Sens. Lee and Romney Introduce the Early Action Against Ozone Act
WASHINGTON – Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Mitt Romney (R-UT) introduced the Early Action Against Ozone Act Tuesday, a bill that would allow the Environmental Protection Agency to work with local governments to lower pollution before they violate the Clean Air Act.
“Local governments that want to work with the EPA to lower pollution shouldn’t have to wait till pollution is already a problem in their communities before they are credited for reducing emissions,” Sen. Lee said. “The Early Action Against Ozone Act would empower local communities to work with the EPA before ozone levels reach unhealthy levels in their communities.”
“Ozone is a serious threat to human health. Under current law, the EPA can only work with local governments when ozone levels have already reached unhealthy levels,” Sen. Romney said. “Our bill will authorize the EPA to engage in partnerships with those local communities which are at risk of elevated ozone emissions before those unhealthy levels have been reached. Prevention is less expensive and more conducive to protecting the health of Utahns and all Americans.”
In 2002, the EPA initiated the Early Action Compact (EAC) Program to give communities at risk of violating the EPA’s ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) the option of entering into a cooperative early action agreement with EPA before they actually violated the NAAQS. This program had success: 13 out of the 14 areas that voluntarily opted into this program were successful in improving air quality and avoiding a “non-attainment” designation entirely.
Unfortunately, EPA scrapped the EAC Program in 2017 due to ligation, which argued that the program was outside EPA’s authority under the CAA. This bill would give clear authorization and direct EPA to implement a similar program to the EAC so that other areas throughout the country can have the option of taking early action to improve air quality.
An online version of this release can be found here.
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Charter Commission Attacks with Offensive Comments: Center for Education Reform’s “Reality Check with Jeanne Allen” Hosts Dr. Christine Ivie
Washington, D.C. -- “Reality Check with Jeanne Allen,” the weekly podcast hosted by CER’s founder and CEO, released a special 67th episode on June 25th. The podcast hosts Dr. Christine Ivie, the Superintendent of Heritage Academy in Jerome, Idaho who responds to breaking news. A leaked recording of an April Idaho Charter Commission meeting has been met with public shock. Throughout the audio, several chairs can be heard berating Jerome’s education system and condemning the very charter schools they represent. The comments went so far as to insult the intelligence of Jerome’s population, mocking their lack of “brain cells.”
Dr. Ivie’s Heritage Academy was specifically targeted in the attack on Idaho charters: “They have no future.” The extensive vilification showcases the conflict of interests plaguing the school choice system; not everyone working in and around charters truly wants them to succeed. These comments are at odds with the true values of Heritage Academy, which grants individualized attention to its 225 students, propels underperforming students up to standard, and serves demographics statistically less likely to succeed. Many more low-income and special needs students are enrolled in Heritage Academy than in the average Idaho school.
The episode breaks down the errant statements littering the Commission’s meeting by illustrating the factual background of Heritage Academy and the Idaho charter school system. Ivie and Allen speak to the integrous, impactful state of charters and refute the Charter Commission’s problematic rhetoric.
LISTEN HERE: Who Will Watch the Watchers? Dr. Christine Ivie, Superintendent/Principal of Heritage Academy
Reality Check is a weekly podcast that features a variety of guests who bring personal stories of work in the field, amid the increasingly contentious and partisan environment around education. Past guests have included national voices Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Purdue University President Mitch Daniels, public school leaders and everyone in between. You can listen to Reality Check on iTunes, Google Play, TuneIn, and Stitcher. To learn more, visit edreform.com and follow us on Twitter @edreform and @JeanneAllen.
As a non-partisan, nonprofit organization, CER does not endorse candidates or take political positions but will always recognize and applaud those who advance sound education policies, no matter what their affiliation.
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.
Stay informed, sign up for our weekly newsletter
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2017 CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT RANKINGS AND PROFILES RELEASED
LAKEWOOD, Colo. – June 26, 2019 - Today the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the Congressional District Rankings and Profiles that presents 2017 Census of Agriculture statistics ranked by congressional districts of the 116th Congress.
The statistics presented in this report include:
Producer characteristics; Farm characteristics; Selected value of agricultural products sold; Selected livestock and poultry inventories; and Selected crops harvested.
For more information about the Census of Agriculture including all the 2017 Census of Agriculture results, and tools to access and share the data, visit https://www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus/.
For state specific questions please contact:
Arizona – Dave DeWalt 1-800-645-7286 Colorado – William R. Meyer 1-800-392-3202 Montana – Eric Sommer 1-800-835-2612 New Mexico – Longino Bustillos 1-800-530-8810 Utah – John Hilton 1-800-747-8522 Wyoming – Rhonda Brandt 1-800-892-1660
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States offer a wide range of career and technical education programs and credentials intended to prepare high school students for success. But how effective are these programs and how relevant are the credentials students are earning?
Learn more at CredentialsMatter.org.
About Credentials Matter
Credentials Matter is an ongoing research partnership between ExcelinEd and Burning Glass Technologies designed to shed light on the landscape of industry credential data collection and alignment across the country. The project provides insight into how industry credentials earned by high school students align with workforce demand in each state to inform education system improvements and state data collection practices. Visit ExcelinEd.org/CredentialsMatter for more information.
Credentials Matter was made possible by a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York. The statements made and views expressed are solely the responsibility of the authors.
View the first Credentials Matter report to examine the analysis’s approach, findings and recommendations.
