Podcasts about Southern Environmental Law Center

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Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2024 50:50

On episode 120 of the Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast, we speak with Nick Jimenez of the Southern Environmental Law Center, Casey Collins from Duke University, and Lucas Grimes from the Center for Resource Solutions about the recently approved Green Source Advantage Choice customer clean energy program in North Carolina. These experts break down the details of this large customer program, along with some of its shortcomings that may lead to low or no uptake. Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

Kate Bennis - Deeply Heard and Seen

Phronesis: Practical Wisdom for Leaders

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2024 44:38 Transcription Available

Kate Bennis is a professional actor and clinical social worker who draws from the skills and techniques of the theater, therapeutic training, and years of experience, to give her clients everything they need to communicate as their fullest, most perfectly imperfect selves.Kate's Presentation and Communication practice is grounded in practicing the skills that give the speaker freedom, agility, creativity, humor, ease, presence, and the ability to connect with their audience.This work helps clients to bring their most authentic selves to everything from wedding toasts to TED Talks, from political debates to flirting!A professional actor with over 40 years' experience in TV, film and stage, Kate has coached senior and mid-level leaders at American Express, AOL, Deloitte and Touche, Apex Clean Energy, the Southern Environmental Law Center, the Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve Bank and the CIA; Harvard Business School Executive Education, Columbia University Executive Education, Darden Business School Executive Education, UVa's McIntire School of Commerce, and University College London. As the Lead Coach for the Charlottesville TEDx Kate has coached dozens of speakers and overseen the coaching for over 80 TED Talks. While with The Ariel Group Kate delivered trainings around the world, developed training curricula, and served as Director of Outreach.A licensed clinical social worker, Kate has worked with children and adults in a private practice as well as schools and prisons.She holds a BA in theater from Wesleyan University, an MSW from Smith College School for Social Work, and lives in Charlottesville with her husband and their two children.A Quote From This Episode"There was something about just listening and being heard that was so transformative, and that's my first example of my dad as a leader. He was a listener. He listened deeply to every single person without defensiveness and without a preconceived idea. He just was a deep listener."Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeBook - Demon Copperhead by Barbara KingsolverKate on Linkedin Kate on Youtube About The International Leadership Association (ILA)The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Register for ILA's 26th Global Conference in Chicago, IL - November 7-10, 2024.Adult Development Pre-Conference SessionAbout Scott J. AllenWebsiteWeekly Newsletter: The Leader's EdgeBlogMy Approach to HostingThe views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, research, and exploration of the topic.

Protesting the Pipeline

With Good Reason

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2024 52:00

Many pipelines have been protested, but few have been defeated. Jonathan Mingle says the cancellation of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline in 2020 is a story of collaboration between local activists and the Southern Environmental Law Center. And: Oil was first discovered in Louisiana at the turn of the 20th century. Suddenly, even the most unassuming plots of land could be worth millions. But Henry Wiencek says not everyone with oil on their property got rich. Later in the show: In the 1970's, Rae Ely fought tooth and nail to protect her bucolic hometown from developers. Brian Balogh says Rae wasn't well versed in politics, but she stood up to powerful politicians and business leaders to stop plans for a prison facility and vermiculite mine in her community. Plus: Palm oil is the distinct flavor of Afro-Brazilian cooking. It's used in all kinds of traditional dishes and even as an offering to religious deities. Case Watkins says the Afro-Brazilian relationship to palm oil has a lot to teach us about environmental and climate justice.

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David Yarborough and William Applegate│Shannon Shaw v. Amazon.com Inc.│$44.6 million verdict

The Great Trials Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2024 90:42

This week, Steve and Yvonne interview David Yarborough and William Applegate of Yarborough Applegate Law Firm, LLC (https://www.yarboroughapplegate.com/). Remember to rate and review GTP in iTunes: Click Here to Rate and Review View/Download Trial Documents Case Details: Yarborough Applegate secured a landmark jury verdict against Amazon for $44.6 million, including $30 million in punitive damages, after a man was catastrophically injured in a motorcycle collision with an Amazon van on Orangeburg Road in Summerville, South Carolina. This distracted driving case marks the first time Amazon has tested with a jury the issue of whether the online retail and global logistics giant will be held responsible for injuries caused by one of its 285,000 Amazon Delivery Associates (drivers) it calls independent contractors. Yarborough Applegate attorneys David Yarborough, Alexandra Heaton, and William Applegate, working alongside Nick Clekis of the Clekis Law Firm in Charleston, represented a motorcyclist who sustained a traumatic brain injury and numerous orthopedic injuries in September 2021 when an Amazon Delivery Associate failed to yield to the right of way and turned left directly into his path. We filed suit against the driver, the local delivery company MJV Logistics, and Amazon, Amazon Services, and Amazon Logistics Inc. Source. Guest Bios: David Yarborough David has a history of achieving record-breaking jury verdicts and settlements for his clients. In December 2023, David and partners obtained a $44.6 million jury verdict against Amazon.com, Inc. in the first case to hold Amazon vicariously liable under an agency theory for the vicarious and negligent acts of its delivery drivers, whom Amazon claims are independent contractors. This was the largest personal injury verdict ever awarded in conservative Dorchester County and is believed to be one of the largest jury verdicts in South Carolina history in an injury case not involving death. Read more about this case here. In October 2021, David achieved the largest dram shop verdict ever in Charleston County, South Carolina, for the sale of alcohol to minors by a Sunoco gas station. David and the firm also achieved one of the top 100 jury verdicts in the United States from their $35.9 million verdict against PEPCO in conservative Montgomery County, Maryland. David has collected jury verdicts and settlements totaling hundreds of millions of dollars for his catastrophically injured clients in cases involving bad faith against insurance companies; industrial plant injuries resulting in worker deaths; product liability from automobile rollovers and industrial machine injuries; toxic chemical spills by railroad companies; pool drownings; trucking and auto accidents; nursing home and daycare negligence; dram shop and alcohol liability negligence by bars and restaurants; and negligence by retail stores, energy companies, apartment complexes, hotels, and construction contractors for job-site, balcony collapse and premises injuries. He is a member of the Charleston Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), the South Carolina Association of Justice, the American Association for Justice, the Charleston County Bar's Mental Wellness Committee, Lawyers Helping Lawyers, and the Board of Regents of TriCounty Family Ministries. For the past twenty-five years, David has been heavily involved in mentoring and counseling people suffering from alcoholism and addiction who are seeking recovery. He places a large emphasis on giving back to the local community through free legal work and generous financial and service contributions to local charities each year. He and his wife, Jessica, are Charleston natives and have four children. Prior to founding Yarborough Applegate, David was a partner at another Charleston-based law firm, where he was part of a national trial team defending products liability cases in trials across the United States. His experience handling national litigation and having represented both plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal courts around the country provides him with a varied perspective in discovery strategy, negotiations, and trial. Read Full Bio William Applegate With nearly twenty years of experience in the courtroom, William is a seasoned trial lawyer with a track record of success. He has successfully litigated complex cases involving toxic torts, electrocutions, police negligence, medical negligence, and premises liability, representing clients suffering from the most severe catastrophic injuries. Beyond having had numerous trial victories, he has also achieved two record-breaking verdicts, been recognized by his peers as one of the top litigators in the state, won numerous awards as a leader in the law, and has been consistently given Martindale-Hubbell's highest ranking as an AV lawyer. Beyond his experience and hard work, he is a passionate advocate for his clients, who are defined by determination and perseverance. William understands that his clients, many of whom find themselves in desperate situations following serious trauma, such as the death of a loved one or experiencing life-altering injuries, are relying on him, and he takes this responsibility personally. In 2014, William and his team represented 28-year-old paralyzed construction worker Hugo Hernandez against PEPCO (Potomac Energy and Power Company). After a two-week trial against PEPCO in Montgomery County, Maryland, the jury awarded Mr. Hernandez $35.9 million in damages in compensation for the overwhelming cost of Mr. Hernandez's future medical care as a young, C4 paraplegic as well as for his pain and suffering and loss of income. This was the largest verdict in Montgomery County history and was one of the largest verdicts in American history for an undocumented worker. In 2019, William represented an undocumented worker who was killed when electrocuted by a power line that was hidden by vegetation, which Dominion Energy had failed to maintain, and a jury returned a $21 million dollar verdict, the largest verdict in the history of Colleton County, SC. In 2021, William represented a Claflin College student who suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of a car crash caused by a road construction defect. After a two-week trial, the jury returned a $13.1 million dollar verdict against the road contractor Archer Western and the Department of Transportation, also awarding punitive damages against Archer Western. In all three of these cases, William refused offers of millions of dollars to ensure his clients were fully compensated by a jury. William was born in Charleston, SC, and with the exception of studying abroad to become fluent in Spanish, he has remained in SC his entire life. He is a graduate of the College of Charleston and the University of South Carolina School of Law. As a law student, he received the Public Interest Law Society Grant to work in Washington, D.C., served as vice-president of the Pro Bono Board, and was a student member of the John Belton O'Neal Inn of Court. Following law school, he served as law clerk to the Honorable James R. Barber, III, of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the State of South Carolina before starting in private practice with Motley Rice, one of the largest plaintiff's firms in the country. William has a deep commitment to South Carolina and is very involved in his community in Charleston. He serves on the board of the Historic Charleston Foundation and actively supports numerous charitable organizations, including One80 Place, in their fight against homelessness, Communities in Schools, the Coastal Conservation League, and the Southern Environmental Law Center. William is a regular speaker at various legal conferences, is a member of the American Bar Association and Charleston County Bar Association, and is an active member of the South Carolina Association for Justice. When not working, William and his wife, Lydia, enjoy raising their two children in South Carolina. Read Full Bio Links: Yarborough Applegate IG: @yarboroughapplegate Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services - LegalTechService.com Digital Law Marketing - DigitalLawMarketing.com Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2

Jim Minick, Poet

Artemis Speaks

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2024 34:25

Jim Minick is the author or editor of eight books, including Without Warning: The Tornado of Udall, Kansas (nonfiction), Fire Is Your Water (novel), and The Blueberry Years: A Memoir of Farm and Family. His work has appeared in many publications, including The New York Times, Poets & Writers, Oxford American, Artemis Journal, Orion, Shenandoah, Appalachian Journal, Wind, and The Sun. He serves as co-editor of Pine Mountain Sand & Gravel. Minick's honors include the Jean Ritchie Fellowship in Appalachian Writing and the Fred Chappell Fellowship at UNC-Greensboro. Minick has also won awards from the Southern Independent Booksellers Association, Southern Environmental Law Center, The Virginia College Bookstore Association, Appalachian Writers Association, Radford University, and elsewhere. His poem “I Dream a Bean” was picked by Claudia Emerson for permanent display at the Tysons Corner/Metrorail Station. He's garnered grants from the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, Augusta University, the Georgia Humanities Council, and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.His newest book, The Intimacy of Spoons explores the many metaphors of the spoon: from love and marriage to the spoon of a grave that holds our bodies; from the darkness of loss and night, where “the Big Dipper is nothing but / the oldest spoon pointing us home”; to the darkness of lungs transformed into art. The poems cover a wide variety of topics—cultural, political, familial, and natural—and always, underlying these poems is the song of birds—with broken wings or clear voices, avian muses filling our forests now or long gone. There are nods to Basho and Thoreau, to Eliot and Frost, Dickinson and Milton, this last, a long poem that retells the story of Adam and Eve from the point of view of Mal, the apple. Likewise, The Intimacy of Spoons shares a variety of forms, from sonnet, sestina, and villanelle to syllabics, lyrics, and a ballad. At the center of the book is the long poem, “Elegy for My Body,” which uses wordplay and contrasting voices to explore mortality, because “You can't really do time; / it simply does us, / or undoes us, / us beings in the time being being beings / on Times Squared / waiting for the big ball to fall.” The poems of The Intimacy of Spoons return us to everyday stories and objects, common yet profound.

Man Transported to Hospital from Burning Home After SWAT Standoff

Cherokee Tribune-Ledger Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2024 10:18 Transcription Available

CTL Script/ Top Stories of March 30th Publish Date: March 29th From the Ingles Studio Welcome to the Award-Winning Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast Today is Saturday, March 30th, and Happy 86th Birthday to actor Warren Beatty. ***03.30.24 – BIRTHDAY – WARREN BEATTY*** I'm Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cherokee is talking about, presented by Credit Union of Georgia. Man Transported to Hospital from Burning Home After SWAT Standoff Sixes Elementary Student Reunites with Deployed Dad Marty Ferrell Sworn in as Canton's New Police Chief We'll have all this and more coming up on the Cherokee Tribune-Ledger Podcast, and if you're looking for Community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe! Commercial: CU of GA STORY 1: Man Transported to Hospital From Burning Home After SWAT Standoff A standoff in southwest Cherokee County ended with a 36-year-old man being transported to the hospital for minor injuries. Deputies responded to a wellness check where a man reported his son, armed with a rifle, was inside a home that had been shot at from within. SWAT and hostage negotiators were called in when contact couldn't be made. The suspect fired rounds at deputies and started a fire inside the house. SWAT members eventually removed him from the burning house. The man faces charges including criminal damage to property and reckless conduct. His identity was not disclosed by authorities. STORY 2: Sixes Elementary Student Reunites With Deployed Dad At Sixes Elementary School, a heartwarming surprise unfolded during lunch as fourth grader Caroline Janssen received an unexpected visit from her father, Master Sgt. Brian Janssen. Brian, who had been deployed overseas for six months, wasn't expected home until the next day. Students joyously cheered and thanked him for his service as Caroline and her dad shared a touching reunion. The heartwarming moment was celebrated by the school community, highlighting the bond between families and the sacrifices made by those in military service. STORY 3: Marty Ferrell Sworn in as Canton's New Police Chief Marty Ferrell was sworn in as the new Chief of Police for the Canton Police Department on March 27, officiated by Canton Mayor Bill Grant. With 33 years of experience, including serving as police chief in Marietta, Ferrell expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve Canton. He highlighted his commitment to learning from and contributing to the Canton community and police force. Ferrell's appointment follows the retirement of former Chief Stephen Merrifield, and Mayor Grant emphasized the importance of finding a qualified candidate who aligns with the department's values. Ferrell's leadership is anticipated to bring success to the Canton Police Department. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. Back in a moment Break: CURIOSITY LAB BIKE RACE – DRAKE STORY 4: Georgia Senate Passes ‘Culture Wars' Education Measure The Georgia Senate approved House Bill 1104, initially addressing mental-health risks for student athletes, but now containing various controversial provisions affecting schools. Passed along party lines, the bill prohibits sex education before sixth grade, mandates parental notification of library book checkouts, and enforces bathroom use based on birth certificate gender. Additionally, it bars transgender males from girls' sports. Republicans argue it safeguards children and empowers parents, while Democrats criticize the bill's amalgamation of contentious measures, labeling it a "Frankenstein bill." Concerns arise over its potential negative impact on LGBTQ students and its procedural approach. The bill requires further review by the House before final passage. STORY 5: Georgia Power and PSC Reach Agreement on Request for More Generating Capacity Georgia Power and state energy regulators have reached an agreement to boost the utility's electrical generating capacity, including constructing three new gas combustion turbines at Plant Yates near Newnan. According to Georgia Power's CFO, the revenue generated by this new capacity will outweigh the costs, resulting in savings of $2.89 per month for residential customers from 2026 to 2028. The agreement aims to maintain reliability, support economic development, and reduce rates for all customers. Georgia Power plans to add 2,600 megawatts of power to meet growing demand, utilizing gas turbines, power purchasing agreements, and expanding battery energy storage and distributed energy resources. However, the Southern Environmental Law Center opposes the agreement, criticizing it as favoring fossil fuels and potentially increasing energy bills, urging consideration of renewable options. The Public Service Commission is set to vote on the agreement on April 16. Commercial: INGLES 1 STORY 6: GOP Candidates for Georgia's 11th Congressional District Make Their Case to Voters Republican candidates for Georgia's 11th Congressional District, including incumbent U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, Lori Pesta, and Mike Pons, discussed their goals at a forum in Canton. Hosted by Republican organizations, they'll compete in the primary to face Democratic candidates in November. Loudermilk emphasized addressing the "weaponization of government," aiming for a free and safe nation. Pesta stressed an "America First" agenda, focusing on veterans' care. Pons highlighted concerns about Congress's operation, advocating for fiscal responsibility and preserving American freedoms. All candidates shared a commitment to restoring the American dream. STORY 7: What to Do When You See a Snake As spring arrives, Georgia's state herpetologist, Daniel Sollenberger, receives numerous inquiries about snakes. Most are harmless, but concerns often revolve around identifying venomous species and what actions to take. Sollenberger advises caution and recommends giving snakes space rather than attempting to handle them. Resources like the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website help identify snakes. While most species are nonvenomous and protected by law, venomous ones should be left alone. Sollenberger urges people to support wildlife conservation efforts and offers tips for preventing snake encounters near homes. We'll have closing comments after this. COMMERCIAL: HENRY CO SHERIFFS – ATL HEALTH FAIR SIGN OFF – Thanks again for listening to today's Cherokee Tribune Ledger podcast. . If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast, the Gwinnett Daily Post, the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties, or the Paulding County News Podcast. Get more on these stories and other great content at tribune ledger news.com. Giving you important information about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network Show Sponsors: ingles-markets.com drakerealty.com cuofga.org henrycountysheriffga.gov acc.org/ATLHealthFair #NewsPodcast #CurrentEvents #TopHeadlines #BreakingNews #PodcastDiscussion #PodcastNews #InDepthAnalysis #NewsAnalysis #PodcastTrending #WorldNews #LocalNews #GlobalNews #PodcastInsights #NewsBrief #PodcastUpdate #NewsRoundup #WeeklyNews #DailyNews #PodcastInterviews #HotTopics #PodcastOpinions #InvestigativeJournalism #BehindTheHeadlines #PodcastMedia #NewsStories #PodcastReports #JournalismMatters #PodcastPerspectives #NewsCommentary #PodcastListeners #NewsPodcastCommunity #NewsSource #PodcastCuration #WorldAffairs #PodcastUpdates #AudioNews #PodcastJournalism #EmergingStories #NewsFlash #PodcastConversationsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Environmental Justice

