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/02/17/why-politicians-and-doctors-keep-ignoring-medical-research-vitamin-d-and-covid

Florida Gov. DeSantis Prioritizes Vaccines for Rich White Residents, Then Threatens Critics https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/fl-ne-ron-desantis-vaccine-politics-20210217-cgew27q23fhknh7rpr3h4sf5dy-story.html

Mexico Denounces Vaccine Hoarding as U.N. Warns 130 Nations Have Yet to Receive Any Vaccines https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/18/wildly-unfair-un-says-130-countries-have-not-received-a-single-covid-vaccine-dose

Top Executives at Vaccine Manufacturers Sold $500 Million in Stocks Last Year https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/insiders-at-covid-19-vaccine-makers-sold-nearly-500-million-of-stock-last-year-11613637335300.html

Former Detroit TV Anchor Karen Hudson-Samuels Suddenly Dies One Day After Being Injected with Experimental mRNA COVID Shot https://nypost.com/2021/02/18/former-news-anchor-dead-one-day-after-receiving-covid-19-vaccine/

The US is deploying nearly 5,000 active-duty troops to vaccinate America for COVID-19 https://wtop.com/coronavirus/2021/02/troops-to-head-to-texas-to-help-with-vaccinations-in-wake-of-storm/

A small Georgia town was trying to play by the rules. The state seized its vaccines anyway.
https://www.motherjones.com/coronavirus-updates/2021/02/a-small-georgia-town-was-trying-to-play-by-the-rules-the-state-seized-its-vaccines-anyway/

Biden to commit $4 billion in funding to global vaccine initiative https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/539468-biden-to-commit-2-billion-in-immediate-funding-to-global-vaccine

# Economy / Trade
Democrats put the Biden stimulus on a 10-day fast track for a House vote.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-16/democrats-pivot-back-to-biden-s-stimulus-with-trump-s-trial-done

Ro Khanna Introduces Bill to End ‘Runaway Tax Evasion’ by US Millionaires and Billionaires. “The wealthiest 1% are responsible for roughly 70% of the ‘tax gap,'” said the California Democrat. “It’s time every American pay their fair share.”
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/18/ro-khanna-introduces-bill-end-runaway-tax-evasion-us-millionaires-and-billionaires?cd-origin=rss

# Energy / Pipelines / Mining
‘People Are Greedy’: The Absurd Power Bills Slamming Texans. As millions of Texans remain in the dark amid power outages from a historic winter storm, wild swings in the price of power have left others with bills they simply can’t afford.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/dollar5152-power-bill-texas-winter-storm-hell-only-gets-worse

Negligence and unjust policy decisions have left Black, brown and poor people in the United States disproportionately vulnerable whenever disaster strikes, as exemplified in Texas.
https://www.veteranstoday.com/2021/02/17/corruption-gop-built-a-fake-texas-power-grid-intended-to-fail-poor-and-minorities/

Dallas Judge: Three GOP Governors ran Texas like the Old Soviet Union…and now People are Dying. Gas pipelines are regulated by the Texas Railroad Commission A whopping 4.3 million in Texas are without power, as of this morning, with no real information about when power will be restored.
https://www.veteranstoday.com/2021/02/17/dallas-judge-three-gop-governors-ran-texas-like-the-old-soviet-union-and-now-people-are-dying/

Texas Is Running Out of Food, Water as Catastrophe Goes On. Some 400,000 North Texans are still without electricity three days into the crisis, and federal regulators are opening up an inquiry into what caused the outages.
https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/17/texas-food-supply-power-outage/

More than 3 million customers around the country are still without electricity as another winter storm system hits the eastern U.S. today.
https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/17/texas-winter-storm-power-outage-ercot/

First responders are seeing a surge in carbon monoxide poisoning cases as people use stoves and cars to keep warm, with at least two deaths in Texas and four in Oregon so far.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/02/16/texas-winter-storm-carbon-monoxide/

‘Blood Is on Abbott’s Hands’: Anger at GOP Leaders Surges as Food, Water Shortages Compound Texas Power Crisis https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/18/blood-abbotts-hands-anger-gop-leaders-surges-food-water-shortages-compound-texas

# Environment / Climate / Interior
Frontline Organizations Demand a Just Recovery After Millions are Left to Freeze in the Face of Another Climate Catastrophe in Texas & the Southeast https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2021/02/18/frontline-organizations-demand-just-recovery-after-millions-are-left-freeze-face?cd-origin=rss&utm_term=AO&utm_campaign=Daily%20Newsletter&utm_content=email&utm_source=Daily%20Newsletter&utm_medium=Email

# Food / GMOs / Chemicals
Texas Is Still Powerless, Heatless, Waterless. But a Growing Group of Chefs Are Freely Distributing Food and Cash.
https://www.motherjones.com/recharge/2021/02/texas-is-still-powerless-heatless-waterless-but-a-growing-group-of-chefs-are-freely-distributing-food-and-cash/

‘Meat of the future’: KFC to ‘3D bioprint’ meat using ‘animal flesh cells’
https://nypost.com/2020/07/20/kfc-using-animal-flesh-cells-to-3d-print-chicken-meat-at-russian-lab/

