MARCHING BACK TO SCHOOL...2017

US DEPT. OF EDUCATION: Education Department Activates Emergency Response Contact Center
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 29/ 17 (link source)

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Education today activated its emergency response contact center in response to the devastating impacts of Hurricane Harvey. The Department’s K-12 and Higher Education stakeholders who are seeking informational resources as well as those seeking relief from Department-based administrative requirements should contact the Department toll free at 1-844-348-4082 or by email at HarveyRelief@ed.gov.

The Department of Education’s primary role in natural disasters is to assist school districts and institutions of higher education in their recovery efforts. In addition to internal agency briefings, the Department is participating in daily interagency briefings led by the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA in order to understand the extent of the damage to educational infrastructure and the needs of its education stakeholders in the wake of Harvey. The Department's interagency work will inform and enhance the resources and relief that it will make available to school districts and institutions of higher education as the recovery work begins.

In addition to its Federal partners, the Department has reached out to the Texas Education Agency, the Louisiana Department of Education and institutions of higher learning in the impacted areas and will be coordinating its recovery activities through these agencies and institutions. The full extent of the Hurricane’s impact will not be known for some time but we will stay in close contact with our partners.

Last week, the Department began contacting more than 200 colleges and universities located in areas likely impacted by Harvey and will provide administrative flexibilities related to federal student aid rules.

The Department has also directed federal student loan servicers to provide impacted borrowers flexibility in managing their loan payments during this time. Borrowers can contact their student loan servicer for more information or call 1-800-4FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) to find out their servicer’s contact information.






US DEPT. OF EDUCATION:
BLOG POSTING on 8/ 24/ 17 (source link)

Everyone’s college experience is unique—and probably not quite what they were expecting, but here are some tried and true tips on how to get through it.

1. Get involved.
This point may be the most overhyped, but it’s still valid. Go to your school’s activities fair if they have one; otherwise, keep your eyes open for opportunities to join different clubs or teams. Joining a club or team can often provide a much-needed relief from your everyday classes or responsibilities, and it’s a great way to meet new people or to try something new! Many schools even have niche groups such as unicycle clubs, quidditch teams (of Harry Potter fame), and virtual reality clubs. If you don’t find a club that aligns with your interests, you can always start your own!

2. Learn how to network.
Networking is something that can seem foreign for high school students (at least that’s how it felt for me). We go to college and are suddenly expected to know how to make professional contacts without any real training. To be successful at networking throughout college, you have to put yourself in settings where you’ll have the opportunity to meet professionals in the field you’re interested in. Look for local networking opportunities or events that are catered to the industry you’re in or the skills you’d like to master. For example, you might find an event that teaches individuals how to run for office, or a training on using LinkedIn to your advantage, or a class that helps you learn photography skills. All of these events will put you in contact with people who can help propel you into a career later in life.

3. Prepare for the cost of college.
If you need to take out student loans to pay for college, borrow ONLY what you need. Many people accept less than what’s offered (myself included!). Borrowing an extra $4,000 now may turn into repaying an extra $7,000 in the future. (Remember, anything you borrow now must be paid back with interest later.) Consider getting a job to help defray costs. College campuses usually have lots of fun jobs to choose from (for example, I was a driver for my campus’s safe ride program). Finally, remember to continue to apply for scholarships, as many can be given only to current students or to students in a certain major.

4. Get an internship.
Paid or unpaid. Local, national, or abroad. Find an internship that caters to your interests or career goals. Internships can help you figure out if you truly want to go into a certain field, and they can make you more marketable to future employers. Completing an internship also gives you professional contacts and references that you can call on for years to come. You can find internship opportunities through your school, an online search, or by attending career fairs.

5. Know where to go for academic (and financial aid) help.
Your school wants you to succeed. Take advantage of their services, especially if they’re free. Some colleges and universities have exceptional one-on-one tutoring programs that can help you pass that seemingly-impossible class. Others have group study sessions with teaching assistants. Attending tutoring sessions like the ones I’ve described has helped me stay on track in my classes. Also, be sure to stay on top of your financial aid situation. Familiarize yourself with the financial aid office. They’re always there to help you navigate the (sometimes complicated) financial aid process.

6. Your major doesn’t determine your future.
College is the time to find yourself and truly discover your own interests. You will have to be intrinsically motivated in order to meet your goals—if you don’t want to do it, nobody can make you, so you might as well choose a major you truly enjoy. However, on that note, a major is just an area of study, not a career path. If you want to study dance and go to medical school, go for it! If you want to study psychology and become an elementary teacher (this is what I’m doing), go for it! Just make sure you know the required prerequisites for obtaining any higher degree/certification/licensure required by your field and be sure to meet those requirements in a timely manner, because classes are not free.

7. Don’t compare your college experience to someone else’s.
Everyone’s experience is different. Remember that what you see on social media isn’t always the full truth. For a lot of people, college is simultaneously the best and busiest time of their life. Remember, it’s okay to not be having fun 100% of the time. College isn’t all Instagram posts of parties, spring break trips, and football games in a VSCO filter. It’s okay not to be having fun 100% of the time—college is about learning, finding your passions, and building relationships. Your college experience is whatever you make it.

8. Learn how to combat stress.
College can be a challenge. It’s not just the schoolwork that’s difficult; it’s balancing schoolwork, a social life, a job or two, housing, grocery shopping, budgeting, and anything else life throws at you. Self-care can help you balance these stressors to improve your overall well-being. Some self-care activities that work for me include deep breathing, coloring geometric patterns, and going on walks. Other people like to go to the gym, listen to music, or watch videos online. Whatever you do, make sure it’s the right thing for you so that you get the most out of this incredible period of your life.

Katie Hannestad is a junior at the University of Minnesota. She is an intern in the Office of Communications and Outreach at the U.S. Department of Education.


US DEPT. of Education blog posting: Celebrating a Sixth Cohort of U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools; Launching the 2017 Green Strides Tour
Date posted 8/ 23/ 17 (link source)

U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) began in 2011-2012 by defining “green school” according to three Pillars.  In 2012-2013, ED added a District Sustainability Award and began an annual tour spotlighting the practices of honorees and launched a Green Strides resources portal for all to employ.  The 2013-2014 cycle added an honor for state officials and 2015 brought a postsecondary category and saw the revamping of the Green Strides portal.

Need an occasion for celebration? On Wednesday, July 19th, we recognized 45 schools, nine districts, nine postsecondary institutions, and one state education agency official at a Washington, D.C. ceremony for their efforts to cultivate sustainable, healthy facilities, wellness practices, and authentic place-based learning.

The Director of the Campaign for Environmental Literacy James L. Elder, Director of the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council Anisa Heming, Assistant U.S. Secretary of Education for Management Holly Ham, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Education Director Louisa Koch congratulated the 2017 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools.  They were also treated to a special briefing with hydrogen fuel car demonstration offered by the U.S. Department of Energy, a National Park Service ranger-led tour of National Monuments, and a reception with their Hill members sponsored by the Center for Green Schools.

As ED-GRS Director, I rejoice in honorees’ achievements each passing year while continuing to look for ways to make this federal communications and outreach tool structured as a recognition award fresh and useful to the school communities we serve.  From tentative beginnings, it has become quite clear to us here at ED that sustainable school practices are here to stay and that our federal agency requires some understanding of school facilities, health, and environment matters, particularly as they affect learning.  I’ve been honored to serve in this evolving role, to read each and every one of our nominations in full every year of this award, and to preside over our annual ceremony — which is always a special event.

Learning from the many national non-profit and federal colleagues who have educated us in these areas over the last five years, I, too, have come to think of healthy, safe, sustainable schools that offer real-world learning opportunities as something that should be the norm in all of our schools.

NASA Awards Contract for Center Protective Services for Glenn Research Center
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 25/ 17 (Link Source)

NASA has awarded a contract to Golden Svcs, LLC in Kingston, Tennessee, to provide protective services at the agency’s Ohio facilities, NASA’s Glenn Research Center’s Lewis Field in Cleveland and Plum Brook Station in Sandusky.

The firm-fixed price contract includes a two-year base period, followed by one two-year option and a one-year option. The potential total value of the contract is approximately $33.4 million.

Work under the contract will include support in a variety of areas, such as: emergency management; dispatch operations; national security protection; medical first responders; badge management; traffic and gate control; locksmith services; patrol operations; physical security; personnel security; and security incident response.



NASA Announces Cassini End-of-Mission Media Activities
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 24/ 17 (link source)

On Sept. 15, NASA's Cassini spacecraft will complete its remarkable story of exploration with an intentional plunge into Saturn's atmosphere, ending its mission after nearly 20 years in space. News briefings, photo opportunities and other media events will be held at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, and will air live on NASA Television and the agency's website.

NASA also will hold a media teleconference Tuesday, Aug. 29 to preview activities for Cassini during its final two weeks.

