Latest news with #Walden
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Do it for every veteran': Hemp business leaders call for Abbott to veto THC ban
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — 'Like thousands of us, I went through the government's solution — a never ending parade of pills: Vicodin, Valium, Tramadol, Neurontin, antidepressants, sleeping pills, the list goes on and on. Those drugs nearly destroyed me,' Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran Dave Walden said on Monday. 'Legal hemp-derived consumable THC gummies brought me back.' Walden spoke on behalf of the Texas Department of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), who are vehemently opposed to Senate Bill 3 — the THC ban bill. 'Since 2018 I haven't touched a single opioid or any of the other drugs that I mentioned above. I've rebuilt my life. I've become a better leader, a better husband, a better father. And ultimately a better man,' Walden said. 'But now Senate Bill three wants to turn this into contraband. It wants to turn me and thousands of other veterans into criminals for choosing an alternative that works for us.' Currently, the fate of the Texas Hemp industry lies in Gov. Greg Abbott's hands. He has until June 22 to either veto or sign SB 3. If he fails to make a choice, the bill will go into effect unsigned. 'Today, over 10,000 hemp business owners — women and men — request that Governor Abbott veto SB 3,' President of the Texas Hemp Business Council Cynthia Cabrera said. Cabrera is also the Chief Strategy Officer at Hometown Hero, an Austin-based consumable hemp company. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick tossed a package of Hometown Hero Cereal Bites at reporters while arguing the dangers of THC products, saying 'nobody knows what's in it.' 'Make no mistake, the idea that no one knows what is in these products is false. For the past six years, Texas law has mandated third-party lab testing and clear labeling,' Cabrera said. 'The only goal of these scare tactics was to frighten legislators and the public into going along with an agenda they did not ask for. The Texas hemp industry is comprised overwhelmingly of law-abiding, compliant entrepreneurs, mom and pop stores, distributors and ancillary businesses.' The conference featured hemp industry leaders from all sectors, including hemp farmer Colton Luther. While he acknowledged he will still be able to grow hemp, he said his fields are currently empty because he's uncertain of this year's demand is SB 3 goes through. 'If you take away the market that creates the demand that the farmers are upholding, What business do we have left,' Luther said. 'It is a shame that we are trying to ban these things and take away the market that these farmers depend on to sell their crop.' Later Monday, the group Citizens for a Safe and Healthy Texas held a competing news conference to preach the harms of THC. 'What you never hear people discussing is the impaired driving consequences resulting from use of these intoxicating products in Texas. While alcohol remains the leading cause of fatal crashes, alcohol combined with cannabis is the second most common cause of deadly impaired driving crashes,' their CEO Nicole Holt said. 'In our state, the combination of alcohol and cannabis is the most common drug combination in impaired driving crashes in our state as well. And young drivers are particularly at risk. 26% of crash fatalities among those 25 and younger involve both cannabis and alcohol. 'Those are real lives. Those deaths are someone's life ended too soon, those families will never be the same, and when there's an impaired driver on the road, we are all at risk.' They also invited State Rep. David Lowe, R-Fort Worth, a war veteran. 'I'm deeply troubled that veterans are being used as props,' Lowe said. 'I believe passing Senate Bill three is one of the greatest accomplishments of this legislative session, and I want to thank Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick for his strong, steady leadership when it mattered most.' However, the Texas VFW says Lowe does not speak for them. 'Our national convention and our state convention… set the number one priority… as protecting any alternative to opioids,' Walden said. 'That's one veteran's opinion. I have written consent that I speak for 64,000 veterans in Texas, not just one.' Abbott has until June 22 to make a decision on whether or not to veto SB 3. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas THC ban: Groups to hold competing news conferences with bill awaiting Abbott approval