# Gov / Politics
It’s a Grand Old Party of Thugs, Terrorists, Racists & Dopes. They don’t see the attempted insurrection of Jan. 6 as a crime, or even a loss of control to the most extreme elements of the party. They see it as a failure to seize control.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-gop-is-now-the-party-of-thugs-terrorists-racists-and-dopes

US sells $200m in weapons to Egypt despite human rights abuses https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/17/us-sells-200m-in-weapons-to-egypt-despite-human-rights-abuses

Biden plans to ‘recalibrate’ Saudi relations in shot at MbS – White House https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-usa-biden/biden-plans-to-recalibrate-saudi-relations-in-shot-at-mbs-white-house-idUSKBN2AG2AR

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) confirmed he flew to Mexico with family members Wednesday evening, responding for the first time to widespread backlash in his home state that’s been battered by a severe winter storm.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/539432-cruz-defends-flying-to-cancun-amid-texas-power-outages

The war between former President Trump and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is likely to turn into a battle over money as Republican donors will be forced to choose between Trump-backed and GOP-establishment candidates.
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/17/trump-mcconnell-senate-469692

# Law Enforcement
Former prison officials plead guilty to bribery scheme. “Our Office will continue to seek equal justice under the law and hold accountable government officials who corrupt their oaths and betray the public’s trust.”
https://oig.justice.gov/news/press-release/two-former-bureau-prisons-officials-plead-guilty-bribery-scheme-federal-prison

6 Capitol Cops Suspended, 35 Under Investigation After Riot. The force has been criticized for allowing rioters to breach the Capitol on Jan. 6.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/6-capitol-police-officers-suspended-35-under-investigation-after-insurrection

# Marijuana / Hemp / CBD Oil
Minnesota House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee approved a marijuana legalization bill that’s sponsored by the majority leader and speaker. The legislation is set to go through up to a dozen panels before hitting the floor https://www.marijuanamoment.net/minnesota-marijuana-legalization-bill-approved-in-first-committee-vote/

Hawaii Senate Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs Committee approved a bill to legalize marijuana as well as another one to expand the state’s existing cannabis decriminalization law.
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/hawaii-senate-panel-approves-bills-to-legalize-marijuana-and-increase-decriminalization-limit/

President Joe Biden said, at a CNN town hall, “No one should go to jail for a drug offense. No one should go to jail for the use of a drug. They should go to drug rehabilitation.”
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/joe-biden-town-hall-02-16-21/h_63e3cddcaed0d44992d5b981ac08c864

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) tweeted, “Cannabis justice is a racial justice issue. But, it’s not enough to just legalize cannabis. We need to invest in Black and brown entrepreneurs, expunge nonviolent criminal records, and use the tax money to fund social programs.”
https://twitter.com/BLeeForCongress/status/1361821665399885824

# Media
74 members of Congress ask Biden for an immediate filling of vacancies on the Postal Service Board of Governors, so they can dispatch Louis DeJoy. (House letter)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2021/02/17/80-house-democrats-tell-biden-to-fill-postal-service-board-vacancies-in-order-to-oust-louis-dejoy/?sh=73e997865542

# Medical / Health
Winter Storms Cause Dire Water Outages at Austin Hospitals. The health-care facilities are rescheduling elective surgeries, discharging patients, and telling staff to put human waste in biohazard bags.
https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/st-davids-south-austin-no-water-winter-storm-texas/269-d4c86ccc-39a0-45b6-b6b2-09c0b3dcc160

Biden’s Health Plan Shifts Even More Public Dollars Into Private Hands.
Biden’s American Rescue Plan, like the Affordable Care Act, does not move us any closer toward a single-payer system.
https://truthout.org/articles/bidens-health-plan-shifts-even-more-public-dollars-into-private-hands/

# Military / DOD
A Third of Servicemembers Refuse to Be Vaccinated: Pentagon: Officials stressed that the vaccine is “clearly safe” but acknowledged a need for more education.
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/17/troops-covid-vaccine-pentagon-469518

# Technology
BREAKING: Did Google Just Get Into Bed with Fox News? Google will start paying Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp., parent of Fox News, for the use of its journalism in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia
https://www.veteranstoday.com/2021/02/17/google-fox-news/?mc_cid=cfb0b14420&mc_eid=3f7488d454

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Voices, The Peoples News No. 2021-02-17

Voices, The Peoples News

February 17, 2021
Published by Jedi Selman Since March 2000 To Inform and Educate

# CoronaVirus
$1.4 Billion in COVID-relief payments sent to dead people by Internal Revenue Service. They’ve asked for it back, but dead people are notoriously bad about paying up.
https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/06/25/883441640/nearly-1-4-billion-in-coronavirus-relief-payments-sent-to-dead-people

CDC Says Deep Freeze Is Already Screwing Up Vax Deliveries. Before the storm, 11 million doses were scheduled for delivery this week, but a lot of those are not going to happen now.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/texas-officials-have-no-idea-when-millions-of-people-will-have-their-power-restored

