Featured Stories
Protect Our Care Statement: Trump Administration Lies to Virginians After Gutting Rural Health Care
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- Protect Our Care issued the following statement on Aug. 28, 2026:
* * *
STATEMENT: Trump Administration Lies to Virginians After Gutting Rural Health Care
Today, the Trump administration announced misleading "rural health investments" in Virginia, conveniently leaving out any mention of the catastrophic health care cuts Donald Trump and Republicans made that have ravaged Virginia's health care system and left rural communities in the dust. Last year, Donald Trump and Republicans rammed through $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and big
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- Protect Our Care issued the following statement on Aug. 28, 2026:
* * *
STATEMENT: Trump Administration Lies to Virginians After Gutting Rural Health Care
Today, the Trump administration announced misleading "rural health investments" in Virginia, conveniently leaving out any mention of the catastrophic health care cuts Donald Trump and Republicans made that have ravaged Virginia's health care system and left rural communities in the dust. Last year, Donald Trump and Republicans rammed through $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and bigcorporations. Virginia alone will lose $29 billion from those Medicaid cuts -- making the $122 million CMS announced a pittance by comparison. Also in Virginia, 32+ hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes have been forced to shut down, cut services, or are at risk of doing so after the GOP's cuts. Nationwide, rural hospitals that were already operating on razor-thin margins are struggling to stay afloat.
Rural health care leaders themselves have warned that these funds won't come close to undoing the damage of $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid, which were part of the "big ugly bill" Trump and Republicans rammed through last year. Jed Hansen, the executive director of the Nebraska Rural Health Association, said, "[The] Rural Health Transformation will not save a single hospital in our state. I don't think it will save a single hospital nationally."
Protect Our Care President Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement:
"Republicans are trying to put a band-aid on a bullet hole after they were the ones to pull the trigger. These are the same people who gutted rural health care funding to give tax breaks for the likes of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. They didn't care about rural health then, and they can't pretend to care about it now. This is another publicity stunt meant to distract working families from the health care crisis Trump and Republicans in Congress knowingly created. This so-called 'investment' is a drop in the bucket compared to the $29 billion Virginians are expected to lose in Medicaid funding over the next decade. And that doesn't even include the funds that clinics and nursing homes are expected to lose. They brought our health care system to the breaking point to line the pockets of their billionaire buddies, and no amount of lying can detract from that."
* * *
Original text here: https://www.protectourcare.org/statement-trump-administration-lies-to-virginians-after-gutting-rural-health-care/
[Category: Health Care]
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:
* * *
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:
* * *
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.
-
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.
* * *
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]
Environmental Working Group: California Lawmakers Pass Bill to Create Landmark 'non-ultra-processed' Food Label
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- The Environmental Working Group issued the following news release on Aug. 28, 2026:
* * *
California lawmakers pass bill to create landmark 'non-ultra-processed' food label
UPF labeling legislation now heads to Gov. Newsom's desk
-
SACRAMENTO - Today the California Legislature took a major step toward protecting public health by passing a first-of-its-kind bill to create a certified "non-ultra-processed" food label intended to make it easier for consumers to choose less-processed foods in the grocery store.
Assembly Bill 2244, authored by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- The Environmental Working Group issued the following news release on Aug. 28, 2026:
* * *
California lawmakers pass bill to create landmark 'non-ultra-processed' food label
UPF labeling legislation now heads to Gov. Newsom's desk
-
SACRAMENTO - Today the California Legislature took a major step toward protecting public health by passing a first-of-its-kind bill to create a certified "non-ultra-processed" food label intended to make it easier for consumers to choose less-processed foods in the grocery store.
Assembly Bill 2244, authored by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel(D-Encino), would develop a state certification program for products that are not ultra-processed, or UPF. If enacted, it would create a new standardized and government-backed seal for non-UPF foods.
It would also require some of the largest grocery stores to highlight these products in store so they're easier for shoppers to identify.
The Environmental Working Group is cosponsoring the bill, which now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk for his signature.
"Parents shouldn't need a Ph.D. in chemistry to understand what they're feeding their kids," said Gabriel.
"AB 2244 will empower consumers with clear, trustworthy information and make it easier for them to locate healthier foods that are free from harmful additives. This new seal doesn't limit consumer choice, it just makes informed choice possible," he added.
A new standard for healthier food
Under AB 2244, the state would create a standardized label bearing the phrase "Non-Ultraprocessed Certified." Products would not be permitted to carry the new label if they are classified as UPF under state law.
Some types of food, such as substances or additives used to manipulate taste and quality, would not qualify for the new label. These food chemicals, such as dyes, flavor enhancers, non-sugar sweeteners and processing aids, are used to make food hyperpalatable and irresistible.
