Latest news with #PNW
Fibre2Fashion
29-05-2025
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
Ethanol Prices Mixed as Demand Rises; US Holds Strong Production Capacity
A renewable biofuel, ethanol is mostly made from crops like corn and sugarcane. It is frequently mixed with gasoline to lessen dependency on fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions. The US and Brazil are the leading producers of ethanol globally. Ethanol supports rural economies by creating demand for agricultural products. Its usage continues to grow as countries adopt cleaner energy solutions. US Ethanol Price Analysis (as of late May 2025) Current Market Snapshot The price for US Ethanol (FOB Gulf) is $1.871 per gallon. This represents a 1.9 per cent increase from the prior week's average ($1.836 per gallon). Compared to last year ($1.918 per gallon), the price has decreased 2.4 per cent (US Grain Council). Regional pricing Comparisons Ethanol (FOB PNW) is priced at $1.935 per gallon, slightly higher than the Gulf, with a modest 0.3 per cent week-over-week increase but a 4.6 per cent year-over-year decline. Anhydrous Ethanol (FOB Santos, Brazil) is $2.177/gallon – unchanged from the previous week, but a year-over-year increase of 1.4 per cent. Hydrous Ethanol (FOB Santos, Brazil) is priced at $1.950/gallon, a 0.9 per cent week-over-week decline and unchanged from the one year ago. Key Observations US ethanol prices have rebounded slightly in the short term but remain below last year's levels. The price spread between US and Brazilian ethanol has widened, with US Gulf ethanol trading at a notable discount to Brazilian anhydrous ethanol. The widening spread between anhydrous and hydrous ethanol in Brazil and the growing Gulf discount suggest shifting dynamics in global ethanol trade, possibly influenced by supply, demand, or policy changes. The Pacific Northwest (PNW) ethanol price remains above the Gulf price, but both are down year-over-year, reflecting broader market softness. Price trends indicate that while there is some short-term upward momentum in US ethanol prices, the market remains under pressure compared to last year, with global competition and regional price spreads playing a significant role in shaping US ethanol's competitive position. US Fuel Ethanol Production Capacity (as of Jan 1, 2024) Ethanol production capacity remains highly concentrated in a few key states, with notable variations across regions: Texas leads with 430 million gallons/year (Mgal/y) of capacity. California and Pennsylvania follow with 128 Mgal/y and 128 Mgal/y respectively. New York contributes 62 Mgal/y, reflecting a smaller but consistent role in ethanol supply. PADD2 shows 16,996 Mgal/y capacity. Total US ethanol capacity is around 18010 Mgal/y. Source:
Eater
29-05-2025
- Eater
Alaska Airlines Is Serving First-Class Passengers Food From an Award–Winning Seattle Chef
First-class passengers flying some cross-country flights on Alaska Airlines this summer are going to get an extra perk — starting June 5, they'll be able to get meals composed by Seattle's James Beard Award–winning chef Brady Williams, who owns the White Center restaurant Tomo. Morning flights between Seattle and Newark, JFK, or Regan National in Washington, DC can get a a mochi waffle and fried chicken meal, while afternoon and evening flights between those destinations will get either short ribs glazed with serrano jaew or buckwheat soba and seared ahi tuna tataki. It's an expansion of the 'Chef's (tray) Table' program Alaska rolled out last year with San Francisco chef Brandon Jew, which highlights 'celebrated chefs up and down the West Coast.' It's a partnership that connects Alaska to not just those chefs, but several small farms and ranches that provide ingredients for their dishes. For instance, the short ribs in Williams's dish come from Washingston's Klingemann Farms. 'What is really luxury, what is really first class?' says Jew. 'I think it's actually quality of ingredients.' Alaska was already connected with Williams through its sponsorship of Tomo's Buds guest chef series. Williams did his first tasting presentation to Alaska's team last August and has been tweaking and refining ever since. One challenge for Williams is that taste buds are dulled at 30,000 feet, meaning that flavors generally have to be bolder and stronger than they might be on the ground. Williams says that he leaned into umami and acid. The resulting dishes — which I tried at a media tasting event this week at Alaska headquarters — aren't quite like dining at Tomo. It's more like dining at Tomo, bringing leftovers home, then reheating them in the microwave. That isn't meant to be a dig, just a reflection of the difficulty of airplane cuisine: The dishes have to be made hours in advance (the night before in the case of the breakfasts) then reheated in a convection oven. It's a minor miracle that anything tastes good after going through that process. The chicken that comes with the mochi waffles is actually miraculously moist under the tempura crust. The rice cakes that come with the short ribs are stir-fried with soy sauce and rice wine and pack an umami punch. And the tuna is both refreshingly chilled and spicy enough to get your attention. (It'll be served with the cold soba noodles to first-classers coming back from the hot, swampy East Coast.) It's a cut above airplane food... but it's still airplane food. If you have the kind of coin or expense account that is sending you across the country in first, you'll have likely experienced better meals on either end of your trip. First-class passengers can pre-order these meals before their flights; those not in first class won't have access to any of it. But they'll be able to avail of Alaska's other efforts to incorporate premium PNW food brands into their flights, like Stumptown Coffee or Fremont Brewing. Sign up for our newsletter.