Launched in 1997, Cassini arrived in orbit around Saturn in 2004 on a mission to study the giant planet, its rings, moons and magnetosphere. In April of this year, Cassini began the final phase of its mission, called its Grand Finale -- a daring series of 22 weekly dives between the planet and its rings. On Sept. 15, Cassini will plunge into Saturn, sending new and unique science about the planet's upper atmosphere to the very end. After losing contact with Earth, the spacecraft will burn up like a meteor. This is the first time a spacecraft has explored this unique region of Saturn -- a dramatic conclusion to a mission that has revealed so much about the ringed planet.

WORLD AND NATIONAL NEWS BRIEFS

FROM THE UN NEWS CENTER:
UN chief Guterres condemns latest ballistic missile launch by DPRK
29 August 2017 – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the latest ballistic missile launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), in violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

Children's access to safe water and sanitation is a right, not a privilege – UNICEF
29 August 2017 – In countries beset by violence, displacement, conflict and instability, children's most basic means of survival – water – must be a priority, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said today, warning that children living in fragile situations are four times more likely to lack access to drinking water.

NATIONAL

WP: Harvey takes aim at Louisiana as Trump plans to survey stricken Texas
HOUSTON — The remnants of deadly Hurricane Harvey spilled toward Louisiana on Tuesday with more potentially disastrous flooding and emergency evacuations as President Trump planned to survey the ongoing devastation in stricken Texas.

NBC: New Mexico community shaken after library shooting
CLOVIS, N.M. — A shooting inside a public library that killed two people and wounded four has deeply shaken an eastern New Mexico community.



Daily Bible Verse:   There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28 NKJV


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MONDAY'S BUSINESS AND FINANCE

From the US Chamber of Commerce: Building a 21st Century Workforce
Blog posting by, THOMAS J. DONOHUE, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
(Link source) 

With school starting back up, this is a good time to think about how we train and equip our students for success. It’s no secret that the skills needed in our economy have changed dramatically in recent years. Millions of lower-skilled jobs are disappearing, and millions of higher-skilled jobs are being created in their place. As businesses and workers struggle to adapt, it’s time to have a serious discussion about how to build a 21st century workforce.

To understand what’s at stake, let’s look at the manufacturing sector. Over a million new American manufacturing jobs have opened up over the past seven years, but about 390,000 of them have yet to be filled. This is because most of these jobs require specialized skills and technical know-how. They involve supervising complicated computer-directed machinery, using software to track inventory, or assembling increasingly intricate high-tech products. Workers displaced from old jobs by automation often don’t have the skills needed for these new positions, and many new graduates haven’t learned them either.

The problem extends far beyond manufacturing. Today, 50% of available positions in America go unfilled because qualified candidates aren’t available, and 40% of businesses can’t take on more work because they can’t fill the jobs they have. The skills gap is a complex challenge affected by many factors. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is advocating for policy changes and exploring practical steps that communities and employers can take.

For example, we’re advising the administration on workforce training and apprenticeship issues. The U.S. Chamber Foundation Center for Education and Workforce has been building a signature workforce development initiative called Talent Pipeline Management. This initiative empowers businesses to communicate their employment and skills needs to education providers. It’s designed to put the business community in the driver’s seat of education and workplace partnerships. In addition, the Foundation is rolling out a localized consumer information tool called Launch My Career, which helps identify hot jobs in a state, the skills necessary for those jobs, and the programs and institutions that can offer those skills.

When it comes to building a 21st century workforce, there are no easy solutions. Our government leaders and policymakers must take a cue from our private sector economy and think creatively. Businesses and workers face modern challenges that require modern solutions. The Chamber looks forward to continuing to spark discussion, explore options, and develop solutions to the workforce challenges our country faces. Few issues are as important to the health and growth of our economy—or to the future of our nation’s schoolchildren.


US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Article: Young African Fellows Highlight Opportunities to Transform the Continent
By, RACHEL OGUNTOLA, Fellow, U.S. Africa Business Center
LINK SOURCE


Last month, I attended the Africa Business Forum, a partnership with the U.S.-Africa Business Center and the Presidential Precinct hosting 25 Mandela Washington Fellows from 18 African countries. The Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative, empowers Africa’s best and brightest youth through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking.

The Africa Business Forum convened global business executives, government officials, academic leaders and the fellows to discuss opportunities for spurring economic growth, strengthening good governance, and accelerating private sector investment.

The forum was packed with moderated panel discussions, roundtables on business themes, and an informal networking lunch. The panels reinforced ways in which youth empowerment would drive significant change in Africa by highlighting crucial aspects of trade facilitation, workforce development, and small and medium enterprises.

Participating in the forum brought me back to my time at the African Leadership Academy, a top-notch two-year pre-university program in South Africa aimed at developing the next generation of African leaders. At the Academy, I met and interacted with youth from all over the African continent. Through those interactions, I developed a network of life-long friends and a deep fondness for expanding my personal and professional network.

Moving to the United States and being so far away from the African continent, I have actively sought out avenues to continue interacting with African youth and contributing to a robust African narrative. Over the past four years, I have become more observant of the one-sided and dominant Africa perspective that only focuses on the challenges faced by the continent. As fellow Nigerian and acclaimed author, Chimamanda Adichie, eloquently said in a TED Talk, “the danger of a single story is not that they are untrue but that they are incomplete.” While Africa has its challenges, the opportunities on the continent are so vast and it is important to recognize that side of the story.

The Africa Business Forum provided such recognition. As a fellow at the U.S.-Africa Business Center, listening to the Mandela Washington fellows talk about the change they are driving in their hometowns and the many ways the U.S. business community is driving change for mutual economic benefit was very inspiring.

I also interviewed some of the fellows participating in the forum, whom expressed gratitude for the opportunity to engage U.S. business leaders in an intimate setting. . Responding to a question on economic growth, Christian Fonye, a Cameroonian human rights and peace lecturer, said the public and private sector should join forces to resolve conflict as a mechanism to spur economic growth on the continent. Focusing on women rights, Kyapalushi Kapatamoyo, a Zambian national, encouraged the business community to provide women with the tools needed to contribute to the global value chain in retail and other sectors.

To see other energetic young Africans like me passionately engaging about U.S. business growth in African markets gave me a sense of pride and comfort, and restored my belief in Africa’s bright future. Youth are the true change makers on the continent with the transformative power to rewrite the tired African narrative. As such, it becomes increasingly important that the onus to provide the necessary tools they need to create change does not rest solely on the government, but also on the business community. By organizing a forum like this, the Chamber’s U.S.-Africa Business Center and the Presidential Precinct made strides to challenge that one-sided view of Africa and emphasize the opportunities that abound on the continent.

I remain grateful for the many opportunities I have to network with Africa’s youth and senior U.S. business leaders, who understand the unique challenges of operating on the continent but also see the upside potential.


US DEPT. OF LABOR BLOG: Maine Marine Electrician Helps Power Navy Ships
Article posted 8/ 25/ 17 (link source)


Thirty-seven-year-old Matt Maher has found a career and pride in his work as a graduate marine electrician at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) in Kittery, Maine. Matt, a married father of four, completed a four-year apprenticeship at the shipyard in February.

As an apprentice at PNSY, he learned to operate specialized automated rewind machines, as well as the programming skills that are specific to the motor generator windings the shipyard manufactures to ensure U.S. Navy sailors have the power they need to sail on the open ocean. Motor generators are units that convert electrical power and are used to help energize many components on a ship, such as the main propulsion system that drives a propeller.

Today Matt is in charge of the motor shop’s motor rewind department. “Working for the Navy means a lot to me and I feel like I’m contributing to the defense of our great nation,” he said.

As a new father, the Maine native began searching for a new career path. Friends who worked at the shipyard told him about the stability, benefits, and opportunity for promotion they had found there, so Matt applied and hasn’t looked back since.
This job has changed my life, giving me the ability to support my growing family, and peace of mind knowing that I don’t have to worry about the next paycheck so I can relax and truly enjoy my free time at home,” he said. “I’ve never felt the sense of security that I feel working for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.”

The apprenticeship program includes paid academic and trade training, and on-the-job learning at the shipyard. Graduates receive journey worker certificates from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Department of the Navy, as well as college credit toward an associate degree from either York County Community College or Great Bay Community College. Benefits include vacation and sick time, a retirement plan, and health and life insurance.

To find out more about apprenticeship opportunities in your area, or to learn how to start a program, visit www.dol.gov/apprenticeship.


THE FED: Federal and state banking agencies issue statement on supervisory practices regarding financial institutions and borrowers affected by Hurricane Harvey
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 26/ 17 (link source)


The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and state bank regulators recognize the serious impact of Hurricane Harvey on the customers and operations of many financial institutions and will provide regulatory assistance to affected institutions subject to their supervision. The agencies encourage institutions in the affected areas to meet the financial services needs of their communities.

A complete list of the affected disaster areas can be found at www.fema.gov.

