Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
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Human Rights Watch: Americans Deserve Answers About Civilian Casualties in Iran
NEW YORK, April 6 [Category: International] -- Human Rights Watch posted the following commentary by Washington Director Sarah Yager:
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Americans Deserve Answers About Civilian Casualties in Iran
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A U.S. missile strike. An initial statement emphasizing precision. Then, later, reports that civilians -including many children -were among the dead. In Afghanistan, through the early and mid-2000s, these reports came so often they formed a grim pattern. Each incident is explained as an anomaly, but over time, the pattern itself became the story.
Now similar reports are emerging from Iran.
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, April 6 [Category: International] -- Human Rights Watch posted the following commentary by Washington Director Sarah Yager:
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Americans Deserve Answers About Civilian Casualties in Iran
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A U.S. missile strike. An initial statement emphasizing precision. Then, later, reports that civilians -including many children -were among the dead. In Afghanistan, through the early and mid-2000s, these reports came so often they formed a grim pattern. Each incident is explained as an anomaly, but over time, the pattern itself became the story.
Now similar reports are emerging from Iran.A new investigation alleges that a Feb. 28 strike by the U.S. hit an elementary school and sports hall in the southern city of Lamerd, with children once again among the dead. U.S. Central Command has since denied carrying out any strike in or near Lamerd that day, calling the reports false.
Independent verification is difficult because Iran shut down its internet, but Americans should nevertheless be concerned, especially after at least 175 people including many children were reported killed in a U.S. strike on a different school in Minab that same day. The cycle is familiar, with allegations of civilian harm followed by official denials, and no independent access to quickly verify the facts.
I was a civilian protection advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs during the first Trump administration. I worked inside the Pentagon with military professionals who took the issue of civilian harm seriously. They saw avoiding civilian casualties as a matter of military discipline and their own humanity. I know what it looks like when civilian protection works. This isn't it.
Over more than two decades of armed conflict, U.S. efforts to reduce civilian harm have moved in fits and starts, with periods of progress followed by setbacks and recurring mass casualty events. Pressure often came from civil society, public outrage and negative headlines, but also from within the armed forces. Senior commanders came to see civilian casualties not just as "collateral damage," but also as operationally counterproductive.
That recognition led to real changes including tighter rules, better intelligence practices and eventually the creation of systems within the Pentagon meant to track, investigate and learn lessons to reduce harm. By the time U.S. troops were withdrawing from Kabul in 2021, those lessons were just beginning to be institutionalized across the armed forces.
What is happening now is undoing that progress. Safeguards built over years are being torn down, and it is unclear whether senior military leaders are willing to push back.
One major incident of harm to civilians can be a mistake. But when reports come in about multiple strikes on a variety of places where families and children gather, it raises a question about whether something larger is at work. It could be failures of intelligence or targeting decisions, or that the level of risk to civilians now being accepted has risen.
There are warning signs that in this policy environment, the U.S. military will not be led to correct its course. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly dismissed what he calls "stupid rules of engagement" and emphasized making the military "more lethal." At the same time, Hegseth has weakened or sidelined efforts designed to reduce civilian harm in war. Those signals matter because they shape what military lawyers, analysts and commanders understand to be expected of them. In short, they shape the military's culture.
We don't know all the facts yet about the Minab school strike or the disputed one at the sports complex in Lamerd, but we've seen enough to know that the attacks can't be written off as isolated mistakes. Before and since the start of the U.S. war on Iran in February, there has been little sustained public debate and no congressional hearings about the risks of American military action in Iran, including the inevitable civilian casualties that result from using powerful explosive weapons in populated areas. During the war in Afghanistan, each deadly strike on a wedding party or family compound did more than take civilian lives. It fueled anger at the U.S. and magnified skepticism that our military was trying to minimize civilian harm in any way.
Americans are entitled to clear answers about who and what is being targeted, what its military is doing to protect Iranian civilians and how possible violations of the laws of war are being investigated. This is basic public oversight that should accompany the use of military force. When incidents are openly disputed, as in the Lamerd strike, the need for impartial and transparent investigations becomes more, not less, important. If the U.S. military was acting lawfully, it should show it. But if it wasn't, the public deserves to know that too.
The United States has long claimed to fight according to international law and to benefit from doing so. But that means little if the rules are mocked and actions don't match reality. Waiting to recognize these patterns of civilian harm, and to correct them, will once again cost lives.
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Original text here: https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/04/06/americans-deserve-answers-about-civilian-casualties-in-iran
Appeals Court Laughably Rules Kalshi Betting on NCAA Championship & Other Sports Isn't Gambling
WASHINGTON, April 6 [Category: Financial Services] -- Better Markets, an organization that says it promotes pro-market, pro-business and pro-growth policies to help build a better financial system, posted the following news release:
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Appeals Court Laughably Rules Kalshi Betting on NCAA Championship & Other Sports Isn't Gambling
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WASHINGTON, D.C.-Benjamin Schiffrin, Director of Securities Policy for Better Markets, issued the following statement in connection with the decision of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals that New Jersey cannot enforce its state gambling laws against Kalshi:
"The
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WASHINGTON, April 6 [Category: Financial Services] -- Better Markets, an organization that says it promotes pro-market, pro-business and pro-growth policies to help build a better financial system, posted the following news release:
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Appeals Court Laughably Rules Kalshi Betting on NCAA Championship & Other Sports Isn't Gambling
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WASHINGTON, D.C.-Benjamin Schiffrin, Director of Securities Policy for Better Markets, issued the following statement in connection with the decision of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals that New Jersey cannot enforce its state gambling laws against Kalshi:
"TheThird Circuit's decision fails to recognize what 85% of Americans know: that regardless of how they are named, Kalshi's so-called event contracts on sporting events are gambling. As the dissenting judge recognized, Kalshi allows individuals to bet on the winner of a sporting event. It allows individuals to bet on the point spread. And it allows individuals to bet on player props. These bets are no different than bets on a traditional sportsbook.
"The fact that Kalshi and other prediction market platforms allow people to bet on sports means that they are subject to the same state gambling laws as all other sportsbooks. But the court accepted Kalshi's argument that because prediction market platforms call their bets event contracts, and because they are registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), they should be regulated by the CFTC as swaps. That makes no sense.
"Prediction markets should not be able to evade the rules that apply to gambling by changing the name of their wagers to 'event contracts.' Sports bets do not become swaps by calling them swaps. Kalshi offers the ability to bet on tonight's Men's NCAA Tournament National Championship Game. It is hard to believe people doing so think they are engaging in a swap. Wagering on sports, whether on traditional sportsbooks or prediction markets, is gambling.
