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Tim Walz Minnesota forcing teachers to abide by ‘horribly disgusting,’ ‘crazy’ race standard, says lawmaker
Minnesota public school teachers must assess how their biases perpetuate oppression under state licensing standards tied to Gov. Tim Walz's tenure.
Democrats Might Actually Win Iowa
Are the party’s hopes for the Hawkeye State real, or just another mirage?
Posthumous degree to be awarded to former animal science student
Alison Ciancio, a former animal science student, will posthumously be awarded her degree in recognition of her academic dedication, service to others and lasting impact on the Iowa State University community.
MICHAEL FERGUSON II: Politics makes strange bedfellows in southwest Georgia
Dr. Edward Brown is my choice for State Senate District 12.
State employees speak out against dropping Blue Cross from Kansas health plan
Retired and current state employees spoke out against Kansas dropping Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance from the state plan.
Will the ‘millionaires tax’ hurt Seattle sports? It’s complicated
A higher state income tax could add a layer of uncertainty and complexity to how Seattle sports teams handle free agency.
Privacy Law Expansion Has Major Business Implications » CBIA
State lawmakers passed an expansive consumer privacy and consumer protection measure that reshapes how businesses handle personal data.
WOAH Statement on Hantavirus - WOAH - World Organisation for Animal Health
Hantavirus is a zoonotic disease, meaning it originates in animals — primarily rodents — before crossing into human populations.
Study: Health Risks from Wildfires May Be Unseen
A new study assesses the effects of wildfires over two decades and shows that wildfire smoke contributes to excess deaths in the United States each year.
DOH RECRUITS TEEN HEALTH AND MEDIA SURVEY PARTICIPANTS VIA MAIL
HONOLULU —The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) will conduct the 2026 Hawai‘i Teen Health and Media Survey over the next two months. Information collected will be used to develop and improve health programs and services for Hawaiʻi’s youth. In the coming weeks, some households across the state will receive a mailed letter from DOH with […]
Pages - First Lady Moore Honors Local Student Artist During Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week
An official website of the State of Maryland.
Eight Bulldog Greats Set For M-Club Sports Hall Of Fame Induction
Eight more Mississippi State greats are set to be inducted into the M-Club Sports Hall of Fame later this year.
University of Minnesota breaks ground on new Community-University Health Care Center
Twice the size of the current clinic, the new, state-of-the-art building will expand patient access, enhance care delivery and strengthen the University's health professional training programs.
North Star Health Alliance secures $60M loan from state following bankruptcy
Leaders say this is due to financial pressure caused by increased costs, workforce constraints and other challenges.
Lancaster County public sales: May 8, 2026
Martin & Rutt Auctioneers LLC, of New Holland, conducted a public auction of real estate April 28 for Sarah Ann Landis at 616 Pearl St., Lancaster. A three-bedroom brick house
Shift4 Payments CEO on how business is involving amid rising global risks
Shift4 Payments CEO Taylor Lauber discusses the state of the fintech and payments space, and whether customers are pulling back on spending overall amid inflation and other economic pressures.
Anger mounts after Tennessee Republicans redraw maps
Legislature has eliminated the state’s one Democratic, Black-majority congressional district
Public health officials warn of rise in measles, as Va. hantavirus patient under monitor
As summer travel season is a factor in disease spread, state and federal government leaders offer guidance and resources.
A State Budget That Speaks to a New Political Reality
Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders announced a handshake deal on a budget that includes a second-home tax, expanded child care in the city and a ban on ICE agents’ wearing of masks.
Technical college students pitch new business ideas in Stevens Point
Wisconsin technical college students pitched business ideas at the New Ideas Pitch Challenge in Stevens Point, gaining real-world experience.
Bill Cassidy has taken political risks to get funding for Louisiana. Will voters care?
Cassidy coasted to reelection six years ago but is fighting for his political life against two other Republicans, U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow of Baton Rouge and State Treasurer John Fleming of Minden, in the upcoming May 16 party primary election.
Weird Science: Research using everyday trash to figure out how litter travels from city streets to the ocean.
Led by NC State and NC Sea Grant, the study involves releasing GPS-equipped plastic bottles into the Neuse River to track their movement in real time. The goal is to solve the mystery of how land-based waste transforms into the marine debris that clutters our coastlines.
Mukilteo sports chiropractor receives national recognition
Marc Van Dreissche is the 2nd in the state to be named Sports Chiropractor of the Year by a national board.
