The Greene County Democrat

Month: February 2025

  • Newswire : Trump Administration rescinds Federal Funding Freeze after Court ruling and backlash

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent


    President Donald Trump’s administration on Wednesday rescinded a Project 2025-inspired order that had abruptly frozen most federal grants and loans, a sweeping directive that threw social service programs like Head Start, student loans, and Medicaid into disarray.

    The initial order, issued earlier in the week, sparked widespread confusion and disruption, prompting a swift legal challenge. On Tuesday evening, a federal judge temporarily blocked the freeze, and by Wednesday, the White House pulled back the directive altogether. The order’s reversal came after mounting pressure from lawmakers, advocacy groups, and affected organizations.

    The White House insisted the move was intended to “end any confusion” following the court’s injunction, but critics called it a political miscalculation. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the administration backed down only because of public outcry. “Americans fought back, and Donald Trump backed off,” Schumer said in a statement. “Though the Trump administration failed in this tactic, it’s no secret that they will try to find another, and when they do, it will again be Senate Democrats there to call it out, fight back, and defend American families.”

    However, the administration made clear that its broader policies on federal funding remain intact. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X that this was “NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze,” but rather a rollback of the memo itself to “end any confusion” created by the court’s ruling. “The President’s executive orders on federal funding remain in full force and effect and will be rigorously implemented,” she added.

    The initial freeze caused immediate uncertainty, particularly in Washington, D.C., and Republican-leaning states heavily reliant on federal funds. Throughout Tuesday, the White House attempted to clarify exemptions—such as Medicaid—but the damage had already been done. Reports surfaced by people and organizations unable to access critical federal resources, heightening concerns about the real-world impact of the freeze.
    The legal challenge that led to the order’s reversal was filed by Democracy Forward, a progressive nonprofit, which argued that the directive was an unconstitutional overreach that endangered millions of Americans. “While we hope this will enable millions of people in communities across the country to breathe a sigh of relief, we condemn the Trump-Vance administration’s harmful and callous approach of unleashing chaos and harm on the American people,” said Skye Perryman, the organization’s CEO. “Our team will continue to bring swift legal actions to protect the American people and will use the legal process to ensure that federal funding is restored.”

    The uncertainty caused by the administration’s actions drew sharp criticism from organizations that rely on federal assistance. Melicia Whitt-Glover, executive director of the Council on Black Health, warned that the confusion threatens health programs serving historically marginalized communities. “While the Council on Black Health is not fully reliant on federal funding, many of our partners are, and they now face disruptions that threaten their ability to continue their vital work. This impacts the communities we serve and exacerbates health inequities,” she said.

    The administration’s actions have drawn scrutiny given the financial reliance of Republican-leaning states on federal aid. A MoneyGeek analysis found that seven of the 10 states most dependent on federal funding lean Republican, receiving an average of $1.24 for every dollar contributed, while blue states receive $1.14. New Mexico, a Democratic-leaning state, saw the highest return on federal spending at $3.42 per dollar contributed, while Delaware had the lowest at $0.46. Public Citizen, a government watchdog group, called the original freeze an unnecessary crisis that harmed vulnerable Americans.

    “The incompetence and cruelty of this order caused nationwide confusion and anxiety, as across the country regular Americans spoke out about the human impacts—the loss of jobs, essential services, and harms to children among many other vulnerable populations,” said Lisa Gilbert, co-president of the organization. “The White House overplayed their hand as they levied this Project 2025-inspired order and made it clear that they want to sow chaos and gut programs that help families. We will keep up the fight to make sure that does not happen.”

  • Newswire : Bird Flu (H5N1) has been found in all 50 States

    Bird Flu: Can We Still Eat Eggs & Poultry? Kwangmoozaa – Getty Images

    By Gabby Romero, Delish

    The threat of avian flu has dominated public health discourse as cases become increasingly more widespread and severe. H5N1, a highly pathogenic strain, was present in several continents as early as 1996. Since reaching North America in late 2021, this strain has impacted wild animals, commercial livestock, and humans. In recent days, the first fatal human case of H5N1 was reported in Louisiana—someone over 65 who was exposed to a backyard flock of birds and wild birds.

    The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified that the nation’s first 46 cases in 2024 were all mild and, save for one, all caused by exposure to infected animals. Health experts still maintain that the current public health risk is low, but consumers are understandably growing concerned about how this strain of avian flu will impact the food we eat.

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced in March 2024 that H5N1 began impacting dairy cattle in a few states. Since then, the outbreaks among cattle have continued across 16 states and spread to dozens of humans, prompting California Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency. The prominence of H5N1 is even more evident among commercial poultry, where cases have been identified in all 50 states.
    But how will all of this impact the eggs and poultry we eat? is it, in fact, safe to keep eating these products? We’re breaking down everything we know so far.

    How Much Has H5N1 Already Impacted Our Food Supply?

    H5N1 has presented a hindrance when it comes to the commercial dairy and livestock industry, but not in a way that will necessarily get you sick. “We have already seen milk infected with H5N1, but pasteurization kills the virus. We have not found it in beef, chicken or eggs,” says Brian Labus, PhD, MPH, REHS, Assistant Professor at University of Nevada Las Vegas’s School of Public Health.

    “The likelihood of H5N1 being transmitted in poultry products is extremely low as the onset of symptoms appear rapidly in poultry, especially turkeys, and the birds quickly succumb to the virus,” says Mitzi Baum, CEO of Stop Foodborne Illness. The onset of H5N1 is so fast that Labus says that infected birds do not have enough time to lay eggs before the symptoms become fatal.

