MINNEAPOLIS, April 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EarthOptics announced its new subscription-based Total Farm program for the 2025 crop year. This is the company’s first collaborative release following last year’s merger of EarthOptics and Pattern Ag, two ag technology firms each founded in 2018. The Total Farm program combines the EarthOptics GroundOwl™ sensor suite, soil biological test results (DNA), a farmer’s yield data, and satellite imagery to produce full-field soil fertility and crop planning recommendations that farmers can use to increase yield profitability and lower input costs.
Agronomic advisors and farmers who sign up for the Total Farm program receive a comprehensive data service, including a high-resolution nutrient map that shows automated variable-rate soil fertility prescriptions and soil biological risk assessments. The new platform keeps farmers informed about key in-season and long-term agronomic decisions across their entire farm, with the goal of improving their efficiency, productivity, and input optimization. A Total Farm subscription includes soil testing and analysis, crop protection recommendations, fertility prescriptions, and use of a first-of-its-kind crop planning tool, all at a flat rate of $4 per acre.
“Total Farm makes the highest-resolution agronomic data accessible and actionable to farmers at the whole-farm level,” said Dr. Lars Dyrud, EarthOptics CEO. “We integrate soil biology, soil fertility, and yield-based data into a single workflow that farmers and their trusted advisors can use to make informed decisions and eliminate much of the guesswork that goes into crop planning.”
Once farmers are enrolled in the Total Farm program, EarthOptics seamlessly handles everything for the customer from start to finish, including soil testing, laboratory analysis, and results reporting. The entire process is managed and carefully documented within the EarthOptics chain of custody, ensuring testing integrity along with fast, reliable results.
Farmers and their trusted advisors can export Total Farm recommendations in multiple file formats, including shapefiles, for use with farm machinery or prescription software. For example, Total Farm is compatible with and integrates with most popular ag data platforms, including Climate FieldView, MyJohnDeere, CNH, and Raven.
With more than 4.6 million acres being measured, EarthOptics continues expanding its reach through its vast dealer network of participating agronomists, seed dealers, ag retailers, and professional crop consultants.
“EarthOptics and PatternAg merged to join complementary technologies and data systems,” said Dyrud. “Our first collaboration is a platform that supports a new level of accurate agronomic decision-making while contributing to improved soil health and more targeted use of fertilizer and crop inputs. Total Farm is the beginning of many great new product offerings on the horizon that we are working to create and launch in coming months and years.”
Interested farmers can enroll in the Total Farm program and schedule soil sampling either before planting or after the harvest. Enrollment operates on a first-come, first-serve basis, with early signups prioritized for soil sampling, testing, and planning in the upcoming 2026 crop year. For more details, visit earthoptics.com.
D6 Tue, Apr 08, 2025 – Wed, Apr 09, 2025 (All days are valid from 12 UTC – 12 UTC the following day)
Note: A severe weather area depicted in the Day 4-8 period indicates 15%, 30% or higher probability for severe thunderstorms within 25 miles of any point.
PREDICTABILITY TOO LOW is used to indicate severe storms may be possible based on some model scenarios. However, the location or occurrence of severe storms are in doubt due to: 1) large differences in the deterministic model solutions, 2) large spread in the ensemble guidance, and/or 3) minimal run-to-run continuity.
POTENTIAL TOO LOW means the threat for a regional area of organized severe storms appears unlikely (i.e., less than 15%) for the forecast day.
Forecast Discussion
ZCZC SPCSWOD48 ALL ACUS48 KWNS 030822 SPC AC 030822
Day 4-8 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0322 AM CDT Thu Apr 03 2025
Valid 061200Z – 111200Z
…DISCUSSION… Models are in relatively good agreement for the Sunday/D4 to Monday/D5 period, depicting an elongating upper trough sweeping east from the OH/TN Valleys to the East Coast.
On Sunday/D4, a leading midlevel wave is forecast to move out of AR and across TN/KY, with little amplitude and poor lapse rates by this time. An extensive area of rain and thunderstorms will be ongoing along the length of the cold front throughout the day, from the Northeast to the northern Gulf Coast. Some severe wind threat is expected, mainly over parts of the Southeast where dewpoints will be higher and as deep-layer shear remains favorable.
The trend of widespread precipitation along this front will continue into early Monday/D5, from the Carolinas into FL. The severe risk should continue to dwindle as large-scale support weakens, but low-end potential cannot be ruled out over these areas.
For the Tuesday/D6 to Thursday/D8 time frame, the weather pattern will be much less conducive to severe storms, with a ridge building over the West, and northwest flow across the central states. Periodic surges of high pressure are forecast, helping to keep conditions mostly stable over the bulk of the CONUS.
Loans from EBRD, IFC and BSTDB, supported by EU, the UK, and CIF’s CTF, will boost Ukraine’s energy security
International finance package of €157 million for private wind project to boost Ukraine’s energy security
Project is co-financed by European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Finance Corporation and Black Sea Trade and Development Bank
The European Union (EU), the United Kingdom and Climate Investment Funds’ (CIF’s) Clean Technology Fund (CFT) supported the mobilisation of the finance package
Deal marks a pivotal step in advancing Ukraine’s shift towards renewable energy
An international finance package will bring €157 million of project finance debt to a private wind power project that aims to boost Ukraine’s energy security. The deal, announced today in Kyiv, is co-financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) and supported by the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom, and the Climate Investment Funds’ (CIF’s) Clean Technology Fund (CTF).
One of the first greenfield private projects in Ukraine’s power sector since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, this project forms part of efforts to advance Ukraine’s shift towards renewable energy generation as well as bolster its energy security following attacks from Russia on the country’s energy generation infrastructure.
The EBRD and IFC will each lend €60 million and BSTDB €37 million. The total cost of the project is estimated at €225 million (excluding VAT), with the rest to be met by equity from the project sponsor, GNG Group or Galnaftogaz, widely known in Ukraine as OKKO Group. The loans are to Wind Power GSI Volyn LLC and Wind Power GSI Volyn 3 LLC, special purpose vehicles incorporated in Ukraine.
The loans will support OKKO to construct and operate wind power plants in Ukraine with a combined capacity of 147 MW. The plants are expected to generate at least 380 GWh of renewable zero carbon electricity annually, resulting in carbon dioxide emission savings of approximately 245,000 tons per year.
The EBRD’s funding will be backed by financial guarantees from the European Union provided under its Ukraine facility, the Ukraine Investment Framework. This comes from the Ukraine Investment Framework Hi-Bar guarantee programme, which supports both new and existing climate mitigation technologies, in particular in the energy sector, in line with the EU’s detailed Ukraine Plan.
IFC and BSTDB’s loans are backed by guarantees from the European Union under the Ukraine Investment Framework as part of IFC’s Better Futures Program: RE-Ukraine. The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provided £3.8 million (€4.5 million) in grant funding as a first loss guarantee to enable the mobilisation of IFC and BSTDB’s loans. IFC’s funding package also includes €10 million in debt financing from the CTF and was enabled by pre-investment work through which IFC helped optimise the project structure in a highly volatile market environment. This was possible thanks to support from Austria’s Federal Ministry of Finance and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO.
“We are grateful to our partners for their long-term, sustainable cooperation, which is especially valuable during wartime — for both business and the country as a whole. This project addresses several key challenges at once. Firstly, it strengthens the country’s energy security and independence. Secondly, it advances the transition to zero-emission electricity production,” said OKKO Chief Executive Officer Vasyl Danyliak.
“With significant power generation capacity in Ukraine destroyed as a result of the war, this investment is crucial to address the severe current energy shortfall, support Ukraine’s decarbonisation goals and boost the private sector’s role in further development of the renewable energy sector in the country,” said Matteo Patrone, the EBRD’s Vice President, Banking.
Ines Rocha, IFC’s Regional Director for Europe, said: “This project will ensure that people can keep the lights on, stay warm and connected – therefore marking a significant milestone in Ukraine’s recovery. While paving the way for a more resilient Ukraine, this transaction also sends a clear signal about the country’s readiness for private investment and ability to meet the challenges of tomorrow.”
“Ukraine’s energy sector has faced unprecedented challenges due to the ongoing crisis, making the diversification and resilience of its power infrastructure more critical than ever. Supporting projects that strengthen the country’s energy independence and accelerate its transition to renewable energy is a priority for BSTDB. This wind power project is a tangible step toward building a sustainable energy future for Ukraine. We are proud to stand alongside our development partners in mobilizing essential resources, enabling investments that will help restore and stabilize Ukraine’s energy supply while fostering long-term economic recovery and environmental sustainability,” said Dr Serhat Köksal, BSTDB President.
“This is a smart investment at a critical time. It boosts Ukraine’s energy security and supports its shift to renewables. The EU is glad to help make it happen,” said Stefan Schleuning, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ukraine.
The EBRD and IFC have been supporting OKKO Group, their client since 2005, to move forward with the decarbonisation strategy it is pursuing against the backdrop of Russia’s war on Ukraine, as it prepares for Ukraine’s integration into the European Union and a future net-zero economy. The EBRD, which initially supported the group to grow its petroleum retail business, branded OKKO, into the one of the largest national fuel retail chains in the country, also financed GNG’s first biofuel project last year.
The BSTDB’s partnership with OKKO Group has been ongoing for over 20 years, with the first transaction closed back in 2004, unlocking subsequently the Company’s potential to a wider investment community. Since then, BSTDB and OKKO Group have entered into several financings, contributing to the Company’s expansion and operational success. Supporting projects that strengthen the country’s energy independence and accelerate its transition to renewable energy is a priority for BSTDB.
As part of the wind project, tailored technical cooperation from the EBRD, provided by the TaiwanBusiness-EBRD Technical Cooperation Fund, will strengthen the client’s ability to detect cybersecurity threats.
The EBRD, a leading climate financier, has offered Ukraine strong support in wartime, making almost €6.5 billion available to support the country’s real economy since 2022. It has secured shareholders’ agreement for a €4 billion capital increase to continue its Ukraine investments. Energy security is one of its five priority investment areas, along with support for vital infrastructure, food security, trade and the private sector.
