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☆ Will the total solar eclipse disrupt your cell service?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-06 | by ( John Towfighi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —As darkness envelops millions of people during Monday’s total solar eclipse, spectators will hold their cellphones skyward to capture the moment. A family looks through a pair of giant solar eclipse glasses at Veterans Memorial Park in Dripping Springs, Texas, on April 4, 2024. When the last total solar eclipse cut a path across America in 2017, AT&T reported network usage spikes up to 15% around certain cell towers in the path of totality. People view the solar eclipse at 'Top of the Rock' observatory at Rockefeller Center, August 21, 2017 in New York City. “A total eclipse of the sun is unlike any other experience that a human being can have.

Persons: Adam Davis, Shutterstock, ”, Caty Pilachowski, ” Pilachowski, Drew Angerer, Chris Serico, Serico, ” Serico, it’s, ” Verizon’s Serico, Heather Groll, ” Groll, Michelle Eng, Pichnaieu Chung, Anthony Behar, Lisa Winter, Winter, Rick Dietz, Aaron Sadler, Pilachowski, “ Organizations: CNN, Veterans Memorial, Indiana University , Bloomington, Bloomington, Rockefeller Center, Verizon, 5G, New York State Division of Homeland Security, Emergency Services, “, New, MTA, Hall, AP, NASA, Technology Services Department Locations: Texas, Maine, Springs, Texas , Oklahoma , Arkansas , Missouri , Tennessee , Illinois , Kentucky , Indiana , Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York , Vermont , New Hampshire , Maine, Mexico, Canada, America, New York City, Niagara, Erie, New York, Northeast Ohio, Dallas, United States, Buffalo , NY, Rochester , NY, Hall , New York, NY, Rock , Arkansas, Little

☆ China needs a new economic plan that focuses less on exporting and more on domestic growth, 'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

China will stagnate if it relies on manufacturing and exports to grow, Nouriel Roubini wrote in Project Syndicate. That growth model is outdated and worked in a time when foreign markets were more open to Chinese products. AdvertisementChina can't grow out of its economic problems if it stays focused on manufacturing and exports, says famed "Dr. Doom" economist Nouriel Roubini. "The old Chinese growth model is broken," the perma-bear economist wrote for Project Syndicate, later adding: "China therefore needs a new growth model concentrated on domestic services — rather than goods — and private consumption." Related storiesWhen China's economy was smaller, this form of growth made sense, as its exports were still manageable for foreign markets, Roubini said.

Persons: Nouriel Roubini, Doom, —, Roubini, Xi Jinping, he's, Paul Krugman Organizations: Project Syndicate, Service Locations: China, Beijing

☆ A boomer couple left coastal Florida after 3 decades for rural Missouri because the Sunshine State 'is definitely not paradise anymore'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

But after decades by the water in Florida, Meaders said Florida "is definitely not paradise anymore." Meaders wanted to be closer to her son and grandson, and the couple wanted a small-town feel. AdvertisementMany older Americans continue to flock to Florida, though some have recently told Business Insider they've had enough of the Sunshine State. Meaders and Dunne met in Brevard County after Dunne moved back. They've found the hospitality of everyone in their community much improved, noting that many people in her small Missouri city recently moved from California.

Persons: Sherry Meaders, James Michael Dunne, Meaders, they've, millennials, Missouri Meaders, Dunne, Rockledge, We're, it's, she's, They've, We've Organizations: Service, Business, Sunshine State, Bureau, Survey, Coast Guard, Bell System, Daytona, Kansas City Locations: Florida, Missouri, Virginia, Georgia, Texas, Kansas City, Rockledge, Brevard County, Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral, Chicago, Pacific, Alaska, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Volusia County, Daytona Beach, Africa, Miami, America, Kansas, In Florida, California

☆ People priced out of Austin and Orlando are moving to these cheaper cities
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Dan Latu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Austinites are heading an hour away, to Killeen, according to real-estate consultancy John Burns. Orlando residents are decamping to Lakeland, Florida, trading nightlife for space, John Burns said. The Austin metropolitan area similarly grew 2.7% in 2021 and 2022, adding 63,000 people, according to the city of Austin. In 2021, 1,607 households moved from Orlando to Lakeland, while 250 households left Austin for Killeen, John Burns said in its analysis, published March 5. The primary reason is affordability, Austin real-estate agent Lisa Copeland told Business Insider.

