Prices in the West region, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), inched up 0.1 percent in July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The July increase was influenced by higher prices for shelter and food.
Over the last 12 months, the CPI-U advanced 3.6 percent. Energy prices jumped 14.9 percent, largely the result of higher prices for gasoline. The index for all items less food and energy advanced 3.1 percent over the year.
· Overview and detailed CPI data tables for the current month for the West region and other selected areas are typically available for you to view online by 8:00 a.m. (MT).
· The full West region CPI news release for the current month is available online.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss the data, please contact an economist in the Mountain-Plains Economic Analysis and Information office at 816-285-7000, or feel free to email us at BLSInfoKansasCity@bls.gov.
If you would like to be removed from this list, please send an email to blsinfokansascity@bls.gov with the word "remove" in the subject along with the organization name or phone us at 816-285-7000.
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CROP PRODUCTION – AUGUST 2018
UTAH HIGHLIGHTS
Based on August 1 conditions, alfalfa hay production in Utah is forecast at 1.96 million tons, according to the August 1 Agricultural Yield Survey conducted by the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. This forecast is down 12 percent from the 2.23 million tons produced in 2017. Utah farmers and ranchers expect to harvest 530,000 acres of alfalfa hay this year, unchanged from 2017. Alfalfa hay yield is expected to average 3.70 tons per acre, compared to last year’s yield of 4.20 tons per acre.
Utah peach production for 2018 is forecast at 4,600 tons, up 35 percent from last year’s production of 3,400 tons.
UNITED STATES HIGHLIGHTS
Production of alfalfa and alfalfa mixture dry hay for 2018 is forecast at 57.8 million tons, up 5 percent from 2017. Based on August 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 3.33 tons per acre, up 0.01 ton from last year. Harvested area is forecast at 17.4 million acres, unchanged from the June forecast, but up 5 percent from 2017.
United States peach production is forecast at 732,050 tons, up 5 percent from 2017.
For a full copy of the Crop Production report please visit www.nass.usda.gov.
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With Confidence
New Album Love and Loathing
Out Now Via Hopeless Records
August 10, 2018 - With Confidence's new album Love and Loathing is out now via Hopeless Records. Fans can stream now via Apple Music or Spotify, or purchase here: http://smarturl.it/loveandloathing
Ahead of the album's release, With Confidence released three singles: "That Something", "Jaded", and "Moving Boxes".
With Confidence called on veteran producer Mike Green (All Time Low, Paramore) to create Love and Loathing. An album filled with both catchy melodies and emotive lyrics, Love and Loathing carries you through first loves, blistering breakups and everything in-between. According to bassist and vocalist Jayden Seeley, the final themes weren't clear until they had finished most of the songs.
"There's a looming relationship with loathing, mostly about the concept of self-loathing," explains Seeley. "That period before getting into a relationship is very introspective-you're trying to be a better person, but a lot of how that happens is because people are really hard on [themselves]. That ties back to love just as strongly, because in the relationship, you want to keep being better. In every way."
While the band has toured consistently since the release of 2016's Better Weather and honed in on their chops as musicians, Seely found himself overwhelmed while trying to find the time to write the next record.
"I had to learn what inspiration was the right inspiration," he explains. "This (Love and Loathing) is a culmination of all of that natural inspiration, poured into twelve songs."
With Confidence just finished their run on the final full cross-country Vans Warped Tour. Later this month, they will embark on a European tour in support of Love and Loathing. For more information, please visit: www.withconfidencemusic.com
Love and Loathing Track List
1. That Something
2. Sing To Me
3. Moving Boxes
4. The Turnaround
5. Jaded
6. Better
7. Spinning
8. Bruise
9. Pâquerette (Without Me)
10. Icarus
11. Dopamine
12. Tails
Formed in 2012, With Confidence is lead vocalist/bassist Jayden Seeley, vocalist/guitarist Inigo Del Carmen, and drummer Joshua Brozzesi. In 2017, they took home the award for Best New Artist Music Video at the Alternative Press Music Awards.
Love and Loathing is the follow up to 2016's Better Weather.
Upcoming With Confidence Tour Dates
Aug 11 - FYE, Hanover Mall - Hanover, MA (In store)
Aug 12 - Vintage Vinyl - Fords, NJ - (In store)
Sep 21 - Rescue Rooms - Nottingham, UK
Sep 22 - Garage - London, UK
Sep 24 - King Tuts - Glasgow, UK
Sep 25 - Academy 3 - Manchester, UK
Sep 26 - Mama Roux's - Birmingham, UK
Sep 27 - Globe - Cardiff, UK
Sep 29 - Dynamo - Eindhoven, Netherlands
Sep 30 - Headcrash - Hamburg, Germany
Oct 1 - MTC - Cologne, Germany
For more information
Follow With Confidence
instagram.com/withconfidenceband
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PR Supreme Court Confirms: Education Opportunity Constitutional
[Washington, D.C., August 10, 2018—] Students and families of Puerto Rico were given a major victory today when the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico ruled that new education opportunities are constitutional and dismissed the island’s teachers’ union’s challenge to the new education reform law enacted on March 29, 2018, which provided for a path for charter schools and scholarships for students to attend private schools.
“Today’s decision paves the way for what has become an unprecedented island-wide coalition to drive educational excellence, comprising leaders in government, business, higher education, ed tech, and civic groups like the Boys & Girls Club,” said Jeanne Allen, Founder and CEO, Center for Education Reform. “As we have seen throughout the US, such efforts produce exceptional results and provide new and meaningful pathways for children trapped in failing schools,” Allen added.
Math proficiency for Puerto Rico stands at 33%, while only 10% of students in grades 7, 8 and 11 were able to pass standardized tests last year. Although it’s their native language, only 49 percent of students achieved proficiency in Spanish last year. Knowing the value of educational freedom, parents began to exit the state for Florida and beyond even before Hurricane Maria. The Education Secretary Julia Kelleher moved to close schools based on these migrations and failing education and the new law was a bi-partisan response to institute more accountability and inevitably more options for students and families, but it was in jeopardy when the unions filed suit. The teachers unions also were pushed to strike by the US head of the American Federation of Teachers, Randi Weingarten, whose now infamous conversation on an Amtrak train plotting the strike was widely reported.
The Supreme Court overruled a highly political ruling by a Superior Court Judge who claimed that the Puerto Rico Education Reform act violates the territory’s Constitution.
“We knew after the first ruling against educational options that the Superior Court’s decision had no grounding in constitutional law,” said Allen, “as precedents have shown time and time again. We congratulate the leaders of Puerto Rico and hope this sends a signal to the establishment that nothing can stand in the way of educational achievement.”
Founded in 1993, the Center for Education Reform aims to expand educational opportunities that lead to improved economic outcomes for all Americans — particularly our youth — ensuring that conditions are ripe for innovation, freedom and flexibility throughout U.S. education.
