Featured Stories
'It's About Time': ALG Praises House Passage Of Sunshine Protection Act, Urges Senate Passage
FAIRFAX, Virginia, Aug. 30 [Category: Government/Public Administration] -- Americans for Limited Government posted the following news release:
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'It's About Time': ALG Praises House Passage Of Sunshine Protection Act, Urges Senate Passage
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July 15, 2026, Fairfax, Va.-Americans for Limited Government Executive Director Robert Romano today issued the following statement praising the House for passing the Sunshine Protection Act and urged the Senate to do the same:
"The House has finally passed legislation that will end standard time once and for all. No more sunsets in the middle of the
... Show Full Article
FAIRFAX, Virginia, Aug. 30 [Category: Government/Public Administration] -- Americans for Limited Government posted the following news release:
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'It's About Time': ALG Praises House Passage Of Sunshine Protection Act, Urges Senate Passage
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July 15, 2026, Fairfax, Va.-Americans for Limited Government Executive Director Robert Romano today issued the following statement praising the House for passing the Sunshine Protection Act and urged the Senate to do the same:
"The House has finally passed legislation that will end standard time once and for all. No more sunsets in the middle of theafternoon. It's about time. Nobody likes the constant clock changes. The fact is that under current law, there was never a way to opt out of standard time whereas states were permitted to opt out of daylight savings time if they really wanted to, as Arizona and Hawaii do. School districts can always have starting bells later to compensate if there is concern about later sunrises during the winter months, although it's worth noting almost all districts are already on Christmas vacation during the shortest days. Clearly, based on the House vote, and unanimous passage of practically identical legislation by the Senate in 2022, and the President's support, daylight savings time is far more popular. But really, it's just let's pick a time and stick with it. Compromise if needs be: shave a half hour off standard time. Anything's better than the clock changes, and the early sunsets in the winter are frankly depressing. But the bill's fine the way it is. It is time for the Senate to immediately take up this common sense, bipartisan legislation, stop switching the clocks and let the sun shine into the evening for good."
For media availability contact Americans for Limited Government at media@limitgov.org.
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Original text here: https://getliberty.org/2026/07/its-about-time-alg-praises-house-passage-of-sunshine-protection-act-urges-senate-passage/
Wildlife Society: Wildlife Monograph Journal - Translocated Bighorns Face Connectivity Challenges
BETHESDA, Maryland, Aug. 29 (TNSjou) -- The Wildlife Society, a wildlife conservation organization, posted the following news:
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WM: Translocated bighorns face connectivity challenges
Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep also deal with long-term disease challenges
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A Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep population in Dinosaur National Monument that was restored as a result of translocations that began over 70 years ago faces threats of habitat connectivity and pneumonia.
Wildlife managers have conducted a number of translocations to conserve Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis)
... Show Full Article
BETHESDA, Maryland, Aug. 29 (TNSjou) -- The Wildlife Society, a wildlife conservation organization, posted the following news:
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WM: Translocated bighorns face connectivity challenges
Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep also deal with long-term disease challenges
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A Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep population in Dinosaur National Monument that was restored as a result of translocations that began over 70 years ago faces threats of habitat connectivity and pneumonia.
Wildlife managers have conducted a number of translocations to conserve Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis)in North America, including the population researchers were studying at the national monument in Colorado and Utah.
In a study published in Wildlife Monographs, a team of researchers looked at GPS radio collar data, genetic samples and health evaluations from 2006 to 2020 to determine how the population was doing. They found that bighorn sheep movement may be limited due to rivers and human disturbance.
In addition, they uncovered long-term challenges of sheep contracting Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae. However, the team did find some positive news, including high genetic diversity in the population compared to other reintroduced and native populations.
The research team hopes their findings inform conservation and management of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep populations.
Read the Wildlife Monograph here (https://wildlife.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wmon.70011).
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Original text here: https://wildlife.org/wm-translocated-bighorns-face-connectivity-challenges/
[Category: Environment]
Plastic Pollution Coalition: The Plastic We Wear - Hidden Fibers, Chemical Dyes, and the Future of Clean Textiles
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 (TNSrep) -- The Plastic Pollution Coalition issued the following statement on Aug. 28, 2026:
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The Plastic We Wear: Hidden Fibers, Chemical Dyes, and the Future of Clean Textiles
Summary
More than half of all clothing sold worldwide is made from synthetic fibers derived from fossil fuels, and that amount is increasing.
* Washing synthetic clothing releases hundreds of thousands to millions of microplastic fibers per load, many of which are not captured by wastewater treatment and instead are often discharged directly into waterways.
