Category Archives: Life Extension

In the winter of 2006, a distressing phenomenon began to make headlines. Beekeepers across the country were reporting troubling losses of their honey bee hives, at a scale and for causes not seen before.

The majority of worker bees in a colony would disappear, leaving behind the queen, plenty of honey, and a few nurse and immature bees. Colonies cannot survive without worker bees, and as many as 90% of beekeepers hives were being lost.

Stories about Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) were amplified with the vital role that honey bees play in pollination and their critical link in agriculture production. There were dire warnings that the collapse of the honey bee population would lead to the collapse of the national and global food supply.

Soon after CCD stories became widespread, David Tarpy, NCState Extension specialist in apiculture and beekeeping, noticed a phenomenon of his own.

When I started in 2003 it was before CCD hit all the headlines, he said. There were just under 1,200 members of the state association. Today there are nearly 5,000. They had 44 county chapters that met once a month. Now theres something like 89 chapters, and half of them meet in their local Extension office. We have the most beekeepers in the nation, probably outright but definitely per capita.

Motivations can vary. Some North Carolina beekeepers do it for business opportunities, to harvest the honey to sell at farmers markets or to friends, family and neighbors. A few beekeepers have expanded their hives and are providing commercial pollination services.

But just about all of them have something in common.

Most of them are getting into it because they hear that bees are in trouble, Tarpy said. Its something theyve always been curious about, and always wanted to do. It was enough of a curiosity and impulse to get started and keep bees as a hobby.

Beekeeping is a great way to help the environment and perhaps even make some money. It is relatively inexpensive to get started.

Learn more.

Seth Nagy, Extension director in Caldwell County, observed something similar in his area.

When Colony Collapse Disorder showed up and it was in the news cycle, locally we went from beekeepers calling us occasionally to a massive increase in awareness about bees, he said. We might be talking to somebody and suggest a crop protectant or a pesticide, and they might say something like, Well, I dont want to do anything that harms the bees. I know we need them.

May 20 is World Bee Day, first proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2018. It was chosen in honor of Anton Jana, a pioneer of modern apiculture who was born on the date in Slovenia in 1734. The purpose of the day is not to celebrate Jana, but rather to raise awareness of the ecological importance of bees and their general health.

In 2022, the good news is there are plenty of honey bees. But there are significant challenges.

A lot of people equate all bees as being the same, Tarpy said. Solitary native bees that are not under the purview of humans are in decline because of habitat loss. Since honey bees are managed they arent going extinct. We just have difficulty in keeping them healthy.

When the Asian Giant Hornet aka the murder hornet began generating headlines, NCState Extension created a guide to help identify the wasps and bees that buzz around North Carolina.

View the interactive guide.

NCStates apiculture program helps North Carolinas beekeepers meet the challenges through research, education and Extension.

We are doing research on different stressors of honey bees to try to find ways to mitigate them, Tarpy said. That leads directly into our Extension work, which is to educate beekeepers about better management techniques and best management practices. Thats where we have our most effective impact, trying to make existing beekeepers better.

Among the major stressors affecting the health of honey bees are parasites and pathogens, disease agents that make bees sick. The worst of them is a parasitic mite called varroa.

Thats what a lot of our training is focused on, Tarpy said. There are many different options, but theres no silver bullet. You can do the same thing to two different colonies and theyll respond differently. Its about trying to get beekeepers to understand the complexity of the entire issue.

Other stressors are pesticides and environmental contaminants, things that bees can encounter in their environment that are toxic to them; and nutritional stress, including habitat loss that reduces the amount of pollen and nectar-bearing flowers.

It used to be possible to be a bee haver; you could have a hive of honey bees and let them do their thing. Youd go in there once a year and take excess honey, and that was about it, Tarpy said. Now you have to be an active beekeeper, because there have been these introduced disease agents that our bees dont have a natural defense against. As a result they succumb to them if left on their own. So honey bees really do need a lot more hand-holding these days than before.

In this issue of Homegrown, Hannah Levenson, Ph.D. student in NCStates apiculture program, shares an update on efforts to conserve pollinator habitats and how you can begin growing your own pollinator paradise.

Watch now.

Much of the education component takes place through the Beekeeper Education & Engagement System (BEES), an online resource that offers courses for beginning and advanced beekeepers.

We built the BEES network to empower the Extension agents so that they didnt have to be experts in beekeeping, Tarpy said. They could rely on my expertise and these online lecture materials to educate their local beekeepers.

Before the pandemic, Extension apiculture added an in-person element with the introduction of three regional BEES Academies, held in Caldwell, Chatham and Brunswick counties. The academies took elements from the online course and added live training sessions conducted by Tarpy.

The idea was we would take newer or even seasoned beekeepers and help add to their knowledge, dive into some of these topics like disease management and hive management, said Nagy, whose Extension center hosted one of the events. The second day we had some hands-on components where we did mite checks, as well as some things with the industry like hive products and how to expand offerings that could generate revenue. It was just a fascinating program.

COVID-19 restrictions put the academies on hold, but there are plans to resume in the fall.

Another development on the horizon that will empower Extension to help North Carolina beekeepers is construction of a new field research facility in Raleigh, replacing the dilapidated building that was condemned.

The state beekeepers, on hearing the news that our field research facility was condemned in late 2020, went to the state legislature and got funding for a new field lab, Tarpy said. That is in the works to be built in the next few years. It will include an Extension center so we can start having Extension activities at our field lab again.

While there are challenges, Tarpy encourages anyone who has thought about becoming a beekeeper to take the plunge.

Anything to promote bees is helpful, he said. Its a great gateway into agriculture, a great way into farming and local produce.

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Bee the Solution | College of Agriculture and Life Sciences - NC State CALS

One of the U.S. Navys old Ticonderoga-class cruisers is slated for decommissioning next year, but it is currently undergoing modernization servicing that would extend its serviceability. The warship, the USS Vicksburg, is reportedly 85 percent finished with its overhaul. Another ship, the USS Tortuga, a Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship, is undergoing similar service life extension upgrades but is also scheduled for decommissioning.

In addition, the Navy would like to scrap every single Freedom-class Littoral Combat Shipone of the newest ship classes in United States naval servicea move that garnered blistering criticism from some lawmakers.

During a House Appropriations committee meeting, Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) expressed exasperation with the Navys expenditure in light of decommissioning schedules.

Some of these shipsespecially the Littoral Combat Shipsare among the newest in the fleet. The Navy claims they dont have enough sufficient funding to maintain and operate these ships, but thats not the case. Instead, theyve mismanaged billions of dollars in maintenance funding. One glaring example of this is the USS Vicksburg, a cruiser up for decommissioning this year, Granger said.

