Podcasts about Superfund

On Monday, US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired all 17 members of the panel that advises the CDC on who should get certain vaccines and when. Then on Thursday, he appointed eight new members, some of whom have been critical of vaccines in the past. So who exactly is new on the panel and how are medical experts reacting?Sophie Bushwick from New Scientist breaks down this reshuffling and the other top science stories of the week, including Starlink's leaky satellites, Earth's possible past encounters with dark matter, IBM's quantum computing plans, a device that can extract water from dry air, and how a paralyzed man was able to speak thanks to brain-controlled synthetic voice.Plus, nearly one in four Americans live within three miles of a Superfund site, places that are contaminated with hazardous waste and flagged for cleanup by the government. Amid sweeping cuts to science and environmental programs, the Trump administration appears to be prioritizing the cleanup of these polluted sites. But why? Host Flora Lichtman talks with science journalist Shahla Farzan about the Trump administration's approach to cleaning up Superfund sites and what this means for impacted communities.Read Farzan's full story about the move to expedite cleanup, and her past coverage of how floods can impact the areas surrounding Superfund sites.Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

Philipstown also approves zoning for solar Philipstown is planning to bill the Garrison Landing Water District's nine users for the first time in over a decade and require them to reimburse the town for some of the $2 million it has spent buying water and digging a new well. The Town Board has scheduled a public hearing for June 24 on a proposal to borrow $500,000 for the Garrison Landing Water District, whose residents and businesses are receiving water from the new well drilled and connected at town expense when the existing wells failed. Philipstown also purchased water for the district and repaired leaks in its system to the extent that it has "basically repaired every single water line in Garrison Landing at this point," Supervisor John Van Tassel said when the board met on June 5. Now it is looking to recoup some of those expenses through the bonding, which will be repaid by water district users. "We will stretch the bond payments out for as long as we can to make it easier for them, but they will ultimately be responsible for paying back a good portion of this," Van Tassel added on Wednesday (June 11). Part of the proposed borrowing will fund meters. The existing meters have not worked in 15 years, said Van Tassel. The town did not have money for the meters, he said, and had been mistakenly told that state law prohibited billing users more than the $20,000 annually they've been paying collectively since the town acquired the system in 1998. "We will come up with a flat rate for residential use, we're going to come up with a flat rate for commercial use, and then there will be a rate per gallon for the water usage," said Van Tassel at the June 5 meeting. "Everybody will pay their fair share for water." A state audit released in May calculated that Philipstown spent $2.4 million between 2018 and 2023 to fill Garrison Landing's water needs, shrinking its general-fund balance from $1 million to $53,137. Annual expenses for the district rose during the same period from about $85,000 to $975,000, "the most significant factor of the town's financial decline," the audit said. Solar guidelines The Town Board on June 5 approved zoning for private and commercial solar systems. Under the guidelines, property owners who want to install roof- or ground-mounted systems for personal use can do so if they follow the regulatory process required for accessory structures, such as garages. The zoning limits the height of panels on pitched roofs to 8 inches, flat roofs to 2 feet or the height of parapets, and ground-mounted solar systems to 12 feet. Panels must have anti-reflective coating and ground-mounted systems cannot be larger than 5,000 square feet and must be shielded from neighbors. Commercial solar farms are allowed everywhere except the Ridgeline Protection District and only in the Scenic Overlay District with a special permit. The guidelines specify that solar farms, "to the greatest extent possible," be installed on industrial properties; Superfund sites that have undergone environmental cleanup; mining sites; abandoned parcels; landfills; parking lots; and the roofs of commercial buildings. In addition, companies building community solar projects, which allow residents to buy shares of the electricity they generate, must target Philipstown residents for subscriptions, particularly low- and moderate-income households. Requests for variances can be made to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Solar farms capable of generating up to 5 megawatts of electricity need 7-foot-high fencing with a self-locking gate to secure the mechanical equipment. Systems over 1 megawatt need a plan for decommissioning, removal and site restoration.

Jennie Liss Ohayon, PhD, Impacts of California's Proposition 65 Dr. Jennie Liss Ohayon is a Research Scientist at Silent Spring Institute, specializing in environmental policy, community-engaged research, and environmental justice. She is currently working on projects to report back to study participants and community partners in the U.S. and Chile their exposures to endocrine disrupting chemicals. She also researches the emergence of scientific and activist concerns around industrial chemicals with Northeastern's PFAS lab, and, in collaboration with co-investigators at the University of California, Berkeley, is evaluating the effectiveness of California-based legislation that aims to reduce or eliminate exposures to toxic substances. With the support of the Massachusetts Toxic Use Reduction Institute, she recently partnered with high schools across the state to translate environmental health research into hands-on curriculum that helps students reduce toxic exposures. She works with the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative, a network formed to address threats to federal environmental policy and data, to track changes to EPA's structure and science production. Dr. Ohayon completed her PhD at the University of California, Santa Cruz researching the remediation of toxic waste in military Superfund sites. With research support from the EPA's Science to Achieve Results fellowship and the National Science Foundation, she did fieldwork to evaluate how policy around public participation and environmental justice is translated into cleanup programs. She also used data from all military Superfund sites for quantitative and spatial analyses of how factors such as the race and class demographics of surrounding neighborhoods contribute to how quickly sites are remediated. During this time, she created an interactive curriculum in environmental sciences for high school students that are disproportionately affected by environmental problems and who come from communities that are underrepresented in the field of environmental science. Prior to beginning her PhD, Dr. Ohayon worked in two conservation biology laboratories and led education and recreation programs for children in low-income housing. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Toronto, with majors in biology and political science. In her free time, she enjoys traveling (she's explored six continents) and various food-related pursuits—gardening, canning, and of course eating delicious vegetarian food! Links mentioned in the podcast: Chemical Exposure Warnings (Proposition 65 Warnings) California Told Companies to Label Toxic Chemicals. Instead They're Quietly Dropping Them How a Right-to-Know Law Shifts Industry away from Chemicals of Concern: The Case of California's Proposition 65 The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) Silent Spring's tips (including tip sheets and our Detox Me app)

