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Wednesday, April 23, 2025

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Marco Rubio unveils massive State Dept. overhaul with reductions of staff and bureaus; Visas revoked, status changed for international students in TX; Alaska lawmakers work to improve in-school mental health care; Montana DEQ denies Big Hole River decision, cites law opposed by EPA; Indiana moves to regulate legal THC sales and branding.

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White House defends Secretary Hegseth amid media scrutiny, federal judges block efforts to dismantle U.S. international broadcasters, and major restructuring hits the State Department and rural programs.

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Schools in timber country face an uncertain future without Congress' reauthorization of a rural program, DOGE cuts threaten plant species needed for U.S. food security, and farmers will soon see federal dollars for energy projects unlocked.

CA environmental advocates hold series of vigils around inauguration

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Monday, January 20, 2025   

Faith-based climate activists with the nonprofit GreenFaith are organizing a series of vigils tied to the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, hoping to influence the new administration.

Hundreds gathered at vigils this past week in San Diego, San Francisco and cities around the country - and more are planned in Los Angeles and Riverside.

William Morris is a faith organizer with GreenFaith - and urged people to speak out in favor of policies that protect our water, air, soil, and wildlife.

"People of faith are guided by our morals, our conscience, our values," said Morris, "and that we have this obligation and responsibility to speak up about caring for the earth and policies that help protect it."

Find out more about the vigils at greenfaith.org.

The group is circulating a petition asking that the U.S. stay in the Paris Climate Accords, oppose new fossil-fuel projects and deforestation, and promote clean energy.

On the campaign trail, Trump promised to ramp up oil and gas drilling and roll back many of President Joe Biden's climate policies.

He also reportedly pressed oil-company executives to contribute a billion dollars to his campaign.

Morris encouraged people to organize their own public-facing protests going forward.

"It could be on street corners," said Morris. "It could be in community spaces, in front of city halls, or could be in houses of worship. We want people of faith around the country to be able to say that this doesn't line up with our values."

Morris added that, based on the actions of the first Trump administration, GreenFaith is concerned about increased mining, grazing and timber harvesting on public lands.

The group vows to fight any attempt to deregulate toxic chemicals or reduce protections for endangered species.



Disclosure: GreenFaith contributes to our fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Energy Policy, Environmental Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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