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USA Today
17-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Trump spending freeze sticks farmers with millions in conservation bills
Trump spending freeze sticks farmers with millions in conservation bills | The Excerpt On Monday's episode of The Excerpt podcast: Des Moines Register Agriculture, Environment and Energy Reporter Donnelle Eller discusses how President Donald Trump's spending freeze has stuck Iowa farmers with millions in bills for conservation work. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives in Saudi Arabia ahead of Russia talks to end the war in Ukraine. Plus, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he is willing to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine after the war. A judge blocks mass layoffs at the consumer protection agency targeted by Trump. USA TODAY National Correspondent Elizabeth Weise explains why a futuristic-looking solar energy plant is doomed. It's President's Day! And Monday is Random Acts of Kindness Day. Hit play on the player below to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript beneath it. This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text. Podcasts: True crime, in-depth interviews and more USA TODAY podcasts right here Taylor Wilson: Good morning. I'm Taylor Wilson, and today is Monday, February 17th, 2025. This is The Excerpt. Today, how Trump's spending freeze has hit some Midwestern farmers, plus the latest ahead of expected talks with Russian officials on the war in Ukraine. And while a once cutting-edge solar energy plant is doomed. ♦ President Donald Trump's freeze on federal spending has hit farmers in Iowa and across the Midwest, with millions of dollars in bills for conservation work they carried out to help improve the region's soil health and water quality. I spoke with Des Moines Register Agricultural, Environment, and Energy reporter Donnelle Eller to learn more. Donnelle, thank you so much for hopping on The Excerpt today. Donnelle Eller: Glad to be here. Taylor Wilson: Let's just start with this, Donnelle. I mean, how has this Trump freeze really impacted farmers facing millions in bills for conservation work they've done and really what kind of conservation work are we talking about here? Donnelle Eller: Well, the Iowa Soybean Association reports that farmers who have worked with a $95 million grant program, the Climate-Smart Agriculture program, they are reporting that farmers are owed $11 million for practices that they have already put into place. That includes things like cover crops, which if you're not familiar with it, in the fall farmers plant or overseed things like brassicas, lots of different types of grasses that will grow in the fall. And then when the snow and the wind is blowing like a maniac like it is right now here in Iowa, that keeps the soil in place. And then in the spring, when we get a lot of heavy rain, it will also keep the soil in place. But as well fertilizers like nitrogen and phosphorus, which cost a lot of money, farmers want it in their fields and not to run into streams, rivers, and lakes because that creates water pollution. Taylor Wilson: And there was a firm expectation that these millions would come. Is that correct? Donnelle Eller: Right. It's been a really tough year for farmers nationally. Farmers have lost about 28% of their net income. They put the money into making these conservation practices into adopting them and implementing them. So now they're just waiting to be reimbursed. We're hoping that spring planting will come soon and they're paying for a lot of products that they'll use to grow this year's crop. In the first term, Trump sent $23 billion to farmers to offset the losses that farmers experienced during the last trade war. Taylor Wilson: Well, and as you mentioned, they're already facing a cash crunch. You mentioned that 28% number. What are some of these other recent concerns for farmers? I mean, what else is happening to them in recent months? Donnelle Eller: They also have on their plate the looming threat of widespread tariffs, which during the first Trump administration really resulted in retaliatory tariffs from countries like China, China being the biggest one. And that really impacted our largest products that we export, soybeans primarily, but also pork, corn. I mean, these are the countries that the president is looking to levy tariffs again are really the biggest buyers of Iowa and US commodities and products. Taylor Wilson: Well, in terms of these folks actually getting paid what they're owed, Donnelle, I mean, a judge earlier this week ruled to lift the government's broad freeze on spending. What does that mean now for these farmers? And