Wind Power GSI Volyn LLCand/or Wind Power GSI Volyn 3 LLC are Ukraine-incorporated legal entities established as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) in charge of the development, construction, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of project. The special purpose vehicle is owned and controlled by Galnaftogaz.
JSC “Concern Galnaftogaz (GNG),is an independent petroleum products distribution company in Ukraine. It operates one of the largest and most efficient gas filling stations networks in the county under the OKKO brand. Besides distribution of light petroleum products, the Company also actively participates in the petroleum wholesale market and provides logistics services to other distribution companies
The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB)is an international financial institution headquartered in Thessaloniki, Greece. BSTDB supports economic development and regional cooperation in the countries of the greater Black Sea region by providing loans, credit lines, equity and guarantees for projects and trade financing in the public and private sectors in its member countries. The authorized capital of the Bank is EUR 3.45 billion. Through its active role in the partnership with other MDBs and donors, BSTDB continues to demonstrate its commitment to fostering a resilient energy infrastructure in Ukraine and throughout the wider Black Sea region, with a focus on sustainable development, climate resilience, and energy security.
Five years since COVID emerged, not only has the pandemic affected the way we live and work, it’s also influencing the way researchers are thinking about the past.
In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, archaeologist Alex Bentley explains how the pandemic has sparked new research into how disease may have affected ancient civilisations, and the clues this offers about a change in the way humans designed their villages and cities 8,000 years ago.
As an anthropologist and archaeologist at the University of Tennessee, Alex Bentley usually spend his time studying neolithic farming villages. But in the early days of the pandemic, he decided to team up with an epidemiologist on a research project to model the feedback loops between social behaviour, such as wearing a mask or not and the spread of disease. He says:
In doing that project, we learned so much about the spread of disease and its interaction with different behaviours. It was a perfect setup for looking at the same kind of question in the distant past when diseases were evolving for the first time in dense settlements.
Bentley was particularly interested in whether it could shed light on a conundrum: a curious pattern from the archaeological record that showed that early European farmers lived in large dense villages, then dispersed for centuries, then later formed cities again, which they also abandoned.
All this was happening in the neolithic period, between around 9000BC and 3000BC, a time when humans shifted from a nomadic hunterer-gatherer lifestyle to settling in small tribes in one place, cultivating the land and domesticating animals.
Bentley decided to apply the same model of how disease and patterns of behaviour spread during COVID, to map out how a contagious disease could have spread in an mega settlement called Nebelivka in modern-day Ukraine. This settlement was designed in an oval layout and divided into neighbourhoods, or clusters. Bentley and his colleagues suggest this layout, whether the inhabitants knew it or not, could have helped prevent the spread of disease.
Listen to the full episode of The Conversation Weekly to hear the interview with Alex Bentley.
This episode of The Conversation Weekly was written and produced by Katie Flood and hosted by Gemma Ware. Sound design was by Eloise Stevens and theme music by Neeta Sarl.
Listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here.
R. Alexander Bentley does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
An Aldermoor Farm Primary School pupil has had their design brought to life as the wrap for E.ON Next’s newest electric vans.
The vans will transport E.ON Next engineers to homes around Coventry and the surrounding area, installing smart meters and other sustainable energy solutions.
The initiative is part of E.ON’s pioneering 15-year partnership with Coventry City Council, helping to make the city more sustainable.
Y6 pupil at Aldermoor Farm Primary School, Fredrica, had her design chosen as part of a series of workshops previously run by E.ON across Coventry, aimed at educating and inspiring pupils about sustainability, renewable energy and the initiatives happening in their city to promote new types of energy, cleaner air and green jobs and skills.
The eye-catching design, which features a bold message to ‘save energy’ will adorn two E.ON Next vans tasked with transporting E.ON Next engineers as they work to deliver net zero by installing a variety of sustainable energy solutions.
Fredrica said: “I was really excited to hear that my design had been chosen. I thought of a quick and easy way to get the message across. Lots of adverts have too many words so I wanted to choose something that would have an immediate impact. Saving energy should be everyone’ s life goal. We can all contribute by doing simple things like turning off the lights and not wasting electricity.”
The vans were proudly presented to Fredrica and her fellow classmates by Phil Gilbert, Director of Net Zero Delivery at E.ON Next and Councillor Jim O’Boyle Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change at Coventry City Council at an unveiling ceremony at Aldermoor Farm Primary School.
Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change, said: “It’s brilliant that Fredrica’s amazing design will be seen all over the city. It’s bold and clear and that’s exactly the right approach for such an important issue – the drive to net zero. Young people understand this as well as anyone and this competition really caught the imagination of local school pupils making it hard to select a winner. Our Strategic Energy Partnership is all about transforming the city’s approach to carbon reduction and through initiatives like this, the next generation of homeowners, drivers and energy users are learning about it early which is great.”
Phil Gilbert, Director of Net Zero Delivery at E.ON Next, said: “The only way we’ll deliver our new energy world is if everyone feels energised and enthusiastic about a more sustainable future. And this initiative, as part of our Strategic Energy Partnership with Coventry Council, does exactly that. We’re so proud of the fantastic effort the pupils at Aldermoor Farm have put into this initiative, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the winning design. These electric vans will now join our fleet and support our engineers installing smart meters and other sustainable energy solutions like solar panels, heat pumps and EV chargers across the region.”
Lucy Wright, Headteacher at Aldermoor Farm Primary School, said: “When I was told that a child at this school won the competition, I felt immense pride. Fredrica has truly embodied our value of ‘aspirational’ and I’m certain her example can inspire all children to have the highest of expectations for themselves. The vans look incredible with Fredrica’s design and seeing her name on the vans was the best of all. To have a student’s name on something so publicly positive is an almost indescribable feeling. Well done, Fredrica!”
Heavy rainfall in Queensland sent floodwaters sweeping across vast stretches of the Australian outback in late March 2025. More than a year’s worth of rain fell in one week in some places. The deluge caused major flooding along multiple rivers in Channel Country, submerging small towns and grazing lands in southwestern Queensland. While some portions of the flooded area remained obscured by clouds in late March, the OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8 captured this mostly clear view of Cooper Creek near the town of Windorah on March 29 (right). For comparison, the left image, acquired by the OLI-2 on Landsat 9, shows the same area on March 5, before the intense rains. Both images are false color to emphasize the presence of water. As waters rose, helicopter evacuations were organized for residents of Windorah and Jundah, a town about 75 kilometers (47 miles) upriver, according to news reports. Aerial photos showed settlements and pasturelands submerged, and government officials estimated that more than 100,000 livestock across Queensland may be missing or deceased. In the week ending on March 29, parts of the state received more than 400 millimeters (16 inches) of rain. Floodwaters near Windorah, Jundah, and other towns rose to higher levels than those seen in 1974, a historic year for outback flooding and the wettest year on record in Australia. Inundated roadways may leave towns isolated for weeks, according to news reports.
It is typical for the Channel Country to undergo cycles of drought and flood, and wet periods can prompt growth in pasturelands, supply water to wetlands, and support endemic species. Experts have remarked, however, that the rain and floods in March 2025 have been extreme. They cite several factors for the rain, including streams of humid air from the north and east that converged over interior Queensland. A low-pressure trough drove the moisture-laden air to higher and cooler levels of the atmosphere to trigger the heavy rain. Flooding was widespread across western Queensland, with waters submerging thousands of kilometers of road, the AFP reported. The MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured an image (above) of some of the affected area on March 29, 2025. In this false-color image, water appears dark and light blue; bare ground is brown; and vegetation is bright green. Over the coming weeks and months, the water will drain toward Lake Eyre (also called Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre), about 600 kilometers southwest of Windorah. The lake sits at the lowest natural point in Australia and is dry most of the year. Every few years, some water flows all the way to the lake, but it is rare for it to fill completely. Following unusually abundant rain in 2019, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology estimated that 80 percent of the lake’s area ultimately became covered by water. NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey and MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview. Story by Lindsey Doermann.
Headline: Kentucky Survivors: Tornado and Flood Safety Information
Kentucky Survivors: Tornado and Flood Safety Information
FRANKFORT, Ky
–When a tornado warning is issued, immediately seek the best available refuge area
Your chance of surviving improves if you follow these guidelines
Where to go during a tornado Best OptionsAbove or below ground tornado storm shelterSpecifically designed FEMA safe roomGood OptionsInterior room of a well-constructed home or buildingBasementBad OptionsLarge open rooms like gymnasiumsManufactured housingWorst OptionsMobile homesVehiclesUnderneath a highway overpass What to do during a floodStay Informed: Listen to radio and television, including NOAA weather radio, if possible, check the Internet and social media for information and updates
Get to Higher Ground: If you live in a flood prone area or are camping in a low-lying area, get to higher ground immediately
Obey Evacuation Orders: If told to evacuate, do so immediately
Lock your home when you leave
If you have time, disconnect utilities and appliances
Practice Electrical Safety: Don’t go into a basement, or any room, if water covers the electrical outlets or if cords are submerged
If you see sparks or hear buzzing, crackling, snapping or popping noises–get out! Stay out of water that may have electricity in it!Avoid Flood Waters: Don’t walk through flood waters
It only takes 6 inches of moving water to knock you off your feet
If you are trapped by moving water, move to the highest possible point and call 911 if possible
Do NOT drive into flooded roadways or around a barricade; Turn Around, Don’t Drown! Water may be deeper than it appears and can hide hazards such as sharp objects, washed out road surfaces, electrical wires, chemicals, etc
A vehicle caught in swiftly moving water can be swept away in seconds 12 inches of water can float a car or small SUV, 18 inches of water can carry away large vehicles
Stay inside your car if it is trapped in rapidly moving water
Get on the roof if water is rising inside the car
Get to the highest level if trapped in a building
Only get on the roof if necessary and once there signal for help
Do not climb into a closed attic to avoid getting trapped by rising floodwater
Headline: Assistance is Still Available for Wildfire Survivors After the Registration Deadline
Assistance is Still Available for Wildfire Survivors After the Registration Deadline
LOS ANGELES – FEMA is still working in Los Angeles County to help residents recover from the LA wildfires
The deadline to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance has passed, but Disaster Recovery Centers remain open and the deadline to submit a Right of Entry (ROE) to participate in the federally funded debris removal program has been extended to April 15
Survivors who registered prior to the deadline are encouraged to keep in touch with FEMA to continue to update their application as their situation changes and to work through the approval process
For those displaced by the fires, rental assistance is still available
If you do not qualify for FEMA assistance, state and local resources may also be available
For more information visit: 2025 Los Angeles Fires | CA
govIf you were impacted by the fire but were unable to apply for FEMA assistance prior to the deadline due to extenuating circumstances, you may be able to file a late application
If you have additional needs or wish to submit a late application, call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362
If you use a relay service, give FEMA your number for that service
Assistance is available in multiple languages
Lines are open Sunday–Saturday, from 4 a
m
– 10 p
m
Pacific Time
To be eligible for the federally funded debris removal program, an ROE form must be submitted to the County by the property owner
The deadline to submit an ROE has been extended to April 15:Complete and submit the opt-in form online at: Los Angeles County Right of Entry Permit for Debris Removal on Private Property
Download and complete a form: Debris Removal Right of Entry Permit (00011201
DOCX;1)
Submit at a Disaster Recovery Center
Disaster Recovery Centers are still open if you need more information: To find a DRC near you, visit the DRC Locator
Addresses are also listed below:UCLA Research Park West 10850 West Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064 Open Mon
– Sat
: 9 a
m
to 7 p
m
Altadena Disaster Recovery Center540 West Woodbury Rd
Altadena, CA 91001 Open Mon
– Sat
: 9 a
m
to 7 p
m
Follow FEMA online, on X @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol, on FEMA’s Facebook page or Espanol page and at FEMA’s YouTube account
For preparedness information follow the Ready Campaign on X at @Ready
gov, on Instagram @Ready
gov or on the Ready Facebook page
California is committed to supporting residents impacted by the Los Angeles Hurricane-Force Firestorm as they navigate the recovery process
Visit CA
gov/LAFires for up-to-date information on disaster recovery programs, important deadlines, and how to apply for assistance
What you need to know: Soil is starting to be placed over the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in Southern California – an important milestone as the world’s largest wildlife crossing comes to fruition.