PSMA PET imaging’s proliferation produces uptick in aggressive treatment for prostate cancer
First approved by the FDA in 2021, providers have rapidly adopted this clinical innovation, which offers greater accuracy in detecting prostate cancer.
Iran’s Economy Buckles Under Pressure as Millions Face Unemployment
Iranian officials argue the economic hardship is the result of what they describe as an unjust war imposed by the United States and Israel.
US and Iran trade fire, threatening fragile truce
Any agreement between the United States and Iran could also help lower tensions in Lebanon
Nihar Gala Scholarship Program for American Entrepreneurs Launches to Support Emerging American Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders
Seaford, Delaware--(Newsfile Corp. - May 8, 2026) - The Nihar Gala Scholarship for American Entrepreneurs officially opens its application cycle, offering a strategic opportunity for undergraduate students and aspiring business professionals across the United States. This initiative focuses on identifying the next generation of innovators who demonstrate resilience and a clear vision for the future of the American economy. By providing financial support and a platform for creative thought, Nihar
After nearly a year, CFYD resolves contract dispute with behavioral health providers
The dispute between CFYD and a state behavioral health board dragged on for nearly a year, threatening to disrupt care for kids.
Under the Radar: Iowa State’s Gaming and E-Sports Club
AMES — The rise of gaming among college students has turned video games into a competitive outlet, and Iowa State students have found a place to connect through the university’s Gaming and Esports Club. The club gives students opportunities to play competitively and casually across multiple platforms, including consoles, PCs and mobile devices. Members can...
As Colorado debates sports betting reform, Kalshi operates outside state rules
Prediction markets are able to operate largely free of the state laws governing sports gambling in Colorado
WATCH: K-State HC Collin Klein chats with 13 Sports at Topeka Catbackers event
Klein went live with 13 Sports at 6 to discuss Thursday night's event in Topeka.
U.S. to Review Mexican Consulates After Right-Wing Claims Against Them
The State Department said it would review all Mexican consulates in the United States, following claims in conservative media that the consulates interfere in politics.
Maryland ranked high among states for public health preparedness, but could be doing more
Maryland remains better prepared to combat public health emergencies than most other states, but federal shakeups in staffing and funding could threaten those protections, according to a new report from Trust for America’s Health.
Why a ‘Beehive’ school is again ranked as the Beehive State’s top high school
Several public charter schools crack the annual U.S. News & World Report’s Utah high school ‘top 10′ list
Louise McGehee sophomore sets Class 1A record at day one of state track meet
A Louise McGehee sophomore set records at the Class 1A track and field state meet.
US launches a review of Mexican consulates that could lead to closures
The Trump administration is conducting a review of the 53 Mexican consulates in the United States | KMBZ
Gov. Meyer signs executive orders aimed at small business support
Governor Matt Meyer signed two executive orders in Milford during Small Business Week, focusing on supporting small and diverse businesses. The orders aim to improve access to state resources and
Hochul says second home tax is part of budget deal, but details still scarce
Mayor Mamdani is optimistic the final state budget will help close the city’s $5.4 billion budget gap.
U.S. and Zambia Feud: Trump Health Aid Deal Stalls Over Critical Minerals
The tussle put a spotlight on the administration’s attempt to replace the United States Agency for International Development with a new, “America First” alternative.
Governor Moore Installs Final Rail of the Purple Line, Visits Small Business During “Delivering for Maryland” Tour in Montgomery County
Governor Wes Moore today made the third stop on his statewide “Delivering for Maryland” tour in Montgomery County.
N.Y. lawmaker calls budget process a 'dictatorship'
As the battle surrounding the state budget continues to unfold, lawmakers in both houses of the New York State Legislature are sounding off on how long the budget process is dragging out.
Staten Island nursing home sues New York’s Department of Health
Medicaid reimbursement for nursing home patients in New York is based on 2007 costs.
Norman’s billion-dollar entertainment district to break ground next week
The Rock Creek Entertainment District in Norman, featuring dining, retail and a state-of-the-art sports facility, will officially break ground next Tuesday.
BioHive Week celebrates Utah's growing life science and healthcare industries
Utah’s life science and healthcare sectors are significant contributors to the Beehive State’s economy. The nonprofit BioHive plays an important role.
Tennessee lawmakers pass U.S. House map carving up majority-Black district in Memphis
The new voting districts approved Thursday could give Republicans a chance to win all nine of the state’s congressional seats in the November midterm elections.
Cleveland Clinic Releases New National Report on the State of Women’s Health in the U.S.
