Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
UPMC Provides $10 Million for Pittsburgh's EMS Fleet
PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, Jan. 30 -- The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center issued the following news release on Jan. 29, 2026:
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UPMC Provides $10 Million for Pittsburgh's EMS Fleet
UPMC today announced a $10 million contribution to the City of Pittsburgh to support the replacement of the city's aging fleet of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) vehicles and equipment. This contribution will be used to purchase nine new ambulances and one rescue truck this year, and a similar amount of equipment in 2027.
"This contribution reflects who we are at UPMC - a mission-driven institution committed
... Show Full Article
PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, Jan. 30 -- The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center issued the following news release on Jan. 29, 2026:
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UPMC Provides $10 Million for Pittsburgh's EMS Fleet
UPMC today announced a $10 million contribution to the City of Pittsburgh to support the replacement of the city's aging fleet of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) vehicles and equipment. This contribution will be used to purchase nine new ambulances and one rescue truck this year, and a similar amount of equipment in 2027.
"This contribution reflects who we are at UPMC - a mission-driven institution committedto Pittsburgh's well-being," said Leslie Davis, president and CEO of UPMC. "This week highlighted the challenges facing the city's aging EMS fleet and we recognized the urgency of the moment."
City of Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O'Connor called the contribution transformative.
"UPMC saw what was happening, approached us and stepped up to partner with us on this game-changing investment", said O'Connor. "Their leadership sets the tone for what it means to invest in the well-being of our residents."
UPMC's support strengthens EMS and creates cascading benefits citywide. By alleviating the financial pressure on the EMS budget, the City can now redirect funds to purchase new vehicles for the Department of Public Works.
UPMC with its academic partner, the University of Pittsburgh, has a long history of innovation and support of emergency services and care. Peter Safar, M.D., was an anesthesiologist who is credited with developing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and advocating its use by laypeople, and he also was instrumental in establishing Pittsburgh's Freedom House Ambulance Service.
For more than 50 years, UPMC emergency medicine physicians - currently, Leonard Weiss, M.D. - have served the Pittsburgh community as medical directors of the City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety.
"Innovations in patient care have happened due to a very strong and unique partnership between the City, UPMC and Pitt Department of Emergency Medicine," said Don Yealy, M.D., UPMC chief medical officer. "We bring physicians to the paramedics to support and advise on the care of patients' urgent medical needs, and to improve care and add to first responders' knowledge. Emergency care in Pittsburgh is one of the model sites in the nation because of the UPMC, City of Pittsburgh and Pitt partnership."
As Pittsburgh continues to modernize essential public services, UPMC is proud to stand alongside civic leaders and first responders to support a healthier, safer future for everyone across the region.
"Our investment in our community today is not in isolation, nor is it something new," Davis added. "From initiatives like the Pittsburgh Promise to Second Avenue Commons to the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, UPMC has consistently invested in the strength, vitality and future of this city by partnering with previous administrations as well - because caring for our community has always been at the heart of who we are."
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Original text here: https://www.upmc.com/media/news/012926-ems
[Category: Health Care]
PA Chamber, Energy Coalition Urge Gov. Shapiro, Lawmakers to Preserve Pro-Growth Energy Policy
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Jan. 30 -- The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry issued the following news release:
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PA Chamber, Energy Coalition Urge Gov. Shapiro, Lawmakers to Preserve Pro-Growth Energy Policy
The Stop New Energy Taxes Coalition, led by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry and representing leading business and industry associations across the Commonwealth, has sent a letter to Governor Josh Shapiro and the General Assembly ahead of the governor's upcoming Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget address, urging policymakers to avoid new or increased energy taxes
... Show Full Article
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Jan. 30 -- The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry issued the following news release:
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PA Chamber, Energy Coalition Urge Gov. Shapiro, Lawmakers to Preserve Pro-Growth Energy Policy
The Stop New Energy Taxes Coalition, led by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry and representing leading business and industry associations across the Commonwealth, has sent a letter to Governor Josh Shapiro and the General Assembly ahead of the governor's upcoming Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget address, urging policymakers to avoid new or increased energy taxesand continue supporting Pennsylvania's energy sector.
The letter points to Pennsylvania's improving economic outlook, citing recent reports from Moody's Analytics, Site Selection Magazine, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics that show the Commonwealth leading the Northeast in economic growth and gaining recognition for its increasingly competitive business climate. The coalition notes that affordable, reliable energy is a key driver of that progress.
