Public Domain Day 2022

[Duke's Center for the Study of the Public Domain] 

"On January 1, 2022, copyrighted works from 1926 will enter the US public domain, 1  where they will be free for all to copy, share, and build upon. The line-up this year is stunning. It includes books such as A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh, Felix Salten’s Bambi, Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, Langston Hughes’ The Weary Blues, and Dorothy Parker’s Enough Rope. There are scores of silent films—including titles featuring Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton, and Greta Garbo, famous Broadway songs, and well-known jazz standards. But that’s not all. In 2022 we get a bonus: an estimated 400,000 sound recordings from before 1923 2  will be entering the public domain too!

In 2022, the public domain will welcome a lot of “firsts”: the first Winnie-the-Pooh book from A. A. Milne, the first published novels from Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner, the first books of poems from Langston Hughes and Dorothy Parker. What’s more, for the first time ever, thanks to a 2018 law called the Music Modernization Act, a special category of works—sound recordings—will finally begin to join other works in the public domain. On January 1 2022, the gates will open for all of the recordings that have been waiting in the wings. Decades of recordings made from the advent of sound recording technology through the end of 1922—estimated at some 400,000 works—will be open for legal reuse.

Why celebrate the public domain? When works go into the public domain, they can legally be shared, without permission or fee. That is something Winnie-the-Pooh would appreciate. Community theaters can screen the films. Youth orchestras can perform the music publicly, without paying licensing fees. Online repositories such as the Internet Archive, HathiTrust, and Google Books can make works fully available online. This helps enable access to cultural materials that might otherwise be lost to history. 1926 was a long time ago. The vast majority of works from 1926 are out of circulation. When they enter the public domain in 2022, anyone can rescue them from obscurity and make them available, where we can all discover, enjoy, and breathe new life into them.

The public domain is also a wellspring for creativity. The whole point of copyright is to promote creativity, and the public domain plays a central role in doing so. Copyright law gives authors important rights that encourage creativity and distribution—this is a very good thing. But it also ensures that those rights last for a “limited time,” so that when they expire, works go into the public domain, where future authors can legally build on the past—reimagining the books, making them into films, adapting the songs and movies. That’s a good thing too!.."
Public Domain 

Project N95

[Project N95]

"Project N95 is the National Critical Equipment Clearinghouse for personal protective equipment (PPE), COVID-19 diagnostic tests and critical equipment. In the sometimes chaotic PPE market we serve as a trusted and transparent resource, with established partnerships, comprehensive vetting processes and a mission to get PPE to people who need it as quickly as possible.

We enable group purchases and manage last mile distribution for organizations seeking to buy smaller quantities, which keeps costs low and helps frontline workers avoid having to meet suppliers’ minimum order quantities. These services are the essence of our nonprofit mission.

Our mission

We protect communities and the people who live and work in them by providing equitable access to the resources they need to stay safe through the COVID-19 pandemic..."
Project N95 

Mortality in the United States, 2020

"This report presents final 2020 U.S. mortality data on deaths and death rates by demographic and medical characteristics. These data provide information on mortality patterns in U.S. residents by variables such as sex, age, race and Hispanic origin, and cause of death. Life expectancy estimates, age-adjusted death rates, age-specific death rates, 10 leading causes of death, and 10 leading causes of infant death were analyzed by comparing 2020 and 2019 final data (1).

How long can we expect to live?

In 2020, life expectancy at birth was 77.0 years for the total U.S. population—a decrease of 1.8 years from 78.8 years in 2019 (Figure 1). For males, life expectancy decreased 2.1 years from 76.3 in 2019 to 74.2 in 2020. For females, life expectancy decreased 1.5 years from 81.4 in 2019 to 79.9 in 2020..."
Life expectancy 

Health United States 2019

"Health, United States, 2019 is the 43rd report on the health status of the nation and is submitted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to the President and the Congress of the United States in compliance with Section 308 of the Public Health Service Act. This report was compiled by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Health, United States series presents an annual overview of national trends in key health indicators. The 2019 report presents current information and trends on selected measures of morbidity, mortality, health care utilization and access, health risk factors, prevention, health insurance, and personal health care expenditures in a 20-figure Chartbook.

The Health, United States, 2019 Chartbook is supplemented by several other products, including Trend Tables, an At-a-glance Table, Appendixes, and Spotlight Infographics available for download from the Health, United States website at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/index.htm.