is there any sense on when they'll get paid or what recourse they have going forward? Donnelle Eller: Yeah, there are a lot of farmers who were in Washington, talking with their legislators, trying to get a better sense. My understanding is they didn't really get a clear picture of when this money would come available to them, when those payments would start going out. They are really hoping that sometime soon that happens, given the incoming bills that they will have for this year's crops. I guess I should mention also this question mark about how if the federal government will follow through on government spending. It's raised a few questions about whether the Trump administration will follow through on $31 billion that Congress passed in December. That was a combination of economic assistance combined with disasters. So that is really going to make a big difference in whether farmers are able to make any kind of profit for this year. It's going to be a really big piece of their ability to be profitable. Taylor Wilson: All right. Donnelle Eller covers agriculture, the environment and energy for the Des Moines Register part of the USA TODAY Network. Thank you so much, Donnelle. Donnelle Eller: Thank you. ♦ Taylor Wilson: Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to arrive in Saudi Arabia today. His arrival comes ahead of expected talks with Russian officials aimed at ending their war in Ukraine. President Donald Trump last week spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone and Trump ordered officials to begin negotiations on the war. Meanwhile, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote in The Telegraph yesterday that he is willing to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine when the Russia-Ukraine war ends. ♦ The Trump administration has agreed to pause layoffs and funding cuts at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the federal agency responsible for cracking down on junk fees and answering consumer complaints in the finance industry. In a Friday order, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said Trump officials had agreed not to terminate workers, delete CFPB data, or raid agency coffers, at least for now. It's the latest chapter over the fate of a high-profile federal watchdog agency that Trump has targeted for shutdown in the early days of his second term. At the start of this month, Trump officials fired CFPB Director Rohit Chopra and installed a new director, Russell Vought, who promptly ordered the agency to halt its work and shut its doors. ♦ A once-cutting-edge solar energy plan in the Mojave Desert may be facing its last days. I spoke with USA TODAY National Correspondent Elizabeth Weise on what that tells us about green energy getting cheaper. Hi there, Beth. Elizabeth Weise: Hey, how's it going? Taylor Wilson: Good, good. Thanks for hopping on on this story. Just starting here, Beth, I mean, what is the solar plant in the Mojave Desert and really how does it work? Elizabeth Weise: If you had ever driven by it, you would remember it. It is the weirdest-looking thing. It's out in this big desert open space. I mean, it's huge. And there's all these mirrors. I mean literally thousands and thousands of mirrors about the size of your dining room table around circles around these three towers. I mean, it does look like a science fiction movie. And the way it works is the mirrors take sunlight and they reflect it onto the towers in the middle. And much like you might use a magnifying glass to heat up a piece of wood to start a fire on a really sunny day, they heat up the towers, which are filled with a liquid. And that liquid is used to run a steam engine and that steam engine then produces electricity. They look really futuristic, the technology itself is no different than a magnifying glass. But yeah, they look pretty crazy out there. Taylor Wilson: It's now on its last legs though, as you write in this piece. Why is that? Elizabeth Weise: One of the reasons we wrote this is because it's getting some press saying, "Oh, this shows you that solar doesn't work." But what it shows you is that experimentation really works. And this was something that we tried back in ... Well, 2010 is when they first started it. And nobody exactly knew what was going to work in terms of solar, what was going to be the most cost-effective. And so this was one of multiple different kinds of big solar plants that were built. And it turned out that solar panels were by far the most cost-effective and the best, but we didn't know that 15 years ago necessarily. Taylor Wilson: And are we seeing other similar solar energy systems being phased out as new technology comes in? I mean, what else are you seeing? Elizabeth