Voices, The Peoples News
February 1, 2023
Published by Jedi Selman Since March 2000 to Inform and Educate
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~
This daily Voices, The Peoples News is posted through the blog function of www.MPEN-Ohio.net
# Indigenous
Montana’s anti-Indigenous politics aren’t going away: The now-dead proposal to ‘investigate’ reservations was neither the beginning or the end of combative attitudes towards tribal nations in the state. After pushback from the state’s bipartisan American Indian Caucus, tribal nations and his own constituents, Regier said he would not introduce the legislation, adding that it had been written by a local constituent (Regier did not respond to a request for comment from HCN). Tthe latest episode in a long history of anti-tribal sovereignty activity in Montana, emphasized the proximity between anti-Indigenous organizers and state legislators.
https://www.hcn.org/articles/indigenous-affairs-politics-montanas-anti-indigenous-politics-arent-going-away
Alaska whaling communities pilot a project to keep traditional ice cellars frozen: ‘You can’t put half a whale in a little home freezer.’ At least 1,000 people, out of a population of about 11,000, were considered food insecure in the North Slope Borough in 2020. Stabilizing ice cellars could help alleviate food insecurity concerns and maintain centuries of traditional and cultural practice. Now, they aim to use a simple and reliable technology to do just that.
https://www.hcn.org/articles/north-climate-change-alaska-whaling-communities-pilot-a-project-to-keep-traditional-ice-cellars-frozen
# Covid / Pandemics / Biologicals
Merck Covid Drug Linked to New Virus Mutations, Study Says: Merck & Co.’s Covid-19 pill is giving rise to new mutations of the virus in some patients, according to a study that underscores the risk of trying to intentionally alter the pathogen’s genetic code.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/merck-covid-drug-linked-to-new-virus-mutations-study-says/ar-AA170cuh?ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=f0536e7d3cf84c4290ec2e7dce18703d
6.7 Million Children Could Lose Health Coverage as COVID Protections Expire: GOP efforts to end pandemic emergency orders early would create “wide-ranging chaos” across the health care system. The Biden administration is bracing for disruptions across the health care system as federal COVID-19 pandemic emergency orders expire this spring, leaving patients facing new out-of-pocket costs and putting millions of adults and children at risk of losing health insurance coverage.
https://truthout.org/articles/6-7-million-children-could-lose-health-coverage-as-covid-protections-expire/
# Energy / Pipelines / Mining / Chemical
Administration expected to endorse limited drilling in Alaska project: An environmental review expected soon would effectively signal that the Willow project proceed, according to people familiar with the report. The so-called Willow project, which has long been criticised by activists, has the potential to unlock 600m barrels of crude oil, the newspaper reports. It adds that “opponents say the decision undermines the Biden administration’s promises to cut fossil-fuel use in order to limit the damage from climate change”
https://www.carbonbrief.org/daily-brief/us-administration-expected-to-endorse-limited-drilling-in-alaska-project/
A tax break for big polluters is also starving public schools in Texas: In less than a decade, the northern coastline of Corpus Christi Bay, in San Patricio County, Texas, has been developed from a greenspace of wetlands and dunes into a miles-long corridor of petrochemical and industrial facilities, their cracking towers rising hundreds of feet into the air. Dominating that cyborg skyline is the tower flare at the Corpus Christi Liquefaction facility, owned by gas giant Cheniere. The plant’s three operational “trains,” which came online in 2019, produce 16.5 million tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per year for export to hungry markets in Europe, Asia, and other international destinations. There are plans to add seven smaller trains at the facility, equivalent to another 11 million tons of capacity.
https://capitalandmain.com/a-colossal-giveaway-a-tax-break-for-big-polluters-is-also-starving-public-schools-in-texas
# Environment / Climate / Interior
Planting more trees in cities could cut deaths from summer heat, says study: European research finds that increasing urban tree coverage to 30% can lower temperatures by 0.4C.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/feb/01/planting-trees-cities-cut-deaths-summer-heat-study
Public lands are not neutral. We must grapple with their racist roots: Analysis of data from the U.S. Forest Service shows that white people make up 95% of the visitors to national forests (77% to national parks), despite many forests being located near communities where people belonging to minorities are the majority. On the managing side of the equation, things are not too different: at almost every meeting or excursion I attend for my job, I am the only Latine person represented and very rarely are there people of color present. The people driving the decisions in the environmental movement, especially around nature conservation, are mostly white and male.
