Anyone interested in wishing to stand as Candidate for the Community Council’s listed below have until 12noon on Monday 10 February to complete and submit the online nomination which is available on the Council’s website
Bower
Carrbridge
Conon Bridge
Kilmuir and Logie Easter
Lochalsh
Portree and Braes
Resolis
Smithton
Sinclairs Bay
Tannach and District
To help explain more about the important role community councils play please visit the council’s website
For any questions or candidates experiencing issues with accessibility or the nomination process itself, please contact to the Election Office by Email: ccelection@highland.gov.uk or Tel: 01349 886657.
The statements of persons nominated for each Community Council will be published on the Council’s website by Tuesday 11 February 2025. A postal ballot will be held in instances where the number of nominations exceeds the maximum membership.
The deadline for anyone who wishes to withdraw their candidacy have until 12noon on Monday 17 February 2025 and statements will thereafter be updated accordingly on the council’s website and a press release will be issued.
The Highland Council is preparing a new and important planning document called the Highland Local Development Plan. The plan will ultimately be used to determine planning applications and steer future development and investment in your area. Three documents have just been published which will shape the plan and Highland’s future.
First, we are inviting new development site suggestions to be considered for inclusion in the new plan.
Speaking about the Call For Development Sites, Chair of the Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: “This is an important part of the evidence consultation and feedback is particularly encouraged from landowners, developers and communities that have land or building opportunities that they wish to promote for housing, industry or mixed-use development.”
Nominated sites will need to be accompanied by sufficient supporting evidence in order to be fairly assessed. The Council will also be considering options for where Masterplan Consent Areas could be prepared.
Second, we seek views on the evidence we’ve collated so far to inform preparation of the new plan. Scotland’s revised planning system now requires each council to prove the sufficiency and assess the implications of its evidence before preparing a plan for its area. Our Evidence Papers are now available for comment. We are asking if we’ve missed anything relevant and for views on the implications of that evidence.
Finally, we have published our 2025 Development Plans Newsletter which provides more detail on how and when we will consult and engage on the new plan.
Councillor Gowans added: “The approach we are taking in preparing a new single LDP for Highland is very much a collaborative one. We are encouraging the public, stakeholders, and organisations to provide us with their input and have a say on what evidence they think we should use before we get in to drafting the Plan itself.”
“We want to engage people on the issues facing Highland communities right now so we can create a single strong, place based, people-focused and deliverable Local Development Plan that captures the distinct issues and priorities across our communities. I hope as many people as possible take up this invitation to get involved and help to shape the new Highland Local Development Plan.”
Feedback from the consultation will help the Council prepare an ‘Evidence Report’, which will be submitted for independent review later in 2025, before a draft plan is prepared.
The USGS Science Analytics and Synthesis’ ScienceBase Data Release Team will be hosting a virtual training event that will provide an overview of the who, what, where, when, and how of metadata creation.
ScienceBase Data Release Metadata 101 Training
Thursday, February 20, 2025 @ 12:00 pm ET / 10:00 am MT
Presented by: Emily Chapin & Ricardo McClees-Funinan, Science Data Management
Is this your first foray into metadata creation and don’t know where to start? Do you want to refresh yourself on USGS metadata requirements and recommendations before your next data release?
The USGS Science Analytics and Synthesis’ ScienceBase Data Release Team will be hosting a virtual training event that will provide an overview of the who, what, where, when, and how of metadata creation. We will also showcase a walkthrough of an application for creating, editing, and validating metadata, the Metadata Wizard.
This, and other SBDR trainings, are available to sign up for on DOI Talent, which can be found by searching “USGS ScienceBase Data Release (SBDR) Trainings”. If you are outside of the USGS, you can sign up by emailing the ScienceBase data release team.
Key Considerations for Incorporating Indigenous Knowledge into Climate Adaptation Planning
In a recent article, North Central CASC scientists and collaborators share lessons-learned from a collaboration with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe incorporating Indigenous Knowledge into climate adaptation planning efforts.
Climate adaptation practitioners are increasingly incorporating broader sources of knowledge into planning efforts. This allows resulting decisions to consider the most complete data and information available. Yet engaging with knowledge holders, particularly those from Tribal and Indigenous communities, requires special considerations to be ethical and effective.
In 2020, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe developed a Climate Action Plan (CAP) to protect the health and livelihood of communities experiencing increased warming and droughts. The Tribal Nation then partnered with the North Central CASC on forward-looking climate adaptation efforts, cumulating in a climate change scenario planning workshop held in the fall of 2023. Workshop participants worked together to incorporate remote sensed data, climate modeling, and Indigenous Knowledge, gathered through Tribal-led interviews, to consider how climate change could impact current and future resource management practices within the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.
A new perspective article led by North Central CASC scientists shares reflections on the ongoing collaboration and climate change scenario workshop. The authors discuss the key considerations for collecting and integrating IK into decision-making processes and how these processes played out in their work with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. These considerations may also support other climate adaptation practitioners and researchers who would like to incorporate Indigenous Knowledge and foster ethical collaboration that benefits tribes, federal agencies, and environmental managers.
Latest attempt to sow chaos amid federal workforce and for Americans that rely on a functioning government
OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a coalition of 12 attorneys general warning federal employees about the Trump Administration’s questionable “deferred resignation” program, which purports to offer federal employees pay through September 30, 2025, if they resign by February 6, 2025. Following the Trump Administration’s proposal, unions representing federal employees warned their members against accepting the offer, adding that employees who accepted the offer were not guaranteed its benefits. California is home to nearly 150,000 federal workers who provide vital services to Americans nationwide.
“Federal employees provide vital services that Americans rely on every day, and are an essential part of the California economy and communities across the state,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The Trump Administration’s so-called buyout offer is a pointed attack aimed at dismantling our federal workforce and sowing chaos for Americans that rely on a functioning government. I urge federal employees to heed warnings from their unions to be very cautious of any buyout offers.”