Jenn and Frank explore the Love Canal disaster, toxic waste, health impacts, and the community uprising that sparked the creation of the Superfund law.Hello Horror Fanatics! Welcome to Oh...The Horror! A weekly podcast for all things horror, supernatural, scary and downright creepy.We hope you give us a listen and add us to your regular rotation of podcasts.You can learn more about our podcast, connect to your favorite podcast platform, social media presence, and donations using the link below:https://linktr.ee/ohthehorrorpodcastPlease email any show ideas, comments and suggestions to oth@seriouslydecent.comProud to be listed in the Top 100 Horror Podcasts on Feedspot.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says changes to KiwiSaver will be revealed at next week's Budget. The NZ Super Fund will cover only 20% of future Superannuation costs, with withdrawals starting in 2028. The fund will continue growing despite withdrawals, but Superannuation costs are expected to reach $29 billion annually. There will be changes to KiwiSaver announced at next week's Budget, with the Super Fund only expected to cover – at best – 20% of the cost of Superannuation in the future, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Willis wouldn't say what the changes would be, but they would be “positive”, she told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking Breakfast this morning. The minister has previously not ruled out changes – including means-testing – to the $521 given to KiwiSaver members who contribute at least twice that amount each year. “[Changes will be positive] because I want to see people's KiwiSaver balances grow. KiwiSaver has become particularly important for those saving to buy their first home – we had more than 40,000 people use KiwiSaver to do that in the past year," she told Hosking. “And it's become an increasingly important supplement for people's retirement income.” Willis announced yesterday that the Government was forecast to make its first withdrawal from the NZ Super Fund in 2028, five years earlier than forecast at last year's Budget. Superannuation costs are expected to reach $29 billion a year in a few years, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Photo / 123rf The fund was set up in 2001 to subsidise the future cost of Superannuation, easing the burden on taxpayers. The date of the withdrawal – forecast to total $32m in 2028 – isn't at the Government's discretion and is written into the Fund's governing legislation. The first withdrawal would be followed by some “bouncing around between withdrawals and contributions”, but from 2031 onwards, withdrawals were expected every year, Willis said yesterday. Despite withdrawals, the Super Fund won't shrink in the short-term. It will continue growing for some time as withdrawals will be smaller than the overall growth in the fund, the Herald reported yesterday. Treasury's forecasts, which were based on a complicated formula relating to how much is in the fund, GDP, taxpayer numbers and other factors, confirmed help was needed to pay for superannuation, Willis told Hosking this morning. “We've all talked for several years about at a certain point, the cost of superannuation will get very high, and then we'll need the Super Fund to help. We're now at that point.” Asked how much of the cost of superannuation the fund would cover “in its golden moments”, Willis told Hosking: “In its golden moments it's only going to be about 20% of the total cost”. “There's no getting away from the fact that superannuation is very expensive … just in the next few years, it's going to leap up to $29 billion a year, because there are a lot of people over the age of 65 and superannuation is pegged to the after-tax average wage, so that number keeps going up. “That's the commitment that we have as a country, is to fund that entitlement, and we then need to pay for it. And there are fewer taxpayers, of course, in the future to help pay for it.” -Cherie Howie LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 14th of May, Finance Minister Nicola Willis is on after announcing the first Super Fund withdrawal will come years earlier than expected. The Government is planning on investing $140 million into improving school attendance – Associate Education Minister David Seymour elaborates. Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell discuss Jevon McSkimming, missing the new 500 police targets, and pay equity on Politics Wednesday. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's belief that injecting taxpayer dollars into venture capital comes with high risks. The Government's putting $100 million into the Elevate fund - which supports small business start-ups. It's diverting $61 million from its yearly Super Fund contribution, topped up with $39 million from the Budget. The Taxpayers Union's James Ross says commercially viable businesses wouldn't need propping up by the Government. "The fact that the Government is having to do that just proves how high-risk these investments are - and it proves the risks that the taxpayers are being exposed to." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday 14th of April 2025, The government's looking at changes to the Kiwisaver scheme, Kiwisaver and Superfund expert Jonathan Eriksen shares his thoughts. Half of New Zealanders were the target of online scam and fraud last year National Cyber Security Centre's Director of Mission Enablement Mike Jagusch tells Ryan Bridge what to look out for. Meridian has bought Flicks, Chief Customer Officer Lisa Hannifin tells Ryan what this will mean for the energy sector. Plus Uk Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on A man who has served 38 years in a UK prison for the murder of a woman having his conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal after new DNA evidence emerged. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's belief that injecting taxpayer dollars into venture capital comes with high risks. The Government's putting $100 million into the Elevate fund - which supports small business start-ups. It's diverting $61 million from its yearly Super Fund contribution, topped up with $39 million from the Budget. The Taxpayers Union's James Ross says commercially viable businesses wouldn't need propping up by the Government. "The fact that the Government is having to do that just proves how high-risk these investments are - and it proves the risks that the taxpayers are being exposed to." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand will pass an economic milestone in 2028, with the Government making it's first ever Super Fund withdrawal. The Finance Minister revealed yesterday they'll begin offset superannuation costs by withdrawing $32 million from the New Zealand Super Fund. From 2031, withdrawals are expected annually. Superannuation expert Jonathan Eriksen told Ryan Bridge it's exactly what the Superfund was set up to do. He says it's up to $80 billion currently and is generating returns of 10% per annum, with 1% of that being $80 million. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guidelines cover residential, commercial panels The Philipstown Town Board will hold a public hearing June 5 on a proposed law that would establish zoning guidelines for the installation of solar panels and commercial solar farms. A Climate Smart Task Force committee crafted the rules with five goals: (1) to establish a siting process; (2) lessen the cost of electricity; (3) mitigate the impact of solar systems on the environment and wildlife; (4) support the town goal of carbon neutrality; and (5) regulate the decommissioning of commercial solar projects. The conservation and planning boards, the building department and the town engineer and attorney each reviewed the proposal, said Jason Angell, a member of the Town Board and the task force, during a May 1 meeting. "All of that process is probably what took some time but made it a lot stronger." Under the draft guidelines, property owners who want to install roof- or ground-mounted systems for residential use would be allowed to do so in any zoning district. They would follow the same regulatory process required for adding accessory structures, such as garages. Philipstown would limit the height of panels on pitched roofs to 8 inches, flat roofs to 2 feet or the height of parapets and ground-mounted solar systems to 12 feet. Panels must have anti-reflective coating and ground-mounted systems can not be larger than 5,000 square feet and shielded from neighbors. The law would allow solar farms in all zoning districts except for the Ridgeline Protection District and only in the Scenic Overlay District with a special permit. The draft specifies that solar farms, "to the greatest extent possible," be installed on industrial properties; Superfund sites that have undergone environmental cleanup; mining sites; abandoned parcels; landfills; parking lots; and the roofs of commercial buildings. Removing trees larger than 6 inches in diameter "should be minimized," according to the draft law. If more than 10 trees need to be removed for a ground-mounted system, applicants would need to propose mitigation measures such as planting an equal number of trees or replacing invasive plants with native ones. In addition, solar farms capable of generating up to 5 megawatts of electricity would need 7-foot-high fencing with a self-locking gate to secure the mechanical equipment. Systems over 1 megawatt would need a decommissioning plan. Applicants would have to deposit cash or post a bond or security equal to 115 percent of the cost of removal and site restoration. Companies building community solar projects, which allow residents to buy shares of the electricity they generate, would have to target Philipstown residents for subscriptions, particularly low- and moderate-income households. Requests for variances could be made to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