LOS ANGELES – The world’s largest wildlife crossing is beginning to take shape.
Caltrans and the National Wildlife Federation celebrated the beginning of a project that will cover nearly an acre of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing with soil – making it easier for wildlife to move through its habitat.
Crews placed the first layers of soil over the bridge, which will span ten lanes of the U.S. Highway 101 freeway in the city of Agoura Hills. The total soil placement for the project will require approximately 6,000 cubic yards and will take several weeks to complete.
California is a state of dreamers and doers – and with the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, we’ve turned our dreaming into doing. As soil gets placed over the bridge, we’re one step closer to reconnecting wildlife with habitat that’s been divided for generations. We’re not only making habitats whole again, we’re making our roads safer.
Governor Gavin Newsom
This milestone represents a significant step toward the restoration of an ecological corridor that will support a variety of local wildlife, including mountain lions, deer, bats, bobcats, desert cottontails, monarch butterflies and more. Weather permitting, planting of approximately 5,000 native plants will begin in May.
“Wildlife crossings are unique because they allow people and nature to thrive together,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “By building the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, Caltrans is supporting transportation infrastructure that will not only reconnect and restore habitats but also reduce vehicle collisions with wildlife and enhance highway safety.”
The bridge will feature coastal sage scrub plant species native to the Santa Monica Mountains, contributing to the overall environmental restoration strategy that includes 12 acres of open space and 50,000 native plants.
How we got here
On Earth Day 2022, Governor Newsom participated in the groundbreaking for the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, a public-private partnership of monumental scope that has leveraged the expertise and leadership of dozens of organizations and institutions to protect and restore wildlife habitats in Southern California.
Wildlife crossings of all kinds are essential to building a network of interconnected conserved lands and waters that protect and restore biodiversity while also supporting transportation infrastructure.
Habitat connectivity provided by wildlife crossings is critical to the success of California’s 30×30 targets and allows people and nature to thrive together.
To learn more about California infrastructure projects, visit build.ca.gov.
Press Releases, Recent News
Recent news
Apr 2, 2025
News What you need to know: Governor Newsom announced the release of the Master Plan for Career Education, a bold statewide strategy to connect Californians — especially those in rural parts of the state — to high-paying, fulfilling careers, with or without a college…
Apr 2, 2025
News Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation declaring April 2025, as Autism Acceptance Month. The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below: PROCLAMATION This month, California joins communities around the world in…
Mar 31, 2025
News Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation declaring March 31, 2025, as César Chávez Day.The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below: PROCLAMATIONThroughout his life of work and service, César Chávez empowered…
West Country creates sources of water in unlikeliest places
Devon and Cornwall is leading the way in innovative water sources as the West Country’s industrial legacy is turned into gigantic water holes.
A disused China clay pit that now holds water for use elsewhere
Devon and Cornwall’s biggest water users are creating amazing sources of water which benefit the environment and business.
The 2022 drought in Cornwall and parts of Devon reminded everyone that new, smarter ways to use water and reduce demand must be found to adapt to our changing climate.
Arguably the biggest reduction of water use has been made in the counties’ china clay sector, with Environment Agency advice leading to an incredible 99.5% reduction in the amount of water taken from the River Fal.
River Fal water used to pipe wet clay cut by 99.5%
Five years ago, Imerys Minerals abstracted 2 billion litres of water a year from this freshwater river abstraction point, requiring significant pumping costs, to transport wet clay through its pipe network.
Thanks to Environment Agency advice and Imerys’ actions, the firm has saved significant carbon and electricity costs and reduced this abstraction to about 10 million litres per year– less than 1% of its original drain upon freshwater sources.
Instead of a river, the water now comes from the company’s disused china clay pits, so large they are visible on aerial maps – with some nearly rivalling the size of Cornwall’s largest reservoirs. These pits have filled with a mixture of rain and ground water which is now used by the company instead of river water.
Using these water sources also benefits the public’s drinking water supply. Taking and treating groundwater from three former china clay pits helps to supply the water in customers’ taps in Cornwall.
Enough water for 290,000 bathtubs at brassica farm
Farmers are also moving away from river and groundwater abstraction and finding ways to collect their own rainwater. One farm in Cornwall produces 15% of England’s seedlings used to grow brassica vegetables like broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower.
A farm where a surface water reservoir is being built
It relied on multiple abstraction licences for this water-intensive activity. Thanks to Environment Agency advice it has now invested in ways of storing rainwater to grow these brassica seedlings. This includes collecting water from its own polytunnels roofs and creating a clay-lined reservoir which will store 24 million litres of rain water – enough water to fill 290,000 bathtubs.
‘Water is precious’
Clarissa Newell of the Environment Agency said:
Water is a precious resource, so it is great to see by-products of Devon and Cornwall’s industrial past being turned into new water sources.
Farmers are also investing in new ways of getting water which will pay them back. This is the way forward.
The two biggest challenges for water are climate change and population growth. Only by finding smart ways to reduce our water demand can we protect the environment and in turn ourselves.
By 2050, the amount of water available could be down by 10-15%, with some rivers seeing 50-80% less water during the summer months. We all need to protect the environment by reducing the amount of water we use and ensuring greater efficiency in its use and re-use.
Climate change will alter the water in our rivers, lakes and groundwater. To protect and enhance the environment, we will need to change how we abstract water. Water companies will need to change their abstractions and will need to find new sources of water.
These alterations, on top of the demands faced by a growing population, and the additional pressures of agricultural pollution, wastewater discharges and urban pollution are all combining to exacerbate water stress.
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) convened its Annual Convention for Deans and Heads of Departments (HoDs) from partner institutions focused on Environment and Ecology in Goa. During the two days’ convention; 45 delegates from 32 partner institutions, alongside senior BIS officials, delved into the theme “Sustainability through Standards.”
In his welcome address, Shri Praveen Khanna, Deputy Director General (Southern Region), underscored the pivotal role of academic institutions in developing national and international standards.
Shri Sanjay Pant, Deputy Director General (Standardization-II), highlighted the significance of standardization in addressing sustainability challenges. “Standardization is the foundation of sustainability. By collaborating with academia, we can develop research-driven standards that address environmental challenges and create a lasting impact for future generations,” said Shri Sanjay Pant.
He introduced the newly established Environment and Ecology Department (EED), consolidating various BIS standardization activities into a dedicated division. Since its inception, the EED has released nearly 100 standards through its nine specialized committees.
The convention included comprehensive technical sessions on ongoing initiatives within the Environment and Ecology Division Council (EEDC) where 8 expert panels are engaged in standardization across crucial areas, including Air Quality Management, Water Quality Management, Waste Management, Environmental Monitoring, Sustainable Habitat, Sustainable Agriculture, Circular Economy, and Biodiversity & Ecosystem
Featured speakers included Dr. Alok Sinha (IIT Dhanbad), Dr. Anju Singh (IIM Mumbai), and Ms. Shabnam Bassi (GRIHA Council), who emphasized the necessity of addressing gaps in existing standards to bolster national climate initiatives such as the National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC).
Utilizing the ‘Know Your Standards’ feature on the BIS Care App, participants evaluated existing standards and pinpointed new areas for development. Key discussions included: Waste Management & Recycling; Water Quality & Management; Sustainable Construction & Materials; Environmental Monitoring & Pollution Control; Green Energy & Climate Change Mitigation; Health & Safety Standards and Campus & Industrial Sustainability
On the second day, delegates observed a live demonstration of BIS’s digital solutions, which included the Academic Dashboard, a platform enabling partner institutions to access standards, submit research projects, and contribute to technical committees. BIS also presented tools for downloading and commenting on draft standards, facilitating involvement in international standardization efforts.
A special session led by Shri Ritesh Baranwal (Director, Finance, BIS) concentrated on the role of standards in sustainability and sustainable finance. His presentation illustrated how financial frameworks can underpin sustainability initiatives through standardization.
The BIS Annual Convention reinforced the organization’s dedication to collaborating with academia to formulate standards that address vital environmental and ecological issues. BIS aims to establish robust, research-driven standards that contribute to a more sustainable future by fostering partnerships among experts, researchers, and policymakers.
