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Boston Globe
7 days ago
- Health
- Boston Globe
What's going on with measles, bird flu, and COVID? Here's a guide to the latest.
Write to us at . To subscribe, . TODAY'S STARTING POINT Measles outbreaks. A canceled effort to develop a bird flu vaccine. An infectious new COVID variant and changing federal guidance about who should get boosted. In recent weeks, drama in D.C. has buried several vaccine-related developments. Today's newsletter explains what's new and what it means. COVID What's changed: Last month, health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. What it means: The administration has tried to narrow the pool of people it says should get boosted. But where some of the changes reflect reasonable readings of the science, others do not. Advertisement Dr. Nirav Shah, a top CDC official during the Biden administration, said experts debate whether younger children should get boosted. When Shah was in government, he recommended it. But many other countries don't, noting that most young children have a low risk of serious illness. The mRNA technology used in some COVID shots can also have side effects, including a condition called myocarditis that mostly affects boys and young men. Advertisement But Shah, who previously led Maine's CDC and is now at Colby College, says the evidence is much less debatable in the case of pregnant women. Not only are boosters safe and effective for them, but getting them protects babies in utero and up to 6 months old The way Kennedy made the changes has also troubled experts. Normally, health agencies gather outside advisers' input before making new recommendations. But Kennedy seems to have acted unilaterally. His announcement, made in a minutelong social media video, 🎁 ). 'What it suggests is that some of the conclusions are foregone,' Shah said. Kennedy argues that health experts made mistakes that undermined public trust during the pandemic. Shah acknowledges that, to a point. Some experts, he said, tried to squelch dissenting views or didn't effectively communicate that scientists' understanding of COVID would evolve, causing confusion when public health guidance changed. Other experts overstated 🎁 ). But the administration's approach risks sowing further confusion. Kennedy's announcement conflicts with an article that two Trump-appointed FDA officials published days earlier, which listed pregnancy as one factor that puts women ' 'What worries me is that when we get into another emergency situation, if trust in federal health authorities has waned, that's a problem,' Shah said. Advertisement Meanwhile, COVID keeps evolving. A variant called NB.1.8.1 has recently driven up cases in China and elsewhere. But for now, Shah isn't hugely concerned. NB.1.8.1 descended from Omicron, a variant that swept the United States in late 2021 and early 2022. So even if cases rise, existing vaccines and antibodies from prior infection will likely help protect against severe illness. The World Health Organization says the new variant ' Bird flu What's changed: A few months ago, bird flu was spreading rapidly among cows and chickens, What it means: Bird flu may be seasonal, which Given the uncertainty, some experts have faulted the administration for Advertisement Measles What's changed: Cases of the highly contagious virus continue to rise nationwide, but slowly. The largest outbreak, in West Texas, seems to be abating. Three Americans have died this year, all unvaccinated. What it means: A slowing case rate is good news, although many more people could have gotten sick than the official numbers reflect. The measles vaccine is safe, highly effective, and decades old, but Kennedy was slow to full-throatedly recommend it as the outbreak grew. 🧩 3 Down: 90° POINTS OF INTEREST Bob Lamb, who operates his gunsmithing business out of his garage in Cheshire, Mass., says the area has a "hunting culture." Erin Clark/Globe Staff Boston War of words: The US attorney for Massachusetts accused Boston Mayor Michelle Wu of making ' Dueling claims: Democratic activists asked a state agency to investigate Josh Kraft's mayoral campaign for allegedly Secret proceedings: A closed hearing begins in Boston today to determine whether a former Stoughton police deputy chief should lose his ability to work as an officer Evolving: A Boston nonprofit that launched after George Floyd's murder is navigating a backlash to Massachusetts and New England Karen Read retrial: The defense called a snowplow driver, who testified that he Market Basket case: Who's who in the latest Proxy fight: Representative Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts is running to become the top Democrat on an important House committee. His challengers Gun rights: Massachusetts has one of the country's strictest gun-control laws. But guns are ubiquitous in some towns — including Mount Katahdin deaths: Rescuers Trump administration One big bill: Trump's tax cut legislation would add $2.4 trillion to the deficit over