On January 28, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent an email to millions of federal employees detailing a new deferred resignation program. Employees were told that if they accept the offer and resign, they would continue receiving all pay and benefits, and be exempt from in-person work requirements until September 30. OPM sent another email to federal employees on January 30 reiterating the offer and urging them to find “higher productivity” jobs outside of government. The OPM emails instructed employees that they have until February 6 to decide to remain in their position or resign under the deferred resignation program and warned that those who did not resign were not guaranteed to keep their jobs.
Immediately following OPM’s email, unions representing federal employees warned their members against accepting the offer. The American Federation of Government Employees, the largest federal employees union, released information for its members warning them that employees who accepted the offer were not guaranteed its benefits. The National Federation of Federal Employees similarly warned its members against accepting the offer.
Joining Attorney General Bonta in issuing the warning to federal employees are the attorneys general of Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, and Washington.
DEL RIO, TX – Yesterday, Secretary Kristi Noem visited the Southern Border to meet with Border Patrol agents and see firsthand how the Department can best support their efforts. She pledged to ensure that Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) has the resources it needs to stop the flow of criminals and drugs into the United States.
Already under President Trump’s leadership, daily encounters at our southern border have plunged 93 percent.
Secretary Noem and Border Patrol agents in Del Rio, TX.
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Carmela Cucuzzella, Dean, Faculty of Environmental Design, Université de Montréal, Full Professor School of Design, Université de Montréal
Those designing university courses should ensure issues of universal accessibility are embedded throughout a student’s academic journey.(Shutterstock)
People living with disabilities, ranging in severity, regularly face barriers. Oftentimes, built environments are designed in ways that fail to consider the needs of those in situations of disability. That can include improperly sized ramps for wheelchair users or public spaces that are not sensory friendly.
If our public spaces are not accessible to all, then they cannot be truly public. The first step in changing our built environment is to bring awareness to the different forms of disabilities that people in Canada experience.
As a professor in a school of design and the dean of the Faculty of Environmental Design at the Université of Montréal, I believe it’s urgently important to explore how faculties of architecture, design, landscape architecture and urbanism can inform design practices through the way we teach and conduct research.
Our objective must be to teach students how to make our built environment more inclusive and universally accessible through creative means rather than basic technological add-ons.
In 2022, the Canadian Survey on Disability showed that 27 per cent of Canadians aged 15 years and older had one or more disabilities that impacted their daily activities. (Shutterstock)
Standards exist for accessibility and inclusivity in Canada, but they are not systematically applied. Furthermore, when designing for universal accessibility, the emphasis is on conformity rather than experience, on separation rather than integration, and on functionality rather than fulfillment.
Take, for example, a multi-storey office building that provides separate entrances and facilities for people with disabilities. The building complies with the minimum accessibility requirements set by local building codes, but does so in a way that isolates people with disabilities rather than integrating their needs into the overall design. This building does not provide the same experience to all people and therefore separates rather than includes diverse populations.
The universal accessibility of public spaces and buildings is a complex design problem. It is especially difficult for retrofits, since solutions can quickly become costly, particularly in heritage buildings.
But if changes are managed carefully, costs can become manageable. Universal accessible design is also challenging for new buildings and spaces, but if universal design is prioritized right from the outset of a project, architects and developers can create inclusive environments that accommodate diverse needs without incurring substantial additional expenses.
Universities that offer teaching and research programs in universal accessible design can make a real difference. (Shutterstock)
How universities can help
Universal accessible design is not just a question of following a set of codes, but rather a question of designing for an equitable, qualitative accessible experience. This means ensuring that all people, regardless of their physical or mental situations, are offered equivalent spatial experiences.
Universities that offer teaching and research programs in a universal accessible design can make a real difference. But it’s integral that teaching is developed alongside the research, as understanding of needs and best practices are in continual renewal.
Faculties with such programs and courses could achieve this by enabling students through creative engagement of this difficult subject. Furthermore, being in these design environments allows students to understand these societal issues as leverage for innovative solutions, rather than just satisfying building codes.
Those designing university courses should ensure issues of universal accessibility are embedded throughout a student’s academic journey, and included in a way that helps empower the graduating students.
Students graduating from these programs will become the young professionals in the fields of design, architecture, urbanism or landscape architecture.
Unfortunately, the exact likelihood of students specializing in universal accessibility — and applying their knowledge in their careers — is challenging due to limited specific data. But there is an increasing recognition of the importance of accessibility in various sectors, leading to more roles that require expertise in universal design and inclusive practices.
Incorporating more discussion on universal accessibility in the classroom and in university research environments can help students apply their expertise in the design of our built environment throughout their careers.
By fostering dialogue between research, education and practice, universities can ensure a future where accessibility is seamlessly integrated into the every day.
Carmela Cucuzzella receives funding from FRQSC and SSHRC.
Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – In addition to the serious waves of violence that are affecting the Nigerian population, including kidnappings, clashes, terrorist attacks and brutal murders, there is poverty, food insecurity, inadequate health care and a disproportionate increase in the cost of living.”We are suffering greatly. We have almost nothing to eat and for more than four years we have not been able to dedicate ourselves to agricolture because the bandits have driven us out of our communities. We urgently need the government’s support,” says a statement from residents of a refugee camp in Zamfara state, in northwest Nigeria.In this region of the country, armed groups are driving farmers off their land, closing markets and extorting money from communities. More than 2.2 million people have been forced to flee, many of them now living in overcrowded camps without any resources. According to local press reports, the ongoing conflicts are also affecting agriculture and food production in the northeast. Families returning to their land are reluctant to farm away from militarized cities, risking starvation. Food shortages are so severe that some families are forced to eat cassava husks to survive.In 2020, the Nigerian government launched the so-called “National Multisectoral Action Plan for Food and Nutrition”, an initiative for the period 2021-2025 to combat food security and malnutrition, with a focus on increasing food production through agricultural investments. Unfortunately, so far, the funds have not been sufficient.Agriculture generates 24% of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs more than 30% of the total workforce, but the funding for the sector remains well below the 10% target set by the African Union in the 2003 Maputo Declaration, which calls for at least 10% of national budgets to be allocated to agriculture and rural development within five years (see Fides, 21/9/2006).Africa’s most populous country, with around 225 million inhabitants, has one of the highest rates of childhood stunting in the world: 32% of children under five are affected.According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), two million children in Nigeria, mainly in the north of the country, are affected by malnutrition, which kills around 2,400 children under five every day. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 3/2/2025)
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Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – “The situation in Bukavu is calm at the moment, but young people are flocking en masse to the recruitment centers of the self-defense groups of the so-called ‘Wazalendo’ militias,” report Fides sources from the capital of the Congolese province of South Kivu, which is now also threatened by the advance of the rebel movement M23, after it has already taken Goma (capital of the province of North Kivu).”The M23 seems to have stopped its advance on Bukavu,” say the observers. “So we are living from day to day without really knowing what to expect. The army has also launched a campaign to recruit civilians to join self-defense groups. Many young people have answered the call of the authorities and are now strengthening the ranks of the so-called ‘Wazalendo’ militias.” The observers report that “life is slowly recovering in Goma too. Electricity has returned to some neighborhoods and, since yesterday evening, internet connections have also been restored. Schools have reopened today, at least those that were not intended to accommodate displaced people.” “As for the displaced people, the various refugee camps around the city have meanwhile been dismantled; those who were able to do so have returned to their places of origin; the others have been forced to take shelter in schools and other public buildings,” the observers continue.According to the Congolese Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO), the health situation in the city is very serious. “Several health facilities are working beyond their capacity: there is a lack of beds, medicines, medical equipment, emergency kits, blood donations, fuel, surgical supplies and other equipment,” says a report dated January 30, sent to Fides. “The morgues are overflowing (more than 770 lifeless bodies have already been collected, others are still scattered in the streets of the unsafe districts and are in an advanced stage of decomposition)”. According to the report, 2,800 injured people are in the city’s hospitals. Many of the injured remain at home without adequate medical care, while the risk of epidemics remains high.At the political level, the Heads of State of the member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) reaffirmed their “unwavering commitment to continue to support the Democratic Republic of Congo in its efforts to preserve its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity” at the end of their extraordinary summit on 31 January in Harare (Zimbabwe). There is therefore a fear that the conflict will expand into a confrontation that goes beyond the Great Lakes region, as the President of Burundi explained in a video published on his YouTube channel: “If there is no peace in eastern Congo, there will be no peace in the region. The conflict does not only affect Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya, but the entire region”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 3/2/2025)
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Loikaw (Agenzia Fides) – Displacement, hunger, cold, the fatigue of a daily life in refugee camps or in makeshift settlements in the forests cannot stop the Catholic faithful of Loikaw, a diocese in the Burmese state of Kayah in the east of the country, from celebrating the Holy Year. As Fr. Paul Pa, diocesan representative for the Holy Year 2025, tells Fides, the Catholic community of Loikaw, with about 90,000 members scattered in an area marked by clashes and fighting between the army and the opposition forces, is striving for unity and has found the spiritual strength to celebrate its “Jubilee in exile” since the Christ the King Cathedral and the Pastoral Complex in Loikaw were seized and occupied by the military in November 2023.It is a deep wound for the local church, which, however, “does not lose hope,” says the priest: “Since we could not use the cathedral church as the Jubilee church, we have designated the Mother of God parish church in Sondu, where our Bishop Celso Ba Shwe currently resides, as the co-cathedral,” he says. “This church is one of our Jubilee pilgrimage centers, together with the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Yusamoso, St. Joseph’s Church in Hoya, the Sacred Heart Church in Dorokhu and the church in the Mese region.” All were provided with the “guide” for the celebration of the Jubilee, the pilgrimage and the petition for indulgence by the “itinerant priests” from Loikaw, who are constantly traveling in the area.At the opening service of the Jubilee, the bishop encouraged the faithful to “hold on to hope” because “the Lord is with us, he supports us, he is the source of our hope.” “Moreover,” he continued, “hope comes from solidarity and mutual charity in this time of desert, darkness, suffering, displacement,” “a time of exile when everyone longs to return home but cannot because of the widespread violence.”Like the other priests and religious of the diocese, Father Paul Pa is constantly on the move, visiting the Jubilee churches and refugee camps, noting the piety of the pilgrims who “arrive after long marches on foot, stop to pray, are moved, ask God for help, receive the sacraments, gain indulgences.” The priest stresses that the service of the priests of Loikaw “today is above all a service of consolation and support for the afflicted.” In the midst of this painful condition, the faithful also sing songs of praise, as they have been provided with a “Jubilee song” and a special prayer that they recite with faith. The ministry of priests in Loikaw has become, above all, a ministry of consolation: “We say to the faithful: may a special shower of graces be upon you all, and we bless you,” the priest recounts.In addition to human and spiritual consolation, it is also about providing humanitarian aid to those most in need, especially displaced persons, children, the elderly and the sick, in a situation in which even the private health centers and clinics of the Catholic Church are facing serious difficulties and shortages. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 3/2/2025)
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Operations for a memorable and safe Waitangi Day are well underway in Northland, with Police and partner agencies gathering for one of the biggest events of the year.
Together, Police are working with a number of communities and partners as annual events take place in the lead up to 6 February.
Northland District Commander, Superintendent Matt Srhoj, says planning for Waitangi involves a massive effort, which takes place over a number of months.
“Police have been working with Iwi and the Waitangi National Trust to ensure they are able to deliver safe and enjoyable Waitangi celebrations.
“Planning involves understanding the environment and sentiment and ensuring we have appropriate contingencies in place.”
“We are expecting large numbers of people to attend the week’s commemorations.”
Waitangi Ltd Chief Executive, Ben Dalton, says the atmosphere ahead of Waitangi Day is relaxed as people from near and far make their way to the area.
