Category Archives: Progress

Detroit Tigers' Tarik Skubal: 'Punched in the mouth' by Royals

Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal talks Sunday, July 25, 2021, after giving up five runs in a 6-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals.

Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press

The Detroit Tigers have the latest on four injured players, and three of them right-handed reliever Michael Fulmer, outfielder Daz Cameron and infielder Isaac Paredes are making significant progress.

Fulmer reported to Minneapolis on Monday ahead of thethree-game series opener with the Minnesota Twins, after pitching twice for Triple-A Toledo in a rehab assignment. He's recovering from a right cervicalspine strain, which placed him on the injured list June 27.

Manager AJ Hinch said the Tigers are giving "serious consideration" to activating Fulmer in the next two days. Before Monday's game, the 28-year-old will pitch in front of pitching coach Chris Fetter, assistant pitching coach Juan Nieves and athletic trainer Doug Teter so the team can fully assess his health.

"I told him he's not going to be activated today," Hinch said Monday. "We'll take it day by day and see what we decide to do, whether we sent him back out to Toledo or whetherhe gets activated here."

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Fulmer pitched Thursday for the Mud Hens, giving up one hit and one walk in a scoreless eighth inning. He struck out one batter and threw eight of 17 pitches for strikes. He returned to the mound Sunday forthe first inning, issuing just one walk in ascoreless frame. This time, Fulmer got one strikeout and fired four of nine pitches for strikes.

"The stuff has been really good," Hinch said."His first two outings, kind of high-end velocity, some pretty good breaking balls. A little erratic with his command, but he's rebounding very well the next day. Even today, throwing off the mound after his nine-pitchouting yesterday, he wants to throw."

The Tigers are allowing Paredes to do "minimal work" on the field before facing the Twins. He'll do infield drills with third base coach Ramon Santiago in foul territoryand could take regular ground balls.

Paredes, is out with a right hip strain. He went to the injured list July 22, retroactive to July 20.

"He may swing in the cage a little bit," Hinch said. "As we ramp him back up this week, it'll be very quick once we start the baseball activityfor him to be up and running. We're going to take BP (batting practice)today, optional BP tomorrow. The day game, we won't do anything before the gamebefore we get home. The on-field is very limited the next couple days anyway and fits the timeline of where Isaac is."

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Cameronlanded on the injured list July 7, retroactive to July 5, with a right toe sprain. He is doing "the most activityhe's done" to this point in his recovery and swung the bat in the cages Monday morning.

"If all goes well, he'll have some outfield drills like a normal player today and still increase his intensity and volume," Hinch said. "They're trying to get him up and running by the time we go home. Can we entertain shipping him to Toledo and getting him some game time? That's still up in the air at this point. But we're trending in the right direction."

The Tigers want to see Cameron run the bases before leaving Minnesota.

"The hope is that he can increase intensity and volume and have no issues," Hinch said. "If he can answer those challenges, then games are next."

Utility player Niko Goodrum has been stuck on the injured list since July 17, retroactive to July 15, with a left calf contusion. He is still dealing with swelling in his calf, which the Tigers didn't expect to linger for as long as it has.

"Very rare and somewhat surprising, according to our medical team," Hinch said. "We're going to have him viewed in Minnesota again. It's not painful for him. It's only the high-end running that's making him a little apprehensive to run. You start messing with those calves, and he pulls that this time of year, we're starting to threaten the season.

"We're being very cautious with him because he still has swelling in his leg, and he's not asymptomatic, so we really can't ramp him back up until we get that blood and swelling out of there."

Since returning from the All-Star break, outfielder Robbie Grossman has played all 10 games, hitting .229 (8-for-35) with three home runs, four RBIs, five walks and 10 strikeouts. He went 1-for-11 (.091) with two walks and five strikeouts in the past three games, which the Tigers dropped to the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

For the series opener with the Twins, Hinch gavehim a day off for rest. He put Akil Baddoo in left field, Derek Hill in center field and Victor Reyes in right field.

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"There are going to be stretches where things are good," Hinch said. "There are going to be stretches where things aren't perfect. Robbie is doing fine, according to me. Even this month, as an example, the games before the All-Star break and games after are not related. We had four complete days off. Even the month of July stats are going to be a little bit all over the map.

"I think he's always grinding. He's always trying to find the right balance, the leg lift, the bat angle, and trying to be a powerful hitter but also trying to be a productive hitter and take his singles when he can. It's just hard to hit at this level, certainly hard to hit for six months straight."