Persons: John Burns, —, Orlando, Redfin, Killeen, Austin, Lisa Copeland, Copeland, Jordan Prais, It's, Prais, Lakeland's, it's Organizations: Service, Orlando, Austin, John, John Burns Research, Consulting, Business, Lakeland, Florida Children's Museum, Army Locations: Killeen, Orlando, Lakeland , Florida, Austin, Killeen , Texas, Lakeland, Central Florida, Austinites, Texas, Fort Hood

Setting a down payment goalBefore you can set a down payment goal, you first need to figure out how much you'll need for a lender to approve you for a mortgage. Determining the size of down payment neededThe minimum size of your down payment will depend on the loan program you use. Exploring down payment assistance programsDown payment assistance programs can help cover part or all of your down payment. But if you can save up a down payment of at least 20% of the home's purchase price, you'll avoid paying PMI (private mortgage insurance), which can reduce your monthly payment. To save for a down payment, create (and stick to) a budget, reduce unnecessary expenses, increase your income through side jobs, automate your savings, and explore down payment assistance programs.

Persons: You'll, you'll, windfalls, Windfalls Organizations: Netflix, Spotify, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, PMI Locations: homebuyers, Chevron

As rural hospitals continue to struggle financially, a new type of hospital is slowly taking root, especially in the Southeast. Saving rural careThat was the case for Irwin County Hospital in Ocilla, Georgia, which was the second rural emergency hospital established in the U.S. “But ... we felt like we had to try.”Irwin County Hospital became a rural emergency hospital on Feb. 1, 2023. “We might have been closed if we hadn’t (become a rural emergency hospital), so ... something had to be done,” he said. Brock Slabach, the National Rural Health Association's chief operations officer, told the AP that upwards of 30 facilities are interested in converting to rural emergency hospitals this year.

Persons: Carrie Cochran, McClain, George Pink, Weeks, Scott Carver, he’d, ”, Quentin Whitwell, “ We’re, Whitwell, Carver, Traci Harper, Harper’s, “, ‘, Warren, Jared Chaffin, Amy Thimm, they’ll, Ron Te Brink, Chaffin, “ That’s, Kenneth Williams, Williams, Williams isn’t, we’ve, Pink, it’s, Cochran, Brock Slabach, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: National Rural Health Association, U.S, University of North, Sheps, for Health Services Research, Health Research Program, Irwin County Hospital, Hospital, Progressive Health Systems, Warren Memorial Hospital, Alliance Healthcare, Centers, Medicare, Associated Press, National Rural Health Association's, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AP Locations: Southeast, Rural, Nebraska, Florida, Ocilla , Georgia, U.S, ” Irwin, Jacksonville , Florida, Holly Springs , Mississippi, Memphis

First-time homebuyer no down payment programsIt's possible to get a mortgage with no down payment. VA mortgage borrowers enjoy the ability to put no money down and interest rates that are typically lower than conventional mortgage rates. Other low down payment mortgage optionsIf you don't qualify for VA or USDA no down payment home loans, there are other strategies you can use to reduce the down payment you're required to pay. Preparing for the application processTo ensure you qualify for a no down payment mortgage, work on getting your credit score in a good place. Forgoing a down payment may mean paying a higher interest rate and higher monthly payment on your mortgage.

Persons: you'll, Here's who's, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Organizations: US Department of Veterans Affairs, US Department of Agriculture, Federal Housing Administration, Federal Housing Finance Agency, USDA, Chevron Locations: homebuyers

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration announced Tuesday that it is expanding a program to help rural communities with serious sewage problems get technical help to plan improvements and apply for funding. “For the first time ever, these communities are going to get an assessment about ... what is the status of their wastewater infrastructure. Still, “the water infrastructure gap is is greater than the resources we have,” and the Biden administration will continue to advocate for more funding, she said. The tribe has received funding to pump septic tanks and develop educational materials, and is applying for funding for infrastructure improvements, Fox said. The town of White Hall, in Lowndes County, Alabama, has developed wastewater treatment and funding options to address sewage that sometimes ran into yards.