* Synthetic dyes and chemical finishes
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 (TNSrep) -- The Plastic Pollution Coalition issued the following statement on Aug. 28, 2026:
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The Plastic We Wear: Hidden Fibers, Chemical Dyes, and the Future of Clean Textiles
Summary
More than half of all clothing sold worldwide is made from synthetic fibers derived from fossil fuels, and that amount is increasing.
* Washing synthetic clothing releases hundreds of thousands to millions of microplastic fibers per load, many of which are not captured by wastewater treatment and instead are often discharged directly into waterways.
* Synthetic dyes and chemical finishesused on many mass-produced textiles have been linked to skin irritation and allergic contact dermatitis.
* Natural fibers paired with plant dyes offer a practical, lower-impact alternative, and transparency tools like AIZOME's Textile Health Facts label are helping consumers make more informed choices.
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When we think about sources of plastic pollution, most of us picture water bottles, shopping bags, or food packaging. But one of the largest sources of plastic pollution may already be hanging in our closets: synthetic fibers.
Today, synthetic fibers, such as acrylic, nylon, polyester, and spandex, account for roughly 69% of global textile fiber production, with polyester alone making up 59%, according to Textile Exchange's 2025 Materials Market Report (https://transition-pathways.europa.eu/textiles/library-and-support-resources/materials-market-report-2025-tracking-global-fibre-and-raw). These materials are derived from fossil fuels and are, quite literally, types of plastic. While they may look and feel harmless, they come with significant environmental and health concerns that many consumers are only beginning to understand.
We think it's time to ask: what are our clothes really made of, and what happens when we wear, wash, and dispose of them?
The Hidden Problem With Synthetic Textiles
Shedding at the Source
Every time synthetic clothing is washed, it sheds tiny threadlike plastic particles known as microfibers. These microscopic fibers are too small to be reliably captured by many wastewater treatment systems and are commonly discharged into rivers, lakes, oceans, and other bodies of water.
Peer-reviewed research backs this up. A widely cited 2016 study in Marine Pollution Bulletin found that an average 6-kilogram (13.2 pounds) wash load of synthetic fabrics can release over 700,000 microfibers in a single cycle. A 2021 study in PLOS ONE measured a similarly wide range, from roughly 8,800 to more than 6.8 million microfibers per wash, depending on fabric type and construction, with fleece and mechanically-treated polyester shedding the most.
Unlike organic matter, plastic doesn't biodegrade. Instead, it fragments into smaller and smaller pieces that persist in the environment. Over time, these fibers accumulate in the environment and our bodies, and have been detected in drinking water, food, human brains and blood, soils, and much more. Researchers at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam found measurable plastic particles in the blood of 77% of the 22 donors tested in a 2022 study published in Environment International, the first confirmed detection of plastic circulating in the human bloodstream.
It's Not Just the Fiber
The fiber itself is only part of the story. Many mass-produced textiles are colored using synthetic dyes and treated with chemical finishes designed to improve wrinkle resistance, stain resistance, moisture management, or durability.
For some people, these chemicals can cause skin irritation. DermNet NZ and dermatology literature dating back to a foundational 1995 study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology have linked certain textile dyes -- particularly disperse blue dyes commonly used in dark synthetic fabrics -- to itching, rashes, and allergic contact dermatitis, especially in areas where clothing fits closely against the skin, such as the neck, waist, underarms, and thighs.
This doesn't mean every synthetic garment will cause a reaction. But it does highlight a broader issue: most consumers have very little information about the chemicals used to make and finish the textiles they wear every day.
We carefully read ingredient labels on food. We often check ingredient lists in skincare products. Yet clothing and bedding, which can remain in contact with our skin for hours at a time, typically come with little more than a fiber percentage and washing instructions.
Natural Fibers: A Sustainable Alternative
One of the most promising solutions to plastic pollution from textiles lies in a return to natural fibers, such as organic cotton, hemp, and linen. These materials offer a significantly improved environmental and health profile:
* Renewably sourced, derived from plants rather than fossil fuels.
* No microplastic shedding, since natural fibers don't release plastic particles during washing.
* Compatible with plant dyes, enabling reduced reliance on the synthetic dyes commonly used throughout the textile industry.
* Biodegradable at end of life, returning safely to the earth instead of persisting in landfills for decades.
While natural fibers have clear health and environmental benefits, they compete against synthetic products from petroleum, which is heavily subsidized and makes plastic fibers artificially cheap. Beyond cost, a major challenge for the natural fibers industry has been transparency -- helping consumers actually see what's in the textiles they buy.
