Featured Stories
White House: President Trump Secures Major Deals to Unleash American Energy and Cut Gas Prices at the Pump
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- The White House issued the following news:
* * *
President Trump Secures Major Deals to Unleash American Energy and Cut Gas Prices at the Pump
October 25, 2026
Gas and diesel prices will soon drop rapidly thanks to President Donald J. Trump's bold actions to unleash American Energy. On day one, the Trump Administration began dismantling the failed Biden-era anti-energy policies, cutting red tape, and ending the Democrats' Green New Scam agenda.
Today, under President Trump's leadership, America is producing record amounts of oil and natural gas while expanding domestic
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- The White House issued the following news:
* * *
President Trump Secures Major Deals to Unleash American Energy and Cut Gas Prices at the Pump
October 25, 2026
Gas and diesel prices will soon drop rapidly thanks to President Donald J. Trump's bold actions to unleash American Energy. On day one, the Trump Administration began dismantling the failed Biden-era anti-energy policies, cutting red tape, and ending the Democrats' Green New Scam agenda.
Today, under President Trump's leadership, America is producing record amounts of oil and natural gas while expanding domesticrefining capacity and strengthening America's energy security.
By restoring energy addition policies, President Trump will continue to unleash American energy dominance and lower costs for the American people.
* In less than one year back in office, President Trump restored America's position as the world's leading oil producer and exporter.
* President Trump is utilizing the Defense Production Act, investing millions of dollars to increase American refining capacity and produce more diesel and more gasoline after Radical Democrats drained America's refining capacity.
* After President Trump's capture of narcoterrorist dictator Nicolas Maduro, the President announced the largest oil deal in world history with Venezuela to and lower gas prices for all Americans by securing 65 billion barrels of oil to double America's oil reserves and increasing our oil supply.
- So far, the amount of Venezuelan oil coming into the U.S. has increased by over 400% and reached its highest in almost a decade.
* Earlier this month, President Trump signed an Executive Order to immediately cut diesel costs for America's truckers and farmers who keep America moving.
* President Trump secured deals with numerous countries to release over 130 million barrels of diesel from their stockpiles to boost global supply and lower prices.
* Thanks to the strength of U.S. forces and President Trump's leadership, more oil is leaving through the Hormuz Strait than before the conflict.
* The President secured a $54 billion deal with Korea and Taiwan to build the long-stalled natural gas pipeline in Alaska, which will cut Alaskans' energy costs by $10 billion. Deriving from the trade and investment deal, Korea is also investing in a natural gas facility in Texas.
* The Trump EPA issued fuel waivers that increased domestic gasoline supply by thousands of barrels per day to lower Americans' costs.
* President Trump issued a waiver, increasing the shipments of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel into the country.
* The Trump EPA removed fuel restrictions across the country, lowering gas prices in the states that followed EPA's lead and waived their requirements.
- In stark contrast, blue state politicians in New York and California have not adopted these standards, driving up fuel prices for their own residents.
* The Trump Administration has provided a record number of Small Refinery Exemptions, lowering gas costs for everyday Americans while supporting America's farmers.
President Trump and his entire Administration are ruthlessly working each day to cut gas costs for Americans. Trust in Trump!
* * *
Original text here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2026/10/president-trump-secures-major-deals-to-unleash-american-energy-and-cut-gas-prices-at-the-pump/
White House: President Trump Puts Mississippi First With Historic Tax Cuts, Surging Investment, and Stronger Communities
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- The White House issued the following news:
* * *
President Trump Puts Mississippi First with Historic Tax Cuts, Surging Investment, and Stronger Communities
October 26, 2026
Today, President Donald J. Trump returns to the Magnolia State to highlight a proven record of results that put Mississippi workers, families, seniors, farmers, and communities first. Under the leadership of President Trump and Republicans, Mississippians are benefiting from historic tax relief, surging private investment and job creation, stronger rural healthcare, major support for farmers, and
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- The White House issued the following news:
* * *
President Trump Puts Mississippi First with Historic Tax Cuts, Surging Investment, and Stronger Communities
October 26, 2026
Today, President Donald J. Trump returns to the Magnolia State to highlight a proven record of results that put Mississippi workers, families, seniors, farmers, and communities first. Under the leadership of President Trump and Republicans, Mississippians are benefiting from historic tax relief, surging private investment and job creation, stronger rural healthcare, major support for farmers, andnew resources for the state's defense and shipbuilding industry.
