King Donald sez you must learn to do without

Monkey see....

Hurricane forecasts have been more accurate than ever

NOAA funding cuts could change that and cost lives and property loss

Chris Vagasky, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Radar shows a NOAA Hurricane Hunter flying through
Tropical Storm Idalia during a mission in 2023. Nick Underwood/NOAA

The National Hurricane Center’s forecasts in 2024 were its most accurate on record, from its one-day forecasts, as tropical cyclones neared the coast, to its forecasts five days into the future, when storms were only beginning to come together.

Thanks to federally funded research, forecasts of tropical cyclone tracks today are up to 75% more accurate than they were in 1990. A National Hurricane Center forecast three days out today is about as accurate as a one-day forecast in 2002, giving people in the storm’s path more time to prepare and reducing the size of evacuations.

Accuracy will be crucial again in 2025, as meteorologists predict another active Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.

Yet, cuts in staffing and threats to funding at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – which includes the National Hurricane Center and National Weather Service – are diminishing operations that forecasters rely on.

I am a meteorologist who studies lightning in hurricanes and helps train other meteorologists to monitor and forecast tropical cyclones. Here are three of the essential components of weather forecasting that have been targeted for cuts to funding and staff at NOAA.

Why Do Americans Pay More for Prescription Drugs?

Big Pharma profit

By David Armstrong for ProPublica

Source: Public Citizen

In the U.S., the price of Revlimid, a brand-name cancer drug, has been increasing for two decades. It now sells for nearly $1,000 a pill. In Europe, the price has been consistently lower — in some countries by two-thirds.

I started reporting on Revlimid after I was prescribed the drug following a diagnosis of multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer. Stunned by the high price, I found that the drugmaker, Celgene, had used Revlimid as its own personal piggy bank for more than a decade, raising the price in the U.S. whenever it saw fit.

Even with lower prices in Europe, Celgene still made a profit there, a former executive told Congress. That added to the more than $21 billion in net earnings the company made after Revlimid was introduced in 2005.

Of course, Revlimid isn’t the only drug with a price disparity. Americans pay more in general for prescription drugs than people in other wealthy countries. And costs keep going up, saddling patients with crippling debt or forcing them to choose between filling prescriptions or buying groceries. So why do we pay so much more? And is anything being done about it?

In most other wealthy countries, governments set a single price for a drug that is usually based on analysis of the therapeutic benefit of the medicine and what other countries pay. In the U.S., drug companies determine what to charge for their products with few restraints. Insurance companies can refuse to cover a drug to try to negotiate a lower price, but for some diseases like cancer, that poses a risk of public backlash. 

R.I.’s bottle bill faces fierce industry opposition despite commission’s two-year effort

Spending big bucks to block needed legislation

By Christopher Shea, Rhode Island Current

It was supposed to be a compromise between environmental and business interests. Rhode Island’s beverage sale industry representatives agreed to help work on a solution two years ago when a legislative study commission formed to study the best way to craft a deposit-refund program for recyclable bottles and cans.

But at least two of the commission’s 20 members, both of whom work in the industry, remained firmly opposed to two of the “three bottle bills” receiving an initial vetting before the Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture Wednesday.

Their displeasure was targeted toward a bill sponsored by Sen. Bridget Valverde, a North Kingstown Democrat, and another bill by Sen. Mark McKenney, a Warwick Democrat, calling for a 10-cent fee on individual beverage containers. Consumers could get their money back upon returning the containers to designated redemption sites run by a nonprofit contractor hired by beverage producers.

The point of a redemption program is twofold: to discourage littering and to reduce the waste accumulating in the state’s Central Landfill in Johnston. A report published last month by the commission notes roughly 1,000 tons of microplastic was detected by University of Rhode Island researchers within the sediment of Narragansett Bay — which ultimately end up being consumed by marine species that humans then eat.

Of the six New England states, only Rhode Island and New Hampshire do not have a bottle refund program.