Persons: —, Radhika Fox, ” Fox, Biden, Fox, We’re, ”, Catherine Flowers Organizations: WASHINGTON, Biden, U.S . Environmental, San Carlos Apache, Center for Rural Enterprise, Environmental, Associated Press, Walton Family Foundation, AP Locations: South, Southwest, U.S, Arizona, White, Lowndes County , Alabama

☆ Elon Musk's SpaceX was the satellite villain of the skies. It's taking a 'money hit' to try and fix the problem.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewNEW ORLEANS — When SpaceX launched its first Starlink satellites, astronomers all over the world freaked out and the company quickly became a villain of the skies. Nonetheless, Starlink satellites — now more than 5,000 strong — are streaking across astronomers' views of the cosmos, ruining their data. SpaceX leads the way for changeA satellite trail streaks in front of galaxies in this image from the Hubble Space Telescope. The visors were a regular feature for many Starlink satellites until SpaceX added laser communications. AdvertisementChris Hofer, international team lead for Amazon's Project Kuiper internet satellites, told the astronomers in New Orleans that SpaceX's Starlink tinkering has been helpful.

Persons: —, James Lowenthal, Lowenthal, SpaceX isn't, Jonathan McDowell, McDowell, that's, Patricia Cooper, Elon Musk, Slaven Vlasic, They're, Chris Hofer, Hofer, Kristina Barkume, Barkume Organizations: Service, SpaceX, New York Times, Business, Times, Hubble, Telescope, NASA, ESA, American Astronomical Society, International Astronomical Union, CPS, Planet Labs, Amazon Locations: New Orleans

(AP) — Conservative lawmakers who want to intertwine religion with school curriculum in Republican-dominated Nebraska presented a slew of bills Monday to the state Legislature’s education committee. Another measure would change school funding to loop in private school tuition while forbidding the state from interfering in private schools’ curriculum or beliefs. The bill introduced last year was among those that stalled as conservatives focused on passing a bill to allow taxpayer money to be used to fund private school scholarships. Others argued Erdman’s bill would hurt funding for rural school districts like his own, which has fewer than 350 students. Under the bill, out-of-state teachers could gain Nebraska certification by taking a knowledge-testing exam they must pass.

Persons: LINCOLN, Sen, Dave Murman, Steve Erdman’s, Erdman, ” Ron Cunningham, Lincoln, Loren Lippincott’s, “, Omaha Sen, Kathleen Kauth —, Jim Pillen Organizations: — Conservative, Republican, Nebraska Legislature’s, Democratic, Omaha, Gov Locations: Neb, Nebraska, Glenvil, Arizona

☆ John Deere and SpaceX's Starlink team up to equip tractors with satellite internet, in a deal Elon Musk calls 'great for farmers'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewElon Musk and SpaceX set out to blanket the world with high-speed internet using thousands of Starlink satellites. The tractor titan and satellite giant have signed a deal to connect tractors and other farming equipment to the internet, The Wall Street Journal reported. SpaceX uses Falcon 9 rockets to transport batches of around 60 Starlink satellites at a time. Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesJohn Deere tested different satellite options for about eight months, according to The Wall Street Journal report. Farmers will have to install Starlink antennas, which will be designed for rugged and dusty terrain, on the tops of vehicle cabs, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Persons: —, Elon, John Deere, Musk, Elon Musk, Rishi Sunak, Kirsty Wigglesworth, Paul Hennessy, JC Schemper, Longmont , Colorado Rick Wilking Organizations: Service, SpaceX, Business, Street Journal, Deere, Twitter, British, Wall, Falcon, Getty, Wall Street, Reuters Locations: Brazil, London, Nebraska, Longmont , Colorado

Both children received help through telehealth therapy, a service that schools around the country are offering in response to soaring mental health struggles among American youth. The growth reflects a booming new business born from America’s youth mental health crisis, which has proven so lucrative that venture capitalists are funding a new crop of school teletherapy companies. For rural schools and lower-income students in particular, it has made therapy easier to access. Schools let students connect with online counselors during the school day or after hours from home. It now employs more than 300 clinicians providing teletherapy in over 150 school districts in 15 states.