A Breakthrough: AIZOME's Textile Health Facts
Companies like AIZOME are pioneering a new era of textile transparency with Textile Health Facts -- a label inspired by the familiar Nutrition Facts panel found on food packaging.
Unlike the fiber-percentage tags typically found on clothing, Textile Health Facts is designed to:
* Disclose fiber content, clearly and in plain language.
* List dye ingredients, so consumers know what's actually touching their skin.
* Make information accessible, without replacing existing certifications or making health claims.
* Surface certifications and traceability, connecting the finished garment back to its source.
The goal isn't to diagnose or promise outcomes; it's to help consumers ask better questions about the products they buy. Just as food labels helped people better understand what they eat, textile transparency could help people better understand what they wear.
Your Purchasing Power Can Help Create Systems Change
Consumers hold real power in shaping the future of textiles. By choosing natural fibers, supporting nontoxic plant dyes, and looking for credible, transparent labeling, shoppers send a message to the industry that safety and honesty are no longer optional -- they're expected.
Most synthetic textiles are difficult to recycle and often end up in landfills or are openly dumped and burned, causing significant pollution for nearby communities. Natural fibers, free from plastic blends and harmful chemical finishes, offer a different path: longer-lasting materials with the ability to biodegrade at the end of their useful life instead of becoming long-term waste. This is one of the core principles of a circular economy: designing products that work with natural systems rather than against them.
Natural-fiber clothing, when thoughtfully designed and cared for, can be long-lasting. Repairing worn pieces can extend their useful life even further, whether through traditional techniques such as sashiko ("visible mending") or patch embroidery, or contemporary repair services.
Clothing and bedding are often the overlooked part of the plastic pollution conversation. But the long-term goal is bigger than simply replacing one material with another. It's building a textile system rooted in transparency, accountability, and true circularity, where products are designed to leave behind neither plastic pollution nor unnecessary chemical residues.
The future of clean textiles begins with understanding what's in the products we wear every day. And that future starts with transparency.
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Original text here: https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/blog/2026/8/27/the-plastic-we-wear-hidden-fibers-chemical-dyes-and-the-future-of-clean-textiles
[Category: Industrial Materials]
Nepal Floods: Schoolchildren Reunited With Families After Being Stranded--Save the Children
WESTPORT, Connecticut, Aug. 29 -- Save the Children, an organization that says it is giving children a healthy start in life, opportunity to learn and protection from harm, posted the following news release:
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NEPAL FLOODS: Schoolchildren Reunited with Families After Being Stranded--Save the Children
KATHMANDU - Nine school children have been reunited with their families after being stranded at school for two days by the devastating flash floods in Northern Nepal, as rescue efforts continue to reach other students, Save the Children said.
The children arrived at an aid distribution point
... Show Full Article
WESTPORT, Connecticut, Aug. 29 -- Save the Children, an organization that says it is giving children a healthy start in life, opportunity to learn and protection from harm, posted the following news release:
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NEPAL FLOODS: Schoolchildren Reunited with Families After Being Stranded--Save the Children
KATHMANDU - Nine school children have been reunited with their families after being stranded at school for two days by the devastating flash floods in Northern Nepal, as rescue efforts continue to reach other students, Save the Children said.
The children arrived at an aid distribution pointwhere Save the Children is working after walking from their school. Many children in the area travel long distances to their schools and were cut off in the aftermath of the massive surge of floodwater. With support from Save the Children, they were able to find their families.
At least 69 schools in flood-devastated districts in Northern Nepal have been destroyed or damaged, putting education at risk for nearly 19,000 children, Save the Children said.[1]
The figures are based on an initial assessment and are likely to rise as rescue and response teams reach more areas and more information is available from affected communities.[1]
Save the Children staff in Nuwakot said children in the devastated communities are holding onto the few belongings they have or searching for what they lost, including schoolbooks and uniforms.
Fears of further flooding are also causing new terror with families moving to higher ground. For many children, this is the first disaster of this scale they have experienced, and they are frightened, distressed and worried about their futures.
More than 500 people have died in Nepal in the disaster, and hundreds are still missing. Some families are camping in tents in front of their damaged homes as efforts continue to find survivors, while others are living with relatives or in community centers.
Tara Chettry, Country Director, Save the Children in Nepal said:
"Reuniting children with their families in the aftermath of a catastrophe is an urgent and immediate priority, so when disaster strikes, getting children back to school may not seem like the most urgent need. Education is vital. For children who have lost their homes, their belongings and their sense of security, a safe place to learn can be a lifeline.
"School gives children something that is desperately important after a disaster: safety, routine, stability. It can help children cope with what they have experienced, while connecting them with the support they need.
"Education cannot wait until the emergency is over - it needs to be part of the response from day one."