But reaching a compromise with industry leaders was always going to be an uphill battle. Even before the final report was issued in April, five beverage industry members who sat on the commission issued a letter stating they supported none of the recommendations for a proposed bottle deposit program, citing concerns over cost, implementation, and balance issues in the region.

“The intention of this bill is definitely honorable,” Rhode Island Food Dealers Executive Director Scott Bromberg, who served on the commission, told lawmakers Wednesday. “But we beg the question: Is this the right time to propose additional fees to everyday, regular Rhode Islanders?”

He added that businesses would ultimately pass on the 10-cent fee to consumers — at a time when tariffs threaten to drive prices even higher.

“While 10 cents may not seem like a lot on one bottle, $2.40 for a case of $5 bottles of water is significant,” Bromberg said. “This can be recouped, but return is often unpredictable.”

Nicholas Fede Jr., executive director for the Rhode Island Liquor Operators Collaborative, also served on the commission, said the state should instead focus on updating existing curbside infrastructure to better sort out recyclable materials that may end up crushed in the landfill.

“People want to do the easiest thing possible, and that is curbside,” Fede told the committee. “The fact that we’re going to make people take their recyclables to a redemption center is a massive inconvenience.”

McKenney, commission co-chair, sees a bottle bill as an obligation to a cleaner future.

“We can kick the can down the road — it can be our children’s problem, it could be our grandchildren’s problem,” said McKenney, a Warwick Democrat. “But we do have to ask what kind of state we are leaving for them.”

Lack of consensus

Bottle bill supporters and opponents have tried to show the public is on their side. But the results of surveys on the subject favor whoever commissioned the poll.

A survey released Tuesday by a group calling itself Stop the Rhode Island Bottle Tax found that 60% of 600 respondents were opposed to the legislation. The group is backed by the American Beverage Association. EDITOR'S NOTE: I was one of those called for this poll. I said I supported the deposit bill. It was a "push" poll where the questions were designed to give them the answers they wanted, but not with me. - Will Collette

How Trump promotes a radical, unscientific theory about sex and gender in the name of opposing ‘gender ideology extremism’

Trump's actions are anti-nature

Ina Seethaler, Coastal Carolina University

As Pope Francis said, "Who are we to judge?"

The Trump administration claims to be rooting out “gender ideology extremism” and “restoring biological truth” in the United States.

In a January 2025 executive order, Donald Trump decreed that there are only two genders – male and female – and that anyone who believes differently denies “the biological reality of sex.”

Yet as a gender studies scholar, I know what the science really says about gender and sex.

Most researchers in my field, as well as those in other disciplines such as sociology and biology, agree that biological sex is vastly more complicated than solely the two variants of male and female. Sexual diversity has been documented among all animals, including humans.

Trump’s claim otherwise is itself a gender “ideology” – that is, a set of beliefs and values about gender.

Sex and gender are not the same thing

Experts in many disciplines have shown how gender is different from sex. Sex refers to bodily attributes such as genitals, hormones and chromosomes; gender is made up of the norms, roles, behaviors and expectations people are supposed to comply with based on the culture and society they live in.

As such, gender is socially constructed – that is, defined by a community’s beliefs and rituals. In other words, gender does not follow biology. Instead, people have what’s called a “gender identity” – an internal sense of themselves as masculine, feminine or somewhere in-between.

There are many ways in which gender and sex don’t necessarily line up.

Among humans, a conservative estimate by the United Nations suggests that up to 1.7% of the world’s population are intersex, meaning their bodies vary from what has been labeled typical combinations of chromosomes, hormones and genitals.

Intersex rights advocates have long pushed for medical treatment that reflects this fact, rather than common expectations of the human body. Recognition of gender and sex diversity can significantly reduce the stigma and trauma of being an intersex person.

In the animal kingdom, female spotted hyenas have a penis. Male seahorses get pregnant.

It took biologists a long time to figure out that some male animals do things that defy socially determined understandings of masculinity. But once they did, groundbreaking insights into the complexity of evolutionary processes have emerged.

By labeling the concept of gender identity as an “ideology,” the Trump administration has reduced all people – but especially transgender and nonbinary people – to a belief system, ignoring their complex human identities.