Weise: There are a couple of funny ones out there. There are these crazy parabolic trough collectors. I think they've only been tried in Europe. It's the same concept, but they look like a long half-circle mirror, like somebody cut a pipe made out of mirrors in half. And then they have a pipe running down the middle and the Sun's rays are concentrated on the pipe in the middle, and that heats up a liquid in them that produces steam that runs a generator. And then there's these things called Fresnel reflectors, and these are long, thin, tiny mirrors that also focus sunlight and produce steam. So that's actually a really old technology. I mean, some of this stuff, the first person who tried using solar energy to heat something and create steam was back in the 1860s. And then it turned out that photovoltaic panels, which were first produced by Bell Labs in the '50s, are just so much more efficient and so much more cost-effective, and they blew everything else out of the water. But it took a long time for those solar panels that Bell created in '54 to become cheap enough and good enough to beat out the competition. I say in the story, it's like if you lived through the Betamax-VHS wars and for a while we just didn't know which technology was going to end up being the one we used, that's where we were with solar at the beginning of the century. Taylor Wilson: Beth, this Ivanpah solar facility being doomed, as you write in this piece, I mean, what does this really tell us? What does it mean potentially for the conversation around green energy? Elizabeth Weise: It means that solar power just got so absurdly cheap. The cost of producing energy from solar panels has fallen 82% since 2010. And not only that, but they have gotten really much more efficient. So to produce a megawatt of energy from utility-scale solar panels, somewhere between 29 and $92 per megawatt. So it can be as cheap as 29 bucks. And note, those are the costs without any federal subsidies. The costs are even lower if you have federal subsidies. So solar just got so cheap that nothing else made sense. Taylor Wilson: All right. Great piece as always. Folks can go find the full version with a link in today's show notes. Elizabeth Weise is a national correspondent with USA TODAY. Thank you, Beth. Elizabeth Weise: Good as always to be here. ♦ Taylor Wilson: Today is President's Day. The holiday was originally intended to celebrate the birthday of the first president, George Washington, on February 22nd, and it's still formally designated as Washington's birthday by the Office of Personnel Management. The holiday is celebrated annually on the third Monday of February due to the Uniform Holiday Act. The act mandates that President's Day, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day occur on Mondays to avoid midweek shutdowns. You can read more about the origins of President's Day with a link in today's show notes. ♦ And today is Random Acts of Kindness Say. We've got a feel-good story you won't want to miss. When a dad of three took his family out for breakfast, a stranger's surprise left him in tears. Humankind's Ronnie Li brings us this touching moment with Dr. J. Mack Slaughter. Ronnie Li: 41-year-old Dr. J. Mack was enjoying a typical morning with his wife and three kids at their favorite breakfast spot when he asked for the check. Then this happened. Dr. J. Mack Slaughter: I was like, "Okay, and we're ready for the check whenever you're ready." And the waitress was like, "Oh no, that's been taken care of." And I was like, "What?" But I read the receipt, the first thing that I saw was, "Thank you for being great dad." And I just started crying. My kids are looking at me and they're worried about me, like, "Dad, is everything okay? Are you okay?" And I was like, "Daddy's just really surprised right now." And I flipped it over and I read the back. It said, "From a dad to a dad, thank you for being the dad that they need you to be regardless of who's watching. We need more men like you. Thank you for letting us all see your love for them all. From a retired Army medic." I was just so overwhelmed with emotion. I could tell when my daughter fully understood, she was like- Speaker: Who should we bless today? Dr. J. Mack Slaughter: Who should we bless today? And I was like, "Oh, man. There we go." Time to pay it forward. Taylor Wilson: You can watch this story and see more random acts of kindness on the dedicated Humankind portal We have a link in today's show notes. ♦ And thanks for listening to The Excerpt. You can get the podcast wherever you get your audio. And if you're on a smart speaker, just ask for The Excerpt. I'm Taylor Wilson, and I'll be back tomorrow with more of The Excerpt from USA TODAY.
