Podcasts about army corps

Photo courtesy Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc Canadian political leaders are condemning a white nationalist demonstration on Indigenous land in British Columbia as “despicable”. As Dan Karpenchuk reports, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are now investigating the incident. (Courtesy Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc) The group displayed a sign near a former Residential school that appeared to question the existence of children's remains. Their demonstration took place on land belonging to the Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc reserve near Kamloops. Police were called and members of the group, wearing masks, moved on through the city of Kamloops. Police officials say they take the matter seriously and are investigating. British Columbia is in the middle of a provincial election campaign and New Democratic party leader David Eby condemned the demonstration as disgusting. “This isn't who we are as British Columbians. And we have seen a rise in hate, we have a rise in this kind of white nationalist behaviour in the province. So we got to do more to fight it.” The province's Conservative party leader Lorne Doerkson also voiced is disapproval. “What happened yesterday, it was appalling and I hope that our law enforcement does everything they can, and everything that is available to them, to make sure that events like that do not happen in our province.” Prime Minister Mark Carney called the demonstration both cowardly and abhorrent adding that it had no place in this country. In a statement, Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc Chief Rosaenne Casimir said it was deeply concerning. She said the safety and well being of band members is a priority, adding that her people had a right to feel safe in their homes and in their community. According to the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, a white nationalist group called The Second Sons views violence as necessary and inevitable to defend their movement, attack opposition, and ethnically cleanse Canada. (Photo: Dean Swope / KYUK) The draft of a supplemental report for the possible environmental impact of Alaska’s proposed Donlin Gold Mine was released for public comment this week. A federal court judge last year required the mine project to reexamine some of those impacts, particularly a larger spill scenario. KYUK's Samantha Watson reports on its findings. The 2025 court order hinged on the possible environmental impact of the dam that would hold back waste from the proposed Donlin Gold mine project, called a tailings dam. Donlin Gold plans for the construction of a dam taller than the great pyramid of Giza, with capacity to contain millions of tons of production waste. It has been a focal point for regional opposition to the mine. Many locals have expressed fear about the possible contamination of the nearby land, communities, and the Kuskokwim River should that dam leak, or fail. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers examined potential environmental impacts of the project to inform the federal permitting process. The agency's 2018 environmental assessment of the project, which was used to permit the proposed mine. modeled a spill of just 0.5% of the tailings dam's contents. But Bethel's Orutsararmiut Native Council argued in federal court that the Army Corps should have considered the chance of a much larger spill. A federal judge agreed on that point. This week, a draft of that court-ordered report was released for public comment. It examines a spill of 27% of the dam's contents into the land and waterways surrounding the mine site on the middle Kuskokwim River. In that catastrophic scenario, the Army Corps’ draft report says a spill could devastate fish habitats and aquatic activity in Crooked Creek, a community about ten miles from the proposed mine site, for decades. Thousands of acres of wetlands and streams would be buried or eroded. A spill that large would expose the people in Crooked Creek to contaminants, potentially displace members of the community, or even kill people, the report says. Donlin Gold said in a written statement last Wednesday that it takes the report seriously. The company also maintains that “the supplemental review does not mean the risk of a tailings release has increased, nor does it represent a change to the proposed tailings storage facility design.” In a statement also released last Wednesday, the law firm Earthjustice, which represents tribal opposition to the proposed mine, said that the supplemental environmental review still falls short. They argue that 27% is still a small percentage of what could be released. They want to see modifications to the design of the tailings dam. The draft report now enters a 30-day comment period. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Wednesday, September 30, 2026 — The Menu: Blue corn children's book and a new Native pastry shop

THE EMN NEWS DAILY BRIEF | Tuesday, 29 September 2026Hawaii County has shifted from response to damage assessment after Hurricane Nolo and is asking residents and businesses to file damage reports through separate residential and commercial forms. Governor Josh Green has identified roughly $686 million in damage and recovery costs from the state's first four disasters of 2026, before Nolo, which was the season's seventh tropical cyclone. In the Northeast, Rhode Island Energy restored all 50,000 customers it lost in under 48 hours, and PSEG Long Island reported more than 128,000 cumulative outages, with more than 99 percent restored by late Monday. The nor'easter produced an 81-mile-per-hour gust at Montauk Point and 6.3 inches of rain in southeastern Massachusetts. The national preparedness level holds at 2 with 64 incidents and 5,697 personnel, down 306, while the Southern Area reported 63 new fires. CISA released nine industrial control system advisories last week. The EMN NEWS Daily Brief is your concise daily update on national and state-by-state emergency management news.KEY TAKEAWAYSHawaii assessment: Mayor Kimo Alameda said flooding remains the county's biggest concern, particularly in Kau, where roads closed after overnight rain. Naalehu, Waiohinu and Pahala took the brunt of the rain and wind, the same communities Hurricane Lala hit in August. The three shelters opened in Naalehu, Pahala and Ocean View held 10 people Sunday morning and have since closed.Hawaii water system: Department of Water Supply crews are assessing the system for damage and connecting backup generators, and will notify customers when normal use may resume. Customers may see low pressure or intermittent service while conditions stabilize. The essential-use request remains in effect.Kauai deadlines: Hurricane Lowell recovery continues, with the Koloa hurricane resource center open today and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Households that lost food to power outages may be eligible for replacement SNAP benefits. Real property tax exemption applications close tomorrow with no extensions. Owners of storm-damaged property have until June 30, 2027, to file for disaster tax relief.Get ready, Long Beach! Join emergency management professionals from across the country and around the world for the IAEM 74th Annual Conference & EMEX, November 9-11, 2026, and experience three incredible days of big ideas, new connections, innovation, and the people shaping the future of emergency management. We'll see you in Long Beach!Nor'easter restoration: Rhode Island Energy deployed more than 270 crew members and field personnel, responded to more than 270 vegetation-related outages and over 150 wires-down 911 calls, and replaced 20 broken poles. Scituate, South Kingstown, Cumberland and Coventry were hardest hit. PSEG Long Island ran 16-hour shifts against more than 1,000 downed trees and 530 large branches.Coastal damage: Long Island is assessing steep erosion at Gilgo Beach, where the Army Corps of Engineers was already mobilized for sand replenishment. The stairs to the surf at Smith Point Park were destroyed, part of the Jones Beach fishing pier was knocked down, and the Jones Beach theater took significant damage with water reaching the orchestra seats. In Lindenhurst, floodwater surrounded homes for three days. Measured coastal inundation in New York City topped 2.6 feet.Wildfire posture: Preparedness Level 2 with 64 incidents, 17 uncontained large fires, 1,681,161 acres and 5,697 personnel, a drop of 306, per the Monday situation report. Initial attack was light at 89 fires, with one new large incident and five complex teams committed. Year to date, the country is at 57,339 fires and 8,563,287 acres, 124 and 142 percent of the ten-year averages.Southern Area: Sixty-three new fires, the most of any region by a wide margin, and one new large incident. Rafter 4B southeast of Eldorado, Texas grew 850 acres to 2,100 and rose to 50 percent contained, adding 114 personnel. Grover Bend, southeast of Benjamin, Texas, is 320 acres and 60 percent contained.California: Dome in Yosemite National Park grew 475 acres to 5,081, holding at 30 percent contained with costs at $19.9 million. Timber on the Los Padres National Forest rose to 77 percent contained, with numerous structures still threatened. Command on Plaskett, at 99 percent contained, transfers back to the local unit today.Cyber: CISA released nine industrial control system advisories on September 22, ICSA-26-265-01 through 09. The set covers the lwIP TCP/IP stack, Siemens Siveillance Control, Desigo CC, Industrial Edge Management, and OpenPLC Runtime v3.Fire weather: Abundant moisture from Hurricane Polo moves into the Southwest with widespread showers, scattered thunderstorms and localized flooding. Dry conditions and below-normal temperatures return to California, the western Great Basin, the Northwest and the northern Rockies.For more, visit emnetwork.substack.com and share this with a friend.SOURCESWildfire, nationalNICC Incident Management Situation Report and Predictive Services discussion: Monday, Sept 28, 2026, 0730 MDT (live PDF, overwritten daily). Source for all fire figures, the Southern Area and California items.https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdfIMSR archivehttps://www.nifc.gov/nicc/incident-information/imsrHawaiiHawaii News Now: Hawaii County shifts to damage assessment, Mayor Alameda comments, shelter counts, Sept 27https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2026/09/27/hawaii-county-shifts-damage-assessment-hurricane-nolo-moves-away/Hawaii News Now: county asking residents and businesses to report storm damage, separate residential and commercial forms, Sept 29https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2026/09/29/hawaii-island-residents-businesses-urged-report-storm-damage-hurricane-nolo/Big Island Now: Department of Water Supply assessment and generators, shelter closures, Sept 28https://bigislandnow.com/2026/09/28/what-big-island-residents-need-to-know-wednesday-about-tropical-storm-nolo/Honolulu Star-Advertiser: Governor Green's $686 million accounting across the first four 2026 disasters, Sept 24https://www.staradvertiser.com/2026/09/24/hawaii-news/new-storm-threat-to-isles-projected-to-become-a-hurricane/Honolulu Star-Advertiser: federal assistance approved, Nolo as the season's seventh tropical cyclone, Sept 26https://www.staradvertiser.com/2026/09/26/hawaii-news/federal-assistance-approved-as-hurricane-nolo-nears-hawaii/The Garden Island: Kauai County Lowell recovery, resource center hours, SNAP replacement, tax deadlines, Sept 27https://www.thegardenisland.com/2026/09/27/hawaii-news/county-update-nolo-next/East CoastRhode Island Energy: restoration complete, crew counts, outage and pole figures, Sept 28https://news.pplweb.com/Rhode-Island-Energy-restores-power-to-all-customers-following-September-noreasterThe Watchers: PSEG Long Island cumulative outages and restoration, Montauk gust, southeastern Massachusetts rainfall, New York City inundation, storm position Monday, Sept 29https://watchers.news/2026/09/29/noreaster-exits-after-days-of-heavy-rain-and-coastal-flooding-across-u-s-northeast/CBS New York: Long Island damage assessment, Gilgo Beach erosion, Smith Point, Jones Beach and Lindenhurst, Sept 28https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/noreaster-long-island-south-shore-lindenhurst-flooding/ABC7 New York: PSEG Long Island crew shifts, downed trees and branches, Sept 27https://abc7ny.com/live-updates/developing-noreaster-threatens-jersey-shore-long-island-coastal-flooding-rough-surf-strong-winds-accuweather-alert/19861959/entry/19880585/CISACISA Releases Nine Industrial Control Systems Advisories: ICSA-26-265-01 through 09, Sept 22https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCISA/bulletins/42bfaa9CISA Adds One Known Exploited Vulnerability to Catalog: CVE-2026-7273, Sept 21; no later additions located in this sweephttps://www.cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2026/09/21/cisa-adds-one-known-exploited-vulnerability-catalog This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines:The Anchorage Police Department launched a program last week that aims to connect people to drug treatment instead of arresting them. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has opened a 45-day public comment period for the first proposed mine in the Ambler Mining District. And the State of Alaska is proposing changes to how nearly $40 million in federal disaster relief will reach communities still recovering from 2022's ex-Typhoon Merbok. Photo: Drilling at Trilogy Metals Inc.'s copper-rich Arctic Deposit in Alaska's Ambler Mining District. (Trilogy Metals)