The Legal Eagle Review

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2023 59:44

Environmental racism describes the long-standing discriminatory practice of racial discrimination in environmental policy, the enforcement of regulations and laws, and the deliberate targeting of communities of color for the location of toxic waste facilities. On this show, we will discuss how the industrial hog operations in NC are contributing to environmental racism right here in North Carolina with our guests Blakely Hildebrand, a senior attorney at Southern Environmental Law Center, Sophia Jayanty, counsel in the fair housing division of Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and Christopher Brook, Former North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge, attorney with Patterson Harkavy, and adjunct professor at NCCU School of Law.

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UN Treaty and the Path Forward in the Battle Against Plastic Pollution

Speak Up For The Ocean Blue

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2023 53:36

In this episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast, host Andrew is joined by Margaret Spring to discuss the pressing issue of plastic pollution. Margaret shares updates on a UN treaty and highlights the research and programs conducted at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The conversation explores the actions needed from countries, companies, and individuals to reduce plastic use. Tune in to learn more about the impact of plastic pollution and how we can all contribute to protecting the ocean. Detailed Description Margaret Spring joins Andrew on the podcast to discuss Ocean Plastic Pollution. She has a background in science, initially pursuing a degree in marine science. However, she realized that she could make a greater impact on the environment and the ocean by pursuing a career in law. Margaret believed that becoming a lawyer would allow her to effectively translate scientific knowledge and communicate it to others. She also mentioned the need to translate scientific findings for their expert colleagues. Despite acknowledging the challenges and intense training required to become a lawyer, Margaret remained committed to using her love for science and expertise in law to advocate for ocean justice and the protection of the ocean. She also highlighted their experience working in organizations like the Southern Environmental Law Center and the Center for International Environmental Law, which provided them with a better understanding of policy and politics. During the episode, Margaret emphasized the importance of incorporating a business focus into the intersection of science and policy. She highlighted the efforts of her organization, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, in this regard, noting that they have been integrating business practices into their operations even before the guest's arrival. Margaret stressed the need to realistically assess the environmental impact of their operations, particularly on the ocean, and effectively communicate this information to visitors and audiences. Margaret also mentioned that their organization's credibility is enhanced by her commitment to modeling change and conservation. As a nonprofit organization, they rely on donations and contributions, but they also strive to conserve resources and manage expenses. They acknowledged the need to continuously improve their work and demonstrate tangible change. Additionally, Margaret acknowledged the fortunate position of their organization in California, a state with progressive policies in certain areas. Furthermore, Margaret recognized that the business aspect of conservation is often overlooked in discussions about marine biology and marine conservation. She believed that in the future, the business perspective will play a significant role in leading conservation initiatives, particularly in addressing issues like plastic pollution. By integrating a business focus into the intersection of science, policy, and conservation, she believed that they can have a greater impact and drive major policy changes that benefit everyone. Monterey Bay Aquarium Plastic Pollution Resources: https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/act-for-the-ocean/plastic-pollution/what-we-do Share your conservation journey on the podcast by booking here: https://calendly.com/sufb/sufb-interview Fill out our listener survey: https://www.speakupforblue.com/survey Join the audio program - Build Your Marine Science and Conservation Career: https://www.speakupforblue.com/career Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3NmYvsI Connect with Speak Up For Blue: Website: https://bit.ly/3fOF3Wf Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rIaJSG Twitter: https://bit.ly/3rHZxpc

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August 22, 2023: Piedmont Housing Alliance selected to develop Piedmont site at UVA; SELC files suit to keep Virginia in RGGI

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2023 15:04

In an era where every day seems to have a celebration of something obscure or suspect such as National Tooth Fairy Day or Be An Angel Day, every single installment of Charlottesville Community Engagement seeks to draw your attention to some of the complexity of the world and to point you in the direction of resources to make sense of something you don't know. I'm Sean Tubbs, hoping to spark curiosity and provide lamplight each and every day. On today's edition:* The Southern Environmental Law Center has filed a petition in Fairfax Circuit Court seeking to keep Virginia in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative* The University of Virginia has selected two groups to develop two affordable housing projects and Piedmont Housing Alliance is one of the choices* The Albemarle County Planning Commission continues its work on the Comprehensive Plan by taking a look at the proposed “activity center” designation This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

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Episode 95: Not as SEEMless as Some Thought…

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Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2023 32:41

On episode 95, we're joined by Maia Hutt of the Southern Environmental Law Center to break down the latest status of the Southeast Energy Exchange Market in light of a recent appeals court ruling. What does this ruling mean for SEEM moving forward? Tune in to hear what the future looks like for this trading market in the southeast. Additional resources from today's episode: Making Energy Work: www.makingenergywork.com Solar Surpasses Coal Generation: https://bit.ly/3rOG8Xm This episode is brought to you by Solarize the Triangle: https://bit.ly/3NRPoRL Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

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#187: The PFAS Puzzle: Lessons On Regulations

waterloop

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2023

This episode is part of a series The PFAS Puzzle: Lessons From A Contaminated Cape Fear. The forever chemicals were dumped in the North Carolina river for nearly 40 years before being discovered. The series explores how a community responds when it is the epicenter of PFAS pollution.This episode is about regulations.Some of the big questions about PFAS are how industrial facilities have been able to discharge the chemicals and whether regulations like the Clean Water Act are being properly utilized. Those regulatory issues and the situation for the Cape Fear River are discussed in this episode with Elizabeth Biser, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, and Geoff Gisler, Program Director at the Southern Environmental Law Center. They talk about the requirements for compliance with a consent order and groundbreaking permit for a facility on the Cape Fear. Geoff summarizes the variety of PFAS litigation around the country and direction of the legal fight, while Elizabeth explains the response and approach by state regulators.waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. Visit waterloop.orgThis series is sponsored by: Black & Veatch, providing end-to-end consulting, engineering, and construction services to address each community's unique PFAS needs. Learn more at bv.com/pfasPFASComms.com, who makes utilities the trusted, go-to-source for PFAS information in the community. Visit pfascomms.comALTRA, a company with the most robust PFAS treatment solution. Visit logistec.com/pfas-solutions/

S2E2. Explainer: The Controversy over Wood Pellets

Free Range with Mike Livermore

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2023 50:41

On this episode of Free Range, Host Mike Livermore is joined by two University of Virginia Law students, Matt Disandro and Elizabeth Putfark, who have produced this explainer episode on the pros and cons of wood pellets as a replacement for fossil fuels. To make wood pellets, wood from trees is broken apart, heated to reduce moisture, converted to a fine powder, and compressed to form dense, short pellets. According to Daniel Reinemann from Bioenergy Europe, a nonprofit based in Brussels that advocates for biomass energy, wood pellets are the closest thing that the biomass market has to a commodity. (6:50-8:09) Dr. Knight, the Group Director of Sustainability at the U.K energy company Drax, explains the key difference between biomass and fossil fuels: fossil fuels take millions of years to turn biological matter into fuel; biomass, on the other hand, was carbon in the sky a few years ago. Disandro, Putfark, Knight, and Reinemann discuss carbon sequestration, the carbon dividend, and the potential technology known as “BECCS” – bioenergy carbon capture and storage. Many policies encourage the use of wood pellets, including the European Union Renewable Energy Directive. (8:10-19:57) The biomass industry doesn't just affect Europe; it also impacts wood pellet manufacturers in the Southeast United States, which is very rich in timber. To discuss the market for pellets in the Southeast US, Disandro and Putfark are joined by Professor Bob Abt, a forest economist at North Carolina State University. Abt discusses the tradeoffs and distributional consequences of the growing demand for wood pellets from the Southeast. (19:58-24:42) Notwithstanding support in the EU for wood pellets, conservationists have been raising alarms. Lousie Guillot, a journalist at Politico, provides some background on the controversy. (24:43-26:46) According to Dr. Mary Booth, the director of the Partnership for Policy Integrity's science and advocacy work, burning wood is not a carbon neutral energy source. Dr. Booth and the hosts discuss the urgency of reducing emissions now and the important role trees play in taking carbon out of the atmosphere. (26:46 – 31:20) One feature of the controversy is how the Renewable Energy Directive classifying wood pellets as a zero-carbon energy source, despite objections from some environmentalists. (31:21 – 33:27) An additional question is whether wood pellets are mostly derived from forest refuse -- which is the treetops, branches, and diseased trees left behind from logging – rather than whole trees. Heather Hillaker, at the Southern Environmental Law Center, explains her research on wood pellet sourcing in the U.S. Southeast. Using satellite imagery, SELC's geospatial team found that 84% of the hardwood material being used for bioenergy came from whole trees instead of refuse. Guillot shares details of similar problems happening in European forests. (33:28 – 38:49) Hillaker goes on to discusses the social and community impacts of the wood pellet mills on environmental justice communities. (38:51 – 44:59) Livermore, Disandro and Putfark wrap up the episode by discussing their own views on the pros and cons of wood pellets and what, if anything, the wood pellets experience teaches about broader issues in climate policy. (45:00 – 51:43)

Ramona McGee - Southern Environmental Law Center

WILDERNESS AND WILDLIFE

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2022 28:52

Ramona McGee is Senior Attorney and leader of the Southern Environmental Law Center's Wildlife Program. Since 2015, Ramona has protected southern wildlife as an SELC attorney using a combination of advocacy and policy protective of the region's unique biodiversity. She was born and raised on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska, where she developed a love for the natural world that inspires her everyday work at SELC. A graduate of Lewis & Clark College and the University of North Carolina School of Law, Ramona has lived in North Carolina since 2009. Ramona now leads SELC's Wildlife Team as a senior attorney based in Chapel Hill. In this interview, she discusses the work she is doing on behalf of the endangered Red Wolf.Support the show

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Ep 010 - Lolis Eric Elie : The Whys

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2022 33:06

Today, for our last episode in this BATCH of Earth Stories, we look back at one of the most monumental environmental disasters in American history. While many stories have been written about how New Orleans came back after Katrina, at The Bitter Southerner, we were interested in a deeper question: Why did the people of New Orleans come back and rebuild their city? In episode 10, journalist and filmmaker, Lolis Eric Elie reads his piece “The Whys” - it's as powerful as anything we've ever published, and we're excited to share it on BATCH. Among many other works, Lolis' credits include working on the HBO series “Treme;” co- producing and writing the PBS documentary, “Faubourg Treme: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans,” as well as co-authoring “Rodney Scott's World of Barbecue: Every Day's a Good Day” A quick content warning for those listening with children or anyone who may not want to hear this right now; this episode has unbleeped adult language as well as mentions of death and suicide. Original Story The Whys Credits Hosted by Kyle Tibbs Jones Produced by Ryan Engelberger Engineered by Thomas Sully Allen and Mike Casentini Featuring original music by Curt Castle Recorded at Chase Park Transduction & Tweed Recording in Athens GA, and The Network Studios in Los Angeles, CA. Made possible by the support of Southern Environmental Law Center

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Episode 009 - Jessica Bradley Wells : Where the Tupelo Grows

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Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2022 33:56

In our latest "Earth Stories" episode, Bitter Southerner contributor Jessica Bradley Wells reads her sweet tale, "Where the Tupelo Grows." Since the 1800s (way before Van Morrison's hit "Tupelo Honey" or Peter Fonda starring in "Ulee's Gold,") locals in the panhandle of Florida have been harvesting our rare, sweet, and precious tupelo honey. So put in your earbuds and travel with Jessica to Wewahitchka, Florida, where the white tupelo tree grows and where beekeepers Gary Adkison and his wife, "Miss Pam," joyfully carry on the Tupelo tradition. This story has it all — a Southern food staple, music, an important ecosystem, and even a Facebook romance. We love it and hope you'll listen! To taste and savor some Tupelo Honey of your very own, visit Gary and Miss Pam's website here: www.blue-eyedgirlhoney.com/ Original Story Where the Tupelo Grows Credits Hosted by Kyle Tibbs Jones Produced by Ryan Engelberger Engineered by Thomas Sully Allen and Morgan Snow Featuring original music by Curt Castle Recorded at Chase Park Transduction and Tweed Recording in Athens GA, and Charlotte Star Room in Charlotte, North Carolina Made possible by the support of the Southern Environmental Law Center

Ep 008 - Boyce Upholt : Down To The Tide Line

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Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2022 29:39

In Episode 8, writer Boyce Upholt notes, “There's a lot of beauty and joy and wonder in the world. And of all the beautiful places in our country, the Southeastern coast is one of our most beloved and extraordinary.” Oh, how we love our beaches! Unfortunately, our coastlines are now some of the most at risk due to the accelerating impacts of climate change, sea level rise, intensifying storms, and flooding. In “Down To The Tide Line,” Boyce takes the long view of this ever changing place where the land meets the sea, reminding us that it's by cosmic luck that we've wound up on a planet quite so beautiful. We hope you enjoy Boyce's reading and conversation with our host, Kyle Tibbs Jones. This essay is great and the episode is short — only 30 minutes! Note: we recorded our conversation with Boyce Upholt prior to Hurricane Ian roaring through Florida in September. And as we publish this episode, we are just beginning to assess the devastating destruction there. Our thoughts are with everyone in Fort Myers and the surrounding area who were impacted. Boyce Upholt is a freelance writer living in New Orleans. He won the 2019 James Beard Award for investigative journalism, and his work has been noted in the Best American Science and Nature Writing series. Original Story Down to the Tideline Credits Hosted by Kyle Tibbs Jones Produced by Ryan Engelberger Engineered by Thomas Sully Allen and Ben Lorio Featuring original music by Curt Castle Recorded at Tweed Recording in Athens GA, and Music Shed Studios in New Orleans, LA Made possible by the support of the Southern Environmental Law Center

Episode 87 - Part 1 of 3 - Virginia Mini Series - Tasha Durrett, Founder of Black Women Who Wine

