Author: Sarah Walsh

A child’s first 1,000 days is a time of rapid changes in their bodies, minds, and emotions. From crawling to walking, babbling to talking, and progressing from puree to solid foods, the development in those early years is unmatched through the rest of their life. That’s why the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services introduced its QT30 concept to explain to parents and caregivers the benefits of personal interactions during those critical, formative early years. At first, the QT30 program was just a brochure. Now the state is offering the guide through an app that’s geared towards parents and…

Federal officials have issued a warning about a substantial safety violation at a South Carolina nuclear plant after cracks were discovered again in a backup emergency fuel line. Small cracks have been found a half-dozen times in the past 20 years in pipes that carry fuel to emergency generators that provide cooling water for a reactor if electricity fails at the V.C. Summer plant near Columbia, according to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The agency issued what it calls a preliminary “yellow” warning to plant owner Dominion Energy last week. It is the second most serious category and only seven…

Toronto, Atlanta (24/10 – 10) Not too long ago, “Halloween”, a contraction of the Christian holiday known as “All Hallows’ Eve,” was a time to honors dead saints. Take a look at the multi-billion-dollar enterprise, celebrated on October 31st every year, which it has evolved into, at least in North America, and you’ll find no sainted creatures – but a plethora of devils and the dead. Not to mention the Undead (imagine Yoko Ono) which have leaked out of the hundreds upon hundreds of horror movies, many of them truly horrible horrors, since brothers Auguste and Louis Lumière invented the…

On Thursday, President Volodymyr Zelensky will hold important negotiations in Washington, D.C., particularly on the air defense systems for Ukraine. “Today, important negotiations in Washington [will be held]. Air defense for Ukraine is among top issues,” the Head of State posted on Telegram. The President noted that the Russian terrorists had launched another massive attack, including, on the infrastructure, last night. He emphasized that most of the missiles had been shot down, but not all. Zelensky thanked the rescuers, who immediately started eliminating the consequences of the hits. He also expressed his gratitude to every country that has already provided Ukraine…

Maryland’s emergency rooms have the longest wait times in the nation. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the average wait time in Maryland emergency rooms is three hours and 48 minutes. A new law that went into effect this month is aimed at chipping away at those long waits. Maryland State Del. Lesley Lopez told WTOP that there are a number of issues that contribute to long waits for medical care, and that one problem is the shortage of nurses in the state. “Our state is short 5,000 full-time nurses and 4,000 licensed practical nurses,” Lopez said.…

Connecticut’s Bond Commission approved more than $1 billion for state transportation infrastructure on Friday. The money would help the state unlock about $2.5 billion of matching federal funds available under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by Congress, said Governor Ned Lamont, who chairs the commission. The matching federal funds would make this the biggest transportation infrastructure investment in state history. “For a state like Connecticut which has old infrastructure, which is roads and bridges and rail, it’s going to be absolutely transformative,” Lamont said. He commended the state Department of Transportation for taking full advantage of available federal money. “We…

Citing air traffic controller staffing issues, US regulators announced on Friday (Sep 15) they will again extend cuts to minimum flight requirements at congested New York City-area airports through October 2024, giving relief to airlines who faced delays because of government staffing issues. Under minimum flight requirements, airlines can lose their takeoff and landing slots at congested airports if they do not use them at least 80 per cent of the time. The waiver allows airlines to not fly some flights and still retain slots. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the number of certified controllers at the New York…

Students from Georgia and Texas will have separate opportunities next week to hear from NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The two space-to-Earth calls will air live Wednesday, Sept. 6, and Thursday, Sept. 7, on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website. At 10:05 a.m. EDT on Sept. 6, NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Frank Rubio will answer prerecorded questions from students in Olmito, Texas. The event, hosted by the South Texas Astronomical Society, will engage students from the predominantly Latino community of Brownsville, Texas. Retired NASA astronaut Mike Fossum will offer closing remarks. Media interested in covering the…

According to federal data, nearly 400,000 of the 1.4 million schoolchildren in New Jersey received a free or reduced-price meal at school between 2019 and 2020. And according to advocates, that number continues to rise. Anti-hunger advocates are eyeing more ways to make those meals free and available to everyone. “The income limits are set very low,” Lisa Pitz, the coordinator of outreach for the Center for Food Action, said. “It is not at all an accurate reflection of the real cost of living.” Last year, Gov. Phil Murphy signed a law expanding income eligibility for free or reduced-price lunches…

Connecticut firefighters with cancer will have expanded benefits beginning October 1. The new law will give firefighters a rebuttable presumption. That means if they get cancer, doctors and insurance companies will assume it was caused by dangerous working conditions like chemical exposure. They will then be able to apply for wage replacement benefits through the states firefighters cancer relief account. Connecticut was the second to last state in the country without this law. Gov. Ned Lamont said it’s about time one passed. “You’ve been our partner running into these burning buildings, we’re your partners going forward to help you get…