Since 2020, the Navy has awarded nearly $500 million in contracts to upgrade the cruiser. At a time when the ship is still in its maintenance period, the Navy is proposing to scrap it. If the Navy experts expect Congress to support its vision for this fleet, it must do a much better job of managing the inventory it has. We will not stand idly by as valuable taxpayer funds are wasted.

The Navy has argued that money spent overhauling aged platforms like the Ticonderoga-class cruisersor the problem-ridden Littoral Combat Shipscould be better invested in modernizing more capable warships rather than marginally improving old platforms.

Chief of Naval Operations Mark Gilday explained the Navys rationale behind its future force structure plans.

We took a look at our topline and we took a look at a Navy that we can sustain, a Navy that we can afford. In other words, were trying to field the most lethal, capable, ready Navy we can based on the budget that we have rather than a larger Navy thats less capable, less lethal and less ready, Gilday explained to appropriation lawmakers.

So we stratified our warfighting platforms. An LCS fell at the bottom of that stratification, along with the older cruisers that have an older radar, that have leaks below the waterline, radars that cant detect these new Chinese threats, as an example.

Some lawmakers expressed skepticism about the Navys decision to retire ships now to invest in higher-end capabilities in the future. It seems that the tussle between lawmakers and the Navy will continue.

One of the U.S. Navys old Ticonderoga-class cruisers is slated for decommissioning next year, but it is currently undergoing modernization servicing that would extend its serviceability. The warship, the USS Vicksburg, is reportedly 85 percent finished with its overhaul. Another ship, the USS Tortuga, a Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship, is undergoing similar service life extension upgrades but is also scheduled for decommissioning.

In addition, the Navy would like to scrap every single Freedom-class Littoral Combat Shipone of the newest ship classes in United States naval servicea move that garnered blistering criticism from some lawmakers.

During a House Appropriations committee meeting, Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) expressed exasperation with the Navys expenditure in light of decommissioning schedules.

Some of these shipsespecially the Littoral Combat Shipsare among the newest in the fleet. The Navy claims they dont have enough sufficient funding to maintain and operate these ships, but thats not the case. Instead, theyve mismanaged billions of dollars in maintenance funding. One glaring example of this is the USS Vicksburg, a cruiser up for decommissioning this year, Granger said.

Since 2020, the Navy has awarded nearly $500 million in contracts to upgrade the cruiser. At a time when the ship is still in its maintenance period, the Navy is proposing to scrap it. If the Navy experts expect Congress to support its vision for this fleet, it must do a much better job of managing the inventory it has. We will not stand idly by as valuable taxpayer funds are wasted.

The Navy has argued that money spent overhauling aged platforms like the Ticonderoga-class cruisersor the problem-ridden Littoral Combat Shipscould be better invested in modernizing more capable warships rather than marginally improving old platforms.

Chief of Naval Operations Mark Gilday explained the Navys rationale behind its future force structure plans.

We took a look at our topline and we took a look at a Navy that we can sustain, a Navy that we can afford. In other words, were trying to field the most lethal, capable, ready Navy we can based on the budget that we have rather than a larger Navy thats less capable, less lethal and less ready, Gilday explained to appropriation lawmakers.

So we stratified our warfighting platforms. An LCS fell at the bottom of that stratification, along with the older cruisers that have an older radar, that have leaks below the waterline, radars that cant detect these new Chinese threats, as an example.

Some lawmakers expressed skepticism about the Navys decision to retire ships now to invest in higher-end capabilities in the future. It seems that the tussle between lawmakers and the Navy will continue.

Caleb Larson is a multimedia journalist and defense writer with the National Interest. A graduate of UCLA, he also holds a Master of Public Policy and lives in Berlin. He covers the intersection of conflict, security, and technology, focusing on American foreign policy, European security, and German society for both print and radio. Follow him on Twitter @calebmlarson.

Image: Reuters.

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Navy Officials and Lawmakers Clash Over the Service's Future Budget - The National Interest Online

Lloyd Singleton| Director, N.C. Cooperative Extension New Hanover County Center at the Arboretum

Change is inevitable, and I find helping to manage change a worthy endeavor. In Cooperative Extension, this work often falls under the broad program area known as community development, a planned effort to build the capacity of residents to improve their quality of life.

In this Journal of Extension article, the current priorities for Extensions community development work are discussed. Growing vibrant, resilient communities includes exploring avenues to help communities build and expand on their unique assets; in New Hanover County, this includes promoting eco-tourism.

Renewing civic engagement of local people, institutions, and organizations helps gain support for the tough choices that communities must make today. A task force of multiple organizations and interested citizens can put feet to this work. Enhancing community decision-making and governance plays out with Extension introducing sound data and analysis to assess alternatives and guide local decision-making. This includes the implementation of strategies that promote sustainability: economic, social, environmental, and cultural in nature. Engaging the resources of our University communities, both faculty and students, provides sound analysis.

More: What the history of Eagles Island and Wilmington's 'west bank' tells us about its future

More: 'So many red flags': West bank development sees pushback from Wilmington residents

This week, Im presenting a workshop for the North Carolina Association of Community Development Extension Professionals right here in Wilmington. This annual conference seeks to bring together Extension professionals from across the state to share resources, programs, information, and experiences relating all program areas to community development. Titled Sharing Our Stories, Connecting Communities, the story Im telling is that of visioning an Eagles Island Nature Park on the 3,100 acres at the confluence of the Cape Fear and Brunswick rivers. The idea started well over a decade ago as a highest and best use of the compound flood plain across from downtown Wilmington, a patchwork of property owners and uses mostly south of the revered USS North Carolina battleship. A cochair, Evan Folds of New Hanover Soil and Water Conservation District and I have led a task force of many interested parties over the past two years, working with the resource of the incredibly talented team leading NC State Universitys Coastal Dynamics Design Lab. The visioning process has led to an inspiring vision book, available for download at http://eaglesislandnaturepark.org/.

The next step with the Coastal Dynamics Design Labwas a student cohort lab for the spring semester this year of further project visioning and planning. These 25 wide-eyed, curious, out-of-the-box thinkers (architecture and landscape architecture students) formed five teams to offer final projects that addressed the task forces goal of a park for conservation, recreation and education. The Gullah Geechee cultural heritage of rice production, the early ship-building and rich naval stores history, the ecosystem services of the land including a home for several rare species, and the recreational potential of the area were all treated in such respectful and creative ways. Concise videos of the NC State Coastal Dynamics Design Lab final student projects are worth the watch, inspiring views of what the west bank of the Cape Fear River could best become in the light of changing climate and land use.