EIB provides a €50 million loan to Lantmännen to build a new factory producing pea protein in Sweden
Financing to strengthen EU food security and reduce dependence on imported proteins
Project will promote sustainable agriculture and help create jobs
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has granted a €50 million loan to Lantmännen to co-finance the construction of a new pea protein isolate factory in Lidköping. The loan will cover approximately half of the project investment cost.
The first of its kind in Sweden, the factory will have an annual processing capacity of over 40 000 tonnes of peas grown by Lantmännen cooperative members. It is expected to be completed in the first half of 2027 and to create around 30 jobs in the region.
The plant will manufacture high-quality plant proteins that can be used across a range of products from protein bars and drinks to bread, plant-based milks and meat substitutes – a recipe for replacing animal protein sustainably.
The project is in line with EU targets for increasing plant protein self-sufficiency, promoting sustainable agriculture and reducing climate impact.
“By supporting Lantmännen’s investments in pea protein production, we will strengthen both food security and climate action in Sweden and across the European Union,” said EIB Vice-President Thomas Östros. “This project is also a great example of how EU cooperation can deliver benefits on the ground.”
Peas and beans are versatile and climate-friendly crops that need a relatively low amount of water and nutrients and are good for biodiversity. The use of legumes grown in Sweden will mean that the share of imported soybeans in food production can be reduced, further backing Swedish and EU sustainability goals.
“We are delighted that the EIB recognises the long-term value of investment in the food of the future – plant protein – and that it has chosen to support our Lidköping facility,” said Lantmännen Chief Financial Officer Michael Sigsfors. “Promoting exports and expanding food production not only leads to better profitability for farmers, but also ensures improved food security. This is a grand and important project, and I am happy that the EIB is supporting our work to this end.”
Background information
EIB
The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, high-impact investments outside the European Union, and the capital markets union.
The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.
All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.
Fostering market integration and mobilising investment, the Group supported a record of over €100 billion in new investment for Europe’s energy security in 2024 and mobilised €110 billion in growth capital for startups, scale-ups and European pioneers. Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower than the EU average.
High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.
Lantmännen
Lantmännen is an agricultural cooperative and northern Europe’s leader in agriculture, machinery, bioenergy and food products. Owned by 17 000 Swedish farmers, Lantmännen has 12 000 employees, operations in over 20 countries and an annual turnover of SEK 70 billion. With grain at the heart of the operations, Lantmännen refines arable land resources to make farming thrive. Some of Lantmännen’s best-known food brands are AXA, Kungsörnen, Scan, Korvbrödsbagarn, GoGreen, FINN CRISP and Bonjour. The company is founded on the knowledge and values acquired through generations of farmers. By engaging in research, development and operations throughout the value chain, Lantmännen takes responsibility from farm to fork.
This summer, residents and visitors will be able to experience areas of the city walls from a fresh perspective, as this unique and historic space blooms into life.
Volunteers and businesses from across the city came together last year to help transform the City Walls embankments, for the first phase of the York Walls in Bloom project.
This first phase of this project at Station Rise will evolve into a beautiful landscape this Summer, where residents and visitors will be able to see bees and other pollinators thriving amidst a sea of colourful wildflowers.
The second phase of the project will be extended to the Red Tower, off Foss Islands Road and at Queen Street, near York Station.
After wildflowers are sown and planted in April for the second phase, there will be some flowering this year, but next year (2026) will see each area looking its best.
Like Station Rise, the area around Red Tower will be very carefully managed to balance the ecology of the site. The space will continue to change and develop in the first few years as the different plant species become more established.
The works on Queen Street, around ‘Toft’s Tower’, provides a unique opportunity to enhance another section of walls by introducing new native flowers, so they create the perfect backdrop for both the city walls and new streetscape near the railway station.
Cllr Jenny Kent, Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency, said:
York is proud to have some of the best preserved and longest intact medieval walls in the country. This partnership project to cover the site at Station Rise in colourful wildflowers for York Walls in Bloom will not only look beautiful, but it will also help support York’s bees, moths and butterflies and crucially, help preserve the ramparts underneath.
“We are lucky to have expert advice from many partners who are contributing to a process of reviewing our maintenance of the walls overall. We’ll adopt the very best practices to prevent soil erosion and ensure we keep the Walls standing and looking great for generations to come.”
Jonathan Dent, Green Corridors Manager at St Nicks, said:
Works will begin at the Red Tower from this month, with low nutrient soil imported and spread over the site to create a blank canvas for the sowing and planting of native wildflowers. This is the method successfully used at the Tower of London’s Moat in Bloom project. With the help of York Cares, volunteers from across the city will come together to support the project and help sow the seeds.
The York in Bloom project is funded by the Green Corridors project, the National Lottery Community Fund and is sponsored by local businesses including The Grand York.
Jonathan Dent stood alongside Cllr Jenny Kent, in front of the Red Tower
Published Thursday, 3 April 2025
This summer, residents and visitors will be able to experience areas of the city walls from a fresh perspective, as this unique and historic space blooms into life.
Volunteers and businesses from across the city came together last year to help transform the City Walls embankments, for the first phase of the York Walls in Bloom project.
This first phase of this project at Station Rise will evolve into a beautiful landscape this Summer, where residents and visitors will be able to see bees and other pollinators thriving amidst a sea of colourful wildflowers.
The second phase of the project will be extended to the Red Tower, off Foss Islands Road and at Queen Street, near York Station.
After wildflowers are sown and planted in April for the second phase, there will be some flowering this year, but next year (2026) will see each area looking its best.
Like Station Rise, the area around Red Tower will be very carefully managed to balance the ecology of the site. The space will continue to change and develop in the first few years as the different plant species become more established.
The works on Queen Street, around ‘Toft’s Tower’, provides a unique opportunity to enhance another section of walls by introducing new native flowers, so they create the perfect backdrop for both the city walls and new streetscape near the railway station.
Cllr Jenny Kent, Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency, said: “York is proud to have some of the best preserved and longest intact medieval walls in the country. This partnership project to cover the site at Station Rise in colourful wildflowers for York Walls in Bloom will not only look beautiful, but it will also help support York’s bees, moths and butterflies and crucially, help preserve the ramparts underneath.
We are lucky to have expert advice from many partners who are contributing to a process of reviewing our maintenance of the walls overall. We’ll adopt the very best practices to prevent soil erosion and ensure we keep the Walls standing and looking great for generations to come.”
Jonathan Dent, Green Corridors Manager at St Nicks, said: “Works will begin at the Red Tower from this month, with low nutrient soil imported and spread over the site to create a blank canvas for the sowing and planting of native wildflowers. This is the method successfully used at the Tower of London’s Moat in Bloom project. With the help of York Cares, volunteers from across the city will come together to support the project and help sow the seeds.”
The York in Bloom project is funded by the Green Corridors project , the National Lottery Community Fund and is sponsored by local businesses including The Grand York.
Picture this: you’re lounging on a beautiful beach, soaking up the sun and listening to the soothing sound of the waves. You run your hands through the warm sand, only to find a cigarette butt. Gross, right?
This disturbing scene is typical of coastal pollution in Australia. But fortunately our new research shows the problem is getting better, not worse. Over the past ten years, the amount of waste across Australian coastal cities has reduced by almost 40%. We’re also finding more places with no rubbish at all.
We surveyed for debris in and around six Australian urban areas between 2022 and 2024. Then we compared our results to previous surveys carried out a decade ago. We found less coastal pollution overall and reset a new baseline for further research.
Our study shows efforts to clean up Australia’s beaches have been working. These policies, practices and outreach campaigns have reduced the extent of pollution in coastal habitats near urban centres. But we can’t become complacent. There’s plenty of work still to be done.
One of the many beaches surveyed by CSIRO. TJ Lawson
What we did
In Australia, three-quarters of the rubbish on our coasts is plastic. Even cigarette butts are mainly made of plastic.
To tackle the pollution effectively, we need to understand where the waste is coming from and how it gets into the environment.
Research has shown much of the coastal debris comes from local inland areas. Poor waste management practices can result in debris eventually making its way through rivers to the coast and out to sea.
We focused on urban areas because high population density and industrial activity contributes to waste in the environment. We examined six areas across Australia:
Perth in Western Australia
Port Augusta in South Australia
Hobart in Tasmania
Newcastle in New South Wales
Sunshine Coast in Queensland
Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.
These places represent a starting point for the national baseline. At each location we studied sites on the coast, along rivers and inland, within a 100 kilometre radius.
We inspected strips of land 2m wide. This involved two trained scientists standing in an upright position looking downward, slowly walking along a line surveying for debris items. Together they captured information about every piece of debris they came across, including the type of material and what it was originally used for (where possible).
What we found
On average, we found 0.15 items of debris per square metre of land surveyed. That’s roughly one piece of rubbish every five steps.
Plastic was the most common type of waste. But in many cases it was unclear what the item was originally used for. For example, fragments of hard plastic of unknown origin were found in a quarter of all surveyed areas.
Polystyrene fragments were the most common item overall (24% of all debris fragments). Other frequently encountered items included food wrappers or labels, cigarette butts, and hard plastic bottle caps or lids.
We found more waste near farms, industry and disadvantaged areas.
The types of waste varied among cities. For example, cigarette butts were the most prevalent items in Newcastle, Perth and the Sunshine Coast. But food wrappers and beverage cans were more prevalent in Port Augusta and Alice Springs, respectively.
Hobart had the highest occurrence of beverage bottles and bottle fragments.
The most common type of waste varied among cities. CSIRO
Targeting problem items
Identifying the different types of litter in the environment can help policymakers and waste managers target specific items and improve waste recovery.
Research has shown container deposit legislation, which enables people to take eligible beverage containers to a collection point for a refund, has reduced the number of beverage containers in the coastal environment by 40%. Hobart did not have a container deposit scheme in place at the time of our survey.
Plastic bag bans can reduce bag litter. Now polystyrene food service items are becoming increasingly targeted by policymakers.
Hobart had the highest occurrence of beverage bottles and bottle fragments. Caroline Bray
Making progress
When we compared our results to the previous survey from 2011-14 we found a 39% decrease in coastal debris. We also found 16% more areas where no debris was present.
Our results support previous research that found an ongoing trend towards less waste on Australian beaches.
We think our research demonstrates the effectiveness of improved waste management policies, campaigns such as the “Five R’s – Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, then Recycle” – as well as clean-up efforts.