Grossman has a .226 batting average, 15 home runs, 46 RBIs, 65 walks and 99 strikeouts across 96 games this season.

The Tigers agreed to a deal Monday with Alabama right-hander Dylan Smith, the No. 74 overall pick in the 2021 draft. Smith was selected in the third round, after the organization grabbed prep right-hander Jackson Jobe at No. 3 overall, Texas righty Ty Madden at No. 32 in Competitive Balance Round Aand prep infielder Izaac Pacheco at No. 39 in the second round.

Smithsigned for $1,115,000, above the $844,200 slot value for the 74th pick, according to MLB.com's Jim Callis.

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Smith went 2-8 with a 3.84 ERA, 20 walks and113 strikeoutsover 98 innings across 16 starts as a junior last season for the Crimson Tide. Heis the first Alabama player the Tigers have selected since taking right-hander Spencer Turnbull in the second round of the 2014 draft.

The Tigers have signed their top 10 draft picks: Jobe ($6.9 million), Madden ($2.5 million), Pacheco ($2.75 million), Smith ($1.12 million), right-hander Tyler Mattison (Round 4, $400,000), right-hander Tanner Kohlhepp (Round 5, $400,000), outfielder Austin Murr (Round 6, $200,000), left-hander Brant Hurter (Round 7, $241,000), right-hander Jordan Marks (Round 8, $150,000), right-hander Garrett Burhenn (Round 9, $160,800) and outfielder Austin Schultz (Round 10, $148,900).

[ Tigers prospects make Baseball America's midseason top 100, including newcomer ]

Evan Petzold is a sports reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.Read more on theDetroit Tigersand sign up for ourTigers newsletter.

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These injured Detroit Tigers are making significant progress toward full health - Detroit Free Press

Lewiston National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration investigators completed their initial investigation of the aircraft accident that occurred at Lewiston Nez Perce County Regional Airport on July 24th.

The aircraft was released by NTSB and the wreckage was moved off-site for continued investigation. As we move from recovery to investigation, said airport director Michael Isaacs, our sincerest condolences go out to family and friends of an aviation legend, Dale Snodgrass.

Kind wordsbegan pouring in from around the worldSunday, July 26 after the name was releasedfor Capt. Dale Snort Snodgrass, the forever memorableU.S. Navy F-14 Tomcat pilot.

Retired Navy Captain and former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly called Snodgrass a true legend in a post on Twitter.

I had the pleasure of knowing him and even flying with him in an F-14 with a new flight control system with me in the backseat, which felt oddly appropriate, Kelly wrote.

Snodgrass was active duty for the United States Navyfor 26years fromAugust 1972 June 1999.He recorded around4,800 hours in the F-14 between 34 combat missions, as well as, in peace.Snodgrass first flew the F-14 right out of flight school which was something no other new pilot could have dreamed of. As his career went on he soon became the real-life "Maverick".

In 1988, he was photographed showing off his skills by flying what seems to be dangerously close to the crew and Navel deck, completely sideways.Snodgrassreceived a plethora of awards during his time in service. With 3 Legion of Merit Bronze Stars, 3 Meritorious Service Medals, and3 Air Medal with Combat "V", and even the Navy's Fighter Pilot of the year in 1985. Over time, thisearned him the legendary pilot title he will forever be remembered as.

After his retirement from the Navy.Snodgrass continued his passion for flying byfrequently participatingin airshows around the world.

Many organizations that Snodgrass had influenced in his life like theU.S. Naval Institute, the International Council of Air Showspored their kind words onto social media outlets. After his retirement from the Air Force.Snodgrass was frequently participated in airshows to continue his love for showing his skills to others.

Snort was a talented aviator, an enormously entertaining air show performer, and a longtime advocate for the air show business, ICAS President John Cudahy wrote in a Facebook post. His death is a true tragedy for the entire aviation community.

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Dale "Snort" Snodgrass, Investigation Progress and Life Story - Dailyfly

Many countries are making progress in the fight against tobacco, but a new World Health Organization report shows some are not addressing emerging nicotine and tobacco products and failing to regulate them.

More than four times as many people are now covered by at least one WHO-recommended tobacco control measure as compared with 2007. The six MPOWER measures are monitoring tobacco use and preventive measures; protecting people from tobacco smoke; offering help to quit; warning about the dangers of tobacco; enforcing bans on advertising, promotion and sponsorship; and raising taxes on tobacco.

