October 2008 - Online

Archived articles for
the week of
October 27 - October 31, 2008

Environmental:

Green investors confident despite financial storm

The current credit crisis affecting world financial markets is raising questions about companies being able to find enough capital to pursue their renewable energy projects. The recent drop in natural gas and crude oil prices is also threatening the allure of alternative fuels. As a result, the clean energy sector has seen its share prices fall dramatically over the last few weeks.

New state agency releases payments for wolf kills

Despite dwindling funds, a new state board charged with considering financial claims for livestock killed by wolves doled out $28,000 last week and approved an agreement allowing payments on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.

A Convenient Book About the Environment

Anyone concerned about the environment and seeking the best solutions for how to protect it will find The Really Inconvenient Truths, by Iain Murray, to be a valuable, fact-filled resource that is both informative and entertaining.

Debunking the “global warming” hoax
A Snowy Halloween

Some folks in my home state of New Jersey woke up to a blanket of snow the same week as Halloween. The state’s largest daily headlined the story as “October Surprise: Snowfall snarls traffic and cuts power to 62,000 homes.” In a swath of northern counties, snow fell as if it were mid-winter. Fourteen inches of snow fell at High Point State Park.

Wyoming proposes changes in its wolf plan

Wyoming is revising its gray wolf management plan in hopes of placating concerns about providing enough protection for the animals, but environmentalists said the changes are inadequate because wolves can still be shot on sight in most of the state.

Feeling cold, thinking hot

Treasurer Wayne Swan had to get out of his woollies yesterday before telling us the world really was warming - and we must pay. You see, just days before he stood in Canberra, waving a Treasury document he claimed would help stop us heating to hell, his own family had shivered through a day that should make him finally wonder if there really is any global warming.

Climate Change: Science and Policy

It's been an interesting couple of years in the climate policy arena. Al Gore and the IPCC won the Nobel Prize; Cap-and-trade legislation was floated and quickly killed in Congress; Europe's carbon-trading system has melted down; Post-Kyoto negotiations are in a shambles; China became the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter; the climate stopped warming and started cooling; and now we have an economic crisis that will make expensive climate policy risky and unpopular.

City firm to pay $2M environmental fine

A city shellac firm and its parent company have agreed to pay the second largest environmental fine in state history for alleged violations of anti-pollution laws. State Attorney General Martha Coakley today announced what she called a landmark settlement agreement with Mantrose-Haeuser Co. Inc. and Zinsser Co. Inc.

Second Planet Needed to Meet Natural-Resources Demand

That's what humans will need by the mid-2030s to keep up with our demand for metals, fossil fuels, timber and waste disposal, the environmental group WWF said in a global survey that found the United Arab Emirates to be the most wasteful country.

Today's Topic: Environment

At a glance, Barack Obama and John McCain appear to have similar positions on environmental issues. But environmental groups point to clear differences, especially on how far they are willing to go to reduce air pollution and regulate private industry.

Climate change facts among all the hot air

Hard facts on climate change and carbon trading have finally emerged from the fog of speculation, confusion and misinformation surrounding the issues and their implications for business.

Salmon study yields surprise result

Scientists tracking juvenile salmon migrating downstream to the Pacific were surprised to find just as many or more survived going over eight dams on the Northwest's Snake and Columbia Rivers as survived a major river in British Columbia without any dams at all.

Another Attempt For Delisting Gray Wolves

The Bush administration will once again try to take the gray wolf of the northern Rockies off the federal endangered species list. The proposal was first made in 2007 by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, but it was rejected in court this summer, after a legal battle with conservationists. It seems that the government will open a comment period on Tuesday that will last until November the 28th.

It’s Not Easy Being Green

Kermit the Frog poured his heart out when he sang, “It’s Not Easy Being Green.” I couldn’t have said it better myself. In fact, it’s quite costly to be green. But policymakers and environmentalists alike are purporting the ‘Green Revolution’ as the solution to both our financial woes and our environmental concerns.

Greenpeace fires away at coal

Dozens of Kansans gathered Sunday afternoon in front of the Lawrence Energy Center, run by Westar Energy, to bring attention to the dangers of coal. “Coal is one of the major emitters of greenhouse pollution,” said Suzanne Graham, the global warming field organizer for Greenpeace. “If we don’t get rid of coal or at least phase it out and move toward a renewable energy economy, we’re not going to stop global warming.”

Property Rights:

Shelton company fights zoning change

The city's proposal to rezone McCallum Enterprises' Shelton Canal property amounts to nothing more than an attempt to devalue the land and buy it cheap, the company's managing partner told the Planning and Zoning Commission.

City stops shy of taking pair’s land without telling them

Benton City Council members were about to vote on an ordinance that would have acquired a portion of a couple’s property through eminent domain when Jerrell and Brenda Page told the council they were caught unaware by the situation.

County decides to stop appeal of McMillan lawsuit

Hamilton County no longer plans to appeal a judge's verdict on an eminent domain lawsuit that would have added parking in downtown Noblesville and room for possible future development.

Skokie officials optimistic for eminent domain settlement

The owners of property occupied by a Dempster Street automobile shop were scheduled this week to have their day in court to fight the village's efforts to acquire the land for future redevelopment.

Reelfoot lawsuit dismissed
Co-owners of a Reelfoot Lake lodge have lost Round 1 in their federal lawsuit against state wildlife officials.

Natalie Hornbeak-Denton and her daughter, Ann Hornbeak, filed an action in U.S. District Court in Jackson against members of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission. They claim certain acts by state wildlife officials violated their civil rights as guaranteed by the First and 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

More Land Needed For West Corridor Light Rail
180 Property Owners Being Notified

Letters to 180 private property owners were being finalized and sent out Wednesday after the RTD Board gave the green light a day earlier for the next phase of FasTracks construction.

Water rights issue hinges on state constitutional change

Creating a state constitutional amendment that protects private property owners' use of ground and surface water on their land is the goal of Issue 3, a proposal with an unusual history. Issue 3 — one of the questions voters will face on Election Day — is an off-shoot of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact, legislation passed by eight Great Lakes states and Congress. Two Canadian provinces, Quebec and Ontario, also signed on. President Bush signed it into law Oct. 3.

Cities ask for more pull in planning of gas pipelines

Barnett Shale cities large and small have joined a mounting refrain asking the Texas Legislature for more authority in saying where natural gas transmission pipelines are built inside their corporate limits.

RTD seeks more land by eminent domain

RTD is about to notify 180 more property owners along the FasTracks West Corridor light-rail project that it needs some of their land - 306 parcels, to be exact.

Marshall County set to address property rights

The Marshall County Commission is expected to address a local group's recent flier calling for a repeal of the state's Limited Self-Governance Act at a November 20 work session. Chairman Douglas Fleming told the commission Monday the flier is "full of inaccuracies" that need to be addressed.

Eminent domain concerns residents

When the City Council discussed a 12-year extension of eminent domain powers for redevelopment in North Long Beach last month, residents who were afraid they would lose their homes went to the council meeting seeking answers.

Uptown Parking project stalls with P&Z denial

A stroll past Joan Shannon’s wood-paneled house and picket fence is something like walking down a “memory lane” timeline. Over the decades, the quaint Uptown homes in her neighborhood housed farmers, shop keepers, and the occasional movie star.

New regs would force landowners to clean up

Rural property owners who keep junk out in the open could be ordered to clean it up if it's deemed a safety hazard. With a new state law in hand, the Laramie County Commission is readying to vote on adopting nuisance regulations for county residents.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reverses itself on a Port of Arlington barge dock
Native Americans say the location is a tribal fishing site that is protected by an 1855 treaty

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has told the Port of Arlington it must remove a multimillion-dollar barge dock the corps allowed it to begin building on the Columbia River at what Native American tribes say is a treaty fishing site.

Are business signs next to face boulevard ban?

Regional council has proposed banning business signs from the public boulevard on regional roads. This is meant to reduce sign clutter some councillors consider unsightly and distracting.

Energy:

What the presidents said about energy

President Bush and the six presidents before him have all called for reductions in the country's reliance on foreign oil, some promising energy independence that has yet to be achieved.

