Featured Stories
Woodwell Climate Research Center: Submitted Comment on Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation
FALMOUTH, Massachusetts, Oct. 3 (TNSres) -- Woodwell Climate Research Center, formerly the Woods Hole Research Center, issued the following policy brief on Sept. 30, 2026, entitled "Submitted comment on Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation":
* * *
Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell) appreciates the opportunity to comment on the U.S. Forest Service's proposed rule, Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation. As a scientific research organization dedicated to understanding risk and promoting resilience, Woodwell consistently advocates for robust, science-informed, and publicly accessible
... Show Full Article
FALMOUTH, Massachusetts, Oct. 3 (TNSres) -- Woodwell Climate Research Center, formerly the Woods Hole Research Center, issued the following policy brief on Sept. 30, 2026, entitled "Submitted comment on Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation":
* * *
Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell) appreciates the opportunity to comment on the U.S. Forest Service's proposed rule, Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation. As a scientific research organization dedicated to understanding risk and promoting resilience, Woodwell consistently advocates for robust, science-informed, and publicly accessibledata for long-lasting sustainability and the benefit of local communities.
Since 2001, the Roadless Rule has protected more than 40 million acres of forest from commercial logging, allowing the land to support other uses such as wildlife habitat, recreation, and watershed protection. Of the comment letters received in response to the 2025 notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement to repeal the Roadless Rule, the vast majority were opposed to the proposed rescission, while approximately 1 percent were in support.
The proposed rule states its intent to increase the total annual National Forest System sawtimber harvest by about 5 to 10 percent. Executive Order 14225, however, dictates a proposed 25 percent (or larger) increase in logging from federal lands. The high economic value of the large trees and mature forests means Roadless Areas are likely to be targeted to meet that 25 percent threshold, far surpassing the misleading 5 to 10 percent increase outlined in the proposed rule. Any increase in logging will cause widespread harm and has the potential to be expanded in the future.
Large trees and mature forests contain large quantities of carbon in their biomass and soils. According to recent studies, Inventoried Roadless Areas of the conterminous U.S. (excluding Alaska) contain 33.6 million acres of mature and old-growth forest, with a carbon stock of 2.0 billion metric tons. Of particular concern is the large Roadless Area of the Tongass National Forest in Alaska which includes 16.6 million acres of forest, most of which is mature or old growth. More than 9 million acres of forest in the Tongass is protected by the Roadless Rule. Tongass contains almost as much carbon stock as the entire rest of the National Forest system-2.7 billion tons-making it the most important and largest undisturbed forest in the U.S.
Woodwell urges the U.S. Forest Service to preserve the Roadless Rule, recognizing that the existing national guidelines are critical for implementing policies that are in the best interest of the public and forest health across the country.
* * *
The full text of the document is posted at: https://www.woodwellclimate.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Woodwell_Special-Areas-Roadless-Area-Conservation_FS-2025-0001.pdf
[Category: Environment]
Tooele County Search and Rescue Team Nabs PETA Award for Saving Dog Trapped in Mineshaft
NORFOLK, Virginia, Oct. 3 -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued the following news release:
* * *
Tooele County Search and Rescue Team Nabs PETA Award for Saving Dog Trapped in Mineshaft
October 2, 2026
Grantsville, Utah - A Compassionate Action Award is on its way from PETA to the Tooele County Sheriff's Search and Rescue team after it sprang into action to save a dog who had plunged 30 feet headfirst into an abandoned mineshaft in the mountains west of Grantsville on Sunday. During the hours-long operation, the team faced a narrow opening and a lack of anchor points but used
... Show Full Article
NORFOLK, Virginia, Oct. 3 -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued the following news release:
* * *
Tooele County Search and Rescue Team Nabs PETA Award for Saving Dog Trapped in Mineshaft
October 2, 2026
Grantsville, Utah - A Compassionate Action Award is on its way from PETA to the Tooele County Sheriff's Search and Rescue team after it sprang into action to save a dog who had plunged 30 feet headfirst into an abandoned mineshaft in the mountains west of Grantsville on Sunday. During the hours-long operation, the team faced a narrow opening and a lack of anchor points but usedcreative rigging to lower a rescuer into the mine, where she fashioned a makeshift harness around the dog and helped lift him to safety. The dog was uninjured and reunited with his guardian.
"This dog was trapped in a terrifying situation, and he likely wouldn't have survived without these rescuers' resourcefulness and determination," says PETA President Tracy Reiman. "PETA encourages everyone to follow their compassionate example and never hesitate to help an animal in danger."