USA Today
17-02-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
Daily Briefing: 'Domingo' made it to SNL's 50th anniversary
We're spending the holiday morning scrolling hilarious moments from the 50th anniversary episode of "Saturday Night Live." A deadly powerful storm battered the much of the Southeast. Federal workers spent the weekend grappling with an uncertain future in the aftermath of mass layoffs. 🙋🏼♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Monday is Presidents Day and Random Acts of Kindness Day! Five decades later, 'Saturday Night Live' looks back Americans are still chuckling Monday morning after watching a star-studded three-hour 50th anniversary "Saturday Night Live" special. Sunday night's broadcast was a reflective showcase of old and new humor shot live from the iconic Studio 8H in Rockefeller Center. Extreme weather leaves deadly wake Flooding has inundated a swath of Southern states over the past 48 hours. The high waters led to at least nine deaths and thousands of rescues in Kentucky, where the Louisville area alone saw more than six inches of rain. Another death was also reported in Georgia early Sunday. Meanwhile, millions of Americans begin the week under weather alerts, watches and warnings on Monday as a wall of bitter cold air sweeps across the nation's northern tier and wild storms prompt continued water rescues and tornado warnings across the South. Here's what to know about the weather in your area. More news to know now What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here. Federal workers say Trump mass firings upended their lives "I'm much more angry than devastated. It took away my hope that I would continue to be respected and valued for my service. And especially in the way the termination happened." ~ Chelsea Milburn, a 34-year-old Navy reservist, who lost her job as a public affairs specialist for the Department of Education. Milburn is among thousands of federal workers whose lives were turned upside down last week after President Donald Trump's administration began instituting mass layoffs as part of an aggressive effort to trim the federal workforce. Former government workers told USA TODAY they spent the weekend scrambling to figure out how to file for unemployment benefits and adjust to a new financial reality. Tariffs could put inflation back into high gear President Donald Trump's plan to hit imports from foreign countries with sweeping reciprocal tariffs could nearly double U.S. inflation if fully imposed, a study said, intensifying a recent resurgence in consumer price increases. The tariffs would be so far-reaching – intended to match foreign taxes, subsidies and other trade barriers – that imposing even a significant portion of them could notably boost consumer prices, especially if tacked onto the flurry of other import levies Trump has announced. Here's the math on how tariffs impact inflation. Today's talkers William Byron wins second straight Daytona 500 in wild ending William Byron won the 67th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, claiming victory in NASCAR's most famous race for the second year in a row. Byron took the checkered flag at Daytona International Speedway after a crash broke out on the final lap. But NASCAR kept the green flag out, and Byron was able to vault from ninth place to the front as other cars crashed around him. Here's what happened every lap. Photo of the day: London calling the biggest stars Sunday's British Academy Film Awards marked another key stop in the Oscar race, where "Anora" will defend its status as best-picture frontrunner against competitors like "The Brutalist" and "Conclave." Ariana Grande channeled her "Wicked" character. Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@ .
BBC News
17-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Random Acts of Kindness Day 2025: How are you being kind today?
It's Random Acts of Kindness Day on Monday 17 February, and we want to know how you're are so many different ways to be kind - it could be helping a friend through a difficult time, unpacking the shopping for your parents, or letting a teacher know how much they help only is it nice for the other person you're being kind to, but some experts have found being that kind can actually be good for your health, how are you being kind today? Or has someone been really kind to you? Let us know in the comments below.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How North East train passengers can get free tea and coffee next week
Commuters aboard Lumo trains are in for a heartwarming surprise this Monday, February 17, as the rail operator teams up with Newcastle's iconic tea maker, Ringtons, to serve complimentary hot beverages. This initiative, part of Random Acts of Kindness Day, is set to spread warmth and joy along the Edinburgh to London route. Passengers on all Lumo services will be treated to free Ringtons tea and coffee, a simple yet thoughtful gesture designed to brighten their journey. In addition to the complimentary drinks, customers will also have the opportunity to win exclusive prizes, including train tickets and special Ringtons treats, through Lumo and Ringtons' social media channels. Commuters across the country will be treated to FREE Ringtons tea and coffee on Lumo trains this Monday (FEB 17) as part of Random Acts of Kindness Day, with complimentary drinks served on all services by the train operator, which runs five times daily between