2019 Edition

The Health, United States, 2019 Chartbook contains 20 figures and associated data tables on health and health care in the United States. Examining trends in health informs the development, implementation, and evaluation of health policies and programs. The first section (Figures 1–13)focuses on health status and determinants: life expectancy, infant mortality, selected causes of death, drug overdose deaths, suicide, maternal mortality, teen births, preterm singleton births, use of tobacco products, current asthma among children, hypertension, heart disease and cancer, and functional limitation. The second section (Figures 14 and 15) presents trends in health care utilization: use of mammography and colorectal tests and procedures, and unmet need due to cost. The third section (Figures 16 and 17) focuses on health care resources—supply of dentists and physicians. The fourth section (Figures 18–20) describes trends in personal health care expenditures, health insurance coverage, and supplemental insurance among Medicare beneficiaries. The Highlights section summarizes major findings from the Chartbook..."
Health United States 

Report on the Condition of Education 2021

"On behalf of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), I am pleased to present the 2021 edition of the Condition of Education, an annual report mandated by the U.S. Congress that summarizes the latest data on education in the United States. This report uses data from across the center and from other sources and is designed to help policymakers and the public monitor educational progress.

Beginning in 2021, individual indicators can be accessed online on the newly redesigned Condition of Education Indicator System website. A synthesis of key findings from these indicators can be found in the Report on the Condition of Education, a more user-friendly PDF report.

A total of 86 indicators are included in this year’s Condition of Education, 55 of which were updated this year. As in prior years, these indicators present a range of topics from prekindergarten through postsecondary education, as well as labor force outcomes and international comparisons. Additionally, this year’s 55 updated indicators include 17 indicators on school crime and safety.

For the 2021 edition of the Condition of Education, most data were collected prior to 2020, either during the 2018–19 academic year or in fall 2019. Therefore, with some exceptions, this year’s report presents findings from prior to the coronavirus pandemic.

At the elementary and secondary level (prekindergarten through grade 12), the data show that 50.7 million students were enrolled in public schools fall 2018, the most recent year for which data were available at the time this report was written. Public charter school enrollment accounted for 7 percent (3.3 million students) of these public school enrollments, more than doubling from 3 percent (1.6 million students) in 2009. In 2019, U.S. 4th- and 8th-grade students scored above the scale centerpoint (500 out of 1,000) on both the math and science assessments in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS).

In 2020, 95 percent of 25- to 29-year-olds had at least a high school diploma or equivalent, while 39 percent had a bachelor’s or higher degree. These levels of educational attainment are associated with economic outcomes, such as employment and earnings. For example, among those working full time, year round, annual median earnings in 2019 were 59 percent higher for 25- to 34-year-olds with a bachelor’s or higher degree than for those with a high school diploma or equivalent.

In addition to regularly updated annual indicators, this year’s two spotlight indicators highlight early findings on the educational impact of the coronavirus pandemic from the Household Pulse Survey (HPS)

The first spotlight examines distance learning at the elementary and secondary level at the beginning of the 2020–21 academic year. Overall, among adults with children under 18 in the home enrolled in school, two-thirds reported in September 2020 that classes had been moved to a distance learning format using online resources. In order to participate in these remote learning settings, students must have access to computers and the internet. More than 90 percent of adults with children in their household reported that one or both of these resources were always or usually available to children for educational purposes in September 2020. At the same time, 59 percent of adults reported that computers were provided by the child’s school or district, while 4 percent reported that internet access was paid for by the child’s school or district. Although higher percentages of lower income adults reported such assistance, this did not eliminate inequalities in access to these resources by household income..."
Condition of Education 

More Effective, More Efficient, More Equitable, Year-End Staff Report: Overseeing an Improving & Ongoing Pandemic Response

"The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis was established by the U.S. House of Representatives on April 23, 2020. Modeled after the Truman Committee that saved lives and taxpayer dollars by preventing waste, fraud, and abuse during World War II, the Select Subcommittee is charged with investigating the effectiveness, efficiency, equity, and transparency of the nation’s response to the public health and economic crises caused by the coronavirus pandemic.1

This report details key findings from the Select Subcommittee’s work over the course of 2021. This year, the Select Subcommittee has sent more than 100 letters, reviewed more than 430,000 pages of documents, conducted ten transcribed interviews of key officials involved in the pandemic response, published seven staff reports detailing its findings, and held 14 hearings and public briefings with senior Administration officials, experts in public health and economics, Americans personally impacted by the pandemic, and other important witnesses. The Select Subcommittee has continued and expanded on many of the investigations that it began in 2020, while also opening multiple new investigations..."
Pandemic Response 

President Biden Announces New Actions to Protect Americans and Help Communities and Hospitals Battle Omicron

"Today, President Biden will announce new actions to protect Americans and help communities and hospitals battle Omicron, building on the robust plan he announced earlier this month to get people maximum protection ahead of the winter and prepare for rising cases driven by the new variant.