Biofuel research project advances

Sustainable agriculture practices in the western San Joaquin Valley are advancing through a research partnership featuring a Fresno County grower and scientists from the USDA and California State University, Fresno.

Wind vs water power debate

As the world wrestles with the growing climate change dilemma, Ian Boydon examines whether South Lakeland’s contribution to renewable energy should be based on the power of its wind or its water.

Oil exec predicts gas price will stabilize at $3

Gas prices are likely to stabilize around $3 per gallon, the head of the nation's third largest oil company predicted. Jim Mulva, the chairman and chief executive of ConocoPhillips, on Wednesday said gas prices rose too much too fast over the summer and are now dropping too much. He told The Associated Press a $3 price would balance supply and demand, allow oil companies to fund further research and satisfy drivers weary of high prices.

Getting Your House and Car Ready for Winter

Winter officially starts in just a couple of months, but temperatures are dropping below freezing at night and we've already seen the first snow of the season. So it's about time we get our cars and houses prepared for the coming months before it's too late.

New Ford Hybrid System Expected To Deliver Class-Leading Fuel Economy, Improved Drivability

Ford’s next-generation hybrid propulsion system builds upon the proven success of the Escape and Mariner Hybrids, delivering class-leading fuel economy for the all-new 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan Hybrids that debut later this year.

Gas Prices Drop Slower Than Oil Prices

Oil prices have plummeted, which has given us relief at the pump, but it does not appear that the gas stations are dropping their prices at the same rate as the oil prices are dropping.

BLM Approves Arizona's First Large-Scale Wind Energy Project

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has signed a right-of-way permit and environmental documents approving Arizona's first wind energy development on public lands. Field manager Scott Cooke signed a finding of no significant impact and decision record for the Dry Lake Wind Project, which will be located in Navajo County. The area includes federal, state and private lands. BLM analyzed the impact to the entire project area and coordinated with numerous federal, state, tribal and local agencies prior to approving a right-of-way for the wind energy development.

Regulators plan Great Lakes offshore wind generation

Imagine sections of the Great Lakes dotted with rows of gleaming, 12-story turbines, blades whirring in the stiff breeze as they generate electricity for homes and businesses onshore.

Report: Energy efficiency key to housing affordability

Making low-income dwellings more energy efficient is a critical factor in housing affordability, according to a new report by the Metropolitan Housing Coalition. The Louisville nonprofit group’s 2008 report notes that the average Louisville gas bill has risen to $134.78 in August 2008 from $38.56 in August 1998.

Oil rises above $64 on world stock market rebound

Oil prices rose above $64 a barrel Tuesday as a rebound in world stock markets reassured investors shaken by fears of a world economic slowdown. Light, sweet crude for December delivery rose $1.03 to $64.25 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by midafternoon in Europe. The contract fell 93 cents to close at $63.22 overnight, the lowest settlement since May 29, 2007.

25 Money Saving Tips for Small Business

In the current economic climate, everyone is attempting to ‘tighten their belt’ and save money. For small businesses, it isn’t just a matter of lowering expenses, but actual survival. Although especially effective for small business, these money saving tips can be applied to any size business and some may even help you at home as well.

Energy-related costs finally easing up
Oil's decline starting to show in electricity rates, shipping fuel surcharges

Oil price declines showing up at gasoline pumps are also filtering into other energy-related bills, providing some much-needed relief for Hawai'i residents.

Private wind power, solar panel use grows
Coastal residents look to take advantage of alternative energy

Years ago, the only way to light the lamps in your home was by setting a small, oil-soaked wick ablaze. Then, there was the phalanx of plastic-coated power lines that ran currents of electricity into homes and businesses worldwide.

Crude falls to below $62 on demand concerns

Crude-oil futures fell Monday, briefly trading below $62 a barrel amid broad declines in global stock markets and commodities prices, as worries intensified that slower economic growth will reduce energy demand.

National:

GDP falls 0.3% in third quarter on dive in spending

The U.S. economy contracted at a 0.3% annualized rate in the third quarter, as consumer spending declined at the fastest rate in 28 years, the Commerce Department estimated Thursday.

Border fence threatens supporter's S. Texas home

Dorothy Irwin is one of the Border Patrol's staunchest local supporters and was a fan of the proposed border fence — until she found out it would run right through her house.

State test scores special report: Schools must pick up pace of gains

Standardized test results are on the rise in the Rock River Valley, but fewer districts are clearing the bar because achievement benchmarks set by the federal government continue to rise.

What the Rate Cut Means for Investors

After the latest move by the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates, investors may find it even harder to earn extra income off their savings.

McCain says states deserve more offshore oil money

Republican John McCain said he would boost the revenue Florida and other coastal states get from offshore drilling production, which he said would leave the decision on drilling to the states but give them an incentive to increase production.

Government Said to Be Discussing Plan to Aid Homeowners

Senior Bush administration officials are discussing a plan that could help up to three million homeowners struggling to pay their mortgages to stay in their homes, three people briefed on the proposal said Wednesday.

Fed May Cut Rate to 1%, Signal Steps to Save Economy

The Federal Reserve may lower its benchmark interest rate to 1 percent today and signal further reductions to levels unseen since Dwight Eisenhower was president.

Why Do GM and Chrysler Need Uncle Sam's Help?

Taxpayers are already being asked to bail out Detroit. Do they also have to play investment banker for a GM-Chrysler merger - as well as help out a private equity giant?

Consumers Less Tolerant of Recalls, Says Study
Packagers face public's growing concern over safety of products

The buying habits of consumers change dramatically and cost companies millions when product safety and quality issues arise, according to a new study released today by Deloitte. More than half of consumers responding (58 percent) who heard about product safety and/or quality problems changed their buying habits, according to the survey.

Fed weighs another rate reduction to limit fallout

Disappearing jobs, burrowing consumers and skittish companies are reasons for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates and brace the tottering economy. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and his colleagues open a two-day meeting Tuesday afternoon — their last before the November elections — to make a fresh assessment of economic and financial conditions and decide their next move on rates. Their decision will be announced Wednesday.

Early voting reaching record numbers, election officials say

State election officials said Monday that early voting already has reached record levels as the presidential campaign enters its final week. As of Monday, 30 states either are allowing voters to vote in person early or are accepting absentee ballots, and election officials are reporting record turnouts. Voting problems, ranging from computer glitches to long lines, have been reported in a few states.

Study: Prescription drugs cost more in poor areas

Four of the most widely prescribed drugs in the United States can cost 15 percent more, on average, in the poorest neighborhoods of Florida, according to a study published in the journal of Health Services Research.

U.S. Fed expected to ratchet down rates tomorrow

As the economic wreckage piles dangerously higher, the U.S. Federal Reserve is prepared to ratchet down interest rates — perhaps to their lowest point in more than four years — with the hope of relieving some of the pain felt by many Americans.

Key lawmaker says anxious for another stimulus

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, the powerful chairman of the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee, said on Monday he would will remain "very nervous" about the health of the nation's economy until Congress passes another stimulus package.

Signs point to record-breaking turnout in November elections

If early voting ballots and new voter registrations are good indicators of what the overall voter turnout will be for the upcoming election, the numbers may very well set an all-time high, officials said.

United Nations:

U.N. Secretary-General appoints new members to Advisory Group of the Central Emergency Response Fund

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of 16 members to the Advisory Group of the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), including four alternates. Seven of the 16 members have previously served on the Advisory Group. Their re-nomination helps to ensure the continuation of the institutional memory of the Advisory Group, one-third of which should rotate every year.

Chinese melamine scandal widens

The toxic chemical melamine is probably being routinely added to Chinese animal feed, state media has reported. Correspondents say the unusually frank reports in several news outlets are an admission that contamination could be widespread throughout the food chain.

Congo Gunmen Force Civilians From Camps, Burn Huts, U.N. Says

Gunmen in rebel-held territory in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are forcing civilians displaced by fighting to return to their villages, an official of the United Nations relief agency, UNHCR, said.