Persons: Maria Ishoo’s, Valerie Aguirre’s, ”, Ishoo, “, ” Ishoo, Trish Wilson, that’s, Wilson, Doreen Hogans, Kevin Dahill, Hazel, Josh Golomb, Prince George’s, Golomb, ” Golomb, Ashwin Vasan, ” Vasan, Fern Yoshida, Valerie Aguirre's, Aguirre, teletherapy, ” Aguirre, ’, Sharon Lurye Organizations: Associated Press, Schools, Hazel Health, Hazel, Los, Clark County, Dade, Press, Carnegie Corporation of New, AP Locations: California, Hawaii, Lancaster , California, Lancaster, Prince George’s County , Maryland, San Francisco, Los Angeles County, Clark, Las Vegas, Miami, Houston, New York City, New York, Maui, Carnegie Corporation of New York

☆ An invasive species of feral Canadian 'super pigs' could spread into the US
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Jordan Parker Erb | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

An invasive species of Canadian wild hogs is threatening to spread into the US. AdvertisementResidents of the northern US may soon have to worry more about what was a once-ridiculed concept: warding off feral hogs. Free-roaming super swine may seem trivial — hence the 2019 "feral hogs" Twitter spectacle — but the species poses a serious problem, according to the US Department of Agriculture. AdvertisementLegit question for rural Americans - How do I kill the 30-50 feral hogs that run into my yard within 3-5 mins while my small kids play? AdvertisementNow, feral hogs have been found in 35 states, and have an estimated population of 6 million, the site states.

Persons: —, Willie McNabb 🐗, orth Organizations: AP, Service, US Department of Agriculture Locations: Canadian, Montana , North Dakota, Minnesota, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba

☆ From black gold to green power: Texas, weirdly, is leading America's clean energy future
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

John DavisDeals like Davis' have made Texas — America's oil capital for more than a century — the top producer of renewable energy in the US. The state has long generated the most wind power and is second only to California as a solar-energy producer. The high-stakes battle for Texas' energy future is a microcosm of how tricky America's green transition is shaping up to be, especially when politics are involved. Slowing down renewable energy could cost Texas in the long term, both economically and socially. The coalition seems to be growing stronger, even as Texas politicians shift further to the right on issues beyond renewable energy.

Persons: John Davis, Davis, Greg Abbott, Critics aren't, there's, George W, Bush, Rick Perry, Abbott, Winter Storm Uri, hasn't, it's, It's, Judd Messer, Madeline Gould Laughlin, Michael Looney, San Angelo Chamber of Commerce Brent Bennett, Bennett, Messer, That's, Enel's Laughlin, Enel, Sandhya Ganapathy, Catherine Boudreau Organizations: Menard, RES, Texas, Republican, Texans, Power Alliance, John Davis Texans, University of Texas, Winter Storm, ERCOT, Bloomberg, Texas Public Policy Foundation, Texas Energy Fund, Advance Power Alliance, San, San Angelo Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Commerce, ExxonMobil, Chevron, West Texas Chamber of Commerce, Lone Star, EV Locations: North Dakota, Texas, America, Nowhere, Menard , Texas, Concho County , Texas, California, Menard, Austin, San Angelo, Midland , Texas

Experts say Trudeau's carbon pricing scheme, known as the carbon tax, works well and cannot be easily replaced. Even the left-leaning New Democrats, who support Trudeau's government in parliament and have previously defended the carbon tax, are calling for the exemption. Analysts said the carbon tax carve-out is another example of inconsistent policy. CARBON TAX REBATEThe carbon tax is intended to discourage use of fossil fuels and accelerate a switch to clean energy, but the recent carve-out underlines how fragile climate policy is in the face of pressing political calculations. In September, Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem said the carbon tax contributes about 0.15 percentage points to the inflation rate, which was 3.8% that month.

Persons: Justin Trudeau, Jessica Lee, Richard Brooks, Brooke, Brooks, Chris Severson, Baker, Pierre Poilievre, clobber Trudeau, Shachi Kurl, Angus Reid, Kurl, Jonathan Wilkinson, Wilkinson, Macklem, Trudeau, Robert Asselin, Asselin, Nia Williams, Steve Scherer, Josie Kao Organizations: Canada's, Ontario Chamber, Economic Summit, REUTERS, Rights Ottawa, Canadian, Provincial, New Democrats, Pembina Institute, Liberal, Conservative, Angus Reid Institute, Atlantic, Natural Resources, Reuters, Bank of Canada, Business Council of Canada, The Business Council, Thomson Locations: Toronto , Ontario, Canada, Ottawa

Another off-year election, another good night for Democrats – a rejoinder to a spate of recent polls showing alarming 2024 prospects for President Joe Biden. In Election Day’s marquee contests – the Kentucky gubernatorial race, Virginia’s legislative elections and a pro-abortion-rights ballot measure in Ohio – Democrats notched victories. Beyond that, “the real test was Trump’s ability to move voters in a state race,” Cross says. Tate Reeves won a second term – though the race was relatively close for a deep red state. In the secretary of state race, incumbent Michael Watson, a Republican, outran Reeves by more than 8 points in defeating Democrat Ty Pinkins.