Some 5.3 billion people are now covered by at least one of these measures - more than four times the 1 billion who were covered in 2007.

More than half of all countries and half the worlds population are now covered by at least two MPOWER measures at the highest level of achievement. This reflects an increase of 14 countries and almost one billion more people since the last report in 2019.

More than half of the worlds population are exposed to tobacco products with graphic health warnings. However, progress has not been even across all MPOWER measures. Some measures like raising tobacco taxes have been slow to move and 49 countries remain without any MPOWER measures adopted.

For the first time, the 2021 report presents new data on electronic nicotine delivery systems, such as e-cigarettes. These products are often marketed to children and adolescents by the tobacco and related industries that manufacture them, using thousands of appealing flavours and misleading claims about the products..

WHO is concerned that children who use these products are up to three times more likely to use tobacco products in the future. The Organization recommends governments to implement regulations to stop non-smokers from starting to use them, to prevent renormalization of smoking in the community, and to protect future generations..

Nicotine is highly addictive. Electronic nicotine delivery systems are harmful, and must be better regulated, said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, Where they are not banned, governments should adopt appropriate policies to protect their populations from the harms of electronic nicotine delivery systems, and to prevent their uptake by children, adolescents and other vulnerable groups..

84 countries lack safe-guards to protect from unregulated proliferation of electronic nicotine delivery systems

Currently, 32 countries have banned the sale of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). A further 79 have adopted at least one partial measure to prohibit the use of these products in public places, prohibit their advertising, promotion and sponsorship or require the display of health warnings on packaging. This still leaves 84 countries where they are not regulated or restricted in any way.

Michael R. Bloomberg, WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries and founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, said More than 1 billion people around the world still smoke. And as cigarette sales have fallen, tobacco companies have been aggressively marketing new products like e-cigarettes and heated-tobacco products and lobbied governments to limit their regulation. Their goal is simple: to hook another generation on nicotine. We cant let that happen.

Dr Rdiger Krech, Director of the Health Promotion Department at WHO, highlighted the challenges associated with their regulation. These products are hugely diverse and are evolving rapidly. Some are modifiable by the user so that nicotine concentration and risk levels are difficult to regulate. Others are marketed as nicotine-free but, when tested, are often found to contain the addictive ingredient. Distinguishing the nicotine-containing products from the non-nicotine, or even from some tobacco-containing products, can be almost impossible. This is just one way the industry subverts and undermines tobacco control measures.

The proportion of people using tobacco has declined in most countries, but population growth means the total number of people smoking has remained stubbornly high. Currently, of the estimated 1 billion smokers globally, around 80% of whom live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Tobacco is responsible for the death of 8 million people a year, including 1 million from second-hand smoke.

While ENDS should be regulated to maximize protection of public health, tobacco control must remain focused on reducing tobacco use globally. MPOWER and other regulatory measures can be applied to ENDS.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Editors note:

The eighth WHO Report on the global tobacco epidemic launched today summarizes national efforts to implement the most effective demand reduction measures from the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) that are proven to reduce tobacco use. These measures are known collectively as MPOWER.

The MPOWER interventions, have been shown to save lives and reduce costs from averted healthcare expenditure. The first MPOWER report was launched in 2008 to promote government action on six tobacco control strategies in-line with the WHO FCTC to:

TheWHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2021,finds that:

For each MPOWER measure, there have been new countries that have implemented some of the measures at the best practice level since the last report:

Original post:

WHO reports progress in the fight against tobacco epidemic - World Health Organization

Compared with 2007, more than four times as many people -- some 5.3 billion -- are now covered by at least one WHO-recommended tobacco control measure.

These sixMPOWERmeasures are:

More than half of all countries and half the worlds population are now covered by at least two MPOWER measures - an increase of 14 countries - and almost one billion more people since the last report in 2019.

Whilst half of the worlds population are exposed to tobacco products with graphic health warnings, progress has not been even across all MPOWER measures.

Raising tobacco taxes has been slow to have an impact and 49 countries remain without any MPOWER measures adopted.

Of particular concern, new data shows that children who use electronic nicotine delivery systems, such as e-cigarettes are up to three times more likely to use tobacco products in the future.

WHO is concerned that these products are often being marketed to children and adolescents by the tobacco and related industries that manufacture them, using thousands of appealing flavours and misleading claims about the products.

The Organization recommends governments do more to implement regulations to stop non-smokers from getting addicted in the first place, to prevent renormalisation of smoking in the community, and protect future generations.