View Credentials Meet the Marketplace for state case studies on the effect of high school industry credentials on educational and labor market outcomes.
The Foundation for Excellence in Education (ExcelinEd) supports state leaders in transforming education to unlock lifelong opportunity and success for each and every child. From policy development to implementation, ExcelinEd brings deep expertise and experience to customize education solutions for each state’s unique needs. Focused on educational quality, innovation and opportunity, ExcelinEd’s agenda is increasing student learning, advancing equity and readying graduates for college and career.
SILVERSTEIN
SIGN TO UNFD
RELEASE NEW SONG
"BURN IT DOWN FT. CALEB SHOMO"
PHOTO CREDIT: WYATT CLOUGH
TO TOUR WITH AUGUST BURNS RED AND
SILENT PLANET THIS SUMMER
JUNE 26, 2019 - ONTARIO, CANADA - Silverstein has signed with UNFD. With the signing announcement comes a brand-new song from the band, who will be celebrating 20 years together in 2020. Fans can now listen to "Burn It Down ft. Caleb Shomo" at this link: https://youtu.be/95fs2Mqr5Bw. The single will be available for streaming at midnight tonight.
Caleb Shomo is the front-man for the Columbus Ohio, hardcore band, Beartooth. While both bands have performed live together a handful of times as Silvertooth, "Burn It Down" is the first recorded music they've collaborated on.
The new song is the first since 2017's Dead Reflection, the band's ninth studio album. On April 12, Silverstein released Redux: The First Ten Years, which featured newly recorded versions of selected songs from their first four studio albums.
"The song picks up right where Dead Reflection left off," explains Silverstein vocalist Shane Told. "It has the catchiness and riffiness of that album, but production wise and vocally we took another progressive step in a direction we feel great about. It hits hard and tells a story but gets you straight to the point. It's not messing around - direct and in your face. Once the bridge section music was completed, we could imagine Caleb's voice working so perfectly over it - so we sent it to him and said "do your thing". He sent it back and I just about fell over when I heard it."
Longevity is a rare feat for any band, especially one rooted in a foundation of punk and hardcore. Aggressive music is often fueled by youthful fire, and sustaining a career without completely abandoning that urgent sound is almost impossible for most bands.
But what's possible for "most bands" has never been a concern for post - hardcore pioneers Silverstein. Throughout the course of their almost 20-year career, from Ontario basement shows to touring the world and selling over a million records, Silverstein has always managed to be completely comfortable in their own skin while never being afraid to challenge themselves.
Silverstein will be recording their ninth studio album later this year, which will be released in 2020. The band is composed of Shane Told, Paul Koehler, Billy Hamilton, Paul Marc Rousseau and Josh Bradford.
Silverstein Tour Dates
Tickets: www.silversteinmusic.com/tour-dates
w/August Burns Red, Silent Planet
June 20 - Lancaster, PA - Chameleon Club
June 21 - Boston, MA - House of Blues Boston
June 22 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
June 25 - Toronto, CAN - Rebel
June 26 - Detroit, MI - The Fillmore
June 27 - Cleveland, OH - Agora Theater & Ballroom
June 28 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogart's
June 29 - Summerfest - American Family Insurance Amphitheater
July 1 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues
July 2 - Minneapolis, MN - Skyway Theatre
July 3 - Sauget, IL - Pops
July 5 - Kansas City, MO - The Truman
July 6 - Denver, CO - Fillmore Auditorium
July 7 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot
July 9 - Edmonton, Alberta, CAN - Union Hall
July 10 - Calgary, Alberta, CAN - The Palace Theatre
July 11 - Vancouver, BC, CAN - Vogue Theatre
July 12 - Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory Concert House
July 13 - Seattle, WA - Showbox SoDo
July 14 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater
July 16 - Sacramento, CA - Ace of Spades
July 17 - San Diego, CA - House of Blues
July 19 - Anaheim, CA - House of Blues
July 20 - Vans Warped Tour - Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheater
July 21 - Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern
July 23 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues
July 24 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theater
July 26 - Dallas, TX - Foundation Room at House of Blues
July 27 - Austin, TX - Emo's
July 28 - Houston, TX - House of Blues
July 30 - Tampa, FL - The Ritz Ybor
July 31 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - Revolution Live
August 1 - Orlando, FL - House of Blues
August 2 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle
August 3 - Nashville, TN - Marathon Music Works
August 4 - Raleigh, NC - The Ritz
August 6 - Charlotte, NC - The Undergground
August 7 - Norfolk, VA - The Norva
August 8 - Silver Spring, MD - The Fillmore Silver Spring
August 9 - Philadelphia, PA - The Fillmore Philadelphia
August 10 - Mckees Rocks, PA - Roxian Theatre
August 11 - New York, NY - Playstation Theater
20 Year Anniversary Tour w/ Hawthorne Heights
February 8 - London, UK - O2 Academy Islington
February 11 - Munchen, Germany - Backstage Werk
February 12 - Frankfurt Am Main, Germany - Batschkapp
February 13 - Berlin-Altglienicke, Germany - SO36
February 14 - Hamberg, Germany - Markthalle
February 15 - Köln, Germany - Carlswerk Victoria
For more information, visit: http://www.unfdcentral.com/
Stay updated on Silverstein:
Website: www.silversteinmusic.com
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2Km7OMb
Facebook: www.facebook.com/silversteinmusic
Instagram: www.instagram.com/silverstein
Twitter: https://twitter.com/silverstein
