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Malaysian Reserve
5 days ago
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
TEAMSTERS CALL ON PENNSYLVANIA STATE SENATE TO SOLVE TRANSIT FUNDING CRISIS
SEPTA Funding is Critical for Workers and Millions of Passengers HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The following is a statement from Bill Hamilton, President of the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters; Jeff Joines, Director of Government Affairs for the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes, and Don Hill, General Chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen — Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA): 'The Teamsters represent hundreds of SEPTA workers, as well as tens of thousands of union members who rely on it to get to and from their jobs every day. If Pennsylvania State Senators don't solve the $213 million budget shortfall facing our public transportation infrastructure by tomorrow, millions of passengers could start experiencing severe service cuts in only twelve days. 'Public transportation isn't just important to the greater Philadelphia area, it's critical for economic prosperity and quality of life throughout the commonwealth. Addressing this issue isn't about pitting cities against rural communities, or political factions scoring points. This is about common sense problem-solving on behalf of the entire Keystone State. 'The fact that five different bills have reached the upper chamber proves that there is no shortage of ideas for addressing the fiscal cliff Pennsylvania is currently facing. Furthermore, our lawmakers are perfectly capable of closing budgetary gaps while also preserving good union jobs, enhancing service, and putting SEPTA on sustainable footing. This is exactly what the state senate needs to do before the end of the day tomorrow. 'Pennsylvanians shouldn't have to suffer due to politicians abdicating their responsibilities. Stop bickering and figure it out.' Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit for more information. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Contact:Matt McQuaid, (771) 241-0015mmcquaid@
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Wildlife is not migrating out of Yellowstone National Park, NPS says
The National Park Service is clearing up any misconceptions on whether wildlife is migrating away from Yellowstone National Park. Videos have been spreading on social media platforms that appear to show a plethora of animals, such as herds of bison, elk, mountain lions and grizzly bears, are leaving the nation's oldest national park in large quantities. In one video posted to TikTok and Instagram, a group of grizzly bears appears to be walking along a road, leaving the reserve. Others show lines of bison and groups of elk doing the same. MORE: Another hole has formed at Yellowstone National Park, geologists say As a result, the topic has been trending on Google for the past week. However, the NPS believes the videos that are circulating on social media are AI-generated and "satirical in nature," Linda Veress, a spokesperson for the NPS, told ABC News. "Wildlife is not leaving Yellowstone National Park in large numbers," Veress said. "This rumor is false." While there are natural ebbs and flows of wildlife migration within Yellowstone, the majority of movement tends to happen in the winter, Bill Hamilton, a wildlife biologist at Washington and Lee University who has been researching the ecology at Yellowstone for 20 years, told ABC News. Yellowstone is home to hundreds of species of birds, fish and mammals, according to the NPS. It is the only national park in North America where there are no fences to contain the wildlife, and therefore, they are able to roam freely, Hamilton said. "They're free to come and go, and there's a migratory path for elk and bison and deer," Tom Murphy, a wildlife photographer who has been snapping images at Yellowstone for 50 years, told ABC News. MORE: Hidden magma cap discovered at Yellowstone National Park The animals leave the park in the winter to get better access to food that is likely covered in snow inside the park, Hamilton said. When the animals that eat plants and grasses leave, the predators follow, he added. The mountain lions follow the deer, and the wolves move with the elk. Wildlife rarely migrates during the summer, unless they are forced out by an extreme event, such as a large wildfire, Hamilton said. This year is a "normal year," with typical weather and moisture, Murphy said. But elk and bison may seek higher ground in search of cooler temperatures and fewer insects, Murphy said. "There's no reason for them to be leaving right now," Murphy said. Some of the social media users hypothesized that the supposed migrations were occurring due to a pending eruption at Yellowstone's supervolcano. The park's complex and extensive volcanic system is thoroughly monitored by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. The current alert level for volcanic activity at Yellowstone is "normal" or "Code Green," according to the USGS. "Geologically, it's going to erupt in the next 2 million years, but probably not today," Murphy said. MORE: Yellowstone visitors are getting so comfortable with approaching wildlife that park officials are asking them to stop While video of dozens of bison moving together has been recorded in the past, it is usually about 40 bison out of about 4,500 in the park, Hamilton said. In the winter, it's easier for the animals to walk on the road rather than