“A lot of work goes into strengthening and building key relationships and interactions with Iwi and other partners prior to Waitangi, including Police.
“All these teams are integral in an event of this size and it’s great to have everyone’s support.”
Superintendent Srhoj says Police are reminding people to be safe and patient on the roads and within Waitangi as it gets busier during the lead up.
“With people travelling around this beautiful region, we are asking everyone to take care and to take extra steps to mitigate risks while driving by wearing seatbelts, driving to the conditions and following speed limits.
“There will be an increase in traffic, so please be patient.
“Our aim is for the community to arrive and get home safely and to celebrate Waitangi 2025 in a safe and respectful manner.”
Operations for a memorable and safe Waitangi Day are well under way in Northland, with Police and partner agencies gathering for one of the biggest events of the year.
Together, Police are working with a number of communities and partners as annual events take place in the lead up to 6 February.
Northland District Commander, Superintendent Matt Srhoj, says planning for Waitangi involves a massive effort, which takes place over a number of months.
“Police have been working with Iwi and the Waitangi National Trust to ensure they are able to deliver safe and enjoyable Waitangi celebrations.
“Planning involves understanding the environment and sentiment and ensuring we have appropriate contingencies in place.”
“We are expecting large numbers of people to attend the week’s commemorations.”
Waitangi Ltd Chief Executive, Ben Dalton, says the atmosphere ahead of Waitangi Day is relaxed as people from near and far make their way to the area.
“A lot of work goes into strengthening and building key relationships and interactions with Iwi and other partners prior to Waitangi, including Police.
“All these teams are integral in an event of this size and it’s great to have everyone’s support.”
Superintendent Srhoj says Police are reminding people to be safe and patient on the roads and within Waitangi as it gets busier during the lead up.
“With people travelling around this beautiful region, we are asking everyone to take care and to take extra steps to mitigate risks while driving by wearing seatbelts, driving to the conditions and following speed limits.
“There will be an increase in traffic, so please be patient.
“Our aim is for the community to arrive and get home safely and to celebrate Waitangi 2025 in a safe and respectful manner.”
The Government is driving better outcomes for Māori students by providing kura and schools high-quality structured literacy and numeracy resources in te reo Māori.
“My aspiration is for all tamariki Māori to flourish and be successful in their learning. This is the first time children learning through te reo Māori are being taught using structured approaches in a way designed specifically for them. We’re ensuring tamariki and their teachers have access to the tools they need to succeed and learning isn’t left to chance,” Education Minister Erica Stanford says.
From Term 1, all 310 kura and schools from Years 0 to 8 using Te Marautanga o Aotearoa will begin receiving Rangaranga Reo ā-Tā (structured literacy) kits and Poutama Pāngarau (numeracy) workbooks and Pāngarau resources. These resources have been purposely created based on the science of learning and will benefit 27,000 students across the country.
“Packs have a book for each phase of learning that provides yearly guidance, lesson plans and activities. Digital versions of the resources will also be available online to ensure flexibility for schools and parents. Professional learning and development will continue to be available for teachers throughout 2025, ensuring they have the confidence to teach in a structured way.”
Schools can also useHihira Weteoro, a purpose-built phonics check to understand how a child’s reading and oral language learning through te reo Māori. Checks will happen at 20, 40 and 55 weeks of schooling and will help identify those who need extra support earlier.
“Parents can have confidence this Government is putting the foundations in place so their children can strive to do their best at school. I am committed to lifting achievement for Māori learners and close the equity gap that has persisted for too long. We will ensure every child gets the very best start so they can grow the New Zealand of the future,” Ms Stanford says.
On Jan. 30 the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. was celebrated at the first Service and Advocacy Summit at UConn Health.
The summit’s keynote speaker was Linda Sprague Martinez, Ph.D., director of the Health Disparities Institute.
She kicked off her address with the famous words of MLK: “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and inhuman.”
“We see inequities in health care and in health outcomes across a spectrum of chronic conditions,” she stressed in her address to faculty, students, and staff about the benefits of “Community Based Participatory Research Advancing Health Equity.”
“Participatory research is a collaborative approach to research,” she says. “Advancing health equity requires conducting research with the community. Working in partnership facilitates an environment in which we are co-learning.”
She adds, “People in the community know what they need to be healthy,” and recommends research priorities originate in the community, building trust relationships with the community members, and then co-designing research protocols based on community identified priorities.
“If we are not translating knowledge generated in community settings in partnership with community members, we are not going to bring about meaningful change,” reports Sprague Martinez.
Student showcase on Jan. 30 (UConn Health Photo/Tina Encarnacion).
As a strong example of participatory research, Sprague Martinez shared how her UConn Health Disparities Institute is collaborating with the state of Connecticut’s Commission on Racial Equity for Public Health to launch a community-based research project recruiting citizens from across the state as community research advisors and faculty to advance health equity.
Sprague Martinez serves UConn School of Medicine as professor in the Department of Medicine and Department of Public Health Sciences, and faculty affiliate at UConn School of Social Work.
At the event student organization’s such as UConn School of Pharmacy Diversity Committee, Pathway Scholars Foundation, Student National Medical Assoc (SNMA), Latin Medical Student Assoc (LMSA), Medial Students for Choice (MSFC), and the Student Diversity Equity & Inclusion Committee (SDEIC) also showcased their community outreach efforts.
Class of 2027 medical student Uma Mehta was one of the student organizers of MLK Week, along with Cailyn Regan and Jenn Casparino, and attended the Summit’s student showcase.
Medical student Uma Mehta visiting the LMSA table at the MLK Week student showcase.
“When I think of MLK I envision hope, symbols of resistance, and expression of ideals,” shared Mehta. “For our patients things are at times uncertain, especially after a diagnosis. But as providers we can help give them a sense of hope, autonomy, and power over their diagnosis. This can be really helpful, healing, and powerful.”