The letter warns that targeting Pennsylvania's energy sector with new taxes would raise costs for families and employers and weaken the Commonwealth's economic competitiveness.
"Pennsylvania's energy industries provide hundreds of thousands of family-sustaining jobs, attract private investment, and support economic growth across every region of the Commonwealth," the letter states. "With abundant natural resources and a skilled workforce, Pennsylvania is well-positioned to build on this momentum, so long as public policy supports - rather than penalizes - this critical sector."
The coalition also highlights the success of Pennsylvania's existing impact fee, which the Independent Fiscal Office estimates generated nearly $240 million in 2025, a 46 percent increase from the prior year. Since 2012, the impact fee has delivered more than $2.88 billion to local governments, infrastructure projects, and environmental programs across the state.
The coalition's letter cautions policymakers against proposals to layer a severance tax on top of the impact fee, noting that comparisons to other states ignore Pennsylvania's broader tax and regulatory environment. The coalition instead urges lawmakers to preserve the current structure and focus on policies that support growth, job creation, and long-term revenue stability.
"Affordable energy remains a cornerstone of Pennsylvania's economic strength," the letter states. "We urge you to avoid proposing new or increased energy taxes and instead commit to preserving the existing impact fee structure. Doing so will support economic growth, protect consumers and employers, and help stabilize state revenues without harming one of Pennsylvania's strongest economic assets.
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The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is the state's largest broad-based business association, with its statewide membership comprising businesses of all sizes and across all industry sectors. The PA Chamber is The Statewide Voice of BusinessTM.
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Dear Governor Shapiro,
On behalf of Pennsylvania's leading business and industry associations, we respectfully urge thatyour upcoming budget proposal for FY 2026-27 continue to recognize and support the central rolePennsylvania's energy industry plays in the Commonwealth's economy.
Pennsylvania's economic trajectory is moving in the right direction. Moody's Analytics recentlyreported that Pennsylvania is the only state in the Northeast with a growing economy. Site Selection Magazine has named Pennsylvania one of the top business climates in the nation, andnew data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Pennsylvania ranks among the top statesfor five-year new business survival. Together, these indicators point to a healthy and improvingeconomy -- one that is built, in large part, on affordable, reliable energy.
Pennsylvania's energy industries provide hundreds of thousands of family-sustaining jobs, attractprivate investment, and support economic growth across every region of the Commonwealth.
With abundant natural resources and a skilled workforce, Pennsylvania is well-positioned to buildon this momentum, so long as public policy supports - rather than penalizes - this critical sector.
We recognize that Pennsylvania faces significant fiscal challenges. According to the Independent Fiscal Office's most recent five-year economic and budget outlook, the Commonwealth isprojected to face an operating deficit of $4.8 billion in FY 2025-26, growing to an estimated $6.65billion by FY 2029-30. These projections will understandably prompt discussions about newrevenue options. However, targeting the energy sector with new taxes would risk slowing growthand undermining one of the state's most reliable revenue generators.
Recent data confirms that Pennsylvania's existing impact fee structure is working as intended.
The Independent Fiscal Office estimated that impact fee collections totaled $239.9 million incalendar year 2025 -- the highest level since 2022 and a 46 percent increase from the prior year.
As production and market conditions improve, so do returns for the Commonwealth and localcommunities. This demonstrates that the impact fee delivers growing revenue withoutdiscouraging investment or increasing costs for consumers.
Despite this, the House and Senate have introduced legislation that would implement punitiveseverance taxes on natural gas production. Proponents often point to Texas as a model, but thatcomparison ignores key facts. Texas has no corporate income tax, no personal income tax, and alegal and regulatory environment built for speed and certainty. Pennsylvania's overall tax andregulatory landscape is fundamentally different, and comparing one tax in isolation ignores thebroader competitiveness picture.
Additionally, since 2012, Pennsylvania's natural gas impact fee has generated more than $2.88billion for local governments, infrastructure, environmental programs, and other public priorities.
Because the fee is tied to the age of the wells and the average annual price of natural gas, itsstructure ensures that revenue grows when the industry succeeds. This market-based systembalances fiscal needs with economic competitiveness. Layering a severance tax on top of thisexisting structure would increase costs, discourage investment, and ultimately reduce the longterm benefits the energy industry delivers to the Commonwealth.