Persons: Democrats –, Joe Biden, Andy Beshear, Daniel Cameron, Kentucky’s, Beshear, Biden, Cameron, Glenn Youngkin, ”, Roe, Wade, Beshear’s, Al Cross, Cross, “ I’m, Rich Meagher, Youngkin, “, Paul Beck, Daniel McCaffery, Carolyn Carluccio, Larry Ceisler, Micah Rasmussen, Rider, –, Tate Reeves, Democrat Brandon Presley, Elvis Presley, Reeves, Democrat hasn’t, Presley, Jim Hood, “ Reeves, Steve Rozman, Donald Trump’s, Reeves “, ” Rozman, Republican Russell Coleman, Pamela Stevenson, Michael Adams –, Buddy Wheatley, Lynn Fitch, Democrat Greta Kemp Martin, Michael Watson, outran Reeves, Ty Pinkins, Mark Brewer Organizations: Democrats, Kentucky gubernatorial, Democratic, Republican, GOP, University of Kentucky’s Institute for Rural Journalism, Macon College, Senate, Republicans, Ohio State University, Rebovich Institute for New, Democrat, Public Service Commission, Mississippi, College, University of Maine Locations: Ohio, Kentucky, In Virginia, Letcher, Perry County, Hazard, Breathitt County, Jackson, Virginia, Randolph, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ”, New Jersey, Jersey, Rebovich Institute for New Jersey, Mississippi, Maine

☆ Biden kicks off rural America tour in Minnesota
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] U.S. President Joe Biden holds an event about American retirement economics in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., October 31, 2023. Thirteen top administration officials will visit rural places in 15 states, including election battlegrounds like Michigan, Pennsylvania and Arizona, to highlight investments in rural communities, where one in five Americans live. A campaign official told Reuters that Biden would also participate in a fundraiser in Minneapolis after the farm visit. Biden beat former president Donald Trump in Minnesota by 52.4% to 45.3%, winning the state's 10 electoral college votes out of a total of 538 total. "President Biden believes that investing in America means investing in all of America and leaving no one behind," Neera Tanden, who heads the White House Domestic Policy Council, told reporters.

Persons: Joe Biden, Leah Millis, Biden, Dean Phillips, Donald Trump, Karine Jean, Pierre, Phillips, Jaylani Hussein, Tanden, Andrea Shalal, Jeff Mason, Andrew Hay, Stephen Coates Organizations: White, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Democratic, of American Islamic Relations, Muslim American, St Paul International Airport, Domestic Policy Council, Black, Republicans, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Minneapolis, Gaza, Israel, America, North Carolina, Georgia, Wisconsin, Raleigh , North Carolina, Northfield, Puerto Rico

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm will be in Arizona to talk about power grid and clean energy investment in the rural Southwest. Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough plans to visit Iowa to discuss improving access to medical care for veterans in rural areas. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra will be in North Carolina talking about health care access in rural areas. Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su will be in Pennsylvania to discuss boosting employment opportunities in rural areas. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai will head to Indiana to discuss how international trade can benefit rural farmers and producers.

Persons: Joe Biden, Dean Phillips of, Biden, Phillips, Tom Vilsack, White, Vilsack, Deb Haaland, Jennifer Granholm, Denis McDonough, Isabel Guzman, Miguel Cardona, Xavier Becerra, Julie Su, Katherine Tai Organizations: WASHINGTON, Democratic Rep, Dean Phillips of Minnesota, Administration, White, Smart Commodities, Agriculture Department, Farmers of, Energy, Southwest . Veterans, Small Business Administration, Education, Human Services, Labor, U.S . Trade Locations: Minnesota, America, Indiana, Farmers of America, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Southwest, Iowa, Georgia, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, U.S

☆ America's electric grid is in shambles. Biden has made the largest federal investment ever to try and fix it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Matthew Daly | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Biden announced $3.5 billion for 58 projects across the country to strengthen the electric grid. This is the largest federal investment ever made in grid infrastructure, said US Energy Secretary. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said it was the largest federal investment ever in grid infrastructure, supporting projects that will harden electric systems and improve energy reliability and affordability. The federal spending, combined with money promised by private partners, could result in up to $8 billion in investments nationally to upgrade the grid, Granholm said. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe largest grant, $464 million, will go to improve five transmission projects across seven Midwestern states, from Iowa to North Dakota.