MLK week festivities also celebrated the health care disparities research of medical and dental students in a research poster showcase outside the Academic Rotunda lobby.
All medical students are required as part the curriculum to complete a Public Health Certificate in Social Determinants of Health and Disparities. In fact, UConn medical school was the first in the nation to require students to complete a certificate curriculum in social determinants of health.
Final projects for the second-year students were displayed in the Rotunda Lobby for over a week with live poster session presentations.
Medical student Uma Mehta also had the opportunity to share her student research team project to School of Medicine Dean Dr. Bruce T. Liang.
For example, Joseph Chopra of Bedford, New Hampshire is a second-year medical student. He presented his research team’s project focused on solving the issues of the underserved COPD population in Connecticut’s census. His research team is proposing a community-driven initiative and inexpensive intervention tool to improve indoor air quality thru DIY air filters.
“Our COPD populations are underserved. COPD is associated with more sickness and poorer outcomes overall. COPD leads to worse outcomes for older people too,” said Chopra. “We wanted to find an intervention that helped.”
Chopra has been inspired by MLK’s legacy and also the community outreach efforts he has witnessed while in medical school at UConn.
Second-year UConn medical student Joseph Chopra presenting his student team’s poster on COPD and how to help the underserved community with its health disparities.
“I have found a lot of inspiration from the people inside the community. Community outreach is very important and its wonderful to have the opportunity to learn from them about health disparities,” he says.
Second-year medical students Samantha Mae Mallari of Milford and Ethan Knapp of Ridgefield were presenting their research project for their student team.
It was about “Evidence-Based Strategies to Address Coronary Heart Disease in Norwalk, CT” and how a soda tax, produce prescription program, and Farmer’s Market could potentially lead to a healthier city.
“Coronary artery disease and diabetes are big issues and we need to address their root causes,” shared Knapp. “We need to focus on diet.”
They have both really enjoyed UConn School of Medicine’s teachings about health disparities and the certificate program.
Second-year medical students (both right) Ethan Knapp and Samantha Mae Mallari presenting their student team research outside the Academic Rotunda on Jan. 30.
“It’s a good way to teach us all the social factors that go into medicine, and for a well-rounded curriculum,” says Knapp. “A lot of our medical school graduates stay in Connecticut to serve underserved populations, so it’s good for us to learn how to address all their social determinants of health.”
Mallari concludes, “We have MLK Day, but we should be thinking about health disparities always, especially in the medical field.”
The XL Center in Hartford was a sea of pink on Sunday, Feb. 3, as fans traded their UConn blue for pink attire at the annual UConn Women’s Basketball Play4Kay game. Among those participating in the celebration were breast cancer patients, doctors and staff from the Breast Cancer Program at the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at UConn Health.
Play4Kay brings communities together and honors cancer survivors in their struggle with cancers affecting women. Play4Kay was the vision of Hall of Fame Coach Kay Yow of the University of North Carolina, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 and after a 22-year on-again, off-again public battle, passed away in 2009.
Each year, UConn Women’s Basketball partners with UConn Health’s Cancer Center to create an unforgettable experience for patients battling cancer. At Sunday’s game, seven courageous individuals were given the opportunity to participate in a special pregame and halftime ceremony, celebrating their strength and resilience.
Before the game, patients June Gonzalez, Bobette Hylton, Jane Buden, Natasha Santana, Kristy Lankford, Crystal Driscoll, and Michelle Behme stood in the player’s tunnel, high-fiving and cheering on the UConn Women’s Basketball team as they took the court. The moment was filled with joy, encouragement, and a powerful display of community support.
At halftime, these inspiring patients returned to center court, where they were honored alongside doctors, nurses, and staff from the UConn Health Cancer Center. The crowd erupted in applause, recognizing not only the patients’ ongoing fight against cancer but also the dedication of the medical team that supports them. Each participant was gifted a UConn basketball signed by Coach Geno Auriemma as a gift from the team.
Crystal Driscoll and Dr. Susan Tannenbaum
Dr. Susan Tannenbaum, an associate professor of medicine who will be retiring from UConn Health later this year after more than twenty years of dedicated service, joined the patients in recognition of the exceptional care provided to them, alongside Dr. Yueming Chang, assistant professor of medicine, Dr. Alvaro Alvarez-Soto, third-year oncology fellow, and Jessica Santos-Martinez, Breast Cancer Program Coordinator.
Since joining UConn Health in 2003, Dr. Tannenbaum has been a pillar of strength and a guiding light for countless cancer patients and their families. With unwavering dedication, compassion, and expertise, Dr. Tannenbaum has made a profound impact, providing care and hope during some of life’s most challenging moments and will be missed by many.
For the patients, the experience was both uplifting and unforgettable. “It was such an incredible moment to feel that love and support and be there with Dr. Tannenbaum who I am going to miss so much,” said Michelle Behme. “To be on that court, surrounded by so much encouragement, meant the world to me.”
Kristy Lankford, a teacher in her early 40s moved to Connecticut and was maintaining care for a stage 0 cancer caught in 2020. Last October when she was feeling ill, she visited a walk-in center thinking she had a virus but was sent to oncology where she was surprised to learn that the cancer had spread to her liver and bones. She had eight months of chemotherapy, and continued to work throughout her treatment as her students provided a good distraction. In addition to the care she receives from Dr. Tannenbaum, she also receives treatment at the Dana-Farber Institute. “Working with both Dr. Tannenbaum at UConn Health and the Dana-Farber Institute feels like having multiple levels of coordinated care, ensuring I have the best options,” said Lankford.
June Gonzalez, known to her friends as Jewels, had been treated for thyroid cancer in 2006, in October of 2024 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had surgery in December. She had started radiation just days before her attendance at the game. She has been recieving care with Dr. Chang for her breast cancer and Dr. Beatriz Raquel Tendler for her thyroid. “I am blessed to have my care at UConn Health, everyone at UConn Health is amazing. I wouldn’t change anything about my doctors and the staff there,” said Gonzalez.