Here's To Your Health with Joshua Lane with Joshua Lane Skyhorse Publishing's Censorship Fight and the Hidden Merck MMR Vaccine Report with Tony Lyons Joshua Lane talks with Skyhorse Publishing president Tony Lyons about publishing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s bestselling, heavily censored book on Anthony Fauci, then spends the second half of the hour walking through a former FDA commissioner's report on Merck's mumps vaccine and a new poll on shrinking MMR confidence. Joshua Lane Welcomes Tony Lyons Of Skyhorse Joshua Lane opens Here's To Your Health by welcoming Tony Lyons, president and publisher of Skyhorse Publishing, a house he says has placed more than one hundred titles on the New York Times bestseller list in roughly twenty years. Lane reads praise from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now Secretary of Health and Human Services, who calls Skyhorse's willingness to tackle tough issues "a critical cog in our democracy," and from Julian Lennon, son of John Lennon, who credits Lyons with giving his children's book series "the perfect home." Lane notes that Lyons is viewed as controversial in some quarters for publishing authors who question vaccination and mainstream health narratives, and asks what pushed him to found a company built around outsider voices. Lyons thanks Lane for having him on and settles in to explain his philosophy of publishing before the conversation turns to specific titles and the reaction they have drawn. Lyons On Publishing Dangerous, Disturbing Books Lyons tells Lane he was "born the kind of person who questions everything" and takes pride in publishing books other houses are afraid to touch. He argues books ought to be "dangerous and disturbing," designed to promote curiosity, skepticism and discomfort rather than simply confirm what readers already believe. Reading only to reinforce existing biases, he says, is like taking an Epsom salt bath, pleasant but pointless, while real reading should leave someone questioning their job, their habits or their whole way of living. Lyons says he feels sorry for critics who accuse Skyhorse of recklessness, arguing that publishers controlled by mainstream narratives are the ones failing readers by limiting freedom and progress. Lane, who says he regularly hosts Skyhorse's wellness authors, agrees the approach is fair and steers the conversation toward the company's biggest and most contested success, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s book about Anthony Fauci, asking Lyons directly how many copies it has sold. The Real Anthony Fauci And Its Censorship Lyons reports that The Real Anthony Fauci has sold 1.4 million copies and calls it likely the most censored book in modern history, describing how bookstores, libraries and websites refused to stock or sell it soon after release. He says Kennedy worked on the book seven days a week without pay, donating every royalty to Children's Health Defense, the nonprofit he founded, and argues that integrity built the broader movement around him despite relentless vilification in major newspapers and television. Lane adds context from Kennedy's earlier career founding Riverkeeper and cleaning up the Hudson River against General Motors, General Electric and the Army Corps of Engineers, noting Kennedy once earned praise from Time magazine. Lyons contrasts today's measles anxiety with the 1960s, when he says roughly 400 Americans died among twenty million measles cases and families held measles parties, arguing infectious disease deaths fell through sanitation and hospitals rather than vaccines alone. Kennedy's Broader Health Message And Sign-Off Lyons broadens his argument to the American health system, citing a claim from the British Medical Journal's editor that as much as forty percent of peer-reviewed science amounts to advertising for pharmaceutical products, and noting the United States spends three times more than other industrialized nations on healthcare while ranking near the bottom on outcomes. He recounts Kennedy pressing CNN anchor Dana Bash on air to produce the two hundred studies she cited proving vaccines and autism are unconnected, studies Lyons insists do not exist. He credits Kennedy's first twenty months in office with shifting public conversation on seed oils, beef tallow, ultra-processed food and the food pyramid. Lane closes the interview by referencing last week's guest, researcher William Parker, on Tylenol and autism risk, then thanks Lyons warmly for making time in a busy schedule before the two say goodbye and the show breaks for advertisements and a promo for another BBS program. Kessler Report Exposes Merck's Mumps Vaccine After the break, Lane returns alone to walk through a report from Dr. David Kessler, former FDA commissioner under both the George H. W. Bush and Clinton administrations, prepared for the Krahling v. Merck & Co. lawsuit and summarized by Children's Health Defense reporter Brenda Baletti. Lane reads Kessler's finding that Merck's MMR II mumps component lost potency before its labeled shelf life ended as early as 1998, and that rather than recalling doses, the company sought new testing methods and secretly overfilled vials with extra live virus starting in 1999 without safety or efficacy trials at the higher dose. Lane details how roughly twelve million low-potency doses reached the public regardless, how whistleblowers Stephen Krahling and a colleague identified in the transcript as Joan Wzkowski sued under the False Claims Act in 2010, and how a 2023 federal ruling dismissed the case on materiality grounds Lane says he finds hard to understand. New Poll Finds Cracks In MMR Trust In the final segment, Lane cites a new Reuters poll reported by Children's Health Defense scientist Brian Hooker showing confidence that the MMR vaccine is safe for children fell from 84 to 76 percent even as measles outbreaks made headlines in Pennsylvania, Utah and South Carolina. He notes only 19 percent of respondents approved of the administration's outbreak response, and that Senators Rand Paul and Ron Johnson stand out to him as the only lawmakers pressing the issue. Lane walks through VAERS figures showing over 95,000 adverse events and 500 deaths reported after MMR vaccination, the 2010 vaccine court award to the family of Hannah Poling, and President Trump's executive order shifting the eighteen-vaccine childhood schedule toward the eleven-vaccine European model and separating MMR into single shots. He closes by thanking listeners, inviting guest suggestions at joshlanewellness@gmail.com, and wishing everyone a healthy evening.

How does the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) decide what to build, where to build it, and how to reduce water resource risks to our local communities? It all starts with Civil Works Planning. In this episode of “Inside the Castle,” we sit down with three leaders who are fundamentally modernizing this process: Mr. Eric Bush (Chief of Planning and Policy, USACE Headquarters), Mr. Joe Redican (Deputy Chief of Planning and Policy, USACE HQ), and Ms. Susan Werning (Deputy Chief, Planning Community of Practice, USACE Headquarters). Listeners will hear about the historic rollout of the new “RAPID” planning framework—which stands for Risk-Informed, Aligned, Proportional, Iterative, and Decisive—and how it streamlines feasibility studies to deliver water resources solutions years faster. We also celebrate a major milestone as Mr. Bush prepares for his retirement this November, reflecting on a career dedicated to environmental restoration, public safety and sustainable economic development, and planning excellence. Whether you are a local community partner, an engineering professional, or a taxpayer interested in how infrastructure is designed, join us to discover how USACE is delivering at the speed of relevance.

Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Sep. 25, include: prime piece of Lincoln land could soon be sold to data center developer, Omaha leaders are asking parents and guardians of children under 12 to complete survey on affordable childcare and early childhood education, seven Lincoln-area legislative candidates shared views on state issues at forum this week, UNL unveiled new weather station as part of 35 new mesonets funded by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lincoln is taking part in Mayors' Monarch Pledge to create and protect monarch habitats, there are hundreds of Black women and children who go missing each year in Nebraska and new partnership hopes to better understand how to solve these missing people cases.