Chicago Tribune
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
New Indiana enrollment quotas could reduce local campus degree offerings; eliminate programs
New state law enrollment quotas on Indiana's public university degree programs could have a large impact on regional campuses and lead to the elimination of some degree programs. At the session's end last month, GOP lawmakers added the quotas to House Bill 1001, the state budget bill, approved and signed by Gov. Mike Braun last month. The addition received little public scrutiny until a story appeared recently in the Indianapolis Star. Universities with degree programs that fall under the quotas for three consecutive years must request permission from the Commission for Higher Education to continue them. Those quotas include an average enrollment of 15 or more for three consecutive years in bachelor degree programs, 10 students in associate degree programs, 7 students in master's programs and 3 in educational specialist and doctorate degree programs. In 2023, the number of Hoosiers with college degrees ranked 43rd in the nation, while studies cite more educated citizens lead to stronger state economies. Some educators worry the quota law will lower the state's attainment rate even more. According to data in the Star's recent story, 76% percent of bachelor degree small enrollment programs at IU Northwest in Gary and 53% of bachelor degree small enrollment programs at Purdue University Northwest in Hammond and Westville could be affected. The data calculations came from the National Center for Education Statistics as compiled by DATA USA based on 2022 or 2003 data. Future data tracking from the Center could be in peril. In February, the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency, terminated $900 million in contracts in the U.S. Department of Education including the National Center for Education Statistics. State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary, said regional campuses like IU Northwest and PNW don't draw as many students as their main campuses do to always support enrollments of 15 or above. Smith is also an education professor at IU Northwest, although he's announced his retirement effective at the end of May. 'Often we have to offer independent studies and use adjuncts in those classrooms to keep costs down,' he said. 'They don't understand what we have to do to meet the needs of the students in our area,' Smith said of Republicans who control the General Assembly. 'I think the system is not broken. It's because they have all this power and they are control freaks,' Smith said. 'Their argument was less government and now they're in everything.' Republican lawmakers defended the quotas saying they'll lead to better efficiencies on campuses. Officials at Indiana and Purdue universities didn't respond to email requests for comment. Sources, however, say the quotas triggered concern across university campuses. A recent social media post by a member of PNW's Social Work Club alerted students to the new law. The post stated PNW's new social work bachelor program averaged 13 students from 2021 to 2023, leaving it in jeopardy. The post urged students to send testimonials to the Commission on Higher Education. PNW's bachelor in social work program has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education until 2031. Graduates are eligible for state licensures as social workers in the job field that shows increased employment projections of 7%. Several STEM, or Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, programs at IU Northwest could also be in jeopardy. They include biology, biochemistry, computer and information sciences, engineering and math, radiation therapy and informatics. PNW degree programs with smaller numbers include computer engineering, electrical engineering, general chemistry and physics, history and math. Braun, who appoints 12 members of the 14-member Higher Commission board, supports the enrollment review process. Griffin Reid, spokesman for Braun, said in an email: 'This provision ensures our state-funded universities are preparing future college graduates for professional success with degrees that are in demand in Indiana. Universities will be able to request (the state) continue degree programs that fall below this threshold and are of specific interest to the state.' The next meeting of the Commission for Higher Education is July 10. Bill Hanna, executive director of the Dean and Barbara White Foundation, represents Northwest Indiana although his current term expires June 30.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Famous humpback whale ‘Big Mama' returns to Salish Sea with new calf
The first humpback whale calf of the 2025 season has arrived back in Salish Sea waters, according to the Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA). The calf is believed to be the eighth calf of a whale affectionately known as 'Big Mama.' 'Big Mama' is widely beloved for playing a key role in the recovery of local humpbacks, the PWWA said. This is her eighth known calf in 30 years. Humpback whales aren't born in Salish Sea waters-- it's too cold. They migrate to waters off of Hawaii, Mexico and Central America before coming back to the PNW. 'Big Mama' is a part of the Hawaiian population and has made the trek from there to the Salish Sea many times. The pair was first spotted by PWWA members on Wednesday afternoon in Haro Strait on the US/Canadian border between BC's Sidney Island and Washington's San Juan Island, followed by several additional sightings on Thursday. The calf, likely four to five months old, stayed close to mom throughout the encounters. 'Big Mama is a perfect example of how important a single whale can be to a population,' said the PWWA's executive director, Erin Gless. 'She was first seen in 1997, and was one of the first humpbacks to return to the Salish Sea after the end of commercial whaling in 1966. She's been returning ever since, and now has at least eight calves, seven grandcalves, and four great grandcalves. It's very impressive!'