Lending: Bankers should work constructively with borrowers in communities affected by Hurricane Harvey. The agencies realize that the effects of natural disasters on local businesses and individuals are often transitory, and prudent efforts to adjust or alter terms on existing loans in affected areas should not be subject to examiner criticism. In supervising institutions affected by the hurricane, the agencies will consider the unusual circumstances they face. The agencies recognize that efforts to work with borrowers in communities under stress can be consistent with safe-and-sound banking practices as well as in the public interest.

Community Reinvestment Act (CRA): Financial institutions may receive CRA consideration for community development loans, investments, or services that revitalize or stabilize federally designated disaster areas in their assessment areas or in the states or regions that include their assessment areas. For additional information, institutions should review the Interagency Questions and Answers Regarding Community Reinvestment at https://www.ffiec.gov/cra/qnadoc.htm.

Investments: Bankers should monitor municipal securities and loans affected by the hurricane. The agencies realize local government projects may be negatively affected. Appropriate monitoring and prudent efforts to stabilize such investments are encouraged.

Regulatory Reporting Requirements: Institutions affected by Hurricane Harvey that expect to encounter difficulty meeting the agencies' reporting requirements should contact their primary federal regulatory agency to discuss their situation. The agencies do not expect to assess penalties or take other supervisory action against institutions that take reasonable and prudent steps to comply with the agencies' regulatory reporting requirements if those institutions are unable to fully satisfy those requirements because of the effects of Hurricane Harvey. The agencies' staffs stand ready to work with affected institutions that may be experiencing problems fulfilling their reporting responsibilities, taking into account each institution's particular circumstances, including the status of its reporting and recordkeeping systems and the condition of its underlying financial records.

Publishing Requirements: The agencies understand that the damage caused by the hurricane may affect compliance with publishing and other requirements for branch closings, relocations, and temporary facilities under various laws and regulations. Institutions experiencing disaster-related difficulties in complying with any publishing or other requirements should contact their primary federal regulatory agency.

Temporary Banking Facilities: The agencies understand that many banks face power, telecommunications, staffing and other challenges in re-opening facilities after the hurricane. In cases in which operational challenges persist, the appropriate primary federal regulator will expedite any request to operate temporary banking facilities to provide more convenient availability of services to those affected by the hurricane. In most cases, a telephone notice to the primary federal regulator will suffice initially. Necessary written notification can be submitted later.


IRS PRESS RELEASE: Don’t Take the Bait, Step 7: Protect e-Services Accounts, EFINs
RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 22/ 17 (link source)

WASHINGTON – The IRS, state tax agencies and the tax industry today reminded tax professionals that they are responsible for protecting access to their IRS e-Services account and safeguarding their Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN) from thieves.
National and international criminal syndicates routinely attempt to steal tax professionals’ usernames and passwords so they may access IRS e-Services to obtain the EFIN, which allows a criminal to steal clients’ sensitive information.
Increasing awareness about protecting e-Services and EFINs is part of a “Don’t Take the Bait” campaign, a 10-part series aimed at tax professionals. The IRS, state tax agencies and the tax industry, working together as the Security Summit, urge practitioners to learn to protect themselves from password thefts. This is part of the ongoing Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself effort.
“For tax professionals working with the IRS, protecting these account numbers is critical,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. “Practitioners should maintain, monitor and protect their Electronic Filing Identification Number. Failing to do so can be disastrous for their business and their clients.”
Protecting Clients and Their Businesses from e-Services/EFIN thieves
Cybercriminals routinely use spear phishing emails to target tax practitioners. The emails impersonate IRS e-Services, trying to trick practitioners into disclosing their username and password. Once the thieves have these credentials, they access e-Services accounts and steal EFINs to file fraudulent tax returns. Cybercriminals also are savvy enough to know to steal Centralized Authorization File (CAF) numbers, which are unique, nine-digit ID numbers assigned to those who represent others before the IRS. The con artists also know how to file fraudulent powers of attorney documents to access clients’ accounts.
Password thefts are one reason the IRS has moved to Secure Access, a two-factor authentication process, to offer more protection for online tools. Secure Access requires not only a username and password but also a security code that is sent to a mobile phone previously registered with the IRS. The IRS is moving toward multi-factor protections for e-Services as well, and hopes to have this system in the near future.
In addition, the IRS is working with Security Summit partners in the states and the private-sector tax industry to help protect taxpayers and their tax filings against these threats.
Maintain EFINs
Once the EFIN application process is complete and an EFIN has been issued, it is important to keep accounts up-to-date. This includes:
Review the e-file application periodically. The e-file application must be updated within 30 days of any changes, such as individuals involved, addresses or telephone numbers. Failure to do so may result in the inactivation of the EFIN.
Ensure proper individuals are identified on the application and update as necessary. The principal listed on the application is the individual authorized to act for the business in any legal or tax matter. Periodically access the account.
Add any new principals or responsible officials.
Update any business address changes, including adding new locations.
An EFIN is not transferable; if selling a business, the new principals must obtain their own EFIN.
There must be an EFIN application for each office location; if expanding a business, an application is required for each location where e-file transmissions will occur.
Tax Professionals: Monitor EFINs
Help safeguard the EFIN. During the filing season, check on the EFIN’s status to ensure that it is not being used by others. The e-Services account will give practitioner’s the number of returns the IRS received, which can be matched to practitioner records. The statistics are updated weekly. Contact the IRS e-help Desk at 866-255-0654 if there’s a higher volume shown than the number transmitted by the practitioner.
After logging into the e-Services account, follow these steps to verify the number of returns electronically filed with the IRS:
Select practitioner name,
In the left banner, select ‘Application,’
In the left banner, select ‘e-File Application,’
Select name again,
In the listing, select ‘EFIN Status,’ and on this screen the number of returns filed based on return type is displayed.
Protect EFINs
Increasingly, identity thieves are targeting tax professionals to gain access to client data or other sensitive information. A common scam involves efforts by criminals to steal the tax professional’s e-Service account password and EFIN. Here are some steps to protect the EFIN:
Learn to recognize and avoid phishing scams that claim to be from the IRS or e-Services.
Do not open any link or attachment received in a suspicious e-mail.
Periodically change the e-Service password and use a strong password consisting of letters, numbers and special characters.
Periodically change the password to the email address used to correspond with clients.
Please note:  The IRS continuously reviews EFINs and takes the necessary actions to inactivate any EFINs that are found to be compromised by an un-authorized firm or individual. The firm using the invalid EFIN will encounter Business Rule 905 when it e-files returns. The firm must call the e-help Desk at 866-255-0654 to request a new one.
Maintain Contact with the IRS
Authorized IRS e-file providers should maintain contact with the IRS to learn of any e-file updates. E-Service users can subscribe to Quick Alerts. Tax practitioners also can sign up for e-News for Tax Professionals or e-News for Payroll Professionals.

WORLD AND NATIONAL NEWS BRIEFS

FROM THE UN NEWS CENTER:
UN chief Guterres meets Israel's Netanyahu in Jerusalem, pledges to fight anti-Semitism
28 August 2017 – Reiterating his commitment to fighting anti-Semitism, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he is committed to protecting Israel and its right to exist.

Guterres 'shocked' by Guatemala's decision to expel UN anti-corruption official
27 August 2017 – Secretary-General António Guterres is shocked to learn that the President of Guatemala, Jimmy Morales, has issued a statement declaring 'persona non grata' the head of a United Nations-backed independent anti-corruption commission, according to the UN Spokesman.

NATIONAL

WP: Texans are trying to keep their heads above water as Harvey batters region
As Tropical Storm Harvey continues to batter Southeast Texas and floods the Houston area, everyday Texans are trying to keep their heads above water. 

NYT: Fatigue and Training Gaps Spell Disaster at Sea, Sailors Warn
WASHINGTON — Two deadly collisions between high-tech destroyers and easy-to-spot, slow-moving cargo ships in a little over two months have stunned many in the Navy and sent top leaders scrambling for answers.

Daily Bible Verse:  Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

John 6:29 NKJV

 

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SUNDAY EDITION

WH: President Donald J. Trump’s Weekly Address
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 25/ 17

Transcript:

My Fellow Americans,
I had the profound honor this week of addressing American troops at Fort Myer and speaking to thousands of veterans at the American Legion National Convention.
Today I want to speak to all Americans about what we can learn from the men and women of our incredible Armed Forces.
Every person who puts on the uniform makes our nation proud.  They all come from across our land.  They represent every race, ethnicity, and creed.  But they all pledge the same oath, fight for the same cause, and operate as one team – with one shared sense of purpose.
They love their families.  They cherish their freedom.  They salute our flag.  And above all, they believe in America.