It’s likely that increased awareness is making a big dent in the problem. But reducing the production of plastic, and invoking changes further up the supply chain, would likely further help reduce mismanaged waste in the environment.
Implications for the future
Measuring and monitoring litter can inform policymaking and waste management. Our research serves as a benchmark for evaluating and informing future efforts to reduce plastic waste.
We are heartened by the findings. But continued effort is needed from people across government, industry and Australian communities. Everyone needs to address how we produce, use and dispose of plastic for a cleaner and healthier planet.
Australians are increasingly aware of the need to keep the coastal environment free of litter. Qamar Schuyler
As part of her role at CSIRO, Stephanie Brodie receives funding the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, and the Australian Fisheries Management Authority.
Britta Denise Hardesty received funding for this work from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water. Shell Australia previously provided funding for this research via Earthwatch Australia for surveys and citizen science projects carried out between 2011 and 2014.
Warmer, greener homes are crucial to cutting bills.
More in Climate
Any moves by the Scottish Government to further dilute, delay or drop the upcoming Heat in Buildings Bill would be an act of climate vandalism and a blow for household budgets, green jobs, and our environment, say the Scottish Greens.
The comments from the party’s Co-Leader, Patrick Harvie, come ahead of a Ministerial statement today that is widely expected to see plans weakened and pushed back further.
The Bill, which was under development by Mr Harvie in his time as a Minister, and was on track for introduction in November last year, was intended to focus on improving the energy efficiency of our homes and changing to clean heating systems.
“It is crucial that we move away from fossil fuels and invest in clean, green energy so that we can have warmer homes and start to cut the bills that are plunging even more families into poverty.
“Keeping people stuck on gas is not only bad for our planet, it is also punishing people all across our country and forcing them to fork out, while the fossil fuel companies post record profits. We are already way behind where we need to be in terms of tackling fuel poverty and our transition away from fossil fuels.
“Scotland is also losing out on good quality green jobs. Heat pump manufacturing is seeing global growth, but Scotland has seen investment go elsewhere.
“The measures in this Bill could play a crucial role in supporting households to make the shift, and giving the industry the clarity it needs to invest. I am very concerned by the increasing speculation that it will be diluted, delayed or dropped. To do so would be an act of environmental vandalism and a blow for household budgets, our economy and our environment.
“The failure to hit previous climate targets should have been a wake-up call, but the Scottish Government is not showing anywhere near the political will that is required.
“Cutting home energy bills, boosting high quality green jobs, and cutting our emissions are all possible, but they can only happen if the Government is prepared to take the action and make the investment that it needs to.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), the top Democrats on the subcommittees that oversee funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are sounding the alarm over the EPA’s illegal plans to dismantle the Office of Research and Development (ORD) and fire hundreds of scientists nationwide. In a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin today, the Ranking Members of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittees stressed the dangers of the EPA’s so-called reduction in force (RIF) plan, which would gut the agency’s main scientific arm that protects human health and our environment.
“Reports detail EPA’s intent to dismantle ORD and terminate more than 1,000 critical positions including chemists, toxicologists, and biologists. This ‘reduction in force’ follows a pattern of politically motivated purges, where public servants reinstated by court order remain sidelined while allegiance to the president and his fossil fuel benefactors, not expertise, determines who stays and who goes,” wrote Ranking Members Merkley and Pingree. “To state the obvious, EPA is required to conduct research and develop the best available knowledge to support implementation of its regulatory authority.”
Their letter follows the EPA’s reported plans to slash the ORD by potentially eliminating 50 to 75 percent of the office’s 1,540 positions and severely impacting scientific research into dangers such as PFAS, support for natural disaster responses, and environmental monitoring at the agency and at academic and non-profit research institutions, hospitals, state and local governments, and Tribal organizations.
The senior Appropriators stressed, “Your actions will have devastating consequences. They will weaken scientific oversight, eliminate critical regulatory safeguards, and give polluting industries unchecked influence over environmental policy and ultimately human health. Stripping EPA of its independent research capacity would transform the agency into a rubber stamp for corporate interests rather than a protector of public health and the environment. Eliminating ORD does not create jobs, does not promote economic growth, and does not serve the American people—it endangers public health and the environment.”
They also denounced the illegality of the EPA’s actions to direct funds without Congressional approval. Merkley and Pingree concluded, “We strongly urge you to immediately reverse course and abandon this dangerous plan. The integrity of the EPA’s scientific research must be preserved to ensure sound policymaking and the continued protection of public health and the environment. The American people will not stand by while their air, water, and communities are sacrificed for the profits of a few.”
Full text of the letter is available online here and copied below.
+++
Dear Administrator Zeldin:
We write to express alarm regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) plan to eliminate its Office of Research and Development (ORD)—a blatant assault on science, public health, and the agency’s core mission. This reckless decision would erode the agency’s scientific foundation to the benefit of polluting industries at the expense of working-class communities and exacerbate climate change. It is a betrayal of EPA’s obligation to the American people to understand and use the best available science and a violation of the law.
For decades, ORD has been the backbone of independent, science-based policymaking at EPA. Its groundbreaking research has helped curb air and water pollution, regulate toxic chemicals, and protect communities from industrial waste. By dismantling ORD, you would gut the agency’s ability to conduct independent research and hand over environmental policy to industry insiders. This proposal is not about efficiency or improvement—it is a deliberate effort to strip away regulatory safeguards that protect ordinary Americans while boosting profits for the wealthiest polluters.
Reports detail EPA’s intent to dismantle ORD and terminate more than 1,000 critical positions including chemists, toxicologists, and biologists. This “reduction in force” follows a pattern of politically motivated purges, where public servants reinstated by court order remain sidelined while allegiance to the president and his fossil fuel benefactors, not expertise, determines who stays and who goes. To state the obvious, EPA is required to conduct research and develop the best available knowledge to support implementation of its regulatory authority.
Your actions will have devastating consequences. They will weaken scientific oversight, eliminate critical regulatory safeguards, and give polluting industries unchecked influence over environmental policy and ultimately human health. Stripping EPA of its independent research capacity would transform the agency into a rubber stamp for corporate interests rather than a protector of public health and the environment. Eliminating ORD does not create jobs, does not promote economic growth, and does not serve the American people—it endangers public health and the environment.
Over just the past decade alone, EPA researchers have produced ground-breaking research on cancer-causing chemicals (such as Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and Glyphosate), diesel engine exhaust that exacerbates asthma and is linked to lung-disease, Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) forever chemicals in our drinking water, and in-utero exposure to phthalates. ORD also provides critical support in response to disasters. For example, ORD developed tools for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 levels in wastewater to assess community infection rates, assessed damage to human and marine health after the April 2010 explosion and collapse of the Deepwater Horizon oil drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico, and studied the conditions of coastal waters and drinking water infrastructure following Hurricane Katrina.
Moreover, if implemented, this proposal would violate federal law. ORD is recognized as EPA’s research organization in law throughout the United States Code (see 7 U.S.C. 4921, 15 U.S.C. 8962, 42 U.S.C. 4361c, among other examples). Further, the fiscal year 2025 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act appropriates $758.1 million for the EPA’s research initiatives through the Science and Technology Account. Unilaterally dismantling ORD and impounding funds appropriated for science and technology contravenes the statute and appropriations and undermines Congress’s constitutional authority over federal expenditures.
We strongly urge you to immediately reverse course and abandon this dangerous plan. The integrity of the EPA’s scientific research must be preserved to ensure sound policymaking and the continued protection of public health and the environment. The American people will not stand by while their air, water, and communities are sacrificed for the profits of a few.
Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $32,386,791 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for Louisiana disaster aid.
“Louisiana is working hard to rebuild from the catastrophic damage that Hurricanes Laura and Ida left behind. This $32.4 million will help our communities recover from the costs they sustained during these disasters,” said Kennedy.
The FEMA aid will fund the following:
$13,358,873 to St. John the Baptist Parish for debris removal operations resulting from Hurricane Ida.
$6,209,552 to the Terrebonne Parish School Board for management costs resulting from Hurricane Ida.
$5,286,570 to the Terrebonne Parish School Board for permanent repairs resulting from Hurricane Ida.
$1,725,740 to the West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital for permanent work resulting from Hurricane Laura.
$1,562,360 to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development for debris removal operations resulting from Hurricane Laura.
$1,515,422 to the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District to replace equipment due to Hurricane Laura damage.
$1,415,716 to the Jefferson Parish School Board for permanent repairs to the Ralph J. Bunche Elementary School campus resulting from Hurricane Ida.
$1,312,558 to the Orleans Levee District Non-Flood Protection Asset Management Authority for permanent repairs resulting from Hurricane Ida damage.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Virginia Foxx (5th District of North Carolina)
Foxx Supports Legislation to Help Western North Carolina Businesses
Washington, March 28, 2025
WASHINGTON – Today, Representative Virginia Foxx (R-NC) issued the following statement after signing on as an official cosponsor to the Helene Small Business Recovery Act, legislation authored by Representative Chuck Edwards that provides a technical fix to loan duplications of benefits issued for survivors of Hurricane Helene:
“Following a disaster, the federal government should be a support system for states and not run interference. The Helene Small Business Recovery Act addresses a crucial need for businessowners to get the support they need from the federal government without facing bureaucratic delays or roadblocks. I’m proud to serve as an Original Cosponsor of Representative Edwards’ legislation and to continue our efforts in helping western North Carolina get back on its feet.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-09) joined Representative Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03), along with Representatives Virginia Foxx (NC-05), Chuck Edwards (NC-11), David Rouzer (NC-07), Pat Harrigan (NC-10), Addison McDowell (NC-06), and Tim Moore (NC-14) in introducing legislationto allow North Carolina volunteer firefighters and emergency medical service (EMS) personnel to join a state or local retirement plan.
“North Carolina’s firefighters and EMS personnel, like those involved in the Hurricane Helene relief efforts, risk their lives every day to keep our communities safe,” said Rep. Hudson.“These brave heroes deserve access to the same retirement benefits as their state-employed counterparts. I’m proud to support this legislation to ensure they are taken care of.”
