Latest news with #CarbonReductionProgram
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
VT looking to award grants for bike and pedestrian access
BARRE, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) – The Vermont Agency of Transporation (AOT) is accepting grant applications to improve bicycle and pedestrian access throughout the state. In 2024, AOT awarded more than $7 million under its Bicycle and Pedestrian Program. Grants incorporate funding from the national Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, whose Carbon Reduction Program serves to fund projects that will reduce transportation emissions. Last year's awardees included projects all across Vermont, from improvements to a more than 2-mile pedestrian path connecting Bennington College to downtown Bennington, to sidewalk and safety improvements near Rutland Intermediate School. How to keep your bike from getting stolen 'Transportation options such as walking and bicycling are valuable for public health, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and supporting economic development in Vermont's downtowns,' said Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn. 'Expanding opportunities for people to walk and bike safely improves quality of life and is a priority for our Agency and the State.' Ideal projects to apply for these grants are those that will be ready to go to construction in 2025 or 2026 – 'simple physical improvements' rather than more complex projects that would involve land acquisition. Applications must be received by July 11, 2025. An information and training webinar is planned for June 3, and those interested in applying for a grant are strongly encouraged to join. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
City of Fayetteville looking for feedback on Safe Routes to School Action Plan
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The City of Fayetteville is seeking public input on the Safe Routes to School Action Plan, which aims to make it safer for K-12 public school students to walk and bike to school. This project is a collaboration between Fayetteville Public Schools and the City of Fayetteville, supported in part by a $100,000 grant from the Arkansas Department of Transportation's Carbon Reduction Program, awarded in 2024. The school district and the city are jointly covering the required local match. Safe Routes to School focuses on encouraging walking and biking to school in areas where it's already safe, while also identifying routes that are unsafe and suggesting ways to make them safer, according to Dane Eifling, the Mobility Coordinator for the City of Fayetteville. 'Whether that's a crosswalk, a sidewalk connection, bike trail, maybe traffic calming, better enforcement, speed limits, all those things that help make it safe for families and children to bike and walk to school,' Eifling said. WATCH: Springdale students speak with astronauts on the International Space Station According to the city's website, the plan has to potential to increase traffic safety, student health and academic performance, and cleaner air in Fayetteville. When looking at costs like transportation, driving, and owning vehicles, the expenses can add up for Fayetteville families. 'If we can replace some of those trips with healthy walking and biking activities for families, that's going to save them money, save them time and improve their quality of life,' said Eifling. The city is asking for public input to be submitted by April 25th. If you would like to provide feedback on the plan, you can find the survey here and the interactive map here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Newton moves forward on bike path extension along Sand Creek
NEWTON, Kan. (KSNW) – The City of Newton is moving forward with a planned bike path extension along Sand Creek. On Tuesday, the Newton City Commission approved issuing a request for qualifications to engineering firms for the project design. The project will extend the bike path from the Sand Creek dam to SW 14th Street, creating a continuous trail from Sand Creek Station Golf Course to Bethel College and providing access to Rhoades Wetland Park. Community steps up to create pep band with no band teacher In January, the Commission accepted $3 million in grant funding from the Kansas Department of Transportation. The federal Carbon Reduction Program will cover 80% of the $3.6 million project cost, with the City of Newton funding 20% ($728,000). The design will likely take several months due to creek crossings, right-of-way acquisition, and coordination with BNSF Railway, the city said in a newsletter. KDOT expects to bid the project by September 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
26-01-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Readers: DeSantis undermines efforts to combat climate change
Florida Today Fine would be a detriment in US Senate The recent ad, indicating that our new president won't be able to govern unless Florida sends Randy Fine to the U.S. Senate has to be the biggest prevarication of the new year. Mr. Fine was in the Florida Legislature for a long time; he did nothing to curb the ridiculously high home insurance rates, reportedly the highest in the U.S. (probably not next year, we may have to give that dubious honor to California, after their bout of fires). He is notorious for sowing dissent in meetings, casting disparaging comments and innuendos about other members of various boards, committees and the state legislature, mostly with absolutely no justification. As to helping to secure the border (from the ad touting his abilities) he is better at sowing distrust and chaos. Obviously voting him into the U.S. Senate would be a detriment, not a positive addition. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Garey Hartman, Melbourne Florida must address carbon issue DeSantis' refusal to accept over $320 million in federal funding for the Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) is alarming, especially as it faces severe climate risks. Despite being one of the most impacted states, Florida failed to accept funding over federal control concerns and refused to submit a carbon reduction strategy. The situation: Rising sea levels, extreme weather, and increasing temperatures disproportionately affect vulnerable Floridians. Since 1950, Florida's average temperature has risen by 3.5°F, surpassing global trends. This impacts millions of low-income residents, with Broward County particularly hard-hit by poverty and inadequate infrastructure to address climate challenges. Solutions: Florida must take immediate action by implementing community-centered carbon reduction strategies tailored to its needs. Expanding electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure is a critical step. Broward County has only 320 public charging stations, meeting just 12% of demand. Addressing this shortfall with additional charging stations, particularly in low-income areas, would reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create jobs, and improve public health. Furthermore, public education campaigns on the benefits of EVs and accessible incentives can promote widespread adoption. DeSantis' rejection of federal funds undermines efforts to combat climate change and protect its citizens. Adopting these practical, inclusive measures would build resilience, support vulnerable communities, and secure a sustainable future for the state. Sarah Martelly and Rosemary Oleh, Weston Call Trump out on Jan. 6 pardons Both presidents Trump and Biden have over-pardoned. But it is President Trump who has released hundreds of people who may be a danger to communities like ours. For one thing, those who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, did not do their own thinking. They went running in there solely on President Trump's say-so. Apparently, no fact-checking. Second, many committed violent acts against persons and destroyed government property. They arrogantly assert they have done nothing wrong and are in fact patriots. Some are members of far-right groups who believe violence is acceptable. President Trump deserves to be called out on this. We should not remain silent. Eileen Pratt, Melbourne Revolution, maybe; common sense? No With all due respect to your guest columnist's opinion on Jan. 22 regarding Donald Trump's 'common sense' revolution, does it make sense to terrorize the immigrant communities with threats of deportation when the majority are productive, hardworking individuals who are contributing to our thriving economy? Does it make sense to pardon or commute sentences of violent criminals who all now want to 'buy me a gun' to continue their criminal activities after they were released? Does it make sense to fire all the government workers who have devoted their lives (despite who may have been president) in service to this country and lose all those years of experience? Does it make sense to fire perceived DEI government employees who also have years of experience when all you will have left are white males with no experience? Does it make sense to nominate an alcoholic (according to relatives and coworkers) for secretary of defense, when he must have all his wits about him in that position 24-7? Does it make sense to put our country at risk for that nomination and many others who are clearly not qualified? Obviously, the writer likes the idea of oligarchs (the richest of the rich one percenters) running the government, getting richer from Trump's promised tax cuts. Does that make sense? I think not. 'Liberation day' a bold move? D-Day was a bold move, not the election of Donald J. Trump as president. A bold move would have been to elect a woman with more intellect and more devotion to the Constitution of the United States. Heaven help us. Brenda Callahan, Palm Bay RFK Jr.: woefully unfit for medical role Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a dreadful choice for secretary of health and human services. He is a longtime anti-vaccination activist. His qualifications are described in "Is RFK, Jr A Doctor? Know HHS Secretary Nominee's Education Qualification And Background," available online at He has a bachelor's degree in American history and literature from Harvard., followed by two law degrees. These do not provide the medical and science knowledge needed to lead the work of HHS and to understand the work product of the department. He struggled with drug use for a number of years and "was known as a "drug dealer" during his Harvard days. This is similar to Hunter Biden, who is reviled by many Republicans. Kennedy has expanded his anti-vax position by proposing to retest polio vaccine ("RFK Jr.'s views on vaccines dangerous" Today national news). They have been used successfully for over 50 years. Kennedy has recently stated that President Trump will call for eliminating fluoride from public water supplies, which he apparently supports. The addition has been shown to promote healthy teeth, especially in children. Kennedy has worked with attorneys suing drug makers ("Kennedy played key role in vaccine case against Merck," FLORIDA TODAY national news). In the HHS secretary position, he would have authority to limit the special vaccine court and otherwise influence the legal treatment of drugs. Kennedy voted illegally in New York ("RFK Jr, voted in NY after residency claim denied," FLORIDA TODAY). Illegal voting has been a major Republican concern. James Beasom, Melbourne Village 'Lawless' POTUS vs. rule of law Trump's Inauguration speech laid out his plans for American regional imperialism, "taking back" the Panama Canal, annexing Greenland, and a tariff war with Canada. This is no different from Putin's plan to annex Ukraine, or Xi annexing Taiwan and other regional adversaries. Those dictators must be smiling today. Then that evening Trump granted a blanket pardon to virtually all Jan. 6 Capitol riot defendants – violent and nonviolent offenders. This included Enrico Tarrio, (ex-Proud Boys leader serving 22 years) and Daniel Rodriguez (12 years) who pleaded guilty to tasing Metropolitan Police. 