Now, we must draw inspiration from their love and loyalty to one another – and to our nation – as we seek to heal divisions from within.
We must also remember what our service personnel know better than anyone: that we are one people, with one home, and one glorious American destiny.
We come from all different walks of life – but we all share the same dream – to live in peace and safety, to work with honor and dignity, and to build a better future for those we love.
Together, we can achieve this dream, but we must first remember who we are and the values that bind us together.  We must speak out against the voices that try to sow hatred and division.  We must treat our fellow citizens with love and affection.  And we must honor our heroes – and prove worthy of the sacrifice they have made for all of us.

I ask every American to make a simple promise to the courageous warriors who fight in our name: when they come home from battle, they will find a country that has renewed the sacred bonds of loyalty that unite us together as one.
Only when we work together with a shared purpose will we carry on the proud tradition of those who came before us.
Only when we honor our history will we have confidence in our future.
And only when we strive for peace among one another will we remain a force for peace all around the world.
We can achieve this peace, we can foster this unity, and we can rebuild this loyalty – because together, we are truly One Nation Under God.
Thank you. God bless you.

CONGRESSIONAL WATCH

Cantwell Statement On President Trump’s Effort To Shut Down National Monuments (in cased you miss it)
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 24/ 17

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Maria Cantwell (D-WA) made the following statement regarding Secretary Zinke’s national monument report:

“Teddy Roosevelt would roll over in his grave if he could see what Donald Trump and Ryan Zinke are trying to do to our national treasures today. Secretary Zinke’s secret report to the President is the latest step in a rigged process to try and turn over our public lands to oil and gas companies.

The Secretary announced this morning that his recommendation to the President will include making a “handful” of changes to existing national monuments.   As I’ve said for months, the President does not have the legal authority to overturn these protections.  This report and entire process have amounted to nothing but a colossal waste of tax payer dollars.

The Trump Administration is trying to erase over 100 years of conservation and open space for all to enjoy through hunting, fishing and recreating.  Any attempt to eliminate outdoor recreation opportunities for veterans and all other Americans by giving them away to special interests is unacceptable.  These special places belong to the people, not to corporate polluters, and I will continue fighting to keep them that way.”

OUR HEALTH 

From our Congressional Delegation: Sen. Murray Announces WA State Insurance Commissioner Kreidler to Testify at Senate Hearing on Health Care
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 25/ 17 

(Washington, D.C.) –  Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) today announced that on September 6 the Senate’s health committee will hear testimony from state insurance commissioners representing the states of Washington, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Alaska and Oklahoma.

•       Mike Kreidler, OD, Washington State Insurance Commissioner

•       Julie Mix McPeak, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance

•       Theresa Miller, JD, Insurance Commissioner of Pennsylvania

•       Lori K. Wing-Heier, Director, Alaska Division of Insurance

•       John Doak, Commissioner, Oklahoma Department of Insurance

The hearing on Wednesday, September 6th, titled “Stabilizing Premiums and Helping Individuals in the Individual Insurance Market for 2018: Insurance Commissioners,” will take place in Dirksen 430 at 7 a.m. PT/10 a.m ET.

Sens. Alexander and Murray announced earlier this month that the committee would hold a series of hearings in September on stabilizing premiums in the individual insurance market so that the 18 million Americans in the individual market will be able to buy insurance at affordable prices in the year 2018.
The committee will hear from governors from Colorado, Massachusetts, Montana, Tennessee and Utah the next day, Thursday September 7th.

Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on the FDA’s role in ensuring Americans have access to clear and consistent calorie and nutrition information; forthcoming guidance will provide greater clarity and certainty
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 25/ 17

As a doctor, father and the head of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, I believe that everyone is entitled to the information they need to make informed decisions about the food they eat. We serve as the nation’s expert on food labeling, which is why Congress entrusted us with the responsibility of crafting predictable, uniform federal standards that will benefit the health of families across America by ensuring access to essential calorie and nutrition information on food and menu labels.

Americans should not have to navigate variable information about the foods they eat when traveling from state to state—or city to city. Inconsistent state and local requirements may also drive up the cost of food, and sow confusion, by requiring restaurants and other covered establishments to post different information based on location. We take seriously our obligation to consumers; to make sure they have access to useful menu labeling information in a simple and timely manner. We also share Congress’s goal in enacting these labeling provisions: to ensure that calorie and nutrition information is delivered in a clear, consistent and predictable way. Similarly, we recognize our obligation to provide clear guidance so that restaurants and other establishments that are subject to these provisions have clarity and certainty as to how they can efficiently meet the new menu labeling requirements.

We have issued detailed regulations addressing what information should be provided in menus at restaurant chains and other similar retail establishments, as well as when and how that information should be provided. In developing the regulations, we were informed by thousands of comments from consumers, industry representatives and other interested parties, along with many meetings and discussions with stakeholders. Earlier this year, we solicited another round of feedback on our regulation, which has helped to further inform our approach to implementing the menu labeling provisions.

I am pleased to announce that we will provide additional, practical guidance on the menu labeling requirements by the end of this year. This additional guidance will address concerns that were raised about challenges establishments faced in understanding how to meet their obligations under the new regulations. We have been diligently working to address the comments we received, and to establish a sustainable framework for enabling establishments to effectively meet the new menu labeling provisions. These new policy steps should allow covered establishments to implement the requirements by next year’s compliance date.

The FDA takes seriously our responsibility to ensure that food is labeled in a manner that provides people with the information they need to make healthy choices. We will continue to fulfill our obligation to pursue science-based, public health-focused federal standards across the full spectrum of our food regulatory authorities to the benefit of all Americans.


CDC: Most U.S. teens are getting cancer-preventing vaccine
PRESS RELEASE 8/ 24/ 17

Six out of 10 U.S. parents are choosing to get the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for their children, according to a report published in this week’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends parents get two doses of HPV vaccine for their children at ages 11 or 12 to protect against cancers caused by HPV infections. Although most children are getting their first dose of HPV vaccine, many children are not completing the vaccination series.

“I’m pleased with the progress, but too many teens are still not receiving the HPV vaccine – which leaves them vulnerable to cancers caused by HPV infection,” said CDC Director Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D. “We need to do more to increase the vaccination rate and protect American youth today from future cancers tomorrow.”

Adolescents who get the first dose of HPV vaccine before their 15th birthday need two doses of HPV vaccine to be protected against cancers caused by HPV. Teens and young adults who start the series at ages 15 through 26 years need three doses of HPV vaccine to be protected against cancers caused by HPV.

Teen HPV vaccination: key findings

The annual National Immunization Survey-Teen (NIS-Teen) report, which examines vaccination coverage among U.S. adolescents, found that 60 percent of teens ages 13 to 17 received one or more doses of HPV vaccine in 2016, an increase of 4 percentage points from 2015.

The report also showed that HPV vaccination is becoming more common among boys. The difference in vaccination rates between boys and girls has been narrowing in recent years. About 65 percent of girls received the first dose of HPV vaccine compared to 56 percent of boys receiving the first dose. These latest estimates represent a 6 percentage point increase from 2015 for boys, while rates for girls were similar to 2015.

Despite these increases, areas for improvement remain. While most adolescents have received the first dose of HPV vaccine, only 43 percent of teens are up to date on all the recommended doses of HPV vaccine. HPV vaccination rates were also lower in rural and less urban areas compared to more urban areas.

Looking ahead

Clinicians have been working hard to protect children from cancers caused by HPV ever since the vaccine was first introduced over 10 years ago, and there are reasons to be encouraged about future trends in HPV vaccination.

In late 2016, CDC updated its HPV vaccine recommendations as new evidence showed that two doses of HPV vaccine in younger adolescents provided levels of protection similar to those seen for three doses in older adolescents and young adults. CDC recommends 11 to 12 year olds get two doses of HPV vaccine at least six months apart.

“Recent changes to the vaccine recommendations mean preventing cancer is easier now than ever before,” said Nancy Messonnier, M.D., director of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. “Now is the time for parents to protect their children from cancers caused by HPV.”

Recent data have also shown that HPV vaccination has led to dramatic declines in HPV infections, highlighting the importance of achieving and maintaining high HPV vaccination rates. Since the introduction of the first HPV vaccine, infections with HPV types that cause most of these cancers and genital warts have decreased by 71 percent in teen girls and 61 percent in young women.

Parents can take advantage of any visit to the doctor’s office to get the HPV vaccine for their child. Adolescents should get the HPV vaccine during the same visit they get whooping cough and meningitis vaccines.

CDC: Some Infants still not receiving the recommended screenings and interventions for hearing loss and critical congenital heart disease at birth
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 24/ 17

Today’s Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights the benefits of and gaps in assessing point-of-care newborn screening for hearing loss (HL) and critical congenital heart disease (CCHD).  These critical gaps need to be closed to help all children have a better chance to reach their full potential.

About 1 in 500 infants are born with CCHD, which includes the more severe forms of congenital heart disease (CHD). CHD is the most common type of birth defect and accounts for more than 30 percent of all infant deaths from birth defects. Point-of-care screening can help identify many infants with CCHD before they go home.