Delivering Tax Relief for Hardworking Mississippians
President Trump's Working Families Tax Cuts are putting real money back in the pockets of Mississippi workers, families, and seniors.
* No Tax on Social Security: Approximately 500,000 Mississippi seniors benefit from the new senior deduction, with the average senior expected to pay zero federal taxes on Social Security benefits.
* Bigger Refunds: Mississippi taxpayers saw average refunds of $4,018 in 2026 -- among the highest in the nation.
* Protecting Jobs and Wages: The Working Families Tax Cuts safeguarded 46,000 Mississippi jobs, $8 billion in state GDP, and $4 billion in workers' wages.
* Lowering Taxes for Family Farms and Small Businesses: The tax cuts made the increased death tax exemption permanent and indexed it for inflation, made 100% expensing permanent, doubled the Section 179 limit, made the 20% small business deduction permanent, expanded crop insurance, and increased reference prices for the first time in over a decade.
* Strengthening the Farm Safety Net: The Working Families Tax Cuts delivered more than $469 million in farm safety net and conservation program payments to Mississippi farmers, producers, and landowners -- part of the first meaningful investment in these programs in decades.
Strengthening Rural Healthcare Across Mississippi
President Trump is delivering targeted resources to expand access, modernize care, and improve outcomes in Mississippi's rural communities.
* Rural Health Transformation: Mississippi secured $206 million in first-year funding from the Working Families Tax Cuts' Rural Health Transformation Program -- one of the largest awards among all states -- to expand access, strengthen the workforce, and streamline care.
* Modernizing Care Delivery: The Trump Administration awarded more than $104 million through 167 grants for Mississippi rural health technology upgrades, specialty and maternal care, and telehealth.
* Advancing Telehealth: The Trump Administration awarded the University of Mississippi Medical Center $4.25 million to renew its status as a federal Center of Excellence in Telehealth -- one of only two in the country -- expanding remote care for rural and underserved communities.
Unleashing Private Investment and Job Creation
President Trump's pro-growth, America First agenda is driving major private investment and job creation throughout the Magnolia State, from advanced manufacturing to logistics, shipbuilding, and technology.
* ALO is investing $176 million to open a national distribution center in Southaven, creating more than 400 jobs.
* Gulf Ship is investing $44 million to modernize its Gulfport shipyard, creating 121 jobs.
* Raytheon is investing $50 million to expand its electronic warfare and radar systems manufacturing facility in Forest, creating 100 jobs.
* Southwire is investing $256 million to expand its Starkville operations, creating 128 jobs.
* Aluminum Dynamics is investing $200 million to develop a recycled aluminum slab center in Lowndes County, creating 100 jobs.
* SIP Manufacturing is investing more than $100 million to build a production, packaging, and shipping facility in Southaven, creating 187 jobs.
* Amazon is investing an additional $12 billion in part to expand the company's data center operation in Madison County, creating 700 jobs, in addition to a $3 billion project in Vicksburg announced last year.
* Southwark Metal Manufacturing Company is investing $29 million to expand its operations in DeSoto County.
* Siemens Energy is investing $300 million to build a new manufacturing facility for electrical grid components in Pearl, creating up to 300 jobs.
* xAI is investing $20 billion to build a data center in Southaven, creating hundreds of jobs.
* BWC Terminals is investing $316 million to locate a terminal facility in Pascagoula.
* Hood Industries is investing $245 million to construct a new advanced sawmill in Waynesboro.
Rebuilding Communities and Upgrading Infrastructure
President Trump is delivering federal resources to help Mississippi recover from storms, reduce congestion, and strengthen freight movement that supports economic growth.
* Helping Mississippi Rebuild: In August 2026, President Trump approved Mississippi's disaster declaration request for counties impacted by Tropical Storm Arthur, unlocking individual and public assistance. Earlier federal disaster assistance was approved following May 2026 severe storms, including funds for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans for uninsured losses, and other recovery programs.