Cuba gets U.N. support again against U.S. embargo

For the 17th consecutive year, the United Nations General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly against the United States embargo on Cuba, condemning the blockade and demanding an immediate end to it.

U.N. secretary visits Nepal to support peace process

A spur to the peace process, and a call for political parties to reach a consensus in order to resolve the question of the former Maoist guerrillas, to be integrated into the national armed forces. These are the main objectives of the U.N. secretary general's official visit to Nepal, scheduled for October 31-November 1.

Survey: Economic Impacts of Immigration

International migration is a mighty force globally. According to United Nations statistics, over 175 million people, accounting for 3 percent of the world's population, live permanently outside their countries of birth. The paper surveys the economic impacts of immigration for host countries, mostly emphasizing the recent

U.N. scheme aims to use carbon credits to save forests

The United Nations hopes to include a market-based scheme aimed at using carbon credits to save rainforests as part of a broader pact to fight climate change.

Fears for all-out war in Congo

Congo is on the brink of a humanitarian emergency as rebel forces in the east of the country are threatening to overwhelm U.N. and government peacekeeping troops.

Eggs recalled, exports halted as China's food crisis worsens

Chinese retailers pulled eggs off shelves Wednesday and a supplier was ordered to stop exports, amid fears the toxic threat of the chemical melamine was far more widespread than first reported.

Cabinet agrees changes on security pact
Hundreds of Iraqi Christian families return home

Hundreds of Christian families who fled Iraq's northern city of Mosul in fear for their lives this month have returned home in the past few days, a senior Christian lawmaker said on Tuesday.

Nearly 1 billion people hungry worldwide, U.N. human rights expert says

Propelled by this year’s global food crisis, nearly one billion people worldwide are now hungry, an independent United Nations expert said today, urging the issue to be viewed through the lens of human rights.

Aid workers to evacuate Congo town, rebels advance

U.N. peacekeepers prepared on Tuesday to evacuate around 50 foreign aid workers from a town in eastern Congo, which Tutsi rebels are advancing on, officials said.

U.N. to Vote on U.S. Blockade of Cuba

The 17th consecutive vote of a resolution condemning the U.S. blockade of Cuba for almost 50 years is among U.N. activities this week. The document will put the matter to the 192 U.N. members for consideration on October 29, during a plenary session.

Tainted Eggs From China Discovered in Hong Kong

Hong Kong food inspectors have found eggs imported from northeast China to be contaminated with high levels of melamine, the toxic industrial additive at the heart of an adulteration scandal in Chinese milk products.

Protesters attack U.N. Congo office

Hundreds of protesters are reportedly attacking the U.N.'s headquarters in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. A U.N. spokeswoman said that cars were being damaged and windows shattered in the regional capital, Goma.

Commentary:

Obama's lessons from abroad
By Larry Pratt

Thanks to journalist Jerome Corsi, we now know for a fact that Democrat presidential candidate Barak Obama is joined at the hip with Kenya's Marxist thug Raila Odinga, now the country's Prime Minister.

Big Media Pull Out All Stops to Elect Obama
By Phyllis Schlafly

Big Media have pulled out all their stops in trying to elect Barack Obama by withholding from the American people the truth about his radical record and associates. Big media, their polls, and the presidential debates practically ignored front-burner issues important to millions of Americans.

Global Warming
By Martin Capdevila

Global Warming is not a fact, it is a fad, a religion of sorts, if you will, because our intellectual society has grown tired of religion and is in need of something else to believe in. We chose our planet. It’s really not a bad idea, considering the fact that we live and breathe our own filth, and wanting the air to be cleaner is a legitimate desire. However, when we dismiss those who don’t agree with us because of such sacrilege we are again discriminating and censoring voices that should be heard. Why?

Not Your Grandfather’s Democrats!
By J.B. Williams

There are only three types of Obama/Biden supporters and the evidence is now conclusive that none of them are your grandfather’s Democrats!

Mr. Obama: Personal responsibility, personal accountability
By Frosty Wooldridge

In a recent speech, Barack Obama said, “We need to share the wealth with everyone!” One of the infamous writers of the past, Karl Marx, said, “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.”

Fleeting Freedom: The Indecent Assault on Broadcasters
By Don Watkins

Federal Communications Commission v. Fox Television Stations

Bill Ayers's Scary Plans for Public Schools
By Phyllis Schlafly

Will William Ayers be Secretary of Education in a Barack Obama Administration? All parents should ponder that possibility before making their choice for President on November 4.

San Francisco: the Epicenter of Stupid Ideas
By Alan Caruba

In the 1980s I found myself traveling all over the United States in the employ of a corporation’s quarterly newsletter. I visited many cities and places, discovering the unfailing courtesy and good will of Americans everywhere I went. One of my favorite places was San Francisco. It is picturesque, sits beside a bay spanned by a marvel of engineering, and has great restaurants, hotels, and other attributes.

Senator Obama, Stand and Deliver!
By Frank Salvato

The recent ruling by the Hon. R. Barclay Surrick dismissing the lawsuit challenging Barack Obama’s citizenship, brought by former Deputy Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Democratic county chair Phillip Berg, presents the genesis of a Constitutional Crisis. While Barack Obama’s refusal to satisfy the citizens’ request to validate his citizenship illustrates his unbridled arrogance and that of his campaign and supporters, it also exposes the fact that politics, at the hands of political opportunists and ideologues, has usurped the legitimate execution of the supreme law of the land; the United States Constitution.

Our global Big Brother
By Henry Lamb

October 24 was U.N. day, celebrated by many as the birthday of the United Nations. In its 63 years of operation, it has spent untold billions of dollars in its quest to create global governance. Its goal is almost in its grasp. European leaders are pushing for a summit meeting with President Bush to create a new global "central bank" with the authority to control global monetary policy in much the same way U.S. monetary policy is controlled by the Federal Reserve.

Who’s Behind the Economic Collapse?
By Cliff Kincaid

Joe Biden made headlines by talking about a “generated crisis” for a President Obama. But is the current financial meltdown another “generated crisis?” Considering the problems in the economy, including too much federal debt, too much spending and easy credit, which have been with us for years, why did this crisis suddenly occur only six weeks before the election?

Free enterprise did not cause the market meltdown
By Tom DeWeese

I rarely watch the Sunday morning political shows like Meet the Press and This Week. What's the point? It's just a gabfest of the elite pouring out their version of reality, usually surrounding one lone conservative with a panel of liberals, calling it balanced. I've been in that situation too many times to know real facts rarely get through the posturing.

Our troubled country: Accelerating people exhaustion
By Frosty Wooldridge

Do you like what you see happening to the United States? Do you love that toxic blanket of air pollution covering our cities? Do you love our gridlocked cities? How about the cost of gas? Price of food rising? Are you thrilled with our medical costs? Bursting prisons? Financial meltdown? Do you feel the loss of a sense of America with competing languages and incompatible cultures injected into our society—at Warp Speed?

The man from Mombassa
By Alan Caruba

I have a friend who recently referred to Sen. Barack H. Obama as “the man from Mombassa.” It made me think of a line from the film, “Out of Africa," in which the main character has dammed a tributary to irrigate her coffee farm only to have it break through. Her African man servant explains to her, “This river, memsab, wants to go to Mombassa," perfectly capturing the futility of trying to alter its natural course.

A Man Is Known by the Company He Keeps
By Fred Gielow

A lot of pundits on the left say it's inappropriate to discuss Barack Obama's connection to Bill Ayers. After all, Barack was only eight when Ayers was plotting to blow up the Pentagon and U.S. Capital. That may be true, but doesn't it then mean the Democrat candidate had a lot of years to figure out Ayers was a terrorist, and an unapologetic terrorist at that?

Archived articles for
the week of
October 20 - October 24, 2008

Environmental:

New, Dangerous Greenhouse Gas Tied to Global Warming

A recent study finds that one chemical’s emissions are four times more common in the atmosphere than previously thought, and thousands of times more effective at trapping heat than Carbon Dioxide.