The Brief Competing news conferences are being held today to sway Gov. Abbott on a bill banning most THC products in Texas. Opponents warn the ban (SB 3) would dismantle a multi-billion dollar industry and push products underground. Supporters of SB 3 say the products are potentially dangerous. AUSTIN, Texas - With a bill to ban THC products in Texas awaiting Governor Greg Abbott's signature, both supporters and those who oppose the bill are looking to sway the governor. Competing news conferences between the Texas hemp industry and those looking to ban the products. The Texas Hemp Business Council held a news conference on Monday morning, which included comments from farmers, veterans, small business owners and hemp advocates. The advocates raised concerns about what they say will dismantle a $4.3 billion industry which they say supports 53,000 jobs, as well as the potential to "open the floodgates" to unregulated, unsafe products in the vacuum created by the legislation. A petition with more than 100,000 signatures and thousands of letters were delivered to Gov. Greg Abbott's office after the news conference. What they're saying "I'm here today with one simple message. Governor Abbott, please veto Senate Bill 3," said Texas VFW Seniro Commander Dave Walden. Walden said he was put on a "never-ending parade of pills" to help combat his PTSD. He spoke about a time when he was "lost in a fog due to prescription drugs" and wandered away from home. He said hemp-derived THC gummies helped him. Those same gummies would be banned under SB3. "Senate Bill 3 wants to turn [the gummies] into contraband. It wants to me and thousands of other veterans into criminals for choosing an alternative that works for us," said Walden. Walden says he supports the expansion of the state's Compassionate Use Program, which allows for medicinal marijuana to be used in specific circumstances. He says it will take too long and can be too expensive. "I explored TCUP. I did my own research. $500 a month is what it cost me, versus $90 in gummies. A veteran that lives on VA disability and makes a couple grand a month and that's all the income they have, how can they afford it?" he said. Another news conference will be held by a group in support of Senate Bill 3. Citizens for a Safe and Healthy Texas is holding a news conference at the capitol at 3:30 p.m. Speakers at the event are expected to include members of the Texas Legislature, doctors, veterans and more. What's next Abbott has declined to comment on whether he will sign SB 3 into law. The legislation has been sent to his desk, and while the governor has been vocal about bills he intends to sign, the THC ban has not been mentioned in the wake of pressure from opposing sides. The governor has three choices before him. He can either sign the bill into law, veto the legislation, or allow it to sit on his desk for 10 days, at which point it will pass without his direct approval and take effect on Sept. 1. SB 3 has been championed through the legislative session by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who has called the consumable products "poison." Patrick argues the industry was created unintentionally and that several of the products on store shelves are not regulated and could contain dangerous amounts of THC. The other side Small business owners have been among the front runners of those in opposition of the bill. They say the industry is made up of over 8,000 businesses in the state, all of which would potentially be dismantled if the bill were signed into law. Patrick has come under fire by small business owners, who claim he "blatantly lied" about the contents of consumable THC products. Alongside small businesses are Texas veterans. They say THC has been a positive alternative to more addictive and potentially harmful substances like alcohol, opiates and prescription pills, and worry about those suffering from PTSD and other mental and physical maladies who might fall back into destructive habits if the substance is banned. The backstory The THC products being sold by businesses in Texas were legalized via an accidental loophole created in 2019, when Texas passed legislation expanding the hemp industry. Farmers worry that closing off that loophole will be disastrous for their profits and employees, which have come to rely heavily on the booming industry over the past six years. The Source Information in this article comes from the Texas Hemp Business Council and Citizens for a Safe and Healthy Texas, a news conference held by Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick on May 28, 2025. Other information comes from the Texas Legislature and past FOX reporting.