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ban on housing discrimination based on immigration status passes Oregon legislature
PORTLAND, Ore. () – After passing the Oregon House on Monday, a bipartisan bill that would ban housing discrimination based on a tenant's immigration status is heading to Governor Tina Kotek's desk to potentially be signed into state law. Senate Bill 599 has several provisions. This includes banning landlords from inquiring about or disclosing the immigration status of housing applicants, tenants or household members. Additionally, the bill modernizes identity verification requirements by allowing different kinds of identification forms that landlords can accept — including Social Security cards, green cards, birth certificates, taxpayer ID number cards and immigration to Representatives Ricki Ruiz (D-Gresham), Lesly Muñoz (D-Woodburn) and Nathan Sosa (D-Greater Hillsboro), the bill would close a gap in state law by explicitly banning housing discrimination based on immigration status. 'This bill is about more than documents — it's about dignity,' said Rep. Ruiz, who is a chief sponsor of the bill with Sen. Wlnsvey Campos (D-Aloha). 'No Oregonian should have to live in fear that where they were born could cost them their home. This bill makes it clear: housing is a human right, and discrimination has no place in Oregon.' Just before the bill passed the House, Gov. Kotek was asked about the legislation during a Monday press availability, where the governor stated, 'We'll look at the bill. Certainly, want to make sure people have access to housing and I think it had bipartisan support so, I look forward to seeing it.' 'Completely ghosted us': PNW customers detail financial losses, unfinished jobs tied to local contractor The bill ended up passing the Oregon legislature with bipartisan support from Republicans, including, Rep. Gregory Smith (R-Heppner), Rep. Cyrus Javadi (R-Tillamook), Rep. Bobby Levy (R-Echo), and Rep. Kevin Mannix (R-Salem). However, the bill faced opposition from other Republicans, including Rep. Alek Skarlatos (R-Winston), who released a statement on Monday taking issue with the provision banning landlords from disclosing a tenant's immigration status. According to Skarlatos, the bill would put landlords in a position to potentially violate Title 8 U.S.C. Section 1324, a federal law banning 'alien smuggling, domestic transportation of unauthorized aliens, concealing or harboring unauthorized aliens to enter the United States.' 'This bill is yet another example of our state government putting dangerous illegal immigrants ahead of law-abiding Oregonians,' said Rep. Skarlatos. 'This bill reaches a level of absurdity in mandating landlords commit a federal crime to protect even the most violent illegal immigrants and sends a dangerous message: in Oregon lawlessness is protected and speech is policed.' Oregon man imprisoned for killing goat with 'no remorse' Meanwhile, some House Democrats argue the bill would provide necessary housing protections for all Oregonians regardless of their immigration status. 'For too long, our immigrant communities have lived under a cloud of uncertainty and fear,' said Rep. Muñoz. 'Today, we take a powerful step forward to ensure safe, stable housing is accessible to all Oregonians — regardless of their background.' Rep. Sosa added, 'At a time in our country when immigrant communities are under attack, every Oregonian has the right to feel safe in their home, regardless of their immigration status.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