Its hard to say where it goes from here. There is plenty of attention currently on what may happen on the other side of the river with development proposals and zoning change requests. Im pleased as an Extension Agent to help bring a community development perspective, a planned effort to build the capacity of residents to improve the quality of their life. If youre interested to know more, please download the vision book and well capture your email information to include you in future communications.

Lloyd Singleton is director, N.C. Cooperative Extension New Hanover County Center at the Arboretum. The Arboretum gardens are free and open daily from 8 a.m.5 p.m. Singleton can be reached at 910-798-7660 or preferably by email to lsingleton@nhcgov.com.

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Visioning Eagles Island as a nature park - StarNewsOnline.com

Many animal species die after they reproduce. But in octopus mothers, this decline is particularly alarming: In most species, as an octopus mother's eggs get close to hatching, she stops eating. She then leaves her protective huddle over her brood and becomes bent on self-destruction. She might beat herself against a rock, tear at her own skin, even eat pieces of her own arms.

Now, researchers have discovered the chemicals that seem to control this fatal frenzy. After an octopus lays eggs, she undergoes changes in the production and use of cholesterol in her body, which in turn increases her production of steroid hormones a biochemical shift that will doom her. Some of the changes may hint at processes that explain longevity in invertebrates more generally, said Z. Yan Wang, an assistant professor of psychology and biology at the University of Washington.

"Now that we have these pathways, we're really interested to link them to individual behaviors, or even individual differences in how animals express these behaviors," Wang told Live Science.

Even as an English-major undergraduate student, Wang was intrigued by female reproduction, she said. When she transitioned into graduate school in science, she kept that interest, and was struck by the dramatic deaths of octopus mothers after they laid their eggs. No one knows the purpose of the behavior. Theories include the idea that the dramatic death displays draw predators away from eggs, or that the mother's body releases nutrients into the water that nurture the eggs. Most likely, Wang said, the die-off protects the babies from the older generation. Octopuses are cannibals, she said, and if older octopuses stuck around, they might end up eating all of each other's young.

Related: How do octopuses change color?

A 1977 study by Brandeis University psychologist Jerome Wodinsky found the mechanism behind this self-destruction lay in the optic glands, a set of glands near the octopus's eyes that is roughly equivalent to the pituitary gland in humans. If the nerves to the optic gland were cut, Wodinsky found, the mother octopus would abandon her eggs, start eating again and live for another four to six months. That's an impressive life extension for creatures that live only about a year.

But no one knew what the optic gland was doing to control this cascade of self-injury.

"From the very beginning, I was really keen to do the experiments that we outlined in the paper we just published, which is essentially juicing the optic gland and then identifying the components of that juice," Wang said.

Wang and her colleagues analyzed the chemicals produced in the optic glands of California two-spot octopuses (Octopus bimaculoides) after they laid eggs. In 2018, a genetic analysis of the same species showed that after egg-laying, the genes in the optic glands that produce steroid hormones (which are built, in part, with cholesterol components) started going into overdrive. With that study as a guidepost, the scientists focused on the steroids and related chemicals produced by the optic glands in the two-spot octopuses.

They found three separate chemical shifts that occurred around the time the octopus mother laid her eggs. The first was a rise in pregnenolone and progesterone, two hormones associated with reproduction in a host of creatures (in humans, progesterone rises during ovulation and during early pregnancy). The second shifts were more surprising. The octopus mothers began to produce higher levels of a building block of cholesterol called 7-dehydrocholesterol, or 7-DHC. Humans produce 7-DHC in the process of making cholesterol too, but they don't keep any in their systems for long; the compound is toxic. In fact, infants born with the genetic disorder Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome can't clear 7-DHC. The result is intellectual disability, behavioral problems including self-harm, and physical abnormalities like extra fingers and toes, and cleft palate.

Finally, the optic glands also began producing more components for bile acids, which are acids made by the liver in humans and other animals. Octopuses don't have the same kind of bile acids as mammals, but they do, apparently, make the building blocks for those bile acids.

"It suggests that it is a brand new class of signaling molecules in the octopus," Wang said.

The bile acid components are intriguing, Wang said, because a similar set of acids has been shown to control the life span of the worm Caenorhabditis elegans, which is commonly used in scientific research because of its simplicity. It may be that the bile acid components are important for controlling longevity across invertebrate species, Wang said.

Octopuses are hard to study in captivity because they require a lot of space and perfect conditions for them to grow to sexual maturity and breed. Wang and other octopus researchers have now worked out a way to keep the lesser Pacific striped octopus (Octopus chierchiae) alive and breeding in the lab. Unlike most other octopus species, Pacific striped octopuses can mate multiple times and brood multiple clutches of eggs. They don't self-destruct as their eggs get ready to hatch, making them perfect specimens for studying the origin of the morbid behavior.

"I'm really, really excited to study the dynamics of the optic gland in that species," Wang said.

The researchers published their findings May 12 in the journal Current Biology.

Originally published on Live Science.

Continued here:

Octopuses torture and eat themselves after mating. Science finally knows why. - Livescience.com

Coventry University and TWI have taken their long-standing relationship a step further with the establishment of the research and development (R&D) focused Advanced Structural Integrity Innovation Centre (ASIIC).

ASIIC will see Coventry University and TWI build a platform to combine both parties expertise in structural integrity, fostering a collaborative research culture to bring innovation to the market place. The centres mission is to advance cutting-edge technologies, and develop novel methods, for safety-critical applications that will make operations in the field more reliable, and incorporate industry 4.0 elements such as internet of things (IoT) and machine learning. The key focus of the collaboration will be to create new systems that can predict asset integrity more accurately, extend their lifespan and improve the overall performance of structures.

At the core of ASIIC are plans to develop collaborations with SMEs, research and technology organisations (RTOs) in the UK and Europe, TWI Industrial Member companies and TWI Innovation Network (TWIIN) subscriber organisations. ASIIC will exploit the facilities of both Coventry University and TWI to undertake joint research programmes, utilising public funding, that can build a portfolio of novel technologies, methods, and techniques, and stimulate new design in structural integrity solutions.

The centre will focus on key research areas that include: residual stress analysis for improved structural integrity life prediction and life enhancement, novel condition monitoring techniques including novel sensing technologies, digital twin for real-time monitoring of in-service assets and provision of operational and planning date, and research and guidance development on the effect of simulated service environments, for example hydrogen gas, for structural integrity applications.

