BUSINESS
NEWS
Corporate Philanthropy Sees Shift in Strategy Amid Political Landscape Changes
By Maxx QuintenLand and Lot Supply Healthiest in Years as Market Sees Mixed Growth Trends Across Major Metropolitan Areas
By Michelle KellettA Global Shift: Why Under-45s Are Driving the Future of Investing
By Hazel SaundersCLIMATE
CHANGE
Animal Dung Accelerates Ecosystem Development in Melting Andes
By Sandy Di AngelisNew Conservation Strategy Launched to Protect Monarch Butterflies as Federal Listing Looms
By Yves Ducrot
U.S. Department of Transportation terminates tolling approval for New York City’s cordon pricing program
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration today terminated approval of the pilot for New York’s Central Business District Tolling Program (CBDTP). In a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, the Department rescinded a November 21, 2024 agreement signed under the Value Pricing Pilot Program (VPPP) that effectively ends tolling authority for New York City’s cordon pricing plan, which imposes tolls on drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street.
“New York State’s congestion pricing plan is a slap in the face to working class Americans and small business owners,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. “Commuters using the highway system to enter New York City have already financed the construction and improvement of these highways through the payment of gas taxes and other taxes. But now the toll program leaves drivers without any free highway alternative, and instead, takes more money from working people to pay for a transit system and not highways. It’s backwards and unfair. The program also hurts small businesses in New York that rely on customers from New Jersey and Connecticut. Finally, it impedes the flow of commerce into New York by increasing costs for trucks, which in turn could make goods more expensive for…
Essential Qualities That Culturally Attuned Conductor Chun Ho Tam States Every Conductor Should Have
PUBLIC
INTEREST
Hegseth Lauds U.S.-Poland Alliance, Reemphasizes Call for NATO Countries to Increase Defense Spending
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday praised the U.S. alliance with Poland during a joint press conference with that country’s defense minister in Warsaw.
“We see Poland as a model ally on the continent, willing to invest not just in their defense, but in our shared defense and defense of…
Kennedy Urged to Prioritize Care for People With Disabilities Amid Promised Healthcare Disruption
As Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., promises to disrupt the U.S. healthcare system as the new Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), spokespeople with the National Center for Public Policy Research and its Able Americans program urge Kennedy to remember vulnerable populations and people…
CULTURE
NEWS
Balancing a High-Stakes Career With Community Commitment: Lessons From Diana Thomas
By Dennis KellerJ.J. Hebert’s MindStir Media Secures Spot on Inc. 5000 List for the Second Year in a Row
By Hazel SaundersRH
FINANCIAL
Corporate Philanthropy Sees Shift in Strategy Amid Political Landscape Changes
In a dramatic response to recent shifts in the U.S. policy landscape, corporate philanthropy leaders
Land and Lot Supply Healthiest in Years as Market Sees Mixed Growth Trends Across Major Metropolitan Areas
The New Home Lot Supply Index (LSI – single-family vacant developed lots reflecting rate absorption
THIS WEEK'S HEADLINES
Led by President Donald Trump, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright today announced the Department of Energy will postpone the implementation of seven of the Biden-Harris administration’s restrictive mandates on home appliances
Led by President Donald Trump, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright announced the Department of Energy will postpone the implementation of seven of the Biden-Harris administration’s restrictive mandates on home appliances. Today’s actions are a key step in undoing the previous administration’s burdensome policies that have driven up costs, reduced choice and diminished the quality of Americans’ home appliances.
“A top priority for President Trump is lowering costs for American families,” Secretary Wright said. “Today’s announcement will foster consumer choice and lower prices – it is a win for all Americans. The people, not the government, should be choosing the home appliances and products they want at prices they can afford.”
These actions postpone the efficiency standards for the following home appliance rules:
- Central Air Conditioners
- Clothes Washers and Dryers
- General Service Lamps
- Walk-In Coolers and Freezers
- Gas Instantaneous Water Heaters
- Commercial Refrigeration Equipment
- Air Compressors
Additionally, the Department of Energy is creating a new energy efficiency category for natural gas tankless water heaters. Creating a new category for these popular and low-cost water heaters exempts these products from the Biden-Harris Administration’s onerous rules and gives the American people the power to choose the best option for their homes and budgets.