Where things stand on the COVID-19 relief measure. Democrats are aiming to move quickly on a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package and give President Biden a legislative accomplishment early in his tenure.
https://thehill.com/policy/finance/539124-where-things-stand-on-the-covid-19-relief-measure

# Education / Schools
L.A. Schools Defund Police, Ban Use of Pepper-Spray on Kids. Trustees of the Los Angeles Unified School District have approved a plan to remove
133 positions from the district’s 400-member police force.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/los-angeles-unified-school-district-defunds-police-bans-use-of-pepper-spray-on-students

Disadvantaged students are more likely to study online — and this could widen the achievement gap even further https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/disadvantaged-students-covid-09423/

President Biden said he doesn’t have the power to relieve $50,000 in student loan debt but said he would sign off on forgiving $10,000 per borrower. https://bit.ly/3jVJPSW

# Employment / Labor
NY AG Sues Amazon Over Coronavirus Workplace Safety Concerns. The suit alleges that the retail giant did not identify contacts of workers who tested positive for the virus, and fired a worker who organized a protest.
https://www.reuters.com/article/amazoncom-complaint/new-york-attorney-general-sues-amazon-over-covid-19-shortfalls-idUSL4N2KN0XC

# Energy / Pipelines / Mining
Texas Officials Have No Idea When Millions Will Have Power. Gov. Greg Abbott is placing blame on energy providers, saying they’re failing to provide clear answers to him or to the public.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/texas-officials-have-no-idea-when-millions-of-people-will-have-their-power-restored

“Your government failed you”: Texas lawmakers, mayors sound off on power outages.
https://www.expressnews.com/news/politics/texas_legislature/article/Texas-your-government-failed-you-15954206.php

Texas Officials Have No Idea When Millions Will Have Power. Gov. Greg Abbott is placing blame on energy providers, saying they’re failing to provide clear answers to him or to the public.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/texas-officials-have-no-idea-when-millions-of-people-will-have-their-power-restored

Severe Winter Storm Kills 23 People, Cuts Power to Millions as Texas Energy System Fails https://www.democracynow.org/2021/2/17/headlines/severe_winter_storm_kills_23_people_cuts_power_to_millions_as_texas_energy_system_fails

Texas Mayor Who Told Residents to “Sink or Swim” During Winter Crisis Resigns In a now deleted post, Mayor Tim Boyd also told residents of Colorado City, “I’ll be damned if I’m going to provide for anyone.”
https://truthout.org/articles/texas-mayor-who-told-residents-to-sink-or-swim-during-winter-crisis-resigns/

ERCOT to raise Texas energy prices, blaming high demand from winter storm. Your bills, that will already be higher because of the bitter cold, will stay that way beyond winter https://www.khou.com/article/weather/ercot-to-raise-texas-energy-prices-blaming-high-demand-from-winter-storm/285-76ea495b-b67b-4cb7-8f1a-47f0fb4b4234?fbclid=IwAR0p1YLTQUmBkRpCmIZLkGvguFdTx7JNj3gp0cN9Tvc7xhSi8afa5nLsGVM

Rick Perry volunteers millions of Texans to freeze in the dark in jab at Biden admin https://occupydemocrats.com/2021/02/17/rick-perry-volunteers-millions-of-texans-to-freeze-in-the-dark-in-jab-at-biden-admin/

# Environment / Climate / Interior
Youth activism alone cannot save us: A case for intergenerational environmental coalitions
https://theconversation.com/young-activists-are-boosting-the-climate-movement-so-why-all-the-flak-124220

Cities are literally starting to sink under their own weight https://www.zmescience.com/science/cities-are-literally-starting-to-sink-under-their-own-weight/

# Gov / Politics
Riot probe to likely focus on McCarthy-Trump call: Wary of inflaming tensions within his own party, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy
(Calif.) is staying silent about his frantic Jan. 6 call to then-President Trump as rioters raided the Capitol.
But he may not have that luxury forever.
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/539129-riot-probe-to-likely-focus-on-mccarthy-trump-call

# Legal / Judicial / DOJ
Lawsuit Filed by NAACP and Civil Rights Law Firm Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, Lawsuit Also Names Proud Boys and Oath Keepers https://naacp.org/latest/naacp-files-federal-lawsuit-accusing-trump-and-giuliani-of-inciting-u-s-capitol-riot/

# Marijuana / Hemp / CBD Oil
North Dakota House Judiciary Committee approved a bill to expand marijuana decriminalization https://www.marijuanamoment.net/north-dakota-marijuana-decriminalization-bill-advances-as-activists-and-lawmakers-push-legalization-measures/

The Maryland House Judiciary Committee held the legislature’s first hearing on a bill to legalize marijuana in 2021.
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/maryland-lawmakers-hold-first-committee-hearing-on-marijuana-legalization/

# Military / DOD
The Pentagon wants $1.7 trillion dollars to build an entire new generation of nuclear weapons and sustain the existing ones.
https://www.defensenews.com/breaking-news/2017/10/31/americas-nuclear-weapons-will-cost-12-trillion-over-the-next-30-years/