AB 2244 builds on a precedent-setting earlier law by Gabriel. AB 1264 set the first U.S. legal definition of UPF and banned the worst UPF from K-12 public schools.
If Newson signs AB 2244, the California Department of Public Health would oversee approved agents' independent certification of products that meet the state's non-UPF standard and qualify to use the label.
AB 2244 would direct the department to accredit these third-party agents no later than June 1, 2029. It would also require product recertification at least every three years.
"This is about setting a higher bar for what we consider healthy food and helping consumers make wise choices," said Bernadette Del Chiaro, EWG senior vice president for California.
"Consumers deserve labels they can trust. And families deserve a simple way to tell which foods are closer to what comes from a kitchen rather than a factory."
"If enacted, the bill would establish a state-verified seal for foods free from the additives, emulsifiers, food dyes and flavors that have come to define the modern American diet," she added.
Transparency and accountability
The bill includes these strong oversight and transparency measures:
* Certification agents must register with the state and disclose all certified products
* The state can audit certification records at any time
* The state would maintain a public, online list of certified products
* Misuse of the label would be illegal and subject to enforcement
These provisions are designed to ensure the label's credibility.
Making healthier choices easier
In addition to creating the label, the bill would require large food retailers to display certified products carrying the label in a way that's easy for consumers to identify, such as through special signage or physical separation within the store.
This requirement would apply to any grocery store that sells more than 25 individual non-UPF-certified product types and brings in more than $10 million in annual sales.
Addressing the rise of UPF
UPF are industrially manufactured, chemically modified products often made with harmful additives to enhance taste, texture, appearance and shelf life.
In the U.S., these foods make up more than two-thirds of children's diets and more than half the typical adult diet.
Experts say ultra-processed food and drinks, particularly soda, are engineered to trick people into consuming more than they want.
Scientific research has linked diets high in UPF to serious health harms, including cancer, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, metabolic disorders such as Crohn's disease and fatty liver disease, and mental health issues.
Obesity is chief among the health problems linked to UPF. Rates of obesity in the U.S. and globally have skyrocketed in tandem with the rising UPF consumption.
Help for consumers
Despite these concerns, consumers have no clear, standard labeling system to help them identify UPF.
With federal regulators slow to update oversight of food additives and processing, states are increasingly taking action to protect public health.
AB 2244 builds on California's leadership in addressing harmful food chemicals and improving transparency for consumers.
"Because companies are not required to disclose an ingredient's purpose, it can be really difficult even for experts, even for people like me who have a doctoral degree in nutrition, to look at a food package and determine whether a food is ultra-processed or not," said Alyssa Moran, ScD, MPH.
Moran is deputy director of the Center for Food and Nutrition Policy at the University of Pennsylvania.
"And from a behavioral science perspective, we also know people seldom use information on the back of food packages to make food decisions. So that is exactly why clear, science-backed labels on the front of food packages can be so influential in helping people to make better choices," Moran said.
"If we want to meaningfully curb disease, we need a suite of complementary policies that limit the availability of ultra-processed foods, while promoting non-ultra-processed alternatives. I firmly believe this is the only way we'll make progress," she added.
Consumers can consult EWG's Food Scores database to find products that are less processed. Food Scores also flags unhealthy ultra-processed food and drinks and can help identify alternatives.
* * *
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news-release/2026/08/california-lawmakers-pass-bill-create-landmark-non-ultra
[Category: Environment]
Democracy Forward: Amid Reports of Mass Visa 'Pause,' Groups File Emergency Motion to Enforce Court Order Striking Down 75-Country Visa Ban
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- Democracy Forward, an organization that says it advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy and public education and regulatory engagement, issued the following news release:
* * *
Amid Reports of Mass Visa 'Pause,' Groups File Emergency Motion to Enforce Court Order Striking Down 75-Country Visa Ban
New York -- Immigrant families, workers, and legal assistance groups harmed by the Trump-Vance administration's 75-country ban on immigrant visas filed an emergency motion to enforce Friday's court order and judgment in CLINIC v. Rubio. The filing directly
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- Democracy Forward, an organization that says it advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy and public education and regulatory engagement, issued the following news release:
* * *
Amid Reports of Mass Visa 'Pause,' Groups File Emergency Motion to Enforce Court Order Striking Down 75-Country Visa Ban
New York -- Immigrant families, workers, and legal assistance groups harmed by the Trump-Vance administration's 75-country ban on immigrant visas filed an emergency motion to enforce Friday's court order and judgment in CLINIC v. Rubio. The filing directlyresponds to reports that the U.S. State Department ordered a global "pause" on immigrant visa appointments, citing a training program as the reason after the court issued its order. On August 21, 2026, a federal court struck down the Trump-Vance administration's blanket ban on immigrant visa processing for people from 75 countries and found the Secretary of State had no authority to "pause" or suspend visa processing.