Prius: Not Good Enough

The Toyota Prius is the least-dirty car on the road that is sold by a major manufacturer and affordable to most people in the US (it has an MSRP of around $22,000 new), sporting a hybrid gasoline-electric powertrain and an EPA tested 48 miles-per-gallon (MPG) city and 45 MPG highway. While it is certainly a welcome advance in cleaner-car technology, it is not enough to solve the problem of climate change. Indeed, it wouldn't be even if everybody who drives now drove one.

Dupont and Honeywell Develop Refrigerant with Environmental Benefits

Dupont develops and plans to commercialise a new refrigerant for automotive air conditioning that offers lower global warming potential than hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) R-134a, which is usually used.

Scientists Deciding Which Endangered Species to Save

Earth may be in the midst of a sixth mass extinction event due to our impact on the planet, scientists have said, and the upshot could mean nearly 50 percent of all plant and animal species will disappear in the coming decades. Rather than try to save them all, biologists are now trying to figure out which species are most crucial.

Florida's global-warming goals look like expensive hot air

Florida has embarked on a noble mission to cool the globe and cut dependence on fossil fuels. But can we ask people in danger of losing their jobs and homes to pay for saving the world, even if that includes Miami Beach? Because the cost will be arriving in electric bills.

Climate change`s threat to water needs more study, says U.N.

Models to predict the impact of climate change on potable water and the management of wastewater are needed to deal with the expected increase in water-related illnesses as result of global warming, says a new policy brief by the United Nations University (UNU). 'We need greater investment in the development of models to aid decision-making, reduce uncertainty and augment costly monitoring programmes,' said Corinne Wallace, a leading water health researcher at UNU's International Network on Water, Environment and Health, and one of the authors of a new policy brief.

Financial meltdown defrocks deceit of man-made global warming

Frequently after a presentation someone will ask me the rhetorical question, “So, you are telling us the majority of scientists, the IPCC, and National Academies of Science are all wrong.” It is more than the usual consensus argument, which says you must be wrong because the majority disagrees. It implies it is not credible to believe so many people are deceived. The consensus argument is counteracted by the point that consensus is not a scientific fact.

Gray wolves return to the endangered species list

The North American gray wolf was relisted as an endangered species after U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service repealed last March’s delisting rule. Twelve conservation groups sued U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, saying the delisting was premature. They argued that there was too little genetic exchange between the three wolf recovery areas and that state management plans were not adequate to sustain a healthy wolf population.

Uganda: Global Economic Stumble Will Hurt Environment

News headlines of recession and possible collapse of major global economies continue to hit both print and electronic media

California energy policy will create jobs, lead to savings, study says

Three decades of emphasis on energy efficiency in California has created 1.5 million jobs and $45 billion in payroll, and measures to combat global warming will result in similar gains in the decade ahead, a UC-Berkeley researcher says in a report released today.

Crunch may put price tag on environment

The worst financial crisis since the 1930s may be a chance to put price tags on nature in a radical economic rethink to protect everything from coral reefs to rainforests, environmental experts say.

The Anti-Gore

Global warming skeptics have been longing for a figurehead to lead their charge since before Al Gore came out with his inconvenient documentary. Last month, several conservative groups in the United States hosted one of the few promising candidates – Vaclav Klaus, president of the Czech Republic.

Gore’s Dangerous Call for Environmental Civil Disobedience

Last month, in a speech before the Clinton Global Initiative, he called for young people to engage in "civil disobedience to prevent the construction of new coal plants that do not have carbon capture and sequestration." This was not the first time such calls came from the man who used to be the "next president of the United States."

Pipeline’s desire to expand to test state law

The pipelines’ owner, Alpharetta-based Colonial Pipeline, wants to lay down a third line to unclog the choke point between Baton Rouge, La., and Atlanta. To do that, the company needs another 25 feet of right-of-way, adding to the 75 feet it already has.

Group Says Tap Water May Be Safer Than Bottled Water

The Environmental Working Group has put out a new report which states that tap water may be safer than even bottled water.

Property Rights:

Final Fort Trumbull home demolished

The last home still-standing in the Fort Trumbull neighborhood was taken down today. More than one 100 homes once stood on the New London peninsula and now there are none. The battle over Fort Trumbull and the fight against eminent domain began nearly a decade ago when the city started taking homes to bring commercial development to the waterfront property.

Some Homeowners Unhappy With Buyout Offers
10 homeowners in Manchester/ McKnight buyout area will enter mediation with developer

A group of about 10 homeowners in the Manchester/McKnight Northwest Redevelopment area are unhappy with buyout offers from the developer, Hutkin Realty LLC. The homeowners and Hutkin will enter mediation next week to come to an agreement.

Lake Tahoe shorezone plan approved after 20 years in the making

After more than two decades of debate and more than eight hours of discussion by regulators on Wednesday, Lake Tahoe has a new set of rules regulating development of the area near its shoreline. By an 8-5 vote, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency's Governing Board approved Lake Tahoe's first comprehensive shorezone program since 1987.

Property owner installs gate to block access to Lincoln Heights neighborhood

Maria Freyre could not believe her eyes last week when she pulled onto the Lincoln Heights street where she has lived for 45 years. A neighbor had erected a steel gate across Forest Park Drive, blocking 18 residents' access to their homes.

Trails controversy deepens

A public hearing held Monday at the Saguache County Courthouse addressing the issue of trail use near the Baca Grande subdivision raised more questions than it answered, according to many attending the meeting.

Eminent domain would allow the expansion of fairgrounds

The last private property in an area the Iowa State Fair Board has identified for expansion may be purchased through the use of eminent domain. The board unanimously voted last week to proceed with a hearing that would allow the state to buy the property without the owner's consent. The commercial property, 243 E. 30th St., is owned by Clayton Enterprises LLC and houses several businesses.

Eminent domain: Court dismisses Grand Ridge condemnation case

Grand Ridge has lost a court case involving siting a water treatment facility. Chief Circuit Judge James A. Lanuti earlier this month dismissed the village's eminent domain suit against Joyce Jaegle Talty and Charles Talty, who own five acres of farmland bordering the village limits.

Eminent domain approved for Kibbe Road work
Lawyer for property owners says concept is 'shaky'

Improvements to the Highway 20 and Kibbe Road intersection that would create a private haul road for Teichert Aggregates Inc.'s Hallwood plant were approved despite an appellate court ruling that said the project does not comply with the California Environmental Quality Act.

Tough road to the mountains
In Oro Valley, some decry lack of trail access to Tortolita Mountains

Early last Friday morning, a group of Sun City Vistoso residents set out on a hike through Chalk Creek Wash in Oro Valley’s northern reaches. “This time of year we hike almost every day,” Vistoso Hiking Club member Paul Meier said.

Battle continues over beach rights

The 20-year fight goes on to determine whether Massachusetts residents can walk along the sea and sand of beaches as they have for generation upon generation.

ATV law passes in York County

After haggling over wording and hearing concerns from several residents, the York County Council unanimously passed a law late Monday that penalizes those who ride all-terrain vehicles on others’ land.

City to discuss medical-center plans

The city is bearing down on a decision to add a 25-acre medical center to El Paso's long-term strategic growth plan but the inclusion of eminent domain as a possible device for development could create a divide among members of City Council on Tuesday.

Runway blues

Over in Orange County, UNC-Chapel Hill is revving up to build a new airport, but even in the early stages of a long process the university is being buffeted by a strong propwash from the public. That's as it should be.

NPPD land case to court

An eminent domain case between Nebraska Public Power District and Galyn and Joan Johannes is scheduled to be heard at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, in Platte County Court. Platte County Court Judge Frank Skorupa will hear the case.

Eminent domain decision tonight

The City Council will vote tonight on the controversial topic of eminent domain and it promises to be a close vote as councilors decide how best to proceed.

Energy:

Alternative Heating Systems Can Cut Costs
Solar, Hybrid, Geothermal Reduce Use Of Fossil Fuels

Although oil prices have come down in recent days, the cost of heating a home is still higher than it was last year. Some residents are taking a look at alternative heat sources, including some old ideas, to heat their homes.