# Social
Neo-Nazi ‘Base’ Terror Leader Worked for Homeland Security. Spokesman confirms Rinaldo Nazzaro, now believed to be hiding in Russia, worked for department from 2004-2006. The leader of terror group the Base once worked for an agency tasked with coordinating the U.S. government’s counterterrorism efforts.
https://www.vice.com/en/article/epd7wa/department-of-homeland-security-confirms-neo-nazi-leader-used-to-work-for-it

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Voices, The Peoples News No. 2021-02-16

Voices, The Peoples News

February 16, 2021
Published by Jedi Selman Since March 2000 To Inform and Educate

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# CoronaVirus
Moderna Experimental mRNA Vaccine Trials being Extended to Children and 6-Month-Old Babies in Texas https://www.kxan.com/texas-coronavirus-vaccine/covid-19-vaccine-trial-in-kids-as-young-as-6-months-old-may-come-to-austin-after-teen-trial/

Fascinating behind the scenes look. How scientists intervened to help save the vaccine process from political pressure: The full story, the competing pressures must have been overwhelming: https://bit.ly/3rXnHuf

TX County Scrambles to Give 8,000 Vaxes After Power Failure. Relentless storm knocked out a backup generator at Harris County’s health department, switching off a refrigerator where 8,400 doses of the Moderna vaccine were being kept.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/harris-county-texas-scrambles-to-give-out-8000-vaccines-after-power-failure-switches-off-refrigerator

COVID-linked syndrome in children is growing and cases are more severe https://www.childrensmovementflorida.org/covid-linked-syndrome-in-children-is-growing-and-cases-are-more-severe/

# Economy / Trade
“The tax-filing season is now underway after a delayed start, and it’s expected to bring challenges and confusion as taxpayers and the IRS navigate pandemic-related issues, including some pertaining to stimulus checks.” https://bit.ly/3jVGyDm

Jersey hotel offers ‘front seat’ to demo of ex-Trump Plaza. Trump at one point had four businesses in Atlantic City, but they’ve all been either sold or shut down.
https://www.politico.com/states/new-jersey/story/2021/01/20/auction-planned-for-seats-to-view-demolition-of-trump-plaza-in-atlantic-city-1358737

$15 Minimum Wage Would Have Bigger Budget Impact Than GOP Tax Cuts, Says Congressional Budget Office. “I believe that we will succeed in including the minimum wage in the reconciliation bill,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders.
https://truthout.org/articles/15-minimum-wage-would-have-bigger-budget-impact-than-gop-tax-cuts-says-cbo/

# Education / Schools
The pandemic has made school lunch free for all public school students.
Advocates are hoping to make the change permanent. The policy would echo similar efforts in cities like New York, Boston, and Chicago.
https://thecounter.org/california-senator-nancy-skinner-introduces-bill-free-school-meals-for-all/

# Employment / Labor
Yes we need the $1.9 trillion stimulus: Real unemployment is 3 times what they’re telling us. Reliance on part-timers, erosion of the minimum wage, attacks on unions all have served to depress working class wages.
https://www.nationofchange.org/2021/02/16/yes-we-need-the-1-9-trillion-stimulus-real-unemployment-is-3-times-what-theyre-telling-us/

# Energy / Pipelines / Mining
Why Won’t Joe Biden Let Ethanol Die Already? The biofuel’s clean promise has only led to dirtier air.
https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2021/02/ethanol-emissions-joe-biden-biofuels/

# Environment / Climate / Interior
GOP Attacks Biden Nominee Deb Haaland for Role in Pipeline Protests.
Progressives say Haaland’s opposition to fossil fuels is what makes her the right pick for secretary of the interior.
https://truthout.org/articles/gop-attacks-biden-nominee-deb-haaland-for-role-in-pipeline-protests/

# Food / GMOs / Chemicals
Revealed: Monsanto owner and US officials pressured Mexico to drop glyphosate ban https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/feb/16/revealed-monsanto-mexico-us-glyphosate-ban

# Food / GMOs / Chemicals / Global
Hershey, Nestlé, Mars and Other Chocolate Makers Named in Child Slavery Class Action Lawsuit https://www.ecowatch.com/chocolate-companies-child-slavery-lawsuit-2650543250.html

# Gov / Politics
Speaker Pelosi Authorizes Independent Commission to Investigate Jan. 6 Insurrection https://www.democracynow.org/2021/2/16/headlines/speaker_pelosi_authorizes_independent_commission_to_investigate_jan_6_insurrection

Nasrallah on Capitol Riots: Trump revealed the true face of the United States. The whole world has remained silent, as have many Americans, in the face of his atrocious crimes against other peoples.
https://resistancenews.org/2021/02/15/nasrallah-on-capitol-riots-trump-revealed-the-true-face-of-the-united-states/

# Law Enforcement# Legal / Judicial / DOJ NAACP, Rep. Bennie Thompson sue Trump, Giuliani over Capitol riot https://thehill.com/homenews/house/538969-naacp-rep-bennie-thompson-sue-trump-giuliani-over-capitol-riot