There's bad news, really, and it's been coming and I think I've had my head in the sand for some time. I've been wanting things to get better quickly. I've wanted things to move out from grindy-ness, and a lack of fun, and excess, and nonsense. It's just been for four years of long, slow grind, it seems. Well, Matthew Hooton's opinion piece in the New Zealand Herald has laid it out starkly, unequivocally, in no uncertain terms. The grindy times are here for a long time, as he says. Brooke van Velden's constitutionally dubious and deeply unpopular legislation to amend the Equal Pay Act and more bold moves like it, are now unavoidable, whether they take the form of massive spending cuts, much higher taxes, or most likely, he says both. And the reason? Successive governments have been on a massive jolly, and now we, and successive generations have to pay for it. As Hooton reminds us, Treasury began formerly warning in 2006, about the looming fiscal challenges after 2030. It expected future governments would follow the responsible fiscal management of the Bolger, Shipley, and Clark governments, that they would maintain surpluses, pay back debt, put aside cash for a rainy day. Had we heeded the advice and followed the blueprint, we would be 15% of GDP in the black this year. Instead, the Key-English and Ardern-Hipkins Governments went on a 15-year spending spree, putting us 23% of GDP in the red, despite the Super Fund's returns on investments exceeding expectations. You can say what about the Canterbury quake, the GFC, and Covid? You can say all of that. But he's quite right. Successive governments have had to recover from crises, but they've also used that time to have a spend up, to push through expensive legislation and policies, of their choosing, of their ideology, while at the same time having to fork out billions in damage recovery. So, the four years of grindy times are going to be nothing in comparison to what we are going to see. There's more with this came from. Thanks to the Key-English and Ardern-Hipkins legacy, we're nearly 40% of GDP, or more than $170 billion, behind where Helen Clark, Winston Peters, and Sir Michael Cullen planned back in 2006, just as baby boomers retire and health costs start to explode. He says and argues without radical policy change, there is no plausible scenario that doesn't lead to eventual financial and social collapse. I urge you to read it and have a look and see what you think. That is why Labour's well-intentioned and accurately costed ill thought-out legislation is being scrapped. That is why superannuation and healthcare costs will be put under the microscope as costs balloon. And that is why I would argue, National and Labour need to work together to get us out of this mess. Treasury warned of the fiscal challenges in 2006. They warned of them again in a 2012 post-election briefing to John Key, the papers stressed again as baby boomers move into retirement, New Zealand's 65 and over population is projected to grow nearly four times more quickly than the total population, and consequently there'll be a rapid rise in health, aged care, and New Zealand super costs. Treasury said the fiscal challenge is considerable. There is no way to avoid making trade-offs. Given the potential economic and social instability that could result from any uncertainty about these trade-offs, we think it's crucial that effort be made to build broad public consensus on the way forward. And that's where we are today. The trade-offs are starting but there's no consensus, because it's just been sprung on us. Well, it hasn't been sprung on us. Treasury have been warning of this for some time, and we have ignored it as voters and the parties have ignored it. Both National and Labour are at fault, but we voters are to blame as well. We can't just stand there saying, “oh, we're victims we didn't know”. Would we have elected any party to government that laid out the grim prognosis for New Zealand Inc. and spelled out the tough measures we would need to take to recover? If Christopher Luxon had stood there in 2023 and said, we're in a real mess and it goes way beyond Hipkins and Robertson, Ardern and Robertson. It goes back a lot further than that and we are going to have to cut the equal pay amendment legislation, we're going to have to raise the age of superannuation, as every other western country we measure ourselves against has done, we're going to have to look long and hard at healthcare, we're have to look long and hard at welfare payments, and we're probably going to have to scrap some of them because we're in a deep, deep fiscal hole. Would we have said thank you so much for spelling it out. We're going to vote National back in to do these austere and tough measures that we need to recover so that we've got a country for our grandchildren. I doubt it. We are just as much to blame. The party is well and truly over, and it has been for some time. We've just borrowed to keep it going and buried our heads in the sand, turned up the music so we don't hear the creaking and the groaning of the economy as it struggles to keep the party going. It's time we all grew up. And it's time both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition worked together to try and keep the country together while we work our way out of this mess. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Day in Legal History: Petition of RightOn May 8, 1628, the English Parliament formally presented the Petition of Right to King Charles I, marking a key moment in the development of constitutional law and the rule of law in England. This pivotal document emerged in response to growing discontent over the king's use of extrajudicial practices—most notably, the levying of taxes without Parliament's approval and the imprisonment of individuals without cause. Parliament asserted that such actions violated established legal norms rooted in Magna Carta and the common law. The Petition of Right articulated four principal grievances: non-Parliamentary taxation, arbitrary imprisonment, the quartering of soldiers in private homes, and the imposition of martial law during peacetime.Rather than draft new laws, Parliament framed the Petition as a reaffirmation of ancient liberties, underscoring that even the monarch was not above the law. Although Charles initially resisted, political pressure forced him to accept the Petition—though he would later undermine its principles, contributing to the constitutional crises that led to the English Civil War. The Petition became a foundational text in the Anglo-American legal tradition, influencing later legal milestones such as the English Bill of Rights (1689) and the United States Constitution.Its insistence on due process, the separation of powers, and limits on executive authority laid early groundwork for modern democratic governance. In rejecting the idea that the king could rule by prerogative alone, the Petition of Right helped to establish Parliament's role as a co-equal branch of government. The document continues to be cited in legal and political discourse as a seminal assertion of civil liberties. It was a bold challenge to monarchical absolutism at a time when questioning royal authority was fraught with danger. Through its articulation of legal limits on state power, the Petition of Right remains a cornerstone in the long evolution of constitutional democracy.Jenner & Block continues to take on high-profile legal battles against the Trump administration while awaiting a ruling in its own lawsuit challenging one of Trump's executive orders. The firm recently filed a suit in Massachusetts federal court on behalf of universities challenging cost caps imposed by the National Science Foundation on federally funded research. This is one of several legal actions Jenner has brought since Trump's return to the presidency, including lawsuits over restrictions on gender-affirming care and funding cuts to scientific research.Jenner is also seeking to permanently block a Trump executive order that targets the firm due to its ties to Andrew Weissmann, a former partner involved in the Mueller investigation. A judge has already temporarily blocked parts of the order, and other firms like Perkins Coie have secured similar rulings. Critics worry these orders could deter law firms from opposing the administration for fear of retaliation.Jenner is collaborating with former Solicitor General Paul Clement and his firm Clement & Murphy in its newest lawsuit on behalf of major research universities. They've previously teamed up to challenge medical research funding cuts, winning a preliminary court victory. Clement is also representing WilmerHale in its legal fight against Trump. The core argument in these cases is that the administration's actions infringe on constitutional rights, including free speech, due process, and equal protection.Jenner Adds Trump Fights While Fending Off Executive Order (1)The EPA under the second Trump administration is making Superfund site cleanups a central priority, aiming to accelerate remediation efforts across over 1,300 contaminated locations nationwide. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin emphasized a push for expedited timelines and tangible outcomes, positioning Superfund cleanups as visible and community-focused work that garners public support. The administration has highlighted early actions like major soil removals, enforcement efforts that secured nearly $300 million in cleanups, and the removal of four sites from the Superfund National Priorities List.Observers say this mirrors the Trump EPA's first term, which also emphasized efficiency and redevelopment of polluted sites, often encouraging private investment. However, budget constraints remain a challenge. Superfund appropriations have dropped significantly since 1999, and while the 2021 Infrastructure Act provided a temporary funding boost and reinstated taxes on chemical companies, the current administration's 2026 budget proposes a $254 million cut, claiming tax revenue will suffice.Industry groups oppose the chemical tax, while environmental experts warn that funding and staffing shortfalls could stall progress. Critics caution that setting aggressive timelines without sufficient resources could backfire, leading to missed goals and wasted efforts. To improve the program, experts suggest reforms such as more collaboration with local entities and clearer guidance on common cleanup approaches to reduce delays.Trumps' EPA Shifts to Make Superfund Cleanups a Central MissionFormer Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has retired from the law firm Paul Weiss to take on a leadership role at Columbia University, where he was elected co-chair of the board of trustees. Johnson, who served under President Obama and spent four decades at Paul Weiss, said he will miss his colleagues but is ready for the new challenge. His departure comes amid tensions between both Paul Weiss and Columbia with the Trump administration.Earlier this year, Trump issued an executive order limiting Paul Weiss's access to federal agencies, citing its ties to a prosecutor from the Russia investigation. To resolve the issue, the firm agreed to provide $40 million in pro bono legal services aligned with the administration's goals—a move criticized by some legal professionals for not challenging the order in court. Paul Weiss's chairman defended the agreement as necessary to protect the firm's future.Columbia University has also faced pressure from the Trump administration, which cut $400 million in federal funding over allegations that the school failed to address antisemitism on campus. In response, Columbia has made concessions to regain funding and recently laid off nearly 180 researchers due to financial strain. The university continues to operate without a permanent president following protests over the Israel-Gaza conflict.Johnson, a known critic of Trump's immigration policies and supporter of Kamala Harris in 2024, becomes the second high-profile departure from Paul Weiss following the firm's controversial deal with the administration.Ex-Obama cabinet secretary leaves law firm Paul Weiss for Columbia post | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

New Zealand is not the wealthiest country in the world. But it has one of the top-performing sovereign wealth funds anywhere. Chief economist for the NZ Super Fund, Mike Frith, joins Emile Donovan.

JB McCuskey, WV Attorney General discusses a lawsuit challenging Vermont's SuperFund. Paul Swann, of WRVC Radio in Huntington, discusses the pending departure of Marshall AD Christian Spears. Fox's Ryan Schmelz weighs in on Trump's 100 days in office. Taylor Richmond, Chair of WV Libertarian Party is in-studio. 