Under the leadership of President Trump, Federal agencies continue to slash unnecessary red tape and regulations that raise prices, reduce consumer choice, and frustrate the American people. These actions were announced alongside action taken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to overhaul all Biden-Harris administration WaterSense specifications. The list of specifications developed during the last administration have encouraged the sale of bathroom and kitchen faucets, residential toilets and sprinkler nozzles that just don’t work well.
CURRENT EDITION
JMU researcher: Andean vicuñas promote rapid ecosystem development
By Sandy Di Angelis / Associate WriterRecent research from James Madison University reveals that animal dung is crucial in accelerating ecosystem development on nutrient-poor soils exposed by melting glaciers in the Andes Mountains. Led by biology professor Kelsey Reider, this study highlights the significant impact of wild vicuñas, relatives of alpacas and llamas, in transforming barren landscapes into thriving habitats.
In the tropical Andes, vegetation growth is often stunted for long periods post-glacier melt due to nutrient-deficient soils. However, the presence of vicuñas has been shown to considerably enhance the potential for new plant life, as detailed in a study published on nature.com.
Collaborating with researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder, Reider examined the ecosystems at elevations reaching 17,700 feet, revealing that animal excrement significantly alters the soil’s biotic and abiotic components. The dung, found in concentrated areas known as latrines, maintains a more stable soil temperature amidst the drastic fluctuations typical of high-altitude environments — where nights can feel like winter while days are reminiscent of summer.
Furthermore, these latrines contribute essential organic matter and nutrients, fostering a more conducive environment for plant growth than latrine-free areas. This process benefits flora and creates nutrient hotspots that serve as habitats for various animal species, including Andean foxes and pumas, which prey on them.
Reider and her team continue their investigation, supported by a $470,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. They are currently analyzing samples and data in the lab and plan to return to Peru for further research in June and December.
With over a decade of experience working in…
MORE ARTICLES
New Conservation Strategy Launched to Protect Monarch Butterflies as Federal Listing Looms
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Corporate philanthropy leaders adjust focus amid US policy shifts: increased emphasis on economic opportunity and education
In a dramatic response to recent shifts in the U.S. policy landscape, corporate philanthropy leaders are reevaluating their strategies for the upcoming year, prioritizing economic opportunity and education while scaling back initiatives focused on racial and gender equality. This trend emerges from a recent survey conducted by The Conference Board, which gathered insights from over 120 philanthropy executives representing leading U.S. and multinational companies.
According to Andrew Jones, Senior ESG Researcher at The Conference Board and the report’s author, this change signals a strategic adjustment rather than a withdrawal from the goals of advancing gender and racial equality. “Companies are now integrating these goals into wider frameworks that align more directly with their core business objectives, encompassing workforce development, technical training, and financial empowerment,” Jones explained.
As U.S. corporate philanthropy evolves, a notable geographic realignment is also taking shape. Executives indicated a marked increase in support for philanthropic initiatives focused on the U.S., closely followed by Canada and Mexico, while highlighting a desire to scale back efforts in China.
Key findings from the survey reveal the following thematic shifts for 2025:
- Increased Focus on Economic Opportunity and Education: Executives are prioritizing these themes more than before, reflecting a need to address the evolving economic landscape.
- Decreased Emphasis on Racial and Gender Equality: Contrary to earlier years, these areas are seeing a reduction in focus, although many maintain that inclusivity is still a…
CURRENT EDITION
Land and Lot Supply Healthiest in Years as Market Sees Mixed Growth Trends Across Major Metropolitan Areas
The New Home Lot Supply Index (LSI – single-family vacantA Global Shift: Why Under-45s Are Driving the Future of Investing
In recent years, young people have become increasingly interested inLaw Firm Takes on Extortion and Blackmail Scam Epidemic
It is an insidious problem – and it comes fromOffshore Broker Transforms Wealth Management for a Global Audience
Offshore Broker is at an inflection point within the worldMiddle-Class Financial Resilience Shows Promising Signs Despite Ongoing Challenges
The American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) has released itsNew Research Links Urban Sprawl to Reduced Intergenerational Mobility for Low-Income Families
Urban sprawl is not just unsightly. It could also beU.S. Home Prices Show Slower Growth in October 2024, Led by New York With 7.3% Annual Increase
S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI) released the October 2024
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EDITOR'S
CHOICE
Penn State Taps IBM to Develop AI Virtual Assistant to Foster Success for Student Body
WEATHER
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Animal Dung Accelerates Ecosystem Development in Melting Andes
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