Nicotine is highly addictive. Electronic nicotine delivery systems are harmful, and must be better regulated, said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

Where they are not banned, governments should adopt appropriate policies to protect their populations from the harms of electronic nicotine delivery systems, and to prevent their uptake by children, adolescents and other vulnerable groups.

Currently, 32 countries have banned the sale of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).

A further 79, have adopted at least one partial measure to prohibit the use of these products in public places, prohibit their advertising, promotion and sponsorship or require the display of health warnings on packaging.

This still leaves 84 countries where they are not regulated or restricted in any way.

More than one billion people around the world still smoke. And as cigarette sales have fallen, tobacco companies have been aggressively marketing new products like e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products and lobbied governments to limit their regulation.

Their goal is simple: to hook another generation on nicotine. We cant let that happen, said former New York mayor, Michael Bloomberg, WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries, and founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Currently, of the estimated one billion smokers globally, around 80% live in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Tobacco is responsible for the death of eight million people a year, including a million from second-hand smoke.

Dr. Rdiger Krech, Director of the Health Promotion Department at WHO, highlighted the challenges associated with their regulation. These products are hugely diverse and are evolving rapidly.

Some are modifiable by the user so that nicotine concentration and risk levels are difficult to regulate. Others are marketed as nicotine-free but, when tested, are often found to contain the addictive ingredient.

Distinguishing the nicotine-containing products from the non-nicotine, or even from some tobacco-containing products, can be almost impossible. This is just one way the industry subverts and undermines tobacco control measures.

The report argues that while delivery systems, or ENDS, should be regulated to maximise the protection of public health, tobacco control must remain focused on reducing tobacco use globally.

Read more from the original source:

Progress on tobacco fight, but new nicotine products pose increasing threat - UN News

All the sessions from Transform 2021 are available on-demand now. Watch now.

I dont know if I love murder mysteries. I think I just like justice stories. And thats what is comforting and entertaining about the Ace Attorney world. You work hard to clear the innocent while exposing the guilty.

These games, where you play as a defense attorney representing a procession of clients charged with murder, have always made me happy. Theyre whimsical and charming, even with all the, you know, killing and corpses and stuff. It always bothered me that some of the entries in the series never left Japan, including the two Great Ace Attorney games, a prequel duology set in Meiji Japan and Victorian England.

Capcom is finally fixing that injustice with The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, which collects those two games in a new package with improved visuals for Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC (I played on Switch). It comes out on July 27.

This is not a full review. This is two games in one, and I simply couldnt finish both of them in time. When I tried to push myself to clear my way through the compilation faster, I became tired and frustrated. It wasnt fair to judge these games like that, so I decided to slow down a bit, even if it does mean that my full review will be coming later.

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Above: Nothing shady about this fella.

Image Credit: Capcom

But it sure feels like Ive spent a lot of time with The Great Ace Attorney already. I finished the first of the two games, and that took me about 25 hours. Now, I never paid much attention to how much time it took me to beat an Ace Attorney game before, but that sure did feel like a long time. Even the first trial, which in past games is more of a short, glorified tutorial, seemed to drag on here.

The Ace Attorney games are most fun when youre solving mysteries, looking through your evidence to find contradictions in witness testimony or to discover a new angle that turns a trial on its head. You still do that in The Great Ace Attorney, but it almost feels secondary to all of the dialogue and story.

The series has always been part point-and-click adventure game and part visual novel. This feels like its leaning closer to the visual novel side. The mysteries you have to solve are often obvious. Its like the game wants you to just push the narrative along. Often, you get a new piece of evidence, and then like 30 seconds later the judge will ask you to present a piece of evidence to keep your client from being declared guilty. Surprise, its the clue you just got.

Thankfully, the story is entertaining. It features a large cast of likable characters, including the eccentric-but-brilliant Herlock Sholmes. You play as Ryunosuke Naruhodo, a Japanese student who travels to Britain to become a lawyer, and it is fun watching him go from a meek, uncertain character to a determined, competent lawyer.

I just wish it would get on with it sometimes. Dialogue drives these games, I know, but sometimes characters seem to chat forever before Im allowed to do anything meaningful myself.

Above: You have to investigate to find clues.

Image Credit: Capcom

All of this is to say that first of the two Great Ace Attorney games would sit rather low on my rankings for the series. Now, as I understand things, this isnt an uncommon consensus among fans of the franchise.

But I also often seen fan rankings place the sequel rather high, so Im excited to get further along in the second part of The Great Ace Attorney. And once I do, Ill give you all my final thoughts on this compilation.

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles comes out on July 27. Capcom gave me a Switch code for this review.

More:

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles review-in-progress Pace, attorney - VentureBeat

RV and camper parking is available at the Farm Progress Show west of the Decatur, Ill., show grounds and north of Richland Community College. Parking is free, but no facilities are provided. The grounds open to camper and RV parking at noon Aug. 30. Follow signs and parking attendants to be directed to the appropriate area. The Farm Progress Show runs Aug. 31 to Sept. 2.

Other sites offer camping and RV parking. For more information, contact these campgrounds or businesses directly:

Decatur-Macon County Fairgrounds. About 10 minutes from the show; 25 RV sites with water and electricity for $25 per night. Call 217-875-0135.

Wilder Haven East. About four minutes from the show; RV sites for $25 per night offer water, sewer, trash, Direct TV, electricity and a pool. Call Christy or Jami at 217-877-9010 for a reservation.

Friends Creek Campground. About 20 minutes from show at Cisco, Ill.; offers tent camping and RV sites 26 with electricity and nine without along with a dump station and shower house. Water is available. Electric sites are $20 per night; non-electric are $12 per night. Reserve your site by calling 217-423-7708. More information is at maconcountyconservation.org.

Clinton Lake. About 30 minutes from Decatur in DeWitt, Ill.; call Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, Mascoutin, at 217-935-8722or see reserveamerica.com.

Weldon Springs. About 30 minutes from Decatur in Clinton, Ill. Contact 217-935-2644 or visit reserveamerica.com.

Arrowhead Acres. Located in Clinton, Ill., about 30 minutes from show site; call 217-935-8442.

About 45 minutes south of Decatur. Call 217-774-2244 or visit lakeshelbyville.com (click on Recreation). Options are:

Robin Hood Woods. Call 217-774-4222.

Whitetail Crossing. Call 217-774-3000.

State parks of Eagle Creek and Wolf Creek. Reserve sites at reserveamerica.com.

Federal parks of Bo Wood, Coon Creek, Lithia Springs, Lone Point and Opossum Creek. Call 877-444-6777 or visit recreation.gov.

About 50 minutes from the show. Go online to visitspringfieldillinois.com. The area offers camping at these facilities:

Double J Campground & RV Park. Call 217-483-9998.

Illinois State Fair Campgrounds. Call 217-524-9894.

Lincolns New Salem Campground. Call 217-632-4003.

Riverside Park Campground. 217-753-0630.

Sangchris Lake State Park. Call 217-498-9208.

Springfield KOA. Call 217-498-7002.

Read more here:

Find RV, tent camping for your stay at the Farm Progress Show - Farm Progress

NASA has confirmed that the un-piloted Russian Progress 77 cargo spacecraft has been undocked from the international space station. The biggest difference between this undocking and a large number of other undockings that have occurred at the Pirs docking compartment over its lifetime is that the docking compartment detached from the ISS along with the cargo spacecraft. The undocking happened at 6:55 AM EDT on July 26.

The spacecraft will reenter the Earths atmosphere and burn up in the sky over the South Pacific. Progress 77 launched and docked with the ISS in February, bringing more than a ton of cargo to the crewmembers aboard the orbiting space station at the time. The removal of the Pirs docking station is historic for the ISS, and unfortunately, the deorbit and reentry wont be covered on NASA TV.

The departure of the cargo spacecraft and the docking port leaves the Earth-facing side of the Russian segment of the station ready to accept the new Russian Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM). After years of delays, that module is scheduled to dock with the space station on Thursday, July 29. The new module is called Nauka, which is the Russian word for science.

The module launched on July 21 and will serve as a new science facility, docking port, and spacewalk airlock for future operations aboard the ISS. NASA will air coverage of the new MLM docking with the ISS beginning at 8:30 AM on Thursday, July 29, with the docking expected to occur at 9:25 AM. Pirs has been part of the space station since September 2001 and was a docking port for Russian spacecraft and an airlock for Russian spacewalks.

Pirs had to depart the station for the new laboratory module to be attached. MLM previously deployed its solar arrays and navigational antennas as planned. It spent eight days in free flight allowing Russian flight controllers to evaluate systems on the module. MLM is 43 feet long and weighs 23 tons, it will attach to the same ISS port Pirs departed.