Incomprehensibly stupid

More proof that RFK Jr. is an idiot

 

In case you haven't noticed, the bribes Trump is taking are getting bigger and bigger.

Grifter-in-Chief Trump and the Grift That Keeps on Grifting

Robert Reich for Inequality Media

Trump is overplaying his hand.

Not just by usurping the powers of Congress and ignoring Supreme Court rulings. Not just abducting people who are legally in the United States but have put their name to opinion pieces Trump doesn’t like and trucking them off to “detention” facilities. 

Not just using the Justice Department for personal vengeance. Not just unilaterally deciding how much tariff tax American consumers will have to pay on almost everything they buy.

Polls show all these are tanking Trump’s popularity.

But one thing almost all Americans are firmly against — even many loyal Trumpers — is bribery. And Trump is taking bigger and bigger bribes.

It was reported that he’s accepting a luxury Boeing 747-8 plane worth at least $400 million from the Qatari royal family, for use during his presidency and for his personal use afterward.

Trump just can’t resist. He’s been salivating over the plane for months. It’s bigger and newer than Air Force One — and so opulently configured that it’s known as “a flying palace.” (No report on whether it contains a golden toilet.)

Apparently he’s been talking about the plane for months. In February, he toured it while it was parked at Palm Beach International Airport.

He’s tried to redecorate the White House into a palace but that’s not nearly as satisfying as flying around the world in one, especially once he’s left the White House (assuming he will).

Attorney General Pam Bondi said it’s perfectly legal for him to accept such a bribe, er, gift.

Hello?

The U.S. Constitution clearly forbids officers of the United States from taking gifts from foreign governments. It’s called the “emoluments clause.” (See Article I, Section 9, above left.)

Anyone viewing Bondi as a neutral judge of what’s legal and what’s not when it comes to Trump can’t be trusted to be a neutral judge of Bondi. Recall that she represented Trump in a criminal proceeding. Presumably he appointed her attorney general because he knew she’d do and say anything he wanted.

Oh, and she used to lobby for Qatar.

So, what does Qatar get in return for the $400 million plane? What’s the quid for the quo?

The Real-World Costs of Eliminating Head Start

Head Start has been good for the economy - why is Trump ending it?

By Stephanie Schmit 

All of us want our kids to get a fair start in life. And for millions of American families, that start has come from the federal Head Start program.

But unfortunately, Donald Trump has frozen Head Start funds and closed Head Start offices across the country. Now a leaked draft of the president’s budget proposes eliminating Head Start altogether.

This would be a catastrophic decision for children, families, Head Start workers, and the entire economy. Since its founding 60 years ago, Head Start has provided early education and comprehensive services for whole families and employed millions of teachers and staff.

There is NO energy emergency

Attorney General Neronha joins coalition to challenge Trump’s fake “energy emergency”

Steve Ahlquist

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha joined a coalition of 15 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit challenging the President’s false “energy emergency,” declared to line the pockets of Big Oil by handing out free passes to pollute the environment.

Donald Trump declared a “national energy emergency” under the National Emergencies Act on Inauguration Day. Congress passed the National Emergencies Act in 1976 to prevent presidents from declaring national emergencies for frivolous or partisan matters — exactly what the President has done here.

“We know that this President has a very tenuous relationship with the truth, so it should come as no surprise that he fabricated an ‘emergency’ to get his way,” said Attorney General Neronha. 

“Here’s the truth: if we don’t do everything within our power to address climate change, including spearheading the transition to clean and renewable energy sources, future generations will suffer the irreparable consequences. Under this executive order, fossil fuel producers would be allowed to extract from anywhere they see fit while bypassing important environmental and historical reviews, thereby disrupting and destroying the land and habitats of Americans and wildlife alike. We must stop the illegal, unnecessary actions of this President before it’s too late.”

At the direction of the President, federal agencies are bypassing or shortening critical reviews under the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and the Historic National Preservation Act for energy projects. These laws play a critical role in protecting the environment and human health.