Welcome back to another episode of the 360 Money Matters Podcast!  In this episode, we explore the world of self-managed super funds (SMSFs) and ask the big question: should we have one? We unpack the essentials — what an SMSF is, how it differs from regular super funds, and the pros and cons of managing your own fund. We explore the control and flexibility that come with SMSFs, including the ability to invest in assets like property and collectibles, but also the responsibilities, risks, and higher costs that follow. From setup fees and compliance obligations to investment strategy complexities and retirement planning, we cover why SMSFs might suit some of us — especially with larger balances or specific goals — but not all of us. Tune in now to find out if managing your own super fund is the right move for you! - This podcast contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information. This information is provided by Billy Amiridis &  Andrew Nicolaou of 360 Financial Strategists Pty Ltd, authorized representatives and credit representatives of Akumin Financial Planning – AFSL 232706   Episode Highlights How to get over that fear and how to move forward Importance of recognizing the need and asking questions as a good start The power of knowledge Take into account your tolerance to risk and comfort levels Ensuring to pass the "sleep test” About the benefits of compounding and the need to stick to a strategy Pay attention to your investments, but don't become obsessed   Connect with Billy and Andrew! 360 Financial Strategists    Check out our latest episode here:  Apple Podcast Spotify

Why didn't they tell anyone there was a super fund site there? Hour 3 4/24/2025 full 2119 Thu, 24 Apr 2025 21:00:00 +0000 m6AMDRnzJl801RccihCJ4TM9JmYwaUzQ news The Dana & Parks Podcast news Why didn't they tell anyone there was a super fund site there? Hour 3 4/24/2025 You wanted it... Now here it is! Listen to each hour of the Dana & Parks Show whenever and wherever you want! 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News False https://playe

#123: Kenny Stein on climate legal battles and New York's Climate Superfund Act (4/23/25) Links: The New York Energy Tax Cash Grab: https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/regulation/the-new-york-energy-tax-cash-grab/ North Dakota Jury Rules in Favor of the Dakota Access Pipeline: https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/fossil-fuels/gas-and-oil/north-dakota-jury-rules-in-favor-of-the-dakota-access-pipeline/

The EPA Superfund Redevelopment Program's mission is to protect human health and the environment and promote the reuse of Superfund sites. Restoring these once-contaminated properties to productive use revitalizes local economies and prioritizes economic prosperity, spurring new jobs, business growth, tax revenues, spending and new amenities for communities.   This webinar showcases the economic benefits of Superfund Redevelopment for communities across the country. Participants will hear about the most up-to-date economic numbers and success stories. They will also learn about tools used at Superfund sites to ensure that reuse projects meet local needs and reflect community priorities, as part of restoring the greatness of the American economy. To view this archive online or download the slides associated with this seminar, please visit http://www.clu-in.org/conf/tio/superfund-redevelopment_042325/

The EPA Superfund Redevelopment Program's mission is to protect human health and the environment and promote the reuse of Superfund sites. Restoring these once-contaminated properties to productive use revitalizes local economies and prioritizes economic prosperity, spurring new jobs, business growth, tax revenues, spending and new amenities for communities.   This webinar showcases the economic benefits of Superfund Redevelopment for communities across the country. Participants will hear about the most up-to-date economic numbers and success stories. They will also learn about tools used at Superfund sites to ensure that reuse projects meet local needs and reflect community priorities, as part of restoring the greatness of the American economy. To view this archive online or download the slides associated with this seminar, please visit http://www.clu-in.org/conf/tio/superfund-redevelopment_042325/

Do you need a self managed super fund? Who benefits from it? How does it work? How much does it cost? Just how complicated is it? Join Canna Campbell - a financial planner for 20 years - and Fear & Greed's Michael Thompson as they explore everything you've ever needed to know about SMSFs. --- The information in this podcast is general in nature and does not take into account your personal circumstances, financial needs or objectives. Before acting on any information, you should consider the appropriateness of it and the relevant product having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. In particular, you should seek independent financial advice and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement or other offer document prior to acquiring any financial product. Canna Campbell is a Corporate Authorised Representative and Corporate Credit Representative of Wealthstream Financial Group Pty Ltd ABN 35 152 803 113 Australian Financial Services Licensee AFSL 412079.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(Apr 18, 2025) Every Thursday, there are free archery lessons at the Saranac Lake Fish and Game Club; NYS leaders are promising reforms to the culture in prisons after guards were charged for another beating death of an inmate; a new executive order signed by President Donald Trump aims to stop the enforcement of some state climate laws; Several University at Albany students have had their visas terminated; and, warm mountain conditions at the end of April.