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Progress 77 cargo spacecraft and Pirs docking compartment depart the ISS - SlashGear

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented today on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly from April through November.

Warmer temperatures combined with a drier weather pattern moved into Iowa over the last week, said Secretary Naig. Forecasts show county fairgoers are going to experience hot temperatures as the heat wave continues across the state. Were hearing about moisture stressed crops, especially in the drought region, so were keeping an eye on rain chances predicted over the weekend.

The weekly report is also available on the USDAs website at nass.usda.gov.

Crop Report

Hot, dry conditions and minimal rain allowed Iowa farmers 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 25, 2021, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included applying fungicides and insecticides and harvesting hay and oats.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 14% very short, 39% short, 46% adequate and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 20% very short, 40% short, 39% adequate and 1% surplus. The shortage of moisture was especially evident in northwest Iowa, where topsoil was rated 70% short to very short and subsoil was rated 84% short to very short. In some parts of the State creeks have gone dry due to lack of rain.

The lack of precipitation is causing some stress on crops, especially in the northern third of the State. Corn silking or beyond reached 80%, equal to the 5-year average. Corn in the dough stage reached 21%, three days ahead of normal. Iowas corn condition was rated 65% good to excellent. There were scattered reports of corn in the dent stage. Eightyfive percent of soybeans were blooming, 6 days ahead of the five-year average. Over half of Iowas soybeans were setting pods, also 6 days ahead of normal. Soybean condition was rated 61% good to excellent. Oats coloring or beyond reached 94%, two days ahead of normal. Forty-eight percent of oats for grain have been harvested, 1 day ahead of the 5-year average. Iowas oat condition rated 64% good to excellent.

The second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 83% complete. The third cutting was reported at 8% complete, equal to the 5-year average. Hay condition rated 60% good to excellent. Pasture condition was rated 44% good to excellent. High temperatures and humidity are impacting livestock and some producers are still fighting pinkeye in cows and calves.

Weather SummaryProvided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

A transition to a less active storm track brought quieter conditions to Iowa during the reporting period with unseasonable dryness statewide; rainfall departures of near an inch were reported in northeastern Iowa. Hazy and warm conditions persisted as a stagnant pattern set up over the Midwest. Near-normal seven-day temperatures were reported in the southwest with positive departures of up to four degrees observed northeast; the statewide average temperature was 75.4 degrees, 1.2 degrees above normal.

Afternoon temperatures on Sunday (19th) stayed in the low to mid 80s across Iowa with partly cloudy skies and variable winds. Conditions into Monday (20th) morning were generally calm with isolated fog and widespread upper-level haze from western wildfire smoke observed over the Midwest. Temperatures ranged from the mid 50s northwest to mid 60s southeast with a statewide average low of 61 degrees, just two degrees below normal. Similar conditions continued into Tuesday (21st) with extremely isolated showers producing light rain in northern and eastern Iowa; only a few stations reported rainfall with a gauge near Center Point (Linn County) collecting 0.25 inch. Overnight lows stayed in the mid to upper 60s as another small area of light rain moved over northern Iowa. A southerly wind shift into Wednesday (22nd) allowed daytime highs to reach into the mid 80s across much of Iowa as gradual warming through the end of the week began. Skies remained clear overnight with a brilliant sunrise above a smokey horizon on Thursday (23rd). Sunshine and gusty southerly winds boosted highs into the upper 80s and low 90s through the day.

Cloud cover increased across northwestern Iowa in advance of a low pressure system moving through the Dakotas into Minnesota. The southern flank of the system brought showers through northern Iowa into Friday (24th) morning before dissipating in northeastern Iowa a few hours later. Rain totals were light with under 30 stations reporting measurable amounts; Sibley (Osceola) observed 0.24 inch while Everly (Clay County) only reported 0.01 inch. Partly cloudy skies gradually cleared in southeastern Iowa as a weak cold front dropped south across the state producing northerly winds and slightly lower humidity. Even with the passing boundary, high temperatures remained in the upper 80s and low 90s with a statewide average high of 90 degrees, six degrees above normal. As variable winds built-in overnight, a wide range of morning temperatures was reported at 7:00 am on Sunday (25th); Stanley (Buchanan County) observed 57 degrees, two degrees below average, while 74 degrees was reported at Keokuk Lock and Dam (Lee County); this reading was seven degrees above average.