We know how to protect people from severe illness, we have the tools needed to do it, and thanks to the President’s Winter Plan, we are ready: 73% of adult Americans are fully vaccinated—up from less than 1 percent before the President took office—and we are getting about 1 million booster shots in arms each day. Vaccines are free and readily available at 90,000 convenient locations. There is clear guidance on masking and other measures that help slow the spread of COVID-19. And, federal emergency medical teams are ready to respond to surges nationwide.

Our vaccines are the most powerful tools we have—they work to protect people from serious illness and death, and boosters provide people optimal protection. While cases among vaccinated individuals will likely increase due to the more transmissible Omicron, evidence to date is that their cases will most likely be mild. In contrast, unvaccinated individuals are at high risk of getting COVID-19, getting severely ill, and even dying. Today’s actions will mitigate the impact unvaccinated individuals have on our health care system, while increasing access to free testing and getting more shots in arms to keep people safe and our schools and economy open.

Today, President Biden will announce the following actions:

Increased Support for Hospitals:

The President will take several steps to ensure states and health systems across the country have the personnel, beds, and supplies they need as they battle rising Omicron hospitalizations, mostly among the unvaccinated. Today’s steps build on the President’s Winter Plan, which made over 60 Winter COVID-19 emergency response team deployments available to states, and the COVID-19 Surge Response Teams the Administration mobilized over the summer and fall to fight the Delta surge..."
Omicron protection 

13th Amendment to thet U.S. Consitution

"Passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified on December 6, 1865, the 13th amendment abolished slavery in the United States and provides that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." Secretary of State William H. Seward issued this Proclamation announcing the ratification on December 18, 1865..."
13th Amendment 

FK Assassination Records - 2021 Additional Documents Release

"The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is processing previously withheld John F. Kennedy assassination-related records to comply with President Joe Biden’s Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies on the Temporary Certification Regarding Disclosure of Information in Certain Records Related to the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, requiring disclosure of releasable records by December 15, 2021. The National Archives has posted records online to comply with these requirements.

Accessing the Release Files

The table below displays metadata about all the released documents. You can also download the spreadsheet as an Excel file (262 KB)..."
JFK Assassination Records 

Arctic Report Card: Climate change transforming Arctic into ‘dramatically different state’

"NOAA’s 2021 Arctic Report Card documents the numerous ways that climate change continues to fundamentally alter this once reliably-frozen region, as increasing heat and the loss of ice drive its transformation into a warmer, less frozen and more uncertain future. 

This year’s Arctic Report Card is the 16th annual volume of original, peer-reviewed environmental observations and analysis that documents rapid and dramatic shifts in weather, climate, terrestrial and oceanic conditions in the circumpolar region. Compiled by 111 scientists from 12 nations, it was released today during a virtual press conference hosted by the American Geophysical Union during its fall meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

“The Arctic Report Card continues to show how the impacts of human-caused climate change are propelling the Arctic region into a dramatically different state than it was in just a few decades ago,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. “The trends are alarming and undeniable. We face a decisive moment. We must take action to confront the climate crisis.” 

The Arctic Report Card is organized into three sections. Vital Signs provides annual updates on seven topics: Surface Air Temperature; Terrestrial Snow Cover; Greenland Ice Sheet; Sea Ice; Sea Surface Temperature; Arctic Ocean Primary Productivity; and Tundra Greenness. Other Indicators explore topics that are updated periodically. Frostbites report on new and emerging issues, and topics that relate to long-term scientific observations in the Arctic. 

Some of this year’s significant findings include: 

• The October-December 2020 period was the warmest Arctic autumn on record dating back to 1900. The average surface air temperature over the Arctic this past year (October 2020-September 2021) was the 7th warmest on record. The Arctic continues to warm more than twice as fast as the rest of the globe.
• The snow-free period across the Eurasian Arctic during summer 2020 was the longest since at least 1990. June 2021 snow cover in Arctic North America was below the long-term average for the 15th consecutive year. June snow cover in Arctic Europe has been below average 14 of the last 15 years. 
• Following decades of relative stability, the Greenland ice sheet has now lost mass almost every year since 1998, with record ice loss in 2012 and 2019. In August, rainfall was observed at the Greenland ice sheet’s 10,500-foot summit for the first time ever.
• The volume of post-winter sea ice in the Arctic Ocean in April 2021 was the lowest since records began in 2010. The amount of older, biologically important multiyear sea ice at the end of summer 2021 was the second-lowest since records began in 1985.
• The total extent of sea ice in September 2021 was the 12th lowest on record. All 15 of the lowest minimum extents have occurred in the last 15 years. The substantial decline in Arctic ice extent since 1979 is one of the most iconic indicators of climate change.
• The loss of sea ice has enabled shipping and other commercial and industrial activities to push deeper into the Arctic, in all seasons, resulting in more garbage and debris collecting along the shore and more noise in the ocean, which can interfere with the ability of marine mammals to communicate. 
• Some of the fastest rates of ocean acidification around the world have been observed in the Arctic Ocean. Two recent studies indicate a high occurrence of severe dissolution of shells in natural populations of sea snails, an important forage species, in the Bering Sea and Amundsen Gulf..."
  Arctic Report Card: 2021 

