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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas THC Ban on Abbott's desk as veto pressure mounts
The Brief Texas' 89th legislative session has ended, with a bill banning recreational THC products (Senate Bill 3) passing both the House and Senate. Governor Abbott now has until June 22nd to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law without his signature. The bill faces opposition from veterans and hemp farmers who argue against the ban, while doctors, other veterans, and lawmakers support it due to safety concerns. As the 89th legislative session came to an end on Monday, many priority republican bills cleared the House and Senate, including a total ban on recreational legal THC. But there's pressure on Gov. Abbott to veto the bill. With the session officially over, the clock starts for Gov. Abbott to sign or veto Senate Bill 3. Abbott could also let the clock run out and let it become law without his signature. On Monday, dueling press conferences took place over Senate Bill 3. The bill would ban consumable THC but will not impact the limited medical THC program. A group of veterans and hemp farmers spoke this morning, urging Gov. Abbott to veto the bill. The group also delivered boxes of petitions from people who want Abbott to veto. Some vets say it has provided them with a better medical solution than pills. Veterans of Foreign Wars State Commissioner, Dave Walden spoke against Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's press conference last Wednesday pushing for a statewide THC ban. "He (Lt. Gov) says hemp is dangerous. He says we need to crack down, but what he's really saying is that veterans like me don't deserve relief unless it comes with a prescription pad and a pill bottle. That is shameful, that is reckless, and it is un-American," said Walden. The other side This afternoon, a group of doctors, veterans and lawmakers held a press conference in support of the bill. They echoed Patrick's comments from last week, saying these products are dangerous. State Rep. David Lowe is a veteran himself and spoke about the THC topic. "It doesnt heal, it numbs the symptoms, gives false comfort and delays the real work of recovery. That is why I am deeply troubled that verterans are being used as props to push unregulated THC," said Lowe. Dig deeper The House and Senate agreed on expanding the low-grade medical THC program. If Gov. Abbott signs SB3 it would add more locations for people to purchase products. The bill would also allow patients with chronic pain to get medical marijuana prescriptions. FOX 4's Steven Dial reached out to the governor's office to see if he had a new statement. The governor's press secretary told FOX 4 there was no update beyond his statement last week, which did not give an opinion about the THC ban. A spokesperson for Governor Abbott told FOX 4 last Wednesday, "Governor Abbott will thoughtfully review any legislation sent to his desk." The Source Information in this article was provided by the 89th Texas Legislature on June 2.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Veterans remembered across Ashtabula County
Memorial Day takes on a different feel, from family to family and community to community. Residents from across Ashtabula County gathered Monday for barbecues and family gatherings to celebrate the unofficial start to summer. Memorial Day services throughout the area, however, had a different emphasis regarding the importance of the day. Many townships and villages throughout the county hosted community remembrances in cemeteries, while others had parades showing off the local high school band. The common theme was for people to remember the lives lost as men and women fought for our freedoms around the world. Rock Creek hosted a remembrance that included a parade down Route 45, a memorial wreath tossed into Rock Creek and a full ceremony at Union Cemetery. Many people gathered in downtown Rock Creek, while others walked alongside the parade to the ceremony. Jim Prentice, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, tossed a wreath into Rock Creek in memory of Navy veterans who perished serving their country. Rock Creek Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #4953 Commander John Dyrcz led a ceremony at the cemetery where more than 150 people gathered. The Jefferson Area High School Band participated in the parade, and played the National Anthem at the cemetery. 'I really do appreciate you people taking the time to come out and participate,' Dyrcz said before handing the program over to Ashtabula County Commissioner Casey Kozlowski. Kozlowski said many people see Memorial Day as the start of the summer and a chance to have fun with family and friends, but there is a more important, deeper meaning. Kozlowski reminded people of the importance of remembering the sacrifices of the men and women who went before. 'We may live in a rural corner of Ohio, but we understand patriotism,' he said. He mentioned the unique gift D-Day Conneaut gives to thousands of people from many states every August. 'It is a very real reminder of the costs of war,' Kozlowski said. Up the road at Saybrook Cemetery, Ohio National Guard Chaplain Major Sean Hampton shared his military experiences and urged those in attendance to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. 'I have served in one capacity or another since October of 1993,' Hampton said. He said he jokes with new soldiers about his reference point compared to theirs. 