Persons: Biden, Jennifer Granholm, Granholm, Chip Somodevilla, ″, Mitch Landrieu, Joe Biden, Landrieu, Jonathan Foley, Foley, Tim Walz, Steve Karnowski Organizations: US Energy, Service, Wednesday, Energy, Biden, Resilience, White House, Minnesota Gov, AP, of Commerce, CPS Energy, Consumers Energy, Flint, DTE Energy, Portland General Electric Locations: Maui, California, Georgia, Louisiana, American, Oregon, Iowa, North Dakota, Hawaii, California , Oregon , Utah, Minnesota, Locust Grove, Orleans, San Antonio, Texas , Colorado , New Mexico, Wisconsin, Texas, Michigan, Grand Rapids, Detroit

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Wednesday announced $3.5 billion for 58 projects across the country to strengthen electric grid resilience as extreme weather events such as the deadly Maui and California wildfires continue to strain the nation’s aging transmission systems. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said it was the largest federal investment ever in grid infrastructure, supporting projects that will harden electric systems and improve energy reliability and affordability. The federal spending, combined with money promised by private partners, could result in up to $8 billion in investments nationally to upgrade the grid, Granholm said. Political Cartoons View All 1211 ImagesThe largest grant, $464 million, will go to improve five transmission projects across seven Midwestern states, from Iowa to North Dakota. In southeastern Pennsylvania, PECO Energy Co. will increase grid reliability and resilience through substation flood mitigation and replacing aging infrastructure.

Persons: —, Biden, Jennifer Granholm, Granholm, ″, Mitch Landrieu, Joe Biden, ” Landrieu, ”, Jonathan Foley, ” Foley, Isabella O'Malley Organizations: WASHINGTON, Wednesday, Energy, Biden, Resilience, White House, Entergy, CPS Energy, DTE Energy, PECO Energy, Portland General Electric, Associated Press Locations: Maui, California, Georgia, Louisiana, American, Oregon, Iowa, North Dakota, Hawaii, California , Oregon , Utah, San Francisco, Locust Grove , Georgia, Orleans, San Antonio, Minnesota, Texas , Colorado , New Mexico, Wisconsin, Texas, Michigan, Detroit, Pennsylvania, New York

☆ France Pledges $150 Million to U.N.'s IFAD Fund for Rural Areas
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to invest $150 million in the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to fight poverty and climate change in rural areas. France decided to host and organise the 13th replenishment of IFAD, and was now launching a call for contributions by making the commitment, Macron said in a video message broadcast during a charity concert organized in New York by non-profit group Global Citizen. IFAD is a Rome-based United Nations agency working to address poverty and hunger in developing countries' rural areas. France also committed to give 40 million euros ($43 million) to the U.N.'s global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises, Education Cannot Wait (ECW), during 2023-2026, French Secretary of State for Development and International Partnerships Chrysoula Zacharopoulou said. ($1 = 0.9388 euros)(Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide and Camille Raynaud; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Macron, IFAD, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, Sybille de La Hamaide, Camille Raynaud, Emelia Sithole Organizations: PARIS, International Fund for Agricultural Development, Global Citizen, United Nations, State, Development Locations: France, New York, Rome, French

☆ France pledges $150 million to UN's IFAD fund for rural areas
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

French President Emmanuel Macron visits the construction site of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, which was damaged in a devastating fire, with his wife Brigitte Macron, Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla in Paris, on the second day of their State visit to France, September 21, 2023. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Sept 24 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to invest $150 million in the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to fight poverty and climate change in rural areas. IFAD is a Rome-based United Nations agency working to address poverty and hunger in developing countries' rural areas. France also committed to give 40 million euros ($43 million) to the U.N.'s global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises, Education Cannot Wait (ECW), during 2023-2026, French Secretary of State for Development and International Partnerships Chrysoula Zacharopoulou said. ($1 = 0.9388 euros)Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide and Camille Raynaud; Editing by Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Brigitte Macron, Britain's King Charles, Queen Camilla, Hannah McKay, Macron, IFAD, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, Sybille de La Hamaide, Camille Raynaud, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Notre, Dame de Paris Cathedral, REUTERS, Rights, International Fund for Agricultural Development, Global Citizen, United Nations, State, Development, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, New York, Rome, French