Ocean Power Technologies Acting CEO Tracy Pagliara and Jason Weed – Chief Operating Officer joined Steve Darling from Proactive to provide an update on the company's growing sales opportunities, defense-sector momentum, and expanding portfolio of autonomous maritime technologies. Pagliara revealed that Ocean Power Technologies' qualified sales pipeline has now exceeded $150 million, while its current backlog stands at approximately $20 million. She described the company as being on the verge of a significant growth phase as it works to convert existing opportunities into contracts and revenue. "We are on the verge of breaking out," Pagliara said, pointing to a growing number of large opportunities currently under evaluation. The company continues to focus on converting its backlog into revenue while simultaneously replenishing and expanding its pipeline through new customer engagements. A major contributor to that momentum has been OPT's participation in high-profile military and defense exercises. Weed highlighted the company's involvement in REPMUS 2026, one of NATO's largest maritime autonomous systems exercises, where Ocean Power Technologies worked directly with U.S. Navy and Marine Corps personnel. During the exercise, all three classes of the company's uncrewed surface vehicles—including its 8-foot, 16-foot, and 22-foot platforms—were successfully integrated into the Navy's common control architecture. The vessels were deployed across a range of operational scenarios, including mine countermeasure operations, intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance, and maritime security missions. Weed noted that the U.S. Navy conducted a formal evaluation of the platforms during the exercise, providing an important opportunity for the company to demonstrate the interoperability and operational effectiveness of its systems in a real-world multinational environment. Beyond NATO operations, Ocean Power Technologies recently completed another significant government evaluation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the agency's Field Research Facility in Duck, North Carolina. The three-day assessment tested the company's autonomous surface vehicles and sensor technologies in challenging surf-zone environments characterized by breaking waves, currents, and difficult coastal conditions. Weed said the demonstration followed extensive preparation and testing activities conducted off the California coast before deployment to the East Coast evaluation site. The Army Corps assessment focused on capabilities such as bathymetric mapping, submerged hazard detection, and coastal monitoring—applications that are increasingly important for both civil infrastructure projects and military operations. In addition to its growing maritime drone business, Pagliara highlighted continued opportunities for the company's PowerBuoy platform. Earlier this year, Ocean Power Technologies secured a contract with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that resulted in the deployment of four PowerBuoys supporting U.S. Coast Guard operations. #proactiveinvestors #oceanpowertechnologiesinc #nyseamerican #optt #DefenseTech #MaritimeTechnology #NATO #USNavy #AutonomousSystems #USVs #MilitaryTechnology #CoastGuard #PowerBuoy #OceanTech #ISR #NationalSecurity #SteveDarling

In this episode of the PBE podcast, host Troy Tittlemier sits down with Tamer Ali at IMAGE 2026 to explore the cutting edge of geology, geophysics, and AI integration. Tamer shares his incredible journey from growing up on a farm in the Nile Delta to processing seismic data across six countries, and eventually earning degrees from the Colorado School of Mines and LSU. The conversation dives into Tamer's groundbreaking PhD dissertation, which uses a novel AI hybrid model—combining generalized additive models (GAM) and k-means clustering—to quantitatively integrate geophysical and geological data. By predicting grain size and permeability in shallow, unconsolidated sediments, Tamer's work precisely locates dangerous water seepage beneath structures like the LSU Veterinary School of Medicine. This localized, quantitative approach could save tens of millions of dollars annually in levee restoration and prevent catastrophic infrastructure failures across the Lower Mississippi Valley. Episode Highlights: The Elevator Pitch: An introduction to Tamer's extensive academic background and his focus on quantitative data integration using AI. Roots in the Nile Delta: Tamer discusses his Egyptian heritage, farming background, and how a geologist uncle sparked his early love for earth sciences. The Industry Grind: Balancing a full-time 3D seismic processing career at WesternGeco with a grueling daily commute to earn a master's degree at Colorado School of Mines. Quantitative vs. Qualitative: The shift from subjective visual inspections to writing robust Python and R code to build a new hybrid AI model. The LSU Vet School Project: Securing an AAPG grant and Army Corps permits to investigate uneven stress and water seepage beneath the university building. K-Means Clustering for Civil Engineering: Applying five distinct data properties to accurately classify subsurface facies from zero to 90 feet. Saving Millions & Preventing Disasters: How Tamer's precise seepage detection can prevent future tragedies like Hurricane Katrina and save an estimated $50 million a year. The Future of Petrophysics: Tamer's next chapter pursuing the only specialized petrophysics master's degree in the United States at Texas A&M-Kingsville.

An Alaska Native corporation’s proposed mining project near Lake Clark National Park is drawing opposition over potential impacts to fish, wildlife, and nearby ecosystems, as Mark Moran reports. Conservation activists are pushing back on a proposed gold mine in Alaska’s interior that threatens wildlife habitat, sensitive ecosystems, and a crucial sector of the state’s economy in the Lake Clark National Park. Contango Silver and Gold, Inc. says the company will create jobs while remaining sensitive to the environment while creating jobs. Contango is working with Alaska Native-owned Cook Inlet Region Incorporated to establish the mine at the headwaters of the Johnson River, a prime spot for commercial and sport fishing, bear watching, salmon runs, and eco-tourism. Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship President David Jenkins contends that the environmental risk is not worth the economic reward, especially when the bulk of the profit from the mine flows to out-of-state investors, including asset management companies like Blackrock and Vanguard. “Why would you risk a 100% Alaskan economic engine that’s sustainable and just keeps providing benefits year after year for something that’s temporary, and most of the economic benefit is likely to go elsewhere outside of the state of Alaska?” (Courtesy Contago) Contango counters that the mine will create 175 jobs for the first three years of the project, but that number will dwindle after peak mine production. Jenkins argues that relatively small job creation is shortsighted, given the thousands of jobs and billions of dollars created by eco-tourism in the area – what Jenkins calls a “stark economic contrast.” Cook Inlet Region Incorporated was granted rights to the 21,000-acre Johnson Tract within the Lake Clark National Park in the 1970s as part of a land agreement. Some members of the Indigenous community contend they would benefit from the project, but Jenkins says short-term profit cannot outweigh the unbalanced economic factors or the scar that Contango would inflict on the Alaska Interior’s ecosystem. “These places are pristine. They’re rare things. You just don’t find that in the Lower 48. You don’t even find it in a lot of places around the world. The biological diversity and abundance is just stunning.” Environmental groups and the Chickaloon Tribal council have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over alleged Clean Water Act violations by granting a permit for the Johnson Tract project, which is still in the permitting process, but scheduled for completion in the spring of 2028. Disclosure: CIRI provides support to Koahnic Broadcast Corporation, the parent company of National Native News. Preserving Diné language and customs is essential, especially for urban Navajos living off-reservation in places like Phoenix, Arizona. And a local Navajo blogger is launching her latest project – a colorful, hand-drawn children's cookbook. KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio has more. “Shimá likes to write down Shimásání's recipes so they can be passed on to our young family members.” Alana Yazzie recites a few lines from her new book, “Blue Corn Kitchen”. “When you're writing a children's cookbook like this, there's not as much text, and so I think that was the hardest part, like condensing it so much into a short story, but still having my main points come across.” Like the magic of cooking with family, a timeless message Yazzie tried to convey through words and pictures, even by sketching the characters to resemble her own mother and daughter. “There's these little like corn wafts of sparkly, glittery cornmeal going throughout the book. And it's just so beautiful – like you want to eat it, you want to make it.” Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Tuesday, September 22, 2026 — PBS documentary ‘Knowledge Keepers' explores Native scientific innovations

California agriculture faces a long list of challenges, and few are more important than water. On the latest AgNet News Hour, “The Ag Meter” Nick Papagni sits down with John Duarte of Duarte Nurseries for a wide-ranging conversation about California water, agriculture, rural communities, environmental policy, farmland and the future of the state's farming industry. Duarte and Papagni begin with the recent water forum hosted by Congressman Tom McClintock in Turlock, where federal and agricultural leaders discussed ways to improve California's water supply. Duarte highlights efforts to broaden the Army Corps of Engineers' focus beyond flood control to include water supply, along with proposals involving Delta dredging and better coordination among state and federal agencies. The conversation also examines water quality concerns in Central Valley communities. Duarte argues that limited surface-water deliveries have increased reliance on groundwater in some areas and raises concerns about contaminants and health issues affecting vulnerable communities. He says California needs a strategy that provides abundant surface water for both farms and communities. Another major topic is Proposition 1 and California's investment in water infrastructure. Duarte questions how water-bond funding has been utilized and argues that more resources should be directed toward projects providing water for human, agricultural and industrial needs. The discussion then turns to farmland and agricultural education. Duarte and Papagni discuss concerns surrounding proposed development involving farmland at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, emphasizing the educational value of university farm properties. Duarte shares how his family and Duarte Nurseries have supported school agriculture programs by providing plants and other resources for educational farms. The interview also explores the future of California agriculture under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Duarte argues that groundwater regulations must be considered alongside reliable surface-water deliveries and says California has existing plans, infrastructure and financial resources that could be used to expand water supplies. Duarte also discusses his work with the California Water Alliance, including its upcoming October 1, 2026 water forum. According to Duarte, the event will examine California water abundance, Central Valley health concerns, SGMA, farming and the broader economic effects of water policy. Throughout the interview, Duarte offers his perspectives on California's environmental regulations, natural-resource policies and political direction, while Papagni connects those issues to the challenges facing farmers, rural communities and California's food-production system. There is much more to this conversation than can fit into a short recap. Listen to the full AgNet News Hour podcast featuring “The Ag Meter” Nick Papagni and John Duarte for the complete discussion, California agriculture news, water issues and Duarte's perspective on what comes next for the state. For additional information and more interviews, visit AgNetWest.com and follow AgNet West on Facebook, Instagram and X. Listeners can also subscribe to the AgNet West podcast through their preferred podcast app. Duarte also invited those interested in the California Water Alliance forum to get involved and attend the October 1 event. Listen to Part 1 of John Duarte's interview below or on your favorite podcast app.