"This matters because the CFTC has no experience or expertise in regulating gambling. The CFTC's mission is to regulate the $500 trillion derivatives and commodities markets. It is supposed to ensure fair prices for everyday essentials like food, gas, and electricity. This has nothing to do with sports betting. The CFTC should be focused on its role as a federal financial regulator and should leave the states to their traditional role of regulating gambling.
"Indeed, the CFTC's own rules prohibit event contracts that involve gaming. That's because event contracts subject to CFTC's regulation are supposed to involve events with real economic consequences, such as whether the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates. Incredibly, in ruling for Kalshi, the court recognized that the CFTC's rules prohibit event contracts that involve gaming but said this did not cover sports-related event contracts.
"The dissenting judge rightfully said, after noting that Kalshi has advertised itself as offering 'sports betting,' that 'if it looks like gambling, talks like gambling, and calls itself gambling, it's gambling.' She was not fooled by what she called Kalshi's 'performative sleight' meant to obscure this reality. The reality is that prediction markets like Kalshi want to offer sports betting without being subject to the state laws that govern sports betting, and we hope that other courts will recognize this reality and let the states protect the betting public."
Better Markets is a non-profit, non-partisan, and independent organization founded in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis to promote the public interest in the financial markets, support the financial reform of Wall Street and make our financial system work for all Americans again. Better Markets works with allies-including many in finance-to promote pro-market, pro-business and pro-growth policies that help build a stronger, safer financial system that protects and promotes Americans' jobs, savings, retirements and more. To learn more, visit www.bettermarkets.org.
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Original text here: https://bettermarkets.org/newsroom/appeals-court-laughably-rules-kalshi-betting-on-ncaa-championship-other-sports-isnt-gambling/
EPA Urged to Reject Air Pollution Permit for Arizona Aluminum Plant
WASHINGTON, April 6 [Category: Biology] -- The Center for Biological Diversity posted the following news release:
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EPA Urged to Reject Air Pollution Permit for Arizona Aluminum Plant
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BENSON, Ariz. - The Center for Biological Diversity and Health Over Wealth Benson are urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reject an air pollution permit for a proposed aluminum plant in Benson, Arizona. The plant would emit pollution that could harm nearby communities and the San Pedro River.
"If this plant is built it'll release toxic air pollution that could harm wildlife and people living
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 6 [Category: Biology] -- The Center for Biological Diversity posted the following news release:
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EPA Urged to Reject Air Pollution Permit for Arizona Aluminum Plant
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BENSON, Ariz. - The Center for Biological Diversity and Health Over Wealth Benson are urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reject an air pollution permit for a proposed aluminum plant in Benson, Arizona. The plant would emit pollution that could harm nearby communities and the San Pedro River.
"If this plant is built it'll release toxic air pollution that could harm wildlife and people livingnearby. That's an unfair price to pay, especially with the San Pedro River right next door," said Russ McSpadden, a Southwest conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity. "The river is home to a rich array of animals, including the threatened yellow-billed cuckoo, and they could all be at risk. The EPA must step in and protect this unique ecosystem and the people who live nearby."
The legal filing by the Center for Biological Diversity, supported by Health Over Wealth Benson, calls on the EPA to reject the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality permit allowing Aluminum Dynamics to build and operate the aluminum ingot casting plant.
The petition says that Arizona's issuance of the plant's air permit violates the Clean Air Act by failing to adequately monitor air pollution and failing to ensure compliance with toxic air pollution limits.
"This air permit allows dangerous pollution, including fine particulates and toxic heavy metals, into the air Benson families breathe every day," said Misty Bloom, co-founder of Health Over Wealth Benson. "State regulators approved a permit that ignores real risks from pollutants like lead, dioxins and acid gases that can travel beyond the site and into our homes, schools and lungs. Our community has been clear: this permit puts public health on the line, and the EPA must reject it before that harm becomes reality."
Air pollution, water use for cooling, and other harms from the plant have drawn fierce local opposition. Despite that, the state approved Aluminum Dynamic's air pollution permit in February over objections from Benson residents.
In August 2025 the nonprofit Health Over Wealth Benson and two Benson residents sued the city of Benson and Aluminum Dynamics over alleged zoning code violations.
That same month the Center and the San Pedro 100 sued the Arizona Department of Water Resources, seeking review of whether groundwater supplies for a nearby development and the aluminum plant are legally and physically available.
This groundwater is critical to the San Pedro River, which provides habitat for millions of migratory songbirds and many endangered species. Studies show additional groundwater pumping would violate federal reserved water rights for the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area.
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Original text here: https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/epa-urged-to-reject-air-pollution-permit-for-arizona-aluminum-plant-2026-04-06/
Coalition of 39 Former DOJ Staff Urges Court to Hold ICE, Other Federal Agents Accountable
WASHINGTON, April 6 [Category: Political] -- The Campaign Legal Center posted the following news release:
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Coalition of 39 Former DOJ Staff Urges Court to Hold ICE, Other Federal Agents Accountable
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WASHINGTON -Today, Campaign Legal Center (CLC) and the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection (ICAP) submitted a brief on behalf of 39 former career civil servants who worked in the Special Litigation Section of the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Civil Rights Division in Tincher v. Noem. This case was brought on behalf of protesters and legal observers in Minneapolis, Minnesota,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 6 [Category: Political] -- The Campaign Legal Center posted the following news release:
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Coalition of 39 Former DOJ Staff Urges Court to Hold ICE, Other Federal Agents Accountable
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WASHINGTON -Today, Campaign Legal Center (CLC) and the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection (ICAP) submitted a brief on behalf of 39 former career civil servants who worked in the Special Litigation Section of the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Civil Rights Division in Tincher v. Noem. This case was brought on behalf of protesters and legal observers in Minneapolis, Minnesota,alleging that federal law enforcement -including agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) -are violating their First Amendment rights by responding to their lawful activities with physical force, intimidation and arrests.
Our brief elevates the voices of former federal workers from the DOJ who used to investigate unconstitutional practices by state and local law enforcement and highlights cases where DOJ found that law enforcement violated the First Amendment rights of protesters and observers by engaging in similar activities to those alleged by the plaintiffs in Tincher. It also explains that the Constitution applies equally to federal, state and local law enforcement. Federal law enforcement, including ICE, should be held to the same standard as any other law enforcement agency. Read more about our brief here.
"Every American has a fundamental right to free speech and peaceful protest under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. When law enforcement abuses their power to quash dissent and retaliate against individuals for exercising their First Amendment freedoms, they threaten the foundations of our democratic system," said Dana Paikowsky, senior legal counsel for voting rights at Campaign Legal Center. "For years, the federal government rightly took action against local law enforcement agencies that retaliated against protestors and observers in violation of their First Amendment rights. Its own law enforcement agents should be able to live up to the same constitutional standards it required of others in the past."