☆ Can Joe Biden and a fistful of cash win rural America for Democrats?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

Trump widened his lead among rural voters to 65% in 2020 from 59% in 2016. That includes $20 billion for rural health systems, $20 billion for clean-energy agriculture projects, $11 billion for rural electrification and $13 billion towards rural clean energy projects, the White House calculates. "You get out into the rural areas, and the folks are older and don't have the educational level. USDA data shows 21% of working-age adults in rural areas have at least a bachelor's degree compared to 37% in urban areas. "Biden and [Democratic] Maine Governor Janet Mills: they're too much bleeding hearts.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Andrea Shalal, Rhiannon Hampson, she's, Hampson, We've, Donald Trump, Trump, Barack Obama, Mark Brewer, Suzanne Mettler, Trevor Brown, Brown, Ron Kaufman, Kaufman, Mitt Romney, George H, Bush, Biden, Tom Perez, I'm, John Piotti, James Gimpel, Gimpel, Orange, Dick Bouchard, Janet Mills, Jared Golden, overplaying, TRUMP, Paul Tewes, Matt Hildreth, Nathan Layne, Heather Timmons, Suzanne Goldenberg Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Department, Republicans, Democratic, Biden, Republican, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Trump, University of Maine, Cornell, Republican National Committee, Democratic National Committee, Political, Trust, Pew, Center for Information, Research, Civic, Tufts University . White, Family Foundation, Data, University of Maryland, Pew Research, DEMOCRATS Maine, Maine, Reuters, Democrats, Democratic Party, Thomson Locations: Waterville , Maine, U.S, Waterville, Presque Isle, America, North Carolina, Georgia, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Maine, Orono, Nebraska, Massachusetts, Utah, Maine's, Vietnam, Poland, Iowa, Ohio , Montana

☆ DeSantis is taking aim at 'zombie studies' on the campaign trail. It's a real thing
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Her course lessons include chemical zombification, bacterial zombification and fungal zombification. Lauro, the University of Tampa professor, is scheduled to give a talk in Frankfurt, Germany, this month called, "Who's Afraid of Zombie Studies?" "The talk is pretty much entirely about this DeSantis nonsense, as well as what DeSantis is doing to education in Florida," Lauro said. Since DeSantis has taken aim at Black history, I think we can connect the dots on why the idea of 'zombie studies' gets under his skin so much. The first wave of zombie fiction hit the U.S. in the late 1920s, during the time of the Great Depression.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Paul Hennessy, Lightrocket, Eric Smaw, DeSantis, Smaw, automatism, Tatiana Tatum, Tatum, Gino Del Guercio, Del Guercio, Lauro, Sarah Juliet Lauro Organizations: Florida Gov, Rollins College, Rollins College In, Saint Xavier University in, Getty, Harvard Magazine, University of Tampa, Studies, Florida's Department of Education Locations: Florida, Auburndale , Florida, Winter Park , Florida, Canadian, Saint Xavier University in Chicago, tetrodotoxin, pufferfish, Haiti, Frankfurt, Germany, Africa, Caribbean, Hollywood

☆ Opinion | The Lines Between Red and Blue America Are Blurring, Not Hardening
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Jesse Nathan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

We canned our own tomatoes and turned ice cream by hand but also traveled to the East Coast for b’nai mitzvah. This summer a little town of a few thousand near my family’s farm held a Pride parade — for the fourth time. There’s even a small queer community at the little high school I attended. These so-called red states are their home, and many of them will raise families there. Kansas was, after all, the first state to reject — resoundingly — an effort to roll back abortion access after Roe was struck down.

Persons: peck, —, John Prine, “, George Eliot, Rosa Luxemburg, Abraham Joshua Heschel, Angela Davis, Pete Seeger, I’d, Matthew Shepard’s, Kris Kobach, Roe Organizations: University of California, Columbia Law School, United Farm Workers, Oakland, Mennonite, for Rural Culture Locations: Oakland, Berkeley, Kansas, California, East Coast, There’s, Kansas , Texas , Ohio, New York

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