Coastal waters near heavy human development are more likely to receive land-based “pathogen pollution,” which can include viruses, bacteria and parasites, according to a recent study from the University of California, Davis. The study said higher levels of rainfall and development increase the risk of disease-causing organisms flowing to the ocean. [node:read-more:link]
If the biggest complaints you have about your job or workplace are the ancient computers, uncomfortable room temperature, or annoying coworkers, you've got it pretty good. In the US, thousands of people are injured or killed at work each year because of the dangerous nature of their jobs. According to a new report from jobs site CareerCast, "Some of the most vital careers to upholding and maintaining the very fabric of American society are also among the most dangerous." [node:read-more:link]
The private sector does not have a stellar record of timely technology deployment in rural America. Those of us who get our electricity from the Tennessee Valley Authority or a rural electric cooperative know that public, quasi-public, and private partnerships are essential. That path made telephone service much more accessible. Neither technology is universally available, but it is clear that without the government lending a hand, much of rural America would be off all the grids. [node:read-more:link]
Rural America continued to add jobs in July, according to figures just released by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. There are 124,000 more jobs in rural counties this July compared to July 2015, according to the BLS. The pace of job growth in rural America, however, was a fraction of that in metropolitan areas. While the number of jobs in rural counties increased by 4.8 percent in the past year, job growth in metropolitan counties was 13.3 percent – more than twice the rural rate. Metropolitan counties added 2.5 million jobs in the last year. This is a continuing story. [node:read-more:link]
“For the last couple of months, Benz has been asking for a ‘cow having a calf’ cake for his birthday. “We tried our best to persuade him, in fact I overheard Tyler say to Benz, ‘a Thomas the Train cake would be cool.. Would you like Mom to make one for your birthday?’. To which he replied, ‘I don't even watch Thomas the train’. We tried. “So there I sat, Google imaging "cow having a calf cake" and guess what, there were zero results, surprise, surprise! [node:read-more:link]
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin has declared a state of emergency in Pawnee County after a magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck northwest of Pawnee. The earthquake struck at 7:02 a.m. Saturday and was felt throughout the Midwestern United States, although no severe damage or serious injuries were reported. The quake ties a 2011 earthquake for the strongest earthquake in recorded state history. [node:read-more:link]
The Iowa Foundation for Microenterprise and Community Vitality (Iowa Microloan) has received a $99,000 USDA Rural Business Development Grant to develop a Rural Ventures Accelerator program in partnership with Ag Ventures Alliance, based in Mason City, and Iowa State University. The program seeks to develop a collaboration that provides targeted business and development with technical assistance to “assist strategic rural ventures and smaller rural communities that may not have the capacity and local networks that larger communities possess." [node:read-more:link]
Hamilton County Health Commissioner Tim Ingram explained that it takes hours for the body to metabolize carfentanil, which means that this drug is a longer-lasting high. When someone overdoses on the said drug, they are difficult to revive and save their lives. "We've been getting lots of reports that they're using two or three doses to get people to come back," says Ingram. He's trying to apply a stronger version of naloxone. Carfentanil is also referred to as synthetic opioid analgesic fentanyl. [node:read-more:link]
A powerful drug that's normally used to tranquilize elephants is being blamed for a record spike in drug overdoses in the Midwest. Officials in Ohio have declared a public health emergency, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says communities everywhere should be on alert for carfentanil. The synthetic opioid is 100 times more potent than fentanyl, the prescription painkiller that led to the death earlier this year of the pop star Prince. [node:read-more:link]
Washington state attorneys asked a judge to fine the Grocery Manufacturers Association $43.8 million for campaign finance violations, a penalty that the association’s lawyer said was intended to ruin the trade group. The penalty would be by far the largest ever levied in Washington for not reporting campaign activities. In the biggest penalty to date, the Washington Education Association settled a case in 2008 by paying $975,000. Assistant Attorney General Garth Ahearn said GMA’s actions were unprecedented. [node:read-more:link]