The Tooele County Search and Rescue team will receive a framed certificate from PETA, along with delicious vegan chocolates.
* * *
PETA--whose motto reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to abuse in any way"--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.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.peta.org/media/news-releases/tooele-county-search-and-rescue-team-nabs-peta-award-for-saving-dog-trapped-in-mineshaft/
[Category: Animals]
Northwell's Heart, Lung, Liver & Kidney Transplant Programs Rate Among Best in Region - Above National Average
NEW HYDE PARK, New York, Oct. 3 -- Northwell Health issued the following news release:
* * *
Northwell Transplant Institute achieves exceptional outcomes
October 2nd, 2026
Northwell's heart, lung, liver and kidney transplant programs rate among best in region -- above the national average
-
The Northwell Transplant Institute has been recognized for exceptional outcomes across its adult heart, lung, liver and kidney transplant programs, rating among the best in the region in several quality measures, according to a report published by the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR).
Heart
... Show Full Article
NEW HYDE PARK, New York, Oct. 3 -- Northwell Health issued the following news release:
* * *
Northwell Transplant Institute achieves exceptional outcomes
October 2nd, 2026
Northwell's heart, lung, liver and kidney transplant programs rate among best in region -- above the national average
-
The Northwell Transplant Institute has been recognized for exceptional outcomes across its adult heart, lung, liver and kidney transplant programs, rating among the best in the region in several quality measures, according to a report published by the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR).
Hearttransplant recorded the highest one-year patient survival outcome in the tri-state area while being recognized for one of the highest transplant rates, translating into faster access to a heart transplant, the SRTR report showed. The program has a lower waitlist mortality than the regional or national average. Patients at Northwell move to transplant more quickly, with a median time to adult heart transplant of 1.5 months compared with the national median of 2.1 months.
"When comparing the New York State heart programs in terms of key quality metrics, only Northwell Health rated in the top three for each of the metrics: survival on the wait list, getting a donor faster and one-year heart survival," said Deane Smith, MD, surgical director for Northwell's Center for Heart Failure, Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support.
"The numbers are a testament to the tremendous care the entire transplant team brings to each case."
100 lung transplants in four years -- and growing
Just four years after its inception, the lung transplant program successfully completed its 100th lung transplant on September 17. This rapid acceleration to significant surgical volume is matched by truly remarkable patient outcomes, setting a new benchmark for excellence. The program scored an exceptional 90-day survival rate of 100%. Its one-year survival rate is among the best across the region (NY, CT, MA, MD and PA). Beyond clinical success, the patient experience remains a cornerstone, with over 90% of patients reporting they would recommend the program.
Setting the pace for liver and kidney transplants
Northwell's liver transplant program is now the largest adult liver transplant program in the tri-state and is one of two programs that share the highest ranking for liver transplant outcomes in the region (NY, NJ, CT, PA, MA and MD). The program also provides faster access to deceased donor transplantation - 47% faster than the national average. When living donor transplants are included, Northwell's liver program transplants patients 42% faster than the national average, shortening wait times and helping patients reach transplant sooner.
Adult kidney transplant recipients at Northwell receive a new organ 55% faster than patients at kidney programs nationally, and the program's three-year patient survival rate exceeds those of more than 95% of U.S. programs. In addition, Northwell's pediatric kidney transplant program has the region's best one-year graft survival, reflecting exceptional care for children and families.
Building on a legacy of transplant excellence
"We are incredibly proud of these programs and the national stature they have achieved in caring for patients with end-stage organ failure," said Nabil Dagher, MD, senior vice president and director of the Northwell Transplant Institute. "Every day, our teams come to work with a shared mission: to provide better, more compassionate care than we did the day before. These results reflect that commitment and the culture of excellence our entire institute has built."
Following approval from the New York State Department of Health in December 2025 to launch its pancreas transplant program, the Transplant Institute performed Long Island's first pancreas transplant that spring. The Institute also remains the only pediatric heart transplant program on Long Island. The Northwell Transplant Institute recently earned CMS recertification for several of its programs with zero deficiencies, a testament to their distinction, broad reach and outstanding performance.
Northwell's North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) in Manhasset is home to the Northwell Transplant Institute. NSUH, a CMS 5-star hospital which has 806 licensed beds and treats more than 90,000 patients each year, is one of just 59 adult transplant centers nationwide that offer heart, kidney, liver, lung and pancreas transplant programs under one roof, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. That coordination of care, along with a state-of-the-art surgical pavilion and world-renowned surgeons, makes the Northwell Transplant Institute a leader in patient outcomes. NSUH was nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report in 10 adult specialties for the second straight year.