All the patients agree that annual breast cancer screenings, listening to your body, and self-advocacy are essential for early detection, effective treatment, and improved outcomes.
“This event is about celebrating hope and resilience,” said Jessica Santos-Martinez- Breast Cancer Program Coordinator. “Our patients are warriors, and we are proud to stand beside them in their journey.”
The collaboration between UConn Women’s Basketball and UConn Health is a testament to the power of sports, community, and compassionate care. It serves as a reminder that no one fights cancer alone and that every victory, big or small, deserves to be celebrated.
UConn Health’s Cancer Center is dedicated to providing top-tier care, groundbreaking research, and unwavering support to patients and their families.
olunteers from the Oregon Department of Revenue will be at the Klamath County Library, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, February 12 to assist taxpayers in using the free combination of IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon to complete their returns. The library is located at 126 South Third Street in Klamath Falls.
Taxpayers can find more information on the department’s Free Direct File assistance at local libraries webpage.
The IRS estimates that 11,000 people in Klamath County are eligible to use IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon.
The department believes that helping taxpayers file their own returns using direct file will help maximize the number of Oregonians who choose to use the new free option and make it possible for many who don’t have a filing requirement to file and claim significant federal and state tax credits for low-income families. The IRS estimates that nearly 25 percent eligible Oregon taxpayers are not claiming the EITC. One Oregon organization says that added up to almost $100 million in unclaimed credits in 2020.
Taxpayers should use the IRS eligibility checker to see if they’ll be able to use IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon. Eligible taxpayers should set up an IRS online account and an account with Oregon’s Revenue Online before they come to an event.
Taxpayers should bring the following information with them to the library.
Identification documents
Social security card or ITIN for everyone on your tax return
Government picture ID for taxpayer and spouse if filing jointly (such as driver’s license or passport)
Common income and tax documents
Forms W2 (wages from a job)
Forms 1099 (other kinds of income)
Form SSA-1099 (Social Security Benefits)
Optional documents
Canceled check or bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit
Last year’s tax return
Taxpayers can signup for the new “Oregon Tax Tips” direct email newsletter to keep up with information about tax return filing and how to claim helpful tax credits.
This study provides an analysis of the quality of European Commission ex-ante impact assessments (IAs) published between December 2019 and November 2024, following their appraisal by the Ex-Ante Impact Assessment Unit (IMPA) of the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS). Drawing on a review of 143 initial appraisals of Commission IAs, the study analyses them according to quality criteria stemming from the Commission’s Better Regulation Guidelines, European Parliament resolutions and the Parliament’s Impact Assessment Handbook. During the term under review, the average quality of Commission IAs has developed positively, and in several respects. This reflects the Commission’s significant efforts to apply the better regulation rules and tools. At the same time, the study reveals shortcomings in certain parts of IAs, the improvement of which will need a careful and systematic approach in future, in particular the assessment of impacts, the range of feasible options, and elements such as the inclusion of operational objectives and the quantification of benefits. As regards the uptake of the Regulatory Scrutiny Board (RSB) recommendations in the final IA, the intensified upstream scrutiny of the RSB appears to have benefited overall IA quality during this review term and should therefore be maintained. With this study, IMPA seeks to contribute to the joint effort to improve the quality of EU law-making. The aim is for the findings of the review to feed into the broader discussion on better regulation in the European Union, and impact assessment in particular.
As the question regarding ‘Huge increase in Frontex agency staff costs’ falls entirely under the responsibility of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), the Commission has asked the Agency to provide an answer to the questions raised by the Honourable Members. The Agency’s reply will be sent to the Honourable Members by the Commission as soon as possible.
In response to the intensified Russia’s hybrid campaign, the High Representative (HR) and the Commission have taken forward a number of measures in the framework of the EU hybrid toolbox[1] to deter and respond to these operations.
On 8 October 2024[2], the HR issued a statement strongly condemning Russia’s hybrid campaign against the EU and its Member States. The same day, the Council also adopted a hybrid sanctions regime in response to Russia’s destabilising activities[3].
On 16 December 2024, the first package of restrictive measures[4] was adopted against individuals and entities, involved inter alia in foreign assassinations, sabotage activities, as well as foreign information manipulation and interference, spreading Russian disinformation in Europe, Ukraine, the United States and Africa.
In parallel, the HR and the Commission finalised the operationalisation of Hybrid Rapid Response Teams[5] to support Member States and partners to increase their resilience and response to hybrid threats.
As part of the response to instrumentalisation of migrants, the Commission adopted the Crisis and Force Majeure Regulation in May 2024[6].
As stated in the recent Joint Statement by the Commission and the HR[7], the EU is also strengthening efforts to protect undersea cables[8], including enhanced information exchange, new detection technologies, as well as undersea repair capabilities, and international cooperation.
More broadly, the EU will continue to work closely with Member States to improve situational awareness, and maritime domain awareness, ensure the resilience and security of critical infrastructure and take additional measures, to further prevent, deter and respond to hybrid activities threatening EU’s security and stability.
More so, the EU will continue close cooperation with its international partners via relevant formats such as the G7.
1. The Commission closely monitors the implementation of the Greek Recovery and Resilience Plan, in close contact with the Greek authorities. Only certain specific parts of the Northen Cretan highway are covered by the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF): the construction of the segment from Neapolis to Agios Nikolaos, certain works from the segments from Chania to Heraklion and from Hersonissos to Neapoli. The Commission will assess progress in the context of corresponding payments requests[1]. Cohesion Policy, under the 2021-2027 programme ‘Transport’, co-finances the part of the highway from Chania to Hersonisos (Heraklion). The Commission closely monitors implementation and consults with the national authorities to support its progress.