Save the Children in Nepal's emergency response team is working in the affected areas and delivering essential items, including household and cooking kits, mosquito nets and blankets to 1,000 households in the first phase of assistance.
The humanitarian and child rights organization is coordinating with national and local authorities to establish the immediate and long-term needs of children and families and is ready to scale up its response.
Save the Children has worked in Nepal since 1976. The organization runs programs spanning child protection, child rights governance, education, climate change, gender equality, health and nutrition and child poverty.
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Footnotes:
[1] Figures from the Education Cluster - a joint group of NGOs, UN and the Government of Nepal. The group is co-chaired by Save the Children. The 69 schools have 18,918 students enrolled (9,350 girls and 9,568 boys).
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Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Since our founding more than 100 years ago, we've been advocating for the rights of children worldwide. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children - every day and in times of crisis - transforming the future we share. Our results, financial statements and charity ratings reaffirm that Save the Children is a charity you can trust. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.
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Original text here: https://www.savethechildren.org/us/about-us/media-and-news/2026-press-releases/nepal-floods-schoolchildren-reunited-with-families
[Category: Sociological]
FFRF Action Fund: 'Secularist' Monte Mader is Exposing the Christian Nationalism She Escaped
MADISON, Wisconsin, Aug. 29 -- 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 Aug. 27, 2026:
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'Secularist' Monte Mader is exposing the Christian nationalism she escaped
The FFRF Action Fund is proud to name culture critic, podcaster and musician Monte Mader as its Secularist of the Week for using her firsthand experience to expose religious extremism.
Mader understands from the inside the worldview she
... Show Full Article
MADISON, Wisconsin, Aug. 29 -- 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 Aug. 27, 2026:
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'Secularist' Monte Mader is exposing the Christian nationalism she escaped
The FFRF Action Fund is proud to name culture critic, podcaster and musician Monte Mader as its Secularist of the Week for using her firsthand experience to expose religious extremism.
Mader understands from the inside the worldview sheis challenging. She was raised as an alt-right Christian nationalist in an environment where conservative politics and Christian fundamentalism were deeply intertwined. She now draws on those experiences to deconstruct religious dogma, counter whitewashed versions of American history and expose the ways that Christian nationalism threatens individual rights and secular government.
Mader recently brought that perspective to a national audience in a debate with conservative Christian commentator Allie Beth Stuckey. During the wide-ranging discussion, Mader forcefully defended the separation of state and church and warned about the danger of turning personal religious convictions into laws everyone must obey. Her most memorable argument came when discussing the boundary between personal faith and government power: "Religion is a fence that I place on my lawn. It is not a fence I can place on your lawn."
Mader acknowledged that everyone inevitably brings their perspective into the voting booth. But religious freedom, she explained, is threatened when people use government power to impose strictly religious beliefs on everyone else. "Then you start to actually infringe on the religious liberties of others," she said.
She also sounded the alarm about Christian nationalists who openly advocate theocracy, specifically citing deplorable figures such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's mentor Pastor Doug Wilson. Mader criticized the broader Christian conservative movement for failing to unequivocally reject extremists who attack basic civil liberties, including those who question the 19th Amendment.
Mader connected those concerns to current efforts to impose the Ten Commandments in public schools. Pointing to Texas, she argued that posting the commandments in classrooms subjects children to a government-favored religion regardless of their families' beliefs. Religious instruction, she emphasized, belongs with families, not the government.
Mader also challenged the use of Christianity to justify patriarchal political and social structures, arguing during the debate that "patriarchy, not feminism, is contrary to the mission and teachings of Christ." She pushed back against religious doctrines that reserve authority for men and examined how those teachings can translate into unequal power structures for women.
Her advocacy extends well beyond a single debate.
Mader hosts "Flipping Tables," a podcast focused on the religious deconstruction of alt-right fundamentalism, biblical scholarship, American history -- and the relationship of all of this to the current political climate. The show features interviews with cult experts and survivors, authors, historians, constitutional attorneys and others who help listeners understand religious extremism and the political power structures surrounding it.
Mader is also a metal vocalist who has been performing professionally for six years. Her newest project, released under the name "Monte," features resistance music inspired by bands such as Linkin Park and Rage Against the Machine. Her music explores mental health, religious deconstruction, self-love and activism.
Mader is not merely criticizing Christian nationalism from afar. She knows its rhetoric, theology and political aspirations because she once inhabited that world herself. Now she is using that knowledge to help others question religious dogma, recognize the threat of theocratic politics and understand that rejecting Christian nationalism is not hostility toward Christians.