"The August 21 ruling created an important path forward for families who have been waiting for their immigrant visa cases to move ahead," said Adriana Coppola, supervising attorney of emerging issues at CLINIC. "CLINIC's emergency motion is focused on ensuring that the court's decision is implemented in a way that allows those cases to proceed fairly, individually, and with respect for the dignity of each person and the importance of family reunification."
"The Administration cannot keep circumventing the legal system. This ban is unjust, and the court has agreed. We won't let the Administration continue separating families and targeting our communities. It must resume processing visas and follow the law," said Diana Konate, Deputy Executive Director, African Communities Together.
"The court's orders were crystal clear - the Trump-Vance administration's Visa Ban is unlawful and cannot be enforced," said Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward. "Yet the administration is egregiously and flagrantly ignoring a duly issued court order and enforcing unlawful policies that continue to inflict enormous harm on families and communities across the country. On behalf of our brave clients, we are asking the court to enforce its judgment and ensure that the government stops this abuse of power."
"Families who have waited for months to be reunited with their loved ones continue to be separated across oceans as a result of the government refusing to abide by the court's order and lift the blanket visa ban," said Efren C. Olivares, vice president of litigation & legal strategy at the National Immigration Law Center (NILC). "We continue to seek justice for our plaintiffs and have sought relief from the court to ensure the government complies with the order and judgment immediately."
"The court was clear: the State Department cannot simply stop processing immigrant visas because it chooses to. Yet days after that ruling, the administration appears to be doing exactly that under a different name," said Antionette Dozier, senior attorney, Western Center on Law & Poverty. "This blatant attempt to sidestep the law continues to keep families separated, disrupt lives, and leave people who have already endured months of uncertainty in limbo. A court order is not a suggestion. The administration must follow the law and resume processing these visas."
"This administration's seeming default is disorder and lawlessness, wherever that serves to hurt and exclude families of color," said Baher Azmy, legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights. "The executive branch shouldn't have to be forced, again, to follow the law, yet we need additional judicial intervention to protect those families the administration seems determined to punish."
"Legitimate global training programs are not rolled out in this manner," said Sarah Wilson, partner & federal immigration litigation practice leader at Colombo & Hurd. "We are optimistic that the court will see this for what it is: blatant noncompliance with a thoughtful and well-reasoned court order."
"The court's decision made clear that the ban is unlawful and that the processing of visas for the families and workers impacted directly by the ban should proceed," said Susan Welber, supervising attorney in the civil practice at The Legal Aid Society. "The Defendants' outrageous attempt to thwart the processing of such visas worldwide smacks of animus and pretext."
Plaintiffs include Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), African Communities Together, and individuals whose lives were upended by the ban. They are represented by Democracy Forward, The National Immigration Law Center, The Legal Aid Society, the Western Center on Law & Poverty, the Center for Constitutional Rights, and Colombo & Hurd.
The lawsuit argued that the U.S. Department of State imposed an unlawful, discriminatory, nationality-based barrier to legal immigration that strips families and working people of the process guaranteed by law. The Trump-Vance administration baselessly cited "public charge" risk as its stated justification for the ban, after relentlessly and cruelly smearing immigrant communities, particularly communities of color.
The case is CLINIC v. Rubio, and the legal team at Democracy Forward includes Erez Reuveni, Catherine Carroll and Elena Goldstein.
Read the filing here (https://democracyforward.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/ECF-86-Mem.-iso-Motion-to-Enforce-1.pdf).
* * *
Original text here: https://democracyforward.org/news/press-releases/amid-reports-of-mass-visa-pause-groups-file-emergency-motion-to-enforce-court-order-striking-down-75-country-visa-ban/
[Category: Political]
Americans for Tax Reform Issues Commentary: Mamdani's Pied-a-Terre Tax Hits a Wall
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- Americans for Tax Reform issued the following commentary by Sean Rowen:
* * *
Mamdani's Pied-a-Terre Tax Hits a Wall
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's new tax on second homes was sold as a way to squeeze more money out of the ultra-wealthy. Instead, thousands of New Yorkers have been forced to prove to the city that they actually live in their own homes.