the next decade, a nonpartisan congressional agency found. Trump has Latest salvo: Elon Musk urged Republican lawmakers Weaponizing government: Trump directed his administration to investigate Joe Biden and his aides, alleging they hid Biden's decline and that some of his actions weren't legally valid. ( Russia-Ukraine war: Trump spoke with Vladimir Putin and said the Russian leader had pledged to retaliate against Ukraine's drone attack on Russian airfields last weekend. ( Israel-Hamas war: The United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. ( The Nation and the World Trans rights: Nebraska's governor signed a law banning transgender athletes from girls' sports. About half of states have similar bans. ( Overstaying their welcome: About 400,000 tourists who stayed in the United States longer than their visas allow — like the suspect in the Boulder, Colo., attack did — Explosive find: Officials in Cologne, Germany, temporarily evacuated 20,000 residents after construction work unearthed three unexploded US bombs from World War II. Experts defused them in about an hour. ( BESIDE THE POINT By Teresa Hanafin 💧 More rain this weekend: Either Boston is in 🎵 Rick Astley has the last laugh: 'Never Gonna Give You Up' has hit 1 billion streams on Spotify. 🦈 Films inspired by 'Jaws': From asthmatic sharks to 18-foot bears, here are some of the 🐔 Chicken wars: Mickey D's is bringing back the Snack Wrap after nine years because of demand — and the success of similar wraps from Burger King and Wendy's. ( 🏠 3 summer home rehabs: In downtown Burlington, Vt., Advertisement ⛱️ Beach etiquette: Don't encroach, block views, shake sand, disrespect wildlife, or do other things that are hallmarks of an obnoxious beachgoer. ( Thanks for reading Starting Point. NOTE: A 🎁 emoji indicates a gift link. A $ is a subscription site that does not offer gift links. This newsletter was edited and produced by ❓ Have a question for the team? Email us at ✍🏼 If someone sent you this newsletter, you can 📬 Delivered Monday through Friday. Ian Prasad Philbrick can be reached at
Daily Mirror
02-06-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
UK could see Northern Lights tonight as Brits get four red alerts
Multiple Red Alerts have been issued today and according to the monitoring group a Red Alert means: "It is likely that aurora will be visible by eye and camera from anywhere in the UK." Brits could be in for a treat tonight as Northern Lights activity ramps up with four red alerts already issued for today. AuroraWatch UK issued red alerts four times today. These have been issued when the geomagnetic activity has exceeded 200nT. It happened today between 9am and 11am, then again from 4pm to 6pm, with alerts issued hourly. AuroraWatch UK takes geomagnetic activity measurements from the SAMNET and AuroraWatchNet magnetometers to automatically detect when it is likely that aurora can be seen from the UK. The colour-coded system has four levels. According to the monitoring group a Red Alert means: "It is likely that aurora will be visible by eye and camera from anywhere in the UK." The Northern Lights are caused by huge explosions of activity from the Sun that throw out large amounts of charged particles in space, called solar wind. These giant explosions on the Sun are what's called coronal mass ejections, which see particles flying away from the Sun at approximately one million miles per hour, according to the Met Office. When they become caught by the Earth's magnetic field they can then collide with gas molecules in the atmosphere to create a geomagnetic storm. Light is emitted from these collisions at various wavelengths, which form the breathtaking colourful displays in the sky. Last year experts said there could be more sightings of the Northern Lights in 2025. Elizabeth J McGrath, from Colby College, said: 'The sun has been very active recently, and we expect it to continue through 2025. "Normally we only see the aurora at locations close to Earth's magnetic north and south poles because charged particles from the sun get trapped by the Earth's magnetic field and funnelled to the poles. "With stronger solar storms during solar maximum, there are more charged particles from the sun, and when these particles interact with Earth's magnetic field, they can be distributed farther from Earth's north and south magnetic poles, reaching more southerly latitudes here on Earth.' How to see the northern lights in the UK According to the British Geological Survey (BGS), seeing the northern lights in the UK is 'easier than you might think'. They advise: "All you need is a dark place, a clear sky and very good timing!" They offer five main tips for anyone hoping to spot the aurora. The first is to find somewhere with clear, dark skies. According to the BGS: "The aurora sits 100s of kms up in the sky above the height of the clouds so you'll need cloud-free skies. The sky also needs to be dark. Get away from streetlights. A bright full-moon will also wash out the light from faint aurora." Next