Newborn screening, a public health program that benefits 4 million U.S. infants every year, identifies conditions that can affect a child’s long-term health or even survival. Besides laboratory testing of dried bloodspots for dozens of conditions, which has been in place since the 1970s, national guidelines now call for newborns to be screened for hearing loss and CCHD while at the birth facility.

“Newborn screening at birth is crucial to quickly identify infants at risk of hearing loss and congenital heart disease so they can receive early intervention and follow-up care,” said CDC Director Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D. “Finding these conditions early can give infants the best chance to properly develop and lead healthy lives.”

CDC estimates that without newborn screening, each year about 875 U.S. newborns with a CCHD were not diagnosed before discharge from birth facilities. However, most of these babies can now be identified using a non-invasive and painless test referred to as “pulse oximetry testing.”  For every 200 infants with a CCHD, at least one death due to an undiagnosed CCHD can be avoided if all birth facilities screen newborn babies using pulse oximetry testing.

Similarly, permanent hearing loss present at birth affects nearly 2 infants per 1,000 in the United States. Most children with hearing loss are considered to have or be at risk for a developmental delay. Infants who are diagnosed before age 3 months and receive intervention services before age 6 months have significantly better language development than children who are not.

Federally funded state-based Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs help ensure infants receive recommended diagnostic and intervention services. In short, EHDI focuses on nationally recognized “1-3-6” guidelines: children are screened for hearing loss before 1 month of age, and, if needed, diagnosed for hearing loss before age 3 months and enrolled in early intervention programs before age 6 months.

In contrast to EHDI, there is no federal support for state-based CCHD screening programs. Not detecting heart-related birth defects early can pose a significant increase in risk for permanent disability and even death. “The collaboration between EHDI programs, health professionals, and parents has led to great progress on hearing loss screening and follow-up,” said Stuart K. Shapira, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer and Associate Director for Science at CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. “We must apply the same effort and resources to CCHD screening to help prevent infant deaths and offer children the greatest chance to thrive.”

This MMWR complements the September 2016 Public Health Grand Rounds forum Beyond the Blood Spot: Newborn Screening for Hearing Loss and Critical Congenital Heart Disease.

HHS readies medical support in Texas and Louisiana ahead of Hurricane Harvey
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 25/ 17

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is leaning forward in its preparations to support Texas and Louisiana in responding to Hurricane Harvey.  HHS has already deployed assets to both states that are ready to provide medical care and public health support as needed after Hurricane Harvey makes landfall.

HHS has called in 460 National Disaster Medical System staff, including community doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel from around the country, to be in place ahead of the storm and ready to respond when and where needed. The HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response moved six Disaster Medical Assistance Teams into the Dallas area along with Incident Response Coordination Teams to support the medical teams in Texas and Louisiana. Additional medical care teams are on alert to be called in as needed.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has moved two 250-bed Federal Medical Stations to Baton Rouge, ready to be deployed anywhere in the state, and additional Federal Medical Stations are available in Dallas for patient care in Texas. The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health has mobilized U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps officers to staff the Federal Medical Stations and meet other public health or medical needs in impacted communities.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration activated the Disaster Distress Helpline, a toll-free call center, to aid people in coping with the behavioral health effects of the storm and help people in impacted areas connect with local behavioral health professionals.

HHS also provided data to public health authorities in Texas and Louisiana to assist them in reaching citizens who rely on electrically powered medical equipment at home. Power outages become life-or-death situations for people with these medical conditions.

HHS remains in regular contact with Texas and Louisiana health officials to maintain awareness of the local situation and stands ready to augment its support to the states as the situation unfolds.

The Department is committed to meeting the medical and public health needs of communities across Texas and Louisiana impacted by Hurricane Harvey in the immediate aftermath of the storm and as affected areas recover. Information on health safety tips during and after the hurricane will be provided by the Office of the Assistance Secretary for Preparedness and Response and will be available at www.phe.gov/harvey

STATE LEVEL ON OUR HEALTH
DOH: More Washington teens protected against cancer-causing virus
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 24/ 17

OLYMPIA -- More Washington teens are getting the vaccine that protects against certain types of cancer, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While there was important improvement in HPV vaccine, most of the state’s teen vaccination rates are below where they should be for optimal health and protection against vaccine preventable illnesses.

The CDC 2016 National Immunization Survey shows almost two in every three Washington teens (65 percent) received at least one dose of HPV vaccine – a significant increase over 2015 (56 percent).

State health officials say healthcare providers and community partners have been working together for several years to increase the number of teens who get the HPV vaccine, which protects against certain types of cancer. However, not as many teens are getting all needed doses. Of special concern are teen boys; only 44 percent of them are up to date on HPV vaccination. Among girls, 55 percent are up to date.

State health officials are concerned that HPV vaccination rates are lower than other vaccines for teens. In 2016, 86.8 percent of teens received a Tdap vaccine and 75.1 percent received at least one dose of meningococcal vaccine. To protect more of our children from cancer and other deadly diseases, all three vaccinations should be given at the same age. The national goal is to have 80 percent of teens up to date on Tdap, meningococcal, and HPV vaccines by the year 2020. The department will keep working with community and healthcare partners to improve teen immunization rates.

WORLD & NATIONAL NEWS BRIEFS

From the UN NEWS CENTER
Syria: UNICEF cites conflict's 'staggering' impact on children; calls for urgent protection
25 August 2017 – Six and a half years of war in Syria has inflicted untold suffering on the country's children, a senior United Nations official said today, urging parties to the conflict to stop the violence and live up to their legal obligations to children.

In Kuwait, UN chief Guterres lauds country's humanitarian leadership, regional diplomacy
27 August 2017 – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, on an official visit to Kuwait, expressed gratitude to not only the Gulf country's leadership in humanitarian action, but the “dialogue […] and promotion of understanding Kuwait has shown in relation to all conflicts in the region.”

NATION

NYT: Coast Guard Rescues 32 People as Harvey Churns Texas Waters
The Coast Guard rescued at least 32 people from several boats in Texas waters on Friday and Saturday as a result of Hurricane Harvey, which was later downgraded to a tropical storm.

LA TIMES: Hundreds of demonstrators turn out in San Francisco to denounce white supremacists
Hundreds of protesters were in a celebratory mood across San Francisco on Saturday afternoon, claiming victory over a far-right group that had canceled a rally near the Golden Gate Bridge and a subsequent news conference in the face of large-scale resistance.






NEWS STORY COMMENTARY

From the Peninsula Daily News headline: Schromen-Wawrin, Wojnowski talk about issues at Port Angeles council candidate forum
QUOTES:
" Wojnowski, a Chicago native who was raised in a Polish household, is maintenance manager for the Dungeness Meadows Home Owners Association.
“I don’t believe that we should be fluoridating the water,” Wojnowski said."
"Schromen-Wawrin said he had a more “nuanced view” on fluoride, saying the chemical has been shown to improve oral health and that he uses fluoride in his daily dental regime.

Schromen-Wawrin said he would personally vote no on the advisory vote but listen to the will of the voters and act accordingly, provided he has assurances that the city would not put lead and arsenic in the water."

" Colleen McAleer, who chairs the Port of Port Angeles commission, asked the candidates whether they would support an avigation easement above the city’s Lincoln Park for aircraft landing at the port airport.

Such an easement would allow for the removal of certain trees from the west side of Lincoln Park.
“I would support the port having as much access to the air path there as possible,” Wojnowski said.
“We definitely do need air service. The one thing that I continually hear, even from friends and family that come and visit me, is it’s a pain in the butt to get here.”

Schromen-Wawrin said he, too, would support a formal agreement between the city and port.
“For me, the bottom line is that I don’t want Lincoln Park to just be a grassy runway strip that the city owns and maintains for the airport,” Schromen-Wawrin said.
“It’s a park, and as much as possible we need to be able to continue its use as a park. Does that mean it has 200- to 300-foot-tall Douglas fir trees? Absolutely not. There’s many other alternatives to that.”

Editorial Comment
As I said before on both subjects regarding flouridation, and the Lincoln park trees, the one as for flouridation, let the people decide on that by a vote, and accept the out come of that vote.
Secondly, as or the Lincoln park trees I think the people would prefer a viable airport, and given the reaction of the last cutting of the trees, which were hardly noticed by those who opposed to the cutting down of the trees, leads me to believe that cutting down the trees blocking the path of airspace for planes, that whole opposition was nothing more than a feel good measure by those who voiced opposition to the cutting of the trees.


WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY
GOSPEL WAY: Is It Unloving to Spank Our Children?
Modern psychologists often advise parents not to spank their children. We are told that intelligent parents should reason with their children; but if we spank them, they may think we do not love them. What does the Bible say?
https://www.gospelway.com/topics/family/spanking.php

WEEKLY AGRICULTURAL REPORT

USDA BLOG: In Conversation with #WomeninAg: Valerie Earley
BLOG POSTING ON 8/ 24/ 17

Every month, USDA shares the story of a woman in agriculture who is leading the industry and helping other women succeed along the way. This month, we hear from Valerie Earley, 2016-2017 National FFA Central Region Vice President. In April 2017, Valerie was invited by President Donald Trump and USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue to participate in a “Farmers Roundtable” at the White House to address issues facing the American agriculture community, as the president signed an Executive Order establishing an Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity.