DC environmental group looks at the safety of Charlestown water

Environmental Working Group (EWG) includes Charlestown in national assessment of US drinking water

By Will Collette

Like much of rural Rhode Island, Charlestown does not have a public water utility – no water mains, sewers or fire hydrants. But according to a new report issued by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), Charlestown does have a surprising number of households whose drinking water comes from public sources, perhaps best thought of as community supplies.

These are shared water supplies in our fake fire districts (homeowner associations such as the Central Quonnie Fire District), trailer parks, subdivisions like Castle Rock and even the nonprofit senior affordable housing complex Churchwoods.

EWG lists 9 such systems that they identify as serving 1,869 Charlestown residents. If that number is accurate, that’s close to a quarter of our population. But if you live near any of these systems and draw your water from the same source, you might have similar findings in your own home.

According to EWG, all these systems contain toxic chemicals that cause some level of danger to public health.

Those nine systems are:

Border Hill Mobile Home Park, 75 people

Castle Rock Condominiums, 292

Central Beach Fire District, 470

Church Woods, 98

Indian Cedar Mobile Home Park, 150

Ninigret Realty, 109

Quonochontaug East Beach Water Association, 300

Shady Harbor Fire District, 300

Shannock Water District, 75

Some unspecified number of Charlestown residents may be tapped into either the South Kingstown-south Shore (e.g. Green Hill Cove) or Westerly Water Department

If you click on the link for each site, you get a breakdown of what showed up in that site’s water supply.

The most common toxics found are nitrates, PFAS and radon generally under the EPA’s legal limits. As EWG argues,

“Legal does not necessarily equal safe."

• Getting a passing grade from the federal government does not mean the water meets the latest health guidelines.
• Legal limits for contaminants in tap water have not been updated in almost 20 years.
• The best way to ensure clean tap water is to keep pollution out of source water in the first place.”

Should you care if you don’t live in a shared-water community?

Those of us with private wells probably have similar levels of chemicals in our water to nearby community water systems, especially if we are drawing from the same water source.

Charlestown water quality official Matt Dowling says that nearly all Charlestown water contains some levels of nitrates:

“Nitrate is nearly ubiquitous in groundwater, out of 360 private well sampling events across Charlestown for issuances of Certificates of Occupancy, only ~16% of nitrate samples were below the method detection limits of 0.05 mg/L.  Sources of nitrate in groundwater in Charlestown is primarily from septic system effluent (~80%). There is a significant relationship of the number of septic systems in an area to the concentration of nitrate in potable groundwater in the shallow coastal aquifers of Charlestown.” 

Matt notes that EWG’s report used a much lower trigger level than the EPA, at least for now before the Trump administration alters (or eliminates) the standard.

“The EWG has developed a guideline for which they are comparing drinking water nitrate concentrations of 0.14 mg/L which is 70 times less than the national maximum contaminant level of 10 mg/L.  They have developed this guideline based on the following 2019 finding:

“’With the meta-analysis of eight studies of drinking water nitrate and colorectal cancer, we observed a statistically significant positive association for nitrate exposure and colorectal cancer risk and calculated a one-in-one million cancer risk level of 0.14 mg/L nitrate in drinking water.” https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S001393511930218X#!’”

Matt continued, noting that his own review showed an increased cancer risk from nitrates at one-quarter of EPA’s standard:

“I have reviewed papers that find enhanced cancer risks at potable water concentrations of nitrate at 2.5 mg/L in potable water, Dowling et al 2024 stated that ‘concentrations as low as 2.5 mg/L have been shown to have adverse health effects, including different types of cancer (Nolan and Hitt 2006).’”

That’s just for nitrates. EWG found other toxic chemicals, especially PFAS, in Charlestown water supplies. PFAS are plastic-related compounds and lots of PFAS contamination got into Charlestown water from the fire-firing activity at the old Ninigret Naval Auxiliary Air Station (now Ninigret Park and the Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge).