up is location, with the BGS saying: "As the aurora usually sits north of the UK the further north you live in the UK the more chances you will have to see the lights. Those in the north of Scotland may see the aurora fairly often. While those who live in the south of England may see them rarely. "Try to have a clear view to the north. A coastal location or on top of a hill may be good options to try. During extremely strong displays the aurora might be overhead, or to the south of your location so have a good look around." The third tip is all about timing, with the BGS advising: "Generally, the best chances of seeing the aurora is generally around the hours of local midnight, 10pm - 2am. "However, the aurora may appear any time during the night depending on geomagnetic activity. There is also a seasonal effect with the strongest magnetic storms tending to happen around the spring and autumn equinoxes." And of course, viewers are advised to grab their cameras. The BGS explains: "A camera is more sensitive than our eyes and will pick up the colour of the aurora. A faint display may appear white or grey to the eye but a long-exposure photo will pick up the greens, reds or purples. "Use a camera where you can manually set a exposure time. A lot of smartphones now have a night mode. Choose a long exposure time to collect the most light. To avoid camera shake consider using a tripod." And finally, the BGS warns there's an element of luck when it comes to aurora spotting. They say: "While scientists can give advance warning of incoming solar storms which might trigger the aurora, it is not possible to accurately predict a precise time or place where the northern lights will appear. There's always a bit of luck involved!"
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Under federal pressure, some of Maine's colleges are renaming DEI offices
May 12—At least five Maine colleges and universities have opted to rename their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in recent months as part of a national trend that follows a Trump administration crackdown on DEI-related programming in education. The changes span public and private institutions, from the University of Maine to Colby College, as schools have opted instead for words like "community" and "belonging." But what's not clear is whether the offices are changing what they do. None agreed to an interview about the changes, and most schools that still have DEI language on their websites declined to talk about whether they plan to make the change in the future. Across the country, diversity offices have quietly changed their names or shuttered over the past several years — a shift that ramped up once President Donald Trump retook office and signed an executive order to end what he has called wasteful and immoral government DEI programs. More than 30 public flagship universities have altered their diversity programs in some way: 14 have closed entirely, and 15 have been renamed or restructured, according to reporting from POLITICO. "Many universities have engaged in what scholars call anticipatory obedience, which is to eliminate still-lawful policies and practices I think out of the very misguided hope that somehow it will keep the Trump administration off their back," said Johnathan Feingold, a Boston University School of Law professor who studies antidiscrimination law. "And I think it does reflect that the commitments we've seen to diversity, equity and inclusions have always been somewhat shallow on universities." ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDANCE After the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights sent a "Dear Colleague" letter to every state education department giving them 14 days to remove any DEI programming in schools, colleges around the country scrambled to scrub related words from their websites, fearing the loss of federal funding. The letter argues that any educational program that treats people differently based on race — including scholarships, financial aid, administrative support, housing and graduation ceremonies — constitutes discrimination. "Educational institutions have toxically indoctrinated students with the false premise that the United States is built upon 'systemic and structural racism' and advanced discriminatory policies and practices," it reads. "Proponents of these discriminatory practices have attempted to further justify them — particularly during the last four years — under the banner of 'diversity, equity, and inclusion' ('DEI'), smuggling racial stereotypes and explicit race-consciousness into everyday training, programming and discipline." Three different federal judges have blocked the Trump administration's efforts to halt funding because of DEI policies and many states, including Maine's education department, refused to sign a letter of compliance. But by then, many of Maine's higher education institutions, including its largest university, had already made the change. 