snow-covered ground, Murphy said. "It was a very small percentage of the total herd size," Hamilton said. "Those things get observed, but it's not massive numbers of animals." It is immediately apparent that the video of the group of grizzly bears is fake because bears never get close together in that manner, Hamilton said. Grizzly bears don't congregate unless there's a "heavy, productive" food source around, such as a salmon stream in Alaska or a dead bison carcass at Yellowstone. The video of the mountain lions is also "nonsense," because mountain lions don't migrate, Murphy said. "They have a weekly round with a territory that they travel through, but you're not going to see them in a video of them running down the road," Murphy said. While the misinformation may just be a form of entertainment, it can become concerning if people start to believe it, Hamilton said. "It does undermine the overall perception of understanding how things work, how nature works," Hamilton said.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legislature moves West Virginia libraries under tourism department
FAIRMONT — Republicans stripped the credential qualification previously required for the state's library director position this past legislative session. House Bill 2009 dissolved the Department of Arts, Culture and History and moved its functions under the Department of Tourism. Libraries, which previously were under the umbrella of Arts, Culture and History moved into the Department of Tourism as well. The bill was part of a larger effort in conjunction with two other bills that reorganized the executive branch and created more cabinet secretaries who report to the governor's office. Senate Bill 2009 didn't just move the Department of Arts, Culture and History under the Tourism Department. Sen. Bill Hamilton, R-Upshur, criticized the bill for doing away with the civil service. The bill's lead sponsor, Del. Chris Phillips, R-Barbour, did not respond to a message by press time. Marion County Public Library System Director Larissa Cason, who also serves as the elected president of the West Virginia Library Association, said the bill originated from the governor's desk. She said Gov. Patrick Morrisey was most likely thinking in terms of synergies when putting together the bill. The fiscal note summary submitted by Krysten Wolfe states moving Arts, Culture and History under Tourism would reduce state spending by around $203,000. House Bill 2009 also included a provision that removed a requirement that the state's library section director have a master's degree in library and information science and have at least three years of administrative experience. The new requirement simply states the library director 'shall be qualified, with relevant experience.' 'It's extraordinarily broad,' Cason said. 'It's just a further devaluing of professional expertise.' Cason cast this choice within the broader context of what's happening to library specialists who work at the federal level. The Trump Administration and Elon Musk's DOGE recently gutted the Institute for Library and Museum Services, and put its employees on administrative leave. The agency provides funding to the nation's libraries, including those here in West Virginia. IMLS provided $1.6 million in funding to West Virginia public libraries. The American Library Association and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court on April 7 demanding the Trump Administration stop dismantling the IMLS. With the removal of professional library leadership at the federal level, Cason said the potential exists that there won't be any guidance at the state level either. 'Managing a large and diverse library system requires leadership skills and practical experience in budgeting, staffing, policy development and collaboration with local libraries and community organizations,' the West Virginia Library Association said in a statement. 'The library section director is tasked with navigating complex decisions that impact libraries across West Virginia, advocating for resources and ensuring that library services are equitable and accessible for all.' Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, argued by removing the credential requirement, it gives the executive branch more leeway to find what she vaguely referred to as the 'best individual' for the job. She said the current requirements exceed the requirements sought by the Library of Congress. She cited US Code that addresses pay rates for the Librarian of Congress and their deputy, but does not appear to deal with credential requirements. 'As the Senator said, we have many librarians to fulfill this position, but this just doesn't make it where we're excluding a highly qualified and excellent individual who can do a good job in the position,' Rucker said during the Senate floor hearing. State Sen. Joey Garcia, D-Marion, attempted filing an amendment to restore the credential requirements. Garcia said the library section director serves over 70 libraries in the state. He argued there are many online degree options that fulfill the existing educational requirements to ensure the qualification is attainable. Garcia said a lot of people who reached out to his office about the bill said it was about respect. 'I don't think these requirement are that much to ask for somebody,' Garcia said during the bill's floor hearing. 'I think they're bare minimum. But, I also think — just the message that this sends. It just makes sense to have a librarian running or advocating for our libraries in West Virginia.'