Findings show many women are more concerned about affording care than developing serious diseases — with gaps in prevention and clear information shaping their decisions
New certificate focuses on civically engaged health equity
The Department of Biobehavioral Health in the Penn State College of Health and Human Development has launched a new undergraduate certificate in Civically Engaged Health Equity, designed to prepare students to work in and with local communities on efforts related to health equity. The certificate is ideally suited for students interested in public health, healthcare, health promotion, social epidemiology, and other community-oriented careers, but it is open to all undergraduates at Penn State University Park.
How Disneyland Remade American Politics
America is turning 250, and The Free Press is marking the occasion with a yearlong series of events, conversations, and stories celebrating our country’s history. Today, we’re taking a journey with historian Beverly Gage to Southern California. Beverly traded the archives for the open road for her new book, This Land is Your Land: A Road Trip Through U.S. History. We’re proud to publish an excerpt, on the theme park that shaped American politics—and the presidents who loved it. —The Editors On July 17, 1955, Ronald Reagan stood near a mocked-up wood-plank town in Anaheim, California, where a 13-star flag flew incongruously over an “Old West” landscape, and introduced the world to Disneyland. He had been invited by Walt Disney himself to co-host the park’s live ABC broadcast, alongside Art Linkletter and Bob Cummings—three Hollywood actors who seemed to embody a wholesome, all-American ethos. From the imagined past of Frontierland, the show leaped ahead to Tomorrowland, set in the far-off year of 1986, emphasizing the technical marvels yet to come: nuclear energy harnessed for civilian purposes, human beings riding rocket ships into space. Disney foretold great things for a 1980s in which the United States would serve as “a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.” But even he could not predict the most important political fact of the age: that his genial co-host would become president. Southern California was a strange place to build a park about the past, because the region at the time was all about newness and abundance and growth. For a lot of its history, Orange County had been Southern California’s version of flyover country: a vast agricultural expanse between two desirable places, Los Angeles and San Diego. But Disneyland was changing that. Before long, 50 miles south of deep-blue Hollywood, Orange County would become a region famed for its right-wing politics—but also for its mythmaking skills. Those two things, it turned out, went naturally together. ADVERTISEMENT The two presidents Southern California gave America both understood this instinctively. Richard Nixon and Reagan each built a national career on invoking a version of the American past in which the specificities of historical context mattered less than the big picture. For Nixon, progress meant proclaiming a “New American Revolution” on the eve of America’s bicentennial while dismantling the federal programs that had built the postwar middle class. For Reagan, it meant recapturing a lost optimism and an old-fashioned faith in America as an exceptional nation. Both men were less interested in history as it actually happened than in history as it felt—and Orange County, a place that had built itself almost entirely from scratch, turned out to be exactly where the myth of America’s future was getting made. I’m a historian—and historians tend to be myth-busters. With the country’s 250th birthday on the horizon, I figured it was a good time to step out of the ivory tower and check in with the past as it exists here and now, at the museums and monuments and roadside attractions where Americans go to learn about their history. After all my travels—to Davy Crockett’s Tennessee and Texas, to the real Erie Canal, to the birthplace of the American automobile and the actual Old West—I couldn’t miss out on Disneyland, the single most influential historic attraction in U.S. history.
How Kamala Harris is threading the needle on the DNC autopsy saga: From the Politics Desk
Plus, Tennessee is set to become the ninth state to enact a new congressional map since last year.
Lawmakers Adopt Small Business Concierge Program » CBIA
Lawmakers approved a bill creating a small business concierge within the state’s Department of Economic and Community Development.
Governor Meyer Visits Milford Businesses, Signs Two Small Business Executive Orders - State of Delaware News
MILFORD — In recognition of National Small Business Week, Governor Matt Meyer visited two locally owned businesses in Milford today and signed two Executive Orders aimed at expanding opportunity for small and diverse businesses across Delaware. “Small businesses are the life blood of the economy. At a time when small businesses are getting squeezed, this […]
Hantavirus - Statement from the Virginia Department of Health - Virginia Department of Health
As of May 7, 2026, please see the Virginia Department of Health’s statement: The Virginia Department of Health is monitoring this situation closely and has been in active communication with our federal partners at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To date, one Virginia traveler who was on the MV Hondius disembarked the ship and has […]
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) - Statement from the Virginia Department of Health - Virginia Department of Health
As of May 7, 2026, please see the Virginia Department of Health’s statement below: The Virginia Department of Health is monitoring this situation closely and has been in active communication with our federal partners at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To date, one Virginia traveler who was on the MV Hondius disembarked the ship […]
Vote for the best American golf and tennis stars of all time in our '250 for 250' poll
Tiger Woods or Serena Williams? Pete Sampras or Nancy Lopez? The United States has produced all-time golf and tennis greats. Vote for your favorites.