In addition, ASIIC will concentrate on: the integrity of advanced materials components, such as complex geometries, for additive manufacturing, development of advanced, non-destructive (NDT) testing and inspection techniques for industrial application, and utilisation of data modelling to enable industries, such as construction and engineering to take proactive measures to keep buildings and large infrastructure safe for use.

Professor Matthew Dor, Centre Director of ASIIC, as well as Section Manager for Fatigue & Fracture at TWI, said TWI is delighted to establish this new Innovation Centre with Coventry University, which will take on industrial challenges in relation to structural integrity, and provide efficient, new solutions for extending the lifecycle of assets, improving their performance and mitigating damage. Adding In turn, these activities will pave the ways for deepening the application of structural integrity methods and systems at technology readiness levels (TRLs) 1-6.

Matthew joined TWI in 2000 and, since then, has been extensively involved in areas such as fatigue design, fracture mechanics, mechanical testing, residual stress, fatigue life extension and site investigations. He is also a Chartered Engineer through The Welding Institute, is currently Chair of the fatigue design rules for BS 7608, BS 7910, and represents the UK for the International Institute of Welding (IIW) Commission XIII.

Professor Michael Fitzpatrick, Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Coventry University, said Our new Innovation Centre builds on Coventrys leading expertise in structural integrity research, combined with TWIs world-class facilities and broad network of industrial partners. Our collaboration with the National Structural Integrity Research Centre has been delivering fantastic research for several years and has provided the launch pad for this new initiative. Our intention is to deliver world-leading research that will impact on safety-critical infrastructure and applications around the world.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/19052022/coventry-university-and-twi-deliver-new-innovation-centre/

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Coventry University and TWI deliver new innovation centre - World Pipelines

Research shows participating in gardening and other horticultural activities gives people a more positive outlook on life.

Texas A&M AgriLife photo

Getting outdoors and gardening can do more than just provide some physical activity and produce food for the table; it can be beneficial to the mind as well.

Although there are many functional benefits of gardening and the inherent ways in which plants improve the quality of life,Texas A&M AgriLifeexperts say a particularly important aspect is how plants enhance mental health and a persons overall outlook.

As many people already knew and others discovered during the pandemic, plant-related hobbies like gardening offer an opportunity to enjoy nature and give a person a more positive outlook on life, said Charles Hall, professor and Ellison Chair in International Floriculturein theDepartment of Horticultural Sciencesof the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Bryan-College Station.

Hall has done extensive research on how plants and gardening can improve both physical and mental health.

Research by Hall, presented in an article published in theJournal of Environmental Horticulture, outlines the numerous psychological benefits of plants and the activity of gardening in a variety of categories. These benefits include:

Hall said the pandemic was partly responsible for an increased interest in gardening as more people were becoming involved in at-home activities.

He said being in natural settings and engaging in activities like gardening have a positive impact on peoples feelings of vitality and energy.

Consequently, this has a significant positive effect on a persons overall mental health, Hall said.

He also noted that the activities of gardening and plant care help distract the mind and put it into a quieter and more relaxed state.

Master Gardeners are involved in a number of community outreach and education activities related to gardening and horticultural education.

Texas A&M AgriLife photo

Jayla Fry,Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Serviceprogram coordinator for the agencysTexas Master Gardenervolunteer effort, said almost every day she sees gardenings calming effect and ability to improve a persons outlook.

Through the Department of Horticultural Sciences, AgriLife Extension oversees thousands of adult Master Gardener volunteers throughout the state, she said. These Master Gardeners support agency horticultural programs and reach tens of thousands of people annually through their educational and community beautification efforts. These volunteers can attest to the positive psychological benefits gardening provides for them and for those they work with in the community.

Further commenting on the intersection of plants, gardens and mental health was Joseph Johnson, manager ofThe Gardens at Texas A&M University.

We think of The Gardens area as the Central Park for theTexas A&M Universitycampus, he said.

The Gardens is a 27-acre public teaching garden on campus that serves as a living classroom for educational, inspirational and recreational experiences. Primarily a peaceful retreat away from the activity of campus and the surrounding community, students and visitors alike visit to enjoy and learn from the nature that surrounds them.

The Gardens helps enrich their lives by connecting them with the living world of horticulture, Johnson said. Students and community members can more easily relax being in such a beautiful and tranquil place. It makes them feel more peaceful in their minds and souls.

The Junior Master Gardener Program introduces children to the joys and benefits of gardening.

Texas A&M AgriLife photo

Hall said when young people, particularly students, have a view of green spaces during school, they exhibit significantly better performance on attention tests and stress recovery.

They get even greater psychological benefits if theres aclassroom or teaching gardenon their campus, he said. These gardens provide opportunities for young people to improve their social, physical, psychological, cognitive, environmental and spiritual well-being.

Randy Seagraves, AgriLife Extension specialist and curriculum coordinator for itsJunior Master Gardenerprogram in the Department of Horticultural Sciences, said it is common to see a childs demeanor and attitude improve as soon as he or she steps into a garden.

We see them slow down, pause and smile, he said. For many of these kids, being a part of a school garden project will be their very first garden connection. When young gardeners have the experience of planting and caring for something from seed to harvest, they get a sense of accomplishment, pride and ownership. Its a real esteem-builder for them.

Hall said in addition to improved concentration and attention, children in schools with classroom gardens have been shown to have fewer instances of interpersonal conflict and bullying.

Gardening is conducive to generating a positive learning environment, reducing childrens tendency towards distraction and helping them better concentrate on schoolwork, he said. Children engaged in classroom gardens get to be outside, be physically active and work together toward a common goal. Maybe most importantly, they also get to understand how patience and persistence are needed for them to literally see the fruits of their labor.

Building a community garden often brings together people of different experiences and backgrounds.

Texas A&M AgriLife photo

Hall said another psychological benefit of gardening is its ability to bring people together socially, especially in the case of a community garden.

Neighborhoods with a community garden are often more friendly and inviting, he said. And a community garden helps break down certain social barriers in that you will often see people of different backgrounds, ethnicities and economic levels collaborating on them. This sense of community is really the glue that makes a neighborhood special and allows people a chance to really get to know and understand one another.

Miquela Smith, AgriLife Extension program specialist-health, Lubbock, with AgriLife Extensions Family and Community Health unit, said studies show people atlower economic levels experience greater average net benefits from home gardening compared to medium- and high-income respondents.

One reason is likely that low-income families often live in food deserts and experience greater food insecurity from limited access to fresh produce, she said. Home or community gardening allows them to grow their own nutritious food, which provides some measure of control over their food security and has a positive impact on their physical and mental well-being.