'COMMUNITY AND CONNECTIONS' University of Maine administrators announced on March 5 that its Office for Diversity and Inclusion would now be the Office for Community and Connections. In the statement they describe that new office, the OCC, as a new initiative that will "broaden and integrate" services for students at UMaine and the University of Maine at Machias. "OCC builds upon the work of its predecessor, UMaine's Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI), expanding its focus on fostering our students' personal growth and development and promoting our sense of community, connectedness and mutual respect," the letter reads. "With an enhanced mission and vision, OCC will extend ODI's reach and create more opportunities for collaboration and service." The office's director did not respond to an interview request, and a university spokesperson declined to answer specific questions about the changes. The university's student newspaper, The Maine Campus, reported that President Joan Ferrini-Mundy addressed the issue at a student luncheon following her State of the University address on March 6, where she said university leaders across the country were figuring out how to react to the "Dear Colleague" letter. "Part of the issue is doing two things at the same time: Staying very focused on ... how we are available to support our students in the ways that we have been without changing that, and maybe expanding that," Ferrini-Mundy said, according to The Campus. "But at the same time, really looking at risk in an uncertain moment." The University of Maine at Augusta, the University of New England, Colby College and St. Joseph's College all renamed offices or committees. UMA and UNE both attributed that decision to aligning the name more accurately with the program's work. Husson University is ending a certificate program in DEI it previously offered, citing low enrollment. Feingold, the BU law professor, said that since college DEI programs aren't illegal, schools that choose to scrub that language voluntarily could be sending a message to their students and educational community about their values. And, he said, there's no reason to believe removing disfavored language will do anything to help colleges avoid being targeted by the administration. "There are many costs to failing to just hold one's ground, particularly considering that pretty much everything the Trump administration is going after under the umbrella of equity, diversity and inclusion is lawful," he said. SOME DEI PROGRAMS REMAIN Feingold said he understands the calculation some schools might make: that in a hostile political environment, they need to change certain names so they can keep doing the work they want to do internally without federal scrutiny. But there's no guarantee of that, he said. "In this moment, in which the Trump administration has made it very clear its desire to wholly take over education in the United States, I think that strategically it's misguided to think that one can somehow avoid having to fight the Trump administration and maintain one's autonomy and independence simply by scrubbing disfavored language," he said. Some higher education institutions in Maine appear to be retaining their DEI offices and committees, although most declined to say whether there are plans to change them in the future. The University of Southern Maine is still home to the Office of Equity, Inclusion, and Community Impact. Staff at USM directed questions about the future of the office to a spokesperson for the University of Maine System, who declined "speculation on what actions may occur in the future." Southern Maine Community College in South Portland still has two groups, the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the Diversity Programming Committee, which SMCC President Kristen Miller said the college is not planning to change. "In light of the evolving and complex legal landscape, SMCC has not altered the name or scope of its DEI committees," she said. And at Bowdoin College in Brunswick and Bates College in Lewiston, their offices of Inclusion and Diversity, and Equity and Inclusion, respectively, remain. Directors of each of those offices declined to comment. Feingold said its unclear if colleges are simply changing the names of their offices or substantively altering what they do. But even if the changes are just in name only, he said, that's a problem too. "When universities speak, they have their own free speech rights," Feingold said. "The fact that universities are being coerced to alter the way they are talking to the world, that itself is a serious First Amendment concern, to the extent the government is coercing public and private entities not to say the things they want to say, particularly when the things the institutions want to say are modest commitments to equity, diversity and inclusion." Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less
USA Today
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
The Manosphere is a growing problem. These 'Sex-Ed for Guys' videos may be the solution.