Accel Entertainment, Inc. Announces Election of Bruce Wardinski to Board of Directors
Accel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: ACEL), a leading locals-focused gaming operator partnering with small businesses, local communities, and state governments t...
Nebraska sports financing board OKs tax incentives for Lincoln and Omaha projects, rejects others
Of the 11 applicants for tax incentives to fund sports facility projects across the state, only two projects were approved.
Why Public Health Data Matters: MN EHR Consortium
The consortium offers key insight into statewide health trends, allowing for more informed policy decisions.
Pillen-led board approves tax incentive for Omaha, Lincoln sports facilities, rejects nine more
A Gov. Jim Pillen-led board approved use of a state tax incentive for an Omaha and a Lincoln sports facility project, but rejects nine others.
AP report: Americans who owe significant child support will have their U.S. passports revoked
Under the new policy, HHS will inform the State Department of all past-due payments of more than $2,500 and parents in that group with passports will have their documents revoked, the department said.
Colorado Senate honors journalism icon Fred Brown
The Colorado Senate on Thursday honored longtime Denver Post bureau chief Fred Brown with a ceremony as distinctive as the journalist himself, donning masks bearing his likeness and celebrating his five decades of shaping political reporting and ethical standards in the state. The tribute, offered by Sen. Mark Baisley, R-Woodland Park, noted Brown’s 50 years […]
Fewer than half of US states adequately prepared for health emergency ahead of World Cup: Report
Fewer than half of U.S. states are sufficiently prepared for a health emergency, according to new research released on Thursday. Only 20 states scored “high” on the annual report from Trust for Am…
New Arizona State coach Randy Bennett ‘catching my stride’ after health issue arose in March
Arizona State hired Bennett on March 23, but the 63-year-old coach started feeling ill shortly after his arrival to the Phoenix area.
Scoop: Atar Capital selling behavioral health provider Clarvida
It's one of several Medicaid-reliant care companies in market as federal funding and policy changes pressure state programs.
Mexico in Numbers: Women's representation in politics
Mexico in Numbers: Mexican women in politics now hold 50% of cabinet seats, lead 44% of states and are a majority in the Chamber of Deputies.
Tennessee Republicans pass map splitting up state’s lone majority-Black district
The new map, which comes in response to last week’s U.S. Supreme’s redistricting ruling, puts Republicans in position to pick up a House seat in the midterm elections.
Iowa Association of Business and Industry’s Taking Care of Business Conference starts June 2
The Iowa Association of Business and Industry will host more than 500 state leaders at its annual Taking Care of Business Conference in Coralville and Iowa City from June 2 to 4, 2026, for three days of discussions on key economic and leadership issues. The conference agenda features a CEO panel moderated by Debi Durham, […]
Tennessee approves House map to eliminate Democratic-held seat
Republicans in the state could hold a 9-0 advantage in the U.S. House with their new map, the first approved since the Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act.
Delaware Health Care Spending Grows to $11.3 Billion, Significantly Exceeding Target - State of Delaware News
Per capita health care spending in Delaware increased to $11.3 billion dollars in calendar year 2024, an increase of about 8.7% compared to 2023.
Crime declined, but so did tourism, downtown DC business leaders say
Did the deployment of the National Guard have an impact on D.C. tourism? It did, according to the annual State of Downtown report, released Thursday morning by the Downtown DC Business Improvement District (BID). The group is using terms we can all understand to describe the state of downtown over the last year: partly cloudy and partly sunny, meaning the…
ASUS ExpertBook Ultra Now Available for Purchase in the United States
ASUS, global technology leader that provides the world's most innovative and intuitive devices, today announced their ASUS ExpertBook Ultra (B9406CAA), the new flagship and pinnacle of the ExpertBook portfolio, is now available for purchase on the ASUS Store. Engineered to define the future of mobil...
When the state controls science
Evidence-based policy making is on the ropes and federal agencies are deeply compromised. There’s a historical precedent, unfortunately.
Bryce Jordan Center marketing director earns highest honor in live event industry
Kate Bean, director of marketing and public relations for the Bryce Jordan Center, has received the Event and Venue Marketing Conference’s highest honor, highlighting her leadership in live event marketing and her commitment to mentoring Penn State students.
