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Dozens of CA events this weekend honor Latino Conservation Week; Kamala Harris joins Oprah Winfrey in emotional campaign event; Report finds poor working conditions in Texas clean energy industry; AI puts on a lab coat, heads to technical schools.

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Rising threats of political violence, a Federal Reserve rate cut, crypto industry campaign contributions and reproductive rights are shaping today's political landscape.

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A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

CA Cancer Survivor Pushes Congress to Save Nature’s Medicine

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Thursday, April 22, 2010   

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - On this Earth Day, a California woman is thanking "nature's pharmacy" for helping her survive breast cancer. Jeanette Vagnozzi credits a medicine derived from the Pacific yew tree for her recovery. She's part of a group of chronic disease survivors in Washington D.C. this week to push Congress to protect threatened ecosystems where plants and animals that produce life-saving drugs can be found.

"Without these drugs, chances are I may not be here today. And it's very important to me that we preserve the places in this world where the next cure is coming from."

Jeff Wise, director of global conservation for the Pew Charitable Trusts, says drugs in the future will depend on what we find from nature.

"Only something like one-percent of all species has ever been cataloged and studied. So, when you think, we just don't know what's out there."

Half of the pharmaceutical drugs prescribed over the last 25 years reportedly were developed from plants and animals in threatened natural habitats. Scientists say the current rate of destruction for the world's rainforests and coral reefs will result in the loss of one major new drug every two years.

Congress is considering a bill that would establish a global effort to aid developing countries in protecting their environment.




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Some 899 of 936 public comments on the plan for the proposed West Fork Dam, or 96%, opposed the West Fork Battle Creek Dam project, according to a tally by Wyofile. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

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A federal agency is requiring Wyoming to update cost estimates for a large proposed dam in Carbon County, which has been under feasibility studies …


Social Issues

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This Saturday marks the International Day of Peace and the advocacy group Nonviolent Peaceforce is kicking off a series of family-friendly events in M…

Environment

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Latino Conservation Week is in full swing, with 330 events across the U.S. and 90 in California alone. The 11th annual event runs through Sunday…


Nebraska is one of 10 states to confirmed abortion-related constitutional amendment measures on the ballot in November. (Alcorn Imagery/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

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Some ballot initiatives this year have taken more than voter signatures to get onto the ballot in Nebraska. They've already withstood major court …

Environment

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Maine officials are stepping up land conservation projects as climate change continues to alter the state's terrain. New funding from the Land for …

Social Issues

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A new study showed as Texas has emerged as a national leader in wind turbine and solar energy installations, clean energy workers often face …

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Students enrolled at Wisconsin's technical colleges this fall might take a course where artificial intelligence is the star of the classroom…

 

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