Matt said:

“I know much, much less about PFAS only that the standard is about to be reduced, and it seems that PFAS is also nearly ubiquitous.  The EWG is also using a very low guideline when compared to the current and proposed standards.  I have found that granular activated carbon filtration can be effective in removing PFAS from potable water.” 

The Trump regime isn’t helping by the recently reported shut down of EPA’s on-going effort to assess the risks of PFAS, meaning the standard probably won’t be reduced as Matt anticipated and may even be eliminated entirely.

Shoreline development’s role

The almost universal nitrate problem is a hard one to solve especially in the densely packed up-scale neighborhoods right on the coast. The two approaches with the most promise are (1) upgrade conventional septic systems to state-of-the-art denitrification systems and (2) allow no more development – no new buildings, added bedrooms or accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in those areas.

According to Matt:

At septic system densities of over 2-3 per acre (in glacial till groundwater aquifer and based on dwelling units per acre with individual OWTS where over 75% use conventional systems), we can expect to see groundwater concentrations of nitrate at Extreme Risk for source water impairment >5 mg/L. 

Over 75% of the septic systems in the coastal area use older conventional technologies that do not adequately treat nitrogen in the effluent.  We have been promoting, through grant cost sharing funding, for in-kind system replacements in this area, but the pace is slow and grant funding has dried up. [Emphasis added]

Additional housing density in the areas designated by CRMC as Lands Developed Beyond Carrying Capacity from the new ADU bill adds further pressure in reducing nitrogen impairment to groundwater (and surface water).

Even with new ADUs using nitrogen reducing technologies, they still contribute additional nitrogen loading.  In 2010 the RIDEM stated that in order for Eastern Ninigret Pond and Green Hill Pond to meet surface water quality goals, watershed nitrogen loading had to be reduced by 61%, If Charlestown facilitated the upgrade of all ~75% of the remaining conventional septic systems to modern nitrogen reducing technology as in-kind and allow no more additional bedrooms in the subwatershed that is wholly developed beyond carrying capacity in Charlestown, we could reduce total N load by 40%, not bad since there are also other mechanism to manage other N inputs like fertilizers etc.  But adding ADU to these areas reduces that %.”

What does this all mean?

First, don’t panic. There are virtually no pure and pristine water sources anywhere on the planet, especially now that PFAS pollution is being found everywhere.

I spent 20 years working with communities around the country on water protection issues. Fear of water contamination is universal and largely justified. During those 20 years, I’ve known some people who cracked under the pressure of feeling they had to come up with pure water for their families, so much so that they committed suicide. Please – don’t do that! Don’t despair because you can’t achieve the unachievable.

The more relevant questions include what contaminants and at what levels are present in your water, how do those levels compare with scientific standards and most importantly, what do YOU consider to be a reasonable risk?

For every water contaminant, especially those linked to cancer, opinions will range from higher levels preferred by industry and regulators as opposed to those held by public health experts and environmental scientists who argue that for some cancer-causing chemicals, there is no safe level.

Ultimately, you must decide what you consider acceptable for you and your family. Given the realities we all face, you may find yourself having to choose among choices that are far from perfect.

You have time to think it through. I saw nothing in EWG’s data showing any immediate threat to life.

Measures to consider include getting your water tested, installing a whole house water filter, upgrading your septic system and if you have radon in your basement, installing a venting system. Read up and do your research. Matt Dowling in Town Hall (401) 364-5030) can advise you on your options.

You can find answers to many of your questions on the town’s wastewater web page. It's loaded with links and information about water quality that can help you make informed decisions. CLICK HERE.

Lunga vita al papa

Beat the tariffs! Stock up on Betamax movies

DEM is still looking for a few more good lifeguards

Up to $20/hr. pay plus up to $1000 in bonuses

By Janine L. Weisman, Rhode Island Current

About 90 lifeguards have already been hired to work at Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) beaches ahead of the summer 2025 season. But more are still needed.

“DEM is actively recruiting for seasonal positions and continues to accept applications throughout the season,” Chief Public Affairs Officer Kim Keough said in an email confirming the number of guards hired so far. “We are still hiring for all seasonal roles, especially our lifeguard positions and encourage anyone interested to apply!”