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and to support independent ski journalism, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.WhoJeff Colburn, General Manager of Silver Mountain, IdahoRecorded onFebruary 12, 2025About Silver MountainClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: CMR Lands, which also owns 49 Degrees North, WashingtonLocated in: Kellogg, IdahoYear founded: 1968 as Jackass ski area, later known as Silverhorn, operated intermittently in the 1980s before its transformation into Silver in 1990Pass affiliations:* Indy Pass – 2 days, select blackouts* Indy+ Pass – 2 days, no blackouts* Powder Alliance – 3 days, select blackoutsClosest neighboring ski areas: Lookout Pass (:26)Base elevation: 4,100 feet (lowest chairlift); 2,300 feet (gondola)Summit elevation: 6,297 feetVertical drop: 2,200 feetSkiable acres: 1,600+Average annual snowfall: 340 inchesTrail count: 80Lift count: 7 (1 eight-passenger gondola, 1 fixed-grip quad, 2 triples, 2 doubles – view Lift Blog's inventory of Silver Mountain's lift fleet)Why I interviewed himAfter moving to Manhattan in 2002, I would often pine for an extinct version of New York City: docks thrust into the Hudson, masted ships, ornate brickwork factories, carriages, open windows, kids loose in the streets, summer evening crowds on stoops and patios. Modern New York, riotous as it is for an American city, felt staid and sterile beside the island's explosively peopled black-and-white past.Over time, I've developed a different view: New York City is a triumph of post-industrial reinvention, able to shed and quickly replace obsolete industries with those that would lead the future. And my idealized New York, I came to realize, was itself a snapshot of one lost New York, but not the only lost New York, just my romanticized etching of a city that has been in a constant state of reinvention for 400 years.It's through this same lens that we can view Silver Mountain. For more than a century, Kellogg was home to silver mines that employed thousands. When the Bunker Hill Mine closed in 1981, it took the town's soul with it. The city became a symbol of industrial decline, of an America losing its rough-and-ragged hammer-bang grit.And for a while, Kellogg was a denuded and dusty crater pockmarking the glory-green of Idaho's panhandle. The population collapsed. Suicide rates, Colburn tells us on the podcast, were high.But within a decade, town officials peered toward the skeleton of Jackass ski area, with its intact centerpole Riblet double, and said, “maybe that's the thing.” With help from Von Roll, they erected three chairlifts on the mountain and taxed themselves $2 million to string a three-mile-long gondola from town to mountain, opening the ski area to the masses by bypassing the serpentine seven-mile-long access road. (Gosh, can you think of anyplace else where such a contraption would work?)Silver rose above while the Environmental Protection Agency got to work below, cleaning up what had been designated a massive Superfund site. Today, Kellogg, led by Silver, is a functional, modern place, a post-industrial success story demonstrating how recreation can anchor an economy and a community. The service sector lacks the fiery valor of industry. Bouncing through snow, gifted from above, for fun, does not resonate with America's self-image like the gutsy miner pulling metal from the earth to feed his family. Town founder/mining legend Noah Kellogg and his jackass companion remain heroic local figures. But across rural America, ski areas have stepped quietly into the vacuum left by vacated factories and mines, where they become a source of community identity and a stabilizing agent where no other industry makes sense.What we talked aboutSki Idaho; what it will take to transform Idaho into a ski destination; the importance of Grand Targhee to Idaho; old-time PNW skiing; Schweitzer as bellwether for Idaho ski area development; Kellogg, Idaho's mining history, Superfund cleanup, and renaissance as a resort town; Jackass ski area and its rebirth as Silver Mountain; the easiest big mountain access in America; taking a gondola to the ski area; the Jackass Snack Shack; an affordable mountain town?; Silver's destination potential; 49 Degrees North; these obscenely, stupidly low lift ticket prices:Potential lift upgrades, including Chair 4; snowmaking potential; baselodge expansion; Indy Pass; and the Powder Alliance.What I got wrongI mentioned that Telluride's Mountain Village Gondola replacement would cost $50 million. The actual estimates appear to be $60 million. The two stages of that gondola total 10,145 feet, more than a mile shorter than Silver's astonishing 16,350 feet (3.1 miles).Why now was a good time for this interviewIn the ‘90s, before the advent of the commercial internet, I learned about skiing from magazines. They mostly wrote about the American West and their fabulous, over-hill-and-dale ski complexes: Vail and Sun Valley and Telluride and the like. But these publications also exposed the backwaters where you could mainline pow and avoid liftlines, and do it all for less than the price of a bologna sandwich. It was in Skiing's October 1994 Favorite Resorts issue that I learned about this little slice of magnificence:Snow, snow, snow, steep, steep, steep, cheap, cheap, cheap, and a feeling you've gone back to a special time and place when life, and skiing, was uncomplicated – those are the things that make [NAME REDACTED] one of our favorite resorts. It's the ultimate pure skiing experience. This was another surprise choice, even to those who named [REDACTED] to their lists. We knew people liked [REDACTED], but we weren't prepared for how many, or how create their affections were. This is the one area that broke the “Great Skiing + Great Base Area + Amenities = Favorite Resort” equation. [REDACTED] has minimal base development, no shopping, no nightlife, no fancy hotels or eateries, and yet here it is on our list, a tribute to the fact that in the end, really great skiing matters more than any other single resort feature.OK, well this sounds amazing. Tell me more……[REDACTED] has one of the cheapest lift tickets around.…One of those rare places that hasn't been packaged, streamlined, suburbanized. There's also that delicious atmosphere of absolute remoteness from the everyday world.…The ski area for traditionalists, ascetics, and cheapskates. The lifts are slow and creaky, the accommodations are spartan, but the lift tickets are the best deal in skiing.This super-secret, cheaper-than-Tic-Tacs, Humble Bro ski center tucked hidden from any sign of civilization, the Great Skiing Bomb Shelter of 1994, is…Alta.Yes, that Alta.The Alta with four high-speed lifts.The Alta with $199 peak-day walk-up lift tickets.The Alta that headlines the Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective.The Alta with an address at the top of America's most over-burdened access road.Alta is my favorite ski area. There is nothing else like it anywhere (well, except directly next door). And a lot remains unchanged since 1994: there still isn't much to do other than ski, the lodges are still “spartan,” it is still “steep” and “deep.” But Alta blew past “cheap” a long time ago, and it feels about as embedded in the wilderness as an exit ramp Chuck E. Cheese. Sure, the viewshed is mostly intact, but accessing the ski area requires a slow-motion up-canyon tiptoe that better resembles a civilization-level evacuation than anything we would label “remote.” Alta is still Narnia, but the Alta described above no longer exists.Well, no s**t? Aren't we talking about Idaho here? Yes, but no one else is. And that's what I'm getting at: the Alta of 2025, the place where everything is cheap and fluffy and empty, is Idaho. Hide behind your dumb potato jokes all you want, but you can't argue with this lineup:“Ummm, Grand Targhee is in Wyoming, D*****s.”Thank you, Geography Bro, but the only way to access GT is through Idaho, and the mountain has been a member of Ski Idaho for centuries because of it.Also: Lost Trail and Lookout Pass both straddle the Montana-Idaho border.Anyway, check that roster, those annual snowfall totals. Then look at how difficult these ski areas are to access. The answer, mostly, is “Not Very.” You couldn't make Silver Mountain easier to get to unless you moved it to JFK airport: exit the interstate, drive seven feet, park, board the gondola.Finally, let's compare that group of 15 Idaho ski areas to the 15 public, aerial-lift-served ski areas in Utah. Even when you include Targhee and all of Lost Trail and Lookout, Utah offers 32 percent more skiable terrain than Idaho:But Utah tallies three times more annual skier visits than Idaho:No, Silver Mountain is not Alta, and Brundage is not Snowbird. But Silver and Brundage don't get skied out in under 45 seconds on a powder day. And other than faster lifts and more skiers, there's not much separating the average Utah ski resort from the average Idaho ski resort.That won't be true forever. People are dumb in the moment, but smart in slow-motion. We are already seeing meaningful numbers of East Coast ski families reorient their ski trips east, across the Atlantic (one New York-based reader explained to me today how they flew their family to Norway for skiing over President's weekend because it was cheaper than Vermont). Soon enough, Planet California and everyone else is going to tire of the expense and chaos of Colorado and Utah, and they'll Insta-sleuth their way to this powdery Extra-Rockies that everyone forgot about. No reason to wait for all that.Why you should ski Silver MountainI have little to add outside of what I wrote above: go to Silver because it's big and cheap and awesome. So I'll add this pinpoint description from Skibum.net:It's hard to find something negative about Silver Mountain; the only real drawback is that you probably live nowhere near it. On the other hand, if you live within striking distance, you already know that this is easily the best kept ski secret in Idaho and possibly the entire western hemisphere. If not, you just have to convince the family somehow that Kellogg Idaho — not Vail, not Tahoe, not Cottonwood Canyon — is the place you ought to head for your next ski trip. Try it, and you'll see why it's such a well-kept secret. All-around fantastic skiing, terrific powder, virtually no liftlines, reasonable pricing. Layout is kind of quirky; almost like an upside-down mountain due to gondola ride to lodge…interesting place. Emphasis on expert skiing but all abilities have plenty of terrain. Experts will find a ton of glades … One of the country's great underrated ski areas.Some of you will just never bother traveling for a mountain that lacks high-speed lifts. I understand, but I think that's a mistake. Slow lifts don't matter when there are no liftlines. And as Skiing wrote about Alta in 1994, “Really great skiing matters more than any other single resort feature.”Podcast NotesOn Schweitzer's transformationIf we were to fast-forward 30 years, I think we would find that most large Idaho ski areas will have undergone a renaissance of the sort that Schweitzer, Idaho did over the previous 30 years. Check the place out in 1988, a big but backwoods ski area covered in double chairs:Compare that to Schweitzer today: four high-speed quads, a sixer, and two triples that are only fixed-grip because the GM doesn't like exposed high-elevation detaches.On Silver's legacy ski areasSilver was originally known as Jackass, then Silverhorn. That original chairlift, installed in 1967, stands today as Chair 4:On the Jackass Snack ShackThis mid-mountain building, just off Chair 4, is actually a portable structure moved north from Tamarack:On 49 Degrees NorthCMR Lands also owns 49 Degrees North, an outstanding ski area two-and-a-half hours west and roughly equidistant from Spokane as Silver is (though in opposite directions). In 2021, the mountain demolished a top-to-bottom, 1972 SLI double for a brand-new, 1,851-vertical-foot high-speed quad, from which you can access most of the resort's 2,325 acres.The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing year-round. Join us. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

German cybersecurity expert Klaus Crean lives in Melbourne and knows the fatal consequences of data theft all too well. Following a series of hacks on Australian superfunds, he warns of an increased risk of identity theft. In the interview, he explains what specific risks exist for those affected — and how you can effectively protect yourself. - Der deutsche Cybersecurity-Experte Klaus Crean lebt in Melbourne und kennt die fatalen Folgen von Datendiebstahl nur zu gut. Nach einer Serie von Hacks auf australische Superfunds warnt er vor einem erhöhten Risiko für Identitätsdiebstahl. Im Gespräch erklärt er, welche konkreten Gefahren für Betroffene bestehen – und wie man sich wirksam schützen kann.

