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EU moves toward latest gene techniques in food production to counter climate change, shortages

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:50 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union took a step Wednesday toward adapting its food production to the new ways of the world: The 27-nation bloc wants to embrace the latest gene techniques it hopes will help safely counter global challenges like climate change and shortages. For decades, the EU was conservative in allowing the use of genetically modified organisms — which often brought up connotations of Frankenfood rather than improved crop production — while the United States and others quickly adopted the new bioengineered technologies. However, the EU’s executive commission on Wednesday threw its weight behind so-called new genomic techniques, which seek to change organisms in a much less intrusive way than the GMOs of old, and to allow many to be sold without special labeling. “In many ways, new genomic techniques can give you the same results as through conventional and natural selection, or through targeted crossbreeding, but with much more speed, precision and efficiency,...

Ukraine, Russia accuse each other of planning to attack Europe’s biggest nuclear plant

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:50 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine and Russia accused each other Wednesday of planning to attack one of the world’s largest nuclear power plants, but neither side provided evidence to support their claims of an imminent threat to the facility in southeastern Ukraine that is occupied by Russian troops.The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been a focus of concern since Moscow’s forces took control of it and its staff in the early stages of the war. Russia and Ukraine have regularly traded blame over shelling near the plant that caused power outages. Over the last year, the U.N.’s atomic watchdog repeatedly expressed alarm over the possibility of a radiation catastrophe like the one at Chernobyl after a reactor exploded in 1986.The six reactors at Zaporizhzhia are shut down, but the plant still needs power and qualified staff to run crucial cooling systems and other safety features.Ukraine has alleged more recently that Moscow might try to cause a deliberate leak in an a...

Democrats' effort to force gun votes fizzles in House

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:50 GMT

A Democratic strategy to move tougher gun laws through the House has hit a brick wall of GOP opposition, all but guaranteeing the hot-button issue will be relegated to the realm of campaign messaging in the Republican-led lower chamber.  Democratic leaders had launched procedural maneuvers last month designed to force votes on several gun reform measures over the objections of GOP leaders. The gambit, known as a discharge petition, is rarely successful. But supporters had hoped the effort would bear fruit this year given the growing public outcry over endemic mass shootings and the widespread popularity of proposals like expanded background checks, one of which is sponsored by a Republican. But even that GOP lawmaker, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), has refused to endorse the petition, citing the likelihood that the background check bill would fail in the Senate. The unanimous Republican opposition has highlighted the limited powers of the ...

TSA screens record-breaking number of passengers on busiest day in agency's history: 'Extremely busy'

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:50 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – The Transportation Security Administration recorded its single busiest day in history on Friday, TSA officials confirmed over the weekend.On June 30, officers at TSA checkpoints nationwide screened a total of 2,883,595 travelers, marking the “highest number of passengers the agency has screened on record,” according to the TSA.The next-busiest day on record occurred on Nov. 27, 2019 — the Sunday after Thanksgiving of that year — when a total of 2,882,915 passengers were screened.The days before and after July Fourth and Thanksgiving have historically been busy times for travel. In 2019, for instance, TSA officers nationwide screened just under 2.8 million passengers the Sunday before the Fourth, marking another of the agency’s busiest travel days in history. Decreased demand for air travel amid the pandemic, however, contributed to plummeting passenger numbers in the subsequent years.Travelers more than made up for it on Friday, though, with many likely planning trips or...

Texas State offers free 24/7 counseling for students

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:50 GMT

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) --- Texas State University students are now able to access more mental health support, with university officials crediting a new partnership with the virtual health provider TimelyCare. The collaboration allows Texas State students to access these services 24/7 at no additional cost to them via the TimelyCare App or by visiting TXST TimelyCare.The university said students will have access to the following: On-demand mental health and emotional support (TalkNow) Mental health counseling sessionsPsychiatry servicesHealth coachingCare navigationBasic Needs assistancePeer support communityDigital self-care contentTXST said while many campus counseling centers often have a two-to-three-week wait time, students using can now connect with a provider in less than five minutes. According to the university, TimelyCare is offered at more than 250 colleges and universities across the country.