Edinburgh and London (Image: NORTH NEWS) Random Acts of Kindness Day, an international event that has been running since 1995, encourages individuals and businesses alike to promote positivity, generosity, and compassion. Lumo's initiative aligns with its commitment to enhancing passenger experience while supporting regional businesses. Established in 1907, Ringtons has long been a beloved staple of North East England, renowned for its high-quality tea and dedication to tradition. The partnership between Lumo and Ringtons began when the train operator launched in 2021, with both brands sharing a common mission to offer customers high-quality, locally sourced products. By bringing together their expertise and commitment to excellence, Lumo and Ringtons are not just serving beverages—they are fostering a sense of community and kindness on the rails. Lumo handing out tea to customers (Image: NORTH NEWS) So, if you're traveling with Lumo this Monday, be sure to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, on the house, as a small reminder that kindness goes a long way. Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director at Lumo, said: "At Lumo, we believe that small moments can make a big difference and Random Acts of Kindness Day is a fantastic opportunity to give back to our customers. "We strive to create a welcoming and enjoyable travel experience, and this initiative allows us to spread a little extra joy along the way. "Ringtons has been a valued partner since the very beginning, sharing our commitment to quality and customer experience. We're thrilled to collaborate once again to bring a touch of warmth and generosity to our customer's journeys, making their time with us even more special." Lumo recently secured a 96 per cent customer satisfaction score through an independent survey, reinforcing its passion for the customer experience. Recommended reading: County Durham sub-contractor jailed for theft of £70k worth of machinery and tools One in hospital after HGV crashes into wall in Darlington with air ambulance called Drivers warned as traffic camera to be introduced at busy Durham junction Emma Shard, Brand and Communications Manager at Ringtons added: "Kindness, community, and tea are at the heart of Ringtons, no matter where you encounter us. "There's a real synergy between the wonderful team at Lumo and ours. Every day, we all go out and about, performing acts of kindness—stopping for a chat, and going above and beyond to ensure our communities are happy and well cared for. "Monday presents a lovely opportunity for us to share the joy of tea and coffee with Lumo. Like Martijn, we believe it's the little things that can make a big difference. After all, is there anything more heartwarming than someone making you that unexpected cup of tea?"
Associated Press
05-02-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week 2025
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation leads a global movement dedicated to spreading positivity, generosity, and compassion-one act at a time . DENVER, CO, UNITED STATES, February 5, 2025 / / -- The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation (RAK) is thrilled to announce Random Acts of Kindness Week 2025, taking place from February 9-15, 2025, followed by Random Acts of Kindness Day on February 17, 2025. These are annual events that inspire people in schools, workplaces, and communities to come together and make kindness the norm through simple, meaningful actions. 'Random Acts of Kindness Week and Day serve as powerful reminders that kindness is not just an action but a way of life. By participating, people can create ripple effects of positivity in their communities.' said Brooke Jones, Vice President of the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. RAK Week is more than a celebration—it's a call to action. Whether through small gestures or larger initiatives, acts of kindness have the power to create meaningful change. Participants are encouraged to inspire, empower, act, and share kindness in their communities. Anyone can take part in RAK Week by performing and sharing acts of kindness—whether in person or online using #RAKWeek2025. Free resources, kindness ideas, and activities are available at 'In a world that often feels divided, kindness has the power to unite us,' said Rachelle Stubby, Director of Digital Strategy at The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. 'RAK Week is a reminder that even the smallest actions—a smile, a kind word, or a helping hand—can make a lasting impact.' For more information or to get involved, visit For media inquiries, interviews, or additional resources and support, please contact: Rachelle Stubby Director of Digital Strategy & Project Management Random Acts of Kindness Foundation Phone: 303-808-3246 The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation (RAK) is a small, privately endowed nonprofit that invests time, expertise, and resources into its mission, Make Kindness the Norm. The organization is rooted in the belief that all people can connect through kindness and that kindness can be taught. RAK's mission is achieved by inspiring and facilitating kindness through free resources available for use at homes, in schools and workplaces, and community-wide. Rachelle Stubby, Director of Digital Strategy & Project Mgmt Random Acts of Kindness Foundation +1 303-808-3246 X LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Legal Disclaimer:
