Latest news with #WUSA9
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Major food producer hit with lawsuit after contaminating local water supply: 'Every day that goes by, people's risk of getting cancer ... continues'
A major farm has been slapped with a lawsuit for its discharge of forever chemicals in its wastewater, according to WUSA9. Perdue Farms is under investigation in Maryland for contaminating the water supplies of neighbors via its wastewater processing. Groundwater and a stream bordering the farm are allegedly affected. A class-action lawsuit against Perdue on the matter is expected to take years. In the meantime, lawyers representing the residents have sent a letter to Perdue demanding action within 90 days pending the investigation, or else they will go to a federal judge to force the limitation of sludge fertilizer use. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a wide grouping of chemicals that have been dubbed "forever chemicals" because of their persistence in ecosystems and bodies. They're typically used in anti-stick coating like Teflon, water-resistant fabrics, cosmetics, food packaging, and potentially in this case, sewage. Exposure to these toxic chemicals has shown links to infertility and cancer. Perdue's case is far from an isolated incident. One Alabama woman suffered multiple heart issues related to exposure to PFAS in her water. An abandoned property in South Carolina remained an ongoing source of forever chemical contamination to nearby communities. Broadly, legislation is possible. Canada has been taking legal steps to protect consumers against forever chemicals. German insurance providers are dialing back coverage of companies being subject to PFAS-related lawsuits. Conversely, the EPA recently rolled back water regulations that would protect Americans from some PFAS. Perdue said it is providing bottled water and filtration systems to 356 affected homes and is nearly finished testing the wells of 920 homes. Residents say this is still not enough, so long as its waste management hasn't changed. "Every day that goes by, people's risk of getting cancer and other health problems from PFAS-contaminated groundwater continues," said attorney Phil Federico, per WUSA9. "We've got to get them clean water now and stop this. This risk that they're being exposed to." How often do you worry about the quality of your drinking water? Never Sometimes Often Always Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Commanders Franchise QB Jayden Daniels Secret Weapon Revealed
For the first five seasons of his career with the Washington Commanders, Terry McLaurin had multiple quarterback changes from year-to-year. Despite the lack of stability, McLaurin continued to put up impressive numbers for the Commanders offense. It all changed once Jayden Daniels was drafted by the organization last year. Advertisement With the arrival of the Offensive Rookie of the Year, McLaurin put up All-Pro numbers with a career-high 13 touchdowns last season. He also got the first taste of playoff football as well. As the duo continues to grow together, McLaurin believes the sky is the limit for both him and his quarterback. 'The way I saw Jayden grow leaps and bounds last year, honestly, we all knew the type of competitor he was when he first got here. He's an extremely smart player and he's very charismatic,' McLaurin said of Daniels via WUSA9. 'But you've got to see his competitive edge out there on Sundays and the way he just, again, was able to get better week in and week out and put his best foot forward. And again, I think it's just his competitive nature, where you feel like you got a chance to make big plays with the ball in his hands. So I'm just looking forward to growing with him.' Advertisement "Charisma'' is the characterization that rings true to us - a secret weapon for a player so young at age 24 with just one season under his belt. Washington made a nine-win swing from 2023 to 2024 and reached the NFC Championship Game for the first time in 30 years. Can the dup grow to new heights? Only time will tell moving forward. Related: Hot NFL Schedule Rumor Has Commanders Headed Overseas Related: Commanders Disrespected After NFC East Kickoff Announcement
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Civil rights leaders alarmed after bible and other artifacts are removed from Smithsonian African-American museum
A Bible carried during civil rights demonstrations and other artifacts are being quietly removed from the National Museum of African American History and Culture in the nation's capital, according to reports. Rev. Amos Brown, a pastor and civil rights activist for more than five decades, received an email from the museum informing him that a Bible he carried during civil rights protests with Dr. Martin Luther King as well as other pieces he donated would soon be returned to him, he told WUSA9. The Smithsonian museum opened its permanent location on the National Mall in September 2016. The reverend's bible has been a part of its collection since. But now, the museum said it would be returning the items it first borrowed nine years ago. 'We are grateful for the loan of these important objects and the ability to share them with the public. In order to preserve them and not display them for too long, we are now returning them to you,' the email said. The Independent has reached out to the museum for comment. The move comes one month after President Donald Trump's March 27 executive order aiming to 'restore truth and sanity to American history.' The order targets Smithsonian museums, which have 'come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology,' the order says. To achieve this restoration, the order says, expenditure on exhibits or programs that degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race, or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with Federal law and policy' are prohibited. Brown doubted that the items were being returned to his possession due to fear of harming their condition: 'The flimsy excuse was because they were under too much light.' His copy of The History of the Negro Race in America from 1619 to 1880, a historical account of the treatment of Black Americans from the slave trade through the 19th century, was also being returned to him, he said. 'I had called them and told them how unfortunate and ideological it is,' he added. In a statement to the outlet, the museum said it 'routinely returns loaned artifacts per applicable loan agreements and rotates objects on display in accordance with the Smithsonian's high standards of care and preservation and as part of our regular museum turnover.' The statement continued: 'Recent claims that objects have been removed for reasons other than adherence to standard loan agreements or museum practices are false.' Brown told NBC4 he was never asked about renewing the loan. "It is downright dishonest and it is demeaning," he told the outlet. "I hope people of good will, of conscience and common sense will rise up and say 'we need to stop this." Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson also denounced the museum's decision to remove artifacts. He wrote on X over the weekend: 'The Trump administration's attempt to remove exhibits from the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture is a blatant attack on Black history. Erasing our past won't change the truth. We will not be silenced.'