* Expanding Critical Corridors: In October 2026, the Trump Administration awarded a $44 million grant to expand the I-55/I-69 corridor in DeSoto County from four to ten lanes, add ramp and turning lanes, and lengthen acceleration and deceleration lanes -- reducing congestion on a vital freight route that serves tens of thousands of vehicles daily.
* Upgrading Mississippi Roads: In July 2026, the Trump Administration awarded $51.1 million in federal BUILD grants to improve U.S. Highway 80 in Brandon, expand truck parking along I-10 in Hancock County, and upgrade Mallett Road in D'Iberville.
* Modernizing Freight Rail: The Trump Administration awarded Mississippi Export Railroad up to $35.5 million to modernize and automate a 121-year-old swing bridge, upgrade track, improve crossings, and raise track in flood-prone areas -- strengthening reliability for Gulf Coast industries and ports.
Putting Mississippi Farmers First
President Trump is delivering direct support, infrastructure upgrades, and market opportunities for Mississippi agriculture.
* Emergency Assistance: The Trump Administration has delivered more than $145 million to nearly 4,300 Mississippi farmers and producers through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program. Nearly 3,700 Mississippi producers have also received more than $147 million in payments as part of a $12 billion national bridge program for trade disruptions and higher input costs left by the Biden Administration. Hundreds of Mississippi producers have also received more than $8 million in funding through the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers program.
* Support for Ranchers: In September 2026, President Trump signed two Executive Orders to back American ranchers -- one directing action to help producers protect herds from wolves and other predators and advancing country-of-origin labeling transparency, and another strengthening enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act to expand market access without compromising food safety.
Investing in Mississippi's Military and Defense Industries
President Trump is delivering new resources to strengthen Mississippi's shipbuilding and defense capabilities, supporting both national security and high-quality jobs.
* In October 2026, the Navy awarded a $99 million contract to Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula for sea trials of the USS Lyndon B. Johnson.
* In April 2026, the Navy awarded a $283 million contract to begin work on the Navy's new FF(X) frigate combatant ships.
* In February 2026, Mississippi secured $528 million in NDAA funding, including $53 million for critical upgrades at Columbus Air Force Base, Camp Shelby, Navy Reserve Center Meridian, and Key Field Air National Guard Base.
* * *
President Trump and Republicans are delivering lower taxes, major private investment, stronger support for farmers and rural communities, and new resources for Mississippi's military. Mississippians face a clear choice: continue this progress, or return to the higher taxes, open borders, and failed policies of the past.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2026/10/president-trump-puts-mississippi-first-with-historic-tax-cuts-surging-investment-and-stronger-communities/
White House: From Coast to Coast, President Trump Is Putting American Industry Back on the Map
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- The White House issued the following news:
* * *
From Coast to Coast, President Trump Is Putting American Industry Back on the Map
October 26, 2026
President Donald J. Trump is delivering an America First surge of manufacturing, energy, agriculture, semiconductor, shipbuilding, and national security investments that are bringing production home, expanding domestic capacity, and locking in American jobs. These commitments build on the trillions in private investment the Trump Administration has secured since taking office -- proving that when America puts itself first,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- The White House issued the following news:
* * *
From Coast to Coast, President Trump Is Putting American Industry Back on the Map
October 26, 2026
President Donald J. Trump is delivering an America First surge of manufacturing, energy, agriculture, semiconductor, shipbuilding, and national security investments that are bringing production home, expanding domestic capacity, and locking in American jobs. These commitments build on the trillions in private investment the Trump Administration has secured since taking office -- proving that when America puts itself first,results follow.