This Holiday: Decorate with Joy, Not Insects That Destroy

"The holidays are a festive time. Putting up a Christmas tree, wreath, and ornaments may be part of your tradition. But, look twice before you acquire fresh plant material for your seasonal décor this year, because there may be something lurking inside. Invasive plant pests and diseases are talented hitchhikers. They may hitch a ride on your living Christmas tree, wreath, untreated firewood, or handmade ornaments. And, they aren’t just unwelcome guests—these pests threaten local ecosystems and agriculture when introduced to new places.

Forests are at risk. If you move fresh plant material from a quarantine area, you could transport tree-killing insects without seeing them. Outdoor items can also harbor egg masses, which can look like dry mud or tan-colored fuzzy patches on surfaces. The culprit could be an invasive pest that feeds on and defoliates hundreds of plant species.

The good news is you can help prevent their spread:

1. Before buying holiday greenery, inspect it for signs of infestation including insects, egg masses, tunneling or holes.
2. Buy local or use certified heat-treated firewood, or gather it on site where permitted. Don’t move untreated firewood.
3. Do not move plants, fruit, vegetables, or soil into your state or another state unless agricultural inspectors have cleared them.
4. Check out APHIS’ interactive maps and pests tracker to familiarize yourself with quarantines in your area. Avoid moving quarantined materials.

Protect plants this holiday season. Visit www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/resources/pests-diseases/hungry-pests/hungrypests to learn more..."
Holiday plants

Protecting Youth Mental Health: U.S. Surgeon Advisory

"Every child’s path to adulthood—reaching developmental and emotional milestones, learning healthy social skills, and dealing with problems—is different and difficult. Many face added challenges along the way, often beyond their control. There’s no map, and the road is never straight.

But the challenges today’s generation of young people face are unprecedented and uniquely hard to navigate. And the effect these challenges have had on their mental health is devastating.

Recent national surveys of young people have shown alarming increases in the prevalence of certain mental health challenges— in 2019, one in three high school students and half of female students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, an overall increase of 40% from 2009. We know that mental health is shaped by many factors, from our genes and brain chemistry to our relationships with family and friends, neighborhood conditions, and larger social forces and policies. We also know that, too often, young people are bombarded with messages through the media and popular culture that erode their sense of self-worth—telling them they are not good looking enough, popular enough, smart enough, or rich enough. That comes as progress on legitimate, and distressing, issues like climate change, income inequality, racial injustice, the opioid epidemic, and gun violence feels too slow.."
Youth mental health 

Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States

"Executive Summary

On April 9, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. issued Executive Order 14023 establishing this Commission, to consist of “individuals having experience with and knowledge of the Federal judiciary and the Supreme Court of the United States.” The Order charged the Commission with producing a report for the President that addresses three sets of questions. First, the Report should include “[a]n account of the contemporary commentary and debate about the role and operation of the Supreme Court in our constitutional system and about the functioning of the constitutional process by which the President nominates and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoints Justices to the Supreme Court.” Second, the Report should consider the “historical background of other periods in the Nation’s history when the Supreme Court’s role and the nominations and advice-and-consent process were subject to critical assessment and prompted proposals for reform.” Third, the Report should provide an analysis of the principal arguments for and against particular proposals to reform the Supreme Court, “including an appraisal of [their] merits and legality,” and should be informed by “a broad spectrum of ideas.”

The Report begins by explaining the genesis of today’s Court reform debate, including by identifying developments that gave rise to President Biden’s decision to issue the April 2021 Executive Order, particularly the debates surrounding the most recent nominations. This Introduction emphasizes that the Court’s composition and jurisprudence long have been subjects of public controversy and debate in the nation’s civic life: The Court serves as a crucial guardian of the rule of law and also plays a central role in major social and political conflicts. Its decisions have profound effects on the life of the nation. Though conflict surrounding the processes by which the President nominates and the Senate confirms Justices is not new, it has become more intensely partisan in recent years.