TJ is joined by Jim Murphy Associate VP of Legal Advocacy at the National Wildlife Federation, to discuss the new Army Corp definition of Waters in the United States. Plus KOAT Meteorologist Eric Green to talk about the upcoming forecast. All this and more on News Radio KKOB See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  This episode tells the story of one of the women depicted in The Six Triple Eight, a 2024 WWII war drama film by Tyler Perry that tells the true story of the 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion. Mary Jewel Barlow was one of only three members of the 6888th Postal Directory Battalion who died in service during World War II and one of only four women buried in the Normandy American Cemetery in France. The 6888 was an all-Black, all-female Women's Army Corps battalion. A real young woman from Hartford's North End, Barlow's life and sacrifice deserve recognition. The guest is Orice Jenkins. A renowned member of Hartford's jazz community, Jenkins is also a genealogist and award-winning author originally from Hartford. His research has been featured in The Washington Post, on the National Parks Service website, and the Journal of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society. Orice has meticulously researched Mary Barlow and brings that story to us. He is a returning Grating the Nutmeg guest - he was featured with Jill Marie Synder on episode #127 - Telling Your Family's Story. Listen here: gratingthenutmeg.libsyn.com/127-telling-your-family-story-with-jill-marie-snyder-and-orice-jenkins You can find out more about his work and contact information on his website at oricejenkins.com/       He is available for book talks, programs, and genealogical research. For more about his book, The Early County Massacre: Goolsby vs. The State of Georgia, go to:  https://oricejenkins.com/earlycountymassacre Mary Barlow grew up in Hartford's North End. Be sure to go to the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History's website to plan your visit to see Drawn Here: Stories from Hartford's North End". In addition to the fabulous graphic novel artwork, the exhibit also has interesting items too. connecticutmuseum.org/exhibition/drawn-here-stories-from-hartfords-north-end/   -------------------------------- Don't forget to subscribe to Connecticut Explored magazine today - our Fall issue is out-plan your fall color-season daytrips.  And please set up your monthly donation to Grating the Nutmeg at ctexplored.org so we can continue bring you new research in Connecticut history, compelling first-person stories, and fresh voices. https://simplecirc.com/shop/connecticut-explored This episode of Grating the Nutmeg was produced by Mary Donohue and engineered by Patrick O'Sullivan at highwattagemedia.com/   Follow Grating the Nutmeg on Facebook and Instagram. Follow executive producer Mary Donohue on Facebook and Instagram at West Hartford Town Historian. Join us in two weeks for our next episode of Grating the Nutmeg, the podcast of Connecticut history. Thank you for listening!

As AI data centers follow available power into new markets, network infrastructure is moving much earlier into the site selection process. In this episode of the Data Center Frontier Show, DCF Editor-in-Chief Matt Vincent speaks with Scott Bergs, CEO of Kirkwood Infrastructure Group, about how hyperscale and high-density compute are changing the physical network requirements behind data center development. For years, fiber could often be addressed after land and power were secured. Bergs says that model is breaking down. Hyperscale and neo-cloud campuses increasingly require multiple physically diverse, high-capacity, low-latency network paths — infrastructure that may be difficult or impossible to add late in the development cycle. That means connectivity planning now has to begin alongside power, roads, permitting and other site infrastructure, sometimes before the ultimate tenant is even known. Bergs also explains the evolution of Kirkwood Infrastructure Group from the team behind DF&I, which built dark fiber infrastructure across Northern Virginia and Maryland. Kirkwood is now expanding across the Southeast and into the Midwest as large data center campuses move into markets where power may be available but communications infrastructure remains relatively thin. The conversation gets into the physical implications of that expansion. Bergs describes customer demand progressing from lit services to dark fiber, then dedicated cables and increasingly dedicated conduit capacity. High-density applications are driving fiber counts from 864 fibers to as many as 6,912 per cable, while conduit itself is becoming a strategic asset for security, routing control and future network expansion. Vincent and Bergs also discuss hollow-core fiber, including its potential latency advantages and the engineering tradeoffs posed by its larger form factor and different implementation requirements. Bergs' larger point: network developers need to build enough physical pathway capacity today to accommodate whatever fiber technology becomes dominant tomorrow. The episode also examines several emerging infrastructure bottlenecks, including rights-of-way, permitting pressure on agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and transportation departments, and growing strain on the fiber manufacturing supply chain. Perhaps the clearest indication of how much the network map is changing comes from inter-campus connectivity. Bergs says links that once might have stretched two to 30 miles can now extend 250 miles or more. “What might have traditionally been thought of as a long-haul segment or path for us is just another inter-campus connectivity corridor,” he says. The conversation closes with another increasingly important part of infrastructure development: community acceptance. Bergs argues that early, factual engagement is becoming as important as early engineering. “It's very difficult to fight emotion with facts,” he says. “But you can sometimes prevent negative emotion with positive facts if they're presented first.” Listen to the full conversation for a detailed look at how power, fiber, conduit, permitting and community engagement are converging in the next generation of AI data center development.

Understanding the rules of federal small business programs is the difference between winning contracts and losing them to a protest, and in this episode David Rambhajan breaks down exactly how he used the FAR, the VAR, and the SDVOSB set-aside rules to protect a multi-million dollar Army Corps award. He shares the mentor-protege and like-kind subcontracting strategies that let veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned firms actually profit in the federal marketplace. If you think a certification alone gets you work, this conversation shows you what really moves the needle. Why veteran-owned status alone carries no leverage in federal subcontracting, and why service-disabled veteran-owned (SDVOSB) is the tier that unlocks set-aside opportunities How like-kind subcontracting lets a prime meet 15 to 25 percent self-performance goals by hiring another veteran-owned firm, straight from a contracting officer's own ruling The exact three-point script David used to defeat a protest on a veteran set-aside contract at the Army Corps of Engineers How the mentor-protege program makes a 51 percent owner's entity a small business that can bid and win as an SDVOSB The joint venture two-year rule most contractors never check, and how to use it to legally clear a lower bidder off a contract EPISODE CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Mendi Media finds federal opportunities across SAM.gov 0:48 - Veteran subcontractor pipe insulation relationship story 2:00 - Service disabled veteran owned versus veteran owned rules 2:55 - Like-kind subcontracting to meet self-performance goals 5:20 - Mentor protege program makes protege a small business 6:10 - Defeating a protest on a set-aside contract 7:40 - Joint venture two-year bidding rule strategy 8:56 - Know the rules debrief and keep learning Mindy gives you the federal opportunities, agency signals, recompete intel, and pursuit briefs that tell you not just what contracts exist, but which ones to chase and how to win them. Sign up for free Daily Alerts and get opportunities delivered to your inbox before the day starts.  

In this newscast: The Juneau School District has fewer students enrolled this year than it previously projected; The Juneau Assembly is slated to vote on an ordinance on Monday that would require nonprofits to charge sales tax for goods and services - something they're currently exempt from; Capital City Fire/Rescue's Andrew Pantiskas talks about a new app that aims to cut the department's response time to cardiac events; The Alaska Democratic Party is urging a Superior Court judge to disqualify a Republican state House candidate who submitted a nearly blank financial disclosure form when he filed to run for an Anchorage seat; The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public comment regarding a cruise ship dock project in Petersburg.

The story of September 11 didn't end when the attacks were over. Recovery, rebuilding and remembrance became part of the nation's response as well. A new exhibit at the National Museum of the United States Army focuses on the lesser-known role the Army Corps of Engineers played in those efforts. Joining me with more on the exhibit and this anniversary is museum director Paul Morando.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Inside the Castle pauses to honor the nearly 3,000 precious lives lost and the unimaginable courage of the first responders who ran toward the danger. In this solemn episode, podcast hosts Reagan Lauritzen and Amy Snively talk with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Historian Dr. John Lonnquest and USACE Curator Eric Reinert to reflect on USACE's rapid mobilization and the sacred duty of preserving that history. The discussion covers the critical, behind-the-scenes engineering efforts at the Pentagon and Ground Zero—from structural triage and environmental remediation to the painstaking debris recovery mission. The episode also highlights an incredible, lesser-known story of immediate response: amid the chaos, USACE boat crews from the Caven Point Marine Terminal in NJ shuttled thousands of stranded citizens across the Hudson River to safety, returning with critical fuel and supplies for the fireboats and emergency responders on station. Finally, the episode explores how the USACE Office of History has preserved these memories, featuring a selection of artifacts collected by the Office of History. These artifacts are now part of the “Steel and Stone: Engineering the Response to 9/11” exhibit at the National Museum of the United States Army. To read more about USACE's response and other significant events in the organization's history, read "The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: An Illustrated History, 1775-2025," and "Continuing the Mission: A History of the New York District from 1975-2005."