Considering that the natural gas and oil industry supports 400,000 jobs and contributes $77 billionto the Keystone State's economy, adding burdensome taxes could have devastating impacts.
Affordable energy remains a cornerstone of Pennsylvania's economic strength. We urge you toavoid proposing new or increased energy taxes and instead commit to preserving the existingimpact fee structure. Doing so will support economic growth, protect consumers and employers,and help stabilize state revenues without harming one of Pennsylvania's strongest economicassets.
Thank you for your time and consideration. We value your leadership and welcome theopportunity to serve as a resource as you make key public policy decisions affecting the peopleand economy of Pennsylvania.
Sincerely,
PA Chamber of Business and Industry
American Petroleum Institute - Pennsylvania
Associated Pennsylvania Constructors
Associated Builders and Contractors - Keystone Chapter
Keystone Contractors Association
Manufacturers & Business Association
Marcellus Shale Coalition
National Federation of Independent Business - Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Chemical Industry Council
Pennsylvania Council of General Contractors
Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Association
Pennsylvania Independent Petroleum Producers
Pennsylvania Manufacturers'Association
Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association
Pennsylvania Septage Management Association
Pennsylvania State Grange
Performance Racing Industry
Specialty Equipment Market Association
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Original text here: https://www.pachamber.org/media/24767/pa_chamber_energy_coalition_urge_gov_shapiro_lawmakers_to_preserve_pro_growth_energy_policy/
[Category: Business]
Nature Conservancy: New AI Program PlantMap3D Helps Farmers Cut Fertilizer Use in Chesapeake Bay
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Jan. 30 -- The Nature Conservancy issued the following news on Jan. 29, 2026:
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New AI Program PlantMap3D Helps Farmers Cut Fertilizer Use in Chesapeake Bay
AI-powered PlantMap3D helps Chesapeake Bay farmers reduce fertilizer use by measuring nitrogen from cover crops, improving soil and water quality.
The Nature Conservancy, North Carolina State University, Willard Agri-Service, GROWMARK FS and USDA-NRCS Launch PlantMap3D, an AI-Informed Program to More Accurately Predict Farms' Fertilizer Needs, Improving Soil and Water Quality in the Chesapeake Bay
AI machine learning
... Show Full Article
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Jan. 30 -- The Nature Conservancy issued the following news on Jan. 29, 2026:
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New AI Program PlantMap3D Helps Farmers Cut Fertilizer Use in Chesapeake Bay
AI-powered PlantMap3D helps Chesapeake Bay farmers reduce fertilizer use by measuring nitrogen from cover crops, improving soil and water quality.
The Nature Conservancy, North Carolina State University, Willard Agri-Service, GROWMARK FS and USDA-NRCS Launch PlantMap3D, an AI-Informed Program to More Accurately Predict Farms' Fertilizer Needs, Improving Soil and Water Quality in the Chesapeake Bay
AI machine learningmeets traditional farming machinery in new project that is expected to save farmers money by quantifying the nitrogen supplied by cover crops and reducing the amount of fertilizer needed to grow crops on 150,000 acres in the Chesapeake Bay watershed
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Farmers in Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania will soon have access to AI-powered intel about their cover crops' unique nitrogen contributions, thanks to a partnership led by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS). $16 million will support farmers directly or through their agribusiness partner to implement this technology on their farms.
This initiative--part of the USDA-NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)--brings together TNC, private sector agribusinesses, universities, and federal and state departments of agriculture to address a gap in our knowledge related to nitrogen management for corn following multi-species cover crops.
The program's goal is to help farmers better understand and adapt their true nitrogen needs while maintaining yields, avoiding greenhouse gas emissions, and improving soil and water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. TNC expects this program to offset 3 million pounds of nitrogen that farmers would have otherwise had to purchase and apply to their farmlands.
Over four years, this conservation project will touch down on up to 150,000 acres of farmland across the Chesapeake Bay watershed--92,500 acres in Maryland; 37,500 acres in Delaware; and 20,000 acres in Pennsylvania. The first growing season using this program begins this spring.
Using a tool called PlantMap3D developed by North Carolina State University, Willard Agri-Service and GROWMARK FS will outfit farm equipment with special cameras that take detailed field images of cover crops. Images will then be analyzed using AI software trained in cover crop species identification. The result: a map that shows, in acre-by-acre detail, where nitrogen from cover crops is available, providing farmers with new insight on adjusting their nitrogen application accordingly, applying nutrients only where they are needed.
