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vaccine

West Coast States Issuing Joint Vaccine Guidelines As CDC And HHS Make Massive Changes And Cuts 

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California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii are releasing their own joining recommendations for who should receive Covid, flu, and RSV vaccines this fall. This decision was made to counteract the new vaccine guidance that will be coming from the Trump administration, which has also removed prominent scientists and health experts from the federal health department. 

The administration has also put individuals who are vaccine skeptics and critics in key roles throughout the department, leading to the four states wanting to take control. The recently terminated director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Susan Monarez, testified to Congress about her fear of health in the US under Robert F Kennedy Jr as the head of the Department of Health and Human Services. 

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“There’s a real risk that recommendations could be made restricting access to vaccines for children and others in need, without rigorous scientific review.”

The four states have formed what they are calling the West Coast Health Alliance. The Alliance is urging Americans to get this year’s Covid-19 vaccine if they are pregnant, aged 65 or older, are immunocompromised/have a range of risk factors, or are just choosing to keep themselves protected. 

They also stated that children from age 23 months to six should receive the vaccine as should older children and teenagers who have not been vaccinated or have risk factors. 

“These recommendations represent a collaborative effort, done with humility and based on science, to meet our responsibilities to our communities and the public at large,” Dr Kenneth Fink, the director of Hawai’i’s department of health, said in a statement.

The states’ recommendations go against the Trump administrations current vaccine guidelines for Covid-19. Kennedy is one of the most prominent vaccine skeptics in the US, and he announced back in May that the federal government no longer recommends pregnant people and children receive the Covid-19 vaccine. 

They announced the West Coast Health Alliance in early September after the White House forced Monarez out. Monarez often went up against Kennedy over the ways he was trying to reshape federal vaccine policies and contradicting long-standing scientific research. 

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The acting head of the CDC under Trump is a former speechwriter and investment executive with no actual medical or scientific background. California governor Gavin Newsom said that the state health officials who developed the new recommendations within the Alliance are “all medical doctors.”

According to reports, the recommendations are also based on official guidance from major health associations like the American Academy of Pediatrics. 

Kennedy got rid of existing members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in June. Even one Republican senator who’s also a medical doctor called this move concerning. Louisiana’s Bill Cassidy discussed the risk of rescinding the recommendation for an infant hepatitis B vaccine. 

Cassidy issued a statement calling for a “postponement of the ACIP meeting. If the meeting proceeds, any recommendations made should be rejected as lacking legitimacy given the seriousness of the allegations and the current turmoil in CDC leadership.”

In her congressional testimony, Monarez warned that Kennedy had told her that “the childhood vaccine schedule would be changing starting in September, and I needed to be on board with it.” She also discussed how she was fired after not pledging to “commit in advance to approving every ACIP recommendation, regardless of the scientific evidence.” She added that she also was terminated for resisting the removal of career public health officials that were responsible for vaccine policy without a legitimate cause. 

“If vaccine protections are weakened, preventable diseases will return,” Monarez testified.

wildfire

Thousands Under Evacuation Notice In California And Oregon Amid Intense Wildfires

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Thousands of homes and their residents in northern California and central Oregon entered evacuation orders as firefighting crews continue to battle wildfires in dry, hot weather. The Pickett fire has burned through more than 6,800 acres of Napa county, and was only 13% contained by Monday morning, according to the California department of forestry and fire protection (Cal Fire). 

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Around 150 people were ordered to leave their homes with another 360 under evacuation warnings. Reports show that the wildfires are threatening around 500 structures near Aetna Springs and Pope Valley, which is 80 miles north of San Francisco, according to Cal Fire spokesperson Jason Clay. 

In Oregon, the Flat fire in Deschutes and Jefferson counties has around 4,000 homes under various levels of evacuation notice, including 1,000 homes ordered to leave immediately, according to the state fire marshal’s office. 

Officials stated that firefighters were able to cut containment lines and suppress fires in some residential areas, however, they’re finding it difficult to combat the fires on more vulnerable terrains with low humidity and triple-digit temperatures. 

More than 1,230 firefighters with 10 helicopters are working to battle the California fire which initially began on Thursday last week after seven days of extremely hot temperatures. There is no known cause of the fire at the moment or where it began. 

Western US residents have been combating major heatwaves and an intense wildfire season. Residents have been hospitalized throughout California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona. 

When the heatwaves subside, officials say that the risks will continue as these areas have minimal moisture, increasing the danger for more fires in the coming month and into October. 

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In parts of Nevada, California, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and Wyoming, risks are also increased by vegetation that are dangerously dry and overgrown. 