Keough said DEM’s Division of Parks and Recreation aims to hire over 100 lifeguards for the summer. 

DEM’s seasonal employment webpage still has a posting for seasonal state lifeguards — pay is listed as $18.75 to $19.25 an hour — and seasonal supervising lifeguards — paying $19.50 to $20.00 an hour.

To help with recruiting, DEM offers up to $1,000 in incentive bonuses — a $500 sign-on bonus for those hired by June 27 and an additional $500 for those who remain on the job through Sept. 1

All lifeguard candidates must receive state certification and hold valid cards in lifeguard training, first aid, and CPR, including infant, child, and adult. 

International Space Station will make a maximum length flyover of Charlestown with perfect weather conditions

Clear sky, cool temp as the International Space Station flies over Charlestown

By Will Collette

Tonight, the International Space Station will make a 7-minute transit above Charlestown. 

The National Weather Service forecast calls for clear skies and a temp as low as 44 degrees.

Seven minutes is pretty much the maximum amount of time the ISS can take to make its transit. Tonight, that starts at 8:48 PM.

It will appear at 10 degrees over the horizon in the west northwest and rise to 81 degrees overhead. Almost straight up. Then it will recede and disappear at 10 degrees over the horizon in the northeast.

ISS passes through our skies quite often and I always enjoy seeing it. It passes silently, a sharp bright point of light that appears when it catches the sunlight and then disappears when it reaches the earth's shadow or, as is the case tonight, it simply runs out of sky.

NASA photo

With binoculars or a small telescope, you should be able to make out detailed features on the station. 

The International Space Station is one of the few manned space ventures we have left and still serves some scientific purpose as well as one place where the US and Russia cooperate. More or less. 

The ISS is currently scheduled to be decommissioned in 2030 and will then be crashed into the ocean. Its replacement, if any, will almost certainly be run by a commercial company.

NASA maintains a website and an e-mail list that help you keep track of these overflights. At least for now. NASA like the rest of the federal science establishment is under attack from President Musk and King Donald.

You can get yourself added to the e-mail list so you can receive notice the day of an overflight. CLICK HERE to sign up.

I don't post every overflight. I skip those that are less than 5 minutes or appear on nights where weather is likely to spoil the view.

Here is the notice I received from NASA:

Time: Sun May 11 8:48 PM, Visible: 7 min, Max Height: 81°, Appears: 10° above WSW, Disappears: 10° above NE

Sheldon Whitehouse spearheads Dem effort to save Social Security and Medicare

Democrats' bill would extend Social Security and Medicare solvency 'as far as the eye can see'

Julia Conley for Common Dreams

Social Security and Medicare protect tens of millions of American senior citizens from poverty and medical bankruptcy each year, but economic justice advocates have long said the programs would be strengthened and remain fully solvent for as long as possible if the richest Americans contributed more to them—and  two Democratic lawmakers introduced legislation to ensure they do.

The bicameral bill, the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act, was reintroduced by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), with the aim of requiring people with yearly incomes of more than $400,000 to contribute a fairer share of their wealth to the two programs.

Currently the maximum amount of earnings for which American workers must pay Social Security taxes is just over $176,000.

The bill would lift the Social Security tax cap "to ensure that no matter the source of their income, high-income taxpayers would pay the same tax rate on their income exceeding that threshold," said the lawmakers in a press statement.

Trump's Bait and Switch

Promise Immediate Gain, Then Inflict 'Temporary' Pain

Paul F. Delespinasse for Common Dreams

Are Americans victims of political bait and switch? Immediate pain isn't what Republicans promised voters.

Donald Trump promised immediate benefits, much of it on "day one"—cheaper eggs, lower inflation, peace in Ukraine. The war rages on. Egg prices have increased. Inflation, fueled by tariffs, is on the way up. But stocks, including Americans' 401-K retirement accounts, are way down.

