Biden announces $1 billion in funding for regional economic projects

President Biden on Friday announced a total of $1 billion in funding for regional economic development projects in 24 different states. Biden and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo held a virtual event with winners of grant money through the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, an initiative funded through the American Rescue Plan intended to revitalize communities with new manufacturing, biotech and clean energy projects. “As we invest and grow critical industries in the U.S., we want to create industry hubs in diverse communities across the country," Raimondo said in a

Read More

Whatever your energy source preference, local support is the only way to get it built

By affixing his signature to the Inflation Reduction Act, President Joe Biden kicked off a green energy gold rush as companies will look to take advantage of the many tax subsidies and benefits for clean energy development.  Meanwhile, as part of the new laws legislative negotiations, Senate Democrats ostensibly agreed to advance a permitting reform bill touted by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) that would speed the permitting process for energy infrastructure projects of all kinds, including fossil fuel projects like pipelines.  So, on the surface it would seem tha

Read More

Most Americans think they need a raise to keep up with inflation

Story at a glance  WalletHub’s Labor Day survey found that 87 percent of Americans believe they should receive a raise to rival inflation. Inflation is also expected to impact how Americans travel this holiday weekend, and gas prices are the main reason. 

Read More

China's increasing aggression signals a looming war over Taiwan

Today, China sent two drones toward Taiwan’s Kinmen County island grouping, but the craft returned to Xiamen — a major Chinese port — after soldiers fired warning flares.  Yesterday, Taiwan shot down a Chinese drone violating airspace o

Read More

UN report finds possible 'crimes against humanity' in China's Xinjiang

The United Nations's human rights office has condemned China's treatment of the Uyghur minority in its Xinjiang region, saying China may have committed "crimes against humanity." “The extent of arbitrary and discriminatory detention of members of Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim groups … in context of restrictions and deprivation more generally of fundamental rights enjoyed individually and collectively, may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity,” the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

Read More