"As the DOJ has repeatedly stressed in findings against local law enforcement agencies, the First Amendment protects the right to watch law enforcement do their jobs in public, to record their activities, and to publicly criticize what law enforcement is doing," said Seth Wayne, senior counsel at the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection and former Special Litigation Section attorney. "Those same principles apply to federal law enforcement."
Constitutional protections are not theoretical ideals but enforceable guarantees. The rule of law is only meaningful when it applies equally to everyone, including those who wield government power.
Follow the latest updates via Campaign Legal Center's case page.
The nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center advances democracy through law. We safeguard the freedom to vote, defend voters' right to know who is spending money to influence elections, and work to ensure public trust in our elected officials.
Learn more about CLC. Don't miss out on our latest resources: Subscribe to President Trevor Potter's newsletter on LinkedIn or email, tune in to the latest season of our award-winning podcast, Democracy Decoded, and join our livestreamed events.
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Original text here: https://campaignlegal.org/press-releases/coalition-39-former-doj-staff-urges-court-hold-ice-other-federal-agents-accountable
Center for Human Rights in Iran: Attacks on Essential Infrastructure Will Have Catastrophic Consequences for Millions of Civilians Across the Region
NEW YORK, April 6 [Category: International] -- The Center for Human Rights in Iran posted the following news release:
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Attacks on Essential Infrastructure Will Have Catastrophic Consequences for Millions of Civilians Across the Region
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In the context of the ongoing threats and attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure across the region, including power plants, water treatment facilities, and bridges, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) urgently reminds all parties to the current conflict of their binding obligations under international humanitarian law, including the
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, April 6 [Category: International] -- The Center for Human Rights in Iran posted the following news release:
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Attacks on Essential Infrastructure Will Have Catastrophic Consequences for Millions of Civilians Across the Region
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In the context of the ongoing threats and attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure across the region, including power plants, water treatment facilities, and bridges, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) urgently reminds all parties to the current conflict of their binding obligations under international humanitarian law, including thefour Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols.
These legal frameworks establish fundamental protections for civilians during armed conflict, including the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precautions in attack. They strictly prohibit directing attacks against civilians or civilian objects, as well as indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks.
Objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, including drinking water installations, electricity networks, and medical facilities, are afforded special protection and must not be targeted.
Damage to essential civilian infrastructure has devastating and well-documented humanitarian consequences. Strikes on power systems can trigger prolonged blackouts, disabling hospitals, disrupting water treatment and sanitation systems, and undermining food supply chains. Damage to water infrastructure increases the risk of waterborne disease, while destruction of transport infrastructure, such as bridges, restricts access to medical care and humanitarian assistance. The reverberating effects of such attacks are widespread, long-lasting, and disproportionately borne by civilians.
As emphasized by international humanitarian organizations, the destruction of critical infrastructure in armed conflict can lead to cascading public health emergencies and the collapse of essential services, placing millions of civilians at acute risk.
Continued attacks affecting essential civilian infrastructure by all sides to the conflict will result in catastrophic humanitarian consequences for millions across the region.
CHRI calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, strictly adhere to international humanitarian law, and take all feasible measures to protect civilians and civilian objects.
The international community must act urgently to reinforce these obligations and help prevent a large-scale humanitarian disaster.
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Original text here: https://iranhumanrights.org/2026/04/attacks-on-essential-infrastructure-will-have-catastrophic-consequences-for-millions-of-civilians-across-the-region/
CCRKBA TO GOV. BESHEAR: HB 312 VETO AN INSULT TO YOUNG ADULTS
BELLEVUE, Washington, April 6 [Category: Political] -- The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms issued the following news release:
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CCRKBA TO GOV. BESHEAR: HB 312 VETO AN INSULT TO YOUNG ADULTS
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BELLEVUE, WA - Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's veto of House Bill 312 was a deplorable act of sexism which leaves young women unarmed and vulnerable to brutal attack, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms declared.
"While he claims to be a 'different kind of Democrat,' Gov. Beshear has revealed himself to be just one more anti-gun-rights politician adhering
... Show Full Article
BELLEVUE, Washington, April 6 [Category: Political] -- The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms issued the following news release:
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CCRKBA TO GOV. BESHEAR: HB 312 VETO AN INSULT TO YOUNG ADULTS
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BELLEVUE, WA - Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's veto of House Bill 312 was a deplorable act of sexism which leaves young women unarmed and vulnerable to brutal attack, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms declared.
"While he claims to be a 'different kind of Democrat,' Gov. Beshear has revealed himself to be just one more anti-gun-rights politician adheringto the party's increasingly far-left dogma," said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. "He has shown his true colors by preventing a provisional license for 18- to 20-year-olds to carry a concealed handgun in public, amounting to a direct attack on young women, especially young women of color, who are frequently in need of protection. The late, great First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who was one of the first women in New York State to have a full carry license, is probably spinning in her grave.
"We've all heard the excuses from Democrats for opposing legal carry for self-defense by young adults," he continued, "and it all translates to social bigotry against young Black and Latino males, to whom they often refer as being 'too impulsive' to exercise their Second Amendment rights. How many of these same young Americans join the military, start businesses, enter into contracts, get married and start families? The idea that such citizens can do all of these things, yet be denied the means by which to protect themselves, by the stroke of a governor's pen, is disgusting.
"The media is playing this veto up as a way Beshear honors a friend who was killed in the Old National Bank shooting in 2023," Gottlieb noted, "but that's nonsense. The killer in that outrage was 25 years old, and he left an appalling manifesto explaining his rampage as an act against gun violence, and Beshear knows it. He's allowing the actions of a dead lunatic to guide policy regarding the rights of responsible young adults, and especially young, vulnerable women.
"The General Assembly should make short work of this veto by overriding it at its session next week," Gottlieb suggested. "Politicians such as Gov. Beshear like to pay lip service to young adults in order to get their votes, but as we just witnessed, it's all a facade."
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Original text here: https://ccrkba.org/ccrkba-to-gov-beshear-hb-312-veto-an-insult-to-young-adults/
CCRKBA ANNOUNCES 'GARAND THUMB' AS NEW ENGLAND FAC NOTABLE SPEAKER
BELLEVUE, Washington, April 6 [Category: Political] -- The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms issued the following news release:
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CCRKBA ANNOUNCES 'GARAND THUMB' AS NEW ENGLAND FAC NOTABLE SPEAKER
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The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms is pleased to announce that Michael Jones - AKA " Garand Thumb " - will be one of the featured speakers of the New England Firearms Advocacy Conference.
The New England Firearms Advocacy Conference will be held Saturday, May 30 in Chicopee, Mass. at Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr.