Trump’s Frivolous First Amendment Defense Won’t Shield Him in a Criminal Case Trump’s incitement of the mob that stormed the Capitol would not be deemed protected free speech in a criminal trial.
https://truthout.org/articles/trumps-frivolous-first-amendment-defense-wont-shield-him-in-a-criminal-case/

Trump Faces First Civil Suit Over Role in Inciting Followers to Attack Capitol Rep. Bennie Thompson also names Rudy Giuliani, the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys as co-defendants in the lawsuit.
https://truthout.org/articles/trump-faces-first-civil-suit-over-role-in-inciting-followers-to-attack-capitol/

# Marijuana / Hemp / CBD Oil
The New Mexico House Health & Human Services Committee approved a bill to legalize marijuana, an issue that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) says is a priority for 2021.
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-mexico-lawmakers-approve-marijuana-legalization-bill-in-committee/

Washington State House Public Safety Committee approved a bill to decriminalize drug possession—similar to the law that voters in neighboring Oregon approved in November.
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/washington-lawmakers-approve-drug-decriminalization-bill-in-committee-vote/

Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Barbara Lee (D-CA), along with a coalition of marijuana advocacy groups, are calling on President Joe Biden to mass pardon people convicted of cannabis offenses https://www.marijuanamoment.net/lawmakers-and-advocates-urge-biden-to-grant-marijuana-clemency-in-presidents-day-push/

# Medical / Health
State Lawmakers Propose Tough New Bills to Curb Rising Drug Prices. The measures would set the rates paid by state-run and commercial health plans to a benchmark based on prices in Canada.
https://khn.org/news/article/as-drug-prices-keep-rising-state-lawmakers-propose-tough-new-bills-to-curb-them/

# Security
Opening the CIA’s Can of Worms. The corporate mainstream media are stenographers for the national security state’s ongoing psychological operations aimed at the American people.
https://www.globalresearch.ca/opening-the-cias-can-of-worms/5737393

# Social
Racist Trolls Disrupt Iowa Lawmakers’ Town Hall. It’s the second time in a week that anonymous callers have made vile and violent comments.
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2021/02/15/iowa-lawmakers-town-hall-interrupted-people-shouting-racist-language/6750389002/

# Water
San Angelo water contaminated as winter storm hits Texas. In some areas of the West Texas city, the state found concentrations of benzene, a known carcinogen, to be 35 times the safe limit.
https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/12/san-angelo-water-contamination/?ct=t(RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN)

# Weather
Frozen Chaos Across South: 5M in the Dark, No Water, No Heat https://www.thedailybeast.com/winter-storm-plunges-43-million-texas-homes-into-darkness?via=newsletter&source=CSAMedition

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Voices, The Peoples News No. 2021-02-13

Voices, The Peoples News

February 13, 2021
Published by Jedi Selman Since March 2000 To Inform and Educate

# CoronaVirus
CDC: 653 Deaths Now Recorded Following Experimental mRNA COVID Injections with 12,697 Reported Injuries.
https://healthimpactnews.com/2021/cdc-653-deaths-now-recorded-following-experimental-mrna-covid-injections-with-12697-reported-injuries/

4,393 (0.2%) adverse events after receipt of Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine had been submitted to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System
(VAERS)
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7002e1.htm

Cuomo faces rising scrutiny over COVID-19 nursing home deaths https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/538676-cuomo-faces-rising-scrutiny-over-covid-19-nursing-home-deaths

Show Me Your Papers — Del Bigtree Discusses Vaccine Passports https://truthunmuted.org/show-me-your-papers-del-bigtree-discusses-vaccine-passports/

Florida Is a COVID Nightmare—Even for Vaccinated People https://www.thedailybeast.com/florida-is-a-covid-nightmare-even-for-vaccinated-people

The S. Dakota Dem Trying to Save the Legislature From Itself. Six Republican lawmakers tested positive in four days. But only a Democrat seems willing to do something about it.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/south-dakota-rep-jamie-smith-begs-republican-colleagues-to-wear-covid-masks?ref=home

NY Rep. Tom Reed will file criminal complaint against Cuomo aide for alleged COVID-19 nursing home cover-up –State lawmaker also calling for the arrest of the aide, Melissa DeRosa https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/ny-rep-tom-reed-files-complaint-against-cuomo-aide-for-covid-19-nursing-home-cover-up

# Economy / Trade
President Biden’s proposed $1,400 coronavirus relief checks would allow
22.6 million Americans to pay their bills for at least four and a half months, according to a study from data and research company Morning Consult.
https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/economy/news/a-1400-stimulus-check-will-allow-22-6-million-americans-to-pay-their-bills-in-full-through-mid-july-new-report-finds/articleshow/80889148.cms

# Education / Schools
CDC calls for schools to reopen with precautions. The guidance states it is “critical for schools to open as safely and as soon as possible,”
given the benefits of in-person learning.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools.html

# Environment / Climate / Interior
The environmental threat you’ve never heard of. It’s called coastal darkening. The process of water darkening is well-studied in fresh water, but scientists are keying into the effects it may be having in coastal environments.
https://www.hakaimagazine.com/news/the-environmental-threat-youve-never-heard-of/