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from no accumulation at most of Iowas reporting stations to 0.64 inch at Swea City (Kossuth County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.02 inch while the normal is 0.93 inch. Corning (Adams County) and Sioux City Airport (Woodbury County) observed the weeks high temperature of 96 degrees on the 24th, on average 11 degrees above normal. Spencer Municipal Airport (Clay County) reported the weeks low temperature of 54 degrees on the 19th, nine degrees below normal.

Read and share your thoughts on this story

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Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report July 19 - 25, 2021 | Redoakexpress.com - The Red Oak Express

Every year, nearly half of all food produced in the U.S. ends up lost or wasted, even as millions of Americans go hungry. Just imagine the vast amounts of land, water, energy and human labor squandered, all to grow, process, transport, and dispose of food no one eats. And from a climate perspective, Americas food waste has a massive carbon footprint. Its not just a matter of emissions generated by the agricultural system that produces the food, its also emissions generated by the landfills and incinerators where that food ends up.

Now imagine a more resilient, circular system that ensures food ends up on plates instead of garbage cans, or compost piles instead of trash heaps, while also helping to reverse nature loss, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create more jobs. No single policy or program will make this vision a reality, but Congress has an opportunity to take a big step in the right direction by passing the Zero Food Waste Act.

The Zero Food Waste Act, introduced last week by Sen. Cory BookerCory BookerSenate Democrats press administration on human rights abuses in Philippines Juan Williams: Biden's child tax credit is a game-changer Congress can make progress on fighting emissions with Zero Food Waste Act MORE (D-N.J.) and Reps. Julia BrownleyJulia Andrews BrownleyCongress can make progress on fighting emissions with Zero Food Waste Act House passes veterans contraception, LGBTQ business bills previously blocked by GOP Overnight Defense: Tucker Carlson comments cause military rage | Capitol guard duty questioned | Vet who served in Marine One unit charged in insurrection MORE (D-Calif.), Ann McLane Kuster (D-N.H.) and Chellie PingreeRochelle (Chellie) PingreeCongress can make progress on fighting emissions with Zero Food Waste Act House Democrats include immigration priorities as they forward DHS funding bill Shakespeare gets a congressional hearing in this year's 'Will on the Hill' MORE (D-Maine), would establish an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program to finance efforts by state, local and Native nations to better measure and understand their food waste, plan for more a circular economy, and invest in the infrastructure, policies, and programs needed to reduce waste and keep food out of landfills.

The program would offer three types of grants. Planning grants could help determine what kind of food waste mitigation strategies would be most impactful for individual communities or locations. Reduction grants could finance a wide array of state and local efforts, including the prevention of food waste, reusing waste as feedstock for compost and other non-food products, redirecting surplus food to those who need it most, upcycling waste into new food using ingredients that would otherwise end up in landfills, and implementing restrictions on food waste going to landfill or incineration. And measurement grants could enable states and communities to better calculate their quantities of food waste, digging into its main sources and where its winding up because measuring and monitoring is critical to the success of any food waste reduction effort.

The program would prioritize low-income communities and communities of color, which we know are hardest hit by food insecurity and disproportionately located near landfills and incinerators. Whats more, many of these same communities bear the brunt of extreme weather events and other climate impacts and we know that by reducing our food waste we are also reducing the emissions that are driving climate disruption.

In terms of sheer weight, food waste is the largest single unit of refuse in our landfills, where it sits, rots, and releases methane gas a type of greenhouse gas even more harmful than carbon dioxide.

In 2015, the U.S. set a national goal of cutting food loss and waste in half by 2030. Six years later, the trendlines are not moving in the right direction. Landfills are now one of the leading sources of methane emissions in the nation. All told, Americas food waste generates more greenhouse gas emissions than the nations entire aviation industry.

That is why its so important for us to make food waste reduction a central pillar of our national climate strategy. If we succeed in reducing food waste by 50 percent by 2030, we will prevent 75 million metric tons of GHG per year, roughly equivalent to 16 million cars driven per year.

Some state governments, local communities, and Native nations have taken initiative already. For example, the Pacific Coast Food Waste Commitment, comprised of government agencies across California, Washington, and Oregon, is already working with companies and various stakeholders in civil society to reduce food waste in their region by at least 50 percent by 2030 and to show measured year-over-year results. California also directs $4 million from its cap-and-trade program to food waste prevention projects, with funds from 2018 alone resulting in 103 million pounds of food kept out of landfills, 345 local jobs, and 86 million meals recovered.