Smith also noted gardening is one of the ways people can improve their mindfulness as a means of supporting their mental health.

Gardening is an excellent activity for practicing mindfulness, which is beneficial to overall well-being, she said. The ability to use our hands, coupled with being outside, makes it less likely to be distracted by phones or other technology. This helps you focus and distract your mind from those things that would worry you.

She also reiterated Halls point that gardening can also be a family or community activity that promotes togetherness and provides the opportunity for making personal connections.

This ability to make and sustain personal connections is something that is beneficial to all people, regardless of demographics, Smith said.

Read more:

The Positive Effects Of Gardening On Mental Health - Texas A&M University Today

Editors Note: This article is republished from Faith & Leadership, an online magazine of the Leadership Education program at Duke Divinity School.

In the 1960s sitcom Green Acres, wealthy New Yorkers leave the city for rural life. As the shows twangytheme songsays, Farm living is the life for me. Its a funny, lighthearted show but in reality, many farmers lives are far from idyllic.

In January 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published areport on suicide ratesby occupation. Farmers landed in the top five. Along with workers in construction, mining, transportation, and services such as auto repair, workers in agriculture die by suicide at disproportionally high rates. The complexity of farming, along with isolation, shame over economic distress, and a lack of mental health resources is fueling thisepidemic.

Four years ago, we launchedThe Moses Project, a program to equip rural pastors with resources for congregational leadership, connect them to peers and support them with mentors. Our hope was to inspire innovative thinking among those serving in rural settings. The effort is funded by a Thriving in Ministry grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.

The name for the project came from Deuteronomy 34:7: Moses was 120 years old when he died; his sight was unimpaired and his vigor had not abated (NRSV). The idea is that where there is vision, there is passion. We hoped to inspire vision among pastors. We didnt know that this work would also help improve mental health among farmers.

One of the programs exemplars is the Rev. Grant Woodley, a fourth-generation farmer and a Lutheran pastor. Woodleys bivocational work places him in a unique position to inform and inspire his colleagues. Speaking to a group of pastors, Woodley said, Farmers face tremendous pressure, as global dynamics, the weather, economic markets both domestic and global and politics all factor into the business of farming.

That pressure can kill. We have pastors whove buried high school students and farmers in their 20s and 30s who feel overwhelmed at not being able to continue the family legacy. These deaths take a heavy toll on the local community including the pastors themselves.

Yet farmers can serve as positive models, Woodley said. To survive, farmers need to be flexible in their business; they also need to be empathetic to care for themselves and loved ones in their community.

Woodley then challenged his colleagues to be pastors who think like farmers: to be flexible and empathetic with the long game in mind. In other words, to practice traditioned innovation.

This challenge resonated for the Rev. Stephen Zeller, a project participant, who serves a rural congregation at St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Cole Camp, Missouri. Zeller began thinking about the mental health of farmers in his church and community. He realized that no one talked about mental health. With empathy for the community, Zeller and his church decided to act.

The church hosted a concert at a family farm featuring the Peterson Farm Brothers band. Funded by a grant, it was touted as a We love our farmers event and included family activities and food. Zeller also invited participation from the local University of Missouri Extension Office.

The outdoor event was attended by 150-200 people and included eight representatives from the extension office and lots of resources on suicide awareness for rural communities. Some farmers quietly grabbed pamphlets and avoided making eye contact. Others connected with church members, extension representatives and others.

The success of the concert led to further collaboration. Zellers church partnered with a clinic for farmers. This free event included students completing a rural-track internship through the University of Missouri School of Medicine, who provided mental health screenings, a presentation on mental health and suicide awareness, and a free lunch.

By thinking like a farmer, Zeller identified needs in the community and sought collaboration partners who were already active in mental health support for rural communities. Such work not only helps the congregation flourish; it also brings an awareness that can save lives.

One thing is clear: Pastors and church leaders stand in a crucial space within rural America. Their buildings are often the nicest ones in town, and everyone has passed through those spaces for weddings, funerals, baptisms and other life events. When pastors and churches take the time to be flexible and creative, many blessings arise.

Zeller explains: Being able to notice what we were doing well, what didnt need to be done, and what the needs around us were at that time allowed us to create new partnerships and offer Gods love where it was really needed.

The church has an important role to play in facilitating conversations about suicide, mental health and other needs faced by rural communities. Unlike Moses, who watched a generation of his community die in the wilderness, we as rural pastors can work to help a generation of farmers live.

If we commit to thinking like farmers, with empathy and creativity, lives can be changed. And maybe over time, we might help more people in our communities say, Farm living is the life for me.

Russell Lackey is senior campus pastor at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Trisha Wheelock is program director of the Moses Project.

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by Tim Marema, The Daily Yonder May 20, 2022

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REVIEW A cordless stick vac was not something I thought Id ever need. We have a LIDAR-guided robot vacuum that handles the task a few times a week, a more traditional upright vacuum for deep cleaning, and an older corded hand-held vacuum for spot cleaning. So when the opportunity to review the Levoit cordless stick vacuum came along, I thought it would be interesting, but I was skeptical. I was wrong. Using it is easy, fun, and when Isaw the amount of dirt it picked up, I was left wondering how I had gotten bywithout one.

Its a wireless (cordless, rechargeable) stick vacuum with a powered brush and several other attachments.

The LEVOIT Vortex IQ 40 cordless stick vacuum features a main head unit that contains the filters, dust bin, battery, filters, motor, display, and controls. All the accessories pop right into the head unit. And those accessories are all modular. Want to use the crevice tool with the extension to get behind your dryer? You can. Want to use the carpet unit without the extension tube to clean small rugs? No problem.

Perhaps my favorite feature of the LEVOIT Vortex IQ 40 cordless stick vacuum was the auto suction. The vacuum monitors the dust level and adjusts the suction power accordingly. This optimizes both cleaning and battery life. Of course, you can always adjust the power manually, but I never felt the need.

The Levoit Vortex IQ 40 features a handy storage cradle that recharges the battery and holds the accessories when not in use. You can also recharge the battery by plugging the charger directly into the battery instead of plugging it into the cradle a nice feature if you want to take the vacuum with you but leave the cradle behind (which is a good idea, since its likely bolted to your wall).

The unit easily disassembles without any tools for removing jams, and cleaning or replacing the filters. Speaking of filters, there are three of them. The first is in the dust bin and is made of perforated metal. Youll never need to replace this one just rinse it off in the sink. The other two are standard pleated paper filters and are easily replaceable, but can also be rinsed in water.

The powered carpet unit has LED lights on it for vacuuming in dim conditions or seeing under furniture, and this unit easily comes apart to clear jams or remove hair from the powered brush.