2. Under the RRF Regulation[2], if any of the milestones is not satisfactorily fulfilled, the payment of all or part of the financial contribution shall be suspended. If these milestones are not fulfilled within a period of six months from the suspension, the Commission shall reduce the amount of the financial contribution proportionately. If, due to objective circumstances, certain milestones and targets are no longer achievable, either partially or totally, a Member State can request to amend its Recovery and Resilience Plan. Likewise, there is a possibility, upon Member State request, to consider reallocation of funding in the ‘Transport’ programme in case of critical delays in its implementation.
3. The Commission is not in a position to estimate with precision the possible impact of developments related to the Northern Cretan highway on the economic development of Crete, nor on road safety. These questions are best addressed to the responsible authorities at national level.
[1] The Greek Recovery and Resilience Plan is available at: https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economic-recovery/recovery-and-resilience-facility/country-pages/greeces-recovery-and-resilience-plan_en
Gender-responsive budgeting is a practical tool that can be applied systematically throughout the budgetary cycle to ensure that resources are distributed equitably and that spending supports gender equality. As well as helping to ensure that budgets deliver maximum value for citizens, gender-responsive budgeting supports other policy objectives connected with efficiency, transparency and accountability. Under the Treaties, the EU has an obligation to promote gender equality and a firm basis to use gender-mainstreaming tools, including gender-responsive budgeting, to reach this objective. During the 2019-2024 mandate, the long-running debate on the feasibility of introducing gender-responsive budgeting at EU level, begun in the early 2000s, resulted in practical action. The EU’s gender equality strategy for 2020 to 2025 included a commitment to improve gender mainstreaming in the budget process, notably by developing a methodology to track expenditure on gender equality. This gender budgeting tool was piloted for the first time in the EU’s 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework (MFF). It was applied to all spending programmes in the annual budgets for 2023, 2024 and 2025. The start of the current five-year mandate at the European Commission and the European Parliament is a good moment to reflect on how deeply rooted gender-responsive budgeting has become and how the momentum can be carried forward. The European Parliament has played an active role in the introduction of gender-responsive budgeting at EU level. Opportunities exist for Parliament to promote its further development, notably in connection with the post-2027 MFF and in its own working practices.
The Delegation will hold an exchange of views on the current situation in Jordan and the EU-Jordan relations with :
Ambassador Pierre-Christophe CHATZISAVAS, Head of the EU Delegation in Jordan
Ms Željana ZOVKO, Chief Observer of the EU Election Observation Mission to the parliamentary election in Jordan and Mr Andreas SCHIEDER, Chair of the EP Election Observation Delegation
Question for written answer E-000237/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Dario Tamburrano (The Left)
The Special Government Commissioner for the Jubilee in the Catholic Church has given permission[1] for a biodigester to be built in Casal Selce, on the outskirts of Rome. It will process 120 000 tonnes of municipal organic waste per year. It is financed by Decree-Law 17/5/2022, No 50[2], under which Italy commits[3] to honour, for this construction, ‘its commitments under the national recovery and resilience plan approved by the Commission’, and therefore to comply with Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852. This requirement is mentioned in the contract[4].
Set to produce biomethane and composted soil improver, the plant will take 165 900 m2 of farmland[5] out of production[6]. This is a highly inefficient use of land given that Rome abounds with industrial land and brownfield sites[7]; indeed, the citizens’ committees say that they requested the relevant list from the Municipality, but to no avail.
The plant has been exempted from application of the 2012/18 directive[8] on the grounds that its liquid biomethane storage capacity does not exceed 50 tonnes. The biogas gasometer (500 m3) and the gases present in the four digesters (each with a volume of 4 700 m3) have not been considered, as the gas volumes they contain are not included in the plans.
In light of the above, can the Commission answer the following:
1.With reference to this plant, is Italy honouring its commitments under the national recovery and resilience plan (NRRP) approved by the Commission?
2.Has Directive 2012/18/EU been correctly applied? If not, what action will the Commission take?
3.Is the plant in keeping with Regulation (EU) 2024/1991?
[6] Some of the planning documentation is held by the Lazio regional authorities in p7m format (https://regionelazio.app.box.com/v/VIA-095-2022/folder/175244597741).
Question for written answer E-000233/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Dolors Montserrat (PPE)
The Spanish Government has again moved to take control of an investee company. Manuel de la Rocha, head of the Government Office for Economic Affairs, informed José María Álvarez-Pallete at La Moncloa on Saturday, 18 January 2025, that the latter would no longer serve as Chairman of Telefónica.
This is a move which, it is claimed, is driven by the ‘new shareholders’ – first and foremost the State Industrial Holding Company (SEPI), which reports to the Ministry of Finance, which in May 2024 purchased 10 % of the shares for EUR 2 285 million from the General State Budget, originally earmarked for the autonomous communities and municipalities.
The Government makes no secret of its intention to dominate Telefónica’s management, just as in the case of Indra, Hispasat, Correos, RTVE, the National Statistical Institute, and the CIS.
1.Is the Commission concerned about government moves to exercise disproportionate control over companies through instruments such as SEPI, which undermine the principles of the European single market, fair competition and competitive neutrality?
2.Does the Commission believe that State interference with investee companies can discourage new competitors from entering the market, stifling the diversity of businesses promoted by the single market?
Question for written answer E-000114/2025/rev.1 to the Commission Rule 144 Virginie Joron (PfE)
At the Global Citizen charity concert in New York, Ursula von der Leyen announced a USD 290 million donation to Gavi, the global Vaccine Alliance, to vaccinate 500 million children[1].
Gavi, the global Vaccine Alliance, is an organisation which does not provide services for free. It is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (to the tune of more than USD 6 billion) and its members include vaccine-producing laboratories and the World Bank[2]. Other contributors include the European Union (EUR 3.2 billion), countries such as France (USD 800 million[3]), Coca-Cola, the Mormon Church and the Rockefeller Foundation.
According to Gavi, COVID-19 ‘vaccines’ can provide critical protection for children under the age of 12[4]. Yet half of these initial doses were administered in Africa between March 2022 and November 2023, after the pandemic’s critical phase[5].