Earley is from Wykoff, MN where she was a part of the Spring Valley-Wykoff Chapter of the National FFA Organization. She is currently majoring in Agricultural Communication and Marketing at the University of Minnesota and she hopes to one day share the story of agriculture through media.

How has FFA impacted your life?

FFA has given me opportunities to grow into who I am today. When I was a freshman, I was shy and unsure of what I wanted to do with my future, but through FFA, I have gained confidence, direction and character. FFA has also given me many connections to agriculturalists, members and leaders in Minnesota and across the nation.

What has your experience as a National FFA Officer been like?

This year has been an incredible experience. From meeting fellow FFA members across the country— from Puerto Rico to Georgia to Montana— to visiting sponsors in Texas and Michigan, to participating in the farmer roundtable discussion with Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and 14 farmers from across the nation, this year has been an incredible blessing. I have been inspired by fellow members and the impact they are having in their communities and in the world. At the FFA Alumni Breakfast in D.C., I had the chance to speak about a young Iowa FFA member, Hannah, who uses her knowledge of chickens to travel to Ethiopia to help a community start chicken production. Members like Hannah have inspired me this year.

What’s been your favorite accomplishment during your year of service with FFA?

My favorite achievement as a National Officer was visiting New Hampshire for FFA Week because I got to meet almost all of their members and travel across the state conducting workshops and giving speeches. I have absolutely loved traveling to conventions and conferences in over 30 states, but New Hampshire was one of my favorite destinations because of the diversity of agriculture, size of programs and type of programs in agricultural education. I made maple syrup candies, bowled, and ate popular local New Hampshire foods with the chapters. I was inspired by the work that high school students in New Hampshire are doing to contribute to strengthening agriculture.

What are your future career goals?

After completing this year’s National Convention, I plan to begin working in agricultural communications. Through my career, I hope to tell the story of agriculturalists and help consumers understand where their food comes from.

Why do you believe that Rural America is so important to agricultural production in our country?

Rural America is where the people behind the hard work and dedication to raising and producing the food we eat and products we use live and make their impact. Rural America is the foundation of our industry.

What excites you most when you think about what life in rural places will be like in 20 years?

With increasing internet access, technology and efficiency, Rural America is an exciting place to be. While people historically believed it was necessary to move to a more highly populated area to work with technology or to make an impact, today we have an opportunity to shape the future of agriculture and make Rural America to be a place of prosperity and opportunity.

Who are your role models or what inspires you?

My biggest role models are my family members and Leah Addington, a former Minnesota FFA State Staff member. My parents work with dedication and integrity every day on my family’s farm and have always set an example for my future. Leah Addington is a role model who inspires me to grow in my faith and set goals for my future. These people have helped encourage me along my journey and I would not be who I am today without their support and guidance.

What is your advice for your fellow women in agriculture?

Be engaged, be passionate and be dedicated. As women, we have the opportunity to be an instrumental part about shaping the future of agriculture. When we are engaged, passionate and dedicated to doing our part, we will strengthen American agriculture.

To learn more and connect with other women leaders in agriculture across the country, we encourage you to visit https://newfarmers.usda.gov/women-in-ag. If there is a leading woman in agriculture you’d like to see featured on this blog, please send your suggestions to AgWomenLead@osec.usda.gov.


UN NEWS CENTER: Climate change threatens agricultural trade in Pacific Rim economies, UN agency warns
LINK SOURCE

25 August 2017 – With global warming expected to significantly impact future yields in countries located closer to the equator, the United Nations agriculture agency is calling on Asia-Pacific economies to take a leading role in adaptation and mitigation.

“Many APEC [Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation] economies have already felt the full force of agricultural losses from natural disasters in recent years, with the vast majority of these being climate related,” said Kundhavi Kadiresan, Assistant Director-General and FAO Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific.

Geographically, the negative impact of climate change on agricultural output could result in lower yields of rice, wheat, corn and soybeans in countries with tropical climates, compared with the impacts experienced by those in higher latitudes. Fisheries could also be affected by changes to water temperature, warned the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today.

“The annual tally runs into the billions and billions of dollars in losses. So, the time to act is now. Policy makers need to prepare for changes in supply, shifting trade patterns and a need for greater investment in agriculture, fisheries, land and water management, that will benefit smallholder farmers and others that produce our food,” Mr. Kadiresan added.

Many vital agricultural regions in Asia are at risk of crossing key climate thresholds that would cause plant and animal productivity to decline, according to a meeting in Viet Nam of Agriculture Ministers of APEC member economies.

Based on the findings of the global research community, the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) anticipates that these trends are expected to worsen in the future with the projected impacts of anthropogenic climate change.

Much can be done to increase the efficiency of agriculture and land-use activities in Asia, according to Mr. Kadiresan.

UN NEWS CENTER: Time for action to support and protect small-scale fisheries – UN agriculture agency
LINK SOURCE

24 August 2017 – Small-scale fisheries, which catch two-thirds of the fish consumed by humans, often struggle with regulatory frameworks tailored to large commercial fleets, according to a new UN agriculture agency book urging policy coherence.

“[It's] time for policymakers to take concrete action – ranging from legislation, technical capacity development and especially engagement with the fishing communities themselves – to make sure the guidelines are implemented,” said Nicole Franz, Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) lead officer on sustainable small-scale fishery issues.

Ms. Franz maintains that policy coherence – pursued through inter-ministerial collaboration on trade, environment, tourism as well as social and economic development issues – must be the keystone for protecting the rights and livelihoods of the often poor and marginalized people engaged in the world's small-scale fisheries.

The Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines : Global Implementation offers more than 30 case studies ranging from Greenland to Zanzibar, and addressing diverse issues including gender and sustainable resource use.

While many small-scale fisheries use canoes carved from logs or stationary beach seine nets, such as the “rampani” that dot India's eastern coast, their practices are far from being relics of a bygone age. Indeed, they are usually well adapted to the ecological and social circumstances within which they operate.

The Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines serves as an initial progress report on implementing the 2015-published Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines ). Endorsed in 2014, it aims to bolster the livelihoods of the more than 100 million people working in the sector and increase their contribution to global food security and nutrition.

“It's going to be a long and windy path, but there are many entry points, so yes, we can do it,” stressed Ms. Franz.


UN NEWS CENTER: Emigration and food insecurity in Central American 'dry corridor' focus of new UN-backed study
SOURCE LINK

23 August 2017 – A new inter-agency study released today found a correlation between prolonged droughts in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras – exacerbated by El Niño phenomenon from 2014 to 2016 – and the increase in irregular migration from these countries to the United States, the United Nations food relief agency reported.

“The study provides an important insight into why people flee and the impact on the family members staying behind,” said World Food Programme (WFP) Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Miguel Barreto.

“It is perhaps this second aspect which makes this study stand out from much of the analysis conducted on migration from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to date,” he added.

Food Security and Emigration shows the need to invest in long-term programmes to discourage people in the Dry Corridor from emigrating, and to reduce the risks for emigrants and the impact on the families left behind.

The study indicates that a trend of younger and more vulnerable people are leaving food-insecure areas – especially in the Dry Corridor, a drought-prone area that crosses these countries.

Family members left behind face the burden of paying the debts of those who have migrated. If the emigration is unsuccessful, the family faces the problem of growing debt and of how to meet their food needs, the report said.

The document also pointed out that 47 per cent of the families interviewed were food- insecure, noting that these levels have never been previously recorded in the region even in assessments carried out over the past three years in the Dry Corridor.




NEWS FROM OLYMPIA

INLEE'S OPEN LETTER TO SEN. PAUL RYAN
Posted on the Governor's webpage 8. 23. 17

Dear Speaker Ryan,

Welcome to Washington state, home to 7 million people and the best economy in the nation. As you flew in, I’m sure you noticed the unparalleled natural beauty that greets our visitors, from vast fields of abundant agriculture and the majestic Cascade mountain range to the shimmering waters of our Puget Sound and the busy waterways of our world-class ports.