A Cork in the Road

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2022 33:49

This is the first episode of a 3-part mini series dedicated to all things Virginia Wine in partnership with The Veraison Project and Oenoverse initiatives. We begin this episode with an introduction to these initiatives along with an overview of their upcoming outreach efforts. The Oenoverse is an initiative dedicated to building diversity, inclusion, equity, and ownership, within the Virginia wine community. The goal is to significantly contribute to creating a more inclusive Virginia wine industry through focused outreach efforts to involve and include people from historically excluded and underrepresented communities. Leaders and wine enthusiasts within the BIPOC communities inform and lead the project's outreach efforts, one of which is a series of tasting events led by featured wine professionals, Sommeliers, and wine enthusiasts. Through these community events and coordinated efforts, the goal is to reach a more diverse audience as well as encourage increased winery visitation and tourism of the area. You can learn more by connecting on social media @oenoverse. The Veraison Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit comprised of a volunteer group of Wine Industry Professionals also committed to making the wine industry a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive place. Their goal is to make wine education accessible to a more diverse audience by providing sponsorships to pursue WSET and sommelier certifications while also expanding access to mentoring and networking opportunities. You can find them online at @theveraisonproject. The goal of the Oenoverse and Veraison Project partnership is to present Virginia wine in comfortable, conversational, educational, and inclusive settings with the hope of attracting new consumers while also expanding the experiences offered to existing consumers. This team was recently awarded a grant from the Virginia Wine Marketing grant program to produce a series of Virginia wine events focused on creating a more inclusive and diverse industry and community. The first of episode of the mini series features Tasha Durrett, a wine enthusiast and educator based in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. Born and raised in Virginia wine country, she founded Black Women Who Wine in 2019. Black Women Who Wine is a group focused on increasing the visibility and participation of Black women in the wine industry and agritourism throughout the state. It holds monthly meetups, offering members opportunities for socializing and wine education. Tasha also offers private tastings and collaboration on events and wine tours. A writer and communicator, Tasha is a former journalist and currently a communications manager at the Southern Environmental Law Center where she helps bring attention and awareness to transportation and environmental justice issues throughout the South. She says that since a young age, she has been especially interested in land ownership and opportunities for such throughout the Southern region and how the history of the region has shaped the entire nation. Tasha is also currently a host for the 2022 Blenheim Vineyards' Oenoverse wine club. You can connect with her on social media at @blackwomenwhowine. Recorded October 2, 2022 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/acorkintheroad/support

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Ep 007 - Jim Barger : The Untold Story of Hibiscus Grandiflorus

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Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2022 50:44

In our second BATCH (5 episodes called "Earth Stories"), we're digging into fragile, precious, and sometimes surprising places across the South. In Episode 7, writer Jim Barger reads his piece "The Untold Story of Hibiscus Grandiflorus." Listen as Jim takes us deep into the interior forest of a barrier island, where he witnesses a grove of gigantic prehistoric flowers - flowers the world had thought lost. Jim is an outspoken advocate for conservation and protecting the Georgia coast. His magical story and conversation with our host, Kyle Tibbs Jones, make for an entertaining episode. Original Story The Untold Story of Hibiscus Grandiflorus Credits Hosted by Kyle Tibbs Jones Produced by Ryan Engelberger Engineered by Anthony Stubelek (who is a real treasure) and Thomas Sully Allen Featuring original music by Curt Castle Recorded at Tweed Recording and Chase Park Transduction in Athens GA, and Rockstudio in Brunswick, GA Made possible by the support of the Southern Environmental Law Center

Ep 006 - Janisse Ray : Okefenokee, Heavy & Precious

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Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2022 59:49

in Episode 6, "Okefenokee Heavy & Precious," Janisse Ray almost whispers her cautionary tale. Her voice is mesmerizing, her writing takes our breath away, and the message of her story sets our hearts on fire to save the swamp. Janisse is an acclaimed author and environmental activist whose first book, the memoir Ecology of a Cracker Childhood won the American Book Award. Since then, there have been many books and stories, some in The Bitter Southerner. We launched "Okefenokee Heavy & Precious" on our website this past week. Now, on our BATCH podcast, you can listen to Janisse read her inspiring words. Original Story Okefenokee, Heavy & Precious Credits Hosted by Kyle Tibbs Jones Produced by Ryan Engelberger Additional engineering by Thomas Sully Allen Featuring original music by Curt Castle Recorded at Tweed Recording and Standard Electric Recorders in Scottdale, GA Made possible by the support of the Southern Environmental Law Center

NC NAACP v. Moore Decision To Invalidate the Voter ID And Tax Cap Constitutional Amendments

The Legal Eagle Review

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2022 54:49

On this show, we talk with Kym Meyer, Senior Attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center, about the NC NAACP's successful challenge to two 2018 constitutional amendments which would have imposed a Photo Voter ID requirement and a 7% cap on the State's income taxes, and the recent decision by the North Carolina Supreme Court to invalidate the amendments.

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Episode 76: From the Ground Up - Better Plans to Achieve a Carbon-Free 2050

American Democracy Minute

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2022 47:10

On the latest episode, we're joined by a group of carbon plan intervenors who discuss more cost-effective pathways to achieving meaningful emissions reductions in North Carolina. Tyler Norris of Cypress Creek Renewables, David Neal of the Southern Environmental Law Center, and Adrienne Mouton-Henderson of the Clean Energy Buyers Association break down why Duke Energy's proposed carbon plan doesn't go far enough. Further, our guests talk about the importance of proactive transmission planning and large customer renewable programs, as well as the cost-effectiveness of clean energy as compared to other generation sources. Making Energy Work: www.makingenergywork.com Synapse Carbon Plan: https://bit.ly/3cqmBVO Brattle Group Study: https://bit.ly/3AVxHLN CEBA Carbon Plan Comments: https://bit.ly/3R6hE3i Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

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Episode 91: North Carolina Supreme Court May Invalidate Constitutional Amendment Proposed by Gerrymandered Legislature

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2022 1:29

North Carolina Supreme Court May Invalidate Constitutional Amendment Proposed by Gerrymandered LegislatureToday's LinksArticles:Charlotte News & Observer - NC's highest court rules on gerrymandered legislature's power, but the case isn't overSouthern Environmental Law Center - North Carolina Supreme Court rules that racially gerrymandered legislature does not have unlimited authority to change NC's Constitution Ballotpedia - Voter ID in North CarolinaGroups Taking Action:North Carolina NAACP, Southern Environmental Law Center, Forward JusticeYou're listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.Here's a fascinating case from North Carolina that you'll hear more about in the mainstream press in the next few days. The North Carolina Supreme Court has conditionally ruled that because the state's legislature was elected with gerrymandered voting maps, state constitutional amendments enacted in 2018 may be invalid.The case is being called “groundbreaking” and could have huge implications, but it's not yet settled. Ballotpedia & the Charlotte News & Observer report that in 2018, voters passed a constitutional amendment to require photo ID to vote. Shortly after, the legislature passed SB 824 to codify it. The governor vetoed it, which the legislature then overrode, precipitating the lawsuits.Voting rights advocates argued that 28 districts were knowingly racially gerrymandered, and that two-thirds of the districts needed to be redrawn to be in compliance with the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Under that argument, the legislature therefore did not have the legal authority to propose the amendment in the first place. The state supreme court agreed. The state high court did not overturn the amendment, however. It returned the case to the lower court with guidance and questions, and asked for a more rigorous opinion that the state's high court could further consider. North Carolina NAACP's Deborah Maxwell, said of the ruling, “Rigging elections by trampling on the rights of Black voters has consequences.”See links to articles and groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org For the American Democracy Minute, I'm Brian Beihl.

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Episode 74: Raising the Roof on NC's Residential Solar Market

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Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2022 38:01

On the latest episode of the podcast, we sit down with Lauren Bowen, Senior Attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center, to shed light on the quickly evolving rooftop solar market in North Carolina. It's no secret that this has been a hot topic in the clean energy industry over the past year or so, including proposals for time of use rate structures and new HOA updates resulting from recent NC Supreme Court ruling. We dive into what led to these changes and how homeowners should plan to navigate incentives, rebates, and HOAs moving forward. Additional resources from today's episode: Federal Clean Energy Deal: https://wapo.st/3Jso9uF Clean Energy Advocates' Carbon Plan Filing: https://bit.ly/3PYALeQ Residential NEM Settlement: https://bit.ly/3OPUbSo Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

April 29, 2022: Group files suit against Charlottesville for alleged FOIA violations; Foxfield Races are tomorrow

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2022 15:45

Five Fridays in one month? What will they think of next? In any case, did you get enough showers this April? And, could someone remind me what May is for? I’ve lost my handbook of trivial facts that pepper up most installments of Charlottesville Community Engagement, a newsletter and podcast that strives to bring something of relevant importance each and every time. I’m the host, Sean Tubbs.What will happen if you sign up? You’ll get each and every newsletter sent to your inbox for free! Consider paying to guarantee more will be produced!On today’s program:The Virginia Senate Finance and Appropriations deals a mortal blow to Governor Youngkin’s gas tax holidayA quick look at the commercial and retail market in the Charlottesville areaThe spring running of Foxfield Races is tomorrow And a lawsuit is filed against the City of Charlottesville alleging violations of the Freedom of Information Act First shout-out: The Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Campaign It’s springtime, and one Patreon supporter wants you to know the Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Campaign is a grassroots initiative of motivated citizens, volunteers, partner organizations, and local governments who want to promote the use of native plants. This spring the group is working with retailers across the region to encourage purchase of plants that belong here and are part of an ecosystem that depends on pollination. There are plenty of resources on the Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Facebook page, so sign up to be notified of lectures, plant sales, and more!FOIA suit filed against CharlottesvilleA pair of activists and a journalist have filed suit against the City of Charlottesville seeking the release of documents they claim should be made available through the Freedom of Information Act. Attorney Jeff Fogel filed a petition Thursday in Charlottesville Circuit Court on behalf of Tanesha Hudson, Cherry Hanley of the People’s Coalition, and Dave McNair of The DTM who submitted two separate requests for information. One was on March 24, 2022. (read the petition)“For the years 2020 and 2021, all records concerning the settlement of claims of police misconduct, or other violation of constitutional rights, by the city or any of its employees, whether or not the claim was filed in an administrative or judicial agency.” A second request was submitted on April 4 which among other items sought the release of “all records concerning the settlement of claims of police misconduct.” The petition includes two exhibits of the results, which contain many redactions. Fogel argues that not all of the information was privileged under state law and that five settlement documents should have been made available as part of the FOIA request. “The above violations of the FOIA Act by Defendant, City of Charlottesville, deprives not only petitioners, but every citizen of the community and other interested persons, the rights granted to them under the provisions of the FOIA Act,” reads paragraph 27 of the petition. Paragraph 28 argues that the city’s policy of requiring non-disparagement clauses or non-disclosure agreements as part of settlement agreements is a violation of a person’s First Amendment rights. The petition seeks an opinion on that interpretation. According to the petition, Hudson settled a First Amendment claim with the city in August 2020 that required her to enter into a nondisclosure agreement. Exhibit A includes redacted correspondence between lawyers hired by both the city and former City Manager Tarron Richardson. Richardson filed suit last year in federal court alleging that the city violated the terms of a nondisparagement clause related to his departure from the city in September 2020. He withdrew from the case in a filing of voluntary dismissal on March 8. (read Exhibit A) (read Exhibit B)“The [Virginia Risk Sharing Association], as the City’s insurer, has the authority to settle a case,” wrote city attorney Lisa Robertson in a March 9 email to former Mayor Nikuyah Walker. “The VSRA attorney appointed to represent City Council dealt with Dr. Richardson’s attorney. No city funds are being paid out.”Walker had wanted more information on how the suit came to be dismissed. The former mayor had been named as a party in Richardson’s case, as had a former city attorney.“Virginia Risk Sharing Association did not assign an attorney to you, John Blair, or [former City Councilor] Heather Hill because Dr. Richardson never served any of you with process,” Robertson wrote. This story was originally out with the incorrected person attributed in the quotation above. A less drunken Foxfield? It’s time again for the annual spring running of the Foxfield Races. That means that Garth Road will be closed between Barracks Farm Road and Free Union Road between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. “Anyone not attending the event should avoid the area,” reads an email from the Albemarle County Police Department. “Keep in mind, heavy traffic delays should be expected until 5:30 pm, even after the roadway reopens.”This will be the first spring races since Foxfield has updated its policies on alcohol. Vehicles that park in tailgating spaces are only permitted two fifths of hard liquor, three bottles of wine, and three six-packs of beer, seltzer, or cider. Those who drive in are permitted to leave their vehicles within 48 hours of the conclusion of the races. Those with tickets for what’s known as the New Orange area are not allowed to bring in any alcohol at all, but can purchase from approved vendors. Several years ago, there was an attempt to sell the property that resulted in a lawsuit. Parts of the property are now under a conservation easement. Rent continues to increase for office and retail space in Charlottesville areaA major Virginia real estate company that specializes in commercial space has published its latest report on the Charlottesville market. Cushman Wakefield | Thalhimer begins with an overall assessment of the economy. “After experiencing its highest unemployment rate on record of 10.2 percent in April 2020, Charlottesville employment has rebounded to near pre-pandemic levels of more than 116,000,” reads the top of the retail report.The vacancy rate for office space is at 9 percent, but some of that is related to the placement of 359,000 square feet of space in the former State Farm Headquarters. Recently constructed space is beginning to fill in. “Apex Plaza delivered in the first quarter with a total of 187,000 square feet,” reads the office report. “Home to Apex Clean Energy and The Southern Environmental Law Center among other tenants.”The report also notes the CODE building is coming online with coworking space and traditional offices. The price to rent these spaces is also increasing. “Overall market rents reached north of $26 per square foot (psf), a historic high, and downtown Class A office rents are averaging north of $35 psf,” the report continues. The retail report notes that more than 155,000 square of retail space have been built since 2020, and more is on the way. “Projects like Albemarle Business Campus and Brookhill Town Center will bring continued growth to the market, delivering office and residential opportunities as well as restaurant and retail spaces, which are now pre-leasing,” reads the retail report.The average asking rent for retail is $19.04 per square foot. As for residential properties, I’ll be posting an anecdotal review of transactions early next week. Paid subscribers will get the first look before that content will go over to Information Charlottesville. Shout-outs for Raised/Razed screening, ebike demonstrationsIn today’s second and this subscriber-supported shout-outs, Preservation Piedmont wants you to know about this Saturday’s premiere of Raised/Razed, a film by filmmaker Lorenzo Dickerson and Jordy Yager about the life and destruction of Vinegar Hill, one of the oldest African American neighborhoods in Charlottesville. The Maupintown Media production charts the lives of residents over nearly a century as they built prosperity in the face of racially discriminatory policies at every level. The film will be willl be shown outdoors at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center at 8 p.m. Tickets are available on the center’s website with donations to be divided between seven Black-led organizations. On Sunday, May 1, from 2:00-4:00. A pair of interested ebike owners in town will be bringing their bikes to Meade Park, and anybody who's interested can stop by, ask questions, and take test rides. They will have some ebikes with seats for children. If you’re going, drop them a line in this form. Virginia Senate panel kills Youngkin bill for three-month waiver of fuel tax When Virginia legislators went to Richmond Wednesday to respond to Governor Youngkin’s 26 vetos and dozens of proposed amendments related to the official 2022 session, a Virginia Senate committee met to consider one of the only policy bills in the special session that’s currently underway.The Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee voted 12 to 3 on a motion to waive a bill to halt the motor fuel tax for a three month period. Chair Janet Howell said what Youngkin calls surplus funds are intended to pay for new infrastructure.“In 2020, the General Assembly made significant efforts to provide long-term, bipartisan transportation funding solutions and this included a two-year phased increase in gas taxes,” Howell said. Howell said the bill (HB 6001) would reduce available funding for new transportation projects and maintenance by around $437 million. “I also wanted to emphasize that other approaches supported by the Senate such as a tax rebate check or a refundable earned-income tax credit would likely be more effective options in providing relief to our citizens,” Howell said. Ser Stephen Newman (R-23) said the bill is intended as an emergency measure given the growth in inflation. “Over the last 12 months, the [Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers] has increased by 8.5 percent, the largest 12 month increase since 1981,” Newman said. “In 2020 when the omnibus bill that [Howell] spoke about was passed, the CPI-U was 1 percent.” Newman said the average price of gas was $2.42 a gallon when the bill was passed, an amount that has increase to over $4 a gallon. He disputed the claim that maintenance programs will be affected by the three month waiver. ‘In comparison to past [Six Year Improvement Programs], VDOT’s construction program remains overfunded by over $600 million,” Newman said. Senator Richard Saslaw (D-35) said he didn’t think any money available for transportation should be taken away. “The condition of the roads in Northern Virginia, and I can’t say for the rest of the state, are the worst [I]have seen in the 42 years I’ve been in office,” Saslaw said. Saslaw described Braddock Road as a secondary road that carries 80,000 vehicles a day. “It looks like they have driven tanks up that road,” Saslaw said, “I have never seen roads torn up to the degree that they were and when we left the session in March, on my way home I hit a pothole.” Saslaw said it cost him $300 to get that fixed. The 12 votes to defeat the bill included Republican Senator Emmett W. Hanger (R-24). Moomaw article on 2022 House race is a must-readFor the past few months, I’ve been trying to keep track of a federal lawsuit seeking a House of Delegates election in 2022, a year off of the regular schedule. If that happens, things would have to move very quickly. If you’ve not followed this case, I highly recommend reading Graham Moomaw’s article posted today on Virginia Mercury that goes in-depth into what could be a historic election. Local vehicular fatalities in Albemarle To close up the show today, following up with something from a previous story this month. Earlier this month, the Department of Motor Vehicles reported that Virginia hit a 14-year high in traffic fatalities in 2021, and that the state is on track to surpass that amount this year. Looking locally, there were 16 total fatalities on roads in Albemarle County in 2021, including on Interstate 64. Those were among 968 people killed on roadways in Virginia last year. There have been two deaths in Albemarle so far this year. Help support Town Crier Productions with a paid subscription to this newsletter!For one year now, Town Crier Productions has a promo with Ting!Are you interested in fast internet? Visit this site and enter your address to see if you can get service through Ting. If you decide to proceed to make the switch, you’ll get:Free installationSecond month of Ting service for freeA $75 gift card to the Downtown MallAdditionally, Ting will match your Substack subscription to support Town Crier Productions, the company that produces this newsletter and other community offerings. So, your $5 a month subscription yields $5 for TCP. Your $50 a year subscription yields $50 for TCP! The same goes for a $200 a year subscription! All goes to cover the costs of getting this newsletter out as often as possible. Learn more here! This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