The heat alone bakes moisture out of already dehydrated landscapes, increasing the potential for ignitions, rapid fire spread, and threats to public health. Extreme heat is often referred to as the “silent killer” and is the most lethal weather-related disaster in the US. 

Heatwaves throughout the US are getting longer, larger, and more intense due to climate change which is intensified by concrete city landscapes. 

The Pickett fire began in the same area as the Glass fire in 2020, which entered into Sonoma county and burned around 105 square miles and more than 1,500 structures. 

The Oregon fire is in a high desert climate where dried vegetation, grasses, and juniper trees are burning rapidly, causing the fire to spread throughout canyon areas “where it is challenging to create containment lines,” said Jason Carr, Deschuted county sheriff’s spokesman. 

The fire has been growing due to hot and gusty wind conditions. Fire officials are also looking out for isolated thunderstorms, specifically in southern Oregon which could travel north, according to state fire marshals spokesman Chris Schimmer.

“If we get thunderstorms that roll through, it can … cause the fire to jump [containment] lines,” said Carr.

Firefighters are keeping a close eye on the fires and working hard to combat them to prevent spreading.

Death Valley, California

Where Should You Go On Your Next Road Trip?

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In the United States, going on a road trip has been a traditional means of vacationing since the creation of the car. The ability to just get in your car, start driving, and eventually end up in a different state can be such an exhilarating experience, let alone much cheaper when compared to airfare and other means of traveling. So what are some of the best road trip destinations to hit in America?

First, the state of Washington in general is known for its vastly wide array of landscapes, hiking destinations and national parks, all perfect destinations to pass through or stop at on your road trip journey. More specifically, the North Cascades National Park, which is situated right next to the Washington Pass route that will take you between two iconic mountain ranges which will be your view for a majority of the trip. Additionally, the route itself will take you through a multitude of nature preserve sites that you can pull over and enjoy, such as the Liberty Bell Mountain, Early Winters Spires, and Kangaroo Ridge.

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Olympic National Park

Speaking of Washington National Parks, while you’re making your way through the state you should definitely stop at the Olympic National Park, which is arguably the most well-known park in the state, as it’s known for having a diverse range of natural environments to explore, including rainforest hiking trails, mountain territories, and coastal beaches; all of which are located within the park. One of the more popular beach destinations in the park is Rialto Beach, which is known for its massive driftwood “decorations” that are scattered among the shore. 

Moving outside of Washington, California is one of the most popular road trip destinations in America. However, why just make it the final stopping point? California is huge and has a whole slew of different cities, beaches, and nature preserves in general that can occupy an entire week of travel. State Highway 1 is known as “The Lost Coast” in California, and it takes over 650 miles of California coastline without any major access roads, hence its name. You can drive, hike, backpack, bike, and more along the entire trail and because of how huge it is, the possibilities for what you’ll witness while exploring the hidden roads are endless. 

Like the Olympic National Park, Joshua Tree National Park in California near the Barker Dam is one of the more famous road trip spots/getaway destinations for most who visit the golden state. The Dam provides a major source for fresh water in an otherwise extremely dry and arid environment. That fresh water will also draw the attention of many unique species, which can make for some pretty picturesque nature shots. 

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Death Valley

Death Valley National Park is on the cusp of California and Nevada and is known as America’s hottest and driest national park due to the fact that it has the lowest altitude when compared to every other park in the country. The desert environment itself isn’t your stereotypical vision of endless sand and cloudless skies, but instead holds a bunch of deep canyons, multicolored rock formations, multi-textured sand dunes for any sort of desert activity like hiking, riding an ATV or dune buggies, etc. and with a name like Death Valley, you’re sure to have an unforgettable time.

Finally, it’s appropriate to also mention Arizona in this list. Arizona is located in the perfect place for a road trip, as it has Utah, Nevada, California, and New Mexico on its border, as well as the very famous Grand Canyon National Park in its residence. Beyond that, Arizona also has a myriad of photogenic landscapes, such as the Horseshoe Bend, which is one of the most photographed locations in the United States. The bend itself is located within the Colorado River and is about 100 miles from the Grand Canyon itself. The Saguaro National Park also holds a certain claim to fame in Arizona, as it’s known for holding some of the nation’s largest cacti species within its vast landscape (some can grow to be over 50 feet). 

Regardless of where you want to go on your road trip, make sure you’re remaining present and taking in all the scenery that the open roads of America have to offer. Never be afraid of a spontaneous detour, and pack a camera only for the really special moments so you can spend your time savoring every second of your nomadic journey. 