Mr. Trump is now saying that Americans will suffer pain, but that it will pave the way for long term gains: "Sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something."

The immediate pain is real, but the gains will come slowly if at all. "Reshoring" cannot be done overnight. It takes years to develop skilled workers, create supply chains, and build new factories.

New factories require investments, but with constantly changing rules investors cannot know whether new factories will be profitable.

Accepting less now in order to get a better future is a classical definition of investment. An individual could work but chooses further education, living on very little in order to earn a better future living. Instead of spending all our income, we buy stock or bonds, increasing our future purchasing power.

But when people invest, they personally bear the costs of their better future—a lower short-run standard of living. The current national "investment" is being made at other people's expense, not at the personal expense of our wealthy leaders.

Indeed there is speculation that some leaders, or friends with whom they shared inside information, became even more wealthy buying stock options minutes before the announcement of the 90-day tariff "postponement" set off a one-day surge in the markets.

Weakest link

It's a job criteria

Rep. Megan Cotter calls for boosted state wildfire prevention funding

Growing risks justify the costs

Rep. Megan L. Cotter and Sen. Linda L. Ujifusa have introduced legislation to address the growing wildfire risk in Rhode Island and strengthen forest management resources.

The proposed legislation (2025-H 5781, 2025-S 0108) calls for 10 new full-time equivalent positions within the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) to focus on woodlands, forests and forestry projects.

The legislation, which the sponsors also introduced in 2024, was based on recommendations made last year by a special commission Representative Cotter led that studied ways to improve forest management and prevent forest fires. Although last year’s bill was not enacted, the push did result in the funding of two additional forest ranger positions in the 2025 state budget. The sponsors renewed their call, saying more rangers are necessary.

Representative Cotter (D-Dist. 39, Exeter, Richmond, Hopkinton) emphasized the importance of increased resources for wildfire prevention and management.

Odds rising that bird flu will make the jump to humans

Global Experts say action is needed now. Of course, under Trump and RFK Jr., we won't

By Global Virus Network

Leading scientists have published a call-to-action urging global governments to address the escalating H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in North America, which has infected both animals and humans and resulted in significant agricultural losses.

The Global Virus Network (GVN), an international coalition of leading human and animal virologists spanning more than 80 Centers of Excellence and Affiliates in over 40 countries, has published a detailed analysis and urgent call-to-action in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas regarding the ongoing H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in North America.

In their publication, the GVN emphasizes the need for immediate and coordinated global action. They urge governments to strengthen disease surveillance, enforce biosecurity protocols, and proactively prepare for the possibility of human-to-human transmission of the virus.

“Understanding the current landscape of H5N1 infections is critical for effective prevention and response,” said Sten H. Vermund, MD, PhD, chief medical officer of the GVN and dean of the USF Health College of Public Health at the University of South Florida, USA. “The virus’ ability to infect both animals and humans, combined with recent genetic changes, underscores the importance of proactive surveillance and rapid response measures.”

The H5N1 outbreak has so far impacted nearly 1,000 dairy cow herds and led to over 70 human infections, including the first confirmed U.S. fatality. The virus presents a significant threat to the U.S. poultry industry, particularly in regions with dense farming operations and inconsistent protective measures.

Social Security now uses Musk's "X" (a.k.a. Twitter) as its official media outlet

Blatant conflict of interest

Martin Burns & Mary Liz Burns for Common Dreams

No media outlet has done a better job on reporting on the havoc that special government employee Elon Musk and Donald Trump have unleashed than Wired. Their outstanding reporting continued as they scooped everyone by reporting that “the Social Security Administration will no longer be communicating with the media and the public through press releases and ‘dear colleague’ letters, as it shifts its public communication exclusively to X, sources tell WIRED. The news comes amid major staffing cuts at the agency.”

That’s right—all public information about Social Security will come via X. For example, in late March SSA announced that they updated their identification verification procedures via an announcement on their website. So in the future, SSA will have to put all of this into a 280-character post or SSA can go to 4,000 characters if they are willing to upgrade to Premium or Blue.