As the Administration moves across the country, it is delivering concrete wins for American communities:
* GEORGIA: Audi is investing $4.2 billion to build its first-ever U.S. production site near Macon -- a direct result of President Trump's trade agenda. The plant will create 4,500 jobs and have an annual production capacity of 200,000 vehicles, strengthening American dominance in auto manufacturing. (Watch)
* FLORIDA: The Trump Administration is investing $275 million to recruit, hire, and retain at least 5,000 new nurses in elder care facilities nationwide, expanding the workforce that serves American seniors. (Watch)
* IOWA: The Trump Administration is invoking the Defense Production Act to release $150 million to expand U.S. refining capacity -- boosting domestic production of diesel and gasoline to strengthen energy security and lower costs. (Watch)
* NEBRASKA: The Trump Administration is investing $1.3 billion in domestic fertilizer manufacturing, with TalusAg opening two facilities in Nebraska to deliver lower-cost, American-made fertilizer to farmers. (Watch)
* NORTH CAROLINA: The Trump Administration is investing up to $1.5 billion to expand semiconductor production, while Sibelco expands production of high-purity quartz and related materials essential to semiconductors in Mitchell County -- advancing America's semiconductor supply chain. (Watch)
* KANSAS: The Trump Administration is launching the Harvest Fuel Relief Program, providing farmers with up to $8 billion in support to offset elevated diesel costs during the current harvest season and protect American agriculture. (Watch)
* MONTANA: The Department of War is establishing a new super range for testing advanced weapons and technologies -- including autonomous weapons, space and electronic warfare capabilities, supersonics, and hypersonics -- to ensure American military superiority. (Watch)
* KENTUCKY: The Department of War is advancing an $80 million investment to revitalize pharmaceutical manufacturing with Antheia at a facility in Winchester, restoring critical drug production to American soil. (Watch)
* ALASKA: Taiwan is investing $4.4 billion in Alaska's mega-gas project, while the Federal Communications Commission is investing an additional $162 million to expand high-speed internet across the state. (Watch)
* OHIO: Cleveland will be the home of the new U.S. Submarine Component Repair Center, strengthening America's undersea naval industrial base. (Watch)
* MARYLAND: The Navy and Anduril are investing $6.6 billion to build Arsenal-2, a new software-defined shipyard in Baltimore -- the largest new American shipbuilding push in generations. (Watch)
* * *
These investments demonstrate the Trump Effect in action: bringing jobs and production home, supporting American workers and farmers, strengthening energy and national security, and expanding the skilled workforce America needs. The Trump Administration will continue delivering results that rebuild American industry and put America First.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2026/10/from-coast-to-coast-president-trump-is-putting-american-industry-back-on-the-map/
NIH Center for Advancing Translational Sciences: Could Your Biological Age Contribute to Early-Onset Cancer Risk?
BETHESDA, Maryland, Oct. 27 (TNSjou) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences issued the following news:
* * *
Could Your Biological Age Contribute to Early-Onset Cancer Risk?
October 26, 2026
Doctors are seeing a concerning trend: Cancer is becoming more common among young adults. Early-onset cancers (EOCs) -- cancers diagnosed before age 50 or 55, including colorectal cancer, uterine cancer and multiple myeloma -- are increasing in incidence. At the same time, research suggests that younger generations
... Show Full Article
BETHESDA, Maryland, Oct. 27 (TNSjou) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences issued the following news:
* * *
Could Your Biological Age Contribute to Early-Onset Cancer Risk?
October 26, 2026
Doctors are seeing a concerning trend: Cancer is becoming more common among young adults. Early-onset cancers (EOCs) -- cancers diagnosed before age 50 or 55, including colorectal cancer, uterine cancer and multiple myeloma -- are increasing in incidence. At the same time, research suggests that younger generationsmay be biologically aging faster than earlier generations. Scientists are now exploring whether these two trends could be connected.
Chronological age is the number of years a person has lived, while biological age reflects how well the body is functioning compared with what might be expected at that chronological age. Biological aging can reflect the buildup of genetic damage, environmental exposures, lifestyle and other factors over time. Researchers can estimate biological age using different measures, including information from blood tests.
A collaborative research group led by Yin Cao, Sc.D., M.P.H., professor of surgery and medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, is exploring whether biological aging could contribute to the rise in EOCs. For this proof-of-concept study, Cao and her team analyzed longitudinal patient data -- information gathered over time -- from NIH's All of Us Research Program and the UK Biobank. The researchers examined whole-body biological aging in more than 160,000 participants across the two data sets and also explored organ-specific aging in a subset of UK Biobank participants. The team -- funded in part by the NCATS Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program -- published their findings in Nature Medicine (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-026-04448-w).