Jones is a former member
... Show Full Article
BELLEVUE, Washington, April 6 [Category: Political] -- The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms issued the following news release:
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CCRKBA ANNOUNCES 'GARAND THUMB' AS NEW ENGLAND FAC NOTABLE SPEAKER
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The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms is pleased to announce that Michael Jones - AKA " Garand Thumb " - will be one of the featured speakers of the New England Firearms Advocacy Conference.
The New England Firearms Advocacy Conference will be held Saturday, May 30 in Chicopee, Mass. at Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr.
Jones is a former memberof the U.S. Airforce, firearms enthusiast, and YouTuber who focuses on reviews, tactical gear, shooting sports, and the military. Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Jones is sympathetic to the plight of many New England gun owners and what they have to deal with in hostile-to-the-Second Amendment jurisdictions.
"We're delighted to have Mike Jones join us as one of our notable speakers for our inaugural FAC event," conference chair and CCRKBA Director Holly Sullivan said. "On the 250th anniversary of our country, we return to Massachusetts where it all started for a different kind of battle -one of public policy and preservation of rights. We are thrilled to have Mike by our side in this fight."
"As we bring on a new era of advocacy and rights preservation at the Committee, it's inspiring to collaborate with some of the biggest personalities in Second Amendment new media," CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb said. "We welcome Garand Thumb to the family and look forward to working with him for years to come."
The full lineup of speakers for the New England FAC is being finalized and Northeast advocates are not going to want to miss this event. The cost to attend the conference is $25.00 and includes a one-year membership to CCRKBA.
For more information about the conference visit https://ccrkba.org/fac/
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Original text here: https://ccrkba.org/ccrkba-announces-garand-thumb-as-new-england-fac-notable-speaker/
30-Plus Lobbyists Face Ethics Inquiry from Campaign Legal Center for Donations to President Trump's Legacy Projects
WASHINGTON, April 6 [Category: Political] -- The Campaign Legal Center posted the following news release:
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NEW: 30-Plus Lobbyists Face Ethics Inquiry from Campaign Legal Center for Donations to President Trump's Legacy Projects
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WASHINGTON - On April 6, 2026, Campaign Legal Center (CLC) filed a complaint with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, urging an investigation into whether more than 30 corporate lobbyists violated federal law by failing to report donations made to four of President Donald Trump's legacy projects. The public has a right to know whether corporate
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 6 [Category: Political] -- The Campaign Legal Center posted the following news release:
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NEW: 30-Plus Lobbyists Face Ethics Inquiry from Campaign Legal Center for Donations to President Trump's Legacy Projects
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WASHINGTON - On April 6, 2026, Campaign Legal Center (CLC) filed a complaint with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, urging an investigation into whether more than 30 corporate lobbyists violated federal law by failing to report donations made to four of President Donald Trump's legacy projects. The public has a right to know whether corporateinterests are secretly taking advantage of these avenues to purchase access and influence over the administration.
"The hidden influence being exerted on the current Trump administration by lobbyists -who are also not making the required disclosures -is unprecedented," said Kedric Payne, vice president, general counsel and senior director of ethics at the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center. "Federal lobbying laws are intended to keep the public fully informed on who may be trying to influence leaders at the highest levels of our government. We urge the U.S. Attorney of the District Court to conduct a thorough investigation of this matter because the public deserves to know the full scope of corporate lobbyists' activities, which can impact government policies and affairs."
Lobbyists must disclose donations made to entities that are "established, financed, maintained, or controlled" by executive branch officials, including the president, under the Lobbyist Disclosure Act (also known as the LDA). Those who fail to adhere to this federal law risk facing civil and criminal penalties for these omissions.
Based on media reporting and announcements from the White House, over 30 corporate lobbyists have contributed to at least four projects controlled wholly or in part by President Trump, including: the White House Ballroom Project; Freedom 250; the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts; and the Trump Presidential Library. The specific dates and amounts of these donations are unclear, and it is unknown how many other lobbyists beyond the initial 30 have made similar contributions.
Enforcement of the Lobbyist Disclosure Act is critical because corporate lobbyists are in a position to purchase influence from senior-level government officials, who should be prioritizing the public and not private industry interests. Rampant noncompliance with federal lobbying disclosure laws by known and unknown corporations seeking to influence the president risks obscuring the full scale and magnitude of these activities for the public.
Campaign Legal Center urges U.S. Attorney of the District Court Jeanine Pirro to investigate donations made by corporate lobbyists because this action is essential for exposing potential violations and ultimately deterring continued misconduct.
The nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center advances democracy through law. We safeguard the freedom to vote, defend voters' right to know who is spending money to influence elections, and work to ensure public trust in our elected officials.
Learn more about CLC. Don't miss out on our latest resources: Subscribe to President Trevor Potter's newsletter on LinkedIn or email, tune in to the latest season of our award-winning podcast, Democracy Decoded, and join our livestreamed events.
***
Original text here: https://campaignlegal.org/press-releases/new-30-plus-lobbyists-face-ethics-inquiry-campaign-legal-center-donations-president
Value of Hope: Drug Pricing & More at MassBio's State of Possible
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, April 4 -- The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council posted the following news:
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Value of Hope: Drug Pricing & More at MassBio's State of Possible
Guest Author: Andrew Wishon, Associate Director, Real Chemistry
This year's State of Possible Conference gave attendees a glimpse at the passion and purpose that fuels scientific breakthroughs--long before these innovations enter your newsfeed or reach the headlines of your favorite outlet. If your newsfeed is anything like mine, you've likely seen many recent headlines featuring one word in particular: Affordability.
It's
... Show Full Article
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, April 4 -- The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council posted the following news:
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Value of Hope: Drug Pricing & More at MassBio's State of Possible
Guest Author: Andrew Wishon, Associate Director, Real Chemistry
This year's State of Possible Conference gave attendees a glimpse at the passion and purpose that fuels scientific breakthroughs--long before these innovations enter your newsfeed or reach the headlines of your favorite outlet. If your newsfeed is anything like mine, you've likely seen many recent headlines featuring one word in particular: Affordability.
It'sno secret that the cost of health care and prescription drugs is now at the forefront of many Americans' minds. In response, legislators at the federal and state level are weighing new policies that hold wide-ranging consequences for drug developers and patients at the pharmacy counter.
At the State of Possible Conference, speakers gave voice to both the state of drug pricing and the ripple effects of proposed solutions.
An Honest Conversation
John Stanford, partner and CEO at Novel Strategies, moderated what he described as "a conversation on the price of innovation. But most importantly, it's an honest conversation."
The conversation that followed touched on all the "truths about our industry" that impact what patients pay for medicines, from R&D costs to AI to geopolitics. One throughline of the discussion, however, was how communication shapes perceptions of drug pricing in America.