“North Carolinians depend on the selfless service of first responders every single day,” said Rep. Murphy.“It is only fitting that these dedicated individuals should be able to depend on the government to provide them with a reliable retirement plan. The First Responders Retirement Parity Act ensures just compensation for their contributions to community safety and support for when their service comes to an end.”
Rep. Hudson with Puppy Creek Fire Department Volunteer Fire Chief John Joseph, as well as local first responders and officials.
Background
The current tax code prevents full-time nonprofit firefighters and EMS personnel from joining the state retirement system. In North Carolina, 74% of fire departments are non-profit and employ 5,527 paid personnel who could be affected.
This legislation would amend the code to include these volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel in governmental retirement plans.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)
Washington, DC—Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, PhD (NC-12), Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development and senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, released a statement following the passage of the continuing resolution.
“The continuing resolution fight was about more than just keeping the government open,” said Congresswoman Adams. “It was about refusing to turn over even more power to President Trump, Elon Musk, and standing against these devastating cuts.”
The continuing resolution includes deep cuts to critical programs and funding for Charlotteans:
$700 million in cuts to rent subsidies for low-income households and working Americans. Meanwhile, lack of affordable housing and eviction rates continue to risein Mecklenburg County.
$116 million in cuts to the Small Business Administration which will eliminate programs for Charlotte’s more than 40,000 small businesses.
$2 billion in cuts to airport, roadway, and port safety projects. This comes after the tragic DC plane crash in January that departed from Charlotte.
Underfunds homeless services by $168 million. Mecklenburg County’s homeless rate grew by 3%over the last year.
Fails to fully fund The Emergency Food Assistance Program by $20 million. Nearly 12% of Mecklenburg County householdsare food insecure.
Fails to renew $293 million in bipartisan emergency preparedness and disaster mitigation projects as Western North Carolina still works to recover from Hurricane Helene.
Fails to provide valuable community project funding to local organizations and municipalities that offer services like healthcare, housing assistance, food security, and other critical community needs.
“I have never celebrated a government shutdown, but I cannot understate the harm that will come from this bill,” Adams continued. “As this administration continues to wage their wars on education, healthcare, social security and federal employees, Congress has given them a blank check. It’s a disservice to all our constituencies.”
Rather than giving line-item budget allocations, the continuing resolution allocates agency funds in large pots of money without directing where they specifically go. This gives President Trump a “blank check” as he is able to reallocate or cut these funds as he sees fit, with few limitations.
“As we navigate the impacts of this disastrous bill, my priority remains taking care of my constituents,” said Congresswoman Adams. “If anyone in my district is suffering from the fallout of the continuing resolution, I encourage them to reach out to my offices and we will assist you however we can.”
To contact Congresswoman Adams’s Charlotte office, call (704) 344-9950. To contact her Washington, DC office, call (202) 225-1510. For information and resources, you can also visit our website atadams.house.gov.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)
WASHINGTON, DC— Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, PhD (NC-12), Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, released a statement following her vote against the continuing resolution.
“At a time when my constituents are struggling to make ends meet, the House Republican budget bill looks to slash everything from healthcare and food assistance to veterans benefits and housing support,” said Congresswoman Adams. “This bill will harm our working families, small businesses, seniors, students, and underserved communities in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. I stand against this reckless bill so I can stand with the people of my district.”
The continuing resolution targets programs and subsidies Charlotteans use every day:
$700 million in cuts to rent subsidies for low-income households and working Americans. Meanwhile, lack of affordable housing and eviction rates continue to risein Mecklenburg County.
$116 million in cuts to the Small Business Administration which will eliminate programs for Charlotte’s more than 40,000 small businesses.
$2 billion in cuts to airport, roadway, and port safety projects. This comes after the tragic DC plane crash in January that departed from Charlotte.
Underfunds homeless services by $168 million. Mecklenburg County’s homeless rate grew by 3%over the last year.
Fails to fully fund The Emergency Food Assistance Program by $20 million. Nearly 12% of Mecklenburg County householdsare food insecure.
Fails to renew $293 million in bipartisan emergency preparedness and disaster mitigation projects as Western North Carolina still works to recover from Hurricane Helene.
Fails to provide valuable community project funding to local organizations and municipalities that offer services like healthcare, housing assistance, food security, and other critical community needs.
The continuing resolution also fails to direct how most of the funds will be used, giving President Trump even greater authority to freeze or reappropriate the federal dollars included in the continuing resolution.
“This bill is House Republicans’ attempt to give President Trump a blank check to enact his unpopular, harmful agenda,” said Congresswoman Adams. “We have already seen this administration wage wars on education, food assistance, housing, healthcare, and this will only seek to embolden them. I urge North Carolinians to call their member of congress and senators and make their voices heard during this critical time for our country.”
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Deane, Professor of Trade Law, Taxation and Climate Change, Queensland University of Technology
US President Donald Trump has imposed a range of tariffs on all products entering the US market, with Australian exports set to face a 10% tariff, effective April 5.
These import taxes will be charged by US customs on each imported item. The punitive tariffs on 60 countries range as high as 34% on imports from China and 46% on Vietnam, and exceed the rates agreed between the United States and other global trade partners.
“For decades, our country has been looted, pillaged, raped and plundered by nations near and far, both friend and foe alike,” Trump said.
The impact on Australian industries will be both direct and indirect. The largest Australian export to the US is meat products, totalling A$4 billion in 2024, and our farmers may divert some product to other nations.
Direct and indirect impacts
The larger economic risk is to our regional trading partners.
While Australia faces only 10% tariffs, our major trading partners China, Japan and South Korea all face much higher US tariffs under the new regime. So the risk of a manufacturing slowdown in those countries could dampen demand for Australia’s much larger exports – iron ore, coal and gas.
Australian investors reacted swiftly, wiping 2.1% off the main stock market index, the S&P/ASX 200, in the first hour of trade.
Another problem will be the disruption to global supply chains. It is not just finished products impacted. For instance, the 25% automobile tariff will be extended to auto parts on May 3. This means even if a car is entirely built in the US, it will still be more expensive because many components are imported.
On April 1, the US released an annual trade report that identifies what it describes as “foreign trade barriers”. There was a long list of grievances with both tariff and non-tariff barriers identified.
The report identified Australia’s biosecurity restrictions on meat, apples and pears. The Australian biosecurity rules do not directly ban any products, although in practice raw beef products are excluded.
Trump singled out Australian beef in his speech. “They won’t take any of our beef,” he claimed.
In a speech riddled with inaccuracies and falsehoods, this was one of them. Australia take shelf-stable US products, but not raw products for which consumer safety can not be assured.
The US cited two other main Australian trade barriers. US drug companies have criticised the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme approvals processes. The Albanese government’s plan to strengthen the News Media Bargaining Code that requires tech companies to pay for news published on their platforms was also targeted.
How can Australia respond?
Both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton are in agreement over what we should do in response. They say Australian law and policy is not up for sale. We don’t negotiate on biosecurity, we don’t negotiate on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme process, and our local news media deserves protection from Big Tech.
1. All avenues start with negotiations
The preferred option is for a negotiation with the US to secure an exemption.
However, the US has sidelined the WTO in recent years and Albanese has ruled out this route.
2. Consultation
The second potential action is to initiate consultations under the Australia–US Free Trade Agreement. There is a formal process identified in the agreement to which Albanese referred, with a threat of “dispute resolution mechanisms”.
Albanese has ruled out imposing “reciprocal tariffs” on US imports, noting this would only push up prices for Australian consumers.
3. Find new markets
Third, we can find other markets. Australian agricultural products are some of the most desirable in the world. Australian producers will have other options. Indeed, the latest data for beef exports showed exports to China jumped 43% from January, to Japan up 27%, and to South Korea up 60% from the previous month.
What has the government said?
Albanese announced a response package, including $50 million to help pursue new markets. He said the tariff announcement was “not the act of a friend” and had “no basis in logic”:
It is the American people who will pay the biggest price for these unjustified tariffs. This is why our government will not be seeking to impose reciprocal tariffs.
Albanese’s response contains only one direct trade measure. That is the plan to strengthen anti-dumping provisions on steel, aluminium and other manufacturing. This means countries looking to sell their products too cheaply in Australia will face countervailing duties. It is a measure that aligns with trade rules.
The decision by the US to impose tariffs in this way shows complete disregard for the world trade order established after World War II.
The rules that have existed since this time aimed to limit trade barriers (such as tariffs). They also recognised the importance of supporting developing countries to be part of the world economy.
Some of the biggest US tariffs are to hit some of the lowest-income countries. This will impact their economies badly and disadvantage people already living in poverty.
Felicity Deane does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Paul Tonko (Capital Region New York)
WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) released the following statement lambasting the Trump administration for eliminating the entire staff at the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as part of the massive and devastating cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services.
“The Home Energy Assistance Program provides relief for millions of American families that struggle to afford their utility bills. Over my years in Congress, I’ve worked to deliver HEAP funding to our Capital Region time and again to ensure our neighbors don’t have to choose between keeping the lights on or paying for food, medicine, and other daily essentials. This latest action from the Trump administration to eliminate the employees who deliver this aid is beyond callous. These cuts will rip away a lifeline for families across our Capital Region, New York State, and the nation. It is clear that Trump, Musk, RFK, and the GOP do not care about whether or not families can keep the power on — their focus remains bankrolling tax breaks for their billionaire friends.
“In the face of this cruelty, I’ll not stop my efforts to combat these cuts and deliver meaningful relief for American families struggling to pay their utilities, as with my bipartisan Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act. I encourage all my colleagues to join me in this work to preserve these proven energy affordability programs that support our communities.”
Source: United States Small Business Administration
ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the opening of a Business Recovery Assessment Center (BRAC) in Mitchell County to assist businesses, nonprofits and residents affected by Hurricane Helene.
Beginning Wednesday, April 2, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the BRAC to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals complete their application. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment in advance at appointment.sba.gov.
The BRAC’s hours of operation is listed below.
Business Recovery Assessment Center (BRAC)
Mitchell County
Maryland Community College Small Business Center
67 Hotel Place
Spruce Pine, NC 28777
Opening: Wednesday, April 2, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed: Saturday & Sunday
“SBA’s Business Recovery Assessment Centers have consistently proven their value to business owners following a disaster,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “Business owners can visit these centers to meet face-to-face with specialists who will guide them through the disaster loan application process and connect them with resources to support their recovery.”