While Washington is often thought of as a “blue state,” the reality is that our state is made up of people from all walks of life and myriad political orientations. Our legislature is divided, and with that comes robust, passionate — and sometimes strained — debate. Compromise is a necessity and progress is often incremental.
But our state is a place where leaders are often able to set aside ideology for the sake of the greater good. Here, bipartisanship has yielded tremendous results: passage of our state Dream Act, Medicaid expansion, a historic transportation investment package, clean energy innovation, unprecedented investments in education from early learning through college, and a best in the nation paid family leave program.
I’ve worked in politics a long time, Mr. Speaker, and I know it isn’t always pleasant or easy. There’s a certain level of cynicism that is par for the course. Yet what we’re witnessing in D.C. right now is beyond the norm. The Administration’s nativist rhetoric and political kowtowing to radicals is fueling an alarming level of divisiveness that extends far beyond the marble walls of Congress, into the dining rooms of our homes.
Elected leaders in Washington, D.C. have left the American people frustrated and anxious at best, and violently angry at worst.
Something has to change. You have the power to help bring about that change.
For more of the story see the Governor's blog page


Op-ed: American dreams of young people will be cruelly ripped away
From the Governor's webpage posting dated 8/ 24/ 17

Washington is home to 17,000 “Dreamers” — young people brought to America during their youth who have lived the bulk of their lives in the United States, despite arriving undocumented.

In 2012, President Obama introduced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. The program ensured that these young people who are studying, working, and living their lives as productive members of society are protected from deportation.

Today, nearly 750,000 young people have obtained DACA status. But a group of 10 Republican state attorneys general are challenging DACA. They’ve told President Trump that if he doesn’t repeal the program by Sept. 5, they’ll take this to court.

In his op-ed published today at CNN.com, Gov. Inslee says now is the time for Congress and the Trump administration to stand up for these inspiring Dreamers:

The American dream has always been about chasing opportunity and pursuing a brighter future for ourselves and our children.
Unfortunately, if certain national leaders have their way and repeal the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, the American dreams of hundreds of thousands of young people will be cruelly ripped away. These are dreams that are as lofty and aspirational as the dreams of those who helped build our country more than 240 years ago.
We must ask ourselves: Are we a confident, forward-looking nation that builds monuments — like DACA — to hope and determination? Or are we a nation that is turned inward, lauding monuments to intolerance and division?

AG FERGUSON STATEMENT ON NATIONAL MONUMENT REPORT
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 24/ 17

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson released the following statement in response to today’s report from Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on his review of national monuments:

“In May, I sent a letter to the Trump Administration promising legal action if President Trump attempted to harm Washington’s national monuments. While I’m glad to see Washington’s national monuments appear to be safe from this attack, I’m troubled that Secretary Zinke and President Trump appear ready to overstep their authority in an unprecedented way.

“The Trump administration believes President Trump has the legal authority to unilaterally alter the borders of a national monument. They are wrong.

“If this Administration proceeds to unlawfully strip monuments of their protections, I intend to help our neighbors in defending their national monuments, and protect the right of Washingtonians to visit these important pieces of our national heritage.”

 Protecting the environment has been one of Ferguson’s top priorities. In 2016, he created the Counsel for Environmental Protection, a new legal unit led by Assistant Attorney General Bill Sherman, to protect our environment and the safety and health of all Washingtonians.



WSDOT: Plan ahead now for Labor Day travel
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 23/ 17

Travelers on I-90 should plan for significant congestion Friday and Monday

OLYMPIA – Heading out for one last summer holiday weekend? Planning ahead could be the key to smooth sailing whether on land or sea.

Travelers can use the Washington State Department of Transportation’s traffic volume charts this holiday weekend to “know before they go” and help time their travel on key routes. In particular, this year, holiday congestion is expected on Interstate 90 near Snoqualmie Pass – especially westbound traffic.

I-90/Snoqualmie Pass

Bridge deck repairs in the westbound lanes of I-90 between the summit of Snoqualmie Pass (milepost 52) and North Bend (milepost 34) will not be complete by Labor Day as initially hoped. This means only two of three lanes will be open for drivers heading westbound. The lane closures are needed because portions of the bridge decks have been removed and traffic can’t be shifted back on those decks until new concrete is placed and cured. Drivers will also encounter lane closures and traffic shifts through the Cle Elum area (milepost 86) due to work to replace old pavement with new concrete lanes.


LOCAL MEETINGS AGENDA HIGHLIGHT ITEMS



CLALLAM COUNTY COMMISSION MEETINGS

CLALLAM WORK SESSION AGENDA HIGHLIGHT ITEMS
1) Agreement with Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe to conduct Olympia Oyster Surveys as part of the Marine Resources Committee Restoration project

2) Briefing and call for hearing on proposed ordinance amendments to Title 33, Zoning, Chapter 33.52, Recreational Marijuana

3) Letter of support for the Marine Discovery Center Partners’ First Federal Community Foundation grant proposal

See full agenda



CLALLAM COUNTY REGULAR SESSION

1) Resolution adopting the following Supplemental Appropriations:
Health and Human Services – Administration – Olympic Medical Center has partnered with Clallam County Health and Human Services to pay for the 2017 Community Health Assessment.  They have provided funding to assist in paying for the epidemiology services received from Kitsap County/$10,500
Health and Human Services – General Funds – Environmental Health – Department of Health consolidated contract #15 adds supplemental funding for EH Onsite Implementation Grant and Shellfish programs.  These funds are for July-December, 2017/$31,750
Sheriff – Operations – Receipt of State funding from FY2017-2018 Registered Sex Offender Address and Residency Verification Program that will be spent in FY2017/$16,045

2) Resolution adopting the following Budget Reduction:
Department of Community Development – Environmental Quality – Reduce Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife contract #17-08466 (County #332.17.007) agreement for Advancing Western Strait Fish Passage Barrier Removal project use in the 2017 budget and add it to the 2018 budget/($60,000)

3) Consideration of resolution adopting the following Debatable Emergencies:
Treasurer’s O&M – The cost of foreclosure title reports is significantly higher this year than last year/$20,000
Human Resources – Unemployment Compensation – Increase compensation budget expenditure due to restructuring and employee separations/$40,000
See full agenda



PORT OF PORT ANGELES COMMISSION MEETING

AGENDA HIGHLIGHT ITEMS
Contract Acceptance - Glacier Environmental Services, Inc.
The bid documents to complete the Marine Terminal Stormwater Conveyance Improvements were completed under a Professional Service Agreement with Kennedy / Jenks and advertised for bids in the Peninsula Daily News and the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce on two separate dates: June 17 and June 24, 2016.
The project was awarded to low bid Contractor Glacier Environmental Services, Inc. for $1,441,808.65. There has been one increase to the contract by Change Order for $77,327.95 for a final contract amount of $1,519,136.60.
See full agenda for more details


IN OTHER LOCAL AND REGIONAL MEETINGS....

CITY OF FORKS AGENDA HIGHLIGHT ITEM: MAYOR WILL GIVE A VERBAL REPORT

JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSION AGENDA HIGHLIGHT ITEMS
Payment of Jefferson County Vouchers/Warrants Dated August 18, 2017 Totaling $783856.06 (Records of all claims submitted for payment along with vouchers approved and signed by the Board of Jefferson County Commissioners are retained by the Jefferson County Auditor and Public Works Department.)
SEE FULL AGENDA

WORLD AND NATIONAL NEWS BRIEFS

UN NEWS CENTER:
Afghanistan: UN mission condemns deadly attack on Shi'a mosque in Kabul
26 August 2017 – The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has condemned the attack during Friday prayer at Imam Zaman mosque in Kabul that killed at least 20 civilians – including seven women and one child – and injured more than 30 others.

Syria: UNICEF cites conflict's 'staggering' impact on children; calls for urgent protection
25 August 2017 – Six and a half years of war in Syria has inflicted untold suffering on the country's children, a senior United Nations official said today, urging parties to the conflict to stop the violence and live up to their legal obligations to children.

NATIONAL

PJ MEDIA: Bill de Blasio and Baltimore Vandals Follow KKK Example in Targeting Christopher Columbus Monuments
This week, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and vandals in Baltimore, Md., targeted statues of Christopher Columbus. By doing so, they joined horrible company, however. Among historic foes of Columbus statues is the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), the National Christopher Columbus Association (NCCA) noted.

CNSNEWS: President Trump Grants Full Pardon to ‘American Patriot, Sheriff Joe Arapio’
(CNSNews.com) - With cable news shows focused on the arrival of Hurricane Harvey Friday night, the White House announced that President Trump had pardoned former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a Trump supporter who became a target of the Obama Justice Department shortly after Barack Obama took office.



Daily Bible Verse: For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
Romans 12:4-5 NKJV


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OUR PARKS AND FOREST

US DEPT. OF INTERIOR: Secretary Zinke Sends Monument Report to the White House
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8. 24. 17

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke sent a draft report to the president which included his findings and recommendations on national monuments that were under review as a result of the April 26, 2017 executive order. The report summary can be read here. The extensive 120-day review included more than 60 meetings with hundreds of advocates and opponents of monument designations, tours of monuments conducted over air, foot, car, and horseback (including a virtual tour of a marine monument), and a thorough review of more than 2.4 million public comments submitted to the Department on regulations.gov. Additionally, countless more meetings and conversations between senior Interior officials and local, state, Tribal, and non-government stakeholders including multiple Tribal listening sessions.

