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Sunday, July 21, 2024

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VP Kamala Harris says she plans to 'earn and win' Democratic nomination after Joe Biden drops out and endorses her; New Alabama bill threatens voter rights, legal challenge ensues; Fact-checking GOP claims on immigrants; Water contamination a concern in Midwest flood aftermath.

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President Joe Biden drops his 2024 re-election bid. He's endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to take his spot on the ticket, and election experts say they see benefits to this decision.

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It's grass-cutting season and with it, rural lawn mower races, Montana's drive-thru blood project is easing shortages, rural Americans spend more on food when transportation costs are tallied, and a lack of good childcare is thwarting rural business owners.

Report: Arizona set to experience a hotter summer this year

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Wednesday, May 29, 2024   

Arizona is already warming up, and a new report sheds light on how climate change is intensifying that heat. Last year, just under 650 heat-associated deaths were confirmed by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health. And ahead of Heat Action Day, this coming Sunday, a new Climate Central report finds human-caused climate change added an average of 26 days of extreme heat globally than there would've been otherwise.

Dr. Fredi Otto, co-lead with World Weather Attribution says it'll continue to be more difficult to keep vulnerable communities safe, in Arizona and around the world, as the heating trend escalates.

"Overwhelmingly we are in the era of loss and damage. Climate change is not something happening somewhere else, or sometime in the future - it is here and now," Otto said.

Experts like Otto are calling on leaders and policymakers to take action. In an effort to be better prepared, Arizona now has its first Chief Heat Officer - a first for any state - to oversee implementation of Governor Katie Hobbs' Extreme Heat Preparedness Plan.

Roop Singh, climate risk adviser with the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, considers heat waves a silent killer, unlike other types of natural disasters. While the Biden administration has invested billions of federal dollars to help lower energy costs for Americans, data show that assistance only reaches a small portion of those who need the help during the hot summer months. Singh says national legislation could help make a difference.

"So can we build those in? Can there be national legislation around building codes for keeping your homes cooler? Worker safety laws, especially for people who are working outdoors, can also be really helpful," Singh said.

Singh said other measures to reduce the impact of hotter days include making cooling needs part of the social safety net, bolstering transportation systems so they can operate during extreme heat waves, and designing towns and cities with cool spaces in close proximity to more residents.


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Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at a political event in Grand Rapids, Mich., in early 2024. (The White House/Wikimedia Commons)

Health and Wellness

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Vice President Kamala Harris focused on reproductive rights at a campaign event in Michigan Wednesday. Her remarks come as President Joe Biden has …


Environment

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Construction could begin in Minnesota later this year in the final phase of one of the nation's largest solar energy developments, after state …

Social Issues

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Thousands of educators from across the nation will be in Houston starting this weekend for the American Federation of Teachers annual convention…


The Illinois State Board of Education report card said O'Fallon Township High School HSD #203 is currently only funded at 64%. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

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By Kristy Alpert for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Illinois News Connection reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Service Colla…

Health and Wellness

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Counterfeit medicine sales are on the rise, in Connecticut and nationwide. The state faced trouble with growing sales of counterfeit Xanax pills …

"Arizonans understand that it is insane to risk Phoenix or Tempe for Odesa or some corn field in Ukraine. It is not in our national interest to get involved," said U.S. Rep. Alexander Kolodin, R-Ariz. (Gage Skidmore / Flickr)

Social Issues

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More than 2,400 delegates gathered in Milwaukee this week for the Republican National Convention and delegates from around the country, including …

Environment

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So far, states like Wisconsin have largely escaped the worst of the summer heat affecting much of the nation but a group of scientists wants regional …

Social Issues

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Postsecondary enrollment data for 2023 shows community college enrollment increased nationwide by more than 100,000 students, and a large percentage …

 

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