The National Academy of Sciences Elects Two Berkeley Lab Researchers
Two Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) scientists have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. They are part of a cohort of 120 new members and 25 international members. The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit institution that was established under a congressional charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. It recognizes achievement in science by election to membership, and — alongside the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine — provides science, engineering, and health policy advice to the federal government and other organizations. The 2026 electees bring the total number of active members to 2,705 with 557 international members. Gary Karpen is a biologist senior faculty scientist in Berkeley Lab’s Biological Systems and Engineering Division and a Professor of Cell and Developmental Physiology in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at UC Berkeley. Karpen studies how the structure, organization, and maintenance of genetic material impact inheritance and cell function. His lab focuses on chromatin — a packaged form of DNA strands wrapped around proteins that comprises our chromosomes — with a particular emphasis on centromeres, rarely expressed sequences called heterochromatin, DNA repair, and regulatory RNAs. His research reveals insights into fundamental aspects of nuclear organization and genome regulation that are shared across the tree of life, broadening our understanding of cancer and other diseases, birth defects, and aging. Kam-Biu Luk is a Professor Emeritus of physics at UC Berkeley and a retired senior faculty scientist in Berkeley Lab’s Physics Division. He is an experimental particle physicist whose research has focused on neutrinos: nearly massless, electrically neutral elementary particles that can pass through matter virtually undetected. Neutrinos are created during radioactive decay processes, including the fusion process occurring in stars and the fission process that powers nuclear reactors. Luk initiated and co-led the Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment, a project based in China with more than 200 international collaborators. In 2012, the Daya Bay experiment discovered a new form of a phenomenon called “neutrino oscillation” in which neutrinos change from one type to another. For this discovery, Luk and his collaborator Yifan Wang received the 2014 American Physical Society Division of Particles and Fields W.K.H. Panofsky Prize for outstanding work in experimental particle physics, and he was also the co-recipient of the 2016 Breakthrough Prize. Luk is currently participating in the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) hosted by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, which will investigate any potential difference in behavior between neutrinos and antineutrinos that may shed light on the evolution of the universe, especially why antimatter is absent in the present universe. ### Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is committed to groundbreaking research focused on discovery science and solutions for abundant and reliable energy supplies. The lab’s expertise spans materials, chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environmental science, mathematics, and computing. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research. Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams, Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 17 Nobel Prizes. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.
Arkansas State Women’s Tennis Captures 2026 UTR Sports NIT Championship in Rome
ROME, Ga. – In its first postseason opportunity in program history, Arkansas State defeated North Alabama 4-2 in the 2026 UTR Sports NIT Championship match on Thursday morning in Rome, Georgia.
CEC Entertainment adds Texas Roadhouse vet as CFO
Chris Monroe will oversee the finance and real estate teams for Chuck E. Cheese’s parent company as it looks to expand.
Ohio AG Yost's surprise resignation plans follows dashed governor bid
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is expected to resign from his job as the state's top cop, a surprising shake-up in state politics.
Computer science grad uses tech skills to benefit others
Justin Finn plans to study abroad in Spain for a month before continuing study in the States.
Texas council says more resources needed to address complaints against behavioral health providers
The agency that oversees behavioral health and social work providers has about 1,000 "pending" complaints against providers — hundreds more than it has received in previous years. Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council leadership told lawmakers it may need support from the state to handle the volume.
Kalshi is losing Washington
Congress, the courts, the states, the leagues, and now the President's own circle have all landed in the same place at the same time: this isn't a market. It's a casino with a lobbyist.
Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin on FIFA partnership, growth of sports gaming and prediction markets
Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss details of the new collectibles partnership with FIFA, state of the collectibles business, growth of the sports gaming business, his thoughts on prediction markets, GameStop's offer for eBay, and more.