https://www.ehn.org/public-lands-environmental-justice-2659274278.html
# Food / Farming / GMOs / Chemicals
Grand Forks halts project after Air Force deems Chinese company’s land purchase ‘a threat’: Grand Forks, North Dakota, will deny building permits to a Chinese-based food manufacturer that purchased land near an Air Force base. Chinese food manufacturer Fufeng Group announced the purchase of 370 acres of land for a wet corn milling plant in 2021. The site is 12 miles from the Grand Forks Air Force Base.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/grand-forks-halts-project-after-air-force-deems-chinese-companys-land-purchase-a-threat/article_5c63fa34-a1a8-11ed-8cdf-ff52e8ac91c3.amp.html
# Gov / Politics / US
George Santos Recuses Himself from House Cmtes Pending Investigations as His Treasurer Resigns: She’s making it clear: She’s not with the Santos campaign. Rep. George Santos’ campaign treasurer officially resigned on Tuesday, a move that caps a mini-drama surrounding a reported federal investigation into his campaign’s finances and also carries a practical price—without a treasurer, his political committees cannot legally receive donations or make expenditures.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/george-santos-treasurer-resigns-amid-campaign-chaos
Kevin McCarthy Appoints 3 Election Deniers to the House Ethics Committee: The new chair of the committee signed on to a lawsuit from Texas that sought to discount millions of votes in 2020.
https://truthout.org/articles/kevin-mccarthy-appoints-3-election-deniers-to-the-house-ethics-committee/
# Law Enforcement
13-year-old Karon Blake cried “I am a kid” as he was fatally shot. Jason Lewis, a DC Parks and Recreation employee, faces one count of second-degree murder. His attorney said his client maintains he is innocent.
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/skbaer/karon-blake-13-killing-man-charged-murder
At least 11 people were injured in a drive-by shooting in Florida minutes after a school bus dropped kids off at home. The shooting occurred as Florida Republicans are set to pass a bill legalizing concealed carry without a permit. “We have reason to believe that this was a targeted event, that this was not a random act,” police said. “I was hoping it was firecrackers but I didn’t see any smoke,” one mother told Fox 35 Orlando. “It’s just so surreal; it’s scary. Everybody’s kids just got off the bus. Kids were still walking home right here. So it’s a blessing nobody’s kids got hurt.”
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/clarissajanlim/lakeland-florida-drive-by-shooting
Ohio man dies after being shot by police as he was cleaning out late grandmother’s apartment: An investigation is underway after a 28-year-old Ohio man died Tuesday, one day after he was shot by police who believed he was a burglary suspect, as his family says he was cleaning out his late grandmother’s home.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/ohio-man-dies-after-being-shot-by-police-as-he-was-cleaning-out-late-grandmother-s-apartment/ar-AA170qKY?ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=f0536e7d3cf84c4290ec2e7dce18703d
# LGBTQ / Gender
Utah passes bill banning transgender youth from receiving gender-affirming health care: The bill “prohibits surgery for all transgender youth and disallows hormone treatment for transgender minors who have not been professionally diagnosed with gender dysphoria.”
https://www.npr.org/2023/01/29/1152388859/utah-ban-gender-affirming-care-transgender-youth
Man Charged with Hate Crime and Obstruction and Second Man Charged with Obstruction Offenses Following Murder of Transgender Woman in South Carolina: A five-count federal indictment was unsealed charging two South Carolina men with hate crime and obstruction offenses.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/man-charged-hate-crime-and-obstruction-and-second-man-charged-obstruction-offenses-following
# Medical / Health
Can Medicare Advantage Be Contained? The Biden administration is increasing audits of abuses, a good start, but not enough. Medicare Advantage is a lucrative private insurance product masquerading as part of Medicare. It’s actually an HMO for seniors, offered by every major insurance company, using the trusted Medicare brand and relying on Medicare payments. By the end of this year, more than half of all people enrolled in Medicare will be in Medicare Advantage.