The review was initiated by President Trump in order to restore trust in the multiple-use mission of the Department and to give rural communities a voice in federal land management decisions. In order to make the process transparent and give local residents and stakeholders a voice, the Secretary announced on May 5, 2017 the opening up of a formal comment period for the review, as the President directed. This was the first time ever that a formal comment period was open on regulations.gov for national monuments designated under the Antiquities Act.

“No President should use the authority under the Antiquities Act to restrict public access, prevent hunting and fishing, burden private land, or eliminate traditional land uses, unless such action is needed to protect the object,” said Secretary Zinke.“The recommendations I sent to the president on national monuments will maintain federal ownership of all federal land and protect the land under federal environmental regulations, and also provide a much needed change for the local communities who border and rely on these lands for hunting and fishing, economic development, traditional uses, and recreation.”

While traveling across the country, Secretary Zinke met with hundreds of local stakeholders and heard concerns about some national monuments negatively impacting things like local revenue from federal lands, agriculture, private property rights, public access to land, traditional Tribal uses of the land, and timber harvesting.


ON THE STATE LEVEL
WDFW encourages anglers to fish for escaped Atlantic salmon
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 22/ 17

OLYMPIA – State salmon managers are encouraging anglers to fish for thousands of Atlantic salmon that escaped recently from a salmon farm near the San Juan Islands.
Cooke Aquaculture notified the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) of a net pen failure on Aug. 19 that caused the release of Atlantic salmon from the Cypress Island location. About 305,000 salmon were in the net pen at the time, though the company initially estimated that only 4,000-5,000 fish have escaped. Cypress Island lies along Rosario Strait between Guemes and Blakely islands
"Our first concern, of course, is to protect native fish species," said Ron Warren, head of WDFW's Fish Program. "So we'd like to see as many of these escaped fish caught as possible."
Warren said there is no evidence that these fish pose a threat to native fish populations, either through disease or crossbreeding with Pacific salmon. To date, there is no record of Atlantic salmon successfully reproducing with Pacific salmon in Washington's waters, he said.
"It will be some time before we know how many fish escaped the net pens," Warren said. "That's why we've authorized Cooke Aquaculture to fish with beach seine nets and we're encouraging anglers to go out and harvest these fish."
The escaped fish are estimated to be eight to 10 pounds in size and are safe to eat.
There is no size or catch limit on Atlantic salmon. However, anglers may only fish for Atlantic salmon in marine waters that are already open to fishing for Pacific salmon or freshwater areas open for trout fishing. Anglers also must stop fishing for Atlantic salmon once they've caught their daily limit of Pacific salmon.
To help anglers identify Atlantic salmon, WDFW has posted a salmon identification guide on its webpage at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/salmon/atlantic.html

Anglers must have a current fishing license and must also observe gear regulations identified in the 2017-18 sport fishing rules pamphlet. Anglers do not have to report Atlantic salmon on their catch record cards.

OUR ENVIRONMENT

EPA: EPA AWARDS WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY JUST OVER $3 MILLION TO PROTECT WATER QUALITY
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 24/ 17

Seattle, WA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $3,080,000 to the Washington Department of Ecology to help protect human health and the environment through a Nonpoint Source Program Clean Water Act (Section 319) grant. This grant is given to states to implement environmental programs that address nonpoint source pollution in surface and groundwater in order to meet and maintain water quality standards.
"Providing funds directly to Washington is an excellent example of EPA partnering with states to help address their unique and critical environmental challenges," said EPA Administrator Pruitt. "EPA is making investments like this grant to help empower states who know best how to protect resources, and grow their economy while solving real environmental problems in local communities."
Under this year’s program, a total of nine proposals were selected for funding. These proposals are planned to be funded when the Washington state Legislature passes a new two-year capital budget for the 2017-19 biennium, as these funds provide the critical match for the federal grants.
Nonpoint sources of pollution continue to be recognized as the nation's largest remaining cause of surface water quality impairments. Nonpoint source pollutants - pathogens, sediment, and nutrients cause the majority of damage to Washington’s lakes, rivers and streams. Non-point issues can also lead to warm water temperatures. Left unaddressed, warm waters can make crucial streams uninhabitable by cold-loving aquatic species like salmon and other native fish.
Non-point pollution grant funding can be just the “shot in the arm” that local projects need. For example:
Stevens County: ($132,900 grant)
Projects aided by this funding will restore hundreds of acres of wetlands and repair riparian vegetation along a wetlands easement negotiated by USDA and NRCS on a 950-acre property in the Lower Spokane River watershed.
King County: ($170,025 grant)
Local restoration efforts in King County’s Stillwater Natural Area will get a boost from grant funds  as volunteers work to address high water temperatures in local streams that are proving lethal for salmon and other native fish. The project will replace invasive weeds with native plants within a riparian buffer over 12 acres and nearly a third of a mile of Snoqualmie River streambank.
 Skagit County: ($249,795 grant)
The Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group will use EPA grant funds to plant 25 acres of riparian buffer along the Skagit River. They will also construct nearly a mile of livestock exclusion fencing at five sites along 303(d) listed streams, and along Skagit River side channels that are harmed by livestock grazing and lack of shade.
Nonpoint source pollution encompasses a wide range of sources that are not always subject to federal or state regulation. These sources include agricultural runoff, unpermitted urban runoff, abandoned mine drainage, failing onsite disposal systems, and pollution caused by changes to natural stream channels.
Congress enacted Section 319 of the Clean Water Act in 1987, establishing a national program to control nonpoint sources of water pollution. Through Section 319, the EPA provides states, territories, and tribes with guidance and grant funding to implement their nonpoint source programs and to support local watershed projects to improve water quality. Collectively, this work has restored over 6,000 miles of streams and over 164,000 acres of lakes since 2006. Hundreds of additional projects are currently underway across the country.


EPA awards $45,000 grant to Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians to improve air quality in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 23/ 17

CHICAGO (Aug. 23, 2017) – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced a $45,620 grant to the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians that will fund the tribe’s work to reduce pollution and improve air quality in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
“At EPA, we are protecting the environment by engaging with our tribal partners,” said Administrator Scott Pruitt. “This grant represents what EPA is all about, empowering tribal nations to protect their environment to ensure clean water, air and land for America’s tribes.”
In collaboration with the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe will use the grant to train its staff to conduct air quality assessments and to interpret air monitoring data from industries in the eastern U.P. In addition, the tribe will:
·         Assess wood stoves.
·         Develop a database of its diesel vehicles.
·         Explore the use of cooking oil to power field vehicles.
·         Engage the community on air quality issues.
“We face many issues involving air quality and these grants will help us be better prepared to improve our air quality,” said Kathie Brosemer, environmental department manager, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
Based in Sault Ste. Marie, the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan provides a cooperative forum for 11 tribes: Bay Mills Indian Community, Hannahville Indian Community; Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish (Gun Lake Tribe), Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, and the Nottawaseppi Band of Huron Potawatomi.

DOE: Summary of environmental penalties issued second quarter 2017
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 22/ 17
The Washington Department of Ecology issued $50,000 in penalties of $1,000 or more April through June in 2017.
Ecology works with thousands of businesses and individuals to help them comply with state laws. Penalties are issued in cases where non-compliance continues after Ecology has provided technical assistance or warnings, or for particularly serious violations.
The money owed from penalties may be reduced from the issued amount due to settlement or court rulings. Funds collected go to the state’s general fund or to dedicated pollution prevention accounts.
Ecology strives to protect, preserve and enhance Washington’s environment and promote wise management for current and future generations. When someone pollutes Washington’s land, air or waters, Ecology enforces state and federal regulations in hopes of changing behavior and deterring future violations.

WORLD & NATIONAL NEWS BRIEFS

UN NEWS CENTER:
UN rights office gathering info on air strikes in Yemen; urges protection of civilians
25 August 2017 – Reiterating that attacks targeting civilians are prohibited under international law, the United Nations human rights office today confirmed dozens of casualties in airstrikes on villages near the capital, Sana'a.

No 'worse place on earth' than Syria's Raqqa, says senior UN adviser urging pause in fighting
24 August 2017 – A senior United Nations aid official today urged the international community to do whatever is needed to allow citizens to flee from Raqqa, saying that right now, there is "no worse place on earth" than the de facto capital of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh).

NATIONAL
AP: 4 resign from Illinois governor's office after cartoon flap
CHICAGO — Just weeks after being hired, four key members of Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner's communications team have resigned in the wake of the Republican's confusing response to a political cartoon depicting a black child begging a white man for money.

NYT: Administration Scraps Local-Hiring Plan for Public Works
The Trump administration is abandoning another Obama-era regulatory initiative, killing a plan to allow cities to set aside work for local residents on federally funded public works projects.



Daily Bible Verse: Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble.
Psalm 119:165 NKJV


 Free bible studies (WBS)
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Learn english using the bible as text (WEI)
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(Join us in worship every Sunday starting at 10:30AM Church of Christ)
http://www.pacofc.org/index.php