Kalshi’s Site Sure Looks Like Sports Betting
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Benjamin Schiffrin, Director of Securities Policy for Better Markets, issued the following statement in connection with Better Markets’ new Fact Sheet entitled “Everyone Should Go on Kalshi and See for Themselves Whether It Looks Like Sports Betting or Derivatives Trading”: “When Kalshi wanted to allow people to bet on elections through so-called event contracts, we warned
Caltech Students Host Science Olympiad State Tournament
Daily Newsmagazine and City Guide to Pasadena, California featuring local news, breaking news, events, weather, sports news, schools news, shopping, restaurants and more from Pasadena Now
Science diplomacy lessons from a North Korean volcano
Mount Paektu, a mythic, active volcano on the border between North Korea and China, is almost the epitome of a scientific challenge that crosses political lines. In 946 CE, it erupted in one of the five biggest volcanic events of the past 10,000 years, kicking up huge quantities of ash and sending destructive mud flows down river channels for hundreds of kilometres. Should this happen again, the entire region, including easternmost Russia, South Korea and even Japan could be hit. “It’s definitely got the potential to be big,” said James Hammond, a professor of geophysics at Birkbeck, University of London. An eruption on the scale of 946 would have “huge regional impact.” For the past 15 years, Hammond has helped lead a groundbreaking collaboration with North Korean scientists to study the volcano, navigating scientific sanctions, tough export controls on scientific equipment and a long, pandemic-enforced exodus from the country. Although he seems more at home on far-flung research expeditions – before speaking to Science|Business, Hammond was camping out on a Greenland ice sheet – he has also advised the European Commission on its changing science diplomacy strategy. His long experience with North Korea has made Hammond sceptical of blanket bans on science collaboration, no matter the country.This is a live question in Europe, where in the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, institutional ties with Russian universities were almost entirely severed, although some scientists fear this could undermine our understanding of climate change’s impact on the Arctic. Here, Hammond tells the story of the Mount Paektu mission and the policy lessons he takes from it. Ominous rumblingsThe genesis of Hammond’s collaboration came in 2002, when Mount Paektu began to rumble ominously. Earthquake activity picked up and the volcano began to emit unusual gases. North Korean scientists took notice. “People felt we need to know more about this volcano,” said Hammond. In 2011, North Korean vulcanologists put out a request for international expertise to help them learn more. At the time, Hammond and his collaborator, Clive Oppenheimer, were working on a vulcanology project in another sanctioned country, Eritrea, and so decided to answer the call. Within a month, they had flown into Pyongyang. “It was pretty incredible,” recalls Hammond (left). “We were made to feel like honoured guests, and invited to official celebrations.” The scientific opportunity was huge. Paektu is unusually positioned, a thousand kilometres from where tectonic plates rub against each other in the Pacific. “It was an incredibly interesting volcano, but not much research had been done, at least not in the international community,” he said. “There was so much we felt we could do. And we had these partners that were super keen to engage.”The mission received an unusual visitor in the form of volcano-obsessed filmmaker Werner Herzog, who accompanied Hammond and Oppenheimer while directing his 2016 film Into the Inferno about volcanos across the world. Four days into the trip, the German director delivered a long speech about reunification to his North Korean hosts, recalls Hammond. “He got to the heart of the Koreans and how they felt, and how they thought, in a way that I'm not sure I ever will,” he said. UN sanctionsHowever, Hammond realised he’d been “naïve” about how difficult it would be to collaborate with North Korea, which was sanctioned far more heavily than Eritrea. “We didn’t fully appreciate the all-encompassing nature of restrictions,” he said. In 2016, as tensions escalated over Pyongyang’s nuclear tests, a United Nations resolution banned all joint scientific work with North Korea. However, the UN sanctions did allow countries to request carve outs, and the UK successfully requested an exemption for Hammond’s work. Related articlesEU pushes for joint science diplomacy, but care needed to avoid gridlock, experts sayRussia severs its last ties with German scienceAnchor Greenlanders in Arctic climate research, experts tell EU ahead of policy updateExport controls have also delayed Hammond’s work. In one case, it took 18 months to get approval from the UK government to take seismometers, which measure earthquakes, to North Korea. “It was frustrating,” he said. “But they didn’t just say no.” However, one instrument, called an induction coil, used to measure how the earth conducts electricity, was blocked entirely because it can in theory be used to detect submarines. Karaoke bondingSince the collaboration started in 2011, Hammond has visited the country around 15 times, although the pandemic closed off North Korea for more than five years. A trip last November was Hammond’s first since the outbreak. Despite this lengthy interlude, Hammond has deep bonds in the country. The North Korean scientists Hammond works with are somewhat isolated, as