The Introduction also articulates three common and interrelated ideas frequently invoked in reform debates and throughout the Chapters of the Report: the importance of protecting or enhancing the Court’s legitimacy; the role of judicial independence in our system of government; and the value of democracy and its relationship to the Supreme Court’s decisionmaking. These important ideas can mean different things to different people. The Introduction discusses the range of meanings ascribed to these terms, with the aim of clarifying how they are deployed in arguments for and against reform.."
Supreme Court 

What We Know about Marijuana

"Marijuana—also known as cannabis, weed, pot, or dope—refers to the dried flowers, leaves, stems, and seeds of the cannabis plant. The cannabis plant contains more than 100 compounds (or cannabinoids).

These compounds include tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is impairing, and cannabidiol (CBD), which is not impairing–meaning it does not cause a “high.”

Legalization of Marijuana in the U.S.

Marijuana remains illegal at the federal level; however, more than 50% of states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have legalized marijuana for medical use. Also, states are increasingly legalizing it for non-medical adult use.

Although marijuana is used for medical and non-medical adult use, this does not mean it is safe. Scientists are still learning about the health effects and the potential health benefits of using marijuana.

How Can Marijuana Affect Your Heath?

Even though more research is needed to fully understand some of the health effects of marijuana, we know marijuana use may have a wide range of effects on the brain and body.

Brain Development and Function

• Developing brains, such as those in babies, children, and teenagers, are especially susceptible to harmful effects of marijuana and THC. Using marijuana during adolescence or young adulthood, before the brain is fully developed, may affect how the brain builds connections for functions like attention, memory, and learning. These effects may last a long time or even be permanent.
• Recent marijuana use (defined as within 24 hours) directly affects parts of the brain responsible for decision-making, coordination, emotions, and reaction time and can impair important skills required for safe driving.

Marijuana is the most commonly used federally illegal drug in the United States, with an estimated 48.2 million people using it in 2019.

Heart and Lungs

• Smoking any product, including marijuana, can damage the lungs, increase risk of bronchitis, and scar small blood vessels. Smoking marijuana can also increase the risk for stroke, heart disease, and other vascular diseases.

Mental Health

• Marijuana use has been linked to social anxiety, depression, suicide, and schizophrenia. Scientists don’t yet know whether marijuana use directly causes these health issues, but it may make symptoms more severe.

Inhaling or Eating Marijuana

• Vaping THC-containing products has been linked to lung injury and even death. Use of concentrates in vaping or dabbing devices delivers very high levels of THC to the user and may carry health risks because of the high concentration or strength of THC being used.
• Eating edibles (foods and drinks that contain marijuana) can take longer to kick in compared to smoking marijuana. The delayed effect of consuming edibles may increase the risk of consuming too much, which can lead to poisoning or serious injury.

Polysubstance Use— The use of more than one drug. This includes when two or more drugs are taken together or within a short time period, either intentionally or unintentionally:

• Using alcohol and marijuana at the same time will likely cause greater impairment and risk of physical harm.
• Using marijuana in combination with opioids can increase risk for opioid misuse.
• Marijuana may change how prescription drugs work, so talk with your doctor about any medications you are taking and the possible side effects when mixed with marijuana or other drugs.

Marijuana Use Disorder

Some people who use marijuana will develop marijuana use disorder, meaning that they are unable to stop using marijuana even though it’s causing health and social problems in their lives.

One study estimated that approximately 3 in 10 people who use marijuana have marijuana use disorder. The risk of developing marijuana use disorder is stronger in people who start using marijuana during youth and who use marijuana more frequently..."
Marijuana 

Cocaine and Psychostimulant-involved Overdose Deaths Disproportionately Affect Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups

"National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month is a time to recognize the importance of addressing health equity to help end the drug overdose epidemic.

Health inequities can contribute to negative health outcomes, including increased overdose deaths, among racial and ethnic minority populations including Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Hispanic persons. Clinicians, public health professionals, policy makers, and other community members can work together to promote health equity, reduce poor health outcomes, and prevent health disparities.

 

October marks National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month, a time for Americans to renew our commitment to end the drug overdose epidemic that has claimed nearly 850,000 lives over the last 20 years. Research shows that drug overdose deaths involving stimulants like cocaine and psychostimulants with abuse potential (e.g., methamphetamine) have increased significantly and are disproportionately affecting racial and ethnic minority populations.

