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Dry Autumns And Winters May Lead To Fewer Tornadoes In The Spring, Says UGA Researcher
Global warming will likely mean more unpredictable weather, scientists say, and a new study by researchers at the University of Georgia pins down, possibly for the first time, how drought conditions in an area"s fall and winter may effect tornado activity the following spring.
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Editorial, Opinion Piece Respond To Closure Of Murdered Abortion Provider Tiller's Clinic
Two newspapers recently published an editorial and an opinion piece in reaction to the announcement that murdered Kansas abortion provider George Tiller"s Wichita clinic would be permanently closed. The clinic was one of a handful in the U.S. offering abortion procedures in the second and third trimesters. Summaries appear below.~ Kansas City Star: The closing of Tiller"s clinic is "a tragedy for American democracy," and the "irrational violence" of his death has "trumped public policy," a Star editorial states. "The basis of civilization is that we agree to submit to the rule of law in order for society to flourish," the editorial says, adding that Tiller"s murder is "antithetical to that principle. It is dismaying to see a killer achieve his objective." The editorial notes that Tiller provided abortion services in "tragic cases" involving women "at risk of infertility or death; fetuses with severe abnormalities; and victims of rape and incest." It continues that the "reduction or loss of that service will create hardships and may put women"s lives at risk." Hospitals and doctors who refer such cases to abortion providers "must reassess the circumstances under which they would perform late-term abortions," according to the editorial. In addition, the "medical profession must take a role in training and supporting doctors willing to provide abortions," and the government and local police "must do all they can to protect a legal medical practice," the editorial says. It concludes, "Democracy demands that we not allow murder to make de facto public policy" (Kansas City Star, 6/11).~ Eric Zorn, Chicago Tribune: The announcement that Tiller"s clinic will remain permanently closed "was simply more proof that violence and intimidation can get results where civil discourse and political process fail," Tribune columnist Zorn writes. "The question isn"t whether prominent foes of abortion rights are being honest with us when they decry Tiller"s violent death and express regret over the means used to achieve an end they"ve sought," Zorn writes, adding, "Some are, I"m sure." He continues that abortion-rights opponents "recognize that ... a movement calling itself "pro-life"can"t also be pro-murder" and "are politically savvy enough to know that the gains won by terrorist acts are grudging and difficult to sustain." He continues that to "make terrorism less effective, and thereby discourage it," abortion-rights advocates, the medical profession, politicians and law enforcement officials "need to reopen that clinic in Wichita and assure its safe operation ... to defy terrorism, if for no other reason." He concludes that "as long as abortion remains legal, this same coalition needs to strive to expand the number of facilities where it"s available" (Zorn, Chicago Tribune, 6/11).
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NHS Confederation Responds To Care Quality Commission Report On Standards
Responding to the Care Quality Commission"s report (18 June) of trusts" self declaration of compliance, NHS Confederation deputy director of policy, Jo Webber, said there is a great deal that is improving in the NHS.
Health Insurance

$90 Million In Recovery Act Funds To Bolster Water Services In Indian Country And Create Jobs

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service"s (HHS) Indian Health Service (IHS) announced $90 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for improved access to vital drinking water and wastewater services in the American Indian and Alaska Native communities. The funds will be invested in "shovel ready" infrastructure projects designed to better protect human and environmental health in Indian Country and to create jobs. "This investment is win-win. Addressing long-standing water issues in tribal communities is also going to bring in new jobs and new opportunities - helping them get through the economic downturn and build a lasting foundation for prosperity," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "EPA is committed to working with our tribal partners on solutions that benefit our environment, our health, and our economy." "This generous Recovery Act funding will make communities in Indian Country safer, healthier and stronger," HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said. "Everyone should have safe drinking water and sanitation facilities and we"re committed to improving the quality of life in Indian Country." Continuing a tradition spanning 20 years, EPA and IHS" combined effort to improve water services in Indian Country contributed to their identification of 95 wastewater and 64 drinking water priority projects to be completed by IHS" Sanitation Facilities Construction Program through EPA Recovery Act funds. The projects exceed the Recovery Act requirement that 20 percent of the funds be used for green infrastructure, water and energy efficiency improvements and other environmentally innovative projects. According to 2007 data from the IHS, approximately 10 percent of tribal homes do not have safe drinking water and/or wastewater disposal facilities compared with 0.6 percent of non-native homes in the United States that lack such infrastructure as measured in 2005 by the U.S. Census. The water and wastewater infrastructure programs are a significant effort to improve tribal access to safe and adequate drinking and wastewater facilities. For example, a project to benefit the Tule River Tribe in Porterville, Calif., will replace failing septic systems, which threaten public health and the environment, with a community wastewater system. The White Mountain Apache Tribe in Whiteriver, Ariz., will benefit from an efficient surface water treatment facility which will provide the quality of drinking water needed to protect the health of residents in over 2,000 homes. President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on Feb. 17, 2009, and has directed that the Recovery Act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at recovery.gov. More information about all the EPA Recovery Act water efforts. HHS


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