they struggle to access the latest research papers and travel to international conferences. That said, they are “excellent geophysicists” and are “very well trained in the field,” he said. Over karaoke and chats about their families, “we’ve made friendships, for sure,” he said. The authorities have to sign-off things like the placement of seismometers, for example, but Hammond said these requests have been approved. “Everything that we've asked for within a scientific context has been delivered.”Scientific backchannels? These kind of personal links between scientists across political lines are one purported benefit of science diplomacy. During the Cold War, some historians argue, scientific contact between the US and Soviet Union laid a groundwork of trust for other cooperation, such as on arms control. Hammond agrees that backchannel contacts to North Korean geophysicists are hardly likely to defuse a military crisis on the Korean peninsula, but the simple fact of the scientific collaboration makes contacts between diplomats that little bit easier. “It creates opportunities to understand each other a little bit better,” he said. “When maybe you have those more difficult discussions as diplomats, it's coming from a slightly better place.” Cutting tiesDrawing lessons from the Mount Paektu mission for today’s links with Russian science isn’t simple. The analogy is far from exact, Hammond said, “because one is essentially a Cold War, versus a pretty hot war in the case of Russia.” But Hammond’s broader argument is that the challenges we face, such as climate change, pandemics, biodiversity loss, pollution and so on, have globalised in an unprecedented way, making blanket shutdowns in collaboration with any country unwise.He’s somewhat critical of the UN scientific sanctions imposed on North Korea in 2016, even though they did allow for exceptions. “I think a blanket halt to some of these things, when we face big global challenges [. . .] that’s quite a risky thing to do,” he said.Institutional endorsement?European academics are still by and large free to work individually with Russian counterparts. However, official, institutional partnerships have largely ended. Shortly following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian university rectors wrote a public letter endorsing the war, meaning European universities fear official collaboration could also be seen as a kind of endorsement. Hammond acknowledges there is a risk of legitimising regimes, and state-controlled universities, through scientific cooperation. “That’s the trade off you have to make,” he said. Strategic projectsWith Russia, instead of giving a green light to restart all Arctic science, a middle ground might be firing up a few carefully selected “strategic” projects, said Hammond. After all, European countries are still collaborating with Russia on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, an experimental nuclear fusion plant in the south of France. However, even if Europe did try to revive Arctic science with Russia, there’s no guarantee Russian scientists would play ball. A series of high-profile arrests of physicists in Russia accused of sharing their findings with the outside world has made collaboration fraught. Even before the invasion of 2022, “the Russian regime made it increasingly difficult, and this sort of discouraged people,” Dag Rune Olsen, rector of the Arctic University of Norway, told Science|Business last year.
Traffic Advisory: Multiple Events in Sports Complex, May 7-10
With an exciting lineup of events happening from Thursday, May 7, until Sunday, May 10, in the Sports Complex, fans are strongly encouraged to take public transportation or arrive early and allow for extra travel time. Due to ongoing construction on Interstate 95, Exit 19 Northbound entrance / exit ramps
‘Beams of Light in a Dark World’: Rural Health Providers Care for Patients with Few Options
This story is part of a series on rural health in the United States and the organizations filling the gaps for patients. Part one of the series can be found here. Dr. Rose Gillin said she always wa…
Is the FDA Really Suppressing Science? Plus. . .
It’s Thursday, May 7. This is The Front Page, your daily window into the world of The Free Press—and our take on the world at large. Today: Aaron MacLean says Trump is poised to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the Iran war. Joe Klein on the life of CNN founder Ted Turner. Jillian Lederman on why cruise ships are here to stay. And much more. But first: Is the FDA suppressing science? On Tuesday, The New York Times published a story with an alarming takeaway. “FDA Blocked Publication of Research Finding Covid and Shingles Vaccines Were Safe,” read the headline. It is the latest in a string of stories that all have the same message: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other agencies, are engaged in a cover-up—and silencing scientists trying to get the word out about the Covid vaccine. What all these stories suggest—some more subtly than others—is that the outsiders now running the public health establishment, officials such as Marty Makary at the FDA and Jay Bhattacharya at the National Institutes of Health, are on a revenge tour. That they are doing harm to the country to get back at the scientists and bureaucrats who ostracized them for deviating from the public-health consensus during the pandemic. It’s a seductive narrative. But is it true? That’s the question we address in our latest editorial. —The Editors Read [ Marty Makary's FDA Has All the Right Enemies ](https://www.thefp.com/p/marty-makary-vaccine-study-fda) [ Trump