Having never used a stick vac before, I was immediately impressed by how light and maneuverable the LEVOIT Vortex IQ 40 cordless stick vacuum was. It was also clear that this was not a unit that I would not want to vacuum my whole house with. If you live in a small space, or use this for grabbing small messes, its fantastic. Its also great for accessing areas traditional vacuums cant get to. It wouldjust take too long to do your whole house. Save that for a larger unit, or for a robot vacuum.

The filters in the Levoit are very good. One of the first things I did with the vacuum was to clean up some spilled ash from our wood stove. Ash is exceptionally fine and often makes it through many vacuum filters. Not so with this one. Ash also is notorious for clogging filters that it doesnt pass through, greatly reducing suction. No decrease in suction was noted. I was impressed.

The carpet tool does quite a good job getting dust, hair, and other crud off of our carpets. It also worked great on hardwood floors, which is mostly what we have in our house. One of the nicest features of the carpet tool is its low profile; simply twist the unit 90 degrees to either side, and you can slide the whole thing under any gap larger than 3 inches or so. This was great for getting into dust-bunny territory under sofas and other furniture.

This ability to clean the great unclean was where I encountered the Levoits first limitation. The dust bin is pretty small. Once in dust bunny territory, it fills quickly. And if you dont notice, the crud will jam up at the top of the dust bin around the filter, making emptying a difficult and messy chore. This is mostly user error since I did not notice that it had filled, but it would be nice to have a larger dust bin.

The carpet unit also has LED headlights.They were useful for seeing into the abyss under the sofa, but not so helpful when just vacuuming in a dim corner.

The LEVOIT Vortex IQ 40 cordless stick vacuums accessories are helpful and well designed. The crevice tool is particularly unique since its telescopic. Have a very deep crevice? This tool can help. I was able to use the crevice tool together with the tube extension to clean between and behind the washer and dryer a task that previously necessitated moving both appliances. The dusting tool is also useful, and can be used in two different configurations, for hard and soft surfaces. I found it to be pretty effective for getting dog hair off of the furniture. I also used it to clean dust off of vents and ceiling fan blades very effectively.

The two big questions that always seem to come up with stick vacs are how are they at picking dirt up, and whats the battery life like? For the first question, Id say the Levoit Vortex is fantastic at picking up dirt. This is the first vacuum Ive used with a clear dust bin, so actually seeing the dirt get picked up and deposited in the bin is a little eye opening. Lets just say that it picks up a lot more than I ever thought was there. For battery life, I was impressed. While using the unit for this review, I literally went all through my house vacuuming everything I could find. I even went out and vacuumed the cars. I barely put a dent in the battery. I think the auto suction setting plays a big part in this if I manually turned the suction up and kept it there, Im sure the battery would have gone down faster. But if you use the auto setting, and dont try to clean your whole 4000 square foot house, you should be fine.

It turns out that vacuuming is not a one tool fits all job. Given that floors are the ultimate repository for a lot of crud in our homes, it makes sense to have a few different tools to take care of that crud. The Levoit VortexIQ 40 Cordless Stick Vacuum is a great addition to help with those dust bunnies, dirt tracks, and pet hair that accumulate in our homes from daily life.

Price: $259.99Where to buy: Levoit or AmazonSource: The sample for this review was provided by Levoit

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LEVOIT Vortex IQ 40 cordless stick vacuum review - the easiest vacuum I've ever used! - The Gadgeteer

Fitz: Your real breakthrough?

JM: Doing Midday with Kerri-Anne. That was amazing for me in those days because it got me known. And then one night I was doing a stand-up with Kitty Flanagan in Balmain and the executive producer from Full Frontal was in the house and he approached us after the show and said, Im gonna have someone from the office call you. I want you guys to come to Melbourne and audition because theres two female spots on Full Frontal. And that was amazing, like, Well, its happening now and its never going to stop!

Kerri-Anne Kennerley gave Julia Morris her big break.Credit:WireImage

Fitz: And it never has stopped. You then did eight years in the UK, and more or less came home with a husband.

JM: Yes, I met Dan through some friends and when I was doing stand-up at the Edinburgh Festival. And I thought, Oh my God, Ive got to kiss you. And then obviously after the first overnight romance ... no judgment we started dating straightaway, got married in Vegas a few years later and had two baby girls!

Fitz: Little knowing that superstardom was just round the corner ...

JM: Yes! Winning the first Celebrity Apprentice when I was in my early 40s really helped. I was cast a week before which kind of maybe leads me to believe somebody else dropped out but who cares? And off I went and won, and with that ever more opportunities came my way.

Fitz: Did you have to do a screen test with your subsequent co-host on Celebrity Apprentice, Chris Brown?

I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! hosts Dr Chris Brown and Julia Morris.Credit:Network Ten

JM: No, we had presented at the Logies the year before, and that set things ablaze. Then it was kind of full steam ahead because Id seen the show in the UK and I loved it deeply and I thought that is going to be a fun one to work on. And I was right.

Fitz: Are you and Dr Brown very close off-screen, too, or is it all for the cameras?

JM: Its not all for the cameras. We get on beautifully like siblings that adore each other, but we see each other rarely. So therell be little text messages through the year. But like I wouldnt break bread with my beloved doctor until were back in Africa and then we go like a house on fire.

Fitz: Now, Julia, to get the womens magazines behind your push for the Gold Logie, we need you to make some casual aside about some of the celebrities on Im a Celebrity that can lead to front pages: Julia Morris! My clash with Warnie! sort of thing.

JM: Ah, dear Warnie. He was amazing in it and created one of the most spellbinding moments of television that Ive ever seen when he held a spider, you know, even though he had a proper phobia, but he did it for the rest of the team. He just, you know, he showed the guy that he was. Theres no hiding in the jungle. And the fact that he would do it! He wanted to make his kids laugh ...

Fitz: How bout Bernard Tomic? How did you go with him?

JM: When he arrived, I thought this is gonna be amazing for this young man. There is a nice guy in there, but he struggled from the first. He had never been camping in his life. He just worked, worked, worked on his tennis, and I think once he got in there, he was just like, What am I doing here? and he walked out the next day!

Fitz: Well, who did you love most? Think womens magazines. Throw them something they can work with, a tiny off-hand comment they can blow up into something huge.

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JM: Well, the person we could all aspire to be more like was Miguel Maestre. He was just super fun with such a super high-octane personality which I really related to. Everyone did. Hes amazing. But he had a lot of generosity for others. He had a lot of patience. And the other thing was, he seemed never to be aware that he was on camera. He wasnt faking it. He just relaxed into it. And I also loved Freddie Flintoff as well, but its very difficult for me to choose between my babies.

