AgClips
Recent AgClips
Wall Street, Seeking Big Tax Breaks, Sets Sights on Distressed Main Streets
The New York Times | Posted onFebruary 21, 2019 in Rural NewsDistressed America is Wall Street’s hottest new investment vehicle. Hedge funds, investment banks and money managers are trying to raise tens of billions of dollars this year for so-called opportunity funds, a creation of President Trump’s 2017 tax package meant to steer money to poor areas by offering potentially large tax breaks.Little noticed at first, the provision has unleashed a flurry of investment activity by wealthy families, some of Wall Street’s biggest investors and other investors who want to put money into projects ostensibly meant to help struggling Americans.
Trade war risks irreparably damaging U.S. dairy
Progressive Dairyman | Posted onFebruary 21, 2019 in Agriculture NewsMexico imports nearly a quarter of the U.S. dairy industry’s exports annually. It’s a critical $1.4 billion marketplace. And it’s one that President Trump continues to risk damaging permanently – and unnecessarily. Locked in a trade war since May, Mexican leaders are setting aside American business connections that took decades to build as our neighbors to the south find new sources of cheese, butter and other products.This should have changed in November when Trump declared success with his newly rechristened U.S.-Canada-Mexico Trade Agreement replacing NAFTA.
House Opens Inquiry Into Proposed U.S. Nuclear Venture in Saudi Arabia
The New York Times | Posted onFebruary 21, 2019 in Energy, Federal NewsTop Trump administration officials have pushed to build nuclear power plants throughout Saudi Arabia over the vigorous objections of White House lawyers who question the legality of the plan and the ethics of a venture that could enrich Trump allies, according to a new report by House Democrats. The report is the most detailed portrait to date of how senior White House figures — including Michael T.
US Dept. of Transportation cancels nearly $1 billion grant for California's high-speed rail project
CNN | Posted onFebruary 21, 2019 in Energy NewsThe US Department of Transportation announced Tuesday it is canceling $929 million in grant funds for California's high-speed rail system, escalating the Trump administration's efforts to regain all the federal money for the canceled rail project.If built, the high-speed rail system would have run from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
MnDOT: State should have 194k more electric vehicles in a decade
Minneapolis Public Radio | Posted onFebruary 21, 2019 in Energy, SARL Members and Alumni NewsMinnesota transit officials have a bold new goal for electric vehicles in the state: electrify 20 percent of all cars, SUVs and light-duty trucks in a decade.An effort to tackle climate change and move away from fossil fuels, the Minnesota Department of Transportation's proposal, released last week, calls for a 3,200 percent increase in the amount of electric vehicles by 2030.The electric vehicle target comes a month after a new state report shows that personal vehicles are among the largest greenhouse gas sources in Minnesota — emitting 23.3 million tons of carbon dioxide in 2016.
Puerto Rico solar customers score a win in fight over ‘abusive’ contracts
Energy News Network | Posted onFebruary 21, 2019 in Energy NewsThe 436 consumers who filed a complaint with the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (NEPR) against Sunnova Energy Corporation, a residential solar panel leasing company, were right. The NEPR recognized in a report the web of problems the complainants faced: the equipment did not provide the service or savings promised to consumers. They had put their signature on a tablet for an alleged credit check, but the company used the signature to stamp it on a contract that they had not been shown.
Forest Service still facing sexual misconduct problem
Federal News Network | Posted onFebruary 21, 2019 in Federal NewsThe U.S. Forest Service is still struggling to manage sexual misconduct challenges at the agency. The Agriculture Department’s inspector general said the Forest Service isn’t quickly acting on sexual misconduct and assault allegations and is not identifying applicants who have a history of sexual harassment. Three House committee chairmen said they want a special briefing from the IG and the Forest Service on the recent findings. They’re asking the IG to review USDA’s process for handling sexual assault and misconduct allegations.
Why your hospital bill is too high or too low
Daily Yonder | Posted onFebruary 21, 2019 in Rural NewsMedical billing systems drive up the cost of commercial health insurance. One way to ease that strain is to get more low-income people on Medicaid. Hospitals have to collect as much as it costs them to take care of their patients. That is hard for small hospitals, most of which are rural.
Go for the vacation, stay for the worker subsidy
Daily Yonder | Posted onFebruary 21, 2019 in Rural, SARL Members and Alumni NewsVermont is offering $10,000 to workers who move with their remote job to the state. It’s part of larger efforts in Northern New England to attract more young people. When measured by median age, the three Northern New England states (Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine) are the three oldest in the country.
Land Use Planning Tools to Reduce Wildfire Risk
Daily Yonder | Posted onFebruary 21, 2019 in Rural NewsTimber management on federal lands can be justified for valid reasons — protecting watersheds, conserving wildlife habitat, promoting overall forest health — but it rarely helps communities confront looming wildfire disasters. The best solutions: better land use planning and improved building designs. The President issued an executive order last month that instructs federal land managers to treat 8.45 million acres of land and cut 4.4 billion board feet of timber.