The new pied-a-terre tax was approved as part of New York's state budget in May after being pushed by Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul. The annual surcharge targets New York City properties that are not used as primary
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- Americans for Tax Reform issued the following commentary by Sean Rowen:
* * *
Mamdani's Pied-a-Terre Tax Hits a Wall
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's new tax on second homes was sold as a way to squeeze more money out of the ultra-wealthy. Instead, thousands of New Yorkers have been forced to prove to the city that they actually live in their own homes.
The new pied-a-terre tax was approved as part of New York's state budget in May after being pushed by Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul. The annual surcharge targets New York City properties that are not used as primaryresidences.
For the first two years, one, two, and three family homes valued by the Department of Finance at more than $5 million can be subject to the tax, while condos and co-ops face a $1 million threshold.
The pied-a-terre tax is only one piece of Mamdani's broader tax agenda. He has pushed for higher income and property taxes and backed a 50% Death Tax that would reach New Yorkers with as little as $750,000 in assets. New Yorkers have seen this playbook before. As ATR previously documented, the state's "mansion tax" was sold as a tax on the wealthy, but its $1 million threshold was never indexed for inflation and now reaches ordinary homes across New York City.
The rollout has quickly become a mess.
In July, the Department of Finance mailed notices to roughly 17,000 property owners warning that their properties may be subject to the tax. That is thousands more than the roughly 10,000 properties officials initially estimated would ultimately be subject to it.
Many recipients say their properties are not second homes at all.
Rather than first making an individualized determination that each property was a non-primary residence, the city required homeowners who received notices to apply for an exemption and provide documentation showing the property was their primary residence. That approach is now at the center of the legal challenge.
A group of homeowners sued the city in State Supreme Court in Staten Island, arguing that the Department of Finance improperly shifted its responsibility for identifying pied-a-terre properties onto homeowners.
On August 10, Justice Wayne Ozzi issued a temporary restraining order blocking parts of the rollout. But the city appealed, triggering a stay, and an appellate judge subsequently allowed implementation to continue while the lawsuit proceeds.
The backlash has spread to City Hall as well. At an August 18 City Council hearing, members from both parties criticized the administration's handling of the tax. Council members came armed with 11 pages of questions, but Mamdani administration officials declined to appear in person, citing the pending litigation.
Mamdani spun this reckless tax as attacking the "wealthy." Its first weeks have instead produced 17,000 notices, thousands of exemption requests, more than 2,300 exemptions, and an ongoing lawsuit over the city's implementation.
New Yorkers already face one of the highest tax burdens in the country. Mamdani and Hochul added another tax to the pile, and now residents who may not even owe it are being forced to navigate a new bureaucracy just to prove it. Beyond the fiscal damage, publicly naming and sharing the addresses of New Yorkers targeted by the tax has created additional privacy and security concerns.
* * *
Original text here: https://atr.org/mamdanis-pied-a-terre-tax-hits-a-wall/
[Category: Political]
American Society for Horticultural Science: Two New Pothos Cultivars Expand Options for Indoor and Tropical Plant Production
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Aug. 29 (TNSjou) -- The American Society for Horticultural Science issued the following news release:
* * *
Two New Pothos Cultivars Expand Options for Indoor and Tropical Plant Production
Apopka, FL - University of Florida researchers have introduced twoTwo new cultivars of pothospothos (Epipremnum aureum), one of the world's most widely grown foliage plants. The selections provide contrasting foliage types for commercial growers, retailers, and houseplant consumers,.
The newly developed cultivars 'Snowy Stream' (UF-Ea-0310) and 'Green Isle' (UF-Ea-0314) were selected
... Show Full Article
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Aug. 29 (TNSjou) -- The American Society for Horticultural Science issued the following news release:
* * *
Two New Pothos Cultivars Expand Options for Indoor and Tropical Plant Production
Apopka, FL - University of Florida researchers have introduced twoTwo new cultivars of pothospothos (Epipremnum aureum), one of the world's most widely grown foliage plants. The selections provide contrasting foliage types for commercial growers, retailers, and houseplant consumers,.
The newly developed cultivars 'Snowy Stream' (UF-Ea-0310) and 'Green Isle' (UF-Ea-0314) were selectedfor their distinctive foliage characteristics and growth habits, adding diversity to the existing range of pothos varieties. Known for its adaptability and ease of care, pothos remains a staple in interiorscapes, retail plant markets, and residential environments. These new selections build on that reputation while introducing unique visual traits that can help differentiate products in a competitive marketplace.
In addition to their ornamental value, the cultivars were evaluated for growth performance and suitability under typical production and indoor conditions. Their consistent growth and resilience make them well-suited for greenhouse cultivation as well as low-maintenance indoor use.
This work is part of a long-term University of Florida program to develop ornamental foliage plants with distinctive, stable traits for commercial production environments.