Afternoon headlines: Mother of attempted triple murder suicide arrested, Danielle Laidley battling rare brain tumour and cast of The White Lotus in Australia Deep dive: A damning report into some of our top super funds has found poor service and delayed payouts are now the norm. In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by Kirby Rappell, Executive Director of Super Rating to explain why you need to get on top of your super now and the top tips to get the best deal. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

North Portland's Overlook neighborhood might be one of the most transit-rich parts of the city, thanks to its great network of bike routes and public transportation options. Today we're continuing our neighborhood guide series with Overlook residents Jenna Phillips, known for her TikTok channel Jenna Bikes, and Nic Cota, a civil engineer and the Overlook Neighborhood Association transportation chair. Discussed in today's episode: Overlook Park Skidmore Bluffs (aka Mocks Crest) Overlook Porchfest Haymaker Bar milk glass mrkt Fire on the Mountain Advice Booth The Alibi Tiki Lounge Pinky's The Old Gold The Stacks Coffeehouse Double Mountain Brewery La Perlita Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up here.  Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Portland, and be sure to follow us on Instagram.  Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 25th episode: Bookshop.org - Use code CITYCAST to get 15% off your next order Get Lit at the Beach Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Journalist Chris Roberts discusses the long-forgotten history of the U.S. Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory at San Francisco's Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. Following atomic bomb tests in 1946, the Navy towed radioactive ships to San Francisco, creating a research program that exposed more than a thousand people to varying levels of radiation. Roberts' seven-part series in the San Francisco Public Press, "Exposed," details how the lab conducted human experimentation with questionable consent, incomplete record-keeping, and environmental contamination that plagues redevelopment efforts today. The former shipyard remains a Superfund site marred by cleanup fraud scandals, while surrounding communities face potential health impacts that remain largely unstudied.

To help cover the rising costs of climate impacts like extreme floods and sea level rise, New York State has enacted a climate superfund law that asks major fossil fuel companies to pay up, based on their historic sales of coal, gas and oil. We discuss how the revenues would fund climate adaptation and resilience.  Also, the Trump Administration barred government scientists from attending a key UN climate science meeting in February 2025. What's more, it seems the customary US task force including officials from the State, Energy, Commerce and Transportation departments has not attended any meetings for the underlying UN climate treaty since the beginning of the Trump Administration. And a new study shows that crevasses or cracks on the Greenland Ice Sheet are widening more rapidly than expected due to climate change, which may accelerate ice loss and global sea level rise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Governor Kathy Hochul in December 2024 signed a bill into law fining fossil fuel corporations $75 billion to pay into a superfund the state can use to pay for climate-related damage.

Feb. 13, 2025 - New York's groundbreaking law intended to make large polluters pay billions for climate resiliency projects is tied up in the courts, but we still wanted to consider what implementation could look like for the state. We considered the merits of the lawsuit and the next steps for environmental regulators with Lee Wasserman, director of the Rockeller Family Fund, which supported the adoption of the law.

So much exhaustion...  Caffeine fixes what the Sawzall can't, so we're here: the Gearhead Consultancy may be intriguing or offensive, but we're never boring.  This episode's got a micro look at the baby Superfund sites left at every house in LA that burned with an electric Statusmobile (TM) in the garadtch, a bigger look at where the makers of these toxic messes are heading (prior to burning), some of the shame of a city like LA that's got classic cars in every backyard, and the DOT's possible return to reality with a sane human at the helm. Once the room's been softened up a bit, we've also got underwater oxygen rocks, the National Guard and local PD turning a blind eye towards locals who've chosen to defend their homes and neighborhoods against the professional-grade looters raiding LA post-inferno, the mess on the US-Mexico border in even relatively safe areas like San Diego (can you say "cartel snipers"?), the LA DWP not letting a crisis go to waste, and how the radio outfits being bought up by leftist creep George Soros are already making America less safe.

So much exhaustion...  Caffeine fixes what the Sawzall can't, so we're here: the Gearhead Consultancy may be intriguing or offensive, but we're never boring.  This episode's got a micro look at the baby Superfund sites left at every house in LA that burned with an electric Statusmobile (TM) in the garadtch, a bigger look at where the makers of these toxic messes are heading (prior to burning), some of the shame of a city like LA that's got classic cars in every backyard, and the DOT's possible return to reality with a sane human at the helm. Once the room's been softened up a bit, we've also got underwater oxygen rocks, the National Guard and local PD turning a blind eye towards locals who've chosen to defend their homes and neighborhoods against the professional-grade looters raiding LA post-inferno, the mess on the US-Mexico border in even relatively safe areas like San Diego (can you say "cartel snipers"?), the LA DWP not letting a crisis go to waste, and how the radio outfits being bought up by leftist creep George Soros are already making America less safe.

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!This is another episode of the Forces for Nature, EarthX Conference series!What if nature itself could help clean up our most toxic messes? That's the promise of bioremediation, a groundbreaking process that uses living organisms—like microbes, plants, and fungi—to restore polluted environments. In this episode, we're joined by two guests who are leading the charge in this field: Cheyne Robertson, founder of Ergofito Bio, whose expertise lies in leveraging microbial solutions to heal ecosystems, and Rudy Montes, founder of Phoenix Harvest, a U.S. Army veteran turned environmental innovator working to transform toxic sites into thriving, sustainable landscapes. Together, we explore the science, challenges, and hope behind bioremediation, and the ways it could reshape our approach to environmental restoration.HighlightsWhat is Bioremediation?What role do microbes play in bioremediation?What are some real-life examples of Bioremediation in action?What YOU Can DoSuperfund cleanups often rely on federal funding through the EPA. Contact your representatives and advocate for increased funding and stricter enforcement of environmental regulations.Support legislation that holds polluters accountable for the costs of cleanup, ensuring the burden doesn't fall solely on taxpayers.Learn about Superfund sites in your area using the EPA's Superfund Site Locator Tool.ResourcesErgofito Bio Phoenix Harvest Get your tickets to EarthXKeep an eye out for Richard Harmer's EarthX ProPlanet Podcast—coming soon!Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Understanding Environmental Insurance with ExpertJohn Wasilchuk. In this episode of theEnvironmental Transformation Podcast, hostSean Grady speaks with John Wasilchuk, the Director of the Environmental Practice atGallagher Risk Management Services. John shares his extensive experience in evaluating environmental risks and designing insurance programs for organizations and the benefits of environmental insurance for industrial waste companies. Plus, he shares the impact of climate change on insurance premiums. John also explains the importance of due diligence, data organization, and communication with insurance carriers to achieve favorable rates and coverage. Various scenarios related to environmental liabilities, such as property acquisitions, transportation of hazardous materials, and managing legacy sites, are examined. Whether you're an insurance buyer or a company dealing with environmental risks, this episode provides valuable insights into managing and mitigating those risks through comprehensive insurance solutions.If you're looking to understand environmental insurance, risk management, and how to protect your business from environmental liabilities, this episode is for you. We dive into insurance for environmental risks, including pollution liability insurance, property and casualty insurance, and site remediation insurance, with insights from Gallagher Insurance.Learn about industrial hazardous waste insurance, phase 1 and phase 2 environmental assessments, and environmental consulting as we explore how businesses can navigate CERCLA and Superfund sites, environmental due diligence, and environmental liability transfer. We also discuss insurance for waste brokers, renewable energy projects, and the impact of climate change on insurance rates. Plus, we break down PFAS insurance coverage, the role of pollution exclusions in general liability policies, and how companies can secure better insurance coverage for environmental risks. Whether you're interested in how to manage environmental risks with insurance, understanding pollution liability and insurance coverage, or simply finding the best insurance policies for hazardous waste management, this conversation will provide essential insights for businesses facing environmental challenges.Thanks to our Sponsors:Wastelinq,Cascade Environmental,E-Tank, andZappa-Stewart