Fitz: Cut. That will generate at least a months worth of cover stories. Speaking of womens magazines though, I did see a story recently that your marriage had sadly broken up? None of my damn business of course, but are you ok?

JM: Yes. It was towards the end of COVID lockdown. I think the two of us, Peter, were at that stage where we just thought What are we doing? This is not it? Where has the happy bit gone? And I think I just said to him, You know, I love you, but I dont want this, and he goes Oh my God, exactly. Thats how I feel, but I didnt know how to say it, I didnt want to hurt you. But we are in a good place with each other and our daughters, which is really good because we also made the decision that there is no point breaking up to stop the fighting if youre going to keep fighting. But it wasnt fighting, just couple of smart-arses going hard, non-stop. So something had to change.

Some of this years Gold Logie nominees: Karl Stefanovic, Julia Morris, Hamish Blake, Tom Gleeson, Sonia Kruger and Ray Meagher.

Fitz: OK, lets start bagging the other nominees and get that part of the campaign going.

JM: (Laughing.) Hows this? All the boys that are nominated already have Gold Logies. None of the girls have!

Fitz: Excellent. Misogyny, writ large. And Tom Gleeson has been the bloody carry-over champion for three years now, so we can eliminate him.

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JM: Youre right, Tom is the man who murdered the Logies!

Fitz: What about Hamish? Can we get a slogan going? It will be lamish, if you give it to Hamish?

JM: Yes! How very dare they all be so talented.

Fitz: What about Sonia Kruger. She frightens me. I always feel like she doesnt suffer fools gladly, and mine is in the balance. Does she frighten you?

JM: She doesnt because Ive known her since we were 17. We were in theatre groups together. But there is another super exciting thing is to be women well into our 50s contending for these nominations thats pretty kickass. And then theres Melissa Leong. Shes stunning not just her talent, but for her lips. Shes just so glorious on MasterChef, an exquisite wordsmith, and an exquisite human so I really am very upset about that.

Fitz: Enough. Youre meant to be cutting the others down, not building them up. Win, lose or draw, whats the future hold for you?

JM: I want to totally Betty White the shit out of it. Im just gonna be Betty White and be around forever. Im in a position now where I dont have to take as much work as Ive had to in the past, and maybe I can explore more of the work/life balance they talk about, but all I really want to do is keep going because I love it all!

In late 1996, just after Bill Clinton had beaten Bob Dole in the presidential election but before the inauguration, Bill and Hillary are in the presidential motorcade just leaving Little Rock Arkansas, heading back to that towns airport, where Airforce One is awaiting to take them back to Washington. As they pass by a tiny, dingy little garage on the edge of town, just as dusk falls, Hillary points it out and says, You see that garage, Bill? I used to go out with the man that owns that garage. Wryly amused, the president chortles and says, That is amazing, Hillary! Just think, if you had married him, youd be the wife of a garage proprietor. No, Bill, Hillary says firmly. If Id married him, hed be president.

If he needs an erotic cartoonist, I am at his disposal.

@Albo an Italian artist of vulgar bent and intent, who is frequently mistaken for Anthony Albanese on social media, as told to Crikey.

The decision of one man to launch a wholly unjustified and brutal invasion of Iraq ... - President George W Bush in a speech attacking Vladimir Putin. He corrected himself and said, ruefully, I mean, of Ukraine.

Prime Minister, you said at your launch on Sunday that you saved the country. You dont hold a hose, you werent in your tinnie plucking people off rooftops, you werent doing 16-hour days in PPE on COVID wards, you didnt get enough vaccines soon enough, you didnt get enough RATs so that we could finally have a holiday interstate for Christmas, and China is set up, based in the Solomons. Do you think maybe you slightly overegged the part about saving the country? - Tracy Grimshaws opening question to the PM on Wednesday evening.

This, this is a tragedy anyway, you look at it. Whatever the outcome of the inquiry, it is a tragedy. But its clear that, in the interest of justice, there has to be a further public inquiry that is open, transparent, fair and efficient. This has been a difficult decision but, in the end, I think there was no other option but to have some kind of a review chance for Ms Folbigg given the way the scientific evidence has emerged, and the nature of this scientific evidence. - NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman announcing that there will be a new public inquiry into the conviction of Kathleen Folbigg.

Nothing less than halting the serious erosion of our shared democratic principles is at stake. There must be conferred upon that commission a broad jurisdiction and strong investigative powers, including the power to hold public hearings, and respond to bona fide complaints from the public, so that serious or systemic corruption and misconduct can be adequately investigated and exposed. - From an open letter by 31 former judges about the need for a national integrity commission and warning that Australians risk being exposed to the corrupt exercise of power if parliament does not act to create a federal ICAC.

The last two-and-a-half years have been frustrating dealing with shoulder injuries day-in, day-out. Its the stuff away from the pool that affects me; I cant sleep on my shoulders, driving, drinking coffee, everything, lifting my shoulders above my head. If it was just the two or four hours a day I was in the pool it would be fine. But you just cant get away from them. Im turning 24 next month but I feel like Im 40 most days. - Swimmer Kyle Chalmers, the freestyle great who won 100m gold in Rio and silver in Tokyo, with an unflinching insight into the physical toll exacted by elite swimming, saying he is prepared for a life where he cant lift his arms above his head due to his burned-out shoulders.

I wasnt expecting or prepared to be at the summit with mum. Wed kind of convinced ourselves that it just wasnt possible. - Melbourne teenager Gabby Kanizay, 19, who this week became the youngest Australian to climb Mount Everest, reaching the summit with her mother, Jane.

The community has spoken on this issue. There is no reason to delay it anymore. - NSW Deputy Nationals leader Bronnie Taylor saying that the voluntary assisted dying laws should pass the states parliament unchanged. They did, on Thursday.

I have never been this disappointed in the political arena. - Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate after the home affairs minister, Karen Andrews, wrote an open letter to residents of the Gold Coast suburb Palm Beach saying she had requested federal urban infrastructure minister Paul Fletcher oppose any federal funding for the fourth stage of the citys light rail project a proposed extension from Burleigh Heads to Coolangatta but not mentioning that the light rail expansion would run directly past an investment property she co-owns with her husband.

We would never make it free, but if theres economic modelling there that suggests that a reduction in public transport fares would see a massive increase in usage and therefore a gross increase in revenues, well, then thats something that obviously I would have a discussion [about] with cabinet colleagues. I would love to see the masses of the usage of public transport increase, which would obviously improve revenue. - NSW Transport Minister David Elliott saying that he is open to considering cheaper public transport fares if it helped boost patronage after revelations of growing financial pressures on the network.