Nuclear Power May Be in Early Stages of a Revival

After three decades without starting a single new plant, the American nuclear power industry is getting ready to build again. When the industry first said several years ago that it would resume building plants, deep skepticism greeted the claim. Not since 1973 had anybody in the United States ordered a nuclear plant that was actually built, and the obstacles to a new generation of plants seemed daunting.

Crude tumbles to 17-month low despite OPEC cuts

Crude-oil futures tumbled Friday, at one point falling 7.4% to their lowest level in 17 months as a production cut by OPEC failed to ease concerns that the global economic slowdown is dampening demand.

New Energy Economy Is Emerging - Reports

A new energy economy is finally emerging in the United States, due to the rising price of fossil fuels, oil insecurity and concerns about climate change, according to a new report.

Perry: Texas needs to lead the charge on energy independence

Governor Rick Perry told energy experts that as a matter of foreign and economic policy, the nation must reduce its dependence on foreign oil by building a deeper, more diverse energy portfolio.

Electric-Car Company Seeks to Expand to Australia

Even as tumbling gas prices threaten to undermine consumer interest in alternative-fuel cars, Better Place, a California-based electric vehicle company, on Thursday said it aims to raise 1 billion Australian dollars ($668.5 million) to develop an electric-car network in Australia.

Shift to renewable power generation demands new approaches to transmission challenges

Significant progress is being made to prepare America's electrical grid for the integration of renewable and carbon-neutral generation sources. But a successful, large-scale shift to clean energy demands a bold and far-reaching commitment by utilities, regulators, and policymakers to provide infrastructure and new rules that enable power from often-remotely located clean resources to be delivered to consumers efficiently and economically.

Why are fuel bills still going up?

Oil prices are plunging and the wholesale price of gas and electricity in the U.K. is trending downwards – so why are our fuel bills still going up? The answer from the big energy companies – whose unpopularity has now only been eclipsed by the banks – is that it takes time before their lower costs feed into lower bills for consumers.

Canadian energy firm reports a major oil prospect in New Zealand

Canadian oil explorer Trans-Orient Petroleum Ltd. says it has found shale rock with the potential to contain billions of barrels of oil on New Zealand's East Coast.

U.S. gasoline under $3 for first time since Feb - govt

The average U.S. retail gasoline price dropped 23.7 cents over the last week to fall below $3 a gallon for the first time since mid February and is at the lowest level in almost a year, the Energy Department said Monday.

Hawaii outlines renewable energy goals

Hawaii is planning for a future filled with renewable energy, electric cars and stable power supplies as the islands strive to become energy independent.

World's key gas states to set up joint forum

Iran, Qatar and Russia - the three countries with the world's largest gas reserves - agreed on Tuesday to create a new forum for joint projects but stopped short of advocating an OPEC-style cartel.

SolarWorld Starts up Oregon-Based Solar Cell Plant

German-based alternative energy firm SolarWorld announced Friday that it has opened a solar cell-manufacturing facility in Hillsboro, Oregon.

Volatile economics hurt ethanol producers

The economic crisis in the United States has resonated in virtually every market, including the ethanol industry, interrupting several plant operations, forcing some to restructure their balance sheets and causing a few to completely shut down.

Venture capital investment in Austin drops 62%

Investments worth $1.2 billion in 96 deals made energy companies the third most attractive industry sector as clean technologies -- including alternative energy, pollution and recycling, power supplies and conservation -- have continued to grow in popularity.

National:

Deadline Won't Be Met for Mexico Border Fence

The United States will miss its deadline to complete a security fence along the Mexican border this year, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said on Thursday. "I don't think we're going to hit the nail on the head and be done by the end of the year," Chertoff told Reuters, adding that about 370 miles of the planned 670-mile fence had been completed.

U.S. Judge Orders Arizona Sheriff to Improve Jails

Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Ariz., who has built a national reputation with his get-tough tactics, and county health officials have violated the Constitution by depriving jail inmates of adequate medical screening and care, feeding them unhealthy food and housing them in unsanitary conditions, a federal judge has ruled.

Hispanic baby boom has Texas ramifications

Call it the Hispanic baby boom. Fertility has surpassed immigration as the primary factor in the United States' Latino population growth, according to a Pew Hispanic Center report released on Thursday.

Report: Kids less likely to graduate than parents

A new study says your child is less likely to graduate from high school than you were. And it finds that most states aren't doing much to hold schools accountable.

CDC: Childhood Food Allergies on the Rise in United States

New research from the Centers for Disease Control finds childhood food allergies up 18 percent in the past decade. "I see many more children with food allergies," said Dr. Paul Ehrlich of Beth Israel Medical Center.

Greenspan: 'Credit tsunami' means more U.S. job losses unavoidable

Former U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan warned that a "significant rise" in unemployment was unavoidable as the United States works its way through a massive financial crisis that will not ease up for many months. "We are in the midst of a once in a century credit tsunami," Greenspan said in prepared remarks before the Oversight Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Wal-Mart sets new rules for suppliers, starting in China

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. issued a series of environmental and product safety guidelines for its global suppliers Wednesday, starting with those in China, as part of its bid to be more environmentally responsible and to avoid any recalls or defective product returns.

More Illinois schools fail to meet No Child goals

New data released by the Illinois Board of Education Tuesday shows an increase in the number of Illinois schools and districts unable to meet No Child Left Behind targets.

The ACORN mess: Ensure proper registrations, then move on

From an ACORN, a mighty campaign furor can grow. And given the national track record of the Association for Community Organizations for Reform Now and the fuss it inevitably creates in election years, we're wondering why, at the very least, ACORN's efforts aren't more closely scrutinized than appears to be the case. Washington has done that, so why can't other states use us as a national model if the group is to continue voter registration drives?

Justices Take Case on Illegal Workers and Penalties for Identity Theft

Federal prosecutors pursuing illegal immigrants have a favorite tool: a 2004 law that imposes a mandatory two-year prison sentence on some people who commit identity fraud. The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to decide just how blunt that instrument is.

Fed unveils new plan to assist money market funds

The Federal Reserve has created a new facility to ease the stress in the short-term debt market. Under the new program, announced Tuesday, and called the Money Market Investor Funding Facility (MMIFF), the Fed will provide funds to a private-sector controlled effort to purchase assets from U.S. money market mutual funds

Deadline for U.S. Green Card Lottery is looming

Applications need to be in soon for the annual DV-2010 United States Green Card Lottery. Every year, 55,000 permanent resident American visas are granted to citizens of countries that have low U.S. immigration rates.

Good news in troubled times

Over this last week there have been some clear signs of hope, indications that some people are coming to grips with the depth of the changes we have to make to restore healthy ways of living.

Impact of oil price drop hard to predict

Speaking at the annual meeting of the American Petroleum Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona, Chevron CEO Dave O'Reilly said, "Prices always rise and fall. We don't set our plans on any certain price level."

Best Places To Reside In The United States During Economic Hardships

Layed-off or looking for a job due to the recession but don't know where to turn? A recent data crunch reveals the best places in America to live in terms of jobs and some of the best spots may just surprise you.

United Nations:

At U.N., Caribbean Lobbying, Banning of Questions, UNEP and Nairobi Financial Irregularities

Inner City Press

U.N. agency: 200,000 newly displaced in east Congo

Fighting in eastern Congo has driven some 200,000 from their homes during the last eight weeks, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis, the World Food Program said Friday.

Cuba-Russia Working to Expand Relations

Shortly after attending the consecration of the Our Lady of Kazan Russian Orthodox Church of Havana on Sunday, Vice President of the Russian Duma (parliament) Liubov Konstantinovna Sliska spoke briefly with the press to offer details about joint projects between his country and Cuba.

Mexico clamps down on illegal immigrants from Cuba

Mexico agreed to tighten immigration rules on Monday in an effort to cut off the main smuggling route for thousands of Cubans headed to the United States.

The New Constitution of Ecuador: Conclusion

The new Constitution of Ecuador is markedly socialist, environmentalist, nativist and politically correct. In the two previous parts of this series I talked about the fundamental principles and the new rights and institutions in this Constitution. Here I will go into the chapters dealing with economic regulations and international affairs.