There were more than 23,000 organ donors nationally in 2025. However, more than 109,000 people in the United States currently need an organ transplant and about 61,000 of them are on active transplant waiting lists, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing. To learn more about the Northwell Transplant Institute, visit their website here.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.northwell.edu/news/the-latest/northwell-transplant-institute-achieves-exceptional-outcomes
[Category: Health Care]
National Parks Conservation Association: Federal Court Blocks Border Barrier Construction at Big Bend National Park
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 -- The National Parks Conservation Association issued the following news release:
* * *
Oct 2, 2026
Federal Court Blocks Border Barrier Construction at Big Bend National Park
EL PASO, Texas - Today, a federal judge in El Paso issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from building damaging heavy border infrastructure, including border barriers and patrol roads, in the Big Bend region - including Big Bend National Park.
This injunction will safeguard Big Bend National Park as the court considers arguments from plaintiffs, including the Center for Biological
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 -- The National Parks Conservation Association issued the following news release:
* * *
Oct 2, 2026
Federal Court Blocks Border Barrier Construction at Big Bend National Park
EL PASO, Texas - Today, a federal judge in El Paso issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from building damaging heavy border infrastructure, including border barriers and patrol roads, in the Big Bend region - including Big Bend National Park.
This injunction will safeguard Big Bend National Park as the court considers arguments from plaintiffs, including the Center for BiologicalDiversity. In late August, the National Parks Conservation Association joined Sierra Club along with its Lone Star Chapter in filing an amicus brief (https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2026_08_26-brief-of-amici.pdf) supporting the Center for Biological Diversity's lawsuit. NPCA and the Sierra Club are represented by Earthjustice.
In August, federal contractors authorized by Customs and Border Protection began bulldozing miles of sensitive habitat, causing heartbreaking damage near popular areas of Big Bend National Park, including Santa Elena Canyon, Cottonwood Campground, and Mariscal Canyon.
The administration has waived bedrock environmental laws designed to protect national parks that would require extensive review for these types of projects.
Following widespread public outcry over the damage, Customs and Border Protection issued a temporary pause on border construction activities in Big Bend National Park in late August. In a September legal filing, the administration expressed their intent to lift the pause and begin construction again - indicating that the fight is far from over.
Statement of Tiernan Sittenfeld, National Parks Conservation Association President and CEO:
"Today's court ruling halting the destruction is a victory for Big Bend and for all of America's national parks. While national park advocates are grateful for this halt to border construction in Big Bend, the devastating toll it has already taken on this national park must be studied and remediated. The administration must repair the damage it has done to the beautiful, fragile desert ecosystems that make Big Bend National Park one of America's most iconic places."
"From the very beginning, national park advocates and border communities have been clear that bulldozing Big Bend is not a viable border security solution. Congress designated Big Bend National Park to protect our country's natural wonders, and people come from all over the world to experience its star-filled skies and striking mountain ranges.
"The administration's border plan at Big Bend has faced strong bipartisan opposition from local landowners, experienced local borderland sheriffs, and conservationists alike. Big Bend is no place for border barriers. It's time for the administration to come to the table with the border communities that know Big Bend best, repair the damage from this ill-conceived project, and find new solutions."
* * *
About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.9 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation's most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.npca.org/articles/11518-federal-court-blocks-border-barrier-construction-at-big-bend-national-park
[Category: Environment]
Massachusetts Biotechnology Council: CEO Innovation Policy Update on Oct. 1, 2026
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, Oct. 3 -- The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council issued the following statement by CEO Kendalle Burlin O'Connell:
* * *
CEO Innovation Policy Update 10.01.26
Oct 01, 2026
MassBio CEO & President Kendalle Burlin O'Connell originally posted this update on LinkedIn.
With the House already recessed and the Senate preparing to leave Washington until after the November elections, activity in Congress will largely go quiet in October. But several significant developments this week are worth watching for Massachusetts biotechs, including the finalization of the GLOBE drug
... Show Full Article
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, Oct. 3 -- The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council issued the following statement by CEO Kendalle Burlin O'Connell:
* * *
CEO Innovation Policy Update 10.01.26
Oct 01, 2026
MassBio CEO & President Kendalle Burlin O'Connell originally posted this update on LinkedIn.
With the House already recessed and the Senate preparing to leave Washington until after the November elections, activity in Congress will largely go quiet in October. But several significant developments this week are worth watching for Massachusetts biotechs, including the finalization of the GLOBE drugpricing model, a new federal push to modernize clinical trials, and continued uncertainty around pharmaceutical tariffs.