Marijuana on table

Oregon Experiences A 420% Increase In Marijuana Sales

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“In things you cannot make up, Oregon sales per adult along the Idaho border are 420% the statewide average,” says Josh Lehner, an economist with the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis (OEA).

The Oregon-Idaho border has seen a 420% increase in marijuana sales and no, that’s not a joke. Recreational marijuana is legal in Oregon, but not Idaho, though experts at the OEA don’t believe that Idaho residents are the only ones contributing to the massive increase in sales. Lehner also stated in his report for the OEA that the border sales can also be attributed to individuals from any state coming in and purchasing marijuana legally, as well as Oregon residents themselves who purchase their marijuana from the border. 

While other state residents, and residents of Oregon itself, can be held responsible for the boost in the marijuana economy, Washington, another recreationally legal state, has seen an increase in sales along their border with Idaho as well. Lehner states that these Idaho border increases are a result of an economic pattern known as the “border effect.”

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Relatively self-explanatory, the “border effect” is a “phenomenon observed when neighboring jurisdictions have different rules, regulations or tax rates for one industry or product,” according to Lehner.  Obviously, Idaho shares a border with two legal states, making it one of the greatest modern examples of the border effect in current day markets. Idaho doesn’t even have legal medical marijuana, so it makes sense that the residents would use their neighboring states to make the purchases, even if it is a risky game. 

“About 75% of marijuana sales in Oregon and 35% of sales in Washington in counties along the borders with Idaho appear to be due to the border effect. Obviously recreational marijuana is not legal in Idaho, but even after throwing the data into a rough border tax model that accounts for incomes, number of retailers, tax rates and the like, there remains a huge border effect,” Lehner said.

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When comparing both Oregon and Washington border sales coming in from Idaho residents, reports show that Oregon has seen much more success (420%’s worth), which is most likely due to the fact that Oregon has less of a tax on marijuana. Washington also has much fewer dispensary retailers along their border, and they’re more centrally located within the state. Numerically speaking, Oregon sales are 16% more per capita compared to Washington. 

A 420% sales increase in itself seems already massively successful, however, that number is quickly expected to change, and not in the way you’d likely expect. Recreational marijuana sales in general are predicted to increase even more within the next coming years as more states loosen their strict policies, and more federal regulation begins to take place. 

In Oregon specifically, the OEA reports that they expect their sales to grow up to 80% at least within the next year as the economy begins to shift. The report’s projections claim the state will see an increase in overall household incomes for Oregon residents, a population increase (as expected every year), and a social shift as well in which marijuana will be deemed more socially acceptable as it rises in popularity and legality throughout the United States.

Impeachment 2

Anonymous Trump Administration Official’s “A Warning” Met with Criticism

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In 2018, the New York Times published an op-ed attributed only to an anonymous senior Trump Administration official, entitled “I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration,” which alleged the existence of a “steady state” of officials working around the president to prevent him from implementing his more disastrous policies. The article echoes the conspiracy theory of the “deep state,” a loosely organized network of unelected government officials working to implement a secret policy agenda, and implicitly argues that such an organization is a necessary evil in the event of a president who is deeply compromised and mentally unfit for office. 

The article was met with criticism, as the public criticized the official for failing to reveal his identity and remaining employed at an administration he or she is actively trying to undermine rather than resigning and going public with allegations. Nonetheless, this same anonymous official has released a book, entitled “A Warning,” to similarly mixed reception. Though the book comes only a little over a year after the release of the op-ed, this duration has felt like a lifetime in the political world, and the author goes to great lengths to expose the president’s deterioration during this time and describe how much worse things can get in the event of reelection. 

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The book chiefly explores the president’s unfitness for office, containing anecdotes like the presence of an informal guideline within the administration to keep presidential briefings to three main points, as the president lacked the attention span to absorb any more information than that. However, it goes on to refute the thesis of the op-ed written roughly a year ago. While the author previously claimed that the so-called “steady state” would prevent Trump from doing anything truly destructive to democracy, he or she now believes that the resistance within the administration has all but fallen apart, as the president has increasingly surrounded himself with sycophants and has taken an even more erratic and impulsive approach to decision making. The message of the book, ultimately, is that for the sake of preserving American democracy, the reelection of Donald Trump must be prevented, as the “steady state” will not last another five years.

While the fact that the author is a Trump administration official is not in dispute, the lack of further information about his or her character generates a credibility problem.