Blinks First ](https://www.thefp.com/p/iran-peace-deal-pakistan-trump-strait-of-hormuz) Aaron MacLean In return for no detectable concessions, President Trump this week gave up on forcing open the Strait of Hormuz. Now, the Trump administration looks desperate for a deal to end the war with Iran. It’s easy to understand the desire to end the war, but are they blowing the chance at victory? Aaron MacLean makes sense of the administration’s latest moves—and Iran’s response—in his column today. Read full story Aaron MacLean and Niall Ferguson: Live in New York City Join Aaron MacLean and Niall Ferguson on May 19 for a live recording of School of War at the iconic New York Historical. In a conversation as timely as it is wide-ranging, Aaron and Niall will explore the strategic stakes of the moment, including the Middle East, China, and the future of American leadership on the global stage. Get Tickets Now [ Ted Turner, the Optimist Who Built CNN ](https://www.thefp.com/p/ted-turner-cnn-tribute) Joe Klein The man who gave us CNN and the 24-hour news cycle, Ted Turner, died Wednesday at the age of 87. Today, political writer Joe Klein—who almost ghostwrote Turner’s autobiography—remembers his friend, the American media mogul who stood out for his idealism and lack of a filter—something that got Turner in trouble more than once. “His was not a traditional intelligence, but one of horizon: Ted saw things before other people did,” Joe writes. Read full story [ Nothing Can Sink the Cruise Ship ](https://www.thefp.com/p/cruise-ship-hantavirus) Jillian Lederman A viral outbreak on a cruise ship that left three passengers dead has left some people wondering: Are cruise ships on the way out? Not so fast, says Jillian Lederman, who has been on many a cruise herself. Read her piece on why 38 million people a year take a cruise—and aren’t about to stop. Read full story [ The Great Writers Who Were Terrible People ](https://www.thefp.com/p/the-great-writers-who-were-terrible) Shilo Brooks Throughout history, some of the greatest literary geniuses have also been immoral bigots. In the latest episode of Old School, Shilo Brooks is joined by Eli Lake for a conversation about those geniuses, from Voltaire to Norman Mailer and Roald Dahl—and why we should read their work despite their odious prejudices. Listen on MORE FROM THE FREE PRESS [ Inside the Digital Intifada ](https://www.thefp.com/p/digital-intifada-social-media-hamas-terror) Warren Kinsella Read full story [ This Week in American History: Trump’s Over-Arching Problem ](https://www.thefp.com/p/this-week-in-american-history-trumps-over-arching-problem) Jonathan Horn Read full story [ Humanity Is Still Evolving—and Fast ](https://www.thefp.com/p/humanity-is-still-evolvingand-fast) Razib Khan Read full story THE NEWS Thirteen D.C. Metropolitan Police officers have been placed on administrative leave and could face termination after an internal investigation found evidence that crime statistics were manipulated to make the city look safer. The Republican-led House Oversight Committee previously alleged that former D.C. police chief Pamela Smith pressured officers to skew data. Tennessee Republicans unveiled a redrawn U.S. House map yesterday that would split up Memphis’s black-majority Democratic district, the latest move in a nationwide push to redraw congressional boundaries ahead of the midterms. The effort follows a Supreme Court ruling last week on Louisiana’s districts, which Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton said gave states the green light to redraw maps along partisan lines. Israel struck Beirut for the first time since a ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect last month, saying it targeted a commander of the militant group’s elite Radwan force in the city’s southern suburbs. The strikes risk destabilizing that truce at a delicate moment, as Iran and the U.S. report progress toward a deal to resolve their own standoff. The U.S. Air Force is aiming for a Fourth of July delivery of a Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar, hoping to add it to the Air Force One fleet in time for the U.S.’s 250th anniversary, Reuters reported. (For more on the controversy surrounding the aircraft, read Jed Rubenfeld’s piece “It’s a Terrible Idea, but Trump Probably Can Accept a Free Jet from Qatar.”) Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified privately before Congress that he has no memory of why he and his family dined on Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in 2012, according to Reuters. The admission contradicts Lutnick’s earlier claim that he had cut ties with the convicted sex offender well before that visit. Weeks before a former JPMorgan investment banker filed a lawsuit packed with explosive allegations, the bank reportedly offered him $1 million to settle his sexual assault and harassment claims, according to The Wall Street Journal. The suit, filed by Chirayu Rana, alleges he was sexually assaulted by a female colleague, subjected to racial discrimination, and forced into a degrading dynamic at work. JPMorgan says the claims lack merit, and the female colleague’s lawyers call the accusations fabricated. A new report from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research shows that, for the first time in roughly 20 years, church attendance is trending upward, with more people volunteering and clergy expressing renewed optimism. The study’s authors described the findings, based on a survey of more than 7,400 congregations, as showing signs of widespread recovery from low attendance numbers.
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