Fruit-eating, seed-pooping animals can help restore degraded forests. A new study shows that many species of mammals and birds will consume seeds inserted into fruits at feeders and then excrete the seeds over wide areas https://news.mongabay.com/2021/02/fruit-eating-seed-pooping-animals-can-help-restore-degraded-forests/

# Food / GMOs / Chemicals
Ocean acidification could wipe out shellfish industry: A new statewide report is urging fast action to address ocean acidification to avoid catastrophic effects on the region’s shellfish industry
https://www.capeandislands.org/post/ocean-acidification-could-wipe-out-shellfish-industry-report#stream/0

3D-Printed World’s First Cultivated Ribeye Steak Debuts, Seeks Approval https://www.technocracy.news/first-3d-printed-ribeye-steak-debuts-seeks-approval/

Coke’s newest bottle is made from paper. The company is testing alternatives to replace the millions of tons of plastic it uses every year.
https://www.beveragedaily.com/Article/2020/10/29/Coca-Cola-reveals-paper-bottle-prototype

# Gov / Politics
Breaking: Oath Keepers Were Trying to Seize Nuclear Football and Launch Codes Plus Pence and Family for Armageddon. Everything needed to launch a nuclear attack was there and the Pentagon never knew about it as they had been mysteriously ordered to stand down during the attack, just like they had on 9/11.
https://www.veteranstoday.com/2021/02/12/breaking-oath-keepers-were-trying-to-seize-nuclear-football-and-launch-codes-plus-pence-and-family-for-armageddon/

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) McConnell also suggested that Trump could face criminal prosecution for his actions. “There’s no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day. No question about it.
The people that stormed this building believed they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their president,” McConnell said.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/538772-mcconnell-unloads-on-trump-morally-responsible-for-provoking-mob

Former President Trump declared victory on Saturday after Senate Republicans voted to acquit him for a second time, saying that his political movement has “only just begun” and that he would have more to share in the near future. Trump thanked his legal team for “upholding justice and defending truth.”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewsolender/2021/02/13/trump-says-maga-movement-has-only-just-begun-in-celebratory-post-acquittal-statement/?sh=57eb158656f4

Troop Deployments in Washington Are a Disaster Waiting to Happen.
Americans would be wise to recognize the growing perils of the militarization of American political disputes.
https://www.eurasiareview.com/11022021-troop-deployments-in-washington-are-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen-oped/

# Law Enforcement
Senate passes bill to award Capitol Police officer Congressional Gold Medal. The Senate on Friday passed legislation to award Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman the Congressional Gold Medal for his actions responding to the violent Jan. 6 riot.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/538694-senate-passes-bill-giving-capitol-police-officer-congressional-gold-medal

White House launches review of Guantanamo Bay prison. The Biden administration is launching a review of the prison at Guantanamo Bay Military Base in Cuba with the goal of shuttering the facility, the White House said Friday.
https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/538648-white-house-launches-review-of-guantanamo-bay-prison

# Legal / Judicial / DOJ
House Managers Rest Their Case in Donald Trump’s Senate Impeachment Trial https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/02/11/senate-trump-impeachment-trial-live-updates/

Republican senators are facing a historic choice after both sides in the impeachment trial of former President Trump rested their case Friday.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/538699-the-memo-gop-senators-face-defining-vote-on-trump

Questions build over Trump’s knowledge of Capitol attack. Senate votes on whether he is guilty of “high crimes and misdemeanors” for “willfully inciting violence against the Government of the United States.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/538712-questions-build-over-trumps-knowledge-of-capitol-attack

No. 2 GOP senator suggests he’s open to censuring Trump. Sen. John Thune (S.D.), the No. 2 Republican senator, indicated on Friday that he could be open to censuring former President Trump, depending on how the resolution was framed.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/538627-no-2-gop-senator-suggests-hes-open-to-censuring-trump

Democrats call for Herrera Beutler to testify in Trump impeachment. News reports emerging Friday night raised new questions about precisely when Trump knew the Capitol breach had occurred, and whether he knew that his own vice president, Mike Pence, was being targeted by the mob.
https://www.pressherald.com/2021/02/13/trumps-speedy-impeachment-trial-heads-toward-senate-vote/?rel=related

Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) said he will vote to acquit Trump, ending weeks of speculation about what he would do.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/538730-mcconnell-says-hell-vote-to-acquit-trump

LIVE COVERAGE: Senate expected to deliver Trump verdict today. The Senate is expected to give its verdict in President Trump’s impeachment trial on Saturday after both sides deliver closing arguments. The Hill will be providing updates all day.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/538721-live-coverage-senate-expected-to-deliver-trump-verdict-today

House impeachment managers, former President Trump’s legal team and top senators struck a deal on Saturday that will let the Senate bypass calling additional witnesses.
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/13/trump-impeachment-trial-day-5-468985

Here’s Why Trump’s Fighting Words Are a High Crime. The First Amendment does not protect months of reckless, incendiary speech that foreseeably led to violence.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/heres-why-trumps-fighting-words-are-a-high-crime-worthy-ofWhat
Did Trump Know During the Capitol Riot?