Jianjun Chen is a professor, and Richard J. Henny is a professor emeritus at the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center in Apopka, Florida. Their research has contributed to ornamental plant breeding, biotechnology, and environmental physiology.
The full article can be found on the ASHS HortScience electronic journal website at: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18915-25
* * *
Established in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science is recognized around the world as one of the most respected and influential professional societies for horticultural scientists. ASHS is committed to promoting and encouraging national and international interest in scientific research and education in all branches of horticulture.
Comprised of thousands of members worldwide, ASHS represents a broad cross-section of the horticultural community -- scientists, educators, students, landscape and turf managers, government, extension agents and industry professionals. ASHS members focus on practices and problems in horticulture: breeding, propagation, production and management, harvesting, handling and storage, processing, marketing and use of horticultural plants and products. To learn more, visit ashs.org.
* * *
Original text here: https://ashs.org/news/733996/-Two-New-Pothos-Cultivars-Expand-Options-for-Indoor-and-Tropical-Plant-Production.htm
[Category: Agriculture]
A Better Wisconsin Together: MAGA Election Denier Joins MAGA Election Denier on Republican Ticket for Statewide Offices
MONONA, Wisconsin, Aug. 29 -- A Better Wisconsin Together, a state-based research and communications hub for progressives, posted the following news release:
* * *
MAGA Election Denier Joins MAGA Election Denier on Republican Ticket for Statewide Offices
Tiffany's efforts to overturn Donald Trump's 2020 election loss and Schroeder's remarkable election denial extremism presents a serious threat to the freedom to vote in Wisconsin.
-
MADISON, Wis. - Multiple MAGA election deniers will be topping the ticket for Wisconsin Republicans with Jay Schroeder as the GOP candidate for Secretary of State
... Show Full Article
MONONA, Wisconsin, Aug. 29 -- A Better Wisconsin Together, a state-based research and communications hub for progressives, posted the following news release:
* * *
MAGA Election Denier Joins MAGA Election Denier on Republican Ticket for Statewide Offices
Tiffany's efforts to overturn Donald Trump's 2020 election loss and Schroeder's remarkable election denial extremism presents a serious threat to the freedom to vote in Wisconsin.
-
MADISON, Wis. - Multiple MAGA election deniers will be topping the ticket for Wisconsin Republicans with Jay Schroeder as the GOP candidate for Secretary of Statejoining gubernatorial nominee Congressman Tom Tiffany. Tiffany's efforts to overturn Donald Trump's 2020 election loss and his support for January 6 insurrectionists mixed with Schroeder's remarkable election denial extremism presents a serious threat to the freedom to vote in Wisconsin.
"In 2021 Congressman Tiffany voted to toss out the votes of millions of Americans, and he was prepared to do the same to Wisconsinites, were it not for Congressional proceedings being interrupted by violent January 6 insurrectionsists," commented A Better Wisconsin Together spokesperson Mike Browne. "But Tiffany's election denial extremism has nothing on his fellow Republican Jay Schroeder."
Schroeder's agenda as a self-described "authentic MAGA activist" includes changing state law to give the Secretary of State power to run elections and eliminating the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission. Just a sampling of Schroeder's extreme election denial antics demonstrates what a danger he could be to Wisconsinites' freedom to vote:
* Schroeder called for Wisconsin's 2020 presidential electors to be "rescinded";
* In 2022, Schroeder claimed the secretary of state has power to prevent electoral college votes from being cast and said he would have refused to sign required paperwork related to the 2020 presidential electors, which "means they wouldn't have been awarded";
* Schroeder said as Secretary of State, he would conduct investigations and possibly "sting" operations akin to Harry Wait requesting other individuals' absentee ballots;
* On the campaign trail in 2022, Schroeder said that if he were Secretary of State in 2024, and the Secretary of State office held power to certify elections, he wouldn't recognize a Democratic winner for president if Trump lost unless there was "proof";
* Schroeder's election denial efforts earned him the endorsement of other notorious election deniers Michael Gableman and Mike Lindell in his failed 2022 campaign.
Schroeder doesn't stop at attacking our freedom to vote. He also maintains virulent opposition to reproductive freedom and access to abortion, and is supported by an extremist organization that wants to outlaw all abortions, with no exceptions ever, and ban most common forms of birth control.
* * *
A Better Wisconsin Together is a state-based research and communications hub for progressives and is an affiliate of ProgressNow.
* * *
Original text here: https://abetterwisconsin.org/maga-election-denier-joins-maga-election-denier-on-republican-ticket-for-statewide-offices/
[Category: Economics]
