Latest news with #TimRichardson
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
If Trump cuts funding to NPR and PBS, rural America will pay a devastating price
When Hurricane Helene walloped North Carolina last fall, residents were hit by a second threat at the same time: the dire need for accurate information. The loss of electric power amid the widespread flooding meant that people – especially those in isolated areas – were deprived of basic news. They needed to know about everything from road closures to the whereabouts of their family and friends to sources of drinkable water. Blue Ridge Public Radio stepped into the breach. Residents used car batteries or crank-powered radios to listen to the station's daily broadcast, as the editorial staff stayed on the air for long hours, sometimes sleeping on the floor of the Asheville-based newsroom. It was one example of how public media serves its viewership, especially those in rural or small-town America, and especially at times of crisis. But with the Trump administration's draconian push to 'claw back' more than a billion dollars in already approved funds for public radio and television, that service is threatened as never before. It's up to Congress to decide whether to agree to that demand or to allow the next two years of funding to stand. 'This would disproportionately harm rural areas and smaller communities, where public media really is a lifeline,' said Tim Richardson of PEN America, the non-profit organization that advocates for press rights and free expression. It's not only at times of crisis that public radio and TV make a difference. It's every day, particularly in places that don't have a lot of other news sources. With the sharp decline of the local newspaper business over the past 20 years, many parts of America have turned into what experts refer to as 'news deserts'. These are places that have almost no sources of credible local reporting. As local newspapers have shuttered or withered – at a rate of more than two every week – news deserts have grown. The effects are sobering. People who live in news deserts become more polarized in their political views and less engaged in their communities. One of the foundations of democracy itself – truth – begins to disappear. People turn to social media for information and lies flow freely with nothing to serve as a reality check. Right now, many small and rural communities that are on the brink of becoming news deserts do still have access to public media – particularly to National Public Radio's network of member radio stations, which employ dedicated local reporters. But the Trump administration's new effort targeting public radio and television is a serious threat. Katherine Maher, the chief executive of National Public Radio, was right when she warned this week that the loss of funds 'would irreparably harm communities across America who count on public media for 24/7 news, music, cultural and educational programming, and emergency alerting services'. With few exceptions, Democrats oppose the demand, but Republicans in Congress – as usual – are largely in favor of giving the president whatever he wants. The House speaker, Mike Johnson, a loyal Trump acolyte, claims that news coverage from public radio and TV is biased, telling reporters that 'there is no reason for any media organization to be singled out to receive federal funds'. And Trump, showing his usual lack of restraint, has described NPR and PBS (public television) as 'radical left monsters'. That's wrong. Public radio and television in America are notable for their lack of bias; in fact, both organizations bend over backwards to present all viewpoints. The only prejudice they have is for traditional objectivity in their news gathering and presentation. If there's a more balanced and thoughtful news report on TV than the nightly PBS NewsHour, I don't know what it is. There are excellent reasons to maintain this funding – primarily to give people the information they need to function in their lives and as citizens. One Republican who has stepped outside the party line is the Alaska senator Lisa Murkowski. She has reiterated her longstanding support for public broadcasting in recent days, arguing in an opinion piece in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner that the proposed cutbacks would be devastating to communities in her state. 'What may seem like a frivolous expense to some has proven to be an invaluable resource that saves lives in Alaska,' Murkowski wrote. In the past, when federal funding for public media has come under fire, Congress has repelled the threats. But Richardson is far from certain that that will be true this time, given Trump's iron grip on the Republican party and its weak-willed elected officials. 'We're in a different situation, a more dangerous moment now,' Richardson told me. But there is an escape hatch. Republican officeholders do have to listen to their constituents or run the risk of being voted out. Voters – especially those in rural areas, small towns and red states – should let their elected representatives know that they need public radio and television to continue. That public media may even be their lifeline. Margaret Sullivan is a Guardian US columnist writing on media, politics and culture
7NEWS
08-05-2025
- 7NEWS
Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne and Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden named top 25 in the world by The New York Times
Two Australian botanical gardens have been named in a list of the top 25 'must-see' gardens in the world. Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, in Melbourne's southeast, and Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden feature on the list compiled by The New York Times' Style Magazine. Each entry was chosen by a team of six horticultural experts, who initially nominated 10 gardens of their own before coming together as a group and whittling the list down to 25. The award-winning garden in Cranbourne, which was opened in 2012, is surrounded by 300 hectares of native bushland, walking tracks, cycling tracks and a lookout tower. The bushland is made up of hundreds of indigenous plant species and over 215 animal species, including kangaroos and koalas, call the area home. Tim Richardson and Deborah Needleman, two of the horticultural experts, said the garden was more like a zoo. 'It's more like visiting a zoological garden than a botanical garden because some of the plants are the size of large animals — they're massive,' Richardson said. 'It's a bit like the High Line (in New York City) in that you walk around this circle and there are different zones and areas you pass through. It's episodic.' Situated in the middle of the city, Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens offers visitors views of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House and is home to 28,000 types of plants. There's something for everyone, with multiple different gardens on offer such as the Oriental Garden which showcases plants from several Asian countries. 'I wanted to have at least one garden that's part of the life of a city and this one is right on the harbour, connecting the Opera House and the Art Gallery of New South Wales, so you can just stroll through on your way to work,' horticultural expert Toshiko Mori said. While the gardens are numbered on the list from one to 25, they are not ranked. Others on the list include New York City's The High Line, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town and Katsura Imperial Villa in Kyoto.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Nine killed in WW2 bomber crash remembered