CMS Finalizes GLOBE, Putting International Reference Pricing into Medicare Part B: CMS on Wednesday finalized the mandatory Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing (GLOBE), Model, which will tie reimbursement for certain Medicare Part B medicines to prices in a basket of 19 other developed countries beginning January 1, 2027. The final model is substantially narrower than initially proposed: CMS now projects approximately $440 million in savings over seven years, compared with an earlier estimate of nearly $12 billion. Even with its narrower scope, GLOBE represents a troubling expansion of international reference pricing into Medicare that MassBio strongly opposes. In our comment earlier this year, we wrote, "The proposed Model would significantly undermine incentives for innovation in the United States and put patient access to the latest innovations at risk, without meaningfully increasing patient access or reducing patient costs."
HHS Launches Major New Push to Make U.S. Clinical Trials Faster: HHS and ARPA-H announced a new initiative this week aimed at fundamentally changing how clinical trials are designed and conducted. The effort, known as Simulation-augmented, Real-time Platform Adaptive Seamless Trials (SURPASS), would use adaptive trial designs, shared infrastructure, real-time data analysis, computational modeling, and digital twins to reduce development timelines, costs, and patient burden. Administration officials explicitly framed the effort as part of a broader push to strengthen U.S. competitiveness in clinical development. For Massachusetts companies, the program is another sign that clinical-trial modernization is becoming a central federal biotech competitiveness priority.
Pharmaceutical Tariffs Take Effect with Significant Carveouts: The Administration's Section 232 tariffs on certain patented medicines and pharmaceutical ingredients took broader effect September 29, just days after the Commerce Department issued new guidance defining which specialty products may qualify for zero-tariff treatment. The guidance provides exemptions for certain products including cell and gene therapies, antibody-drug conjugates, and drugs used solely for clinical trials or R&D, but eligibility can depend on product classification, country of origin, and other conditions, while companies seeking an "urgent U.S. health need" exemption must apply on a product-by-product basis. The exemptions are not automatic and questions have lingered over how Commerce will process requests and how tariff liability will be handled while applications are pending. If your company has encountered challenges determining whether a product qualifies for an exemption, navigating the application process, or understanding how the tariffs apply to your supply chain, please let the MassBio team know as we continue to engage policymakers on implementation.
FDA Commissioner Nomination Will Wait Until After the Midterms: Dr. Heidi Overton, President Trump's nominee to lead FDA, will not receive a Senate vote before lawmakers leave Washington for the November elections, extending the leadership uncertainty at the Agency into at least November. Overton appeared before the Senate HELP Committee last week, where senators questioned her on issues including foreign clinical trials, vaccines, drug safety, and FDA independence.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.massbio.org/news/recent-news/ceo-innovation-policy-update-10-01-26/
[Category: Biology]
FFRF Action Fund: 'Theocratic' School Board Member Votes Against Class Trip to 'satanic Witch Museum'
MADISON, Wisconsin, Oct. 3 -- 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:
* * *
'Theocratic' school board member votes against class trip to 'satanic witch museum'
October 2, 2026
The FFRF Action Fund names as its "Theocrat of the Week" a Christian school board member who voted against a class trip to a "satanic witch museum."
Batavia City School District (N.Y.) Board of Education member Dan Schmidt during
... Show Full Article
MADISON, Wisconsin, Oct. 3 -- 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:
* * *
'Theocratic' school board member votes against class trip to 'satanic witch museum'
October 2, 2026
The FFRF Action Fund names as its "Theocrat of the Week" a Christian school board member who voted against a class trip to a "satanic witch museum."
Batavia City School District (N.Y.) Board of Education member Dan Schmidt duringa recent board meeting went on a tirade against the Salem Witch Museum, whose mission "is to be the voice of the innocent victims of witch hunts from 1692 to the present day." After student representatives presented a draft itinerary for a senior class trip to Boston, Schmidt cast the sole nay vote.
As "a pastor in the room," Schmidt explained his stance during the board's discussion, "we're going to send our kids to a witch museum? To me, like, that is awful." He said he didn't want kids going to "what I would consider a satanic witch museum."
"Not to be the Debbie Downer in the room, but the Salem Witch Museum," Schmidt stated. "Just wondering if there was an alternative option for that."
"If my boys ... if the Salem Witch Museum, as a Christian, was part of the trip ... he probably wouldn't go, you know?" He added. "So I'm just wondering if there's an alternative option. Like, why would we want to exclude somebody that would feel like this is kind of going against ... their core values in their life, you know?"