April 20, 2022: City Council briefed on planning for climate action; House Finance Committee moves forward with gas tax holiday

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2022 16:07

April 20 is Chinese Language Day but perhaps more importantly, 4/20 is also Lima Bean Respect Day, National Banana Day, and National Cheddar Fries Day. Is there anything else that signifies this day? While you ponder that question, I’ll tell you that this is Charlottesville Community Engagement, a program back from a brief break and ready to get going with another year of information as it flows. On today’s program:Charlottesville City Council gets an update on what environmental staff are doing to plan for climate actionFatalities on Virginia roads reached a 14-year high in 2021Andy Parker concedes in the 5th District race to be the Democratic nomineePaul Goldman explains in writing to a federal judge why he thinks a House of Delegates race must be run this year And the Virginia House of Finance advances a bill to provide a three month period where fuel haulers would not have to pay a tax to the state of Virginia First shout-out goes to the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority for e-waste collection dayIn today’s first subscriber supported public service announcement, the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority wants you to know about Electronic Waste Collection Day coming up on April 23, 2022. Residents of both Albemarle County and Charlottesville have the opportunity to drop off old electronics from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ivy Material Utilization Center. Permissible items include computers, printers, VCRs, stereos and televisions and people can dispose of up to ten items. Only two tube-style monitors or televisions per person! You must register in advance online where you will be give a time slot. Registration is limited to 110 people per hour. Visit rivanna.org for more information.Crashes reached 14-year high in Virginia in 2021Nine hundred and sixty-eight people died on Virginia roads last year. That’s the highest number in 14 years, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Fatalities were up in several categories including speed-related crashes, pedestrians, motorcyclists, young drivers, and bicyclists. The acting commissioner of the DMV is urging people to slow down, wear seat belts, and avoid distractions. “Vehicles and roadways are safer than they ever have been, yet we continue to lose lives to senseless crashes,” said Linda Ford, who is also Governor Glenn Youngkin’s highway safety representative. “Do your part to help.”Last year’s numbers in Virginia are part of a national trend toward higher fatalities in 2021 when over 31,000 people died across the United States in the first nine months. The full data for the whole country will be available later this year. 2022 might be worse than 2021. So far this year, 245 people have been killed on Virginia roadways, which is a 12 percent increase over last year. Parker concedes Democratic nomination to ThroneburgA candidate who failed to get a thousand signatures to be on the Democratic ballot in the June 21 primary has conceded to the only one who met that threshold. Andy Parker made his announcement via Twitter on Monday.“I was looking forward to a spirited primary and campaign against [incumbent Bob] Good but did not meet the technical requirements to be on the primary ballot,” Parker wrote in the tweet. Parker’s daughter was murdered on live television while doing a report from Smith Mountain Lake in 2015, along with her colleague. The default nominee, Josh Throneburg, noted this in his statement on Parker’s concession. "Andy is a person who rose from the ashes of his tragic personal loss and dedicated himself to a life of public service,” Throneburg wrote in a statement. “He was a tireless advocate who wanted to shield other families from the terrible grief he experienced, and I know his mission doesn’t end with this race.” First-term incumbent Bob Good faces Dan Moy in the Republican convention to be held on May 21 at Hampden Sydney College in Prince Edward County. That’s right in the middle of the new Fifth District as drawn by two Special Masters appointed by the Virginia Supreme Court last year to complete the redistricting process. Goldman files new motion arguing for oral arguments in suit to force 2022 Delegate electionWhen the statewide primary is held on June 21, will there be candidates for the House of Delegates on the ballot? Richmond attorney Paul Goldman hopes so and filed a new document on Monday arguing why Judge David Novak should not dismiss the case. To recap, Goldman filed suit against the Virginia Board of Elections last year asserting that their certification of the 2021 election was unlawful because the districts were based on the 2010 Census. Goldman argues that action violates the principle of “one person, one vote” because some legislative districts are much larger than others. “The old House District 87 ranked as the most populated with 130,192 inhabitants,” Goldman writes on page seven. “Old House District 75 ranked as the least populated with 67,404 inhabitants.” The response goes into detail in its claim that this deviation is unconstitutional and deserves a remedy in the form of an election this year based on the new districts. At heart, Goldman argues that none of the current members of the House of Delegates are in legally valid districts, citing the Cosner v. Dalton case that forced a House of Delegates race in 1982. (learn more on Wikipedia)Virginia’s Solicitor General has until April 25 to respond to Goldman’s response. Second shout-out goes to a Charlottesville Jazz Society event this weekendIn today’s second subscriber-supported shout-out, the Charlottesville Jazz Society is partnering with the Front Porch and the Tom Tom Festival to host musician Joel Harrison and Free Country this upcoming Saturday. The free show will feature the guitarist, composer, and vocalist with the touring band of Adam Larrabee on guitar, Stephan Crump on bass, and Jordan Perlson on drums. The timeless, haunting melodies of this music anchor the flights of improvisation that the band creates anew every night. The tour is funded in part by South Arts through the auspices of the Doris Duke Fund and the Jazz Road initiative. For more information, visit frontporchcville.org! Charlottesville City Council briefed on climate actionEarlier this year, the nonprofit group Community Climate Collaborative waged a campaign to get Charlottesville City Council to push staff toward meeting the city’s greenhouse gas emission goals. On July 1, 2019, Council adopted a goal of reducing community-wide gas emissions by 45 percent of 2011 levels by 2030, and to be carbon neutral by 2050. Council had an hour-long work session on the issue on Monday. Kristel Riddervold, the city’s environmental sustainability and facilities development manager, led off the discussion.“The city of Charlottesville has had an active climate program since 2007 when it committed to reducing community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by joining the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement,” Riddervold said. (watch the update)Riddervold said the City reaffirmed that commitment by also joining the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, which offers resources for both reduction of gasses and adaptation to changing weather patterns. “We use the terms climate action to be the umbrella for both of these areas of focus,” Riddervold said. The presentation covered what work has been underway since the July 2019 goal was endorsed by Council. Riddervold said there have been stumbling blocks to preparing a specific climate action plan, and that includes the adoption of a new Comprehensive Plan. She also said going through several city managers during that time has been an issue, as has been the loss of top management in city government.“I for example have been serving not only as the environmental sustainability manager, but also since mid-2018, the facilities development manager, and have been pulled into a variety of roles and responsibilities,” Riddervold said. The city is currently taking applications for a climate program specialist to assist with planning and action. The job closes April 29, if you know of anyone. “What we are looking at now is a reboot of focused effort to bring this process back on the rails and to get back on the same page,” Riddervold said. Riddervold acknowledged the frustration on the part of climate groups and she asked for their support going forward.Susan Elliott, the city’s climate protection manager, said a climate hazard assessment is complete, a climate vulnerability assessment is underway, and the adaptation plan will be ready for review next year.“In parallel with these planning activities on these two tracks, we are also still delivering a program aimed at supporting and achieving greenhouse gas emissions across our community,” Elliot said. “What we have seen when we look at our emissions community-wide is that approximately 95 percent of emissions are coming from the community outside of our local government control and about five percent are from our municipal operations.” About 30 percent comes from residential, 30 percent comes from transportation, and 30 percent comes from commercial uses. That will inform where government resources will go. “This includes supporting and funding energy efficiency improvements including hundreds of home energy assessments annually, helping to find gap fill measures so that our low-income houses are as eligible for as many utility-funded programs as possible, providing EnergySmart home rebates, [and] the Commercial and Clean Energy Loan Fund,” Elliott said.Other recent initiatives:This month, the city hired CMTA Energy Solutions to review public buildings to see how energy and water usage could be reduced (press release)Charlottesville Area Transit is conducting a study of how vehicles might transition to alternative fuels Charlottesville participated in an urban heat island study last summer (press release)Lower occupancy in city buildings due to the pandemic lead to less water and energy use (press release)This morning, the city also released two public surveys to help inform future planning efforts. One is a climate action survey and the other is a climate vulnerability survey. Both will close on May 20. Youngkin’s bill to temporarily eliminate gas tax advances The Virginia General Assembly is in special session but have not had much action. Yesterday, the House of Delegates Finance Committee heard testimony of a bill sent down from Governor Glenn Youngkin that would waive the state motor fuel tax from May 1 to July 31. “The purpose for this bill is to help cut the cost for Virginia families and fight the price of gasoline that has increased 48 percent in the last 12 months,” said Delegate Tara Durant (R-28). “This uses unanticipated transportation revenues to provide Virginians much needed tax relief.”Under the bill, the tax would be restored to half-strength in August and September before going back to normal in October. Speaking to the bill, Transportation Secretary Shep Miller talked about its fiscal impact. “The revenue impact for the FY22-24 budget that I am responsible for is about $470 million,” Miller said. “That’s about a 12 percent reduction in the motor fuels over the 26 month period in question. The total [Commonwealth Transportation Fund] collections during that same period is about $14 billion. So this represents about a three percent reduction in the CTF collections during that period.”Democrats are skeptical that any of the reduction in the tax will translate to lower prices at the pump because consumers don’t actually pay the tax. Here’s Delegate Vivian Watts (D-39).“I wanted to make sure that the patron was aware that the gas tax is collected when the tanker truck fills up,” Watts said. “There’s no guarantee at all that when I fill up my tank that if there’s no gas tax charged that I’m going to benefit from this.” Delegate Sally Hudson (D-57) said many in the state want to invest more in transportation. “When I hear from Virginians, I hear them tell me that they think our transportation infrastructure or even behind, that the roads are too crowded, their commutes are too long, the buses are infrequent and unreliable,” Hudson said. “We have nothing approaching modern commuter trains.” Durant said no existing projects would be cut, but this would just lower the amount of funds available in exchange for tax relief. Testimony against the bill came from Virginians for Better Transportation, the Amalgamated Transit Union, the Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance, the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Virginians for High Speed Rail, the Old Dominion Highway Contractors Association, the New Virginia Majority, the Southern Environmental Law Center, the Commonwealth Institute, and the Virginia Association for Commercial Real Estate“This coalition includes some pretty strange bedfellows,” said Trip Pollard of the Southern Environmental Law Center. Testimony in favor of the bill came from a series of individuals representing small businesses or speaking to their own pain.“I’d rather spend the money than have the government spend the money,” said Colonel Courtney Whitney, who served in the Youngkin campaign. Democrats on the committee sought to introduce a substitute that would issue a direct tax relief to Virginians for each registered motor vehicle, but the effort failed. On voice vote, the motion to advance the bill passed and it will now move to the House Appropriations Committee. No meetings are currently scheduled. Support Town Crier Productions through Ting!Special announcement of a continuing promo with Ting! Are you interested in fast internet? Visit this site and enter your address to see if you can get service through Ting. If you decide to proceed to make the switch, you’ll get:Free installationSecond month of Ting service for freeA $75 gift card to the Downtown MallAdditionally, Ting will match your Substack subscription to support Town Crier Productions, the company that produces this newsletter and other community offerings. So, your $5 a month subscription yields $5 for TCP. Your $50 a year subscription yields $50 for TCP! The same goes for a $200 a year subscription! All goes to cover the costs of getting this newsletter out as often as possible. Learn more here! This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

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Rewriting Wildness - J. Drew Lanham

Reseed

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2022 62:50

What does wildness mean to us - and what should it mean? What can wildness mean when it is defined not by a few people, but rewritten for all of us?This episode of Reseed revisits the history of conservation to explore its dark corners, going beyond nipping off the buds and leaves to dig at its roots, unearthing information about those who are credited with founding Western conservation. Deconstructing nice and lovely platitudes can unearth real truths, to first feel the despair of unlearning and then create a better way. A new conservation can be inclusive and accessible to all people while also protecting ecosystems and animals, like birds. Guest J. Drew Lanham is an ornithologist, wildlife ecologist, poet, professor, author, and lover of birds. He is the author of Sparrow Envy: Field Guide to Birds and Lesser Beasts and The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man's Love Affair with Nature, which received the Reed Award from the Southern Environmental Law Center and the Southern Book Prize, and was a finalist for the John Burroughs Medal. He has published essays and poetry in publications including Orion and Audubon, as well as in several anthologies. An Alumni Distinguished Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Master Teacher at Clemson University, he and his family live in the Upstate of South Carolina.Poetry, birds, soil, conservation, and deep questions braid together in this thoughtful and lyrical conversation, which looks at how care for humans, nature, and animals are all connected and embedded into our humanity. Listen at reseed.ca.

nature western south carolina birds poetry orion deconstructing rewriting love affair clemson university master teachers upstate audubon wildness lanham wildlife ecology southern environmental law center southern book prize alumni distinguished professor

Our Outside EP03: Connecting through Diversity with Diana Prestigiacomo of SCDNR

Our Outside Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2022 69:33

Our Outside EP.03: “Connecting through Diversity with Diana Prestigiacomo of SCDNR” | Presented by EUKANUBA SPORTING DOGAshley's first woodcock with Rose/ learning or teachable moments from Ashley's POV?GRN Fat Tuesday Announcement Pheasant Fest Announcement - Public Lands Stage and Path to the Uplands StageSouthern Environmental Law Center- Voices for Clean Water initiative: “What brings me to the water is the landscape of the Flint River in South Georgia and the Red Hills. These areas resonate with me because the river rests within a landscape important to bobwhite quail, which I pursue with my beloved string of bird dogs. I pray that we as a people will do what we must to save and conserve our public waters in order to pass along old and new traditions, love, and reverence of the outdoors to my children and their children after me.” —Durrell SmithAs co-founders of the Minority Outdoor Alliance, we want to support the Southern Environmental Law Center and the Voices for Clean Water initiative. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed to undo the harmful Trump administration rule that removed federal Clean Water Act protections for countless crucial waterways and wetlands, opening the doors to pollution and destruction by industry, mining and development.Since the Trump administration's rule went into effect in June 2020, wetlands and waterways throughout the country lost protections and are now slated for industrial development. The impacts of this rule are far-reaching and people across our region are calling for a return to federal protections that reflect the value clean water plays in all our lives.LEARN MORE & TAKE ACTION by visiting https://www.southernenvironment.org/news/voices-for-clean-water/ Let's call back protections that honor the value of clean water in all of our lives, especially as we bring more and more unlikely and underrepresented groups to our public waters. More hands-on engagement helps uplift all our voices to help secure environmental victories and strengthen protections and policies around our beautiful country!Subscribe to MOA Newsletter at minorityoutdooralliance.org3rd pillar of conservationAllocation of wildlife by law. Wildlife is a public resource managed by government. As a result, access to wildlife for hunting is through legal mechanisms such as set hunting seasons, bag limits, license requirements, etc.About the episode with Diana P.Book Reference: What Nature Suffers to: Life, Labor, and Landscape on the Georgia Coast, 1680-1920 Mart A. StewartVirtual Guided Hike: Sassafras Mountain with Diana: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VmVQs3aYGoTopics of Discussion:How much public land access to Wildlife Management Areas is available for hunting and fishing?The hunting and fishing history of South Carolina.Data on demographic use of our public spaces that you could provide insight on?Some of the challenges or successes that the SCDNR has had in making more minorities aware of their public land access to hunting and fishing.Some of the questions or solutions the SCDNR has had in increasing minority participation in public land access? Contact SCDNR:Informacion@dnr.sc.gov

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November 22, 2021: Albemarle PC briefed on capital budget process; Another new owner for the Daily Progress?