The Ship Report, Thursday, September 10, 2026Today we remember a tragic day in US history: September 11, 2001, when terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center in New York City, and the Pentagon in Washington DC. A third hijacked plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania, commandeered by heroic passengers, who took the plan down rather than let it complete its terrible mission, which was to hit the US Capitol Building.In the midst of terrible chaos and destruction, an amazing rescue mission unfolded in NY Harbor: Boatlift, organized by the Coast Guard.They called all available boats in the waters of metropolitan NY and New Jersey to help evacuate people stranded after the towers fell. What resulted was a supreme act of spontaneous mariner heroism, as boat after boat converged on the southern end of Manhattan, to help evacuate hundreds of thousands of survivors from the island.In the midst of tragedy, our mariners showed us the best we can be.Link to the film Boatlift: https://youtu.be/MDOrzF7B2Kg?si=Wa5CQ4oJMw_baJDXImage: USACE NY, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia CommonsCaption: Patrol Boat Hocking heads toward lower Manhattan on 9/11 to provide assistance following the attacks on the World Trade Center. PB Hocking was one of many U.S. Army Corps of Engineers vessels from various Districts that were on the waters of the New York and New Jersey Harbor that day helping to ferry evacuees from lower Manhattan and bringing in emergency responders on return trips. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers file photo)

Invasive carp has been found near Lake Michigan. It's been 24 years since Asian Carp were found in the upper Illinois River. Ever since, scientists and environmental groups have been pushing for a way to stop the invasive fish from reaching Lake Michigan. A year ago, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started construction on a project called Brandon Road Interbasin Project that would put barriers in place to protect the lake. But the Trump administration abruptly stopped that project in July without explanation. Then the juvenile carp were found in the Illinois River – 80 miles from Lake Michigan – the closest they've ever been detected. But just last week, the Army Corps of Engineers announced that work on the barriers would resume. Joel Brammeier heads the Alliance for the Great Lakes. He joins WUWM Environmental Reporter Susan Bence for an update.

Ocean Power Technologies CEO Philipp Stratmann joined Steve Darling from Proactive to discuss the company's participation in a week-long U.S. Army demonstration designed to evaluate advanced autonomous maritime technologies operating in some of the most challenging nearshore environments. The demonstration is being conducted by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center's (ERDC) Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory at its Field Research Facility in Duck, North Carolina. Following a competitive technical evaluation process, OPT was selected to showcase its WAM-V® autonomous maritime drone platform in live coastal conditions that include surf zones, breaking waves, strong currents and coastal inlets. The program is focused on identifying technologies capable of sustaining uncrewed surface vehicle operations in environments that are traditionally difficult and potentially hazardous for manned vessels. During the trials, ERDC is evaluating platforms and sensing technologies that can support critical missions such as bathymetric mapping and submerged-hazard detection. These capabilities have important applications for both military and civilian operations. Potential uses include U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil infrastructure projects as well as military logistics-over-the-shore missions, where accurate information about water depths, underwater obstacles and shoreline conditions is essential for safe navigation and operational planning. OPT's WAM-V platform is specifically engineered for harsh marine environments. Its unique articulating suspension system helps improve stability while reducing structural stress when operating in waves and rough water conditions. The vessel's modular design also allows it to carry a variety of sensing and data-collection payloads, making it suitable for defense, scientific research, environmental monitoring and civil engineering applications. While participation in the demonstration does not constitute a procurement contract or guarantee future business, ERDC has indicated that technologies demonstrating strong performance could be considered for additional testing and evaluation programs, subject to future funding availability. #proactiveinvestors #oceanpowertechnologiesinc #nyseamerican #optt #PhillipStratmann #PowerBuoy #WAMV #MaritimeTech #MaritimeTechnology #DefenseTech #ArtificialIntelligence #AutonomousSystems #USCoastGuard #OceanInnovation #Defense #CleanTech

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' newest hopper dredge, the Donnelly, is taking shape at Eastern Shipbuilding Group's Allanton Shipyard in Panama City, Florida. Built to replace the nearly 60-year-old dredge McFarland, the Donnelly is a ready reserve vessel designed to carry forward the Corps' navigation mission and help keep America's shipping channels open and safe. This video goes inside the build, where steel, sparks and shipyard craftsmanship are bringing the Donnelly to life. Through interviews with the ship's captain, chief engineer and a USACE Marine Design Center quality assurance representative, we explore the design, mission and modern capabilities of a vessel built to support dredging operations alongside private industry when extra capacity is needed. Watch the Donnelly take shape, and see how this modern ship reflects America's ingenuity and commitment to the infrastructure that safeguards our nation's waterways. (U.S. Army video by Daniel S. Marciniak)

(Sep 8, 2026) The town of Plattsburgh's former Air Force Base has been added to a federal program that will fund a study by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; there may be a slow start to this year's fall foliage season, but forest researchers are still expecting vibrant colors across the landscape; and we preview Afrofestival Ottawa, a celebration of African music, fashion, food, and culture in Canada's capital, coming up this weekend.

What actually happens when a federal contract gets cancelled midstream, and how a government contracting consultant turned a $300,000 NEH contract cancellation into a paid settlement, is the center of this episode. A consultant walks through the real operational side of running a GovCon consulting practice: the CRM systems that keep client opportunities from falling through the cracks, how a LinkedIn presence turns into signed clients, and what happens when an agency contract gets cancelled for convenience mid-project. If you're building or running a consulting practice in federal contracting, this is what the actual week looks like. Key points discussed: Why a CRM or shared tracking system (Airtable, Asana, Notion, or even a shared spreadsheet) is the difference between a found opportunity and a missed deadline How a weekly client report cadence (sent Monday or Friday depending on client activity) keeps clients engaged without constant check-ins Why LinkedIn's algorithm now favors long-form posts and articles over simple updates, and how consistent posting built a "thought leader" reputation that led directly to a signed client A real case: a $300,000 NEH contract cancelled for convenience after the agency came under budget pressure, and how the resulting settlement negotiation recovered the full outstanding balance Why a contract cancelled for convenience still counts as valid past performance and stays on your capability statement at full award value Where to actually find agency procurement forecasts, including the NASA forecast tool and the Army Corps of Engineers construction forecast, and why asking a contracting office directly for their forecast link is a strong first-contact question CHAPTERS 0:00 - Why every consultant needs a CRM system 1:10 - Airtable, Asana, and Notion compared for client tracking 2:05 - Setting a weekly client reporting cadence 3:15 - Getting organized before you try to scale 4:20 - Why LinkedIn is a business tool, not an ad 5:15 - How long-form LinkedIn posts built a thought-leader reputation 6:45 - A $300K NEH contract cancelled for convenience 7:45 - Negotiating the settlement and recovering the balance 8:35 - Where to find agency procurement forecasts Mindy gives you the federal opportunities, agency signals, recompete intel, and pursuit briefs that tell you not just what contracts exist, but which ones to chase and how to win them. Sign up for free Daily Alerts and get opportunities delivered to your inbox before the day starts.

Send us Fan MailHello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom!There are moments in history when a door opens—and once enough people walk through it, there is no closing it again.During World War II, America was fighting a war on a scale the country had never experienced before.Millions of men were leaving their homes and heading overseas.Factories were operating around the clock.Ships were crossing the Atlantic and Pacific.And the United States military needed people—more people than it had ever needed before.So America faced a question it had never been willing to answer on such a massive scale:Could women serve in the United States Army?Sources: https://history.army.mil/Research/Women-in-Army-History/World-War-II-Women-in-the-Army/?utm_source=chatgpt.comhttps://www.womenshistory.org/exhibits/womens-army-corps-female-soldiers-wwii?utm_source=chatgpt.comhttps://history.army.mil/Publications/Publications-Catalog/The-Womens-Army-Corps-Collection/?utm_source=chatgpt.comhttps://awm.army.mil/about/history/?utm_source=chatgpt.comhttps://history.army.mil/Research/Women-in-Army-History/A-Permanent-Presence-Women-in-the-Army/?utm_source=chatgpt.comAll the things: Music: "Electronic Rock (King Around Here)" by Alex Grohl https://pixabay.com/music/search/electronic%20rock%20kingLogo Artwork: Strawbeary Studios https://www.youtube.com/@StrawbearyStudios/featuredEpisode was researched, written and edited by ShanoaSocial Media:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090200010112X: @breakfastmompodEmail: breakfastwithmompodcast@gmail.com