Chris Garabedian, venture portfolio manager at Perceptive Advisors and chairman & CEO of Xontogeny, kicked off the panel by bringing up an area "we don't talk enough about": the cost of health care overall.
"When you really look at it, 85 to 90% [of spending] is not branded pharmaceuticals. And when you think of the efficiency of that, of being able to get a prescription bottle or take a subcutaneous injection to treat a serious disease, it's one of the most efficient ways that we can deploy health care."
Garabedian noted that the biopharma industry has previously struggled to communicate how such novel therapies have significantly alleviated the burden--and cost--of treating disease in the U.S. He shared how, in certain cases, "it's antiquated to have to drive to a clinic or a hospital setting" where a patient may receive a bill in the "tens of thousands of dollars" rather than receive a therapy administered in a more cost-effective setting.
"We still continue to need to do a better job of explaining how these drugs--even though they're branded and they might have a high sticker price initially--that these are the most efficient way that we can treat disease."
The industry was also encouraged to have more open and forthcoming discussions on prices that convey a medicine's value. Melanie Whittington, managing director of the Leerink Center for Pharmacoeconomics, cited the lack of such discourse as one reason for the biopharma industry's mixed reputation among Americans in recent surveys.
"Everyone in this room are heroes. But outside of these walls, because of the high costs that patients have to pay at the pharmacy counter, they see this industry as the antihero."
As an illustration, Whittington flipped the notion of 'the price of innovation' on its head: "What is the price of not innovating?"
"I would really challenge us all in this room to talk about price. To think about price. To evaluate the amazing societal and health system and patient impacts that the products you're working on could do or are doing, and really celebrate that and communicate that."
The Importance of Incentives
Another theme in drug pricing is the role of federal policymakers in maintaining an ecosystem ripe for investment and innovation.
Regulators and members of Congress have several levers at their disposal to create incentives for drug development, as well as the potential to enact policies that hold unintended consequences on innovation.
Garabedian asserted that federal incentives have seen good results, such as the FDA's priority review vouchers for therapies treating rare pediatric diseases. Still, the biotech industry would benefit from more programs and incentives: "I think we need to figure out how to have a better collaboration."
Such a partnership requires a united front among the biotech industry. Scott Robertson, co-founder and managing partner at Dauntless Ventures, believes "the industry is in real trouble if we can't figure out a holistic, systematic way to go to the U.S government" to discuss key issues.
The goal, Robertson says, would not only be participation in dialogue already underway, such as the impacts of most-favored-nation drug pricing or the regulatory arbitrage of nations like China and Australia.
"There are things that we have not touched in the R&D tax code for early-stage innovation in 40 years. We should address all of those."
Uncertainty in Washington
Another area impacting pricing is predictability, which helps biopharma companies plot crucial timelines that support a sustainable future. Legislative changes, especially the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), have shifted the paradigm for how drugmakers price their medicines.
Chris Viehbacher, president and CEO of Biogen, noted that the IRA serves as "a de facto reduction in patent life" because of the timeline for when a drug becomes eligible for the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. The presence of the IRA means that "suddenly, whoop, that [timeline] is now shorter," meaning companies must adjust strategies on the fly to compensate for it.
Additionally, the FDA has historically been a pillar of stability for biotech companies. However, staff reductions and leadership turnover have brought new questions about the agency's future, noted Tamar Thompson, VP, patient experience and insights at Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease.
Thompson, also the Outgoing MassBio Board Chair, gave voice to the "tremendous uncertainty" at the agency in contrast to similar review bodies around the world.
"Other countries are moving quickly to accelerate clinical development pathways and attract innovation to their shores. And the FDA is under real pressure, adding real complexity to this moment. And that should be a moment of a wakeup call and focus."
Massachusetts Takes Action
In remarks, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey acknowledged how abrupt federal changes have brought about several new challenges for our industry.
"They are stripping billions of dollars out of funding for health care and science and research. We've lost 75,000 scientists out of the federal government to date. That's staggering."
Those impacts are acutely felt in Massachusetts, which has cultivated a legacy as the epicenter of the global biopharma industry. The Commonwealth features a unique blend of academic research, venture capital and public policy that has fueled business and innovation over several decades.
It's legacy that has prompted public servants like Governor Healey to act. As she puts it: "We haven't been taking it lying down. And we're not going to. We're going to continue to stay true to who we are."
In 2025, Governor Healey signed legislation to reduce insurer cost sharing on prescription medicines. The state has built on the momentum by working collaboratively with insurers to streamline prior authorization practices that too often delay care and worsen outcomes.
The commitment to public-private partnership has led to the creation of a Health Care Affordability Working Group tasked with advancing proposals to reduce health care costs across the system.
"I know people think working groups get nothing done. My teams get stuff done."
The Business of Hope
The conversation around drug pricing often feels weighed down by the gravity of the status quo. With so many fronts of conflict and so many players involved, any inch of progress could be viewed as a reminder of the miles of issues that lie ahead.
Still, the State of Possible Conference reminded attendees that fixing the system takes time, open discussion and - most importantly - a commitment to getting better. The same spirit that drives science to new frontiers can also advance access and affordability for the patients we serve.
Governor Healey said it best when reminding us of the business we've chosen to enter.
"You're in the business of hope...Hope for cures that patients depend on. Hope for great careers that students are looking for. Hope for a better, healthier world."
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Andrew Wishon is an associate director at Real Chemistry, a tier-one partner to the world's most innovative life sciences and health care companies. He is the editor-in-chief of Real Chemistry's Value Report, a free weekly newsletter on biopharma policy and pricing.
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Original text here: https://www.massbio.org/news/recent-news/the-value-of-hope-drug-pricing-more-at-massbios-state-of-possible/
[Category: Biology]
Protect Our Care: Trump FY27 Budget Goes Nuclear Against Public Health Priorities to Finance Endless War, Perpetuate Billionaire Tax Giveaways
WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Protect Our Care issued the following news:
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Trump FY27 Budget Goes Nuclear Against Public Health Priorities to Finance Endless War, Perpetuate Billionaire Tax Giveaways
It is immediately clear why Donald Trump quietly posted his FY2027 budget blueprint in a deep, dark corner of the White House website on Friday of Easter weekend: the act of a coward who does not want the public to know about the warped priorities within that seek to set public health back decades to pay for a deeply unpopular Iran war and maintain $1 trillion in wasteful tax breaks for billionaires
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Protect Our Care issued the following news:
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Trump FY27 Budget Goes Nuclear Against Public Health Priorities to Finance Endless War, Perpetuate Billionaire Tax Giveaways
It is immediately clear why Donald Trump quietly posted his FY2027 budget blueprint in a deep, dark corner of the White House website on Friday of Easter weekend: the act of a coward who does not want the public to know about the warped priorities within that seek to set public health back decades to pay for a deeply unpopular Iran war and maintain $1 trillion in wasteful tax breaks for billionairesand big corporations. It's a budget that fully reflects Trump's chilling value statement this week: "It's not possible for us to take care of day care, Medicaid, Medicare, all these individual things. [...] We have to take care of one thing: military protection."