https://prospect.org/blogs-and-newsletters/tap/2023-02-01-medicare-advantage-privatization/
# Military / DOD
Russia Finds 20,000 Docs Outlining US Biowar Plans for Ukraine: The Russian military has accumulated a collection of over 20,000 documents related to the US military-biological program in Ukraine, RCB Troops Chief Igor Kirillov has revealed. Russia’s attempts to convince the world that its invasion of Ukraine is justified have mostly fallen flat in the U.S. But a recent disinformation campaign has gained some traction.
https://www.npr.org/2022/03/22/1087991730/russia-claims-u-s-labs-across-ukraine-are-secretly-developing-biological-weapons
U.S. dismisses Russian claims of biowarfare labs in Ukraine: The United States on Wednesday denied renewed Russian accusations that Washington was operating biowarfare labs in Ukraine, calling the claims “laughable” and suggesting Moscow may be laying the groundwork to use a chemical or biological weapon.
https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-demands-us-explain-biological-programme-ukraine-2022-03-09/
Ukraine war: Fact-checking Russia’s biological weapons claims: The US provides technical support and, according to the US Embassy in Ukraine, “works with partner countries to counter the threat of outbreaks (intentional, accidental or natural) of the world’s most dangerous infectious diseases.” There is no evidence that they work to produce biological weapons. In January, the US said its programme does the opposite and in fact aims to “reduce the threat of biological weapons proliferation.”
https://www.bbc.com/news/60711705
# Water
Amid Fears of Contamination, Japan Will Soon Dump Treated Water from Fukushima Nuclear Plant into the Pacific: The government said it is the best way to deal with tritium and trace amounts of other radionuclides in the water. “Releasing the treated water into the sea is a realistic solution,” Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said at a Cabinet meeting endorsing the plan. “We will do our utmost to keep the water far above safety standards.” A Japanese government official later clarified that details of the release need to be worked out and approved. Gradual, trial releases could start in 2 years and might take 40 years to complete.
https://www.science.org/content/article/japan-plans-release-fukushima-s-contaminated-water-ocean
Sinema leans on California to join Colorado River water pact: As six states wait for California to join its Colorado River Basin water use agreement, Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema called on the state to be willing to seal the deal
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/sinema-leans-on-california-to-join-colorado-river-water-pact
25 GOP governors ask Biden administration to hit pause on broader clean water rule: Twenty-five Republican governors oppose a revised federal rule regulating U.S. waterways, citing uncertainty from an undecided U.S. Supreme Court case related to the rule. The governors sent a letter to the Biden administration on Monday asking it to delay the implementation of the revised Waters of the United States rule since the U.S. Supreme Court is currently considering Sackett v. EPA. The revised WOTUS rule, released on Dec. 30, reinstates pre-2015 water protections under the federal Clean Water Act. The rule was scaled back under the Trump administration, which triggered lawsuits from environmental groups.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/25-gop-governors-ask-biden-administration-to-hit-pause-on-broader-clean-water-rule/article_bf9106d6-a1a0-11ed-8a80-efd78c6da98e.html
See also: Final Revised Definition of “Waters of the United States”
https://www.epa.gov/wotus/revising-definition-waters-united-states
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Attention Readers:
Due to the nature of independent content, Voices, The Peoples News cannot guarantee content validity.
NOTE: Material appearing here is distributed without profit or monitory gain to those who have expressed an interest in receiving the material for research and educational purposes. At any point, you can select the link in every email to subscribe, unsubscribe, or send news items: j.selman.1234@livingston.net
All content is owned by author exclusively. Expressed opinions are not necessarily the views of Voices, The Peoples News, other authors, affiliates, advertisers, sponsors, partners or technicians. Some content may be satirical in nature. All images within are full responsibility of author and not Voices, The Peoples News. Articles are reprinted under Fair Use Doctrine of International Copyright Law. http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html
This email cannot be considered spam as long as we include: Contact information & a Remove Link. Reprinted under the Fair Use Law: Doctrine of international copyright law. http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html