"We are thrilled to be working with partners that are leaders in their field to deploy this new technology to support farmers with solutions that are both good for the environment and their businesses," said Amy Jacobs, Chesapeake Bay director at The Nature Conservancy.
Cover crops, like clover and rye, are an essential component of regenerative agriculture. Acting as sponges, these plants absorb nitrogen from the air and soil and hold onto it in plant tissue during the offseason. At the start of a new growing season, farmers terminate the cover crops, which release stored nitrogen back into the soil as they decompose.
Some of this project's funding will help Pennsylvania farmers implement mixed-species cover crops on their fields, because the state does not yet have a centralized cover crop program like in Maryland and Delaware, where cover crops are used more widely.
Nitrogen is a soil fertilizer that is essential to produce food, but when the plants can't use the amount applied, it can be lost to local waterways. This nitrogen runoff creates algae blooms that block sunlight and reduce oxygen for aquatic life in the streams and tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay.
"In partnership with the Pennsylvania and Delaware Maryland 4R Alliances, TNC, agribusinesses and government agencies have been working to ensure that every application of fertilizer is guided by the 4Rs of nutrient management: using the right source, at the right time, in the right place and applying the right amount," added Jacobs.
To date, these partnerships have implemented 4R practices on more than 100,000 acres in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and tested new approaches to supporting farmers to try new practices.
Partners on this project include TNC, North Carolina State University, Agricultural Research Service, Willard Agri-Service, GROWMARK FS, Maryland Department of Agriculture, Delaware Department of Agriculture and Luxonis Holding Corp. The USDA provided $16 million in federal funding, and $11.3 million in additional funding came from partner contributions.
"GROWMARK FS is excited to partner in this innovative RCPP project," said John Richman, retail division manager at GROWMARK FS. "It is important for universities, state and federal agencies, The Nature Conservancy and agribusiness to pool their knowledge and resources to help growers succeed. Data management and AI are evolving quickly, and the opportunity to utilize new tools and approaches to address environmental concerns, while maximizing productivity, is essential."
Farmers interested in participating in this program can apply now through February 15, 2026. Eligibility requirements--which can be reviewed in detail in the PlantMap3D RCPP Fact Sheet--and application instructions include:
* Location: In Delaware, farmers in all counties are eligible (New Castle, Kent, Sussex); in Maryland, farmers must be located in Baltimore, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Talbot, Queen Anne's or Wicomico counties; in Pennsylvania, farmers must be in Adams, Cumberland or York counties.
* Farms must already be using multi-species cover crops that include a legume, with plans to terminate this spring (spring 2026).
* To apply, contact Amanda Bunn, applied agricultural conservationist at The Nature Conservancy, at amanda.bunn@tnc.org.
"Willard Agri-Service is committed to helping our customers take their crop production and environmental stewardship to new levels of profitability and excellence. Working collaboratively with all the partners in this grant and our growers, we are more excited than ever about the future for profitable Mid Atlantic agriculture and an even healthier Chesapeake Bay Watershed," said Mike Twining, vice president of sales & marketing at Willard Agri-Service.
"AI-powered camera systems are how we can finally bring precision and sustainable agriculture together," says Chris Reberg-Horton, a North Carolina State University professor and partner on the project. "We hope this program will help farmers reduce their costs while also improving environmental outcomes."
For more information, visit nature.org/chesapeakebay or contact Amanda Bunn (amanda.bunn@tnc.org) at The Nature Conservancy.
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Original text here: https://www.nature.org/en-us/newsroom/plantmap3d-ai-fertilizer-chesapeake-bay/
[Category: Environment]
IFPTE Tells Senate Leadership to Pass Funding Bills That Have Bipartisan Support, Hold Homeland Security Funding Until Needed Oversight is Included
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers issued the following news:
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IFPTE Tells Senate Leadership to Pass Funding Bills that Have Bipartisan Support, Hold Homeland Security Funding Until Needed Oversight is Included
With the Senate Republican Leadership looking to advance a package of six appropriations bills that will not get bipartisan support due to the inclusion of Homeland Security funding, IFPTE sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) requesting they pass the five
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers issued the following news:
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IFPTE Tells Senate Leadership to Pass Funding Bills that Have Bipartisan Support, Hold Homeland Security Funding Until Needed Oversight is Included
With the Senate Republican Leadership looking to advance a package of six appropriations bills that will not get bipartisan support due to the inclusion of Homeland Security funding, IFPTE sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) requesting they pass the fivefunding bills with bipartisan support and hold back the Homeland Security funding bill, which lacks the bipartisan support needed to pass the Senate.