Wetlands development still on track, say town officials

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:50 GMT

By Trevor BuschSunny South NewsSome of the development ongoing for the constructed wetlands near Taber Lake has raised questions among the public in recent weeks, but town officials say the project is on track and in compliance with Alberta Transportation.The constructed wetlands project has been ongoing since April 2022. The Town drafted a Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) in 2015 that identified a need for storm water storage on the east side of Taber, adjacent to the Taber Reservoir. Once completed, the development will direct stormwater from the intersection of Highway 36 and 56th Avenue to the wetlands where it will be stored and treated naturally.Recent excavation and infill work on the project had drawn some questions from the public, suggesting the proper approvals may not have been in place with Alberta Transportation. The Town says that’s not the case, however.“There was a canal location that was filled in temporarily so that the contractor could move equipment across,” s...

Coalhurst Council approves veteran memorial poster project in town

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:50 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsCoalhurst Legion Branch No. 273 has announced the upcoming introduction of the Banner Project to the town.The project is a unique initiative aimed at commemorating and honouring past and present veterans using a series of banners. These banners will be displayed for a few weeks in the fall and stored for future displays, illustrating the enduring respect that Coalhurst has for its veterans. The Town of Coalhurst has granted permission to hang the banners on the light standards across the town, a fitting location. The Coalhurst Legion is still deliberating on a supplier and the cost implications of the project and intends to share detailed information in the forthcoming newsletter. The Banner Project is a remarkable way for Coalhurst to recognize and pay tribute to the veterans who have served Canada.The Legion Memorial Banner Program is an initiative by the Royal Canadian Legion that involves displaying banners on local streets in Canada in memory of ...

Kate Andrews grads cash in on graduation day

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:50 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsThanks to community sponsors, over $20,000 in cash scholarships have been awarded to the Kate Andrews High School graduating class of 2023.The ceremony, which was held on June 27, included high praise and celebration as the students turned their tassels in anticipation of the next chapter in life.The class’s Valedictory address, given by Brendan Duda, shared valuable advice with his fellow graduates, highlighting the importance of perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity.“The true lessons we learned are through the pursuit of knowledge. The best lesson we can take through our many years of schooling is to persevere through hardship; we will all face adversity in our future but it is how we respond that determines the outcome.”Duda is known for being a dedicated student, was recognized for his high academic achievements in various subjects and will begin work towards earning a computer science degree at the University of Lethbridge starting...

Shields attacks deficiencies in Online News Act, defends rural newspapers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:50 GMT

By Ian CroftSouthern Alberta NewspapersLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterOn June 20 the House of Commons was discussing the Online News Act which will regulate online communications platforms that make news content available to persons in Canada.During this discussion Pablo Rodriguez, MP for Honoré-Mercier, QC asked why the Conservatives were fighting this bill.“I really do not understand why the Conservatives from all those small communities are fighting this bill, which is there to help local media in their own communities,” said Rodriguez. “How can they do that? Why are they doing that? Only they can answer that. We can only look at the pattern of how often they only side with tech giants, repeating their points, to understand part of the question. They are not there to support local media. They absolutely do not care, which is a shame. Therefore, we will stand up for them.”In response to this Martin Shields, MP for Bow River, rose in the House to clarify his position.“We have ...

Farming Smarter field school hears from crop cover expert

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:50 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsDr. Maryse Bourgault shared her expertise on the subject of cover crops during Farming Smarter’s Field School on June 15.Cover crops are traditionally fast-growing plants that offer benefits to farms through enhanced soil health, and as a strategy to improve biodiversity, control pests, and prevent or mitigate erosion. They differ from a farm’s cash crops insofar as cover crops are a strategy in farm management used to increase the conditions for more profitable cash crops.Dr. Maryse Bourgault is an assistant professor and WGRF Chair in Integrated Agronomy at the University of Saskatchewan’s department of Plant Soil and Science. She also previously worked for Montana State University before relocating to Saskatoon in 2020 where she now focuses much of her efforts into researching cover crops in Western Canada. Currently Bourgault is one of the leading researchers on a multi-site cover crop experiment in collaboration with Dr. Yvonne Lawley at the Univ...