This Day in Legal History: Switch in Time that Saved NineOn February 5, 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed a controversial plan to expand the U.S. Supreme Court, a move that became known as the “court-packing” plan. Frustrated by the Court striking down key New Deal programs, Roosevelt sought to add up to six new justices, arguing it would make the Court more efficient. His plan allowed the president to appoint an additional justice for each sitting justice over the age of 70 who refused to retire. Critics saw this as an attempt to undermine judicial independence and tilt the Court in Roosevelt's favor. The proposal faced strong bipartisan opposition, including from members of Roosevelt's own Democratic Party.While the plan ultimately failed in the Senate, the political pressure had an effect. Soon after, the Court began ruling in favor of New Deal legislation, a shift sometimes called “the switch in time that saved nine.” This shift preserved Roosevelt's policies without requiring changes to the Court's structure. By the early 1940s, Roosevelt had the chance to appoint multiple justices as vacancies naturally occurred. The controversy reinforced the principle of judicial independence and the separation of powers. It also set a precedent that court expansion efforts would be met with significant resistance.The court-packing episode remains relevant in modern debates over judicial reform. It serves as a historical lesson on the limits of presidential power and the resilience of the judiciary. Roosevelt, despite his immense political influence, could not force structural changes to the Supreme Court. The episode highlights the delicate balance between the executive and judicial branches, ensuring no single branch dominates the government.Pam Bondi was confirmed as U.S. Attorney General in a 54-46 Senate vote, positioning her to lead the Justice Department amid significant shifts under the Trump administration. Bondi, a longtime Trump ally, takes over as the department faces internal upheaval, with interim leadership forcing out officials involved in cases related to the January 6 Capitol attack. She has pledged to restore what she calls an "equal, fair system of justice" and to end the "partisan weaponization" of the DOJ.  Since Trump took office, the DOJ has realigned its priorities, focusing on immigration enforcement while reducing emphasis on other areas. One of Trump's first executive orders directed the agency to address alleged "weaponization" of law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Bondi supports this effort, vowing to enforce the law vigorously while backing the administration's policy shifts.  Her tenure is expected to bring further changes, including tensions between the DOJ and the FBI. Recently, the FBI was asked to provide names of employees involved in January 6 investigations, prompting lawsuits from agents concerned about retaliation. Critics warn that the administration's moves risk politicizing the DOJ and eroding institutional knowledge as career officials depart.Bondi Confirmed as Trump's Attorney General to Lead DOJ Shake-Up - BloombergThe American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is suing the Trump administration to stop its voluntary resignation program, "Fork in the Road," arguing it violates federal law. The program allows federal employees who resign by February 6 to continue receiving pay and benefits through September 30, but requires them to waive their right to sue their employer. The union claims this promise is illegal under the Anti-Deficiency Act, which prohibits federal agencies from committing funds before Congress approves them.  Congress has only authorized funding for most agencies through March 14, meaning agencies cannot guarantee salaries beyond that date. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, is the latest challenge to efforts by Trump and Elon Musk to reduce the federal workforce. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) argues that the resignation offer is legal because it does not provide “additional compensation.”  AFGE has received thousands of complaints from employees, saying the program forces staff to work extra hours while raising concerns about whether the government will honor its commitments. The Justice Department has not yet responded to the lawsuit.Federal Worker Union Sues to Stop Trump's Resignation Offer (1)Farmers in Curry County, New Mexico, are at a critical juncture in their fight against PFAS contamination from Cannon Air Force Base, with a key court hearing set for February 7. Art and Renee Schaap, once owners of a thriving dairy farm, were forced to slaughter their entire herd after discovering dangerously high levels of PFAS in their water supply. The chemicals, linked to firefighting foam used by the military, rendered their milk unsellable and their land contaminated.  A legal battle over the government's responsibility is unfolding, with the Schaaps' case becoming a test for broader national litigation. The Pentagon has requested dismissal of all claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act, arguing that its use of PFAS-containing foam was discretionary and therefore not subject to lawsuits. The government is also resisting cleanup demands under Superfund laws, which could delay remediation efforts.  If the court allows lawsuits to proceed, affected farmers and businesses may finally receive compensation and quicker environmental cleanup. Meanwhile, concerns over PFAS exposure continue to grow, with nearby cheese processors and residents installing costly water filtration systems to protect against contamination. The Air Force has begun cleanup efforts, including a planned $73 million water treatment facility, but obstacles remain, including regulatory changes and the lack of proven PFAS destruction technologies.  For now, the Schaaps and other local farmers face uncertainty, with their land value in question and their future livelihoods at risk. The case's outcome could determine whether the military is held accountable for widespread PFAS contamination affecting communities nationwide.Farmers Ruined by PFAS Face Key Moment in Fight AgainstDonald Trump's proposal to eliminate taxes on tips may seem like a win for hospitality workers, but it risks deepening wage inequities and further entrenching the service industry's reliance on gratuities. While tipped workers might see short-term benefits, the policy would leave out millions of low-wage workers in non-tipped sectors, such as retail or manufacturing, exacerbating disparities. It could also push more workers into precarious, tip-dependent jobs rather than stable, salaried positions.By making tips tax-free, employers may feel even less incentive to raise wages, worsening income instability for workers who already rely on inconsistent gratuities. The plan also ignores existing discrimination in tipping, which could become even more entrenched in an unregulated tip-based economy. Instead of piecemeal solutions that favor certain workers over others, policymakers should focus on raising the federal minimum wage and eliminating the tipped minimum wage exemption.The tipped minimum wage has been stuck at $2.13 per hour since 1991, despite inflation reducing its value over time. Phasing it out and aligning it with the federal minimum wage would offer workers more stability, ensuring they earn a livable income independent of customer generosity. A broader increase in the minimum wage is also necessary, as the current $7.25 rate, set in 2009, has failed to keep pace with inflation.While tax-free tips may sound appealing, they don't address the root causes of wage insecurity. True reform would prioritize fair pay for all low-wage workers, creating stability and reducing financial precarity across industries.Trump's Tax-Free Tips Proposal May Sound Good But Is a Risky Bet This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

An old mine holds a ton of secrets, revealed by historian Laura Ahearn.

(Jan 8, 2025) We remember Betsy Folwell, longtime editor of Adirondack Life Magazine, who died on Sunday at her home in Blue Mountain Lake; a conversation about what Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's resignation means for Canada and its relationship with the United States; and a new state law that promises to make oil and gas companies pay for part of the harm caused by climate change is expected to face legal challenges.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and American Petroleum Institute have sued Vermont over a landmark climate law that seeks damages for climate change from big oil companies, and is modeled after the federal Superfund program.

A closer look at New York's new Climate Superfund law. Connecticut's Pratt and Whitney employees fight for better contracts. Long Island Republicans say they'll discuss SALT deductions with President-elect Trump. Connecticut commuters are impacted by congestion pricing, too. Plus, Connecticut has one of the shortest windows in the country for tow companies to sell cars.

On December 10 - 12, 2024, hundreds of New Yorkers participated in a 3 day occupation of the NY State Capitol to urge Governor Hochul to sign the Climate Superfund Act to make the state's largest greenhouse gas polluters pay $3 billion a year to help repair some of the damages they have caused. 19 elders were arrested. The first dozen of the arrestees were in Albany City Court on January 7. We start off with two faith leaders, Pastor Daniel Carlson and Rev. John Paalberg, followed by lead organizer Michael Richardson of Third Act Upstate and Steve Crofter of Third Act Vermont. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine

New York City's economy has been growing but that could change with Republicans in control of the House, Senate and White House. Plus, a judge in New Jersey ruled that 26 towns have to comply with the Garden State's affordable housing requirements. Also, WNYC's Sean Carlson talks with environmental lawyer Michael Gerrard about a new law that will charge fossil fuel companies fees to help New York fight the effects of climate change. And finally, WNYC's Samantha Max shares some walking tips for New Yorkers who are in a rush and visitors who are blissfully blocking the sidewalk.

