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Tuesday, April 29, 2025

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Trump marks first 100 days in office in campaign mode, focused on grudges and grievances; Maine's Rep. Pingree focuses on farm resilience as USDA cuts funding; AZ protesters plan May Day rally against Trump administration; Proposed Medicaid cuts could threaten GA families' health, stability.

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Trump marks first 100 days of his second term. GOP leaders praise the administration's immigration agenda, and small businesses worry about the impacts of tariffs as 90-day pause ends.

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Migration to rural America increased for the fourth year, technological gaps handicap rural hospitals and erode patient care, and doctors are needed to keep the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians healthy and align with spiritual principles.

OR to decide on added protections for decreasing orca population

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Thursday, February 15, 2024   

Oregon officials are considering providing additional protections to orcas in the region.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will decide on Friday if Southern Resident orcas should be listed as endangered in the state.

Kathleen Callaghy is the Northwest representative for Defenders of Wildlife. She said there is a perception that this population was mainly off the coast of Washington and in the Salish Sea.

"But a couple of years ago the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officially expanded their critical habitat," said Callaghy, "because they found there were some whales who were traveling as far south as Monterrey Bay in California."

Southern Resident orcas are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and in Washington.

However, their numbers have continued to dwindle in recent years, down to about 70.

Callaghy said added protections from Oregon could help the orcas battle their main threats.

"We think that doing this listing will help to trigger interstate and intrastate agency collaboration," said Callaghy, "on addressing their needs as far as salmon abundance, reducing pollutants, and reducing vessel traffic and noise."

Along with an endangered species listing, Callaghy said she hopes the state will also adopt strong guidelines for how to protect these whales.

She said it's especially important to increasing salmon numbers.

"The survival of these species is interlinked," said Callaghy. "When we see Chinook populations go down, it's tightly correlated with losses among the Southern Resident population."



Disclosure: Defenders of Wildlife contributes to our fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Endangered Species & Wildlife, Energy Policy, Public Lands/Wilderness. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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