'Omg I did so much (expletive) and got away,' he texted to his gang. 'Tazzed the s--- out of the blue." These pardons show total disrespect for crimes against law enforcement on Jan. 6, and to the prosecutors, judges and jurors who examined evidence and moved to convict. Trump is saying if you're my violent mob, I got your back, and there is no penalty for violence against my enemies. He now stands fully behind political violence. I'm very concerned about having Trump loyalists like Kash Patel, who vowed to arrest Trump's enemies, as FBI director, and Pam Bondi, who would not admit under oath that Trump lost in 2020, as attorney general. In Trump's first term, he was occasionally called "the lawless president." He has now proved how prophetic that was. Our enduring "rule of law" now sits in the crosshairs of a felon president with little, if any, respect for it, or the branches that enforce it. Vicky Dorman, Satellite Beach A message as we look to mid-terms Surely, I am not the only person to recognize the irony of choosing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" as part of the inaugural ceremony on Jan. 20. This hymn was written by American abolitionist Julia Ward Howe during the American Civil War. It became the "battle cry" of the Union soldiers as they fought to save our republic. Lyrics from this heartfelt, soul-stirring hymn have been used in speeches given by Presidents Clinton and Obama and by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Further irony is Jan. 20 happened to be the day the nation celebrated MLK Day. In my opinion this hymn is the battle cry to us as we face the situations of today. We have been thrust further into the war to save the soul of our nation. We must prepare now for what lies ahead. It is a call to plan strategically on being the victor not the victim. Begin by coming to grips with the fact that Trump is president. Second. we have to stop talking about everything he says and does, He told us what he was going to do and now he is doing it. He loves being the center of everyone's attention. Our energy is best spent revisiting those coalitions we seem to have abandoned. We have to rewrite our message. Biblically we are admonished to write the plan; make it clear so that he who runs with it can read it. So, as we write our message for these next two years it must be one that tells our fellow citizens what we can do for them in this war to save the soul of our country; then tell them what we just told them and once again repeat the original message. We have to be the victors at mid-terms. Cynthia K. Williams, Titusville A dark, unsettling vision Once again, we face the abyss. In 1963, my American history class in Cocoa, Florida, read about the war of the world, twice, over there. We studied texts, and we looked at photographs taken by war correspondents. The book "Night" had not been written, and words that book contained were not used in my school. The suffering began first to a few and then grew as mushrooms grow in Dark Souls of unsharpened citizens. The pictures that fascinated and repelled my young mind were the extended 'Heil' arms: so many, so synchronized, so starched ... I chilled myself tonight as a supporter of our new president threw his arm outward with fingers outstretched, palms down, skyward, in happy adulation once, twice, for all to see. To copy. Again. Christopher Robin 'Kit' Adams, Melbourne How will 'they' use 'your' information? At Donald Trump's inauguration, the heads of Google, Apple, Instagram/Facebook, X, Amazon and TikTok were seated closer to Trump than his cabinet nominees were. Their platforms collect mountains of data on you – name, age, birth, address, facial, photos, live feeds, commentary, interests, contacts, phone and location history. They own it. They share it with whoever they like – partners, customers, law enforcement. There is no law protecting you from them sharing it. Why is this important? Your data, if shared with the government, is the foundation for a rapidly evolving surveillance state. Add in millions of internet-connected cameras - street-level, business-based, home-based, traffic, drone, computer, phone, and satellite – all supplying live feeds. The rapid advancement of specialized AI, integrating facial recognition, live video, and personal data is the secret sauce. AI will match your face with your behavioral profile, track your real-time movements, and report what you do and say. Our defense department is leading in its development. A leader with impulses for retribution against perceived enemies and threats can speed development. Trump, his new tech benefactors, a compliant Republican Congress and a sycophant cabinet that owes Trump their position and privilege are all it will take to bring this dystopian vision to life. Surveillance technology is quite prevalent in China, identifying candidates for "re-education," while U.S. companies aggressively integrate AI into their platforms to expose you even more. No one is a bigger fan of the techno-oligarchy now than Trump. No wonder why. Jeff Dorman, Satellite Beach