Kayla Hancock, Director of Protect Our Care's Public Health Project: "Donald Trump's budget plan is a roadmap to smashing virtually every public health safeguard and inviting deadly preventable diseases like measles to run wild. It's far too heavy a price to pay for endless war overseas and tax breaks for Trump's billionaire friends and corporate donors - and the economy will get sicker right along with millions of Americans. Trump's proposed cuts to the NIH alone will end up costing working people more than double that in lost economic activity, while the potential cost to our public health in lost scientific research and innovation is off the charts. With countless examples to choose from, 'America first' may be the biggest lie Donald Trump ever told."
Proposed Wrong Priority Increases:
* Staggering Nearly Half A Trillion Increase (44%) in Department of Defense Spending
* $10 Billion Increase for ICE
Proposed Harmful Cuts:
* Overall $15.4 Billion Cut (12.2% Cut to Discretionary Funding) to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, including:
* $5 Billion Cut (~10%) to the National Institutes of Health, jeopardizing thousands of research grants aimed at finding treatments and cures for cancer, Alzheimer's, infectious diseases and many other illnesses; NIH grants for medical research have been credited with delivering a more than 2.5-to-1 return on taxpayer investment, generating $94.58 billion in new economic activity in FY2024.
* Eliminates the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities within NIH
* $5 Billion in Cuts to Programs under Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH)
* $356 Million Cut (~10%) to HHS ASPR (responsible for pandemic preparedness, national stockpile, hospital preparedness program)
* $129 Million Cut (37%) to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
* 52% Cut to the Environmental Protection Agency
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Original text here: https://www.protectourcare.org/trump-fy27-budget-goes-nuclear-against-public-health-priorities-to-finance-endless-war-perpetuate-billionaire-tax-giveaways/
[Category: Health Care]
President's Budget Proposal Slashes National Park Service Funding Amid Ongoing Attacks on National Parks
WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The National Parks Conservation Association issued the following news release on April 3, 2026:
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President's Budget Proposal Slashes National Park Service Funding Amid Ongoing Attacks on National Parks
The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) is once again raising concerns over a new round of devastating proposed budget cuts for our national parks. The Trump Administration today released its 2027 budget proposal, which like last year's, would gut the National Park Service, threatening the protection, maintenance and operation of more than 430 national parks
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The National Parks Conservation Association issued the following news release on April 3, 2026:
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President's Budget Proposal Slashes National Park Service Funding Amid Ongoing Attacks on National Parks
The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) is once again raising concerns over a new round of devastating proposed budget cuts for our national parks. The Trump Administration today released its 2027 budget proposal, which like last year's, would gut the National Park Service, threatening the protection, maintenance and operation of more than 430 national parksnationwide. The proposal makes sweeping cuts across the Park Service budget, including a $736 million reduction (over 25%) to park operations, likely eliminating thousands more park staff after a year of severe losses.
The administration's plan to slash park funding comes as millions of people are flocking to national parks and planning their summer trips. The latest Park Service visitation report confirmed 26 parks set record attendance last year alone, highlighting just how much people cherish these places. Yet as demand and pressure on parks grow, funding and staffing continue to shrink. Since January 2025, the Park Service has lost nearly 25% of its workforce - over 4,000 staff - due to pressured resignations and early retirements and an ongoing barriers to hiring. This follows a 13% decline in park staff since 2011, even as visitation has risen 19%, topping 323 million visits in 2025. These cuts have already led to fewer ranger-led programs, weakened resource protection, delayed maintenance and diminished visitor experiences.
Alongside these cuts, the administration continues to recognize the importance of addressing deferred maintenance needs in our national parks by asking Congress to extend the Legacy Restoration Fund that was established by the Great American Outdoors Act but expired last year. Our national parks face more than $23 billion in needed repairs across the system. Addressing these needs is essential to ensure future generations can experience these places as we have. NPCA is encouraged that the budget proposal recognizes this reality.
A recent national poll (https://www.npca.org/resources/4301-nobody-wants-this-new-poll-finds-majority-of-americans-oppose-attacks-on) shows Americans are united on national parks. They want parks protected, funded and staffed. In fact, more than two-thirds of Americans reject the drastic cuts to park budgets this administration has pursued.
With Congress now set to review the proposal, NPCA and park advocates are calling on lawmakers to reject these harmful cuts and instead uphold their responsibility to protect our nation's public lands.
Specific National Park Service-related budget proposals include:
* Establishes a $10 billion "Presidential Capital Stewardship Program" within NPS to "coordinate, plan, and execute targeted, priority construction and beautification projects in and around Washington, D.C." Current budget documents don't clarify how much would address D.C.'s $1.5 billion deferred maintenance backlog, cover routine upkeep across NPS sites, or fund new construction. This $10 billion represents nearly half of the Park System's total deferred maintenance backlog, yet it's unclear why new construction is prioritized, especially without a plan for maintaining new infrastructure.
* Cuts the annual National Park Service Construction budget to less than $50 million, leaving it with 72% less funding to address repairs compared to 2025.
* Supports reauthorization of the Legacy Restoration Fund established by the Great American Outdoors Act to repair and reconstruct infrastructure in national parks and other federal public lands.
* Cuts $4.6 billion (52%) from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the agency responsible for enforcing vital laws like the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act. Slashing these programs would increase pollution, harm air and water quality in our national parks, and endanger the health of visitors and nearby communities.
* Cuts the National Heritage Area program by approximately 87%, undermining the bipartisan investment Congress just made to this critical program that supports community driven efforts to protect historic resources.
* Slashes funding for federal land acquisition projects under the Land and Water Conservation Fund, undermining bipartisan support to protect national parks from incompatible development.
* Slashes the Historic Preservation Fund by 95%, eliminating opportunities for communities and tribes to protect historically and culturally irreplaceable resources throughout the country.
Statement by John Garder, Senior Director of Budget and Appropriations for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA):
"A cut this massive would be catastrophic. After a year of deep staffing cuts, dwindling resources, and attacks on history and science, park staff are already at the brink. Park maintenance needs are growing, protections are eroding, and visitor experience is declining. This proposal would only accelerate the damage, putting our national parks at even greater risk and further cutting the park staff needed to care for our national treasures.
"At the same time, the administration appears to be prioritizing a vague set of new construction projects across Washington, DC, proposing $10 billion for this program alone, which is more than three times the annual budget of the National Park Service. We support efforts to modernize and repair park infrastructure but not when it's paired with massive cuts to Park Service operations.