  IHS funding remains a challenge despite increases in past decade   US EPA adds polluted beach along Columbia River as Superfund priority   KNNB to broadcast, webcast Fiesta Bowl in Apache language  

This Day in Legal History: First Year with No LynchingsOn December 30, 1952, the Tuskegee Institute released a landmark report marking the first recorded year without a lynching of African Americans in the United States since the institute began keeping records in 1881. The grim practice of lynching—extrajudicial killings often carried out by mobs to enforce racial subjugation—had claimed thousands of lives, becoming a chilling emblem of racial terror, particularly in the Southern United States. Tuskegee's data captured the scope of this violence, documenting nearly 4,000 lynchings of Black individuals over the prior seven decades.The significance of 1952 as a year without reported lynchings underscored the impact of growing civil rights activism, the waning influence of vigilante groups, and increasing legal accountability. This milestone also reflected shifts in public attitudes and the effectiveness of organizations like the NAACP, which tirelessly campaigned against lynching and for federal anti-lynching legislation. Despite this progress, racial violence and discrimination persisted in other forms, underscoring that the end of lynching did not mean the end of systemic racism."Strange Fruit," a haunting protest song famously recorded by Billie Holiday in 1939, had kept the horrors of lynching at the forefront of public consciousness. Its stark imagery of "black bodies swinging in the Southern breeze" served as a chilling reminder of the atrocities endured by Black Americans. While the 1952 milestone was a cause for solemn reflection, it was also a call to sustain the fight for racial justice and equality in a nation still grappling with deep-seated prejudices.Rupert Murdoch and other senior leaders of Fox Corporation will face claims from investors alleging personal responsibility for financial harm stemming from false election conspiracy theories aired by Fox News. Delaware Chancery Court's Vice Chancellor J. Travis Laster denied Fox's motion to dismiss the lawsuit, stating that the plaintiffs had sufficiently argued that Murdoch could likely be held liable for knowingly permitting defamatory content to be broadcast. The lawsuit follows Fox's record-breaking settlement with Dominion Voting Systems and comes as Smartmatic pursues a separate $2 billion defamation suit. The investors claim that the leadership's actions and decisions led to significant economic fallout, asserting that corporate governance failures allowed reputational and financial damage to occur. While the court's decision enables the case to proceed, it does not guarantee success for the plaintiffs, leaving the ultimate outcome of the claims to trial.Fox, Murdoch, Execs Must Face Election Defamation Payout SuitA federal appeals court upheld a $5 million verdict against Donald Trump in a case brought by E. Jean Carroll, a former magazine columnist, who accused him of sexual assault and defamation. The decision, issued by a three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, stems from a 2023 jury verdict that found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll in the 1990s and defaming her in a 2022 Truth Social post. While jurors did not find Trump guilty of rape, they awarded Carroll $2.02 million for sexual assault and $2.98 million for defamation.Carroll has also secured an $83.3 million defamation verdict from a separate jury in January 2024, which Trump is appealing. These legal battles persist despite Trump's return to the presidency following his 2024 election victory. Trump's defense argued that the trial judge improperly allowed testimony from two other women alleging past misconduct and included the infamous "Access Hollywood" tape as evidence. Both trials were overseen by U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan. This case continues to highlight the lack of immunity for sitting presidents in civil litigation unrelated to their official duties, following a precedent set during Bill Clinton's presidency.Trump loses appeal of E. Jean Carroll $5 million defamation verdict | ReutersThe oil and gas industry is facing increasing legal and legislative pressure over its role in climate change. States like New York and Vermont have enacted “climate Superfund” laws, with New York's targeting $75 billion from major polluters over 25 years to fund climate mitigation efforts. Meanwhile, multiple states and cities have filed lawsuits alleging misinformation campaigns by fossil fuel companies about climate change and plastic pollution. These efforts, while separate, are creating a coordinated front against the industry and building evidence to attribute emissions to specific companies.Experts suggest that legislative efforts like climate Superfund laws and lawsuits may bolster each other by generating an evidentiary record for liability. However, there are concerns about overstepping legal boundaries, as courts may reject overlapping claims for damages under federal laws like the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Fossil fuel companies argue that climate-specific laws conflict with existing federal laws such as the Clean Air Act and may face challenges in implementation.The American Petroleum Institute and energy companies have expressed resistance to these legal actions, with a preference for fighting rather than settling claims. While states hope to hold polluters accountable, the success of these strategies remains uncertain as courts, lawmakers, and the industry test the boundaries of new legal frameworks.Climate Liability Laws, Litigation Add to Oil Industry HeadacheThe legal industry is set for another wave of consolidation in 2025, with several major law firm mergers scheduled for January 1. Among these, Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders will merge with Locke Lord to create Troutman Pepper Locke, a firm with 1,600 attorneys and projected annual revenues exceeding $1.5 billion. Similarly, Womble Bond Dickinson is merging with Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie, combining to form a 1,300-lawyer firm with $742 million in revenues. Taft Stettinius & Hollister is joining with Sherman & Howard, projecting revenues of $810 million for the merged entity.Philadelphia-based Ballard Spahr will combine with Lane Powell, forming a 750-lawyer firm operating in 18 U.S. offices. These moves follow 41 law firm mergers in the first nine months of 2024, with industry analysts predicting continued activity next year. Firms are responding to client demand for broader services and geographic reach, as businesses increasingly consolidate their legal needs with fewer providers. Smaller and midsize firms are pursuing mergers to access new markets and clients, while the most profitable firms focus on lateral hires and internal growth. Rising costs, including attorney salaries and investment in generative AI technologies, are also pressuring firms to consolidate. Transatlantic mergers are gaining momentum as well, with U.K.-based firms like Allen & Overy and Herbert Smith Freehills expanding into the U.S. market through deals with Shearman & Sterling and Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel, respectively. These global mergers highlight the evolving competitive landscape in the legal sector.Law firms' quest for market share drives New Year's merger wave | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Rebecca Jim (Cherokee) was a school counselor in 1979 when she witnessed Tar Creek run orange with pollution from nearby mining tailings. The federal government eventually made it a Superfund site. She has been an environmental advocate ever since and is even known as the Tar Creek Keeper, raising awareness for the 11-mile waterway and leading a non-profit organization dedicated to ongoing cleanup and holding polluters accountable. Jim is our December Native in the Spotlight.

Today - On December 13th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency made a major announcement: the Upper Columbia River Site in northeast Washington has been added to the Superfund National Priorities List. And later - we’re exploring the art of rebranding.Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  EPA makes polluted Columbia River beaches Superfund priority   Biden pardon is Peltier's 'last chance at freedom' - Grijalva   Colgate University museum repatriates remains of 21 Oneida ancestors  

There are 27 superfund sites located in our state; we unpack what that means. Plus, the local news for December 11, 2024 and this week's edition of What, Where, Whens-day. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: Miriam KramerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, Rachel Iacovone, LaTonya Turner and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

This episode of Bionic Planet is a rebroadcast of David Hill's podcast, "How to Avoid Moving to Mars." In it, Professor David Hill, CBE, speaks with George Kelly, the Chief Executive of Earth Recovery Partners in the U.S. George has been a pivotal figure in the realm of mitigation banking and ecological restoration. Their conversation delves into his extensive career, starting from his early days as an environmental law practitioner to his current role supporting emerging enterprises in the environmental market. George shared insights into his journey, beginning with his master's degree in environmental law and his work at a law firm focused on environmental issues, including the Superfund law. He highlighted the importance of viewing the environment as an asset rather than a cost center. They discussed the evolution of mitigation banking in the U.S., including the challenges posed by in-lieu fees and the need for a level playing field in mitigation practices. George explained the significance of the 2008 Federal Mitigation Rule, which established rigorous standards for mitigation banking and emphasized the importance of long-term stewardship and accountability in ecological restoration projects. Throughout their conversation, George emphasized the role of private finance in ecological restoration, discussing various funding models such as green bonds and public-private partnerships. He highlighted the potential for these models to drive effective environmental solutions while ensuring that public funds are used efficiently. As they explored the future of environmental markets, George expressed optimism about the growth of offset markets and the increasing recognition of the inherent value of nature. He pointed to the importance of corporate responsibility and the need for businesses to embrace sustainable practices as a means of driving positive change. In closing, George shared his admiration for historical figures in the conservation movement, such as Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir, while also acknowledging the contributions of contemporary thinkers like E.O. Wilson. He underscored the necessity of valuing nature and recognizing its role in our economy, urging listeners to consider the long-term implications of environmental degradation. This episode was not only enlightening but also a call to action for all of us to engage in the vital work of protecting our planet. I hope you find David's questions and George's insights as inspiring as I did, and I encourage you to reflect on how we can all contribute to a more sustainable future.