What did Trump know during the Capitol riot? Reports of the former President’s calls to Republican congressmen during the assault changed the course of the impeachment trial.
https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/how-the-question-of-trumps-behavior-during-the-capitol-assault-upended-the-impeachment-trial

Senate Republicans handed former President Trump his second impeachment acquittal on Saturday, clearing him of charges that he incited the mob that attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/538750-senate-gop-acquits-trump-for-second-time

# Medical / Health
Rethink Addiction: Can our brains drive us to addiction? Yes. Like other addictions, opioid addiction happens when a biological system in our brains, the Reward System, is hijacked by opioids.
https://www.rethinkopioidaddiction.com/?utm_source=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=36884

Biden officials move to begin rescinding Medicaid work requirements. The Biden administration on Friday moved to start the process of revoking Medicaid work requirements, one of the signature health care policies of the Trump administration
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/11/biden-withdraws-trump-medicaid-rules-468759

Medical groups ask Oklahoma Supreme Court to halt plan to outsource Medicaid. Five Oklahoma medical groups are suing the Oklahoma Health Care Authority over plans to partially privatize the state’s Medicaid program.
https://oklahoman.com/article/5682166/medical-groups-ask-oklahoma-supreme-court-to-halt-plan-to-outsource-medicaid

“Beyond Outrageous”: Big Pharma Using Loophole to Get Taxpayers to Fund Billions in Fines for Fueling Opioid Crisis. “The tax code is so rigged for the rich that even when they kill people they get a tax break.”
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/12/beyond-outrageous-big-pharma-using-loophole-get-taxpayers-fund-billions-fines

# Military / DOD
Why is U.S. getting a new $100 billion nuclear weapon? It will be able to kill hundreds of thousands of people in a single shot.
https://thebulletin.org/2021/02/why-is-america-getting-a-new-100-billion-nuclear-weapon/

# Nuclear / Radiation
Sea-level rise could threaten coastal nuclear waste facilities https://www.ecowatch.com/sea-level-rise-nuclear-waste-2650415400.html

# Social
A Tense Lunar New Year for the Bay Area After Attacks on Asian-Americans https://apnews.com/article/us-news-oakland-san-francisco-coronavirus-pandemic-cfd77ca7d4b0c63890f2a087c160d03a

Thieves nationwide are slithering under cars, swiping catalytic converters. The pollution-control gadgets are full of precious metals like palladium, and prices are soaring as regulators try to tame emissions.
https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2161246664962/thieves-nationwide-are-slithering-under-cars-swiping-catalytic-converters

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Voices, The Peoples News No. 2021-02-12

Voices, The Peoples News

February 12, 2021
Published by Jedi Selman Since March 2000 To Inform and Educate

# Border / Immigration
Biden Scraps Trump Policy, 25K Asylum-Seekers to Enter U.S.: The former president’s “Remain in Mexico” plan is dropped, with first entries coming Feb. 19.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-biden-immigration-actions/biden-moves-to-reverse-trump-immigration-policies-too-slowly-for-some-idUSKBN2A212D

The Greening of Hate: Deregulation of polluting industries. Fossil fuel subsidies. Drilling and mining public lands. A wildlife-killing border wall. Immigration doesn’t cause climate change, but all of these things do.
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/green/reports/2021/02/01/495228/extremist-campaign-blame-immigrants-u-s-environmental-problems/

# CoronaVirus
Another Medical Professional in the Prime of Life DEAD Weeks After Receiving the mRNA Experimental Injection as Memphis Mourns Loss of 36-Year-Old Doctor https://healthimpactnews.com/2021/another-medical-professional-in-the-prime-of-life-dead-weeks-after-receiving-the-mrna-experimental-injection-as-memphis-mourns-loss-of-36-year-old-doctor/

Big Tech and Big Pharma Team Up to Create Digital “Health Passports” for Global Travel. Microsoft, Epic, Mayo Clinic join effort to accelerate digital COVID-19 vaccine records https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/tech/microsoft-epic-and-mayo-clinic-join-effort-to-accelerate-digital-covid-19-vaccine-records

Cuomo Aide: We Hid Nursing Home Deaths Because ‘We Froze.’ The aide reportedly told lawmakers the state concealed nursing home COVID-19 deaths so that the numbers could not “be used against us.”
https://nypost.com/2021/02/11/cuomo-aide-admits-they-hid-nursing-home-data-from-feds/

Feds to Buy Enough COVID-19 Vaccine for Every American Adult. The United States will have enough doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines to inoculate 300 million people.
https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-purchases-200-million-more-pfizer-moderna-covid-vaccine-doses-2021-2

# Education / Schools
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday released long-awaited guidance on safely reopening schools, emphasizing the importance of having schools open as long as proper safety precautions are followed https://www.axios.com/cdc-school-reopening-coronavirus-covid-5ccaadae-b7bd-47f0-8167-e964b97363ee.html

# Energy / Pipelines / Mining
Shell says its oil production has peaked and is likely to decline https://www.ecowatch.com/shell-oil-production-peak-2650478989.html