'I tell them I was shot at before they were even born,' he said with a laugh. Hampton served in two deployments to Iraq as a medic in 2005 and 2010, and again in 2023 as a chaplain. Hampton said he has been with soldiers that were struggling to find courage in battle and with families who have lost loved ones during his career. He said those still enjoying freedoms earned by veterans should 'earn' their honor by living their lives in ways that would make people who did not survive their military service proud. 'As you enjoy your day off take some time in silence and earn that [honor],' he said. Saybrook Township Trustee Dan Claypool spoke after Hampton, and urged those in attendance to focus on sacrifices made by veterans. 'Memorial Day is a solemn occasion to remember those who laid down their lives,' he said. Geneva remembered veterans during a ceremony at Evergreen Cemetery, which included numerous veterans organizations, Cub Scouts, the Geneva High School band and dozens of people. 'In memory of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, we place this wreath in their honor,' said Gina Diaddario Chismar, of the Blue Star Mothers. Geneva Citizen of the Year Joe Ortiz also spoke at the service. 'Geneva has lost many sons and daughters,' he said. 'The sacrifice made by these fallen heroes lives on.' In Conneaut, families lined up on chairs or blankets along Broad and Main streets as the city's parade assembled at the Conneaut American Legion. Brad Ward said his family came to the parade so the children could enjoy getting candy, and the parents could enjoy the cars and the veterans. As the veterans boarded a float, the Conneaut High School Band lined up along the street and police got ready to escort the parade to the city's war memorial for a wreath laying before moving on to the cemetery for a ceremony. More than 60 people attended a ceremony at the Ashtabula War Memorial, where Len Jury, honor guard commander of the Ashtabula American Legion Post, shared a speech regarding Memorial Day. He said a new flag pole will be installed at the memorial to fly a medal of honor flag. He announced Civil War veterans Louis Shepard and Isaac Jones, both from Ashtabula, would be honored at the memorial for their service. Jury also gave brief synopsis of the many different places American soldiers have fought around the world. Many small ceremonies took place in township cemeteries throughout the county, with some veterans groups assisting at many different events throughout the day.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'These Are Human Beings': VA Fires 1,400 More Employees It Considers Nonessential
The Department of Veterans Affairs fired 1,400 more employees Monday, bringing the total number of dismissals in the department to roughly 2,400 under the Trump administration's effort to slash the size of the federal workforce. The workers -- more than 3.3% of the department's probationary employees -- were union members considered to have "non-mission critical" positions, according to a VA news release Monday evening. The move follows the firings of nearly 1,000 probationary employees Feb. 14, some of which were walked back later when they were determined to be essential employees. The announcement drew sharp criticism from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, which issued the first major statement since the firings began from a national veterans service organization. The ongoing cuts may disproportionately affect vets, since they make up more than 28% of the VA workforce and account for the same share of the federal workforce. Read Next: 'People Are Very Scared': Trump Administration Purge of JAG Officers Raises Legal, Ethical Fears VFW National Commander Al Lipphardt said fired veterans weren't "brand-new, off-the-street employees," but were those who had served the country for decades in uniform and civil service. "There are bigger ramifications in firing veterans than just faceless workers being let go. The American people are losing technical expertise, training and security clearances already bought and paid for by taxpayers," Lipphardt said in a statement Monday night. "We're losing people who are genuinely committed to the mission and find a continued sense of purpose in what they do." VA Secretary Doug Collins described the dismissals as "extraordinarily difficult" but said the savings in salaries and benefits -- an estimated $83 million a year -- would go toward serving veterans, families and survivors. In fiscal 2023, the VA's budget was nearly $304 billion, including mandatory spending such as disability payments and pensions. "These moves will not hurt VA health care, benefits or beneficiaries. In fact, veterans are going to notice a change for the better," Collins reassured beneficiaries in a statement Monday. The VA has almost 450,000 employees, nearly 92% of whom work in health care and health administration and support services. It has roughly 40,000 probationary employees, most of whom were exempt from being fired because they serve in mission-critical positions, according to the VA. The Office of Personnel Management's directive to dismiss personnel across government agencies who had not yet gained civil servant employment protections has affected nearly 6,000 veterans, according to a fact sheet issued Tuesday by House Democrats Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the Appropriations Committee ranking member, and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, ranking member of the subcommittee