Asian, European Leaders to Discuss Financial Crisis, Environment

Asian and European leaders are arriving in Beijing to discuss ways to deal with the global financial crisis. Europe wants support from China and other Asian giants on the crisis, as well as on climate change and sustainable development. Daniel Schearf reports from Beijing.

U.N. prescribes food safety recommendations in China

The United Nations launched here on Wednesday a paper on food safety in China, giving recommendations on where the country could focus its energy in making improvements in the food safety system.

Bolivia's president celebrates constitution win

President Evo Morales said he can "go to the cemetery happy" Tuesday after Congress approved holding a referendum on his new constitution empowering Bolivia's long-oppressed Indian majority.

Top U.N. envoy deplores recent attacks against Afghan civilians

The top United Nations envoy to Afghanistan has condemned recent attacks against civilians in the violence-wracked nation, including a suicide bombing on Monday that killed five children in Kunduz, the murder of a number of passengers on a bus in Kandahar and the killing of a foreign aid worker in the capital, Kabul.

U.N. calling for urgent review of biofuel policies

The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) is calling for an urgent review of worldwide biofuel policies and subsidies. Perceiving biofuels as both risk and opportunity, FAO now thinks an evaluation is necessary in order to preserve the goal of world food security, protect poor farmers, promote broad-based rural development and ensure environmental sustainability.

U.N. launches educational television channel for Iraqi children

Iraqi children who are unable to attend classes due to security concerns will now be able to continue their studies through distance learning thanks to a new educational television channel launched today by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Education Ministry.

NATO's Political Will to Defeat Taliban Is "Wavering"

NATO members are "wavering" in their political commitment to defeat the Taliban and the international effort in Afghanistan is disjointed, the alliance's top military commander said.

U.N. urges Central Asia to strengthen ties with rest of continent for greater security

“We are gathering here against the backdrop of a gloomy economic environment with pressing challenges in food and energy security, as well as the need for greater financial stability,” Under-Secretary-General Heyzer warned participants at the U.N. Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) meeting.

Nepal: U.N. conducts training to help give excluded groups a voice

The training, held together with the National Human Rights Commission, was conducted with organizations representing groups largely excluded from decision-making processes on how the State should address the consequences of the conflict, a process known as transitional justice.

A partial U.N. victory for Serbia

What do Albania, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru and Palau have in common with the United States? They were the only countries that supported the U.S. when the United Nations General Assembly voted this month on a Serbian-drafted resolution to seek an opinion from the International Court of Justice on the legality of Kosovo’s declaration of independence in February.

Commentary:

Global cooling? Yes...
By Anthony L. Hall

If you notice temperatures getting cooler sooner or more and more news reports about a phenomenon called “global cooling,” fear not, because this only indicates that Mother Nature has determined that it’s time for a change.

The terrorist attack of 2010
By Selwyn Duke

The date is November 9, 2010, and you turn on the radio to listen to the news over morning coffee. Economic times have been tough, and you’re not expecting much to uplift the soul. Yet, what you hear still makes your blood run cold.

Environmental Groups Exposed: ‘Every dollar spent has been aimed at helping Democrats’
By Marc Morano

Greenwire

Greenwire

Ruining America
By Alan Caruba

George Washington warned against “factions” by which he meant political parties, but even in the earliest days of the new republic, the most natural of human inclinations was to band together with like-minded people to elect one’s preferred candidate to office.

What world religions and leaders won't talk about
By Frosty Wooldridge

Ever wonder why millions upon millions of people flee to the United States for a better life? Every year? Have you thought about why the line of human misery worldwide grows by 77 million annually? What might cause a person to uproot from his or her home country for a perilous journey toward the United States? Or Europe? Or Australia? Or Canada?

Too Big to Fail?
By Ron Paul

In the midst of highly unpopular bailouts of Wall Street, many justifications have been given about why Washington feels the need to act. Some claim that capitalism and the free market are to blame, but we have not had capitalism. If you compare our financial capital to our aggregate debt, this would be obvious. In the same way, we have not had a truly free market. The monetary manipulations of the Federal Reserve, a complex tax code, the many “oversight” agencies and their mountains of regulations show that we are far removed from a free market economy.

The Attention Span of Fungus
By Alan Caruba

We call it “news” because, presumably, the news media is providing us with some “new” information about events in the world. If editors and reporters could not come up with something new to write about, your daily newspaper or television news program or channel would cease to exist.

The Hidden Costs of Voting Early
By Nancy Salvato

Voting early in the presidential election? Seems like a great idea to many Americans. For folks who have done their homework and believe themselves absolutely certain that their mind is made up about who they want to win an election, there is probably nothing to lose. For the person who reads all the information available regarding each of the candidates, even an October surprise will likely not come as a surprise. Rather, it will probably validate his or her existing beliefs about who should be our next president.

The open borders network: Illegal access to America
By Frosty Wooldridge

Ever wonder how millions of illegal aliens maintain their ability to remain inside the United States without fear of lawful deportation? How do they remain lawless while they enjoy impunity from our laws? How can so many organizations, that support illegals, thrive above the laws of our country?

Confirmation of Foolishness from the Mouths of Babes?
By Selwyn Duke

The most interesting presidential poll of all doesn't go by the name of Rasmussen, Zogby, or Gallup but, believe it or not, Nickelodeon. Every year the children's TV station has its young viewers weigh in on who they would choose for president, and they have picked the winner four of the last five presidential elections.

Al-Jazeera for Obama
By Cliff Kincaid

Colin Powell’s predicted and expected endorsement of Barack Obama was transformed into big news by the pro-Obama media. But Arab propaganda channel Al-Jazeera’s intervention in the U.S. presidential contest is also extremely significant. Al-Jazeera, a mouthpiece for enemies of the United States, aired a Moammar Gadhafi speech praising Obama and followed with a story depicting supporters of Sarah Palin as white racist Christians. The channel is subsidized by the oil-rich Sunni Muslim plutocracy/dictatorship in Qatar.

McCain's Prospects Depend on Telling Truth About Obama
By Phyllis Schlafly

The media are piling on against John McCain and some pundits are predicting it's all over, that Barack Obama has somehow won the election. As the old saying goes, it's not over until the fat lady sings, and it's high time for the fat lady to sing about Obama's scary agenda and the many reasons why it is too risky to elect him President.

Let’s Go Nuclear
By Alan Caruba

How do you know when a Green—hardcore environmentalist—is lying to you? When his lips are moving. Okay, it’s a cliché used in other cases as well, but it is especially true when the latest absurd claim comes flying at you courtesy of the mainstream media.

Is Obama a socialist?
By Henry Lamb

Socialism, according to Karl Marx, is the transition between capitalism and communism. To achieve communism, Marx says, there must be continuing revolution in which the fundamental principal is: The end justifies the means.

Bedtime Story
By Fred Gielow

Once upon a time there was a clutch of activists anxious to do good deeds. It wasn't fair, they asserted, for a segment of the population to go without individual home ownership, so they set about to rectify this grave social injustice.

Archived articles for
the week of
October 13 - October 17, 2008

Environmental:

Are Wolves Endangered?

The legal battles over the status of the grey wolf as an endangered species are continuing in the U.S. while at the same time a discussion is ongoing regarding the wolf species we are talking about.

E.U. Kyoto signatories on way to goals: environment agency

The 15 European Union countries that signed up to the 1997 Kyoto agreement on cutting greenhouse gases are collectively on track to meet their commitment, though individual performances vary, the European Environmental Agency said Thursday.

E.P.A. Toughens Standard on Lead Emissions; Change Is the First in 3 Decades

The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday set stringent new standards for airborne lead particles, following the recommendations of its science advisers and cutting the maximum allowable concentrations to a tenth of the previous standard. It was the first change in federal lead standards in three decades.

E.U. climate pact under pressure after veto threats

European Union leaders maintained Thursday the targets and timetable for their hard-fought climate change plans, amid growing pressure to tailor the package as the financial crisis bites.