The Independent
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Civil rights leaders alarmed after bible and other artifacts are removed from Smithsonian African-American museum
A Bible carried during civil rights demonstrations and other artifacts are being quietly removed from the National Museum of African American History and Culture in the nation's capital, according to reports. Rev. Amos Brown, a pastor and civil rights activist for more than five decades, received an email from the museum informing him that a Bible he carried during civil rights protests with Dr. Martin Luther King as well as other pieces he donated would soon be returned to him, he told WUSA9. The Smithsonian museum opened its permanent location on the National Mall in September 2016. The reverend's bible has been a part of its collection since. But now, the museum said it would be returning the items it first borrowed nine years ago. 'We are grateful for the loan of these important objects and the ability to share them with the public. In order to preserve them and not display them for too long, we are now returning them to you,' the email said. The Independent has reached out to the museum for comment. The move comes one month after President Donald Trump 's March 27 executive order aiming to 'restore truth and sanity to American history.' The order targets Smithsonian museums, which have 'come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology,' the order says. To achieve this restoration, the order says, expenditure on exhibits or programs that degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race, or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with Federal law and policy' are prohibited. Brown doubted that the items were being returned to his possession due to fear of harming their condition: 'The flimsy excuse was because they were under too much light.' His copy of The History of the Negro Race in America from 1619 to 1880, a historical account of the treatment of Black Americans from the slave trade through the 19th century, was also being returned to him, he said. 'I had called them and told them how unfortunate and ideological it is,' he added. In a statement to the outlet, the museum said it 'routinely returns loaned artifacts per applicable loan agreements and rotates objects on display in accordance with the Smithsonian's high standards of care and preservation and as part of our regular museum turnover.' The statement continued: 'Recent claims that objects have been removed for reasons other than adherence to standard loan agreements or museum practices are false.' Brown told NBC4 he was never asked about renewing the loan. "It is downright dishonest and it is demeaning," he told the outlet. "I hope people of good will, of conscience and common sense will rise up and say 'we need to stop this." Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson also denounced the museum's decision to remove artifacts. He wrote on X over the weekend: 'The Trump administration's attempt to remove exhibits from the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture is a blatant attack on Black history. Erasing our past won't change the truth. We will not be silenced.'
Middle East Eye
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Trump administration backtracks on cancelling thousands of foreign student visas
President Donald Trump's administration announced on Friday that it was reversing a decision to cancel thousands of foreign student visas in US federal court. Middle East Eye reported last week that at least 1,500 student visas had been revoked and universities were not notified of a student's change in status or told why their students' visas were being rescinded. According to a report by WUSA9, US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had terminated the visas of 4,700 students in total. The Trump administration's abrupt reversal follows weeks of scrutiny by courts and dozens of restraining orders issued by judges against the move. Critics called the termination of students' records from a federal database, called the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), illegal. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The Trump administration used a rarely invoked immigration act that allows the secretary of state to revoke immigration status if the secretary deems their presence a threat to US foreign policy. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Washington would take away any visa that had previously been issued if students participated in social activism. "We gave you a visa to come and study and get a degree, not to become a social activist that tears up our university campus. We've given you a visa and you decide to do that - we're going to take it away," he said during a press conference in Guyana. "At some point, I hope we run out because we've gotten rid of all of them, but we're looking every day for these lunatics that are tearing things up," he said. As reported by MEE last week, the vast majority of those who had their visas terminated did not know the reasons why. Students at more than 240 American universities have been impacted by a change to their resident legal status, which means they can no longer complete their studies in person and will have to return home, according to a tracker created by Inside Higher Ed. 'Trump's lawlessness': Cornell University student describes why he fled US Read More » The terminations caused panic for thousands of students. Those concerns were magnified after high profile cases like that of Rumeysa Ozturk, whose visa was cancelled before she was detained by masked US immigration agents in March. More than 100 lawsuits were filed by students against the federal government following the Trump administration's move. Politico reported that many of those who sued said their schools had blocked their ability to continue taking classes or conducting research, sometimes just weeks before graduation. In one case, the University of Connecticut shared with MEE that the visas of 12 students, six undergraduate students and six graduate students, as well as one alumnus in a postgraduate professional programme at the university, had been terminated. Meanwhile, Rutgers University in New Jersey told MEE that "about a dozen" students had been impacted. Several US judges said the Trump administration had acted in an arbitrary manner. Many also criticised the lack of clarification from federal government lawyers on whether the students could stay in school or had to leave the country immediately. Terminating a record in the SEVIS system doesn't necessarily mean the individual's immigrant status in the country has been terminated. Judges in more than 50 of the cases, across 23 states, ordered the administration to temporarily undo the actions. Dozens more judges seemed set to follow suit before Friday's reversal. All of the revocations share a common thread - none of the students have been charged with a crime.