The researchers found evidence that whole-body biological aging has accelerated across generations. In the UK Biobank, participants born between 1965 and 1974 showed greater biological aging than those born between 1950 and 1954. A similar generational pattern emerged in the All of Us data, where participants born between 1990 and 1999 showed greater biological aging than those born between 1965 and 1969. Faster biological aging also was associated with an increased risk of certain early-onset cancers, particularly lung, gastrointestinal and uterine cancers.
The researchers also found that biological aging in specific organs and tissues may be associated with particular cancers. Accelerated immune-system aging was linked to a higher risk of early-onset lung cancer, while accelerated aging of fat tissue was linked to a higher risk of early-onset colorectal cancer.
Looking at both whole-body and organ-specific aging could provide a more complete picture of a person's potential cancer risk, Cao explained. "Aging at different scales can be asynchronous, which means it's important to look at aging from multiple levels."
Cao emphasized that the findings need to be validated in larger populations with a broader range of demographic and clinical features. Ultimately, researchers hope that biological age could serve as a set of biomarkers to help identify individuals at higher risk of cancer earlier in life and inform more targeted screening and prevention strategies.
The research also aligns with broader NIH priorities to better understand chronic disease, identify disease risk earlier and use large-scale health data to turn scientific discoveries into approaches that can improve prevention and care. By examining biological aging as a potential marker of disease risk, the study reflects NCATS' emphasis on using data science and real-world data to better understand disease onset and progression and identify opportunities for earlier intervention.
The study also highlights the need for large, longitudinal data sets that include younger populations. Cao noted that much of the available aging data comes from older adults, making data from younger people particularly important for understanding what may be driving biological aging and rising rates of EOCs. "We hope this resource building continues to be a priority nationally," she stated.
Michael Kurilla, M.D., Ph.D., director of NCATS' Division of Clinical Innovation, which administers the CTSA Program, stated, "Understanding biological aging is critically important because health, particularly optimal health, is more than simply the absence of disease."
* * *
Original text here: https://ncats.nih.gov/news/news-events/could-your-biological-age-contribute-to-early-onset-cancer-risk
NASA's Perseverance Offers Clues to Protect Crews From Mars Dust
PASADENA, California, Oct. 27 -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
* * *
NASA's Perseverance Offers Clues to Protect Crews from Mars Dust
Oct. 26, 2026
By studying tiny particles clinging to spacesuit samples aboard the rover, scientists could help develop better ways to reduce astronauts' exposure to dust on Mars.
Over 1,645 Martian days, NASA's Perseverance Mars rover measured the fine and ultrafine Martian dust particles found clinging to samples of spacesuit materials that are carried aboard the rover, including some that are small enough to penetrate the lungs
... Show Full Article
PASADENA, California, Oct. 27 -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
* * *
NASA's Perseverance Offers Clues to Protect Crews from Mars Dust
Oct. 26, 2026
By studying tiny particles clinging to spacesuit samples aboard the rover, scientists could help develop better ways to reduce astronauts' exposure to dust on Mars.
Over 1,645 Martian days, NASA's Perseverance Mars rover measured the fine and ultrafine Martian dust particles found clinging to samples of spacesuit materials that are carried aboard the rover, including some that are small enough to penetrate the lungsand enter the bloodstream. The findings will be published Tuesday, Oct. 27, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and could inform spacesuit and habitat design, dust-removal procedures, and crew health standards for future NASA missions to Mars.
"NASA has a long history of turning challenges into workable solutions and of finding creative ways to use the data that we have to answer questions beyond what it was originally collected for," said Lindsay Hays, acting director, Planetary Science Division, NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Dust has been a surface-exploration challenge since the Apollo program. Perseverance is giving our engineers and flight surgeons measurements they can use to improve our existing designs well before the first American astronauts arrive on Mars."
Lunar dust scratched visors, degraded outer spacesuit layers, and damaged their seals during NASA's Apollo missions, and some crew members reported symptoms similar to hay fever.
Rounded by wind-driven collisions with other particles, dust grains on Mars are less abrasive than those on the Moon. They also are enriched in sulfur, chlorine, and iron and contain more silica than lunar dust. Regional and global dust storms on Mars can keep the grains recirculating throughout the atmosphere as well.