But if the U.S. wants to proceed with the speed and scope needed to meaningfully cut food waste and achieve our environmental and social goals, were going to need federal support. Because turning a profit in waste management and related industries will remain difficult without incentives to recycle or reuse resources.

To that end, World Wildlife Fund urges Congress to pass the Zero Food Waste Act. The bill represents a common-sense investment in the future of our country and our planet that has local government, civil society, and private sector support. When we squander food at any level, we undermine public health, economic prosperity, and the natural systems upon which thousands of years of human progress have been built. This is an issue we can make rapid progress on through investment. We can and must do better.

Pete Pearson is global food loss and waste lead at World Wildlife Fund.

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Congress can make progress on fighting emissions with Zero Food Waste Act | TheHill - The Hill

The fight against ransomware is happening on many different fronts and while some ransomware gangs are making rather large piles of money, law enforcement and security researchers have had their successes, as well. The takedowns of some ransomware-adjacent botnets and arrests of some ransomware operators have forced criminals to adjust their tactics and techniques, which in turn has made life more difficult for the researchers and investigators who track them.

The most disruptive change that ransomware gangs have made recently is the shift away from vertical integration and to specialization and diversification. In the early days of the ransomware epidemic, the people who developed ransomware were usually the same one who gained access to victim networks and then deployed the ransomware. That model works pretty well for criminals who have a broad skill set, but for those who just want to make some easy money without actually learning how to do the thing that produces that money, its a little daunting. Enter the ransomware-as-a-service model, a model that divides the various tasks in the ransomware creation, infection, deployment, and payment ecosystem among people with the specific skills necessary to accomplish them. In this system, ransomware developers write the malware and them farm it out to affiliates who then deploy it and split any resultant profits with the developers.

RaaS is now the dominant model among ransomware gangs and it has proven to be extremely profitable for many of them. It has also had the effect of giving law enforcement fits.

Specialization has made investigation more difficult because you're not just looking at one criminal group, youre looking for several. It has made investigations more complex, said Marijn Schuurbiers, deputy head of the Dutch High Tech Crime Unit, during a panel discussion on ransomware Monday sponsored by the No More Ransom initiative.

The market has gotten more efficient. People specialize in coding one thing really good and leave the rest to other people.

Perhaps the most prominent example of RaaS is the Russia-based REvil group, which is responsible for some of the nastier and more notorious ransomware infections in recent memory. The most recent ugliness attributed to REvil is the mass infection of more than 1,500 companies that use the Kaseya VSA platform earlier this month, an event that led President Joe Biden to tell Russian President Vladimir Putin that the United States will take any necessary action to defend its people and its critical infrastructure in the face of this continuing challenge.

Soon after the Kaseya incident, the REvil operation essentially dropped offline. But there are plenty of other RaaS operations still going strong and making considerable amounts of money.

The groups that are still operating, they did separate duties very well. They all use what works best, like exploit kits, phishing campaigns. Everybodys doing the thing theyre very good at, said Catalin Cosoi, senior security strategist at BitDefender.

Its unfortunately a very successful criminal business model. I dont think well see this disappear in the near future."

Disrupting RaaS operations has proven to be challenging, thanks to their decentralized nature and the ability these groups have shown to shift their infrastructure whenever necessary. One of the key methods that researchers have used to defeat RaaS operations is finding mistakes or weaknesses in the encryption schemes the ransomware employs. That works in some cases, but its by no means a panacea.

We constantly have to find the Achilles heel of criminals. They will improve and evolve but there will always be an Achilles heel. Is it the encryption algorithm? Thats always a great one but there will be others, said Schuurbiers.

On the defensive side, maintaining current, offsite backups of all key enterprise systems can be the key to recovering from a ransomware infection. But stopping the infection in the first place is just as important, and Schuurbiers said implementing two-factor authentication on high-value systems and services is quite valuable.

We have seen incidents where as soon as they hit 2FA, they drop it and go on to the next victim. They have so many potential victims, if they see 2FA they leave. Implement 2FA on your most important data, he said.

Ransomware began as a nuisance, evolved into an enterprise threat, and has now reached the point of being a national security concern. Given the amount of money to be made and volume of potential victims available, its unlikely that ransomware will drop off the map anytime soon.

Its unfortunately a very successful criminal business model. I dont think well see this disappear in the near future. It goes way beyond the financial damage. Theres a real risk to our lives, said Philipp Amann, head of strategy at Europols EC3 cybercrime unit.

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Officials Cite Progress on Ransomware, But Say Much More Work Ahead - Decipher