Just like the op-ed that preceded it, the book was met with serious criticism. One of the most common complaints about the book’s publication was that it didn’t reveal anything that people who pay attention to the news didn’t already know. The facts of the president’s thoughtless impulsiveness, lack of moral compass, and proclivity towards authoritarian instincts are not new. In fact, the Trump administration has arguably been the most transparent presidential administration in recent history, owing not to any intentional effort on the president’s part but to the continuing tendency of administration officials to anonymously leak government secrets to the press. While in ordinary circumstances it would be shocking to hear the president say things like, “These are just words. A bunch of words. It doesn’t mean anything,” in response to a written briefing, this type of behavior is sadly to be expected of the current occupant of the Oval Office.

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Another criticism levied against the book has to do with the author’s potential to make money. Books about Trump have frequently become best-sellers, and “A Warning” is no different, appearing at the top of Amazon’s Best Seller list immediately after its release. Despite accusations of the anonymous official profiting personally off of governmental dysfunction and chaos, however, lawyers for the author have said that much of the book’s proceeds will be donated to charitable organizations that support freedom of the press, with additional profits being put towards a potential legal defense fund.

A third criticism is that the author should have resigned and told his story publicly rather than hide behind anonymity. Because the author is anonymous, it is difficult or impossible for journalists to independently verify the book’s claims without accidentally outing the author, as the scenarios described in the book were witnessed by just a handful of people. While the fact that the author is a Trump administration official is not in dispute, the lack of further information about his or her character generates a credibility problem. Furthermore, critics allege that the publication of a book like this while the Trump administration is ongoing may have the effect of the administration purging government officials who are suspected of being the author, leading to an even further destruction of the “steady state” the author has insisted is necessary. The author has defended his or her anonymity, claiming that not revealing him or herself allows the focus to be placed squarely on the facts, and that it enables him or her to continue to attempt to resist the Trump administration from within.

Scientist

Scientists Make Progress in Developing Lithium-Metal Batteries

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As time progresses, nearly all of the components in the personal electronic devices available for purchase rapidly transform, as advancements in display, camera, and processor technology enable an ongoing improvement in the user experience. One exception to this rule, however, is their batteries — lithium-ion battery technology has remained basically unchanged for several years, as the technology seems to approach the limits of the density of energy storage. Batteries composed of different materials, including graphene and lithium-metal, offer promising developments in the size and capacity of batteries for mobile devices, but technology involving these materials has not yet progressed to the point of safety and commercial viability. However, scientists around the world are dedicated to discovering breakthroughs in the field of battery technology, and one such breakthrough may have begun recently at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Washington.

In this laboratory, scientists have pinpointed the cause of one of the greatest impediments to the development of lithium-metal batteries, which is the growth of microscopic needle-like structures within the material of the batteries, leading to short circuits, battery failure, and even fires. Though these structures can form in both lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries, they are much more prevalent in the latter type of battery, halting the widespread adoption of lithium-metal in battery-powered devices. While it’s too soon to assert that this research shows the commercial and practical viability of lithium-metal battery technology, the research represents a significant advancement in the field, as it provides scientists around the world with information that could help them refine and perfect the technology. 

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The scientists discovered the cause of the needle formation by taking advantage of two high-resolution microscopes, an atomic force microscope and an environmental transmission electron microscope, which they used together to observe the chemical reactions that produced the needles, also known as dendrites. With this technique, they found that dendrites begin when lithium ions started to gather, or “nucleate,” on the surface of the anode. (An anode is the positively charged electrode by which electrons leave a device.) The team compared the development of these dendrites to the growth of a stalagmite on the floor of a cave.

Instead of simply suppressing the growth of dendrites, the team wanted to find the root cause of their growth and eliminate it. As such, the scientists experimented with the mix of electrolytes in the batteries to determine which ingredients led to the development of dendrites. They found that one ingredient in particular, ethylene carbonate, directly correlates with dendrite and whisker growth, and found that adding some ingredients, like cyclohexanone, prevented their growth. While ethylene carbonate enhances battery performance and is currently considered an indispensable ingredient in lithium batteries, it also leaves the battery vulnerable to damage. As such, more research is necessary to determine what ingredients, if any, can replace ethylene carbonate in potential lithium-metal batteries of the future. That being said, these initial findings may very well clear the path for the development of lithium-metal batteries and their implementation in battery-operated devices generally.

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Although this research breathes life into the possibility of higher-capacity batteries in our devices, for the foreseeable future we will continue to rely on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for the vast majority of applications. However, lithium-ion technology has proven to be a tremendous advancement in energy-storage technology, so much so that the researchers responsible for pioneering these devices recently won a Nobel Prize. Though the products have been on the market since 1991, they have since “laid the foundation of a wireless, fossil-fuel-free society, and are of the greatest benefit to humankind,” according to the Nobel committee.