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2021 19:05

It doesn’t seem at this moment like a holiday week, with so many items happening at public meetings before Thanksgiving. But, I’m grateful you are listening to this installment of Charlottesville Community Engagement, and I’m hopeful that you’ll share it with others. Most people read the newsletter, but the secret is that each one is produced for audio, as my professional career in journalism began in radio. More than a quarter-century later, I’m glad to be bringing you information as often as I can and this is what I have for November 22, 2021. Let’s begin today with a Patreon-fueled shout-out! WTJU is hosting Classical Listening Parties, a series of four free, casual events on Tuesdays in November. These four events are led by Chelsea Holt, pianist, teacher, and one of WTJU’s newest and youngest classical announcers. She’ll guide you through all the eras of classical music and tomorrow night at 7 p.m.: the Romantic period. For a list of the others, visit wtju.net to learn more and sign up! On today’s show:Albemarle’s Planning Commission gets an update on the county’s capital improvement budget for the next fiscal yearA hedge fund sets its sights on the Daily Progress and its parent company The EPA seeks to reestablish jurisdiction in the Waters of the United StatesAnd the University of Virginia seeks a tuition increase for undergraduatesPandemic updateAs the week begins, the seven-day average for new COVID cases is at 1,644 new cases a day and the percent positivity is at 5.9 percent. The Blue Ridge Health District reports another 29 new cases today and a percent positivity of 5.5 percent. Three more fatalities have been reported since Friday for a total of 311 since the pandemic began. Fatal fireA fire in an apartment in the 1200 block of Carlton Avenue in the Belmont neighborhood on Sunday has killed one person, according to a release from the Charlottesville Fire Department. Crews began fighting the fire soon after arriving and then looked for anyone trapped. One adult was rescued but died soon after being taken to an unidentified hospital. Fire marshals are investigating the cause. This is the third fatality from a fire this year. Newspaper consolidation continuesThe Charlottesville Daily Progress and most other daily newspapers in Virginia might soon have a new owner. Alden Global Capital has announced in a letter that it will pay $24 a share for Lee Enterprises, thirty percent over the Friday’s closing stock price. “We believe that as a private company and part of our successful nationwide platforms, Lee would be in a stronger position to maximize its resources and realize strategic value that enhances its operations and supports its employees in their important work serving local communities,” reads the letter. Alden Global Capital is a New York based hedge fund that owns the Tribune Publishing Company and Media NewsGroup. Among their newspapers are the Chicago Tribune, the Denver Post, the Mercury News, and the New York Daily News. The company already owns six percent of Lee Enterprises. “Scale is critical for newspapers to ensure necessary staffing and in order to thrive in this challenging environment where print advertising continues to decline and back office operations and legacy public company functions remain bloated, thus depriving newsrooms of resources that are best used serving readers with relevant, trustworthy, and engaging content,” the letter continues. Lee Enterprises completed the purchase of the Daily Progress from BHMedia in March 2020. BHMedia is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, which purchased the Progress from Media General in May 2012. Media General purchased the paper from Thomas Worrell Jr. in 1995 as part of a $230 million deal. The Progress was first published on September 14, 1892. Other Virginia papers owned by Lee Enterprises include the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Lynchburg News Advance, and the Roanoke Times. Learn more about the potential takeover from Rick Edmonds on Poytner.org or at Virginia Business. The real question is - who gets the Daily Progress March? In April 2005, the Charlottesville Municipal Band unveiled a tune written by Nellysford composer Paul T. Richards. Check out my news story from that time!Crozet school redistrictingAn Albemarle committee appointed to study scenarios to alleviate overpopulation of elementary schools in the western part of the county has unveiled their recommendation. After meeting four times and holding two public comment sessions, the Crozet-Brownsville Redistricting Committee has suggested a total of 219 students be moved from Brownsville to Crozet Elementary at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year. By then, Albemarle should have completed a $21.25 million addition to that school which includes 16 new classrooms. (committee website)Water quality rulesTwo federal agencies that regulate land use as it relates to water quality have announced plans to reinstate a more robust definition of what constitutes the “waters of the United States.” Both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers use that phrase as a basis for enforcement of the Clean Water Act of 1972 which among other things regulates industrial discharges into “navigable waters.” A rule change made in the previous presidential administration reduced the geographic scope of the definition, potentially limiting the jurisdiction of the EPA and the Army Corp’s reach. The Southern Environmental Law Center and other conservation groups sued to overturn the rule. “The prior administration stripped protections under the Clean Water Act from countless streams, lakes and wetlands, leaving thousands of stream miles, many public recreational lakes, and millions of acres of wetlands without protections that have been in place for decades through every other administration and putting our communities and water supplies at risk,” reads a statement issued last week.The SELC argues that preserving wetlands can help preserve the ability of communities to reduce flooding and deal with extreme weather events. To learn more, visit the EPA’s Waters of the United States website. UVA tuitionThe Cavalier Daily reports that tuition at the University of Virginia could increase between 3.5 percent and 4.9 percent in the each of the next two academic years. That’s according to two representatives from the UVA Finance office who spoke to Student Council last week. Public comment will be taken at a forum on December 2 followed by a vote by the Board of Visitors at their meeting a week later. Tuition was frozen for the current academic year. For a sense of scale, the current tuition for most undergraduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences is $14,188 for a Virginia resident and $48,036 for an out-of-state resident. Third-year students pay slightly higher. First-year engineering students from Virginia pay $22,566 for a year’s tuition, with non-Virginians paying $56,730. These figures don’t include fees. Take a look at the UVA website to learn more about how much students are charged for their education. To learn more about the proposed increase, read Eileen Powell’s article in the Cavalier Daily. You’re reading Charlottesville Community Engagement. Let’s have two more Patreon-fueled shout-outs. The first comes a long-time supporter who wants you to know:"Today is a great day to spread good cheer: reach out to an old friend, compliment a stranger, or pause for a moment of gratitude to savor a delight."The second comes from a more recent supporter who wants you to go out and read a local news story written by a local journalist. Whether it be the Daily Progress, Charlottesville Tomorrow, C-Ville Weekly, NBC29, CBS19, WINA, or some other place I’ve not mentioned - the community depends on a network of people writing about the community. Go learn about this place today!Albemarle Planning Commission’s capital budget briefingTomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m., an advisory committee appointed to help Albemarle County shape its capital improvement program budget for the next fiscal year will hold its first meeting. Last week, the seven-member Planning Commission got an overview including a reminder that last year was very different. (watch the meeting)“Last year when we were putting together the FY22 budget, there was no [capital improvement program],” said Andy Bowman, the chief of budget in the Finance and Budget office. “The county was in the middle of the pandemic and there was a tremendous amount of uncertainty and really at that time it was decided instead of focusing on a long-range picture, to focus on the impacts of the pandemic and what might be able to be unpaused from a number of projects that were paused at the start of the pandemic.”Bowman said the economy has rebounded much better than initially anticipated with outlooks becoming more favorable with each passing month. As the FY23 budget approaches, Bowman said the county is not immune to inflationary pressure, with bids for some capital projects coming in higher than budgeted. The process starts with a review of what’s currently in the works.“We have a capital program currently underway, before we even start anything from 2023 to 2027, of around $147 million for about 65 projects,” Bowman said. “Of that $147 million, $91 million has been appropriated in the last eleven months now, from what was unpaused in January which included the expansion at Crozet Elementary.” Bowman noted that over the course of the next five years, the county will adopt a new Comprehensive Plan and the Board of Supervisors will update their strategic plan. Both documents as well as the School Board’s strategic plan will guide future decisions on capital spending. Bowman said the focus this cycle will be on the immediate year to give flexibility on future needs. The CIP advisory committee consists of Supervisors Bea LaPisto-Kirtley and Donna Price, School Board members Kate Acuff and Jonno Alcaro, and former Planning Commissioners Bruce Dotson.and Cal Morris. “They’re charged to do a few things,” Bowman said. “First they will review and evaluate a proposal that is recommended by staff as a starting point and then the CIP committee will sort of make a recommendation and modify that starting point.” Bowman said there will be additional revenue from the cigarette tax and potential revenue from a tax on plastic bags. The county also refinanced its debt earlier this year.“Given the current market we were able to issue a large amount of [borrowed proceeds] at low interest rates and that will create some capacity that didn’t exist in the prior plan prior to the pandemic,” Bowman said Bowman said staff is also reviewing through the details of the American Rescue Plan Act to see how that funds can be used to leverage local dollars capital spending. In August, Supervisors used $4.5 million in federal COVID-relief funds for broadband expansion. One of the biggest items in the capital improvement program is the need for school maintenance and expansion. Rosalyn Schmitt is the chief operating officer of Albemarle County Public Schools. She briefed the Planning Commission on the school’s strategic plan.“Getting the right resources to educators and students for their teaching and learning is key to our success,” Schmitt said The school system has a Long-Range Planning Advisory Committee and their most recent recommendations were published on September 9, 2021. The eleven projects have a cumulative cost estimate of $196 million, with most of the projects containing either word “renovations” or “capacity.”“Adequate capacity continues to be a need for the school division,” Schmitt said. “This is supported by the ten-year enrollment projections and reinforced by both the recently completed development and student yield analysis, and a thirty-year population forecast.” One item is $40 million for another elementary school in the northern feeder pattern and another would be to purchase land for the western feeder pattern. “As these schools all reach a saturation point where expansion is no longer practical, we recommend a strategy for land acquisition and the construction of new facilities,” Schmitt said. “I think for the first time in a long time you’ll see several new schools on this list.” There’s also a recommendation to improve air quality within schools. There is a possibility that federal ARPA funding could be used for that purpose. “That is a comprehensive program around mechanical improvements that there is some opportunity to have some matching funds from ARPA funding that we are pursuing,” Schmitt said. Luis Carrazana is the associate architect of the University of Virginia and a non-voting member of the Albemarle Planning Commission. He noted that the recent adoption of the Crozet Master Plan update called for capital infrastructure, as did the relatively recent update of the Pantops Master Plan and adoption of the Rio Small Area Plan. “And so I’m wondering how we’re looking at those approved master plans with the CIP and putting the same rigor as we seem to be doing with the School Board,” Carrazana said. Planning Director Charles Rapp said implementation of many projects in the master plans are dependent on lining up ideas with funding opportunities.“A lot of those infrastructure related improvements, we identify them in these master plans or small area plans or corridor studies and that’s often the first phase of identifying a project,” Rapp said. The next day, Bowman gave a similar presentation to the Board of Supervisors. This one has more specifics about the developing budget. (watch the presentation)Supervisors were reminded that there is a significant “positive variance” from the FY21 budget of more than $13 million that can be used for one-time money.“We are proposing, not really for discussion today but this will come back on December 15, to invest some of the one-time fiscal year 21 funding into the economic development fund,” Bowman said. At their December 15 meeting, the Board will also be asked for direction on whether to explore tax relief programs. They’ll also be given a review of what additional revenue sources could be pursued in Richmond.The Board of Supervisors will have a work session on December 1 related to the way the FY23 budget will be developed. Another change this year is the December release of Albemarle’s property assessments for 2022. That will be presented to the Board of Supervisors on December 15, a month earlier than usual. See also: Albemarle may close FY21 with $13.2M in one-time money, November 9, 2021Unsolicited fact of the dayFinally today, sometimes there are pieces of information I come across during my reporting, or facts that people tell me that don’t quite make their way into a news story. These facts are not entirely random, but they may seem that way.First up, the commercial portions of the Stonefield development have paid a total of $841,955 in connection fees to the Albemarle County Service Authority for water and sewer between 2012 and 2020. That’s according to information provided to me by Gary O’Connell, the director of the ACSA. That figure does not include residential connections. Before anyone can connect to water and sewer in Albemarle, they have to pay a hefty connection fee. For instance, for one commercial unit on Bond Street to connect in 2021, they had to pay $14,280 for water and $13,505 for sewer. Both of these fees include a portion paid to the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority to cover the cost of capital projects to expand capacity. Special announcement of a continuing promo with Ting! Are you interested in fast internet? Visit this site and enter your address to see if you can get service through Ting. If you decide to proceed to make the switch, you’ll get:Free installationSecond month of Ting service for freeA $75 gift card to the Downtown MallAdditionally, Ting will match your Substack subscription to support Town Crier Productions, the company that produces this newsletter and other community offerings. So, your $5 a month subscription yields $5 for TCP. Your $50 a year subscription yields $50 for TCP! The same goes for a $200 a year subscription! All goes to cover the costs of getting this newsletter out as often as possible. Learn more here! This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

covid-19 united states new york university thanksgiving college water fire board arts public finance progress budget scale engineers richmond waters substack sciences visitors romantic epa richards newspapers chicago tribune bowman school boards 2m uva connell ting belmont crews berkshire hathaway schmitt environmental protection agency supervisors tuition new york daily news brownsville rapp army corps new owners denver post arpa virginians another new clean water act tcp cip planning commission american rescue plan act student council albemarle richmond times dispatch mercury news comprehensive plan wina paul t gary o bond street briefed acsa yeara daily progress roanoke times lee enterprises crozet albemarle county capital budget southern environmental law center stonefield freea selc sewer authority albemarle county public schools wtju andy bowman charlottesville tomorrow blue ridge health district charlottesville community engagement

9. Eliminating Single-Use Plastics in the Outdoor Industry

Outdoor Minimalist

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2021 38:23

In episode 9 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we will be discussing a hot topic in any part of the sustainability and zero-waste movement: single-use plastics. More specifically, we will be discussing the use of plastics on the production side of packaging with some limited discussion regarding consumer use of single-use plastics. To help me expand on this topic, I had the pleasure of talking to Steven Reinhold. Steven has worked within the outdoor industry for over a decade. He began his outdoor career with Big City Mountaineers' Summit for Someone program where he guided and recruited fundraising climbers whose efforts supported BCM's wilderness-mentoring programs. Steven has been an ambassador for multiple outdoor brands and currently serves as Backpacker Magazine's official Brand Ambassador. He created the online sensation #trashtag, a social media-based cleanup effort, which went viral in 2019 and has been used over 100 million times worldwide! Steven also founded The Appalachian Adventure Company, which has strong guiding-roots, but has since grown into a formidable Media/Marketing/Consulting company which works closely with organizations like Black Folks Camp Too, Leave No Trace, and the Southern Environmental Law Center. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ PRE ORDER THE OUTDOOR MINIMALIST BOOK: https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781493063994/Outdoor-Minimalist-Waste-Less-Hiking-Backpacking-and-Camping ------------------------ Connect with STEVEN: https://www.instagram.com/ramblin_reinhold/ APPALACHIAN ADVENTURE COMPANY: https://www.facebook.com/AppalachianAdventureCompany/ BLACK FOLKS CAMP TOO: https://www.instagram.com/blackfolkscamptoo/ Plastic Impact Alliance: https://www.outsidebusinessjournal.com/tag/plastic-impact-alliance/ Join the Plastic Impact Alliance: https://www.outsidebusinessjournal.com/issues/sustainability/packaging/how-to-join-plastic-impact-alliance/ About the #trashtagchallenge: https://www.cleanupnews.org/home/trash-tag-challenge Ever Green Adventure Foods: https://evergreenadventurefoods.com/ NoSo Patches: https://nosopatches.com/ Rerouted: https://rerouted.co/