After an audience member countered that the museum serves to teach the history surrounding the Salem Witch Trials, not to promote witchcraft or satanism, Schmidt replied: "That's not the point. The point is ... we're encouraging our kids to go to a witch museum. To me, that is awful."
When a journalist from The Batavian spoke with Schmidt after the board meeting, pointing out that the museum details the "persecution of the innocent, including Christians," Schmidt said, "I can't really say that I know the history of it. But for me as a pastor, to hear that our students are going to a witch museum. ... I'm not satisfied. I just don't think that it's the healthiest choice for our students, and I hope the church rises up and has a problem with it."
Schmidt added that he felt the need to speak up against the museum trip because of his personal religious beliefs, saying, "I'm gonna stand before God someday, and I feel like to not share my voice in that moment -- I get that everybody's faith is, people have a different perspective on Christianity -- but for me, I think Jesus would frown on this."
In 2010, the Freedom From Religion Foundation celebrated the 318th anniversary of Massachusetts Gov. William Phips' declaration that effectively ended the Salem Witch Trials, by designating Oct. 12 through Oct. 19 as "Freethought Week." The Phips declaration was the first of its kind, requiring that evidence used in court be observable, measurable and replicable -- a step toward human enlightenment and the adoption of the scientific method.
Schmidt was elected to the Batavia school board in 2025 and is the lead pastor at the Batavia Assembly of God Church. The FFRF Action Fund urges Schmidt to fulfill his duty as an elected public official by keeping his personal religious beliefs out of government decisions. We hope Batavia's students have an enjoyable and enriching learning experience at the Salem Witch Museum.
* * *
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.
* * *
Original text here: https://ffrfaction.org/theocratic-school-board-member-votes-against-class-trip-to-satanic-witch-museum/
[Category: Sociological]
Americans for Tax Reform Issues Commentary: Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith Rightly Rejects Tax-Hiking "Bipartisan Fiscal Commission"
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 -- Americans for Tax Reform issued the following commentary:
* * *
Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith Rightly Rejects Tax-Hiking "Bipartisan Fiscal Commission"
John Kartch
10/02/2026
During a field hearing convened by the House Budget Committee on Sept. 21, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith rightly rejected the idea of a tax-hiking "bipartisan fiscal commission." Such commissions are designed to be a tax trap.
As Larry Kudlow has noted:"The trouble with these so-called bipartisan commissions is that they start raising taxes at the very first meeting even before
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 -- Americans for Tax Reform issued the following commentary:
* * *
Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith Rightly Rejects Tax-Hiking "Bipartisan Fiscal Commission"
John Kartch
10/02/2026
During a field hearing convened by the House Budget Committee on Sept. 21, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith rightly rejected the idea of a tax-hiking "bipartisan fiscal commission." Such commissions are designed to be a tax trap.
As Larry Kudlow has noted:"The trouble with these so-called bipartisan commissions is that they start raising taxes at the very first meeting even beforethe first cup of coffee has been poured."
Some members of congress want to insulate themselves by punting their responsibilities to a blue-ribbon "commission" that would inevitably produce a tax hike.
But Smith, congressman representing Missouri's 8th congressional district, stood up for his constituents and the American taxpayer.
Smith said:
"The responsibility before us is just to do the job. We're elected members of Congress. We really don't need a commission to tell us to do our job.
We just need to do it.
We could do it right now if we just came together. And it's not easy. It's not easy to come together as Republicans and Democrats. I know as being chair of the Ways and Means Committee, I strive to get some bipartisan pieces of legislation, and some we're successful on, and some we just can't find a way.
But you don't give up, and I think that's the key before us."
Meanwhile at the same hearing, prominent Democrat budget figure Leon Panetta openly admitted the purpose of the "commission" is for members of congress to insulate themselves politically.
Panetta said:
"Lastly, encourage action that can provide some political cover for members. And that I think is a bipartisan fiscal commission that can at least provide some cover so that, you know, right now you can't get together, the politics doesn't support it. But if in the very least you can pass a commission that gives you that spark, that backup, so that you can move, I think that would be important."
Thank you for your honesty here, Mr. Panetta. "Political cover" to avoid blame for a commission-promulgated tax hike is exactly what some members are seeking. At the expense of the American people.
See Also: https://atr.org/taxtrap/
* * *
Original text here: https://atr.org/ways-and-means-chairman-jason-smith-rightly-rejects-tax-hiking-bipartisan-fiscal-commission/
[Category: Political]
