SNAP Recipients Left At A Loss For Shopping At Farmer’s Markets 

“The Novo Dia Group, an Austin-based company that processes some 40 percent of SNAP transactions at farmers markets nationwide, said it will end its service by July 31, leaving about 1,700 of the more than 7,000 markets that offer SNAP (including the H Street market) with no way to serve low-income customers. The shutdown also will compromise a range of incentive programs that have emerged over the past decade to improve low-income shoppers’ access to healthful food. Nonprofit groups, such as Wholesome Wave and the Fair Food Network, and a $100 million U.S. Department of Agriculture program, the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive, match or supplement SNAP benefits at farmers markets.” – The FERN

Interim EPA Administrator, Andrew Wheeler, Steps In For Pruitt

As stated by the Hill, now Interim EPA Administrator, Andrew Wheeler, is said to be a “sharp contrast to Pruitt,” yet is reported to have lobbied for energy companies including a major coal producer in the past. In fact, according to Matthew Dempsey, a former colleague of Mr. Wheeler’s, Wheeler will be similar to Pruitt in terms of the Trump agenda. Specifically, that he won’t stray from the highly controversial EPA priorities of the Trump administration, including rolling back regulations and improving relationships with regulated industries like coal.

In his short time at the EPA’s helm, Wheeler has made a show of trying to patch up relationships with career employees, the media and Democrats, all of whom felt slighted by Pruitt. Other Pruitt foes, like environmental groups, point to Wheeler’s policy plans and see more of the same, minus the ethics and spending scandals. – The Hill

NY Times reports, “While he likely won’t be ordering used Trump hotel mattresses or renting a condo from lobbyists, Wheeler so far gives no indication he will clean up the most serious scandal of Pruitt’s tenure: Undermining health protections for American families as a favor to politically connected industries,” said Keith Gaby, chief spokesman for the Environmental Defense Fund, referring to two of Pruitt’s controversies.”

“The mission of the EPA is to protect human health and the environment. Scott Pruitt’s unprecedented rollbacks of 22 environmental regulations during his time as administrator did not reflect the mission of the agency. Acting Administrator Wheeler — former coal lobbyist and Scott Pruitt’s current replacement — will need to hear from everyone of us, if he is to follow a different path than his predecessor. Together, we can make sure he knows that we won’t stand for an EPA that compromises our environment. Take action now!” 

Keep Your Eyes Open For New Cellphone Equipment On a Light Post Near You

The new 5G Network is coming sooner than we thought, and to the dismay of many public health and human rights advocates. Unfortunately, wireless Telecom companies across the U.S. have said they’re going to install about 300,000 new antennas, but the research concerning the health effects of this new type of equipment has been inconsistent. One spokeswoman believes they cause cancer and says, if she loses the battle against the installation of this new cell phone equipment then she is likely to move away from her home. 

A cell pole near the intersection of 14th Avenue and Corona Street, Oct. 31, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

This next-generation mobile network is supposed to be 100 times faster than our current data speed, thus meant to accommodate a lot more people. Of course, it will help carriers like Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T and manufacturers like Nokia and Ericsson solidify their profit margins and further control the market. According to Business Insider and other trade sources, the 5G Network is part of the 5G Americas strategic plan to accelerate growth in the wireless industry and ultimately, further tech applications such as autonomous driving cars.  

CBS reports how AT&T in a public statement said, “if [5G equipment] is not already in your neighborhood, it’s coming.” So, the expected installation of new cell phone equipment equals roughly the total number of cell towers that have been built over the past three decades. This is, as you can imagine, rather alarming, “causing outrage and alarm in some neighborhoods, as antennas go up around homes.”