Biden Cancelled the Keystone Pipeline
https://www.npr.org/2021/01/21/959335885/biden-s-cancellation-of-permit-for-keystone-xl-pipeline-faces-mixed-reactions

Dakota Access Pipeline Ruling Should Reaffirm the Regulatory Process—Not Undermine It https://insidesources.com/dakota-access-pipeline-ruling-should-reaffirm-the-regulatory-process-not-undermine-it/

# Environment / Climate / Interior
Youth Climate Advocates Vow to Take Landmark Case to Supreme Court, Following 9th Circuit Rejection https://www.ecowatch.com/youth-climate-lawsuit-juliana-2650475474.html

EPA to Amazon: Stop Selling Illegal Pesticides https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/epa-again-orders-amazon-to-stop-selling-illegal-pesticides/

# Food / GMOs / Chemicals
Global salmon farming harming marine life and costing billions in damage https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/11/global-salmon-farming-harming-marine-life-and-costing-billions-in-damage

# Global Politics and other news
Netanyahu’s Covid plan is even more racist than Trump’s. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is now facing corruption charges, this time against the backdrop of his staggering mishandling of a pandemic.
https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/netanyahu-s-covid-plan-even-more-racist-trump-s-n1257283

# Gov / Politics
Pence’s Nuclear-Football Close Call Was News to Military. Strategic Command learned from TV footage that the Jan. 6 insurrectionists came within yards of Pence and an aide who was carrying his copy of the nation’s nuclear launch system.
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/02/11/politics/military-officials-were-unaware-pence-nuclear-football-riot/index.html

# Law Enforcement
Cop Told Pepper-Sprayed Child: ‘You Did It to Yourself, Hon.’ If you thought it couldn’t get any worse than the video previously released, you were wrong.
https://apnews.com/article/rochester-archive-9a86bf7fca7399cb1602f577688c7f01

Incarcerated Organizer Airlifted to Hospital Following Attack by Prison Guards Worried loved ones staged a protest at the hospital demanding that family be allowed to visit — a demand still unmet.
https://truthout.org/articles/incarcerated-organizer-airlifted-to-hospital-following-attack-by-prison-guards/

D.C. Cop Who Killed Himself Was Struck by Pole in Riots. Jeffrey Smith “wasn’t the same” after the attack, his wife said. He took his own life the same day he was scheduled to return to duty.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/jeffrey-smith-capitol-cop-who-killed-himself-was-struck-by-metal-pole-in-riots

Outrage and disgust as charges dropped for Buffalo police officers who fractured skull of 75-year-old peaceful protester. “Despite the video evidence of the officers’ misconduct, a grand jury has dismissed the charges.”
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/02/12/outrage-and-disgust-charges-dropped-buffalo-police-officers-who-fractured-skull-75

# Legal / Judicial / DOJ
Punish Trump or risk a repeat, warn Democrats. The Democratic argument is, in essence, that the Senate needs to redraw the norms of American political life that Trump so repeatedly transgressed.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/the-memo-punish-trump-or-risk-a-repeat-warn-democrats/ar-BB1dC6mV

Former President Trump’s legal team is looking to rebound at the impeachment trial Friday after a rough initial showing that was ridiculed by Senate Republicans.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/538553-trump-lawyers-look-to-avoid-repeat-of-early-trial-stumbles

Even with acquittal, GOP sees trial ending Trump’s shot at future office https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/538565-even-with-acquittal-gop-sees-trial-ending-trumps-shot-at-future-office

White Supremacy Should Also Be on Trial at Trump’s Impeachment https://www.democracynow.org/2021/2/11/white_supremacy_should_also_be_on

# Marijuana / Hemp / CBD Oil
Minnesota House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee scheduled the first hearing on a marijuana legalization bill sponsored by the majority leader and speaker for Wednesday.
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/minnesota-marijuana-legalization-bill-gets-first-hearing-next-week/

Iowa Senate Judiciary subcommittee approved a bill to slash medical cannabis patient fees from $100 annually to just $10 every two years.
Fees on medical marijuana providers would also be cut.
https://www.marijuanamoment.net/iowa-senators-approve-bill-to-slash-medical-marijuana-patient-and-provider-fees/

# Medical / Health
Biden Plans to Rescind Trump-Era Medicaid Work Requirements. The move has been lauded as a step toward reversing one of Trump’s most vicious attacks on the poor and vulnerable.
https://truthout.org/articles/biden-plans-to-rescind-trump-era-medicaid-work-requirements/

# Technology
Facebook hiring of a former NATO press officer for the role of intelligence chief. It’s difficult to distinguish where the deep state ends and the fourth estate begins and Ben Nimmo’s move from NATO to NATO-aligned think tank to Facebook is just another example of this phenomenon.
https://thefreethoughtproject.com/facebook-nato-press-officer/

How paving with plastic could make a dent in the global waste problem.
Roads in which waste plastic is melted down and mixed with paving materials are becoming more common around the world.
https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2161895903798/how-paving-with-plastic-could-make-a-dent-in-the-global-waste-problem

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