The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.
EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.
Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.
Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include strengthening structures to protect against high wind damage, regrading landscaping for better drainage, and installing a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage.
Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 3.250% for nonprofits, and 2.813% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.
To apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is April 27, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 30, 2025.
###
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
Grant Awarded
Recipient
Project Description
$1,515,421.77
Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District
This grant will provide federal funding for equipment replacement at Hewitt-Robbins Ship Loader #1 damaged by Hurricane Laura.
$1,725,740.10
West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital
This grant will provide federal funding for permanent repairs to hospital buildings damaged by Hurricane Laura.
$6,209,552.39
Terrebonne Parish School Board
This grant will provide federal funding for management costs associated with recovery projects following Hurricane Ida.
$1,312,558.39
Orleans Levee District Non-Flood Protection Asset Management Authority
This grant will provide federal funding for permanent repairs to South Shore Harbor facilities damaged by Hurricane Ida.
$13,358,873.33
St. John the Baptist Parish
This grant will provide federal funding for debris removal operations following Hurricane Laura.
$1,562,359.50
Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
This grant will provide federal funding for debris removal operations following Hurricane Ida.
$5,286,570.30
Terrebonne Parish School Board
This grant will provide federal funding for repair costs resulting from Hurricane Ida.
$1,415,716.20
Jefferson Parish School Board
This grant will provide federal funding for repair costs resulting from Hurricane Ida.
n response to the ongoing flooding in Harney County, Governor Kotek has declared a State of Emergency and directed the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) to activate the State’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) to coordinate response efforts across state agencies.
Since March 14, 2025, Harney County and surrounding areas have experienced historic levels of rainfall and snowmelt, overwhelming rivers, streams, and wastewater systems. Floodwaters have inundated roadways, damaged critical infrastructure, and introduced environmental and public health risks, including contamination of waterways and disruption to essential services.
Governor’s Emergency Declaration(ORS 401.165) enables rapid mobilization of state resources to support Harney County’s local efforts.
State Agency Actions Include:
Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is working closely with local, tribal, and federal partners to support life safety, protect critical infrastructure, and address emerging needs. Regional coordinators and liaisons have been deployed to assist on the ground, and OEM is actively managing resource requests to ensure communities have the support they need. OEM has also established a Joint Information System and is actively coordinating public information efforts to support the public receives accurate, timely, and consistent updates throughout the emergency.
Oregon Health Authority (OHA) The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has deployed emergency preparedness and tribal coordinators to support local and tribal partners with critical resources, information, and guidance. Medical volunteers from SERV-OR are assisting at medical shelters, with one deployed and at least 10 more available this week. OHA is also addressing drinking water concerns, immunization needs—such as tetanus prevention—and identifying individuals with medical conditions who may need extra support. Remote public health communication support is also being provided.
The Oregon Department of Human Services’ Office of Resilience and Emergency Management (ODHS OREM) has delivered essential supplies, including water, hygiene kits, portable toilets, and handwashing stations, to the Burns Paiute Tribe, the American Red Cross shelter in Harney County, and other affected areas. Two shower trailers are in place, with a third on the way. Nine ODHS OREM staff are on-site working with local teams. ODHS OREM recovery coordinators are helping survivors assess their needs and connect with services as they begin to recover.
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) DEQ staff has been in contact with the City Public Works team, providing technical support remotely. The operations staff has kept the sewer ponds intact, which are not in the immediate flood zone at this time. DEQ onsite program staff provided an EPA fact sheet to the county as well as an onsite disaster planning and response handbook.
Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) ODA has been actively supporting our partners at the Oregon Office of Emergency Management in response to the floods in Harney County. We’ve provided resources on federal programs that may assist impacted farmers and ranchers and shared guidance on animal care during flood conditions. Our focus remains on ensuring the agricultural community has the information and support needed to navigate this challenging time.
Oregon State Fire Marshall’s Office has deployed 25 personnel to support local response to sandbagging efforts to reinforce the levee. They are joined by Colton Fire, Merrill Fire, Klamath County Fire District 1, and Chiloquin Fire and Rescue Departments.
It’s been incredibly inspiring to witness the swift coordination of federal, state, local, and Tribal resources coming together to support communities in need,” said Stephen Richardson, Emergency Coordination Center Manager. “A powerful example of that collaboration was the rapid repair of a compromised dike—an urgent fix that helped prevent further impacts and protect lives and property.”
This coordinated effort reflects Oregon’s commitment to whole-of-government response under the CEMP. The State will continue to assess needs and respond dynamically as conditions evolve.
Looking Ahead
While Harney County is currently the most severely affected, state agencies remain vigilant in monitoring flood conditions statewide and are prepared to support other communities if necessary.
For the latest updates visit OEM’s newsroom page at Home – Newsroom or follow @OregonOEM on social media. Visit our flood dashboard here: State of Oregon Flood Dashboard.
The five-week election campaign is now in full swing throughout the nation.
Amid the flurry of photo opportunities and press conferences, candidates campaign in specific areas for a reason: to shore up or win back key seats.
But which seats are key? Here, six experts explain the seats to watch in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.
New South Wales
David Clune, honorary associate, government and international relations, University of Sydney
How the 2025 federal election will play out in NSW is difficult to predict for two reasons.
The first is the recent redistribution which, as ABC analyst Antony Green’s pendulum shows, has redefined many electoral boundaries.
The second is the number of crossbench MPs. There are three Teals in formerly safe Liberal seats: Mackellar (Sophie Scamps), Warringah (Zali Steggall) and Wentworth (Allegra Spender). Teal Kylie Tink’s seat of North Sydney has been abolished.
All were lifted into parliament by the rising tide of resentment against former Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Now that tide has gone out, the survival of these MPs depends on how they have performed as local members. The overall impression is that they have done well in connecting with their constituents and will be hard to shift.
There is a chance the formerly safe upper north shore seat of Bradfield could augment their numbers. Teal Nicolette Boele gave Liberal Paul Fletcher a very uncomfortable election night in 2022 when she slashed his majority. After the redistribution, the Liberals hold the seat by a narrow 2.5%. Fletcher is not recontesting. Boele is running a well-financed campaign with a lot of grass roots support.
The redistribution has pushed many former North Sydney voters into Bradfield. Whether they remain Teal or revert to being true-blue Liberals remains to be seen.
Much of the rest of the former North Sydney has gone into the very marginal Labor seat of Bennelong, which is now notionally marginal Liberal.
The Nationals have a problem in Calare, where former Nationals MP, now independent, Andrew Gee, is recontesting. The Nationals are also facing challenges from the left on the upper north coast due to demographic change. They hold Cowper by 2.4%.
Liberal-aligned independent, Dai Le, narrowly won Fowler in Sydney’s western suburbs in 2023. Labor has endorsed Tu Le, also of Vietnamese descent, in what promises to be a tough fight. Parramatta is another marginal seat in the western suburbs, held by Labor’s Andrew Charlton with a two-party preferred margin of 3.7%.
The government is concerned about seats on the central coast and in the Hunter and Illawarra regions, where concerns about wind farms and job losses due to renewable energy are a major issue. Most of the government’s vulnerable seats are in these areas: Gilmore, Robertson, Paterson and Hunter would all be lost with a two-party-preferred swing of 5%.
Queensland
Paul Williams, associate professor in politics and journalism, Griffith University
For decades we said Queensland was a key “battleground” in federal elections where seats north of the Tweed so often held the keys to The Lodge.
The 1975 election saw the Coalition leave Labor with a single seat, and the 1996 poll bequeath Labor just two. Conversely, Labor’s Kevin Rudd rode to victory on his nine-seat haul in in 2007, with Rudd losing seven of those in 2010.
But, for the past 15 years, federal elections have seen little movement in Queensland except, of course, for 2022 when the Greens won three seats. In short, Queensland is no longer the “make-or-break” state. Even the retirements of Keith Pitt (Hinkler), Karen Andrews (McPherson), Warren Entsch (Leichhardt) and Graham Perrett (Moreton) will hardly affect the mood.
The electoral pendulum confirms this. Labor holds just five of Queensland’s 30 seats, with Blair – a mix of outer-suburban and regional proclivities – Labor’s most marginal, but still held by a healthy 5.2% buffer. Given the two-party-preferred (2PP) swing to the Liberal-National Party (LNP) in Queensland will likely be under five percentage points – far lower than the 7.0% two-party-preferred swing the LNP attained at last October’s state election – the Coalition is unlikely to seize any more Labor property.
Conversely, despite the LNP holding seven Queensland seats on margins under 5%, the electoral tide is well and truly out for a Labor Party, whose Queensland brand is damaged at all levels. Inflation and housing shortages have hit Queensland hard, and especially so in the regions. Peter Dutton’s seat of Dickson – the LNP’s most marginal on just 1.7% – is therefore safe.
Climate action and other “community” candidates (some reject the “Teal” moniker) are standing on the Gold Coast (McPherson and Moncrieff), on the Sunshine Coast (Fisher and Fairfax), and in Groom and Dickson. None will win, but some will carve out a respectable primary vote.
All eyes will instead be on the cashed-up inner-urban seats of Ryan (potentially returning to the LNP), Griffith (a possible Labor win) and Brisbane (a genuine three-way race) – all three useful, but not essential, to Labor’s pathway to minority government.
In the Northern Territory, Labor’s Marion Scrymgour holds Lingiari by 1.7%, making that seat one to watch.
South Australia
Rob Manwaring, associate professor of politics and public policy, Flinders University
South Australia is rarely a key battleground in federal elections, and only comprises ten electoral seats.
There are, however, three key seats worth watching as they will tell us a lot about how the election campaign is playing out: Sturt, Boothby and Mayo.
In Sturt, the Liberals hold this key seat in Adelaide’s eastern suburbs with a margin of 0.5%. A fresh challenge for the incumbent James Stevens is that he faces a threat from SA’s first real Teal candidate, Verity Cooper. This potentially pulls this seat into a three-way fight.