1.Will Gavi’s portfolio of vaccines for children – paid for by Europeans – contain COVID-19 vaccines?
2.Given that France’s debt is spiralling out of control (EUR 3.303 trillion[6]) and is three times that of all African countries combined (EUR 1.106 trillion of debt for 1.5 billion inhabitants[7]), has France approved this donation from Brussels?
Submitted: 14.1.2025
[1] 28 September 2024; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tCAlA1_xFQ; https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_24_4907
[7] According to the World Bank’s International Debt Report for 2024, the total debt held by Africa, excluding North Africa, is USD 864 billion (EUR 831 billion). The debt held by the continent as a whole is USD 1.150 trillion (USD 7 billion for Algeria, USD 69 billion for Morocco, USD 41 billion for Tunisia, which is equivalent to EUR 1.106 trillion); https://urls.fr/t7cjdp
Question for written answer E-000243/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Barbara Bonte (PfE)
The Commission President is attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos this week. It is widely known that the backroom deals made there undermine democratic processes in the EU. The WEF also costs a lot of money.
1.Who did President Von der Leyen meet at the WEF?
2.What commitments did President Von der Leyen make at the WEF?
3.What did President Von der Leyen’s participation at the WEF cost?
Priority question for written answer P-000258/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Peter Agius (PPE)
Maltese catches of lampuki (coryphaena hippurus, or the common dolphinfish) have reached historic lows. Preliminary data from Malta suggests that 2024 catches stand at just 160 tonnes, approximately half of last year’s figures.
Regulation (EU) 2023/2124[1] establishes a closed season for the fishing of lampuki from 1 January until 14 August each year. However, field reports reveal that while Maltese fishers have adhered to this regulation, other fishers in the Mediterranean – particularly from Tunisia and Sicily – were reportedly deploying fish aggregating devices (FADs) as early as July.
Accounts from Maltese fishers suggest that these early deployments influence lampuki migration patterns, disadvantaging those adhering to Regulation (EU) 2023/2124. This raises concerns about compliance and the impact on fisheries that respect the closed season.
Lampuki is a vital seasonal fish for Maltese households, traditionally offering a low-cost option that supports the local economy.
Given this:
1.What measures are being taken to monitor compliance with Regulation (EU) 2023/2124 concerning lampuki?
2.Is the Commission considering issuing a clarification of paragraph 23 of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/14[2] and Article 82 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2124, which set out rules for lampuki?
3.What additional measures may be introduced to ensure a level playing field between EU and non-EU fishers in the Mediterranean, while supporting conservation efforts by compliant fisheries?
Submitted: 22.1.2025
[1] Regulation (EU) 2023/2124 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 October 2023 on certain provisions for fishing in the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) Agreement area, OJ L, 2023/2124, 12.10.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/2124/oj.
[2] Recommendation GFCM/46/2023/14 establishing a multiannual management plan for the sustainable exploitation of common dolphinfish in the Mediterranean Sea, https://gfcm.sharepoint.com/CoC/Decisions%20Texts/Forms/AllItems.aspx?id=%2FCoC%2FDecisions%20Texts%2FREC%2ECM%5FGFCM%5F46%5F2023%5F14%2De%2Epdf&parent=%2FCoC%2FDecisions%20Texts&p=true&ga=1.
Question for written answer E-000254/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Markus Buchheit (ESN)
Alice Weidel and Elon Musk’s talk on X on 9 January 2025 has raised a number of questions. There is, after all, a risk that German civil servants who sit on the fence when it comes to politics could end up voting for the AfD.
1.How many Commission staff were made to listen in to this talk?
2.Were the hours they worked (after 19:00) counted as overtime?
on the proposal for a Council decision on the adoption by the European Atomic Energy Community of the Agreement on the interpretation and application of the Energy Charter Treaty between the European Union, the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States
–having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2024)0256),
–having regard to Article 203 of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C10‑0092/2024),
–having regard to Rule 84 of its Rules of Procedure,
–having regard to the opinion of the Committee on International Trade,
–having regard to the report of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (A10-0008/2025),
1.Approves the Commission proposal;
2.Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;
3.Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to substantially amend the text approved by Parliament;
4.Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and the Commission.
ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONSFROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT
The rapporteur declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.
OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE (5.12.2024)
for the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
on the proposal for a Council decision on the adoption by the European Atomic Energy Community of the Agreement on the interpretation and application of the Energy Charter Treaty between the European Union, the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States
(Simplified procedure – Rule 52(1) and (3) of the Rules of Procedure)
The Committee on International Trade calls on the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, as the committee responsible, to propose approval of the Commission proposal.
ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR FOR THE OPINION HAS RECEIVED INPUT
The rapporteur for the opinion declares under her exclusive responsibility that she did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.
PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION
Title
Adoption by the European Atomic Energy Community of the Agreement on the interpretation and application of the Energy Charter Treaty between the European Union, the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States
Adoption by the European Atomic Energy Community of the Agreement on the interpretation and application of the Energy Charter Treaty between the European Union, the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States
Question for written answer E-000232/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Isabel Serra Sánchez (The Left)
In Spain, there have recently been cases of officers in the National Police Force having infiltrated people’s lives and social movements using false identities. These actions violate the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which prohibits inhuman and degrading treatment and protects the rights to, and freedoms of, expression, association and assembly. In addition, under Spanish law, these practices could constitute offences both against the inviolability of the home, and of the disclosure of secrets. The provisions of a Franco-era law on official secrets mean we cannot determine how many police officers have infiltrated social movements. That law is one that the European Commission has already asked Spain to review, since it is at odds with the rule of law.
1.Does the Commission consider that police infiltration in social movements in Spain violates the above fundamental rights and, therefore, the rule of law?
2.Does the Commission consider these practices to endanger the protection of human rights, and what measures does it intend to adopt to ensure that Spain respects and protects these rights in the context of police actions?
3.What is the Commission’s assessment of the continued application of the Spanish Law on Official Secrets?