Congress has passed and enacted six of the 12 Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) appropriation bills to fund the government, and the remaining six bills have been passed by the House of Representatives and await Senate passage. However, after the killing of Alex Pretti, a Veterans Administration nurse and AFGE union member, by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis, the FY26 Homeland Security appropriations bill no longer has the 50 vote support needed for advancing to a Senate floor vote. Due to Senate Democrats call for restraining and preventing unconstitutional and unaccountable conduct by Department of Homeland Security's immigration enforcement operations, the six bill appropriations package's failure to be enacted by January 30 will result in a partial government shutdown for gencies funded through the six appropations bills. Those agencies include the Department of Defense, the Social Security Agency, the Treasury Department, Health and Human Services,
In a letter to the Senate Leadership, IFPTE asked that "the FY26 Homeland Security appropriations bill to the Senate in the same manner that the House did - as a separate vote." Failure to split the six bill appropriations package would mean that the whole package fails to be enacted and a partial shutdown begins on Saturday January 31. IFPTE's letter notes, "Our federal sector membership knows that government shutdowns are costly and inefficient, cause economic harm, and hurt the government services and functions. We urge you not to hold five appropriations bills hostage to a Homeland Security appropriations bill that does not have the support to pass the Senate."
The letter was also sent to all Members of the Senate.
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Hon. John Thune
Majority Leader
U.S. Senate
S-230 Capitol Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Hon. Chuck Schumer
Minority Leader
U.S. Senate
S-221 Capitol Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Majority Leader Thune and Minority Leader Schumer:
We write to you as the executive officers of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, a labor union representing upwards of 90,000 workers employed in the federal sector, state and local governments, and the private sector, to request that you advance and pass the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) appropriations bills that have bipartisan support before the January 30 funding deadline and consider the FY26 Homeland Security appropriations bill separately, as it does not currently have the bipartisan support needed to advance the bill.
After Alex Pretti, a federal employee and nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Minneapolis, was shot and killed by federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) past weekend, it's clear that the FY26 Homeland Security appropriations bill passed by the House will not advance to a floor vote in the Senate. The federal immigration enforcement operation known as "Operation Metro Surge" is subject to several federal court cases, including a suit brought by the State of Minnesota and multiple class action lawsuits alleging ongoing violations of constitutional rights and denial of due process rights. Three weeks earlier, Minneapolis resident Renee Good was also killed by agents. In light of these horrific events, bipartisan calls for oversight of the DHS operations in Minnesota continue to grow.
Before this weekend's tragic killing of Pretti, House Leadership understood that the Homeland Security funding measure (H.R. 7147) did not have the overwhelming bipartisan support and considered and passed that bill separately from the Defense, Labor-Health and Human Services, Transportation-Housing and Urban Development minibus (H.R. 7148). We ask that you bring the FY26 Homeland Security appropriations bill to the Senate in the same manner that the House did - as a separate vote.
Failure to separate the Homeland Security funding bill from the other remaining funding bills is likely to result in a partial government shutdown, where over a million federal workers would be unpaid, including hundreds of thousands of those who would report to work. Our members - whether they support our national defense at the Navy Shipyards and other Department of Defense agencies, adjudicate Social Security disability claims, or hear Merit System Protection Board appeals - want to go to work and do not want a shutdown. Working people throughout the U.S. who count on the government services and functions provided by the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, State, Housing and Urban Development, and Transportation do not want a government shutdown. Our federal sector membership knows that government shutdowns are costly and inefficient, cause economic harm, and hurt the government services and functions. We urge you not to hold five appropriations bills hostage to a Homeland Security appropriations bill that does not have the support to pass the Senate.