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November 1, 2021 Lee Smith, James Sherard, Charles Eliot, Dyed Flowers, Mary Rose O'Reilley, Flora by DK, and Stephen Crane

The Daily Gardener

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2021 33:29

Today in botanical history, we celebrate a wealthy gardener and Apothecary whose garden became his legacy, a pioneering Landscape architect who left his mark on the world in his all-too-short life, and the fine fine fun that can be had dying flowers - a hobby that's been around for quite a longe time. We'll hear an excerpt from a book by a Quaker woman who spent a year tending sheep. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a book about flowers in all their glory, and it takes us inside the Secret World of Plants... And then we'll wrap things up with a little poem written by an American writer, and it's a little poignant - so kleenex should be on standby. “If you're the first of November, you're Scorpio. A large reporter of his owne Acts. Prudent of behaviour in owne affairs. A lover of Quarrels and theevery, a promoter of frayes and commotions. As wavery as the wind; neither fearing God or caring for Man.' ‘Better,' said Lymond coldly, ‘to be stung by a nettle than pricked by a rose.” ― Dorothy Dunnett, Checkmate Maggie Dietz poem 1995 Rosemary Verey's Making of a Garden 1995 The Unsung Season: Gardens and Gardeners in Winter: Sydney Eddison, Karen Bussolini 2001 A Garden from Hundred Packets of Seed by James Fenton What plants would you choose to grow, given a blank slate of a garden, and given the stipulation that everything you grow in this garden must be raised by you from seed? 2009 Jane Colden: America's First Woman Botanist Paperback – November 1, 2009 Curated News Interview with Lee Smith, Southern Writer | Southern Environmental Law Center 1944 Here's a short clip with writer Lee Smith about the importance of the natural world for writers and inspiration. In the video Lee says that the South does have a very strong literary tradition that is grounded in place and specifically a rural place. Lee says the land is so important to southern writing. Land not only shows up in southern stories but also in southern music and southern culture. Lee tells how her father used to fight her when she tried to get him to leave the mountains and move to her home in North Carolina and so he would always say I could never leave the mountains he said I need me a mountain to rest my eyes against and That resinates with lee who went on to say that there's something in the contemplation of mountains of nature of natural places that leads us to think of things that are really important that leads us to think of the real questions and issues and things that people need to be working on. And so Lee, like many of us, gets her inspiration from the natural world To borrow her phrase, I need me a garden to rest my eyes against... Important Events November 1, 1666Birth of James Sherard, English apothecary, botanist, amateur musician, and composer. His older brother, William, was also a botanist. James served as an apprentice to an apothecary named Charles Watts at Chelsea Physic Garden. He later followed his entrepreneurial instincts and started his own business, which made him quite wealthy. In August of 1716, he wrote that, “the love of Botany has so far prevailed as to divert my mind from things I formerly thought more material.” After retiring, he purchased three residences - two manor homes and a place in London. At his London residence, he established a garden and began collecting and cultivating rare plants. Around the time his garden was becoming one of England's top gardens, James's brother William invited the German botanist Johann Jacob Dillenius to visit England. Dillenius created an illustrated catalog that described the plants cultivated in James's collection in London. The English botanical writer Blanche Henrey called Dillenius's book, “the most important book published in England during the eighteenth century on the plants growing in a private garden." Today, the walls of the Herbarium Room at the Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum are graced with the illustrations from Dillenius's book - so the plants in James Sherard's beautiful garden live on in that marvelous place. November 1, 1859Birth of Charles Eliot, American landscape architect. In his brief career, Charles established principles for regional planning and natural systems for landscape architecture. He also helped set up the world's first land trust and the Boston Metropolitan Park System. He was a prolific writer and observer of nature and Landscapes. His work set the stage for conservancies across the world. Charles was born into a prominent Boston family. In 1869, the year his mother died, his father, Charles William Eliot, became the president of Harvard University. In 1882 Charles went to Harvard to study botany. A year later, he began apprenticing with the landscape firm of Frederick Law Olmsted. As a young landscape architect, Charles enjoyed visiting different natural areas, and he conducted regular walking tours of different nature areas around Boston. In his diary, Charles made a charming list titled, "A Partial List of Saturday Walks before 1878". Early in his career, Charles spent 13 months touring England and Europe between 1885 and 1886. The trip was actually Olmsted's idea, and it was a great training ground for Charles's understanding of various landscape concepts. During this trip, Charles kept a journal where he wrote down his thoughts and sketches of the places he was visiting. During his time in Europe, Charles's benchmark was always Boston. Throughout his writings, he continually compared new landscapes to the beauty of his native landscape in New England. Charles's story ended too soon. He died at 37 from spinal meningitis. Before his death, Charles had worked with Charles Sprague Sargent to plan The Arnold Arboretum. When Charles died, Sargent wrote a tribute to him and featured it in his weekly journal called Garden and Forest. Charles's death had a significant impact on his father, Charles Eliot Senior. At times, the two men had struggled to connect. Charles hadn't liked it when his dad remarried and, their personalities were very different. Charles, the architect, could be a little melancholy. After Charles died, his dad, Charles Sr., started culling through his son's work. In April 1897, Charles Sr. confided to a friend, "I am examining his letters and papers, and I am filled with wonder at what he accomplished in the ten years of professional life. I should've died without ever having appreciated his influence. His death has shown it to me." Despite his heavy workload as the president of Harvard, Charles Sr. immediately set about compiling all of his son's work. He used it to write a book called Charles Eliot Landscape Architect. The book came out in 1902, and today it is considered a classic work in the field of landscape architecture. November 1, 1883On this day, the Brown County World (Hiawatha, Kansas) published a little blurb that said, A distinguished botanist has found that by simply soaking the stems of cut flowers in a weak dye solution, their colors can be altered at will without the perfume and the freshness being destroyed. Unearthed Words On the first day of November last year, sacred to many religious calendars but especially the Celtic, I went for a walk among bare oaks and birch. Nothing much was going on. Scarlet sumac had passed, and the bees were dead. The pond had slicked overnight into that shiny and deceptive glaze of delusion, first ice. It made me remember skates and conjure a vision of myself skimming backward on one foot, the other extended; the arms become wings. Minnesota girls know that this is not a difficult maneuver if one's limber and practices even a little after school before the boys claim the rink for hockey. I think I can still do it - one thinks many foolish things when November's bright sun skips over the entrancing first freeze. A flock of sparrows reels through the air looking more like a flying net than seventy conscious birds, a black veil thrown on the wind. When one sparrow dodges, the whole net swerves, dips: one mind. Am I part of anything like that? Maybe not. [...] It's an ugly woods, I was saying to myself, padding along a trail where other walkers had broken ground before me. And then I found an extraordinary bouquet. Someone had bound an offering of dry seed pods, yew, lyme grass, red berries, and brown fern and laid it on the path: "nothing special," as Buddhists say, meaning "everything." Gathered to formality, each dry stalk proclaimed a slant, an attitude, infinite shades of neutral. All contemplative acts, silences, poems, honor the world this way. Brought together by the eye of love, a milkweed pod, a twig, allow us to see how things have been all along. A feast of being. ― Mary Rose O'Reilley, The Barn at the End of the World: The Apprenticeship of a Quaker, Buddhist Shepherd Grow That Garden Library Flora by DK Flora was also contributed to by Kew,the Royal Botanic Gardens. This book was published back in 2018, and the subtitle is Inside the Secret World of Plants. Well, let me tell you that when I got my copy of this book, I was so pleasantly surprised. This is a big book - it's a coffee table book. The cover is predominantly white, and then it just has a single flower featured on the cover - and it is stunning. I like to think about this fantastic book as a floral scrapbook. So imagine if you were to put together a book of flowers, and on each page, you feature: a different blossom, details about the plant, the history and some outstanding characteristics of the flower, and other various aspects of the plant. This book also reviews a little bit of the science behind why plants do what they do and how they do what they do. Flora is beautifully illustrated with modern photography and also some incredible botanical art from the ages. And it is just a joy to leaf through. So whether you are a gardener or even a non-gardener, I think you would enjoy this book. You can get a copy of Flora by DK and support the show using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $12. Today's Botanic Spark Reviving the little botanic spark in your heart November 1, 1871 Birth of Stephen Crane, American poet, novelist, and short-story writer. Stephen started writing at the tender age of four. As a young adult, he dropped out of college at Syracuse and started working as a reporter and writer. By 1895 his Civil War novel The Red Badge of Courage won acclaim despite Stephen never having any personal experience as a soldier. The following year he was asked to go to Cuba as a war correspondent. During the voyage, his ship, the SS Commodore, sank off the coast of Florida. Stephen survived after spending thirty hours adrift at sea in a small dinghy along with other survivors. The experience became the basis for his book called, The Open Boat. Despite surviving the shipwreck, Stephen Crane died young of tuberculosis at the age of 28. Today, The Red Badge of Courage is considered an American classic. But Stephen also wrote short stories and poetry. One of his biggest fans was Ernest Hemingway, who credited Stephen as a source of his inspiration. In Stephen's poem, The Black Riders and Other Lines (1895), Stephen wrote, There was set before me a mighty hill, And long days I climbed Through regions of snow. When I had before me the summit-view, It seemed that my labour Had been to see gardens Lying at impossible distances. Thanks for listening to The Daily Gardener. And remember: "For a happy, healthy life, garden every day."

CoastLine: Hopper dredging year-round will have dire consequences for sea turtles and sturgeon, says SELC in lawsuit against Army Corps -- oh, and it's illegal.

CoastLine

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2021 49:59

In what the Southern Environmental Law Center calls “an abrupt reversal in decades of policy and practice,” the Corps now plans to allow hopper dredging year-round at Wilmington and Morehead City Harbors. That includes, according to the SELC, the height of turtle nesting season and times of year when many fish are in young sensitive life stages. So far, the decision has led to at least four sea turtle deaths in North Carolina. But the Corps argues year-round flexibility will offer efficiency, taxpayer cost-savings, and a more navigable channel.

north carolina consequences lawsuit illegal dire corps wilmington hopper year round sturgeon army corps sea turtles coastline dredging southern environmental law center selc

Episode 54: RGGI & North Carolina -> A Path to Carbon Reduction

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2021 41:02

On this episode, we're diving in deep to the topic of carbon reduction. Specifically, we talk with Nick Jimenez, Staff Attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center about their recent petition with the NC Environmental Management Commission on the topic of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Will North Carolina be the next state to join this initiative and set a cap on carbon emissions? Tune in to find out. To view SELC's petition with the NC EMC, check out their website: http://www.ncclimateaction.org/. For additional background on the A-1 report mentioned in the interview, visit the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions website: https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/publications/power-sector-carbon-reduction-evaluation-policies-north-carolina Additional Updates on H951 and Smart Wires: NCSEA Statement on Stakeholder Energy Legislation: https://energync.org/ncsea-statement-on-stakeholder-energy-legislation/ North Carolina Business Letter to Legislators on H951: https://bit.ly/3fYeVsx California Power Technology Company Moves HQ to Durham after Landing NC Incentives: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article253062323.html This episode's dad jokes courtesy of Duncan Campbell via DER Taskforce: https://twitter.com/DER_Task_Force Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

north carolina carbon durham reduction legislators staff attorney duncan campbell carbon reduction rggi regional greenhouse gas initiative southern environmental law center nick jimenez nicholas institute selc will north carolina environmental policy solutions