The rover carries a set of five samples of spacesuit material. The swatches, each three-quarters of an inch (20 millimeters) square, are part of a calibration target used to test the settings of SHERLOC (Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals), an instrument on Perseverance's robotic arm. The calibration target for another instrument that provided the dust measurements, called PIXL (Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry), carries a sample of Teflon and of basaltic glass.
Because Teflon contains no elements that PIXL can directly detect, whatever elemental signals the X-ray spectrometer picks up from that sample comes from dust resting on it.
The team also analyzed swatches of Teflon and Vectran, two materials used in spacesuits, on SHERLOC's calibration target. NASA sent the swatches to Mars to study how spacesuit materials hold up on the planet's surface.
"Perseverance's main job is to search for signs of ancient microbial life, but the mission was also designed to help prepare for human explorers. That effort includes technology demonstrations like MOXIE (Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment) and Ingenuity, as well as the spacesuit samples," said Katie Stack Morgan, Perseverance's project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.
Fine, ultrafine
While earlier measurements on Mars resolved dust particles down to about 3 micrometers across, PIXL detected two categories of even smaller particles: fine particles measuring less than 2.5 micrometers (a human hair is about 70 micrometers wide) and ultrafine particles around 100 nanometers (about 700 times thinner than a human hair). Particles on PIXL's Teflon target and SHERLOC's Vectran swatch averaged about 2 micrometers. On PIXL's basaltic glass and SHERLOC's Teflon swatch, dust particle sizes ranged down to about 100 to 300 nanometers.
Static electricity appears to determine which size dust particles stick to which surface. Dust grains become charged as they collide in the air, and different materials on the calibration target attract grains of different sizes. The finest particles stayed attached through years of driving and drilling. Organic polymers like SHERLOC's Teflon spacesuit sample are common in the outer layers of spacesuits, and the results show they readily collect fine dust.
The study also found that some materials hold less dust than others, which could guide future choices of materials and protective coatings for spacesuits and habitats. Designs such as suitports, which let astronauts enter a suit attached to the outside of a habitat, and dual-chamber airlocks could reduce how much dust gets inside astronauts' living quarters.
"The existence of Mars dust at these ultrafine sizes has been predicted for a long time, and PIXL gave us the chance to measure it directly on Mars," said Scott VanBommel, a Perseverance scientist at Washington University in St. Louis and the paper's lead author. "The larger clumps, the Martian dust bunnies, get shaken off over time. But the smallest particles stay behind, and those are the ones that pose the greatest challenge for human support systems."
Chemically, the dust matches the iron- and sulfur-rich composition that earlier missions measured. The PIXL instrument also found the dust to be enriched in phosphorus and detected signs of calcium sulfate.
Protecting crews
On Earth, airborne particles, or particulate matter, below 2.5 micrometers (that is, fine particles) are tied to a range of negative health effects because they can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Studies have shown that ultrafine particles (those no larger than 100 nanometers) can travel from the nasal cavity to the brain along the olfactory nerve.
Martian dust is composed predominantly of silicate minerals and carries chemically reactive compounds, including perchlorates that can disrupt thyroid function and reactive iron that induces cellular damage. Scientists believe that the health risks of Mars dust depend on the quantity of dust and length of exposure.
The PIXL results are the first on-site measurements of fine and ultrafine particles on Mars, and this research can inform broader efforts to refine indoor dust-exposure limits for astronauts, develop safe habits, and establish ways to remove dust while exploring Mars.
NASA is already working on solutions to extraterrestrial dust hazards, using ground test facilities and lunar missions as proving grounds for future Mars explorers. In March 2025, the agency tested an Electrodynamic Dust Shield, which used electric fields to clear lunar regolith from glass and thermal radiator surfaces on the Moon. Developed at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, it landed on the Moon aboard Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Mission 1. At NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, engineers at the Lunar Development and Test Facility use vacuum chambers and lunar regolith simulant to test spacesuit components, mechanisms, and a Handheld Lunar Electrostatic Dust Mitigation tool ahead of Artemis missions to the lunar surface.