that funds the VA. According to the lawmakers, 258 veterans were among the first 1,000 personnel fired by the VA, and more than 2,300 veterans are expected to lose their jobs this week at the Defense Department. "This move should outrage anyone who respects our veterans and service members and believes our promises to them should be upheld. We have repeatedly asked the Trump administration for additional information on the exact number of veterans they have fired and what they plan to do to support them," DeLauro said in a news release. Republican lawmakers say they are watching the reductions closely. During a joint House and Senate Veterans Affairs committees hearing on veteran service organization priorities Tuesday, Chairman Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas noted that the VA has established a process allowing for exemptions and he has asked the department for further details. "VA must be forthcoming and transparent to Congress, to [veteran service organizations], to the public, to its workforce, regarding workforce strategy," Moran said. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., a Marine Corps veteran who chairs the House Veterans Affairs Committee, said he believed Collins will "right-size and reorganize the VA." "I trust Secretary Collins doing the right thing for veteran taxpayers. One, because he is himself a veteran and two, because he knows the mission in serving veterans. As chairman and as a veteran myself, my mission is the same: Veterans -- the people sitting in front of us right now -- are my No. 1 priority, not protecting bureaucracy," Bost said. During the same hearing, however, Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, noted that employees who may be considered "nonessential" provide valuable service to veterans. The debate over who is considered "non-mission critical" arose following the Feb. 14 firings, which included two employees at the Veterans Crisis Line, the hotline that provides support and services to suicidal veterans. In a statement issued Feb. 20 in response to media reports and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., who raised concerns about the potential harm to veterans, Collins noted that no Veterans Crisis Line responders were fired. But the two who were fired were administrative staff and a supervisor -- personnel deemed critical to crisis line operations by a VA Office of Inspector General report last year. They have since been reinstated. "The person who answers the phone can be as important as the person who delivers the care," King said. "If a veteran calls for a health care appointment and there's no one there to answer the phone, that's a denial of benefits, just as sure as if they can't see the doctor." During the hearing, DAV Executive Director Randy Reese agreed. "We view the series of actions from return to work, hiring freeze, delayed resignation, probationary employee terminations. All is just unprofessional. That's not how you treat people. You don't treat your own staff that way. These are not widgets. These are human beings," he said. Related: Elon Musk Aide Is Now Working at VA and Accessing Its Computer Systems
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CNX Foundation to Take on School Lunch Debt, Local Veterans' Needs, and Other Socio-Economic Hardships of Residents and Families in Operating Communities
Company and Foundation Expanding Unique Appalachia First Micro-Targeted Approach to Tangible, Impactful, Local Community Investments PITTSBURGH, Feb. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CNX Resources Corporation (NYSE: CNX), President and CEO Nick Deiuliis, and the CNX Foundation today announced they have commenced a new campaign to erase school lunch debt, support local veterans, and address essential needs of families in the region as part of the Company's Appalachia First strategic vision. Eschewing the typical corporate practice of providing donations to large non-profit organizations, CNX's distinctive philanthropic approach prioritizes hyper-localized investments directly targeting individuals and entities most in need. Doing so creates a virtuous circle of investment in the Company's local communities that grows the region's best-in-class workforce and pays dividends to the Company and industry over the long term. Specifically, the 2025 campaign will be directed toward: Erasing School Lunch Debt in Western Pennsylvania CommunitiesNo child should feel embarrassed or face financial barriers to a school meal. Instead, children should be focused on growth and development in the classroom. The CNX Foundation will leverage existing partnerships with school district administrators in the Company's operational areas to eliminate school lunch debt for families struggling to keep up. Supporting Veterans Throughout the Appalachian RegionTo honor Appalachia's storied legacy of military service, funding will support projects and initiatives directly benefitting veterans in need through locally focused government and private organizations including Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion in CNX's operating regions. Addressing Essential Needs of Individuals and Families in CNX's Operating FootprintRecognizing the financial and emotional strain that debt related to essential needs, especially medical expenses, places on families and neighbors, the CNX Foundation will work with local healthcare providers, utilities, and businesses to relieve debt related to essential needs for the region's underserved. This