EOT 328 - Santisha Walker

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2021 21:51

FULL TRANSCRIPT OF EPISODEProvided by Otter.aiEoin Trainor 0:00 The views and opinions expressed in Eye on the Triangle do not represent WKNC or student media.Eoin Trainor 0:45 Good evening Raleigh and welcome to this week's Eye on the Triangle an NC State student produced new show on WKNC 88.1 FM HD one Raleigh, I am Eoin Trainor. On tonight's episode, Elizabeth Esser interviews Santisha Walker, a registered nurse, entrepreneur, author and speaker based in Durham they talk about her fitness apparel and wellness brand, the I am experience. But first you have some stories from the North Carolina News Service enjoy.Nadia Ramlagan 1:12 A state environmental committee is considering a proposal to set a process in motion to reduce carbon emissions from power plants. It involves North Carolina joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative or “RGGI,” a collaborative effort to shrink emissions by a group of East Coast states. RGGI requires companies to purchase an allowance for each ton of carbon-dioxide pollution they produce. The petition now heads to a second commission for a vote. Joel Porter with Clean Air Carolina says environmental groups are pleased the state is taking the impact of carbon pollution seriously.Joel Porter 1:44 So that was a big step forward for us on a long journey through the regulatory process, but we are encouraged that they approve of our petition and regulating greenhouse gases in North Carolina.Nadia Ramlagan 1:57 He says states already part of RGGI have seen carbon-dioxide emissions from power plants drop 47-percent over the last decade. With that dip in fossil-fuel generation came cleaner air, fewer hospital visits, and fewer lost work or school days from asthma and other respiratory illnesses. But an energy bill being debated by state lawmakers could complicate the effort to join RGGI. Porter says House Bill 951 would enshrine natural gas and fossil-fuel use in the state for the next decade, and limit the amount of renewable energy that can be used.Joel Porter 2:30 All and all, we're glad that we're supporting a petition to get the state in RGGI, because this bill closes the state's energy market to clean energy.Nadia Ramlagan 2:41 Derb Carter with the Southern Environmental Law Center says joining RGGI would put North Carolina on a path to reduce carbon emissions from 2005 levels by 70-percent before 2030, and become carbon neutral by 2050.Derb Carter 2:55 Which generally aligns with what the scientists are telling us we really need to do to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.Nadia Ramlagan 3:04 Carter notes North Carolinians already feel the effects of climate change from extreme weather. He says unless the course is shifted, the state's residents and economy will see more consequences. For North Carolina News Service, I'm Nadia Ramlagan.Nadia Ramlagan 3:23 New survey data offer a clear picture of how North Carolina kids and families are faring, both before and after the pandemic. The Tarheel State ranks 34th in the nation for overall child well-being in the 2021 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Vikki Crouse with N-C Child says before the pandemic, one in five kids lived in households with incomes below the poverty line. And then, massive job losses meant thousands of parents suddenly had no or reduced income and few options for child care.Vikki Crouse 3:53 So we know that the pandemic took a toll on everyone, but especially parents and caregivers.Nadia Ramlagan 3:59 According to the report, the percentage of adults in households with kids experiencing symptoms of depression rose from 19-percent last year, to 22-percent in March of this year. The data also reveal in 2020, 22-percent of households with children experienced housing insecurity, reporting "little or no confidence" in their ability to pay their next rent or mortgage payment. In March 2021, that figure has dipped to 17-percent. However, Crouse says affordable housing continues to be a pressing issue.Vikki Crouse 4:29 And now he's really constrained because certainly families and kids don't fare well if they don't have a stable place to live.Nadia Ramlagan 4:36 But she notes the expanded Child Tax Credit will likely lift more than 140-thousand North Carolina children out of poverty. Leslie Boissiere with the Casey Foundation explains both state and federal Child Tax Credit programs are critical to eliminating structural inequities in the tax code.Leslie Boissiere 4:53 We are excited and grateful that lawmakers passed the expansion, and we're calling on them to make that expansion permanent. We'd like to ensure that we don't have the largest-ever one-year reduction in the number of children who live in poverty, followed immediately by the largest-ever one-year increase.Nadia Ramlagan 5:10 She adds more than half of Black children have historically been ineligible for the full Child Tax Credit because their household incomes are too low, compared with 25-percent of white children. For North Carolina News Service, I'm Nadia Ramlagan.Lily Bohlke 5:30 Groups advocating for clean energy say Governor Roy Cooper's recent commitment to expanding North Carolina's offshore wind capacity will bring economic benefits to the state. North Carolina has among the highest offshore wind-energy potential in the nation, with its long coastline and shallow outer-continental shelf. Jaime Simmons, with the Southeastern Wind Coalition, says in addition to being a carbon-free source of power, expanding offshore wind could create tens of thousands of new jobs.Jamie Simmons 6:00 Some of these major location decisions are being driven in large part by the states or regions with anticipated projects. So these development goals set by Gov. Cooper make a much stronger case for these manufacturers to locate and invest in North Carolina.Lily Bohlke 6:16 North Carolina is facing a 10-year moratorium on all offshore energy leasing starting in July of 2022. Simmons says pending legislation would exempt offshore wind from the ban. In the meantime, she says there's work to do to get existing wind-energy areas ready for leasing – Wilmington East and West in the southern part of the state – and prepare for development of new projects to start immediately when the moratorium ends. Simmons says offshore wind will be an essential part of the move toward a carbon-free grid – and that it marries well with solar energy. When solar starts to produce less in the day, around early evening, offshore wind usually is blowing the strongest. She adds that the high generation capacity of individual offshore wind projects is key.Jamie Simmons 7:04 You're really talking about rethinking what baseload power means. Offshore wind is really the only renewable energy that could replace the capacity from a coal facility or natural-gas facility.Lily Bohlke 7:19 Cooper's proclamation outlines targets for offshore wind energy of 28-hundred megawatts by 2030 and 8-thousand megawatts by 2040. His administration notes 8-thousand megawatts could power more than 2-million homes. The order also aligns with the state's clean-energy plan signed in 2018, which aims to reduce power-sector greenhouse gases 70-percent by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. For North Carolina News Service, I'm Lily Bohlke, reporting.Elizabeth Esser 7:54 I'm Elizabeth Esser with WKNC 88.1 Eye on the Triangle. Joining us today is Santisha Walker, a certified nurse, entrepreneur, speaker and author based in Durham, North Carolina. We discussed her fitness apparel and wellness brand, the I Am experience. Santisha, thank you so much for joining us on Eye on the Triangle. Santisha Walker 8:13 You're welcome. Thank you for having me, Elizabeth. I'm excited to be here.Elizabeth Esser 8:18 So you wear many hats. You're a certified nurse and entrepreneur an author, speaker. Would you mind telling our listeners a bit about your professional background and how you got to where you are today? Santisha Walker 8:29 Sure. So yes, I am a registered nurse. I've been a nurse for seven years, I actually received my nursing degree from Wake Technical Community College here in Raleigh. And then I went on to get my master's in nursing from Gardner Webb University. And so as far as my nursing background, I have worked at Wake med, I was a cardiac nurse on intermediate step down unit, I worked at a private practice in Raleigh for neurology, I've done homecare, supervisory visits, I've worked in assisted living, long term care and rehab. So I have a really broad knowledge of nursing. And as you know, I'm not your typical traditional conventional nurse, I believe in stepping outside of the box and using my nursing knowledge to help others outside of the bedside setting. I'm also a wellness coach. And so I thought it would be great to pair wellness knowledge with my nursing health care information that I have and then make you know the best of that and be able to help others outside of that setting. I am here from the Raleigh Durham area and I reside here at RTP. And so I try to reach out to the community and partner with others who are making a difference in the lives of others as well in the healthcare wellness setting. So I have a broad range of knowledge. Elizabeth Esser 9:43 So what is the I Am experience and and what inspired you to create it?Santisha Walker 9:48 Sure, so the I am experience. So my mission with that is to basically offer individuals a fitness and wellness experience that's going to empower them to intentionally cultivate the best version of themselves and reflect it out to the world. And so my vision was to offer a fitness apparel from a quality brand that everyone can trust. And then also tag on to that wellness products that they can use while they are actually working on their physical body. And so where this idea came from, I actually came to me during the pandemic, right, everyone was home, we were all going through a lot. myself as a nurse, I was still actually helping in the bedside setting, doing what we call PRN, helping in different COVID units in the area. But when I was home, I actually decided to focus more on my actual fitness and physical fit as far as my physical body. And so I began working out more. Before the pandemic, I would go to the boxing gym and try to work on my body, but I got really lazy with it. So I decided to incorporate more physical activity for myself. But also I want it to center myself emotionally, spiritually and mentally, right. And so with every, at every news station, every time we turned around, there was something negative being mentioned or or new breaking news, I should say about Coronavirus, and about COVID and about the number of deaths and so it was taking a toll on everyone, including myself. And so what I wanted to do was become very still very centered. And so I begin positive self talk, I begin to incorporate heavily, I was doing it before, but I really want to focus on positive affirmations. And so during my workout sessions, which I would work out early in the morning, go ahead and get it done for the day, I began playing affirmations in the background. So while I was doing my HIIT Workout, I had affirmations going. And that really helped me during that vulnerable time when I was working out to center my mind and to speak to myself in my body. And I just took it from there. So I thought you know, what, if this is helping me Who else could this actually help? You know, because when we working out that's a very, it's empowering, but it's also very vulnerable, right? Because you're questioning yourself, can I do this, I have to reach this goal, I have to feel better. So you're vulnerable, but you're also empowering yourself to keep going and push past that threshold. And so that that's when it came to me, you know, it would be really cool to you know, come up with an apparel that people could actually put on when they can actually when they see themselves in that apparel, they will be empowered, right. But then also add products or add something to that, that would allow them to continue with the empowerment, mind body, soul and spirit. And so that's where it came from my husband's nonprofit organization, Carolina united flag football club, they actually had access to Nike apparel, and so I tapped into his resource and I was able to get great you know, quality apparel and use you know, use the I Am brand to go ahead and put something great out there for individuals.Elizabeth Esser 13:03 And so I understand that the brand is not just a fitness apparel brand. What all does it offer?Santisha Walker 13:10 Yeah, great, great. Okay. So this is this is the fun part right because there are several fitness apparel you know, you can athleisure is everywhere. But the thing that says that I am experienced a part is we offer an I am fitness wellness kit, right so that I Am exclusive wellness kit is basically 10 subjects that those who purchase the apparel can choose from it's complimentary. And so you choose one of those subjects with your apparel purchase. And I'm actually sending you information based on my nursing and wellness knowledge that will help you to incorporate that into your life. So there are daily practical guides, they're invaluable resources that are reputable that you can you can believe and trust in, there's evidence based information that's provided on that particular topic. So each time you purchase an apparel, you can choose a new topic to go along with your apparel. So that I am exclusive wellness kit will be included with your package with your actual apparel that you receive at your doorstep. Okay, so another product that I included was the I Am energy workout mix. This was this was a really fun project. And again, like I mentioned before I was working out right but what I wanted to do was put I am affirmations on top of energizing beats So when we work out we want something that's just going to keep us going and especially when we reach that peak, right, we have to push to that threshold. And so what I wanted to do was incorporate Im affirmations with energizing beats so that you can actually listen to it for while you're working out. So it is a 30 minute audio. And so these are professionally engineered beats that are done by the professionals. I know nothing about studio work. So I reached out to Hatton Brandon CO and they were able to reach out to their resources their team and put together the I am energy work out there. And so again, that's complimentary. It comes with your apparel, you can only get it once you purchase your apparel. But that's actually to help your mind stay in that positive mindset while you're working out. And I actually had some someone reach out to me and she said, You know what, I actually listened to it after I finished my workout. And so that you can carry it into your everyday activities. And the other, the other, this is not really a product. But the other thing that I offer is I am empowered private group. And so that is a private Facebook group, you have to have an entry code, you have to answer questions to be able to get in. But once you purchase your apparel, then you actually get access to that group to be held accountable, and to be empowered on a daily and weekly basis. And so it's not just me posting information as a healthcare professional. But it's those that are in the group, were asking questions, Hey, what are you guys doing about this? How are you guys being empowered this week? This is what I'm doing. Right. One of the things I posted yesterday was Hey, guys, like I had a little bit too much sugar last week, and, and I didn't really take in as much water this week, I am, you know, being held accountable to drinking more water. And so they hold me accountable to that. So yeah, I wanted to definitely partner wellness products,Elizabeth Esser 16:15 and you have a background in healthcare and business. And you've been able to successfully merge these two passions in your career. Was creating a brand like the I am experience always a goal of yours? Or is that something that just happened along the way?Santisha Walker 16:31 Great question. So it happened along the way. You know, if you do a little bit of research and background on me, I am a true like, nurse entrepreneur, what we call nursepreneur. And so I consider myself a serial entrepreneur, because I love taking ideas, I love taking things and my creativities and bringing them to a full finished work and bringing them to fruition. And so no, I it's so funny, I had never envisioned myself, even launching a fitness line, right. But I have a business degree. And I always tell this story. I have a business degree. And I concentrated in marketing. But I never envisioned that I would be an entrepreneur. And I know that's like an oxymoron it's contradictory. But when I went to college back in 2001, you know, I didn't know what I wanted to do what to major is I said, Hey, if I get a business degree, I could always use it at some point in life. And then after graduating I in college, I kind of had an idea. I wanted to be a nurse, but I was close to graduating. So I graduated. But becoming a nurse, I didn't become a nurse to even partner the two worlds. It wasn't until later I realized, oh my god, I have all of this knowledge, I have a business degree. And my husband actually brought that idea of, you know, going into consulting and starting my own business. And so eventually I'm merged the two. So I did not set out to be a serial nursepreneur, I did not set out to launch, you know, a fitness line, I do believe in submitting my mind, my body and my will to the will of God, my Creator. And I do believe in allowing him to order my steps. And so throughout life, life is very secure. You know, very, you know, it's a windy road. And so I just believe in just following him and doing what he's telling me to do. And it's been a success so far. Success, meaning I have empowered a lot of people along the way. That's how I measure my level of success. So, you know, no, I didn't set out to do it. But I did. I do believe in not being boxed in and just you know, submitting myself to God and letting him use me in that way.Elizabeth Esser 18:38 And as a registered nurse yourself, you have a specific passion of empowering nurses professionally and in life. How have nurses and other health care professionals responded to the I am experience?Santisha Walker 18:51 Yeah, so they responded great. I actually had a giveaway I launched actually the day like nurses week was my first inaugural launch of the brand. And so I had nurses like reach out to me that was actually a giveaway that I offered. And one of the one of the nurses won, but they've responded positively. I will say just in general, nurses are amazing. We're the powerhouse of healthcare. And I'm happy to see that we are moving along and becoming used to nurses operating outside of that traditional setting. But it's it is still a pool every once in a while to get nurses to see another nurse operating outside of just having all scrubs and starting IVs and running to codes. And so I have had a positive response. But I think as nurses hear more about this and realize, Hey, you know, this is something you guys can tap into as well. I think there will be even more a better response but so far it's been it's been good. I actually have a nurse who was a part of our inaugural launch. And so she has actually been putting it she's a she's an ER nurse at Wake med and she's actually been she's an ambassador. And she's been putting helped me get the brand out to other nurses as well. Elizabeth Esser 20:05 When is your next release?Santisha Walker 20:07 Yeah, so my next release is actually, this Friday, June the 25th. I'm not sure when this will air, but it is June the 25th. And so I release the fourth Friday of every month. And so if you missed the first release, or the most previous release, you can also always subscribe and then you'll get a heads up with that next release is coming. So the 25th of June is my next release. And the releases are available only for one week. And so you have to almost get in there why you can you know, while the getting is good. And then once that, that that seven day is over, then the next release is not until another three or four weeks.Elizabeth Esser 20:44 And finally, where can listeners find your merchandise? Santisha Walker 20:47 Yeah, so they can find it at WWW.theIAMexperience.shop So that is the I am experienced dot shop. And then once they go there, they can see all of the amazing information and yeah, all the good stuff.Elizabeth Esser 21:04 Santisha, thank you so much for joining us.Santisha Walker 21:07 You're welcome Elizabeth, thank you so much for having me.Eoin Trainor 21:11 And that is it for this episode of Eye on the Triangle. Thanks for tuning in. If you have any questions, comments, ideas or would like to get involved, shoot us an email at public affairs@wknc.org. We'd love to hear from you. Stay tuned for usual programming. We'll see you next time.

EOT 328 - Santisha Walker

executive director leader bradshaw rising up environmental racism senior attorney walton family foundation southern environmental law center