Farms to suffer under bill

There's something reassuring about the farms we've worked so hard to preserve here in the nation's most densely populated state. Not only are the Garden State's farms beautiful to look at, but they produce fresh food and help fight global warming.As food prices rise and concerns about climate change deepen, preserved farmland becomes increasingly precious. Agricultural soils "sequester" carbon as they produce crops that feed the state. In turn, locally grown foods cost less - and leave a smaller carbon footprint - than produce shipped from distant places.

Oakland ranks ninth in state's cougar sightings

The great cougar debate is once again sweeping across Michigan as new sightings and attacks stoke the glowing embers of an age-old mystery surrounding the elusive cats, or, as cougar groups like to call them, the UFOs (unidentified furry objects).

The search for the Ivory-billed woodpecker goes on

The search teams covered lots of ground and tried new survey techniques. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service led the 2007-08 search effort with its partners from The Nature Conservancy, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Searchers documented more possible sightings and possible ivory-bill double knocks heard, but the definitive photograph, like the bird itself, remained elusive.

Final Environmental Assessment for Interagency Florida Panther Response Plan available

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced the availability of a final Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Interagency Florida Panther Response Plan.

Cold feet on climate change?

In March 2007, European leaders embarked on the most far-reaching and ambitious EU policy undertaken since the launch of the euro. They not only agreed on a 20% target for overall emissions reduction by 2020, but – crucially – binding targets for 20% of all energy to be sourced from renewables, and for 10% of transport fuels to come from biofuels.

Take the greenhouse gasbags with a grain of salt

Have you noticed how environmental campaigners almost inevitably say that not only is global warming happening and bad, but also that what we are seeing is even worse than expected?

Law Finally Cages Animal-Rights Guerillas

The scene is reminiscent of a B-list action flick: anonymous masked intruders sneak into some important building, scrawl crude handwritten threats demanding unrealistic accommodations and leave an incendiary device meant to detonate the next morning as employees walk in for their daily shifts, before fleeing into the night.

Let wolf leave endangered list

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should appeal last month's court decision placing the gray wolf back on the endangered species list in Wisconsin. The decision, which also affected Minnesota and Michigan, flies in the face of data showing the Wisconsin wolf population is greater than wildlife experts would prefer.

Property Rights:

ND zoning law changes sought

Scott Johannsen wants more of a say in decisions that affect him in Minot. Because he lives in an area under Minot’s two-mile extra-territorial jurisdiction, Johannsen has no alderman to represent him

Landowner, Broome vie for mineral rights
Foreclosed property may bring $60K payday

The story begins with Sarah Vroman, owner of about 25 acres in the Town of Sanford, fallen on hard times and unable to pay her taxes. After two years, her bill had reached $6,460. So, earlier this year, Broome County began foreclosure. Soon after, as the saying goes, the plot thickened.

Man faces surprise annexation

Saying he had no warning or letter of notification, Ted Arsenault claims he became a resident of Cedar City against his will. "A county employee showed up at my door at 10 minutes to 5 p.m. on October 7th to inform me he was picking up my county-owned trash can. I asked why. He showed me a pick-up slip with my name written on it that also stated I had been annexed from the county into Cedar City," Arsenault said. "I went to city hall. I was told by the city attorney that I was annexed because the land around me was annexed and that I had been annexed since August 13."

Oops! Warning siren pole drilled into private property – without permission

An indignant landowner and a furious Del Rio city councilwoman linked arms Tuesday night (Oct. 14), dressing down city staff responsible for improper placement of a 40-foot utility pole on the property of Donald R. Bynum and family.

City to study annexing land in valley

The city will study the economic impact of annexing privately owned land in the Eldorado Valley. Four of eight potentially affected property owners polled in August expressed interest in joining the city's borders if they are provided water and other utilities, City Manager Vicki Mayes said.

Hunters should seek access permission now

Big game hunting and trapping season is soon upon us and it is time for scouting habitat and securing permission for land access from private landowners. Too many sportsmen believe that the absence of posted signs means that there is an open invitation to hunt on private property. That practice has led to more newly posted land in southern Maine.

City offers $850,000 in response for land

The Rogers City Council unanimously approved making an $850,000 counteroffer to settle an ongoing eminent domain case that involves 5.12 acres near the intersection of New Hope Road and Interstate 540.

At the edge of a public fight for private property

The St. Paul Port Authority, tasked with bringing business into St. Paul, is kicking out a profitable, tax-paying, unsubsidized, woman-owned, 48-year-old family business. It is a company that pays its 43 employees — nearly half of whom are union members — an average wage of $24 per hour with full medical benefits. And it leases out the construction equipment that has helped build the Xcel Energy Center, restored the Cathedral of St. Paul, and is adding to Regions Hospital.

Vote 'yes' on Issue 3 to reaffirm property owners' water rights

As part of a deal to secure votes for passage of a multistate compact to prevent other parts of the country from siphoning away Great Lakes water, the Ohio legislature agreed to place on the ballot an issue to reaffirm the rights of land owners to water on their property.

Close eminent-domain loophole

In November 2006, more than 67 percent of North Dakota voters cast their ballots voted in favor of a constitutional measure that restricted the use of eminent domain to public purposes only.

Glynn eminent domain has hearing
Brunswick property owner appeals taking of his property to build jail

Four lawyers wrangled over the meaning of Georgia's property laws Monday during an appeal that will decide whether Glynn County can use eminent domain to take land to expand its downtown jail.

Landowners ask cities for help with trespassers

Keep off the grass. Private Property. Beware of Dog. Property owners use all kinds of signs to let potential trespassers know that the land they are on belongs to someone else, but signs like those aren't making much of a difference in part of Eagle Mountain.

Energy:

Colder Winter, Worsening Economic Conditions Point to Higher Natural Gas Costs

According to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) most recent projection of heating degree-days, the lower 48 states are forecast to be 2.4% colder this winter compared to last winter, so households heating primarily with natural gas are expected to spend an average of $155 (18%) more this winter, according to the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA).

New law calls for saving electricity

A bill signed by Governor Ed Rendell this week requires the commonwealth’s 11 electric utility companies to reduce power usage 1 percent a year by May 31, 2011. Within two years of that date, the reduction must be 3 percent, with 4.5 percent mandated for the 100 highest-usage hours of the year.

Oil falls below $79 on profit-taking, demand drop

Oil prices fell below $79 a barrel in choppy trading Tuesday as investors took profits from the previous day's rally and shifted their focus back to signs of dwindling world energy demand.

Retooled Approach May Make Bio-based Butanol More Competitive With Ethanol

A modified method of producing biobutanol could make the fuel more competitive with ethanol as a clean-burning alternative to gasoline. According to Agricultural Research Service (ARS) chemical engineer Nasib Qureshi, biobutanol offers several advantages. It can be transported in existing pipelines, it's less corrosive, it can be mixed with gasoline or used alone in internal combustion engines, and it packs more energy per gallon than ethanol.

New energy economy is emerging in the United States

As fossil fuel prices rise (irrespective of short-term fluctuations), as oil insecurity deepens, and as concerns about climate change cast a shadow over the future of coal, a new energy economy is emerging in the United States. The old energy economy, fueled by oil, coal, and natural gas, is being replaced by one powered by wind, solar, and geothermal energy.

Oil falls to 14-month low on bad U.S. economic data

Oil prices fell to a 14-month low Thursday as bad U.S. economic news stoked fears that a significant global economic slowdown will undermine demand for crude.

Options for replacing coal are few, costly
But new power-generating technologies making a dent

Efforts to curb greenhouse gases that cause global warming have sparked interest in new technologies, rejuvenated pleas for energy conservation, and resulted in development of co-generation projects in which steam from one industrial facility is captured and used to generate electricity at another.

Battle Heats Up Over Future Wind Farms In East County

Residents in the East County are sounding an environmental alert about future wind farms in their community. The battle is heating up over plans to build hundreds of wind turbines near Boulevard.

Natural gas pipelines face heavy opposition

A group of Yamhill County residents is fighting proposals that would send a natural gas pipeline through the county. Proponents say pipelines and corresponding terminals are needed to ensure that Oregon has an adequate supply of natural gas. In mid-September, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission conditionally approved 1 of the terminals and a 36.3-mile sendout pipeline.