The Senate can and should pass the FY26 Defense, Labor-Health and Human Services, Transportation-Housing and Urban Development, Financial Services-General Government, and National Security-State appropriations bills this week and avoid a damaging government shutdown. We urge you to make that possible by separating those five appropriations bills from the FY26 Homeland Security appropriations bill. As the Senate continues considering the FY26 Homeland Security appropriations bill, it can also extend short-term funding for the critical services DHS provides, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Transportation Security Administration, and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Thank you for considering our request. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call IFPTE Legislative Director Faraz Khan at fkhan@ifpte.org.
Sincerely,
Matthew S. Biggs
IFPTE President
Gay Henson
IFPTE Secretary-Treasurer
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Original text here: https://www.ifpte.org/news/ifpte-urges-us-senate-to-support-nato-unity-protection-act-rejects-us-diplomatic-threats-to-canada-and-allies
[Category: Engineering]
CRMC, TNC to Remove Hazardous Timbers From Providence River
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Jan. 30 -- The Nature Conservancy issued the following news on Jan. 28, 2026:
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CRMC, TNC to Remove Hazardous Timbers from Providence River
NOAA marine debris grant spurs removal of 300 contaminated pilings from waters below the Point Street Bridge in downtown Providence.
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The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC), along with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the City of Providence, plans to remove 250 tons of derelict creosote timbers and piers from the Providence River this fall.
The project will focus on dismantling the wooden remnants of the
... Show Full Article
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Jan. 30 -- The Nature Conservancy issued the following news on Jan. 28, 2026:
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CRMC, TNC to Remove Hazardous Timbers from Providence River
NOAA marine debris grant spurs removal of 300 contaminated pilings from waters below the Point Street Bridge in downtown Providence.
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The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC), along with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the City of Providence, plans to remove 250 tons of derelict creosote timbers and piers from the Providence River this fall.
The project will focus on dismantling the wooden remnants of thePoint Street Bridge's old swing system and will not interfere with or impact the functional portions of the bridge. The partners will also be working with the Providence Parks Department and the Downtown Providence Park Network to engage in public education and outreach opportunities.
The 300 pilings and associated decking are part of an old structure that lifted and turned the Point Street Bridge from 1927 to 1959. In 1966, the Fox Point hurricane barrier was constructed just to the south, blocking larger vessels from entering the harbor and rendering the bridge's swing feature obsolete. Now deteriorating, the timbers are a hazard to navigation, a potential threat to the hurricane barrier and a source of water pollution.
This work will be funded by a $2.3 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Marine Debris Program. TNC will manage the engineering and demolition contracts under a cooperative agreement.
"Local advocates identified the pilings as a priority for removal during the WaterFire dredging project a few years ago," said Scott Comings, TNC's associate state director in Rhode Island. Removing the contaminated timbers from the river will be a positive step for the ecosystem and for recreation, and we're excited to see continued, strong investments in our urban waters."
Providence and its harbor have a long history of navigation for industrial and economic purposes and, more recently, for recreation, tourism and cultural events. The project will improve navigational safety, enhance recreational boating and fishing opportunities and benefit commercial boat tour operators and nearby marinas.
The permitting process for the project will start in spring 2026, and CRMC and TNC expect to complete the work by the end of the year. Education, public outreach and events will continue into 2027.
"As the Ocean State, we have a responsibility to build a cleaner, greener and healthier Rhode Island," said Governor Dan McKee. "Removing this debris will improve this waterway along with the marine life that dwell there."
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The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more resilient. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 83 countries and territories (39 by direct conservation impact and 44 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. For more news, visit our newsroom or follow The Nature Conservancy on LinkedIn.
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Original text here: https://www.nature.org/en-us/newsroom/rhode-island-point-street-bridge-piling-removal/
[Category: Environment]
Americans for Financial Reform Issues Statement on Passage of Deregulatory Crypto Legislation in Senate Agriculture Committee
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 [Category: Financial Services] -- Americans for Financial Reform, which describes itself as a nonpartisan and nonprofit coalition of more than 200 civil rights, consumer, labor, business, investor, faith-based and civic and community groups, posted the following statement on Jan. 29, 2026, by Mark Hays, associate director of crypto and fintech policy, on the passage of deregulatory crypto legislation in the Senate Agriculture Committee:
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"Democratic Senators stood firm and opposed a dangerous and deeply flawed bill that threatens to destabilize the financial system,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 [Category: Financial Services] -- Americans for Financial Reform, which describes itself as a nonpartisan and nonprofit coalition of more than 200 civil rights, consumer, labor, business, investor, faith-based and civic and community groups, posted the following statement on Jan. 29, 2026, by Mark Hays, associate director of crypto and fintech policy, on the passage of deregulatory crypto legislation in the Senate Agriculture Committee:
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"Democratic Senators stood firm and opposed a dangerous and deeply flawed bill that threatens to destabilize the financial system,harming millions of people, including workers saving for retirement. The sharp partisan outcome demonstrates increasing resistance to the Republican efforts to steamroll lopsided legislation loaded with giveaways to crypto billionaires. Today's vote shows that the influence and political connections of the crypto industry cannot automatically garner special favor to evade oversight or accountability.
