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Number of Monarch Butterflies Wintering in US West Plummets: Report (Maria)
The author writes, “The number of monarch butterflies spending the winter in the western US has dropped to its second-lowest mark in nearly three decades as pesticides, diminishing habitat and the climate crisis take their toll on the beloved pollinator. The butterflies, known for their distinctive orange-and-black wings, are found across North America. … The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation has been counting western overwinter populations along the California coast, northern Baja California and inland sites in California and Arizona for the last 28 years. On Friday, it announced that it counted just 9,119 monarchs in 2024, a decrease of 96% from 233,394 in 2023.”
Red States Create Their Own DOGE Efforts To Cut State Government (Dana)
From News from the States: “Red states are echoing President Donald Trump’s quest to slash the size and cost of the federal government with their own initiatives aimed at making government smaller and more efficient. … In recent weeks, GOP governors and lawmakers have set up their own government efficiency task forces and committees to find ways to cut state spending. The Texas House of Representatives recently announced plans for a 13-member Delivery of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, committee that will examine state agencies for inefficiencies, and Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said a DOGE bill would be one of his top legislative priorities. GOP leaders in Kansas, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin have recently announced similar ventures.”
‘Get Them Out’: Trump Says US Mulling Sending American Convicts To Other Countries for Fee (Reader Jim)
The author writes, “President Donald Trump said last week he wants to send American convicts — especially ‘animals’ and violent repeat offenders − to foreign prisons, saying there are ‘many’ countries willing to take them for a small fee. … Earlier in the day, Secretary of State Marco Rubio described as ‘very generous’ an offer by El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele to house violent U.S. convicts in his country’s jails. The State Department describes prison conditions in El Salvador as ‘harsh and dangerous.’”
Illinois Gov. Bars Pardoned Jan. 6 Rioters From State Jobs (Reader Steve)
From HuffPost: “Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has directed his state’s hiring authority to prohibit the employment of anyone who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the U.S. Capitol, saying their ‘infamous and disgraceful conduct’ violates the state’s personnel code. … Pointing to the state’s Personnel Code, the governor said CMS is required to reject candidates for state employment ‘who have engaged in infamous or disgraceful conduct.’”
Arizona Representative Introduces Bill to Abolish OSHA (Sean)
The author writes, “US Representative Andy Biggs of Arizona has introduced a new bill aimed at abolishing OSHA. The bill, titled the ‘Nullify Occupational Safety and Health Administration Act,’ or ‘NOSHA Act,’ was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce for further review. The proposed legislation seeks to repeal the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, which established OSHA as a federal agency dedicated to ensuring workplace safety and health standards. If passed, the bill would effectively dismantle the agency.”
A New Zealand Mountain Is Granted Personhood, Recognizing It as Sacred for Māori (Laura)
From the AP: “A mountain in New Zealand considered an ancestor by Indigenous people was recognized as a legal person on Thursday after a new law granted it all the rights and responsibilities of a human being. Mount Taranaki — now known as Taranaki Maunga, its Māori name — is the latest natural feature to be granted personhood in New Zealand, which has ruled that a river and a stretch of sacred land are people before. The pristine, snow-capped dormant volcano is the second highest on New Zealand’s North Island at 2,518 meters (8,261 feet) and a popular spot for tourism, hiking, and snow sports.”