• From 2004 to 2019, death rates for overdoses involving cocaine were generally higher among Black persons than other racial and ethnic groups, and death rates for overdoses involving psychostimulants were generally higher among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) persons than among other racial and ethnic groups.
• From 2013 to 2019, most racial and ethnic groups experienced increases in rates of overdoses involving both cocaine and opioids and rates of overdoses involving both psychostimulants and opioids.

Which drugs are considered psychostimulants with abuse potential?

• Methamphetamine, which is an illegal stimulant that can be smoked, snorted, injected, or orally ingested
• MDMA, also known as ecstasy, which is an illegal stimulant and is usually taken orally
• Prescription stimulants, which are prescribed for conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or depression, and can be taken orally, snorted, or injected

Cocaine

Cocaine is a highly addictive, illegal stimulant that can be snorted, smoked, or dissolved and injected into a vein. Note that deaths involving cocaine are usually categorized separately from psychostimulants with abuse potential.

Why are stimulant-involved overdose deaths increasing? Why are racial and ethnic minority populations more affected than others?

Overall factors that may be influencing the surge in stimulant-involved death rates include increases of:

• Supply of methamphetamine
• Use of stimulants and opioids together
• Presence of fentanyl in other illicit drugs, also known as “contamination” or “lacing” of other drugs

While these factors may have contributed to the increase of stimulant-involved overdose deaths, disparities in stimulant-involved overdose deaths among Black and AI/AN persons are not fully explained by substance use patterns. For instance, recent data show that while rates of past-year cocaine use among Black and White persons are not significantly different, cocaine-involved overdose death rates among Black persons were more than twice as high as those among White persons in 2019.
Overdose death disparity 

On Guard Against African Swine Fever

"USDA has a proven track record of protecting U.S. farmers from foreign animal and plant pests and diseases.

When African Swine Fever (ASF) was detected in the Dominican Republic and Haiti this summer, we swung into action and immediately enhanced existing exclusion efforts due to the proximity of the detections to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Working closely with federal partners, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and industry, we are actively:

• Enhancing ASF surveillance in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands;
• Expanding an existing classical swine fever sampling program to include ASF;
• Implementing an enhanced outreach program in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, to remind residents not to bring in foreign pork and pork products from ASF-affected countries;
• Working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to increase inspections of Dominican Republic flights for prohibited products and ensure proper disposal of airplane garbage;
• Continuing efforts to remove urban Puerto Rican feral swine

To further protect U.S. swine production, we suspended the interstate movement of all live swine, swine germplasm, swine products, and swine byproducts from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to the U.S. mainland. We also established an OIE-recognized foreign animal disease protection zone (PZ) around Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to prevent disease entry and protect mainland producers and their markets.

We are providing the Dominican Republic with important technical assistance, particularly laboratory expertise, as part of a surveillance program and working with them to determine next steps.

Here at home we’ve reached out to domestic producers to remind them of the critical importance of biosecurity on US farm and are working with our partners in the Agricultural Research Service on promising vaccine research. Our experts are examining possible ASF-introduction pathways and identifying risk-reducing strategies..."
African swine fever 

President Biden Announces New Actions to Protect Americans Against the Delta and Omicron Variants as We Battle COVID-⁠19 this Winter

"Today, President Biden will announce new actions to combat COVID-19 as the United States heads into the winter months and with the emergence of a new variant, Omicron.

The United States has come far in its fight against the virus and is more prepared than ever to deal with the challenges of COVID-19. We have the public health tools we need to continue to fight this virus without shutting down our schools and businesses. As we head into winter, today, the President will announce actions to provide additional protection to Americans and fight the Omicron and Delta variants, while keeping our economy growing.

This plan includes:

1. Boosters for All Adults
2. Vaccinations to Protect Our Kids and Keep Our Schools Open
3. Expanding Free At-Home Testing for Americans
4. Stronger Public Health Protocols for Safe International Travel
5. Protections in Workplaces to Keep Our Economy Open
6. Rapid Response Teams to Help Battle Rising Cases
7. Supplying Treatment Pills to Help Prevent Hospitalizations and Death
8. Continued Commitment to Global Vaccination Efforts
9. Steps to Ensure We Are Prepared for All Scenarios
   

Last week, after the World Health Organization (WHO) named the Omicron variant as a Variant of Concern, the President took immediate steps to restrict travel from the most impacted countries in order to give the U.S. time to learn more about the variant and prepare. We have more tools today to fight the Omicron variant than we have had to fight previous variants, including Delta. Nearly 60 percent of Americans are fully vaccinated, booster shots are authorized for all adults, and a vaccine is authorized for kids aged 5 and older. The U.S. is leading the world in vaccinating children, and millions of Americans have already gotten their boosters. And, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reviewing additional antiviral treatments for when people do get sick.