The Manosphere is a growing problem. These 'Sex-Ed for Guys' videos may be the solution. Setting boundaries with your partner? Backflips? Florida Gulf Coast's 2013 March Madness run? 'That's what's up,' exclaim Colby College freshmen Mitch Humphrey and Jack Gatjanis in a video that's racked up more than 3 million views. It's one of dozens that have gone viral on the account Sex Ed for Guys, where Colby College students tackle concepts like masculinity and consent with humor and candid discussion. The account provides an alternative option to what's being circulated online by creators in the manosphere, a digital collection of websites, videos and social media that promote male supremacy and advocate for traditional gender roles. So what's the main message these Colby College kids are hoping to get across? That sex education and masculinity doesn't have to be hard to talk about. 'Being told as a man to kind of just shove it down and not deal with it, that's a lot of pressure,' says Gatjanis, who plays on the men's basketball team at Colby with Humphrey. 'As guys, it's not weird to check on your friends.' More: These young men were sucked into the manosphere. Here's how they found a way out. Meeting Gen-Z men where they're at The page features light-hearted skits on sexual health, mental health and relationships. Colby College Junior Chris Maichin says the videos have resonated with viewers because the account creators mirror their target audience. Many of the videos feature young men who wouldn't look out of place at a frat party or on a basketball court. 'Athletes who could be joking around with their buddies about doing something to a girl can see this on their TikTok and be like, 'Oh, wait, those guys look exactly like me,'' Maichin says. The account took off in April of 2024, after a 'respecting women workout' video — which featured reps of 'got you flowers,' 'tell me about your day' and 'close the pay gap' — gained more than 11 million views. Account hopes to combat misogynistic online content Creators like Andrew Tate provide a pipeline for men seeking advice about romantic rejection, physical self-esteem and economic insecurity to fall into radicalism and misogyny. The combination of technology and the natural insecurities that arise during teenage years creates a 'perfect storm' for innocuous sports and health spaces to tune young men into radical content, according to Gary Barker, the president of Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice, an organization that advocates for healthy manhood. 'They're going there with kind of innocent intentions, but without somebody else supporting them, that innocent intention can become a follower who drops their critical thinking,' Barker says. The account was started as part of Colby College Professor Adam Howard's research on elite all-boys schools. Howard says he's concerned about 'overt' misogyny that 'overwhelmingly' positions men as victims and leans on rigid, traditional forms of masculinity, and says the influence has caused young men to be less resilient as they face challenges. He hopes it will help young men build agency to navigate the messages they see online. Maichin says he knows peers who don't share Tate's views on women, but were drawn to his content because of its controversial and dramatic nature. But repeating Tate's views, even in a joking way, 'reinforces that self-fulfilling prophecy' of how young men see themselves. 'It's just that constant reinforcement of 'No, you know what? There's a different way,' Maichin says. 'You could still be a strong, rough and rugged guy, while being able to show your emotions.' More: Netflix's 'Adolescence,' toxic masculinity and what these emoji really mean Making conversations about sex-ed more accessible One of the main topics on the account is consent. Howard says he wants teens and young adults to know that consent goes beyond just saying yes, and should be discussed with a comprehensive view of sexual agency. 'We decided to focus the TikTok on sex-ed and not just the act of sex, but a comprehensive sex education about human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behaviors, sexual health, society and culture and what it means to be a man,' Howard says. A study Howard conducted of recent alumni from 41 different elite all-boys schools found that only two offered any form of sex education. In both cases, the instruction was outsourced from individuals or organizations who delivered short-term programming, and was not a permanent feature of the school's curriculum. 'If you're not teaching boys about sex-ed, then who do they go to? They go to their peers, and their peers don't always give them the correct information,' Howard says, using an example of the falsehood oft-repeated by teenagers that two condoms is safer than one. The students featured on the viral account, who are research assistants of Howard's, are developing a curriculum around sex-ed that they translate into these bite-size videos. More than 30 students have been involved with the account since its launch in 2022. Moving forward, the creators say they want to include more of a focus on men's mental health. Maichin, who credits therapy with improving his headspace, says he wants more men his age to know that talking about emotions is important even when you aren't struggling. 'By doing that, you're not going to take away any part of your masculinity. If anything, it makes you an even better man,' Maichin says. Rachel Hale's role covering Youth Mental Health at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Pivotal Ventures and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input. Reach her at rhale@ and @rachelleighhale on X.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Four Maine college presidents sign national letter decrying Trump education 'overreach'