For turning her experience with Christian nationalism into a powerful voice against theocracy, and for using her platform to champion a society in which no one's religion dictates another person's rights, the FFRF Action Fund is delighted to name Monte Mader its Secularist of the Week.
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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/secularist-monte-mader-is-exposing-the-christian-nationalism-she-escaped/
[Category: Sociological]
Dozens of Monkeys Suffered Severe Complications in University of Washington Brain Experiments: PETA Statement
NORFOLK, Virginia, Aug. 29 -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued the following statement on Aug. 28, 2026:
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Seattle - Please see the following statement from PETA Chief Science Advisor Dr. Lisa Jones-Engel regarding revelations during yesterday's University of Washington Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) meeting that two neuroscience experimenters, who had received more than $20 million in funding, subjected 71 macaques to invasive brain experiments between 2020 and 2026, causing complications that included death, tremors, weakness, depression, severe swelling,
... Show Full Article
NORFOLK, Virginia, Aug. 29 -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued the following statement on Aug. 28, 2026:
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Seattle - Please see the following statement from PETA Chief Science Advisor Dr. Lisa Jones-Engel regarding revelations during yesterday's University of Washington Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) meeting that two neuroscience experimenters, who had received more than $20 million in funding, subjected 71 macaques to invasive brain experiments between 2020 and 2026, causing complications that included death, tremors, weakness, depression, severe swelling,loss of muscle control, and repeated surgeries after wounds failed to heal properly. The same meeting also revealed that a monkey was put on food restriction, even though that was not allowed:
Washington National Primate Research Center experimenters and the neuroscientist experimenters responsible for these disastrous studies on monkeys should all be shut down. The experimenters subjected monkeys already suffering from complex medical and behavioral problems from previous experiments to suffer even more. These sloppy experimenters, as well as veterinary staff, drilled into monkeys' skulls, injected viruses into their brains, and repeatedly cut animals back open when they or the robots they had used failed to get surgical wounds to stay closed. The system fails when committees required to provide oversight are stacked with experimenters and their colleagues who respond to violations with counseling letters and treat repeated surgeries, severe complications, and animal suffering as business as usual. The University of Washington's undeniably cruel neuroscience experiments must be the first to go.
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PETA--whose motto reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to experiment on"--points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
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Original text here: https://www.peta.org/media/news-releases/dozens-of-monkeys-suffered-severe-complications-in-university-of-washington-brain-experiments-peta-statement/
[Category: Animals]
Americans for Tax Reform Issues Commentary: Tennessee Leads the Nation in Property Tax Hikes
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- Americans for Tax Reform issued the following commentary by Daniel Abrahams:
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Tennessee Leads the Nation in Property Tax Hikes
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Tennessee has built one of America's most competitive tax climates by rejecting an individual income tax and maintaining the nation's third lowest average state and local tax burden. However, when it comes to property taxes, Tennessee is the opposite of exemplary.
In fact, according to analysis recently published by Jason Edmonds at the Beacon Center of Tennessee, no state has seen average property tax payments rise faster over the past
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- Americans for Tax Reform issued the following commentary by Daniel Abrahams:
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Tennessee Leads the Nation in Property Tax Hikes
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Tennessee has built one of America's most competitive tax climates by rejecting an individual income tax and maintaining the nation's third lowest average state and local tax burden. However, when it comes to property taxes, Tennessee is the opposite of exemplary.
In fact, according to analysis recently published by Jason Edmonds at the Beacon Center of Tennessee, no state has seen average property tax payments rise faster over the pastsix years than Tennessee. While property tax bills rose in every state except for Texas, Tennessee led the nation with a 75 percent increase in the average property tax payments from 2019 to 2025.
While large property tax hikes in Nashville have received a good deal of media coverage, Edmonds notes that even smaller Tennessee towns have been raising property taxes significantly. Mt. Juliet approved a 164% increase and Fairview, 42%; while Nashville homeowners have subsequently been subject to a 60% increase in their bills.
Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson are pushing for a special session this fall to specifically address the rising property tax bills. Earlier this year, lawmakers considered HB 1873/SB 2064, which would limit annual growth in property tax collection to the rate of inflation plus 2%. That proposal never received a floor vote.
Tennessee has a huge problem, and lawmakers know it. While state lawmakers have established one of the nation's most competitive and least burdensome state tax codes, local officials are counteracting the benefits of conservative governance at the state level by ratcheting up property tax bills at the local level. If Gov. Bill Lee were to call lawmakers back to Nashville for a special session later this year, property tax limitation is certainly the best reason to do so.
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Original text here: https://atr.org/tennessee-leads-the-nation-in-property-tax-hikes/
[Category: Political]