Today’s actions will ensure we are using these tools as effectively as possible to protect the American people against this variant and to continue to battle the Delta variant during the winter months when viruses tend to thrive. These actions will help keep our economy growing and keep Americans safe from severe COVID-19..."Delta and Omicron variants

Jewish Holidays: Fact Sheet

"Introduction

Judaism is one of the three major Abrahamic faiths, alongside Islam and Christianity. Many traditions and variations of Judaism are practiced in the United States, including cultural and religious variations. According to the Pew Research Center, about 2.4% of Americans (7.5 million people) self-identify as religiously or culturally Jewish. Roughly 27% of American Jews describe themselves as culturally, but not religiously, Jewish.1

This fact sheet highlights four major cultural and religious holidays (Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Hanukkah) observed by a significant portion of Jewish American populations and addresses some of the ways that these holidays have been recognized by elected officials. It does not include national holidays recognizing modern Israeli history.

This fact sheet is designed to assist congressional offices with work related to Jewish holidays. It contains sample speeches and remarks from the Congressional Record, presidential proclamations and remarks, and selected historical and cultural resources.

This is part of a series of Congressional Research Service fact sheets on religious holidays in the United States.

Determining Dates of Holidays

The traditional Jewish calendar is based on a lunisolar calendar, with 354 days, adjusted every few years.2 This means that while Jewish holidays are observed on the same date every year according to the Jewish calendar, these dates vary on the Gregorian calendar.

Major Holidays and Observances

By and large, official government observance of Jewish holidays is determined at the local level. For example, some school districts close schools or allow students to take excused absences to observe certain Jewish holidays. In some Jewish communities, work is forbidden on specific holidays, including Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and certain days of Passover. These provisions against work are similar to the prohibitions against working on the Sabbath.

Owing to the long history and great diversity within Jewish communities, the observance of these holidays can vary widely.

Passover

Passover is generally observed in April in the Gregorian calendar. It commemorates the Israelites’ emancipation and exodus from Egypt, and lasts for seven or eight days. The name refers to the last of the 10 plagues that God inflicted on Egypt, in which God killed the first born of every Egyptian household, but “passed over” Israelite households, leaving their firstborn children alive.

Observing Passover often includes clearing the house of leavened foods, eating unleavened foods throughout the festival, and participating in the Seder, which usually takes place at home on the first or second night of the festival. There are many variations on the Seder, but it generally includes reading from a book called the Haggadah and eating a ritualized meal.

Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah is generally observed in September or October in the Gregorian calendar. It celebrates the Jewish New Year and lasts for two days. It also marks the beginning of 10 days of repentance leading up to Yom Kippur.

During Rosh Hashanah, many Jews eat bread or a piece of apple dipped in honey so that the coming year will be sweet. Challah bread is often baked in round loaves for the holiday to symbolize the cycle of the year. The shofar (a hollowed ram’s horn) is often blown. In religious communities, the holiday includes a special service at a synagogue.

Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, is generally observed for one day in September or October in the Gregorian calendar. It is generally considered the holiest day of the year.

Observing Yom Kippur often includes fasting and prayer. Synagogues generally hold multiple services throughout the day, which means that some Jews spend most of the day at a synagogue.

Hanukkah

Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukah), or the Festival of Lights, is generally observed in December in the Gregorian calendar. Lasting eight nights, it commemorates the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century B.C.

During the first evening of the festival, the first branch of the menorah is usually lit. The menorah is a candelabrum with nine branches. Eight branches represent each night of the festival. The ninth branch is the shamash or helper candle, which is usually used to light all the others. On each subsequent night of the festival, an additional branch is usually lit. Common traditions include exchanging gifts, playing with a four-sided top called a dreidel, and eating certain fried foods, including latkes (a type of fried potato pancake) and doughnuts..."
Jewish holidays 

Compilation of Federal Whistleblower Protection Statutes

"Overview

In general, whistleblowers are employees who report misconduct or illegal activity committed by their employers.

This report is a compilation of federal whistleblower and employee protection statutes. In addition to identifying laws that protect whistleblowers from retaliation, this report includes employee protection laws that prohibit retaliation against employees who engage in various protected activities, such as participating in an investigation or filing a complaint.

For each law, the popular name of the Act with a whistleblower or employee protection provision is provided. If the whistleblower protection provision was amended after original enactment, the date of those changes is noted. The United States Code or public law citation for the provision and an excerpt of the text of the provision is included. Listed below this text are protected individuals or classes identified in the provision(s). Lastly, the original congressional committee(s) to receive or consider the legislation are identified.