"Communities across the country rely on national parks for jobs, education and cultural preservation. Investing in national parks is investing in America, which is why a majority of Americans across the political spectrum reject these kinds of cuts. They want parks protected, fully staffed, and accessible for future generations, not hollowed out by senseless budgets.
"As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, the administration is undermining the very places that safeguard our history and heritage. Congress must reject this terrible budget and instead stand up and act for our most treasured places, just as they did last year with strong bipartisan support for our parks. Our national parks are not political pawns. They are part of who we are, and they must be protected now and for generations to come."
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About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.9 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation's most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.
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Original text here: https://www.npca.org/articles/11371-president-s-budget-proposal-slashes-national-park-service-funding-amid
[Category: Environment]
Millions of Cropland Acres in Flood-prone Midwest Fields Become Double Polluters, EWG Finds
WASHINGTON, April 4 (TNSbrep) -- The Environmental Working Group issued the following news release:
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Millions of cropland acres in flood-prone Midwest fields become double polluters, EWG finds
Flooded cornfields can contaminate drinking water and fuel climate emissions
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MINNEAPOLIS - More than 4.2 million acres of cropland in four major Corn Belt states sit in flood-prone areas that generate emissions, adding to climate change and threatening drinking water quality, a new Environmental Working Group analysis finds.
The acres in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin are in the 100-year
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 4 (TNSbrep) -- The Environmental Working Group issued the following news release:
* * *
Millions of cropland acres in flood-prone Midwest fields become double polluters, EWG finds
Flooded cornfields can contaminate drinking water and fuel climate emissions
*
MINNEAPOLIS - More than 4.2 million acres of cropland in four major Corn Belt states sit in flood-prone areas that generate emissions, adding to climate change and threatening drinking water quality, a new Environmental Working Group analysis finds.
The acres in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin are in the 100-yearflood plain - areas with a 1% chance of flooding in any given year. Iowa has over 1.7 million of those acres, with more than 981,000 planted with corn. Wisconsin has the smallest total acreage in the flood plain but the highest share of the four states dedicated to corn, at 59%.
Corn is an especially problematic crop in these areas, because of heavy application of nitrogen fertilizer. When fields flood, they can generate nitrous oxide emissions that contribute to climate change and contaminate drinking water with nitrate.
This double pollution of the air and water highlights a largely overlooked aspect of the harm agriculture can cause to the environment.
Two pollution problems
Tackling agriculture's contribution to climate change is vital, as the sector's greenhouse gas emissions rise and emissions from other sectors drop. Flood-prone cropland emits nitrous oxide that warms the Earth nearly 300 times more than carbon dioxide. Nitrous oxide already accounts for 52% of total U.S. agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and roughly 6% of all U.S. emissions.
Addressing cropland flooding will also help in reducing the amount of nitrate running off into drinking water. High nitrate levels in drinking water can cause blue baby syndrome, a potentially fatal condition that deprives infants of oxygen. Even lower levels of nitrate in tap water have been linked to increased risk of birth defects and cancer.
"Flooded cornfields lead to a polluted environment," said EWG Senior Geographic Information System Analyst Al Rabine, author of the analysis. "Tools exist to fix this. We're just not using them nearly enough."
The federal government spends billions of dollars annually on farm conservation programs, but EWG's analysis (https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/e8f837a6455847bca19fd9c81fa7d4b8) finds funding is not being directed where it could have the most benefit.
Stronger federal and state conservation programs could help farmers adopt practices that reduce climate and water pollution, along with permanently retiring cropland in flood plains where farming poses the greatest risks.
Case study in Minnesota
To examine the problem at the local level, EWG modeled cropland within the 2-year flood plain of the Middle Fork Zumbro River watershed, in Southeast Minnesota. The 2-year flood plain is an area expected to flood, on average, once every two years - it has a 50% chance of flooding in any particular year.
The region has long struggled with nitrate contamination in drinking water, in part because it sits atop karst soils through which water and contaminants can easily leach into groundwater. The Middle Fork watershed covers 566 square miles and contains over 100,000 acres of total cropland, more than half of it corn.
EWG's analysis found between 1,619 and 6,435 acres of cropland within the likely 2-year flood plain. Most of the cropland is corn, ranging from 1,083 to 4,058 acres, depending on inundation level - the amount of flooding.
This means potentially more than 4,000 acres of heavily fertilized corn fields could flood every other year in this single watershed alone, repeatedly spiking both nitrous oxide emissions and nitrate runoff into local water supplies.
Improving conservation programs
The federal government spends billions of dollars annually on farm conservation programs. But EWG's analysis finds that funding is not being effectively directed to the practices and places where it would have the most benefit.
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program, or EQIP, is one of the primary federal working lands conservation programs. But EWG's Conservation Database shows that six of the 10 most highly paid EQIP practices between 2017 and 2024 were structural: fencing, sprinkler systems, manure pit covers, animal waste storage and irrigation pipelines. Farmers received $2.59 billion for these practices, accounting for 25% of all EQIP spending.
Many of these practices provide no climate benefit, and some recipients are factory farms legally required to implement them anyway.
The practices most effective at reducing nitrous oxide emissions and nitrate runoff in flood-prone areas - cover crops, crop diversification, reduced tillage and buffer strips - receive far less support than they should.
"Federal conservation dollars are not being spent where they'll make the biggest difference," said Rabine. "Paying livestock operations to install fencing while flooded corn fields keep double polluting is not a conservation strategy; it's a missed opportunity."
Opportunities for reform
EQIP should be updated to allow states to pay 90% of the cost for practices, such as cover crops and crop diversification, that demonstrably reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Bipartisan legislation already exists to move in this direction.
EWG also recommends that the USDA and Midwest state agencies make a priority of funding conservation practices on cropland within flood plains in particular, because that's where problems are most acute and the benefits of intervention are greatest.
Federal and state agencies should also better map and designate flood-prone agricultural land, so conservation resources can be more precisely targeted.
* * *
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.
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Original text here: https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news-release/2026/04/millions-cropland-acres-flood-prone-midwest-fields-become-double
[Category: Environment]
FFRF Action Fund: 'Theocratic' State Rep. Claims Faith is in Jesus While Dismissing Climate Change
MADISON, Wisconsin, April 4 -- FFRF Action Fund, an organization that says it develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, posted the following news on April 3, 2026:
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'Theocratic' state rep. claims faith is in Jesus while dismissing climate change
FFRF Action Fund's "Theocrat of the Week" is a Minnesota state legislator for her puerile remarks stating that her "faith is not in climate change" but in Jesus Christ.