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- General
- Boston Globe
Main beach of Walden Pond will be closed for summer during construction of new bathhouse
The $6.1 million new bathhouse, restrooms, and changing areas will bring the facility up to federal and state accessibility requirements and will the agency's 'first net-zero facility,' officials said. The pond, author Henry David Thoreau's famous retreat and the inspiration of his 1854 classic, 'Walden; or, Life in the Woods,' is a popular attraction in the summer months and hosts Advertisement The large crowds In the past two years, torrential rains in the spring and early summer Nick Stoico can be reached at
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Popular Mass. beach to close for summer 2025 as $6M construction underway
A popular Massachusetts beach will remain closed for the entirety of the summer as a new multi-million dollar bathhouse is constructed. The main beach at the Walden Pond State Reservation in Concord will be closed the 2025 summer season while construction workers build a $6.1 million bathhouse, according to an announcement on Friday from the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Another beach at Walden Pond, called Red Cross Beach, will still be open for the summer, but no lifeguards will be stationed at its designated swimming area. Parking will also be limited at the reservation due to the construction. The $6.1 million bathhouse project will replace a current two-story bathhouse at the pond with a single-story building designed to be 'universally accessible' and meet state and federal accessibility requirements, according to DCR. The new bathhouse — complete with new restrooms and changing areas — will be DCR's 'first net-zero facility,' DCR said. Signage about the construction and related beach closure has been posted around the park. DCR suggested the following beaches and pools as alternative options for swimming in the summer time: • Ashland State Park • Cochituate State Park in Natick • Hopkinton State Park • Charles E. Shannon Jr. Memorial Beach in Winchester • Raymond Lord Pool in Lowell • Connors Memorial Pool in Waltham • Clarence W. Dealtry Memorial Pool in Watertown, • Francis J. McCrehan Memorial Pool in Cambridge • Raymond Lord Memorial Pool in Lowell Walden Pond attracts nearly 600,000 visitors per year in its 462 acres of protected space, according to The Walden Woods Project. It was made famous through the work of Henry David Thoreau called 'Walden,' or 'Life in the Woods.' Mass. State Lottery winner: Father gifts daughter $2 million ticket High bacteria levels close Mass. beaches as temperatures begin to soar First woman police officer in Mass. town dies, remembered for 'breaking barriers' Rotary Club of Southwick holding annual Tag Sale June 21 New orthopedic urgent care clinic opens in Westfield Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Lifetime achievement: This man swam 10,000 miles and counting
A swimming pool, or any body of water for that matter, might as well be Walden Pond to Joe Horton. Henry David Thoreau ranks as one of his favorite authors, 'Walden' one of his favorite books. Thoreau spent two years living a simple life. He studied ants. He swam in the pond. Horton's connection to the 19th century essayist and naturalist started in high school in California at a time when he felt embarrassed about being different because he was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 'If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away,' Thoreau wrote. Horton loves that quote. It's on display in his home. 'What I got from Thoreau was permission to be different,' he said. On this warm May morning, Horton, who turns 71 in July, swims laps at the Sports Mall in Murray, though he might as well be at Walden Pond. He powers through the lane in a turquoise swim cap, goggles and light blue trunks, his white beard flashing to the surface when he turns his head to take a breath. The waterline is where all his deep thinking is done. Immersed in aqueous solitude, the retired hospital administrator ponders and prays about his most vexing problems stroke after stroke, lap after lap. He spends the first 15 minutes of his typical hour-long swims giving thanks. He thinks about his wife, two sons and six grandchildren. He recites to himself things he likes to keep in his head, not the least of which is the Crispin Day speech, one of the most famous monologues from Shakespeare's 'Henry V.' 'I find that my problem-solving skills are better after about 30 minutes of swimming. My mind would clear. I was just sharper. So I solved a lot of problems just swimming in the pool,' he said, a congenial tone to his voice. 