Apr. 22—Four Maine higher education leaders have signed on to a letter accusing the Trump administration of "unprecedented government overreach and political interference." Safa Zaki of Bowdoin College, Garry Jenkins of Bates College, David Greene of Colby College and James Herbert of the University of New England all added their names to the letter, published Tuesday by the American Association of Colleges and Universities. More than 230 presidents of colleges, universities and scholarly societies throughout the country have signed so far. "We are open to constructive reform and do not oppose legitimate government oversight," the letter reads. "However, we must oppose undue government intrusion in the lives of those who learn, live and work on our campuses. We will always seek effective and fair financial practices, but we must reject the coercive use of public research funding." Though the letter primarily represents private institutions, leaders from a handful of state colleges and universities signed on, including University of Massachusetts Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes and Eastern Connecticut State University President Karim Ismaili. A spokesperson for the University of Maine system declined to comment. In recent months, the Trump administration has pulled or threatened to pull federal funding from higher education institutions that don't comply with his agenda on student protesters, admissions practices and transgender athlete policies. The administration has also revoked the visas of hundreds of international students. On Friday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine filed a class-action lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies behind the visa revocations, asking that a judge restore the visas of any New England students who have had them wrongfully removed, and protecting future students from the same actions. In Tuesday's letter, the colleges argue they should be places of open inquiry where faculty, staff and students can exchange ideas and share different viewpoints, "without fear of retribution, censorship or deportation." The letter ends with a call for an end to the current federal interference. "The price of abridging the defining freedoms of American higher education will be paid by our students and our society," it reads. "On behalf of our current and future students, and all who work at and benefit from our institutions, we call for constructive engagement that improves our institutions and serves our republic." Greene, president of Colby, said that although national attention has focused on a handful of high-profile institutions targeted by the administration, the threat of sanctions carries massive consequences for nearly all the country's colleges and universities. "Great harm could come to colleges and universities small and large, urban and rural, in red states and blue, if the government moves away from being a vital partner in supporting access to higher education and the groundbreaking research that fuels America's innovation economy," Greene said in a written statement. "Like Democracy itself, America's universities are imperfect, yet no system of higher education in the world comes close to matching the intellectual richness and contributions of the one which we enjoy in this country." In an email Tuesday afternoon, Doug Cook, Bowdoin's director of communications, said, "President Zaki is going to let the letter speak for itself." A UNE spokesperson said Herbert also "believes the letter speaks for itself, and he has nothing further to add at this time." A Bates spokesperson referred questions to a statement on the college's website, which acknowledged Jenkins signing on but did not provide additional details. The letter comes as the Trump administration has targeted the funding of a number of colleges and universities, demanding policy changes to bring campuses in line with the federal government's agenda. Harvard University on Monday sued the Trump administration for attempting to withhold more than $2 billion in grants after the school refused to agree to changes proposed in a letter the administration sent April 11. Those demands included suspending certain student organizations and sweeping changes to admissions policies. Weeks earlier, Columbia University faced sharp criticism for acquiescing to policy changes that included adopting a new definition of antisemitism and pursuing with the administration calls "intellectual diversity" on campus. Both Harvard and Columbia's presidents signed the letter Tuesday. New signatures were continuously added to the letter throughout Tuesday evening. Other signatories represent colleges from California to Kalamazoo, including all but one member of the Ivy League as of 6 p.m. This story will be updated. Copy the Story Link