During a recent House Capital Investment Committee hearing, Minnesota
... Show Full Article
MADISON, Wisconsin, April 4 -- FFRF Action Fund, an organization that says it develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, posted the following news on April 3, 2026:
* * *
'Theocratic' state rep. claims faith is in Jesus while dismissing climate change
FFRF Action Fund's "Theocrat of the Week" is a Minnesota state legislator for her puerile remarks stating that her "faith is not in climate change" but in Jesus Christ.
During a recent House Capital Investment Committee hearing, Minnesotastate Rep. Mary Franson argued that the Legislature does not need to protect the state's infrastructure from the threats of climate change because of her personal religious beliefs. Researchers from the University of Minnesota presented a report on "How Minnesota can better prepare its infrastructure for a changing climate" during a hearing last week. Franson co-chairs the committee.
"Members, the climate is always changing," Franson said after the researchers' presentation, seemingly trying to disprove climate change. "10,000 years ago, there were glaciers covering the state. And, if you don't know what a glacier is, it's a big block of ice. Lot of ice, right? Well, they're not here in this state anymore."
"When you talk about climate change, I don't get upset about it, I don't get worked up about it," Franson continued. "It's because my faith is not in climate change."
"It's not in scientists dictating what we should and should not do to save the environment. Because my faith is in Jesus Christ, right?" Franson concluded, "He's the same today, tomorrow and forever. Yesterday. And so, you know, if you've read the Good Book, you know how it ends. It's not with climate change. That's my closing speech."
Franson has a long history of disregarding conversations on the environment and the dangers of climate change. In 2024, Franson posted on X that climate change "is a scam pushed by commies." In 2012, she criticized the House chaplain for delivering an invocation that referenced Earth Day and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, calling Earth Day a "Pagan Holiday."
Minnesota state Rep. Jamie Long condemned Franson's remarks in a press release: "As legislators, we have a responsibility to future generations of Minnesotans, and that includes ensuring our roads, bridges, water infrastructure, and public buildings -- not to mention habitats, waterways and forests -- are all resistant to extreme weather events. For a co-chair of the committee charged with making these critical investments to turn a blind eye to this reality and undermine the critical planning necessary to protect our infrastructure is deeply concerning."
Personal belief in Jesus Christ does not protect the state against environmental disasters, and Franson's remarks had no place in a legislative hearing.
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FFRF Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) organization that develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church. It also advocates for the rights and views of nonbelievers, endorses candidates for political office, and publicizes the views of elected officials concerning religious liberty issues.
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Original text here: https://ffrfaction.org/theocratic-state-rep-claims-faith-is-in-jesus-while-dismissing-climate-change/
[Category: Sociological]
CAIR Condemns Illegal Israeli Settler Attack on Palestinian Shop, Raid With Dogs on Mosque in West Bank, Forcing Kidnapped Palestinian to Advertise Jewelry Business
WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on April 3, 2026:
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CAIR Condemns Illegal Israeli Settler Attack on Palestinian Shop, Raid with Dogs on Mosque in West Bank, Forcing Kidnapped Palestinian to Advertise Jewelry Business
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned an attack on a Palestinian-owned shop by illegal Israeli settlers and a raid on a West Bank mosque by soldiers using attack dogs.
CAIR also condemned the reported kidnapping of
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on April 3, 2026:
* * *
CAIR Condemns Illegal Israeli Settler Attack on Palestinian Shop, Raid with Dogs on Mosque in West Bank, Forcing Kidnapped Palestinian to Advertise Jewelry Business
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned an attack on a Palestinian-owned shop by illegal Israeli settlers and a raid on a West Bank mosque by soldiers using attack dogs.
CAIR also condemned the reported kidnapping ofa Palestinian man who was forced to advertise an Israeli jewelry store.
CCTV video shows a group of masked Israeli settlers smashing up a Palestinian-owned shop in the West Bank.
WATCH THE VIDEO (https://x.com/dlLambo/status/2040024851767754822)
CCTV from Imam al-Shafi'i Mosque shows Israeli soldiers releasing an attack dog that bites a man in a green jacket as they enter at dawn.
SEE: CCTV Video of the Raid (https://x.com/HatsOffff/status/2039961979516031261)
An Israeli reservist used a kidnapped Palestinian man to advertise his jewelry business. He posted a photo of the man blindfolded and holding a sign for the store after he was abducted from his home during an occupation raid in the West Bank.
SEE: IDF suspends reservist who forced blinded Palestinian to advertise his jewelry business | The Times of Israel (https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-suspends-reservist-who-forced-blinded-palestinian-to-advertise-his-jewelry-business/)
In a statement, Washington, D.C., based CAIR said:
"The sheer level of cruelty displayed by illegal Israeli settlers and soldiers shocks the conscience of anyone who believe in human and religious rights. These injustices will forever stain everyone who enabled them, including those in our own government who continue to support Israel's genocidal actions and policies."
CAIR's mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-condemns-illegal-israeli-settler-attack-on-palestinian-shop-raid-with-dogs-on-mosque-in-west-bank-forcing-kidnapped-palestinian-to-advertise-jewelry-business/
[Category: Sociological]
CAIR Calls for Release of Wisconsin Journalist Shelly Kittleson Kidnapped in Iraq
WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on April 3, 2026:
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CAIR Calls for Release of Wisconsin Journalist Shelly Kittleson Kidnapped in Iraq
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for the immediate and safe release of freelance Wisconsin journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was reportedly kidnapped by a militia group in Iraq.
CAIR expressed deep concern for her safety and urged all parties involved to ensure her prompt release and humane treatment.
In
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on April 3, 2026:
* * *
CAIR Calls for Release of Wisconsin Journalist Shelly Kittleson Kidnapped in Iraq
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for the immediate and safe release of freelance Wisconsin journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was reportedly kidnapped by a militia group in Iraq.
CAIR expressed deep concern for her safety and urged all parties involved to ensure her prompt release and humane treatment.
Ina statement, Washington, D.C., based CAIR said:
"We strongly condemn the kidnapping of journalist Shelly Kittleson and call for her immediate and unconditional release. Journalists play a vital role in documenting events and informing the global public, often at great personal risk. Targeting members of the media is a violation of fundamental human rights and undermines transparency and accountability. We urge those responsible to immediately release Ms. Kittleson without harm."
CAIR has previously called for the release of journalists kidnapped by Israel, or detained in other nations, including the United States.
In 2009, CAIR staff spoke directly to the Iranian President urging him to release journalist Roxana Saberi.
And in 2006, CAIR staff went to Baghdad to appeal for the release of a kidnapped American journalist Jill Carroll.
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-calls-for-release-of-wisconsin-journalist-shelly-kittleson-kidnapped-in-iraq/
[Category: Sociological]