new, unique, and exciting Appalachia First campaign will be fully funded by the CEO with the Company agreeing to a commensurate reduction in CEO compensation for 2025. This year's funding follows $4 million in cumulative offset compensation committed by Mr. Deiuliis and CNX since 2022. This funding approach has allowed the CNX Foundation to establish and expand its flagship Mentorship Academy initiative, providing career-readiness programming and access to well-paying employment opportunities for regional underserved rural and urban youth, along with a host of other impactful CNX Foundation efforts at no incremental cost to the Company. CNX President and CEO Nick Deiuliis said, "We are beyond excited about this new chapter in the CNX Foundation and Appalachia First journey. We are positioned to tangibly impact countless lives of neighbors in need by directly addressing critical issues and obstacles to prosperity that people face every day, one individual and family at a time. We can't think of anything more impactful to the goal of helping to build a vibrant middle class that will sustain our region and local communities for years to come." About CNX CNX Resources Corporation (NYSE: CNX) is unique. We are a premier, ultra-low carbon intensive natural gas development, production, midstream, and technology company centered in Appalachia, one of the most energy abundant regions in the world. With the benefit of a 161-year regional legacy, substantial asset base, leading core operational competencies, technology development and innovation, and astute capital allocation methodologies, we responsibly develop our resources and deploy free cash flow to create long-term per share value for our shareholders, employees, and the communities where we operate. As of December 31, 2024, CNX had 8.54 trillion cubic feet equivalent of proved natural gas reserves. The company is a member of the Standard & Poor's Midcap 400 Index. Additional information is available at About CNX Foundation The CNX Foundation is a registered 501c(3) philanthropic organization that invests tangibly, impactfully, and locally, targeting urban and rural communities within the Appalachian Basin that face socio-economic challenges. With a commitment of $30 million over six years and a focus on underserved populations, the CNX Foundation seeks to set a new standard for how corporations engage with their communities. Additional information, including funding criteria and grant application details can be found at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE CNX Resources Corporation Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
What's Happening over the Weekend? Jan. 31 to Feb. 2
Here's what is happening in the North Country over the Weekend… Event Where When Guided Snowmobile Ride Outdoor Recreation 8 a.m. Everson Museum of Art BOSS Center 9:30 a.m. Baby Time at the Library Robert C. McEwen Library 9:30 to 10 a.m. Bilingual Story Time Robert C. McEwen Library 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Lunch at the Bowl Pine Plains Bowling Center 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Blood Drive Gouverneur Community Center 12 to 4 p.m. Friday Night Fun Ridge Sports Bar 3 to 9 p.m. Book Display Brigade Flower Memorial Library 4 to 5 p.m. Dog Man Release Celebration Flower Memorial Library 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Fire & Wine Happy Hour Redwood Hill Preserve 5 to 7 p.m. Wings & Things Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7227 5 to 8 p.m. Co-Ed Basketball (3rd & 4th Grade) Youth Sports and Fitness Program 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Youth Cheerleading (4th & 5th Grade) Youth Sports and Fitness Program 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Magic & Warhammer Knights of Thorn Games 5:30 to 10:15 p.m. Live Music at the Hill Dry Hill Ski Area 6 to 9 p.m. Co-Ed Basketball (3rd & 4th Grade) Youth Sports and Fitness Program 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. Event Where When Take & Make Crafts Flower Memorial Library 9 a.m. Gnome Heart Garland Kit Flower Memorial Library 9 a.m. Groundhog Day 5K(ish) Heuvelton Central 9 to 10:30 a.m. Groundhog Day 5K(ish) Lisbon Central 9 to 10:30 a.m. Groundhog Day 5K(ish) Madrid-Waddington Central 9 to 10:30 a.m. Indoor Soccer Tournament Magrath Sports Complex 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Spice Club: Nutmeg Flower Memorial Library 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Blood Drive DeKalb Junction Fire Department 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nature Fun Day MAC Nature Center 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Volleyball Open Play Magrath Sports Complex 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Youth Cheerleading (1st and 2nd Grade) Youth Sports and Fitness Program 1 to 2 p.m. Winter Carnival Hike Redwood Hill Preserve 1 to 2:30 p.m. Spaghetti Dinner Carthage VFW 4 to 7 p.m. Live Music at the Hill Dry Hill Ski Area 5 to 8 p.m. Augustinian Academy Gala Carthage Elks Lodge 5 to 10 p.m. Wolves Game Watertown Arena 7:30 p.m. Event Where When Groundhog Day MAC Nature Center 1 p.m. Bowling Tournament Ogdensburg Bowl 1 p.m. Wolves Game Watertown Arena 4 p.m. Cello Sound Healing Trillium Teachers and Practitioners 5 to 6 p.m. Find more North Country Community Events on our Community Calendar Page. Do you have an event you would like posted to the Community Calendar Page? Send us a message: Submit a form. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