Sorry, go on. I dont want to interrupt you, David, please go on. - Tanya Plibersek to Insiders host David Speers when he interrupted her once too often.

You should hang your head in shame, Shark. I went to the memorial service of Jack Newton [the Australian player] yesterday and was surrounded by true professional golfers who believe in loyalty and history. GFY Shark. - Wayne Grady, who played with Greg Norman for Australia on several occasions, in an epic rant on social media, criticising his one-time friend for fronting the Saudis bid to engage in sportswashing putting billions of dollars to launch a new golf championship overhaul the top of the professional male game.

The Liberals hate the superannuation system they object to working Australians having wealth in retirement independent of the government. The Libs believe ordinary bods should be happy with the age pension. Let them know their place. If the public needs yet another idea to put this intellectually corrupt government to death, this is an important offence and with the government, its unprincipled prime minister. - Paul Keating dismissing the superannuation plan.

As a prime minister, you pour your heart and soul into this job every single day. You dont get everything right. Ive never pretended that I have. But I tell you what, I never leave anything on the field. And Im seeking a second term to ensure that we can take this to the next level, to those better days. - Scott Morrison at the beginning of the week, still hoping for a sympathy vote.

Twitter: @Peter_Fitz

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The man who murdered the Logies: Julia Morris on Tom Gleeson, the Logies and life - Sydney Morning Herald

By Sarah Smith, ProPublica

This story was originally published by ProPublica.

ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.

When it comes to reproductive care, Mississippi has a dual distinction. The state spawned the law that likely will lead to the Supreme Court striking down Roe v. Wade. It is also unique among Deep South states for doing the least to provide health care coverage to low-income people who have given birth.

Mississippians on Medicaid, the government health insurance program for the poor, lose coverage a mere 60 days after childbirth. Thats often well before the onset of postpartum depression or life-threatening, birth-related infections: A 2020 study found that people racked up 81% of their postpartum expenses between 60 days and a year after delivery. And Mississippis own Maternal Mortality Review Committee found that 37% of pregnancy-related deaths between 2013 and 2016 occurred more than six weeks postpartum.

Every other state in the Deep South has extended or is in the process of extending Medicaid coverage to 12 months postpartum. Wyoming and South Dakota are the only other states where trigger laws will outlaw nearly all abortions if Roe falls and where lawmakers havent expanded Medicaid or extended postpartum coverage.

Its hypocrisy to say that we are pro-life on one end, that we want to protect the baby, but yet you dont want to pass this kind of legislation that will protect that mom who has to bear the responsibility of that child, said Cassandra Welchlin, executive director of the MS Black Womens Roundtable, a nonprofit that works at the intersection of race, gender and economic justice.

Efforts to extend coverage past 60 days have repeatedly failed in Mississippi where 60% of births are covered by Medicaid despite support from major medical associations and legislators on both sides of the aisle.

Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn, a Republican, said shortly after he killed the most recent bill that wouldve extended postpartum coverage that hes against expanding any form of Medicaid. We need to look for ways to keep people off, not put them on, he told The Associated Press in March. When asked about the issue during a May 8 interview on CNN, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said, When you talk about these young ladies, the best thing we can do for them is to provide and improve educational opportunities for them. (Neither Gunn nor Reeves responded to requests for comment.)

During the pandemic, a change in federal rules prevented states from cutting off Medicaid recipients, which has allowed people in Mississippi and elsewhere to retain postpartum coverage beyond 60 days. But at the end of the federal public health emergency declaration which is set to expire in July 2022 states will revert to their prior policies. What we are afraid of is that when that does end, it will go back to what we knew was pre-pandemic health care, Welchlin said.

We discussed the implications of Mississippis post-Roe reality with Welchlin and two other experts in the field: Alina Salganicoff, the Kaiser Family Foundations director for womens health policy, and Andrea Miller, president of the National Institute for Reproductive Health. Their answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Salganicoff: Typically, everything from assistance if the person is having problems breastfeeding to screening for depression services.

Welchlin: We know the struggles of so many who have had life threatening illnesses such as heart conditions and hypertension. We know of course that Medicaid helps in that.

Welchlin: One of the stories that really touched me over the course of this pandemic was that of a mom who already had a child, and she needed access to child care so she could get back and forth to the doctor. During this particular pregnancy she had a severe heart disorder where she couldnt breathe, and she had to get rushed to the hospital. Because she was so connected to doulas and a supportive care organization like us, she was able to get admitted and sure enough thats when they diagnosed her with that heart condition. And she was a mom on Medicaid.

Miller: Only giving someone two months postpartum doesnt allow for the kind of continuation of care that you need. If there are indications of problems in the postpartum period, they dont all necessarily show up within the first two months. And we certainly know that the ability to have a healthy infant and keep an infant healthy is also related to whether you have coverage. The extension to 12 months really allows for that kind of continuum of care.

Welchlin: We know in the state of Mississippi, women die at higher rates, and of course its higher for Black women. And so, when women dont have that coverage, what happens is they die.

Miller: These bans on abortion are going to be layered on top of an already-unconscionable maternal and infant health crisis that most particularly impacts those who are struggling to make ends meet. It particularly impacts Black women and other communities of color. A state like Mississippi that is so clearly wanting to ban abortions the fact that they refuse to extend basic health care benefits that will help during pregnancy and postpartum just clearly indicates that they are not interested in the health and well-being of women and families and children, that they are purely on an ideological crusade.

Salganicoff: Were very focused on that first year of life. But if youre speaking about a woman who is not going to be able to get an abortion that she seeks and ends up carrying the pregnancy, the supports that shes going to need and her child is going to need go far beyond the first year of life.

Miller: You cant have a conversation about legality or soon-to-be illegality of abortion in these states and not have a conversation simultaneously about the existing crisis around maternal and infant health. These things are all interconnected, and thats why it is so deeply disturbing that the states trying to ban abortion are the same states that are refusing to expand Medicaid under the ACA, that are failing to take advantage of the ability to extend postpartum [coverage] by 12 months, that dont invest in child care, that dont invest in education these are all part of the same conversation.

Welchlin:Audre Lorde said, There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives. So, abortion access, reproductive justice, voting rights, racial justice, gender equity these are not separate issues, they are intersecting issues that collectively determine the quality of our lives.

See original here:

The State Behind Roes Likely Demise Also Does the Least for New Parents in Need - Cobb County Courier