SILVER SPRING, Maryland, Aug. 29 (TNSjou) -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued the following news: * * * An experimental NOAA tool that predicts hourly wildfire hazards across the U.S. The Hourly Wildfire Potential Index is the first wildfire behavior model that refreshes every hour. * Wildfire was once a seasonal concern primarily for the western United States and Great Plains. It has now become a year-round threat in many parts of the country, devastating communit  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Census Bureau issued the following working paper (No. CES-25-54) entitled "Differences in Disability Insurance Allowance Rates." The paper was written by Joshua Mitchell and Daniel Thompson. Here are excerpts: * * * Introduction In the aggregate, non-Hispanic (NH) White applicants to Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) are approved at higher rates than NH Black and Hispanic applicants. This pattern is persistent over time and holds for both ma  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Coast Guard issued the following news release: * * * Coast Guard investigates a report of unknown containers on and near Montague Island, Alaska * JUNEAU, Alaska - The Coast Guard is responding to a report of more than 100 containers with unknown contents on and near Montague Island. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Valdez received the initial report of the containers from Gulf of Alaska Keepers, a non-profit organization funded  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey issued the following news release: * * * USGS Unveils New National Geologic Map * "Geologic maps have many uses, such as helping experts look for energy, mineral and water resources," said Christopher Swezey, USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program coordinator. "They can also be used to assess earthquake risks and inform decisions about land use, infrastructure and community planning, and real estate  more