Boothby, in Adelaide’s southern suburbs, will be a good litmus test of how well Labor’s campaign is performing. Labor won the seat for the first time ever in 2022, and Louise Miller-Frost has a 3.3% margin. Liberal candidate Nicolle Flint is resurrecting her political ambitions and would be a useful ally for Peter Dutton, if she were to win.
Finally – a question – does Rebekah Sharkie like pizza? Infamously, when state Labor Premier Jay Weatherill needed a critical independent vote to secure office in 2014, he drove to Port Pirie and brokered a deal over pizza with Geoff Brock. Sharkie holds the seat of Mayo in the Adelaide Hills as a member of the Centre Alliance party with a safe 12.3% margin. Sharkie aligns herself with the Teals, and if a Dutton-led victory looks likely, then she may well be ordering her favourite slice to thrash out the terms of any support.
Tasmania
Robert Hortle, deputy director of the Tasmanian Policy Exchange, University of Tasmania
There are two main seats to watch in Tasmania.
The large, rural seat of Lyons is one of the most marginal in the country. Labor’s Brian Mitchell won with a 0.9% margin in 2022, but he’s made way for Rebecca White. Despite an underwhelming record as Tasmanian Labor Leader – three state election defeats – White is very popular in Lyons. However, Liberal candidate Susie Bower was somewhat unlucky to lose in 2022 after winning 37.2% of the primary vote, and has been in campaign mode for the past three years.
On the surface, Franklin – Australia’s only non-contiguous electorate – looks like a safe Labor seat. Julie Collins, the MP since 2007 and a cabinet minister, has a 13.7% margin. But her primary vote fell in 2022, and community backlash against salmon farming in Franklin’s waterways – which Labor and the Coalition both support – could make her vulnerable.
If independent Peter George (former journalist and anti-salmon campaigner) can get ahead of the low-profile Liberal candidate at some point in the count, Liberal preferences may get him across the line.
Two other Tasmanian seats are unlikely to change hands, but feature some interesting dynamics.
Liberal MP Bridget Archer’s 1.4% margin in the northern seat of Bass might look vulnerable. However, she managed a strong primary vote in 2022 despite a big swing against the Liberal Party. She’s very popular in the community for her willingness to stick to her values – even if it means voting against her party 28 times – and should hold her seat despite rumours of internal moves against her.
In Braddon, long-serving Labor Senator Anne Urquhart has quit the upper house to run. Incumbent Liberal MP Gavin Pearce is retiring, and his replacement candidate, Mal Hingston, is a bit of an unknown. It’s unlikely Urquhart will be able to overturn the 8% two-party preferred margin, but prominence in the community might give her a glimmer of hope.
Another point of interest is who will pick up the votes won by the Jaquie Lambie Network (JLN) in 2022. The JLN is not running candidates following a spectacular implosion at state level – and where those voters find a home could be crucial, particularly in Lyons.
Victoria
Zareh Ghazarian, senior lecturer in politics, school of social sciences, Monash University
Victoria is shaping up to be a crucial state for the major parties. Several seats are held by the Labor and coalition parties with a margin of less than 5%.
According to Antony Green, Chisholm is the most marginal seat Labor currently holds. The eastern Melbourne seat has been held by both major parties over the past 30 years.
Next up is Aston, further east of Chisholm, which Labor won at arguably the Liberal Party’s lowest ebb in this electoral cycle at a byelection in 2023.
McEwen, on the other hand, is a provincial electorate to the north of Melbourne. Holding onto these three seats will be a significant feat for Anthony Albanese and may set up Labor to hold a majority government.
For the Coalition, the most marginal seat is Deakin, which is a neighbouring electorate to Aston and Chisholm. The seat is held by a margin of just 0.02%, making it the most marginal in the country.
Monash is also a very interesting seat as it was won by Russell Broadbent, who lost Liberal Party preselection and has decided to run as an independent. His local profile may provide a boost to his primary vote, but may not necessarily be enough to win the seat, which will likely be held by the Liberals.
The Coalition will be in trouble if it fails to retain any of its seats in Victoria. It would need to reclaim Chisholm and Aston if it has any chance of forming majority government.
Other seats to watch include Kooyong, held by Monique Ryan with a margin of 2.2% who defeated Josh Frydenberg in 2022, and Goldstein, held by Zoe Daniel with a margin of 3.3% after defeating Liberal Tim Wilson. These will be a test of whether the Liberal Party is able to reconnect with voters who had traditionally supported them in the past.
Western Australia
Narelle Miragliotta, associate professor in politics, Murdoch University
The five WA seats to watch are Curtin, Bullwinkel, Forrest, Pearce and Tangney.
The affluent inner metropolitan seat of Curtin is held by Teal Kate Chaney on a 1.3% margin. The Liberal’s 2022 defeat was existential and the party are investing heavily in reclaiming it, although Chaney is not likely to be outspent entirely, or outmanoeuvred.
Bullwinkel is a new seat on the eastern fringes of Perth. The majority of its voters are in the metropolitan area, but the seat also takes in regional parts of the state. The seat’s geography and lack of incumbent led to the Nationals fielding Mia Davies, who was leader of the Nationals in the state parliament between 2017 and 2023.
As a result, this notional Labor seat is the site of a fierce three-way contest. YouGov projects a “Coalition” gain, although the outcome will be influenced by whether the Liberals and Nationals can contain simmering hostilities.
Pearce, in the state’s far north, is held by Labor on a comfortable 8.8% margin. However, it’s one of the most indebted electorates in the nation, and the state Labor government experienced large swings against it in outer suburban and regional state electorates earlier this year.
Tangney, in the state’s southern suburbs, was a major win for Labor in 2022. A blue-ribbon inner-city seat held uninterrupted by the Liberals since the early 1980s, Tangney is Labor’s most marginal WA seat (2.6% margin). To Labor’s advantage is the fact that several of the once-safe Liberal inner metro electorates within Tangney’s boundaries have recently voted with Labor at a state level. However, it will be a tight contest.
Paul Williams is a research associate with the T.J. Ryan Foundation.
Rob Manwaring receives funding from the Australian Research Council for a Discovery project on political parties and associated entities.
David Clune, Narelle Miragliotta, Robert Hortle, and Zareh Ghazarian do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Headline: Kentuckians: Prepare for Severe Weather Now
Kentuckians: Prepare for Severe Weather Now
FRANKFORT, Ky
– With another round of severe weather on the way here in Kentucky, you need to stay prepared
It’s critical to have multiple ways to receive emergency alerts—whether you’re at home, school, work, or out in the community
Stay alert, follow guidance from your local officials, and keep up with the latest forecasts by following your local National Weather Service office
Read more about emergency alerts here
Before a TornadoHave a pre-determined place to meet after a disaster
Increase your situational awareness by monitoring the weather on weather
gov, watching local TV, or listening to NOAA Weather Radio
Know the signs of a tornado: dark, greenish sky; large hail; dark, low clouds; and loud roaring sounds
When a tornado watch is issued, practice your drill and check your safety supplies
Flying debris is the greatest danger in tornadoes, so store protective coverings (e
g
, mattress, sleeping bags, thick blankets, etc
) in or next to your shelter space, ready to use on a few seconds’ notice
Tornado rule of thumb: Put as many walls and floors between you and the tornado as possible
In a mobile home: Get out! Go to a neighbors, underground shelter, or a nearby permanent structure
Most tornadoes can destroy even tied-down mobile homes
Read the Commonwealth of Kentucky Division of Emergency Management’s Tornado Safety List herePrepare for FloodingIf you are under a flood warning, find safe shelter right away
Remember, just six inches of moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away
Follow instructions from local officials
If told, evacuate immediately
Never drive around barricades
Local responders use them to safely direct traffic out of flooded areas
Stay off bridges over fast-moving water
Fast-moving water can wash bridges away without warning
Avoid driving except in emergencies
Read the Commonwealth of Kentucky Division of Emergency Management’s Flood Safety List here
pdfBe Ready for a Power OutageLocate flashlights, radio and extra batteries now
Charge electronic devices now
Generators are helpful during power outages but can present serious health and safety risks
Only use a generator outdoors and far from open doors and windows to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning
Read the Commonwealth of Kentucky Division of Emergency Management’s Preparedness Checklist here
The Copernicus Climate Change Service report states that the global average surface air temperature during January 2025 was the hottest on record (0.79°C warmer than the 1991-2020) despite the development of La Niña conditions. However, the average temperature in the Indian region was the second highest since 1901 (0.98°C warmer than 1991-2020). The main reason for higher temperatures is global warming, which is closely linked to climate change. Global warming refers to the long-term increase in Earth’s average surface temperature due to human activities, primarily burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. This process releases greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which trap heat and cause the planet to warm up.
In general, during the La Niña years, the Indian summer monsoon experiences above-average rainfall, which is beneficial for better crop production. However, currently, neutral El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is prevailing over the equatorial Pacific Ocean with above-average sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the eastern and far western Pacific Ocean and below-average SSTs in the central Pacific Ocean. The latest Monsoon Mission Climate Forecasting System (MMCFS) and other global model forecasts indicate that neutral ENSO conditions are likely to continue during the southwest monsoon season of 2025. Thus, no La Niña impact is expected on the Indian monsoon during 2025. IMD will issue the first stage of the seasonal forecast for the 2025 Southwest monsoon seasonal rainfall by mid-April.
Various organisations under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) have been conducting regular studies on monsoons and associated rainfall and temperature patterns in the country, including those during the El Niño and La Niña periods. The India Meteorological Department continuously monitors the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) changes globally, especially in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, which have a significant impact on the Indian climate. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) also prepares forecasts based on the Monsoon Mission Climate Forecasting System (MMCFS) and issues the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO)/ Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) bulletin every month (https://www.imdpune.gov.in/cmpg/Product/Enso.php). IMD also issues monthly and seasonal outlooks for rainfall and temperature with monthly updates, which helps to prepare for the impact of El Niño/La Niña-related weather variations. These forecasts are complimented by the extended range forecasts updated every week for the next four weeks. Additionally, the IMD issues agriculture-specific advisories to help farmers prepare for extreme weather events associated with El Niño and La Niña, such as heavy rains or droughts. These advisories are helpful for decision-making in various agriculture operations, such as crop selection, irrigation practices, pest and disease warnings, disaster management, preparedness, etc.
This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