The Democratic Senators' unanimous rejection of this legislation reiterates the public demand that no crypto bill can advance without prohibiting the crypto corruption and self-enrichment by the President and First Family.
The Senate should reject this legislation which shamelessly fulfills the crypto industry's wish list without the critically needed meaningful guardrails for people or the economy. We urge Senators to demand fresh legislation that protects investors, consumers, and the financial system as well as bars crypto corruption from government officials, including the President.
Senators must stand up for the public, not buckle to the demands of crypto billionaires and their cronies."
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Original text here: https://ourfinancialsecurity.org/news/statement-mark-hays-associate-director-of-crypto-and-fintech-policy-at-americans-for-financial-reform-on-the-passage-of-deregulatory-crypto-legislation-in-the-senate-agriculture-committee/
Alliance for Justice: Supreme Court Invited the Chaos in Minnesota and Elsewhere
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- The Alliance for Justice, an organization committed to fortifying the progressive movement through its focus on federal and state courts and building power by providing resources to maximize nonprofits' advocacy capacity, issued the following news release:
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The Supreme Court Invited the Chaos in Minnesota and Elsewhere
As the Trump administration continues to sanction the execution of innocent Minnesotans, it's important to understand the courts' role in what is happening.
The Supreme Court has empowered federal officials to carry out this Gestapo-like violence.
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- The Alliance for Justice, an organization committed to fortifying the progressive movement through its focus on federal and state courts and building power by providing resources to maximize nonprofits' advocacy capacity, issued the following news release:
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The Supreme Court Invited the Chaos in Minnesota and Elsewhere
As the Trump administration continues to sanction the execution of innocent Minnesotans, it's important to understand the courts' role in what is happening.
The Supreme Court has empowered federal officials to carry out this Gestapo-like violence.Last September, the Court's shadow-docket order in Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo gave the green light to Trump's agents to round up people solely based on their perceived identity, language, or occupation. Justice Kavanaugh specifically endorsed this racial profiling, leading to the use of the term "Kavanaugh stops" -- and now "Kavanaugh killings."
At the same time, federal judges in Minnesota are doing their best to field a deluge of emergency suits related to Operation Metro Surge. They are consistently ruling that ICE agents' behavior has been flagrantly unlawful -- and calling out the Trump administration's violations of court orders. Judges around the country are trying to hold the line for freedom even while our highest court is content to let Trump run rampant over our communities and our fundamental rights.
Alliance for Justice President Rachel Rossi issued the following statement:
"The violent, aggressive behavior we've seen from Border Patrol and ICE agents in Minnesota mirrors authoritarian tactics we've seen too many times, including our nation's own ugly history of slave patrols. We must acknowledge that the conservative majority on our Supreme Court allowed this 'Papers, please' police state to fester. Both by rewarding Trump with immunity for illegal acts he takes as president and then sanctioning blatantly unconstitutional immigration raids, this Court has turned its back on justice in favor of propping up authoritarianism.
"As we see the lower courts desperately trying to protect the rule of law, it's critical to block and delay any further influence Trump might have over the judicial branch. That includes blocking the loyalists he continues to nominate to lifetime seats on our courts as well as continuing to work towards Supreme Court reform. This Court has ravaged our civil rights and democracy, and we must course-correct at the first opportunity. Only significant reforms, including term limits, ethics codes, and expansion will minimize these extremists' influence so we can restore democracy and end the hemorrhaging of our liberties.
"Renee Nicole Good, Alex Pretti, and so many others are dead because this Supreme Court has allowed the state to cruelly violate the right to not just liberty but life itself. We face systemic problems, and only systemic solutions will save us."
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Original text here: https://afj.org/article/the-supreme-court-invited-the-chaos-in-minnesota-and-elsewhere/
[Category: Political]