    In addition, several federal and industry guidelines are in place to further reduce the risk of H5N1 entering our food supply. “The likelihood that eggs from infected poultry are in the retail market is low, due to safeguards in place, which include testing of flocks and federal inspection programs,” says Dr. Mickey Rubin, Vice President of Research for The American Egg Board. “Once a commercial poultry farm is identified as HPAI positive, the farm is placed under quarantine, and all movement of eggs and birds immediately stops.

    This is required and enforced by state veterinarians working collaboratively with USDA.”
    Rubin also notes that egg farmers dealing with an avian flu outbreak cannot resume normal operations without thorough cleaning, disinfecting, testing, and approval from the USDA and the state government. The loss in production helps prevent infected products from reaching the food supply. It also puts a strain on the supply chain, which has caused  increased egg and poultry prices for the consumer.

    Can We Still Eat Eggs & Poultry?

    When it comes to avian flu risk levels, buying eggs and poultry from the supermarket is on the lower end of the spectrum. The CDC argues that there is no evidence that food will transmit H5N1—as long as it’s cooked and handled properly.

    “Although H5N1 can potentially be found in our food, influenza isn’t really a foodborne disease. You have to breathe it in to get sick, not eat it,” Labus explains. “There is a much greater risk of being infected with common foodborne pathogens like Salmonella.”

    Health experts advise fully cooking your eggs and poultry to an internal temperature of 165°F to kill bacteria and viruses, including this strain of avian influenza. Thoroughly cooking your chicken is something most home cooks are familiar with doing, but the increased precautions may affect how you consume eggs. Soft, runny, and undercooked eggs don’t reach a high enough temperature to stave away pathogens, which presents the risk of transmission. The safest way to eat eggs is to cook them all the way, meaning both the white and yolk are firm.
    If you’re not ready to give up on runny eggs, Baum suggests buying pasteurized shell eggs that can reduce the risk of transmission. It’s also advised that you use these eggs, or pasteurized egg products, when making recipes that don’t cook eggs all the way through. Examples include salad dressings and homemade ice cream.

  • Newswire : Black reaction to Trump DEI blame for D. C. plane crash

    American Airlines plane

    By April Ryan, NNPA White House Correspondent

    “We are dealing with a vicious adversary,” according to Rev. Al Sharpton, the head of the National Action Network speaking of President Donald Trump and his hate diatribe Thursday morning. President Trump blamed DEI, the Obama and Biden administrations along with former Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg for the deadly midair crash over the Potomac last night. 67 people died after an accident between an American Airline Plane and an Army Helicopter.

    When asked why President Trump thought diversity had something to do with the crash, he said,” I have common sense and most people don’t.” Reverend Al, who is investigating the impact of the Trump anti-DEI efforts in retail believes Trump is “obsessed with race” and he is a “raw, insensitive, uncaring man.”

    Former Secretary Buttigieg immediately went to social media making a statement saying, Trump should be leading, not lying.” Buttigieg also fact-checked Trump saying we grew Air Traffic Control and had zero commercial airline crash fatalities out of millions of flights on our watch.” Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) / X 

    During Trump’s rant on DEI at the White House briefing room podium, he asserted, “the FAA’s diversity push includes a focus on hiring people with severe intellectual and psychiatric disabilities. That is amazing. And then it says, the FAA says, people with severe disabilities, the most underrepresented segment of the workforce, and they want them in, and they want them. They can be air traffic controllers. I don’t think so.” Trump went on to say the prior administrations felt those departments were “too white.”

    According to reports FAA staffing has been an issue since Inauguration Day January 20, 2025.  Also, Elon Musk, the head of the White House Office of Government Efficiency is reported to have asked the head of the FAA to resign,  Former Black Obama Administration Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx exclusively told this reporter after the Trump statements,” I would caution against any definitive conclusions until that work [investigation] is done by trained, experienced professionals.”

    Foxx, who also worked as a transportation consultant in the Biden administration admonished the Trump address saying, “There is no sugar-coating the tragic midair collision that occurred last night. In my experience, safety has always been the number one focus of the Federal Aviation Administration.” Foxx says there is a safety mission to be completed after this tragedy. “There is a well-practiced root cause process that has been taken in the past. It should be used now with competent professionals. A comprehensive, fact-based investigation will answer the many questions we all have. It would also help guard against future accidents of this type,” according to the transportation expert.

    Before the completed investigation officially began, President Trump laid the blame for the accident on the Army helicopter. He felt it should have been flying at a different altitude, higher or lower, than the jet.

    When it comes to the president’s corrosive comments, reaction has been swift from the civil rights community. In a statement from the President and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Derrick Johnson, “The NAACP is disgusted by this display of unpresidential, divisive behavior.” Johnson told this reporter in a text message, “The President has made his decision to put politics over people abundantly clear as he uses the highest office in the land to sow hatred rooted in falsehoods instead of providing us with the leadership we need and deserve.”

    As Trump worked to distract with his words on DEI, the questions still abound as to what caused the deadly plane crash. Former Sec. Foxx, immediately following the fatal crash last night said. “My worst fear is that something happened with the avionics. I hope and expect that this is not the case. But most aircraft these days run in a form of GPS. Could a warning system have failed? But then, how can two systems fail? That leads to some even more grave concerns about interference with the systems. There are many other potential causes.”