Adam Telle, the Army's assistant secretary for civil works, will serve as acting Army secretary. President Donald Trump announced the pick on social media Thursday, calling Telle a "great patriot who is respected by all." Telle took the job overseeing the Army Corps of Engineers in August 2025 after serving as a longtime Senate staffer. He also worked in the White House's legislative office during Trump's first term. Telle has not served in the military. He replaces Dan Driscoll, who resigned this week amid clashes with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Mississippi River has provided water, food, transportation and a place of connection for generations of Minnesotans. But its history is also marked by displacement, environmental damage and decisions that have often prioritized industry and commerce over communities and the health of the river.A new documentary, “We Are the River: How the Mississippi Shaped Minnesota,” explores the complicated history of the river and the people who have lived alongside it. Coming up at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her guests about what that history can teach us about caring for the Mississippi today and in the future.Guests:Kate Beane is Flandreau Santee Sioux Dakota and Muscogee Creek. She is the executive director of the Minnesota Museum of American Art, has taught at the University of Minnesota and Minneapolis College and serves on the board of Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi, a nonprofit that oversees two Dakota sacred sites in St. Paul. Devin Ashley Brown is the founder of Sovereign Waters, a Minneapolis-based organization that creates culturally responsive pathways to water confidence, environmental connection and outdoor leadership. She works to dismantle barriers that have excluded historically underserved communities from outdoor recreation. She also attempted to be the first Black woman on record to solo the Mississippi River before flood waters ended her trip. John Anfinson is a Mississippi River historian, author and former Superintendent of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. He previously worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is the part-time river historian at the University of Minnesota's St. Anthony Falls Laboratory. He is also a founding board member of Friends of the Mississippi River and is active in many other river-related organizations and initiatives.

Hour 2 (8.26) Meta settled for up to $17.1 billion but only pays the last chunk if TikTok and YouTube sign on too. Facebook and Instagram get a two-hour daily cap for under-18s. 7:05 — Adva Lavie back in court. Lessons from Uncle T-Bones. Triple digits, and Danny Romero on when the relief comes — it cools off next week. Plus, what it costs to air-condition a casino. 7:20 — American Airlines flight 3280 blew two tires taxiing at O'Hare, the fourth tire failure there this month with the FAA investigating all of them. A Delta captain flying LAX to Boston got sick, diverted to Detroit, and told the tower he'd taxi the jet to the gate himself and then go to the hospital. Burbank's new $1.3 billion terminal opens October 13. And the Pico Rivera golf course, open since 1965, is closing. 7:35 — Whittier Narrows Dam safety project. Built in 1957, the dam protects more than a million people across Los Angeles, and the Army Corps repair will close or disrupt parks, sports facilities and traffic in Pico Rivera for years. Then restaurants and robots — the tech going in to cut costs and free staff up for customers, including a heat lamp you run from your phone. 7:50 — Meta's landmark settlement with 47 states, DC and the territories over claims it built Instagram and Facebook to be addictive to kids. Social media influencer James Bola eats sticks of butter dipped in frosting. #Mukbang #Mood See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this newscast: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to end Juneau's annual glacial lake outburst flood before the flood of 2030; The state approved the first segment of a new access road for the controversial New Amalga gold mine in Juneau; The Alaska Marine Highway System will finally receive $410 million in federal grant money; Federal investigators say a charter plane crashed into a remote area of Southwest Alaska on Thursday after attempting a second landing; At least nine brown bears have been eating out of Kodiak Island Borough's landfill this summer

While WOTUS serves as the jurisdictional foundation of the Clean Water Act (CWA), the statute does not define the term. Since the CWA's enactment in 1972, determining the scope of WOTUS—and, in turn, the reach of federal regulatory authority—has remained a persistent and challenging issue in environmental law. By defining "navigable waters" only as "waters of the United States," Congress left it to the U.S. EPA, the U.S. Army Corps, and the courts to interpret a term with significant implications for federal-state authority, environmental protection, and private property rights. The definition of WOTUS has evolved through a combination of agency action and Supreme Court decisions, including Rapanos v. United States, and Sackett v. EPA (2012) (Sackett I ). These decisions have shaped how the agencies interpret jurisdiction, particularly with respect to wetlands. The split Rapanos decision introduced competing analytical frameworks, further contributing to longstanding uncertainty. In this episode, Professor Royal Gardner will provide a high-level overview of these developments, placing recent changes in context and offering insight into the current and future scope of federal jurisdiction under the CWA. Keep the conversation going. Join SEER

Ben spills the exclusive details of his long-overdue power lunch with former radio sidekick Eddie Garcia — the who, what, where, when and why of the whole operation. It required the Army Corps of Engineers, some highly questionable Maller Math and enough travel to qualify as a Lewis & Clark expedition. The destination? The Tabernacle of the Chicken Finger, where Benny reveals exactly how much power 25+ years at Fox Sports Radio gets you. Spoiler: not much. Plus, we workshop the first-ever Milky Way NFL Draft featuring the Grays, Nordics, Insectoids and Reptilians. Which alien species goes No. 1 overall, and naturally, how do the Browns screw it up? Then it's Tooth Fairy economics: Santa Claus' overnight-working younger sibling has been collecting chompers for generations — but just how many teeth can the Tooth Fairy theoretically harvest from one kid? We crunch the numbers on that brain buster and more in this completely unnecessary, yet somehow must-listen edition of the Fifth Hour. Follow, rate & review "The Fifth Hour!" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fifth-hour-with-ben-maller/id1478163837 Engage with the podcast by emailing us at RealFifthHour@gmail.com ... Follow Ben on Twitter @BenMaller and on Instagram @BenMallerOnFOX ... #BenMaller #FSRWeekendsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben spills the exclusive details of his long-overdue power lunch with former radio sidekick Eddie Garcia — the who, what, where, when and why of the whole operation. It required the Army Corps of Engineers, some highly questionable Maller Math and enough travel to qualify as a Lewis & Clark expedition. The destination? The Tabernacle of the Chicken Finger, where Benny reveals exactly how much power 25+ years at Fox Sports Radio gets you. Spoiler: not much. Plus, we workshop the first-ever Milky Way NFL Draft featuring the Grays, Nordics, Insectoids and Reptilians. Which alien species goes No. 1 overall, and naturally, how do the Browns screw it up? Then it's Tooth Fairy economics: Santa Claus' overnight-working younger sibling has been collecting chompers for generations — but just how many teeth can the Tooth Fairy theoretically harvest from one kid? We crunch the numbers on that brain buster and more in this completely unnecessary, yet somehow must-listen edition of the Fifth Hour. Follow, rate & review "The Fifth Hour!" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fifth-hour-with-ben-maller/id1478163837 Engage with the podcast by emailing us at RealFifthHour@gmail.com ... Follow Ben on Twitter @BenMaller and on Instagram @BenMallerOnFOX ... #BenMaller #FSRWeekendsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With corporations getting ever larger – and even able to influence the outcome of presidential elections – the power of a single individual might seem lost. But it's alive and well.Sandy Rosenthal is an experienced community mobilizer, most notable for founding the nonprofit Levees.org, with 25,000 supporters nationwide. Her 2020 book, Words Whispered in Water, explores how she — against all odds — altered the national narrative about the deadly flooding in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. InWords Whispered in Water: Why the Levees Broke in Hurricane Katrina, Sandy gives a first-person narrative of the 2005 flooding and its aftermath, thrusting her into her role as a leading voice for fact-based responses to flood threats. She describes her transformation into an advocate for education on the history of flood control failures after Hurricane Katrina had moved inland, and her subsequent work as a watchdog tracking the responses of government and media in the hours, weeks and years after the floodwalls first gave way. A special Anniversary Edition of her book, featuring a new cover and foreword, went on sale in August 2025, timed with the 20th anniversary of the catastrophe.The catastrophic flooding of New Orleans in 2005 brought levees into the public consciousness. Yet, flooding now seems to be happening almost everywhere. The majority of the nation's population lives in counties protected by levees. Sandy's organization brings awareness to the dangers posed by this situation.Her organization has a strong physical presence in New Orleans, including the Flooded House Museum and the Levee Exhibit Hall at a major breach site. The organization has also installed three historic plaques vetted by the state's preservation office and hosts an annual levee breach bike tour, among other public education efforts.For these efforts, Sandy has received numerous awards, including Outstanding Social Entrepreneur of the Year from Tulane University and Most Influential Woman from Mount Holyoke College. She is an advocate for the 62% of the American population living in counties protected by levees.Rosenthal has been married to Stephen Rosenthal since 1979 and has three adult married children and two grandchildren. Sandy is also the co-host of The Slingshot podcast and host of the former Beat the Big Guys podcast.Points we cover in this episode:​The igniting moment that made her decide to fight the Army Corps of Engineers​The big mistake that the Army Corps made​Her shining moment in exposing the Army Corps' bad behavior​What she would have done differently in the battle​How her group continues to help people fight bullies and bad actors Learn more: SandyRosenthal.net/  LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/RosenthalSandy

Army Corps of Engineers roofing and construction contracts are often written against Unified Facilities Criteria that date back decades, and the person who defines whether the job is complete is the same person who releases your payment. West Edwards breaks down the questions a contractor should ask before bidding a federal job, how to get the scope and success criteria signed off in writing, and why bidding contracts you know you can't win is one of the fastest ways to learn the market. What you'll learn in this episode: The exact questions to ask so you know what a federal buyer checks before releasing payment Why getting the spec, scope, and warranty agreed in writing protects you from disputed change orders How to read a Unified Facilities Criteria spec before it costs you on an Army Corps job How bidding jobs you can't win turns a lost bid into free market intelligence Why tracking your bond limit stops you from stacking small jobs into a job you can't perform Chapters: 0:00 - Getting the scope defined before you bid 1:24 - What painful experience on a Keys project taught 2:21 - Preventative questions that stop future disputes 3:34 - Who defines project success and how to pin them down 4:46 - Army Corps UFC specs and getting sign-off in writing 5:19 - Change orders and building in contingency 6:05 - Bond limits and stacking too many small jobs 7:02 - Bidding jobs to learn from the debrief Mindy gives you the federal opportunities, agency signals, recompete intel, and pursuit briefs that tell you not just what contracts exist, but which ones to chase and how to win them. I am running it live on August 22, free to join.