'But also it's like just sort of meditating. It lends itself to that because you can't talk to anybody. The sounds are kind of meditative. You just hear the sound of the water as you move through it and you can't see very far, so it lends itself to meditating and prayer.' Previously a runner, Horton started swimming at the suggestion of his late wife, Ann, after he tore his meniscus in a fall during a hike in Yosemite. That was in 1982. He has swum a mile three or four times a week ever since. About a year ago, a close friend who had just run his 10,000th mile inspired him to calculate all his miles in the pool. He realized he was about 300 short of 10,000. He ramped up to six or seven times a week, hitting the milestone in late April. And he has no plans to hang up his goggles. Swimming 10,000 miles in a lifetime is a significant physical and mental accomplishment. It's about the equivalent of swimming across the Atlantic Ocean from New York City to the coast of Africa and back. It's roughly 9.2 million strokes. Swimming that distance over four decades is a testament to perseverance, dedication and passion for the sport. And for Horton, a necessity. 'He swims everywhere he goes,' said his wife Pat Jones, whom he married in 2023. Jones' husband, Dan Jones, died in 2018. 'I think it helps him clear his head.' Horton paid homage to Thoreau with a swim in the clear water of Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. 'I love getting into water at places that matter to me so Walden Pond is one of those,' Horton said. He swims at Laguna Beach beyond the breakers where the water is calm and clean. Motivation is never a problem. 'I've just done it for a lot of years. It's become part of my lifestyle. I've become very committed to it. If I don't do it, I don't feel as good,' he said. An English major, naturally, at the University of Utah, Horton wasn't sure what to do with his life after graduation. After a week in law school, he decided that wasn't for him. He took what today might be called a gap year to figure it out. He discovered hospital administration while working at LDS Hospital in the meantime. He went on to get a master's degree in the field at the University of Minnesota. His first administration job was at Cottonwood Hospital in Murray. His true calling, though, didn't come until five years later. And that starts with a story about ants. Horton didn't study ants like Thoreau, but he protected them. On the playground in elementary school, he stood guard on an ant hill that a couple of his third-grade classmates were planning to invade to see how many ants they could kill. After a little jostling, the boys gave up. He even got the most feared teacher in school to make a rule against killing ants for no reason. 'I was the weird kid that actually thought that was wrong, I didn't know what to call it then but Albert Schweitzer calls it reverence for life. I had that as a kid,' he said. Horton shares that childhood memory as we sit poolside after his swim. He relates that Ann told him he's supposed to be at a children's hospital because he has strong feelings about protecting the vulnerable, and there's nobody more vulnerable than babies and sick or injured children. That, she told him, fits who you are. 'When she said that it was like a lightning bolt just went through my head. I knew she was right. I'd never had that experience before or since but that was just like a moment of clarity,' he said. That led him to Primary Children's Hospital where he worked for 21 years, the last 14 as CEO. He finished his hospital administration career as Intermountain Health's senior vice president over its 23 hospitals at the time. He retired in 2012 but started teaching ethics and leadership courses in the hospital administration program at the University of Utah. And he never stopped swimming. 'What I found was that running hospitals is a pretty intense job. I needed something to manage the stress and kind of wash out the tension and it needed to be after work so I could go home and be a good human being to my wife and my two boys. Swimming did that better than anything else,' Horton said. Joe and Ann Horton were married 42 years and raised two sons. She was diagnosed with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis just before they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. She used a wheelchair the last 30 years before she died in 2021. Swimming helped him get through what also was an intense part of his life. 'There's so many times where I felt like I hit the wall as a result of one or the other or both and the swimming would kind of just bring me back. It's going to be OK. You can do it. And the Crispin Day speech was part of that, like don't give up,' he said. Horton memorized the speech 30 years ago line by line as he swam. He quotes it as we sit by the pool. 'If we are mark'd to die, we are enow, To do our country loss; and if to live, The fewer men, the greater share of honour . . . ' In 'Henry V,' a young King Henry addresses his badly outnumbered English troops to inspire and motivate them against the French army in the Battle of Agincourt. He emphasizes honor, camaraderie and valor. He tells his soldiers that those who fight with him on St. Crispin's Day will be forever bonded as 'we happy few, we band of brothers.' He tells them that those who survive will be remembered and honored. In the end, the English suffered few casualties, while the French lost an estimated 10,000 men. There were times when Horton felt outnumbered and couldn't see his way out of a problem, and the stakes were always high. Instead of quitting, he recited the speech. And there was always the water. 'I really think that speech,' he said, 'and with it the swimming . . . was sort of the time where I could take a breath, where I could relax, in an otherwise intense world.'