The first thing that came to mind with SSA’s announcement—wasn’t this a conflict of interest with Elon Musk’s role at X? Many other questions followed, such as the role of asking for feedback from Social Security stakeholders, members of Congress, and last but far from least in my mind—Social Security beneficiaries. I hope that congressional oversight or the press will be able to get some answers here.

According to Wired, SSA regional staff would be cut by 87%:

Westerly Town Council unanimously issues a Pride Month Proclamation

Solid vote for respect and inclusion

Steve Ahlquist

On May 5, the Westerly Town Council issued five proclamations, which are statements signed by the council members setting aside days, weeks, and months in honor of various people and causes. The second week of May was declared Lung Cancer Action Week, May 18 was declared “Neighbor Day,” and May 8 was declared “Victory in Europe Day.” Police were honored with a proclamation that wasn’t on the agenda, and June was proclaimed Pride Month.

These are the ordinary actions of municipal governments across the country, and arouse little pushback or debate. But I was alerted by some Westerly residents that there was pushback against Pride Month in some online forums. In response, over a dozen people filled the council chamber supporting Pride Month. Only two or three people were in the room in opposition.

Council President Christopher Duhamel explained that the proclamation was introduced to him and Town Manager Shawn Lacey by First Selectman Danielle Chesebrough in neighboring Stonington, CT.

“I felt it was worth the Town of Westerly participating,” said President Duhamel.

Councilmember Michael Niemeyer read the proclamation into the record. It reads:

The Westerly Town Council proclaims June 2025 as Pride Month

In the Town of Westerly, a friendly and welcoming community that celebrates and promotes diversity and inclusion and recognizes the importance of equality and freedom for all residents.

Westerly recognizes the contributions of LGBTQIA+ residents, students, employees, business owners, and visitors to the cultural and civic fabric of the town and remains committed to protecting their civil rights in our unified effort to forge a more open and just society.

Westerly joins many towns and cities across the United States in recognizing and celebrating June as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month as a commitment to standing in solidarity with all LGBTQIA+ Americans.

The Westerly Town Council hereby proclaims the month of June 2025 as Pride Month in support of the LGBTQIA+ community and encourages everyone to reflect on ways we can all live and work together with commitment to mutual respect and understanding.

In witness whereof, we have hereby set our hands and caused the seal of the Town of Westerly to be hereunto affixed this 5th day of May 2025.

In witness whereof, we have hereby set our hands and caused the Seal of the Town of Westerly to be here unto affixed this fifth day of May, 2025, signed by all counselors.

The council members received a standing ovation in response.

No one wants to see how sausage is made

From Charlestown Residents United...

Fellow Charlestown Residents, The Charlestown Town Council will have their first regular meeting of the month on Monday, May 12 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Council Chambers. The agenda packet can be read here. There is also a link for watching the live stream of the meeting. Discussion and potential action about adoption of the 2025-2026 budget for submission to the voters at the financial town referendum on June 2, 2025. Further discussion and potential action regarding next steps for the Parks & Recreation Commission for planning to move the Charlestown Parks and Recreation Department from the Town Hall to Ninigret Park (memo on page 328 of the agenda packet) I hope to see you there! There are some future meetings and events that may be of interest: Charlestown Land Trust walk at the beautiful and historic Amos Greene Farm, Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m., registration required. Town Council special meeting about a resolution regarding second amendment rights, Monday, May 19, 7:00 p.m. at Charlestown Elementary School. A public panel discussion about Shoreline Access Rights hosted by ecoRI.org, May 22, 5:45 p.m. at the Westerly Armory, Railroad Avenue, Westerly. Town Council Second Monthly Meeting, Tuesday, May 27, 7:00 p.m. at Charlestown Town Hall, Council Chambers Town Council Regular Meeting Monday, June 9, 7:00 p.m. at Charlestown Town Hall, Council Chambers With Thanks, Tim Quillen, Chair Charlestown Residents United Paid for by Charlestown Residents United P.O. Box 412 Charlestown, RI 02813 Visit our Website