Most of us have been there in some form or another. You know the truth. You can see it. You can feel it. And everywhere you look, the official version of events tells a completely different story. The institutions say one thing. The media repeats it. Slowly, the narrative everyone keeps hearing becomes the narrative everyone starts to believe, even when it is wrong. Sandy Rosenthal refused to let that happen. Twenty-one years ago, when Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans and the floodwaters rose and swallowed whole neighborhoods and displaced hundreds of thousands of people, the country was told the same story over and over again. New Orleans was overwhelmed by a massive natural disaster. What Sandy knew, and what she spent the next two decades of her life proving, is that what happened in New Orleans was not simply an act of nature. It was the result of catastrophic failures in a federally designed and constructed flood protection system, and the Army Corps of Engineers worked hard to make sure that story never got out. This conversation hit me in a way I was not fully prepared for. The story of how one ordinary person with nothing but determination and the internet stood up against a powerful federal agency and eventually changed a national narrative is exactly the kind of Ripple story I started this podcast to tell. Watch this one to the end. You will not regret it. More About the Guest After Hurricane Katrina and the catastrophic federal levee failures in New Orleans, Sandy Rosenthal founded Levees.org, a nonprofit that has grown to 25,000 supporters nationwide. Her book, Words Whispered in Water, tells the story of how she exposed the true culprit behind the disaster, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and how the agency spent millions covering up its own mistakes. Sandy lives in New Orleans with her husband of 47 years. They have three married children and two grandchildren. When she is not holding federal agencies accountable, she plays tennis five days a week and practices advanced yoga. Ripple with Sandy Rosenthal: Website X Facebook LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Get a copy of Sandy's book Words Whispered in Water: https://www.wordswhisperedinwater.com/   More About the Host Steve Harper is the founder of Ripple Central and host of The Ripple Effect Podcast, where he explores what it really takes to build authentic, meaningful relationships. He also owns Owner Insite, a construction project management software company. Steve runs The Pond, a community built around intentional connection and 8-Minute Ripple events. Ripple with Steve Harper: Instagram Facebook X Website Subscribe to the newsletter: https://ripplecentral.com/subscribe Be a Patron: https://patreon.com/SteveHarper Join The Pond: https://ripplecentral.com/pond Speaking and coaching inquiries: info@ripplecentral.com

Part one of Pat Bond's classic tale of lesbians in the U.S. military during World War II, Murder in the WAC. In the news this week, the first married lesbian couple in Bolivia and the first census to count queers in Australia, Trump policies are stopping federally funded gender-affirming care and blocking the Trevor Project's crisis lifeline work, and Kansas trans men make good trouble in the toilet. Featured speakers: Pat Bond, Gia Drew Exec. Dir. Equality Maine, Katie Keith of Georgetown Law. Credits: Associate Producer/Host Lucia Chappelle, Producer Brian DeShazor, News writer Jeb Backe, Murder in the WAC was recorded and produced by Katherine Davenport and Frieda Werden of WINGS, the Women's International News Gathering Service. NewsWrap reporters Nathalie Muñoz and Marcos Najera music: Brittany Luberda (Yankee Doodle Girl (Song Of The Women's Army Corps)

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines: Residents of the eastern Interior community of Tok are being ordered to evacuate their homes after a wildfire broke out yesterday morning. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will go through a bidding process like the TV show “Shark Tank,” to select a partner to end Juneau's glacial outburst floods. And the Alaska Marine Highway System announced that all state ferry service to Skagway was stopped until “further notice.”Photo: Smoke rises from the Mukluk Fire outside the Tok Forestry & Fire Protection office. August 17th. Photo:E Johnson

July runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, totaled two million acre-feet, or 61 percent of average, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. NAFB News ServiceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Columbia River bar is a fierce, yet beautiful body of water, spanning across Oregon and Washington. With over 2000 shipwrecks reported since 1792, it is also known as “The Graveyard of the Pacific.” In 1855, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began the construction of a jetty system, as a means to tame the dangerous ocean currents from the Pacific. Oregon filmmakers Brett Eichenberger and Jill Remensynder’s new documentary “Taming the Mouth,” chronicles this history and how it reverberates today on this vital waterway in our region.

Click here to donate $5 on Left of Lansing on Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/15494297/joinHere's Episode #191 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast!00:00-18:08: M4A Works/Senate RaceLOL's Pat Johnston highlights a new Yale study showing that a Medicare For All system in the United States would save both money and lives by even larger numbers than previously thought. With Michigan's U.S. Senate race officially starting, MAGA Republican candidate "Florida Mike Rogers" would rather talk about anything other than policies, or how he supports The Trump Economy. 18:19-44:00: Kasey Helton on Senate & House RacesKasey Helton, our good friend and union and progressive activist from Livingston County, joins the show to talk about Dr. Abdul El-Sayed's AND progressive congressional candidate William Lawrence's victories in Livingston County. Kasey gives her thoughts on not only WHY progressives scored victories across the state, but how they'll be able to carry their pro-American, and pro-working class, messages to win in November. Visit Kasey on XVisit Kasey on The Gram44:01-52:23: Last Call-TV AdsIn the "Last Call," Pat shares his thoughts, and sadness, that political TV ads still seem to move the needle somewhat. 52:24-55:40: EndingPlease, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can!leftoflansing@gmail.comLeft of Lansing is now on YouTube as well!Click here to vote on this week's LOL Poll on TV ads!Music provided by Wanderbeats. To hear the latest project, visit Space Leopard on various streaming sites, or visit: https://www.youtube.com/@SpaceLeopardClick here to donate $5 on Left of Lansing on Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/15494297/joinNOTES:"Yale Study: Medicare for All Would Save Over 114,000 Lives and $1 Trillion a Year." By Jessica Corbett of Common Dreams "Michigan rural hospitals are suffering, here's what happened." By Nick Monacelli of WDIV-Channel 4 News in Detroit"U.S. Army Corps of Engineers gives green light to Line 5 tunnel." By Kyle Davidson of Michigan Advance "Brink, Maasdam join Lawrence for unity event after splitting moderate vote." By Andrew Roth of Michigan Advance "High turnout shaped Michigan primary, boosting El-Sayed and Lawrence to victory." By Ben Solis of Michigan Advance "Mike Rogers vows to fight drug war, but urged opioid access in Congress." By Rob French of Bridge Michigan #podcast #politics #progressives #Michigan #Democrats #Trump #MAGA #Republicans #Election #Primary #DemocraticSocialism #Senate #AbdulElSayed #WorkingClass #unions #WorkersRights #MedicareForAll #Medicaid #BigBeautifulBill #WilliamLawrence #DonavanMcKinney #MikeRogers #DataCenters #AI #TomBarrett #CorporateGreed #CorporateCorruption #GovernmentCorruption #Populism #AIPAC #IranWar #Israel #CitizensUnited #GretchenWhitmer #CorporateClass #DemocraticSocialism #Fascism #EpsteinClass #Authoritarianism #Democracy #LeftofLansing

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines:U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski has introduced a bill that would allow federal fishery managers to start analyzing the DNA collected in ocean waters to help inform their decisions. And an answer to Juneau's plea for a solution to glacial outburst flooding is on the horizon. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Thursday. Photo: Suicide Basin, pictured in 2023, is the birthplace of Juneau's annual glacial outburst flood. It sits about two miles above the terminus of Mendenhall Glacier. (Anna Canny/KTOO)

On a federal construction job the government pays the general contractor within about 30 days, but the subcontractor gets paid only after hitting a milestone and floats the materials and labor in the meantime. West Edwards, a construction and roofing contractor who works Army Corps of Engineers projects, walks through how a subcontractor gets money on the ground early, uses supplier terms to push real payment out roughly 90 days, and negotiates payout timelines with a GC before the job starts. What you'll learn in this episode: The way to get paid upfront on a government job by setting materials on the ground for the inspector to see Why there are no mobilization fees in federal work and how that changes the way you finance a project How to use 60 day supplier terms and a line of credit to stretch your real payment out to about 90 days The conversation to have with your GC about milestones, the G703, and when you can submit for payment Why managing the cash flow matters more than knowing how to do the actual work Chapters: 0:00 - Finding federal contracts across SAM.gov and agency forecasts 0:48 - What going wrong on a job actually means 1:23 - Scope, spec, and the Unified Facilities Code trap 3:04 - The roof observer who was a silent competitor 4:03 - Why you build a margin into every bid 4:40 - Financing the job while you wait for payment 5:18 - How to get money upfront on a government contract 6:40 - Why cash flow beats craft on federal work 7:24 - The payment timeline from material to G703 to payout Mindy gives you the federal opportunities, agency signals, recompete intel, and pursuit briefs that tell you not just what contracts exist, but which ones to chase and how to win them. Sign up for free Daily Alerts and get opportunities delivered to your inbox before the day starts.