Eighty years after nine airmen lost their lives in a bomber crash in Surrey, a service to commemorate them has been held. An American Air Force B-17G flying fortress bomber crashed during bad weather in Reigate while returning from a mission over Germany on 19 March 1945. On Wednesday, a service took place at the crash site on Reigate Hill. Tim Richardson, an RAF veteran and historian for the National Trust in Surrey, said: "The aircraft flew over Reigate, startled a bus queue, disappeared into the clouds covering the hill. A huge crash, silence and that was it." Flying in formation, the American crew had been told to split up to avoid collision and to make their way back to base after the weather "closed in" at the English Channel, he added. Mr Richardson said the reaction at the time was one of "horror". "The impact was so severe that all nine men died almost instantly," he told BBC Radio Surrey, adding that one crewman was found half a mile (0.8km) away from the plane wreck. The crash site is now marked by a pair of carved wing tips and cared for by the National Trust. Sculptor Roger Day completed the memorial on the North Downs Way for the 70th anniversary of the crash. It replicates the size of the destroyed aircraft and includes fuselage aluminium from the crash. He told Secret Surrey: "It's so tragic, because of their bravery obviously. But also being so near the end of the war, they could have been home, free." The service featured a wreath-laying ceremony, including one presented by US Air Attaché Lt Col Dan Benson, and the head boy and head girl of The Royal Alexandra and Albert School. HM Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey, Michael More-Molyneux, said Lt Col Dan Benson's attendance was a "powerful testament to our shared history". He added: "The presence of our cadets and scouts at the ceremony brought a sense of reverence and the passing on of history from one generation to the next." Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, and on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. D-Day nurse remembered 80 years after death The abseiling cleaners who dust off old RAF planes Funeral held for 'last' WW2 RAF bomber pilot
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Nine killed in WW2 bomber crash remembered
Eighty years after nine airmen lost their lives in a bomber crash in Surrey, a service to commemorate them has been held. An American Air Force B-17G flying fortress bomber crashed during bad weather in Reigate while returning from a mission over Germany on 19 March 1945. On Wednesday, a service took place at the crash site on Reigate Hill. Tim Richardson, an RAF veteran and historian for the National Trust in Surrey, said: "The aircraft flew over Reigate, startled a bus queue, disappeared into the clouds covering the hill. A huge crash, silence and that was it." Flying in formation, the American crew had been told to split up to avoid collision and to make their way back to base after the weather "closed in" at the English Channel, he added. Mr Richardson said the reaction at the time was one of "horror". "The impact was so severe that all nine men died almost instantly," he told BBC Radio Surrey, adding that one crewman was found half a mile (0.8km) away from the plane wreck. The crash site is now marked by a pair of carved wing tips and cared for by the National Trust. Sculptor Roger Day completed the memorial on the North Downs Way for the 70th anniversary of the crash. It replicates the size of the destroyed aircraft and includes fuselage aluminium from the crash. He told Secret Surrey: "It's so tragic, because of their bravery obviously. But also being so near the end of the war, they could have been home, free." The service featured a wreath-laying ceremony, including one presented by US Air Attaché Lt Col Dan Benson, and the head boy and head girl of The Royal Alexandra and Albert School. HM Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey, Michael More-Molyneux, said Lt Col Dan Benson's attendance was a "powerful testament to our shared history". He added: "The presence of our cadets and scouts at the ceremony brought a sense of reverence and the passing on of history from one generation to the next." Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, and on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. D-Day nurse remembered 80 years after death The abseiling cleaners who dust off old RAF planes Funeral held for 'last' WW2 RAF bomber pilot
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Local fire chief issues important message ahead of windy weekend
OAK HILL, WV (WVNS) – It is all hands on deck for many fire departments in the region, as they prepare for strong wind gusts. Tim Richardson is the fire chief at the City of Oak Hill Fire Department. He said conditions for burning is super risky. Since it is spring fire season, people can only burn from 5 p.m. until 7 a.m. Fires must be attended to at all times. Four West Virginia counties impacted by flooding may be eligible for SNAP assistance The City of Oak Hill F.D. recently purchased a side-by-side ATV that has special uses valuable for patient transport and brush firefighting. '[The side-by-side] carries a lower amount of water, but we can put that unit transport into locations that gives us access quicker ability to create a fire line and hopefully drive down the threat of fires. Like I say, in relation to livestock, homes, barns, personal value items and individuals that might be on the trails,' said Fire Chief Richardson. Fire Chief Richardson told 59News a lot of trouble can be spared if you report your controlled fire to the non-emergency 911 number ahead of time. This will save time for firefighters and the individual who is burning, in the case of a pedestrian accidentally reporting the fire as an emergency. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