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2021 21:51

FULL TRANSCRIPT OF EPISODEProvided by Otter.aiEoin Trainor 0:00 The views and opinions expressed in Eye on the Triangle do not represent WKNC or student media.Eoin Trainor 0:45 Good evening Raleigh and welcome to this week's Eye on the Triangle an NC State student produced new show on WKNC 88.1 FM HD one Raleigh, I am Eoin Trainor. On tonight's episode, Elizabeth Esser interviews Santisha Walker, a registered nurse, entrepreneur, author and speaker based in Durham they talk about her fitness apparel and wellness brand, the I am experience. But first you have some stories from the North Carolina News Service enjoy.Nadia Ramlagan 1:12 A state environmental committee is considering a proposal to set a process in motion to reduce carbon emissions from power plants. It involves North Carolina joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative or “RGGI,” a collaborative effort to shrink emissions by a group of East Coast states. RGGI requires companies to purchase an allowance for each ton of carbon-dioxide pollution they produce. The petition now heads to a second commission for a vote. Joel Porter with Clean Air Carolina says environmental groups are pleased the state is taking the impact of carbon pollution seriously.Joel Porter 1:44 So that was a big step forward for us on a long journey through the regulatory process, but we are encouraged that they approve of our petition and regulating greenhouse gases in North Carolina.Nadia Ramlagan 1:57 He says states already part of RGGI have seen carbon-dioxide emissions from power plants drop 47-percent over the last decade. With that dip in fossil-fuel generation came cleaner air, fewer hospital visits, and fewer lost work or school days from asthma and other respiratory illnesses. But an energy bill being debated by state lawmakers could complicate the effort to join RGGI. Porter says House Bill 951 would enshrine natural gas and fossil-fuel use in the state for the next decade, and limit the amount of renewable energy that can be used.Joel Porter 2:30 All and all, we're glad that we're supporting a petition to get the state in RGGI, because this bill closes the state's energy market to clean energy.Nadia Ramlagan 2:41 Derb Carter with the Southern Environmental Law Center says joining RGGI would put North Carolina on a path to reduce carbon emissions from 2005 levels by 70-percent before 2030, and become carbon neutral by 2050.Derb Carter 2:55 Which generally aligns with what the scientists are telling us we really need to do to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.Nadia Ramlagan 3:04 Carter notes North Carolinians already feel the effects of climate change from extreme weather. He says unless the course is shifted, the state's residents and economy will see more consequences. For North Carolina News Service, I'm Nadia Ramlagan.Nadia Ramlagan 3:23 New survey data offer a clear picture of how North Carolina kids and families are faring, both before and after the pandemic. The Tarheel State ranks 34th in the nation for overall child well-being in the 2021 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Vikki Crouse with N-C Child says before the pandemic, one in five kids lived in households with incomes below the poverty line. And then, massive job losses meant thousands of parents suddenly had no or reduced income and few options for child care.Vikki Crouse 3:53 So we know that the pandemic took a toll on everyone, but especially parents and caregivers.Nadia Ramlagan 3:59 According to the report, the percentage of adults in households with kids experiencing symptoms of depression rose from 19-percent last year, to 22-percent in March of this year. The data also reveal in 2020, 22-percent of households with children experienced housing insecurity, reporting "little or no confidence" in their ability to pay their next rent or mortgage payment. In March 2021, that figure has dipped to 17-percent. However, Crouse says affordable housing continues to be a pressing issue.Vikki Crouse 4:29 And now he's really constrained because certainly families and kids don't fare well if they don't have a stable place to live.Nadia Ramlagan 4:36 But she notes the expanded Child Tax Credit will likely lift more than 140-thousand North Carolina children out of poverty. Leslie Boissiere with the Casey Foundation explains both state and federal Child Tax Credit programs are critical to eliminating structural inequities in the tax code.Leslie Boissiere 4:53 We are excited and grateful that lawmakers passed the expansion, and we're calling on them to make that expansion permanent. We'd like to ensure that we don't have the largest-ever one-year reduction in the number of children who live in poverty, followed immediately by the largest-ever one-year increase.Nadia Ramlagan 5:10 She adds more than half of Black children have historically been ineligible for the full Child Tax Credit because their household incomes are too low, compared with 25-percent of white children. For North Carolina News Service, I'm Nadia Ramlagan.Lily Bohlke 5:30 Groups advocating for clean energy say Governor Roy Cooper's recent commitment to expanding North Carolina's offshore wind capacity will bring economic benefits to the state. North Carolina has among the highest offshore wind-energy potential in the nation, with its long coastline and shallow outer-continental shelf. Jaime Simmons, with the Southeastern Wind Coalition, says in addition to being a carbon-free source of power, expanding offshore wind could create tens of thousands of new jobs.Jamie Simmons 6:00 Some of these major location decisions are being driven in large part by the states or regions with anticipated projects. So these development goals set by Gov. Cooper make a much stronger case for these manufacturers to locate and invest in North Carolina.Lily Bohlke 6:16 North Carolina is facing a 10-year moratorium on all offshore energy leasing starting in July of 2022. Simmons says pending legislation would exempt offshore wind from the ban. In the meantime, she says there's work to do to get existing wind-energy areas ready for leasing – Wilmington East and West in the southern part of the state – and prepare for development of new projects to start immediately when the moratorium ends. Simmons says offshore wind will be an essential part of the move toward a carbon-free grid – and that it marries well with solar energy. When solar starts to produce less in the day, around early evening, offshore wind usually is blowing the strongest. She adds that the high generation capacity of individual offshore wind projects is key.Jamie Simmons 7:04 You're really talking about rethinking what baseload power means. Offshore wind is really the only renewable energy that could replace the capacity from a coal facility or natural-gas facility.Lily Bohlke 7:19 Cooper's proclamation outlines targets for offshore wind energy of 28-hundred megawatts by 2030 and 8-thousand megawatts by 2040. His administration notes 8-thousand megawatts could power more than 2-million homes. The order also aligns with the state's clean-energy plan signed in 2018, which aims to reduce power-sector greenhouse gases 70-percent by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. For North Carolina News Service, I'm Lily Bohlke, reporting.Elizabeth Esser 7:54 I'm Elizabeth Esser with WKNC 88.1 Eye on the Triangle. Joining us today is Santisha Walker, a certified nurse, entrepreneur, speaker and author based in Durham, North Carolina. We discussed her fitness apparel and wellness brand, the I Am experience. Santisha, thank you so much for joining us on Eye on the Triangle. Santisha Walker 8:13 You're welcome. Thank you for having me, Elizabeth. I'm excited to be here.Elizabeth Esser 8:18 So you wear many hats. You're a certified nurse and entrepreneur an author, speaker. Would you mind telling our listeners a bit about your professional background and how you got to where you are today? Santisha Walker 8:29 Sure. So yes, I am a registered nurse. I've been a nurse for seven years, I actually received my nursing degree from Wake Technical Community College here in Raleigh. And then I went on to get my master's in nursing from Gardner Webb University. And so as far as my nursing background, I have worked at Wake med, I was a cardiac nurse on intermediate step down unit, I worked at a private practice in Raleigh for neurology, I've done homecare, supervisory visits, I've worked in assisted living, long term care and rehab. So I have a really broad knowledge of nursing. And as you know, I'm not your typical traditional conventional nurse, I believe in stepping outside of the box and using my nursing knowledge to help others outside of the bedside setting. I'm also a wellness coach. And so I thought it would be great to pair wellness knowledge with my nursing health care information that I have and then make you know the best of that and be able to help others outside of that setting. I am here from the Raleigh Durham area and I reside here at RTP. And so I try to reach out to the community and partner with others who are making a difference in the lives of others as well in the healthcare wellness setting. So I have a broad range of knowledge. Elizabeth Esser 9:43 So what is the I Am experience and and what inspired you to create it?Santisha Walker 9:48 Sure, so the I am experience. So my mission with that is to basically offer individuals a fitness and wellness experience that's going to empower them to intentionally cultivate the best version of themselves and reflect it out to the world. And so my vision was to offer a fitness apparel from a quality brand that everyone can trust. And then also tag on to that wellness products that they can use while they are actually working on their physical body. And so where this idea came from, I actually came to me during the pandemic, right, everyone was home, we were all going through a lot. myself as a nurse, I was still actually helping in the bedside setting, doing what we call PRN, helping in different COVID units in the area. But when I was home, I actually decided to focus more on my actual fitness and physical fit as far as my physical body. And so I began working out more. Before the pandemic, I would go to the boxing gym and try to work on my body, but I got really lazy with it. So I decided to incorporate more physical activity for myself. But also I want it to center myself emotionally, spiritually and mentally, right. And so with every, at every news station, every time we turned around, there was something negative being mentioned or or new breaking news, I should say about Coronavirus, and about COVID and about the number of deaths and so it was taking a toll on everyone, including myself. And so what I wanted to do was become very still very centered. And so I begin positive self talk, I begin to incorporate heavily, I was doing it before, but I really want to focus on positive affirmations. And so during my workout sessions, which I would work out early in the morning, go ahead and get it done for the day, I began playing affirmations in the background. So while I was doing my HIIT Workout, I had affirmations going. And that really helped me during that vulnerable time when I was working out to center my mind and to speak to myself in my body. And I just took it from there. So I thought you know, what, if this is helping me Who else could this actually help? You know, because when we working out that's a very, it's empowering, but it's also very vulnerable, right? Because you're questioning yourself, can I do this, I have to reach this goal, I have to feel better. So you're vulnerable, but you're also empowering yourself to keep going and push past that threshold. And so that that's when it came to me, you know, it would be really cool to you know, come up with an apparel that people could actually put on when they can actually when they see themselves in that apparel, they will be empowered, right. But then also add products or add something to that, that would allow them to continue with the empowerment, mind body, soul and spirit. And so that's where it came from my husband's nonprofit organization, Carolina united flag football club, they actually had access to Nike apparel, and so I tapped into his resource and I was able to get great you know, quality apparel and use you know, use the I Am brand to go ahead and put something great out there for individuals.Elizabeth Esser 13:03 And so I understand that the brand is not just a fitness apparel brand. What all does it offer?Santisha Walker 13:10 Yeah, great, great. Okay. So this is this is the fun part right because there are several fitness apparel you know, you can athleisure is everywhere. But the thing that says that I am experienced a part is we offer an I am fitness wellness kit, right so that I Am exclusive wellness kit is basically 10 subjects that those who purchase the apparel can choose from it's complimentary. And so you choose one of those subjects with your apparel purchase. And I'm actually sending you information based on my nursing and wellness knowledge that will help you to incorporate that into your life. So there are daily practical guides, they're invaluable resources that are reputable that you can you can believe and trust in, there's evidence based information that's provided on that particular topic. So each time you purchase an apparel, you can choose a new topic to go along with your apparel. So that I am exclusive wellness kit will be included with your package with your actual apparel that you receive at your doorstep. Okay, so another product that I included was the I Am energy workout mix. This was this was a really fun project. And again, like I mentioned before I was working out right but what I wanted to do was put I am affirmations on top of energizing beats So when we work out we want something that's just going to keep us going and especially when we reach that peak, right, we have to push to that threshold. And so what I wanted to do was incorporate Im affirmations with energizing beats so that you can actually listen to it for while you're working out. So it is a 30 minute audio. And so these are professionally engineered beats that are done by the professionals. I know nothing about studio work. So I reached out to Hatton Brandon CO and they were able to reach out to their resources their team and put together the I am energy work out there. And so again, that's complimentary. It comes with your apparel, you can only get it once you purchase your apparel. But that's actually to help your mind stay in that positive mindset while you're working out. And I actually had some someone reach out to me and she said, You know what, I actually listened to it after I finished my workout. And so that you can carry it into your everyday activities. And the other, the other, this is not really a product. But the other thing that I offer is I am empowered private group. And so that is a private Facebook group, you have to have an entry code, you have to answer questions to be able to get in. But once you purchase your apparel, then you actually get access to that group to be held accountable, and to be empowered on a daily and weekly basis. And so it's not just me posting information as a healthcare professional. But it's those that are in the group, were asking questions, Hey, what are you guys doing about this? How are you guys being empowered this week? This is what I'm doing. Right. One of the things I posted yesterday was Hey, guys, like I had a little bit too much sugar last week, and, and I didn't really take in as much water this week, I am, you know, being held accountable to drinking more water. And so they hold me accountable to that. So yeah, I wanted to definitely partner wellness products,Elizabeth Esser 16:15 and you have a background in healthcare and business. And you've been able to successfully merge these two passions in your career. Was creating a brand like the I am experience always a goal of yours? Or is that something that just happened along the way?Santisha Walker 16:31 Great question. So it happened along the way. You know, if you do a little bit of research and background on me, I am a true like, nurse entrepreneur, what we call nursepreneur. And so I consider myself a serial entrepreneur, because I love taking ideas, I love taking things and my creativities and bringing them to a full finished work and bringing them to fruition. And so no, I it's so funny, I had never envisioned myself, even launching a fitness line, right. But I have a business degree. And I always tell this story. I have a business degree. And I concentrated in marketing. But I never envisioned that I would be an entrepreneur. And I know that's like an oxymoron it's contradictory. But when I went to college back in 2001, you know, I didn't know what I wanted to do what to major is I said, Hey, if I get a business degree, I could always use it at some point in life. And then after graduating I in college, I kind of had an idea. I wanted to be a nurse, but I was close to graduating. So I graduated. But becoming a nurse, I didn't become a nurse to even partner the two worlds. It wasn't until later I realized, oh my god, I have all of this knowledge, I have a business degree. And my husband actually brought that idea of, you know, going into consulting and starting my own business. And so eventually I'm merged the two. So I did not set out to be a serial nursepreneur, I did not set out to launch, you know, a fitness line, I do believe in submitting my mind, my body and my will to the will of God, my Creator. And I do believe in allowing him to order my steps. And so throughout life, life is very secure. You know, very, you know, it's a windy road. And so I just believe in just following him and doing what he's telling me to do. And it's been a success so far. Success, meaning I have empowered a lot of people along the way. That's how I measure my level of success. So, you know, no, I didn't set out to do it. But I did. I do believe in not being boxed in and just you know, submitting myself to God and letting him use me in that way.Elizabeth Esser 18:38 And as a registered nurse yourself, you have a specific passion of empowering nurses professionally and in life. How have nurses and other health care professionals responded to the I am experience?Santisha Walker 18:51 Yeah, so they responded great. I actually had a giveaway I launched actually the day like nurses week was my first inaugural launch of the brand. And so I had nurses like reach out to me that was actually a giveaway that I offered. And one of the one of the nurses won, but they've responded positively. I will say just in general, nurses are amazing. We're the powerhouse of healthcare. And I'm happy to see that we are moving along and becoming used to nurses operating outside of that traditional setting. But it's it is still a pool every once in a while to get nurses to see another nurse operating outside of just having all scrubs and starting IVs and running to codes. And so I have had a positive response. But I think as nurses hear more about this and realize, Hey, you know, this is something you guys can tap into as well. I think there will be even more a better response but so far it's been it's been good. I actually have a nurse who was a part of our inaugural launch. And so she has actually been putting it she's a she's an ER nurse at Wake med and she's actually been she's an ambassador. And she's been putting helped me get the brand out to other nurses as well. Elizabeth Esser 20:05 When is your next release?Santisha Walker 20:07 Yeah, so my next release is actually, this Friday, June the 25th. I'm not sure when this will air, but it is June the 25th. And so I release the fourth Friday of every month. And so if you missed the first release, or the most previous release, you can also always subscribe and then you'll get a heads up with that next release is coming. So the 25th of June is my next release. And the releases are available only for one week. And so you have to almost get in there why you can you know, while the getting is good. And then once that, that that seven day is over, then the next release is not until another three or four weeks.Elizabeth Esser 20:44 And finally, where can listeners find your merchandise? Santisha Walker 20:47 Yeah, so they can find it at WWW.theIAMexperience.shop So that is the I am experienced dot shop. And then once they go there, they can see all of the amazing information and yeah, all the good stuff.Elizabeth Esser 21:04 Santisha, thank you so much for joining us.Santisha Walker 21:07 You're welcome Elizabeth, thank you so much for having me.Eoin Trainor 21:11 And that is it for this episode of Eye on the Triangle. Thanks for tuning in. If you have any questions, comments, ideas or would like to get involved, shoot us an email at public affairs@wknc.org. We'd love to hear from you. Stay tuned for usual programming. We'll see you next time.

waterloop #96: Rising Up Against Environmental Racism with Chandra Taylor and Marquita Bradshaw

waterloop

Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2021

A plan to route an oil pipeline through predominantly black neighborhoods in Memphis is an example of how minority communities across the country are overburdened by pollution and subjected to environmental racism, say Chandra Taylor, Senior Attorney and Leader of the Environmental Justice Initiative at the Southern Environmental Law Center, and Marquita Bradshaw, Executive Director of Sowing Justice. They discuss how the cumulative impacts of pollution in communities like southwest Memphis must be considered when proposals such as the pipeline arise. Chandra and Marquita explain how to respond to projects that pose a pollution and public health threat to a community, including the critical need for grassroots mobilization and exploration of all options at the local, state, and federal levels. See all podcasts at waterloop.org waterloop is made possible in part by grants from the Walton Family Foundation and Spring Point Partners. waterloop is sponsored by High Sierra Showerheads, the smart and stylish way to save water, energy, and money while enjoying a powerful shower. Use promo code Loop20 for 20 percent off at highsierrashowerheads.com

EOT 322 Blakely Hildebrand: SELC's Smithfield Biogas Lawsuit; Dr. Monica Osburn: COVID-19 Pandemic and Mental Health 3/14/21

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2021 29:02

Blakely Hildebrand of the Southern Environmental Law Center talks about her lawsuit to stop a Smithfield and Dominion Energy-owned biogas facility in eastern North Carolina. Executive Director of the NC State University Counseling Center Dr. Monica Osburn discusses the COVID-19 Pandemic's impact on college students' mental health. The North Carolina News Service brings you stories on the 2020 Census' impact on redistricting in NC and the pandemic's impact on dental care.

EOT 322 Blakely Hildebrand: SELC's Smithfield Biogas Lawsuit; Dr. Monica Osburn: COVID-19 Pandemic and Mental Health 3/14/21

Environmental Integrity Project

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2021 29:02

Blakely Hildebrand of the Southern Environmental Law Center talks about her lawsuit to stop a Smithfield and Dominion Energy-owned biogas facility in eastern North Carolina. Executive Director of the NC State University Counseling Center Dr. Monica Osburn discusses the COVID-19 Pandemic's impact on college students' mental health. The North Carolina News Service brings you stories on the 2020 Census' impact on redistricting in NC and the pandemic's impact on dental care.

“Coloring the Conservation Conversation” with author and wildlife ecologist J. Drew Lanham

Ethics Today

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2021 76:55

This episode of the Ethics Today podcast is a recording of the annual Leopold Week lecture hosted by Viterbo University on March 5, 2021. We discuss the continuing relevance of Aldo Leopold's "A Sand County Almanac," the challenges of being a black person doing field work in wildlife ecology, and how to make nature activities more inclusive. A native of Edgefield, S.C., J. Drew Lanham is the author of "The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature," which received the Reed Award from the Southern Environmental Law Center and the Southern Book Prize, and was a finalist for the John Burroughs Medal. He is a birder, naturalist, and hunter-conservationist who has published essays and poetry in publications including Orion, Audubon, Flycatcher, and Wilderness, and in several anthologies, including The Colors of Nature, State of the Heart, Bartram’s Living Legacy, and Carolina Writers at Home. An alumni distinguished professor of wildlife ecology and master teacher at Clemson University, he and his family live in the Upstate of South Carolina, a soaring hawk’s downhill glide from the southern Appalachian escarpment that the Cherokee once called the Blue Wall.

A Look at Biden's Pick to Run EPA, Michael Regan, and the Challenges he Faces

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2021 19:36

President-Elect Joe Biden has picked North Carolina’s top environmental regulator, Michael Regan, as his choice to run the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. How has Regan performed in his job as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality? And what challenges will he face rebuilding an EPA devastated by deregulation, staffing cuts, and control by industry lobbyists during the Trump Administration? We interview three experts: Derb Carter, Director of the North Carolina office of the Southern Environmental Law Center, who has extensive first-hand knowledge of Regan’s track record in North Carolina; Eric Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Environmental Integrity Project and former Director of Civil Enforcement at EPA, who has insights into how to get the EPA back on track; and Betsy Southerland, former Director of Science and Technology in EPA’s Office of Water.

director science technology water challenges office executive director north carolina secretary faces epa trump administration environmental protection agency environmental quality north carolina department southern environmental law center eric schaeffer environmental integrity project civil enforcement

The $8 Billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline Was Cancelled: Learn Why and What it Means for Clean Energy