Oil turns lower on weak demand outlook

Oil fell on Tuesday, reversing earlier gains as expectations of global recession and falling oil demand undermined earlier optimism following a bank bailout. U.S. crude fell 50 cents to $80.69 a barrel by 10:52 a.m. EDT, as concerns over the impact of the financial crisis on oil demand increased.

Energy-efficient home projects dot New Orleans

On a sliver of a demolished chunk of the Lower Ninth Ward is a cluster of modern homes being readied for the return of families. Here is cutting-edge design in an unlikely landscape.

Utah gov wants feds to move quickly on oil shale

The governor of one of three states that could benefit greatly from oil shale says the Interior Department should move quickly and write regulations for its development before a new administration takes over.

National:

Best Places To Reside In The United States During Economic Hardships

Layed-off or looking for a job due to the recession but don't know where to turn? A recent data crunch reveals the best places in America to live in terms of jobs and some of the best spots may just surprise you.

All Political Parties Aside ... Just Vote

Michael Lettera recently launched his very own "rock the vote" campaign. Three years ago, Lettera established Just Vote, a grassroots, non-partisan, get out the vote campaign and, earlier this year, he received logo/trademark status. According to the Westbury resident - the timing and need for Just Vote couldn't have come at a better time with the 2008 presidential election just weeks away.

Excerpts from draft U.S.-Iraqi security agreement

Excerpts from the draft U.S.-Iraqi security agreement meant to replace the U.N. mandate for American-led forces in Iraq, which expires on Dec. 31. The Associated Press obtained a copy and translated the material from Arabic.

The Rise of ‘Convenience Voting’

Election Day (November 4) is still a few weeks away, but millions of Americans have already voted as absentee or “early” voters. In certain states—including Virginia, Idaho, Iowa, and Georgia—early voting began in mid-September.

Inflation in U.S. Wanes; Consumer Prices Unchanged

The cost of living in the U.S. was unchanged in September, restrained by declines in fuel costs, automobile prices and airline fares that show the slowing economy is starting to cool inflation.

Social Security benefits taking big jump

Social Security benefits for 50 million people are expected to go up next year by the largest amount in more than a quarter-century.

Census shows more intergenerational homes

New numbers from the United States Census Bureau paint a picture of the American family in flux. We are seeing a dramatic increase in the number of households where parents are living with their adult children.

Bush emphasizes bank stakes would be temporary

U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday emphasized that the government's steps to take stakes in financial institutions were temporary and limited, and that eventually the U.S. economy would turn around.

Court orders Ohio to verify newly registered voters

A federal appeals court on Tuesday ordered Ohio's secretary of state to establish a system to verify hundreds of thousands of newly registered voters by Friday.

FCC Green-Lights Wireless Free Internet

The FCC moved a step closer toward free Internet access across the U.S. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin says a chunk of wireless spectrum should be reserved for free broadband for lower-income people. The FCC's lab tests have concluded that launching an advanced wireless service (AWS) wouldn't risk harmful interference for T-Mobile and others.

Investigation into Possible Voter Fraud

Local law enforcement is now launching an independent investigation into possible voter registration fraud in Cuyahoga County. The investigation was announced at a regularly scheduled Board of Elections meeting this morning where the practices of an community organizing group called ACORN were called into question.

U.S. to pump $250 billion into banks, markets rally

The United States ushered in a new era in banking on Tuesday with plans to take ownership stakes in major financial institutions totaling as much as $250 billion, an incursion into the private sector that was called a regrettable last resort.

United Nations:

Kosovo wants equal status at world court

Kosovo will ask for equal status with Serbia before the International Court of Justice as judges mull whether Pristina’s declaration of independence was in line with international law. “The requirement of the foreign ministry asks Kosovo to be accepted as an equal partner in the Court,” Kosovo’s deputy prime minister Hajredin Kuci declared after a government session.

Bioenergy could reverse poverty in West Africa, U.N. study

A new U.N.-backed report released yesterday says sustainable bioenergy is a weapon that can be used by West African nations to combat poverty. New study - a joint effort by U.N. Foundation (UNF), International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development and Energy and Security Group - examines bioenergy’s potential in eight nations of Economic and Monetary Union of West Africa (UEMOA), comprising Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo.

Second Canadian gas pipeline bombed

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are investigating the second bombing in a week that targeted a natural gas pipeline in northeastern British Columbia.

Former U.N. chief Annan warns hunger crisis as grave as credit crunch

Former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan warned on Thursday, World Food Day, that the global hunger crisis is as serious as the current financial crisis and must be tackled with the same urgency.

RP calls for progress in U.N. disarmament committee

The Philippines reiterated Thursday its call for progress in international disarmament efforts, especially in curbing the illicit flow of small arms and light weapons (SALWs). A statement on the Philippine mission to the United Nations website said the call came as the U.N. again tackles the issue during the 63rd Session of the General Assembly.

The New Constitution of Ecuador

The recently approved Constitution of Ecuador marks a departure from the tone and scope of the previous one. With "Let us leave the past behind" as its subtitle, it stresses the ancestral component of the Ecuadorian national identity, incorporating the collectivists values of sumak kawsay (Quechua for "the good life") and bringing the South American nation in line with its leftward-oriented neighbors.

Falklands: U.K. tells U.N. no sovereignty negotiations

The United Kingdom reiterated it has no doubts about sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and said that there could be no negotiation on the issue until and at such time as the people of the Islands so wished.

Mexico peso stocks tumble on U.S. recession worries

Mexico's peso weakened sharply on Wednesday and stocks tumbled after weak U.S. retail sales data reinforced concerns of a recession in the United States, Mexico's top trading partner.

U.N. inspectors back inside North Korea: U.S.

Inspectors from the U.N. nuclear watchdog are back in North Korea, resealing nuclear facilities after Washington took Pyongyang off its terrorism blacklist, the U.S. State Department said Tuesday.

Global Financial Crisis Puts Success of MDGs At Risk, U.N. Head Says

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday said he is concerned about the effects that the current global financial crisis will have on impoverished nations and efforts to meet the United Nations Millennium Development Goals - which include targets to curb the spread of diseases like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria - AFP/The International News reports.

NATO troops to retreat if Afghan civilians at risk

NATO has ordered its troops in Afghanistan to pull back from firefights with the Taliban rather than call in air strikes that might kill civilians, Afghan and NATO officials said on Tuesday.

WHO tells governments to focus on basic health care

Nearly 60 million women will give birth without any medical assistance this year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Tuesday in a report calling for an overhaul of how health care is financed and managed globally.

Commentary:

It’s Americanism vs. Socialism on November 4th
By Frank Salvato

At a recent campaign rally, along what is called “the rope line,” Senator Barack Obama was asked a question by a young prospective business owner about taxes and how Obama’s economic plan would affect him, his family and his business. Obama’s response – his unscripted, from the heart, authentic, no-spin, off-the-teleprompter response – was something that would have made Karl Marx proud. Make no mistake, “my friends,” this election is about Americanism vs. Socialism, and little else.

The Real Real Clear Politics Poll Average
By Selwyn Duke

CBS News/NY Times

McCain's Prospects Depend on Telling Truth About Obama
By Phyllis Schlafly

The media are piling on against John McCain and some pundits are predicting it's all over, that Barack Obama has somehow won the election. As the old saying goes, it's not over until the fat lady sings, and it's high time for the fat lady to sing about Obama's scary agenda and the many reasons why it is too risky to elect him President.

The IRS will be hiring
By Alan Caruba

If Barack Obama is elected, the Internal Revenue Service had better double its workforce because the amount of cheating on tax returns will rival Italy’s. The scariest thing about the final debate between the candidates is that both appear to be utterly oblivious to the way the Stock Market dropped 700 points on Wednesday after a brief rally the day before.

What if America opened its borders to unlimited immigration?
By Frosty Wooldridge

What if the U.S. opened its borders to unlimited immigration? What would it mean to inject 10 to 20 or 30 million people into America annually in order to save those millions from starvation and misery around the planet? Since they flood our country for a better life, what would it mean in the long run? How would our citi