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Wednesday, February 26, 2025

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U.S. and Ukraine agree to minerals deal, officials say; Defense Sec. Hegseth tied to Idaho-based Christian nationalist church; As federal cuts hit Wisconsinites, one group pitches in to help; Funds sought to help address Oregon housing shortage.

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Trump faces backlash for restricting press access. The Defense Secretary's ties to a controversial church spark debate, Speaker Mike Johnson struggles with votes for a budget that includes health care cuts. Arkansas expands school meals, and Western voters push back against cuts to wilderness agencies.

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The Taos County Sheriff says he won't conduct raids or round ups of immigrants, New Hampshire worries a dearth of charging stations will force tourists driving EVs to pick another vacation destination, and Southern states improve education with workarounds.

Research shows valuable impact of getting 'back to nature' practices on PA farms

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Tuesday, December 17, 2024   

A new study suggested getting "back to nature" in farming could help ward off the biggest effects of climate change.

As Pennsylvania faces increasingly extreme weather and biodiversity loss because of climate change, farmers and scientists are adopting resilient practices inspired by nature.

Liz Carlisle, associate professor of environmental studies at the University of California-Santa Barbara and the report's co-author in the science journal Frontiers, said what is known as "agroecological" farming can create tightly connected cycles of energy, water and nutrients, if farmers can get the resources they need.

"If we want to have a more sustainable food system, we really need to invest in that next generation of farmers and their development of knowledge," Carlisle urged. "And really think of them as the most important resource in farming."

She pointed out most farms today still rely on fossil fuel-based inputs such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The new approach prioritizes a living, healthy soil and aims to replace nonrenewable chemicals with practices that tap into natural ecosystems.

Carlisle noted new farms planted in wooded landscapes would look a lot like an actual forest, with multiple layers of crops, including trees. And farming on prairie lands could include regenerative grazing patterns created by native bison and other herbivores.

"Agroecological farming systems are really trying to work with nature and the services that nature provides, in terms of pest control and fertility," Carlisle explained. "Rather than working against nature."

Carlisle acknowledged over the past century, family farms in the United States have been overtaken by large corporations, leading to a shift away from traditional farming. She noted the shift has replaced those with strong land connections with chemical-focused practices to cut labor costs, harming rural economies. She stressed the importance of investing more societal wealth in the farmers and the landscapes they maintain.


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Miranda Johnson and her family received the keys to their new home, thanks in part to the Homeownership Development Incubator Program. (McMinnville Area Habitat for Humanity)

Social Issues

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Groups working to address Oregon's shortage of affordable housing are backing a bill to fund the state's Homeownership Development Incubator Program…


Social Issues

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AARP is taking applications for its 2025 Community Challenge grants and Wyoming's state chapter encouraged nonprofits and municipalities to apply…

Social Issues

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Workers in the fight against hunger in Arkansas are celebrating the passage and signing of Senate Bill 59. The legislation makes free breakfast …


About 17% of funding for North Carolina schools in the 2023-24 school year came from the federal government. (Noah/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

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The fate of the U.S. Department of Education could have big effects for North Carolina schools. While the Trump administration has discussed …

Environment

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In Pennsylvania, a nonprofit striving to secure the future of small dairy farms is hoping its federal funding won't be frozen much longer. …

Line 5 transports crude oil and natural gas liquids from Canada through Michigan to refineries in the U.S. and Canada. (SNEHIT PHOTO/Adobe Stock)

Environment

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Michigan environmental groups are pushing back as Enbridge's Line 5 tunnel faces "emergency" review, potentially bypassing full scrutiny and public …

Social Issues

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ties with a controversial church based in Idaho and critics said the church's Christian nationalist views could gui…

Environment

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By Kyla Russell for WISH-TV.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the WISH-TV-Free Press Indiana-Public News Service C…

 

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