More about Perseverance
Managed for NASA by Caltech, JPL built and manages operations of the Perseverance rover on behalf of the agency's Science Mission Directorate as part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program portfolio. NASA JPL also built PIXL and SHERLOC.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-perseverance-offers-clues-to-protect-crews-from-mars-dust/
Economics Daily: Unemployment Rates in the Dakotas Among the Lowest in September 2026
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics issued the following document from Economics Daily:
* * *
Unemployment rates in the Dakotas among the lowest in September 2026
October 26, 2026
In September 2026, unemployment rates in North Dakota and South Dakota were among the lowest, at 2.2 percent and 2.0 percent, respectively. Nebraska, Hawaii, New Hampshire and Vermont each also had unemployment rates below 3.0 percent.
In total, 20 states had unemployment rates lower than the national rate of 4.2 percent, 2 states and the District of Columbia had higher
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics issued the following document from Economics Daily:
* * *
Unemployment rates in the Dakotas among the lowest in September 2026
October 26, 2026
In September 2026, unemployment rates in North Dakota and South Dakota were among the lowest, at 2.2 percent and 2.0 percent, respectively. Nebraska, Hawaii, New Hampshire and Vermont each also had unemployment rates below 3.0 percent.
In total, 20 states had unemployment rates lower than the national rate of 4.2 percent, 2 states and the District of Columbia had higherrates, and 28 states had rates that were not notably different from the national rate.
From September 2025 to September 2026, the unemployment rate decreased in 20 states and the District. The largest decrease was in New Jersey (down 1.3 percentage points to 4.2 percent). Over the past year, 7 states had rate increases, with the largest increase in Connecticut (up 0.9 percentage points to 5.1 percent). In 23 states, jobless rates were not notably different from a year earlier.
These data are from the Local Area Unemployment Statistics program and are seasonally adjusted. Data for the most recent month are preliminary. To learn more, see State Employment and Unemployment -- September 2026. Also see these charts and maps of state employment and unemployment data.
SUGGESTED CITATION
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Unemployment rates in the Dakotas among the lowest in September 2026 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2026/unemployment-rates-in-the-dakotas-among-the-lowest-in-september-2026.htm (visited October 27, 2026).
* * *
View original text plus charts and tables here: https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2026/unemployment-rates-in-the-dakotas-among-the-lowest-in-september-2026.htm
Brazil's Pernambuco State to Improve Fiscal Sustainability With IDB Support
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
* * *
Brazil's Pernambuco State to Improve Fiscal Sustainability with IDB Support
October 26, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a $92.3 million investment loan for the Brazilian state of Pernambuco to improve revenue collection and expenditure management.
The financing is part of Profisco III, an IDB-supported program implemented in coordination with the Brazilian federal government to help states modernize fiscal administration,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
* * *
Brazil's Pernambuco State to Improve Fiscal Sustainability with IDB Support
October 26, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a $92.3 million investment loan for the Brazilian state of Pernambuco to improve revenue collection and expenditure management.
The financing is part of Profisco III, an IDB-supported program implemented in coordination with the Brazilian federal government to help states modernize fiscal administration,support the implementation of the country's landmark tax reform, and enhance the long-term fiscal sustainability of subnational governments.
The program will help Pernambuco strengthen its fiscal position and capacity to plan, manage, and oversee public resources. It will support institutional modernization, digital transformation, data management, cybersecurity, and improvements in human resource management. The operation will also promote greater transparency, fiscal education, and citizen engagement using digital technologies and artificial intelligence.
Expected results include increasing state tax revenue as a share of GDP, reducing the cost of tax collection, shortening audit and procurement timelines, and improving tax compliance. The project is also expected to foster a more competitive business environment by making interactions with the tax administration simpler, faster, and more transparent, while supporting the design and implementation of more effective, data-driven public policies.
The IDB loan is for 24.5 years, with a grace period of six years and interest rate based on SOFR. Counterpart financing totals $10.3 million.
Following approval by the IDB's Board of Executive Directors, the programs will move through the required Brazilian legal and administrative processes before implementation begins.
* * *
About the IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a member of the IDB Group, is devoted to improving lives across Latin America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1959, the Bank works with the region's public sector to design and enable impactful, innovative solutions for sustainable and inclusive development. Leveraging financing, technical expertise, and knowledge, it promotes growth and well-being in 26 countries. Visit: www.iadb.org/en.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/brazils-pernambuco-state-improve-fiscal-sustainability-idb-support