In this episode of "Inside the Castle," we are joined by Mr. Ryan A. Fisher, Executive Deputy for Civil and Emergency Operations, for a wide-ranging discussion on the future of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Drawing from his extensive experience—from the district level all the way to the Administration—Mr. Fisher provides his perspective on modernizing the agency to deliver its national missions more effectively. Listeners will hear about the "Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork" initiative, the critical role of trust and empowerment in executing projects, and the importance of creating a culture that embraces innovation. Plus, Mr. Fisher shares some exclusive breaking news about a significant milestone in his career. Join us to hear about the future of Civil Works, emergency response, and the commitment to delivering world-class engineering solutions for the nation.

In this newscast: Juneau now has a free vending machine to distribute community health and healing supplies; As the threat of the next glacial outburst flood looms over Juneau, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says it will pay for repairs to the flood wall in the aftermath; A woman is safe after she lost strength while swimming in the water near Mill Street in downtown Ketchikan; Rockskippers recently competed on a beach a stone's throw from Ketchikan to see whose rock could bounce the most

Runoff into the Missouri River Basin remains well below normal, prompting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to shorten this year's navigation season. NAFB News ServiceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pat Bond joined the Women's Army Corps in 1945, driven by patriotism and a desire to be among lesbians. The war required bodies, so the U.S. military turned a blind eye to service members' sexual orientation. But as Pat witnessed firsthand, once WWII was won, the anti-gay witch hunts began. Visit our ⁠episode webpage for background information, archival photos, and other resources, as well as a transcript of the episode. ——— Audio source: Oral history interview between Pat Bond and Allan Bérubé, September 30, 1990, World War II Project Papers (collection no. 1995-16), courtesy of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society. ———

This week on the Oakley Podcast, Jeremy Kellett sits down with Bruce Oakley safety leaders Lee Huff and Phil Butler to explore the often unseen world of terminal safety and compliance. They discuss Lee and Phil's backgrounds, their responsibilities across multiple terminals, and how they work with regulatory agencies like OSHA, the EPA, the Coast Guard, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Safe Feed/Safe Food certifiers. Key topics include upgrading safety data sheet systems, vessel plans and Coast Guard inspections, required safety drills, fall protection (OSHA's top-cited violation), CPR and fire extinguisher training, mobile equipment training, AI-enhanced camera and security systems, and rigorous feed-grade product traceability. A major takeaway is that safety is everyone's responsibility: employees must use proper PPE, ask questions when unsure, look out for each other, and engage in daily safety talks so that when something does go wrong, they're prepared to respond. Key topics in today's conversation include: Introducing ‘Miss Ruby', Managers Meeting, and Terminal Safety Focus (1:32)   Lee Huff Background, Family, and Move into Oakley Safety Role (3:28) Phil Butler Background, Terminals He Oversees, and Family Story (5:39) Overview of Regulatory Agencies: OSHA, EPA, Coast Guard, and Corps (9:50) Surprise Coast Guard Inspections and What Inspectors Look for (12:20) Getting Employee Buy‑In on Safety and Understanding the “Why” (14:12) Current Projects: SDS Rollout, CPR Instruction, Fire and Equipment Training (19:21) New Technology: Fall Protection Systems and AI‑Enabled Camera Security (22:30) Sharing Best Practices Among Terminals, Especially Fall Protection (24:52) Safe Feed Safe Food Certification, Traceability, and Contamination Control (29:03) PPE, Asking Questions, and Looking Out for Each Other (32:11) Final Thoughts and Takeaways (36:56) Oakley Trucking is a family-owned and operated trucking company headquartered in North Little Rock, Arkansas. For more information, check out our show website: podcast.bruceoakley.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If you're trying to win Department of Defense contracts, understanding PIEE, CMMC, and your SPRS score isn't optional, it's the baseline. In this episode, Randie Ward breaks down exactly how to register inside PIEE, why CMMC compliance levels matter more than ever, and why a negative SPRS score doesn't mean you're disqualified. This is the practical, no-fluff walkthrough every small business needs before bidding on DOD work. How to register inside PIEE and navigate the training tiles for SBIRS, SPRS, and WAWF Why CMMC compliance levels are now mandatory for any business working with the Department of Defense What the SPRS score actually measures and how the 110-question NIST self-assessment works Why having a negative SPRS score is normal at the start and doesn't disqualify you from an award A real story about a tribal-owned business navigating its first CMMC assessment with Army Corps of Engineers EPISODE CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction to the Federal Help Center podcast 0:49 - Overview of PIEE and what it manages 1:14 - How RFPs RFIs and payments flow through PIEE 1:50 - Registering for PIEE and finding training resources 2:33 - Introduction to SBIRS and required payment systems 3:09 - What CMMC is and why it is here to stay 4:06 - Understanding CMMC security levels and requirements 4:30 - How SPRS scores work and the NIST self-assessment 5:21 - Why your CMMC level depends on the type of work 6:11 - Real story of a negative SPRS score with Army Corps 7:55 - Closing thoughts and community call to action Mindy gives you the federal opportunities, agency signals, recompete intel, and pursuit briefs that tell you not just what contracts exist, but which ones to chase and how to win them. Sign up for free Daily Alerts and get opportunities delivered to your inbox before the day starts.

This week, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington sided with the Center for Food Safety and the Coalition to Protect Puget Sound Habitat in a suit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The ruling means that nine industrial shellfish operations that were approved by the Army Corps of Engineers off of Washington’s coast are unlawful. The plaintiffs argue that the USACE violated the law when relying on streamlined permitting procedures for the shellfish operations. Kristina Sinclair is the staff attorney for the Center for Food Safety. She joins us to share more.  

Something in the Water - Part One Six friends arrive at Table Rock Lake in the summer of 2010 expecting a quiet week in the Ozarks—swimming, boating, and long evenings beneath the Missouri stars. What they find instead is a place with a history far older than the dam that created it. This week on The Devil Within, we begin a three-part campfire case rooted in documented history, Indigenous tradition, and the uneasy possibility that some places remember what was buried beneath them. When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed Table Rock Dam in 1958, they flooded an entire valley, submerging roads, foundations, churches, and whole communities beneath more than 43,000 acres of water. But the flooded towns were not the first things to disappear from this landscape. Long before the lake existed, the Osage people lived along the White River and carried stories of powerful beings dwelling beneath the water. Among them was a mysterious figure known across the Mississippi watershed as the Underwater Panther—a guardian of thresholds, deep places, and the dangerous boundary between worlds. Then one swimmer feels an impossible cold in the middle of an August afternoon. Something brushes against her ankle. The next day, someone else is pulled beneath the surface. And before the week is over, the group begins to wonder whether the lake is merely covering something—or keeping it. Because some waters are deeper than they appear. And some things beneath them are still waiting.

If you've ever read a sources sought notice and had no idea what to do with it, this episode is your roadmap. Eric Coffie breaks down exactly how 8(a) companies are supposed to "self-market," why most contractors never get the sole source work they were promised, and how a single email to your SBA Business Opportunity Specialist can put your name in front of a contracting officer. Whether you're already certified, working toward 8(a), or just starting to explore federal contracting as a business model, this conversation gives you a step-by-step playbook you can use this week. Key Discussion Points: Why the 8(a) Business Development Program requires self-marketing and how skipping this step is the #1 reason most 8(a) companies fail to win sole source work How to respond to sources sought notices and RFIs on SAM.gov before a solicitation is even published, including how to read the contracting timeline chart A real email example showing how to request an SBA search letter from your Business Opportunity Specialist after you've already responded to an RFI How the "rule of two" actually works for 8(a) set-asides versus sole source awards, and why sole source is the real end goal How to pick which agencies to target for 8(a) sole source contracts, using the Army Corps of Engineers and Hanscom Air Force Base as real-world examples Why 80% of 8(a) companies still fail even after certification, and what nobody tells them about using the program correctly EPISODE CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Meeting Mindy your AI federal contracting research assistant 0:31 - Welcome to the Federal Help Center podcast intro 0:58 - Self marketing requirements inside the 8a program 2:34 - Sample SBA search letter request for an 8a company 5:04 - Sources sought timing before the solicitation phase begins 6:02 - Choosing agencies to target for 8a sole source awards 8:50 - SAM.gov stages from sources sought to active bids 12:04 - Planning your sole source attack with capability briefings Mindy gives you the federal opportunities, agency signals, recompete intel, and pursuit briefs that tell you not just what contracts exist, but which ones to chase and how to win them. Sign up for free Daily Alerts and get opportunities delivered to your inbox before the day starts.