Where statutory text falls outside the scope of the topic, CRS has deleted portions of statutory provisions and replaced them with ellipses symbols (...) standing alone within a passage.

Methodology

CRS identified these statutes by reviewing various internal CRS products and federal government resources, and by searching the United States Code Service on Lexis Advance and the Statutes-atLarge on ProQuest Congressional for variations of (whistleblower or (employee w/2 protection) or (((person or employer or employee or witness) /20 (fire or fired or discharg! or discriminat! or demot! or “personnel action” or retaliat!)) /20 (person or employees or applicants or witness))).

This report uses the official version of the United States Code on the House Law Revision Counsel’s website.1

The committees identified for each law were found by searching Congress.gov and ProQuest Congressional for the public law number and reviewing committee reports. CRS identified persons or classes covered by the law from the Act’s text.

Limitations

CRS searched and reviewed a range of laws to provide an extensive list of statutes. It is nonetheless possible that some relevant laws do not appear in this report for various reasons, including the following:

 Due to variations in database search functionalities, the searches may not have captured all relevant authorities currently in effect.

 Other unofficial versions of the United States Code may retrieve different results from various databases.

 The criteria used to identify statutes may have excluded relevant authorities that did not contain terms used in the database search, particularly if they did not expressly refer to whistleblower, discharg!, discriminat!, demot!, “personnel action” or retaliate..."
Whistleblowers 

Investigating Charities

[LLRX: Law and Technology Resources for Legal Professionals]

"InfoSecSherpa: Your Guide Up a Mountain of Information!

It’s great to be a charitable person, but be safe and smart about where you give your hard-earned money.

Here are some tips and guides on checking out charities before giving a donation. Most of these sites are free, or have a subscription required for more in-depth reports.

Notes:

• Don’t fret if a charity you are interested in doesn’t show up on one of these investigation websites. It doesn’t automatically mean it isn’t legitimate. The charity could be very small, or very local and/or just not captured for evaluation. In that case, the best place to search is the Internal Revenue Service Tax Exempt Organization Search site to see if they have filed a Form 990. If a U.S. charity does not have any filings with the I.R.S., then be concerned and ask some questions. Don’t be afraid to inquire directly with the charity, and with an independent third-party to confirm that they are trustworthy for your donation.
• One thing that you may want to pay attention to in these results is the percentage of donations that a charity puts towards their mission, whether it be feeding the food insecure or housing for the unsheltered. Some legitimate charities have a high percentage of their donations go to administrative and marketing costs. Ultimately, it’s your money, so evaluate and decide what is best for you. Read, Where Your Donation Dollars Go (2013).
• Be cautious with GoFundMe and other crowdsourced fundraising initiatives. While there can be legitimate crowdsourced fundraising sites, it’s also an easy breeding ground for scammers. Do your research. If something feels fishy about it, find another way to donate.
• The five sites below primarily deal with organizations in the U.S. — but, search for your specific non-U.S. charity to be sure. See point number six below for links to non-U.S. organizations. This is not a comprehensive list, but some guidance of where to get started.

1. CharityNavigator.org
This site allows you to search by name and you can view their assessment of the charity. Some charities will have gaps in the information, but what Charity Navigator offers is an overview so that you can get to know the charity better.

2. GuideStar.org
This site also provides a breakdown of a charity’s expenses, their mission statement, and other pertinent information.

3. CharityWatch.org
This site didn’t have the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society listed, as the previous two sites. But, they have a lot of big-name charities that are popular.

4. Give.org
This site is affiliated with the Better Business Bureau and provides pretty thorough reports about charities. You can also go to the BBB site directly, but Give.org is their affiliated charity site.

5. Internal Revenue Service
The Tax Exempt Organization Search provides copies of the documentation a legit charity in the U.S. needs to submit in order to maintain their charity and/or non-profit status. You specifically want to look for a Form 990 series to view what all the charity has reported to the U.S. government. This is likely one of the most solid ways to determine if a charity is legitimate, is if they file with the Internal Revenue Service.

6. Non-U.S. Resources
Generally speaking, the basic rules apply to researching charities outside the U.S. as it does for inside the U.S. — checking tax filings and/or government registration as a legitimate charity. If the country you are interested in isn’t listed below, look for that country’s tax and/or charity registration sites.

Australia — Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission
Canada — Revenue Agency’s Charities List and Charity Data
New Zealand — Charities Services
United Kingdom — Charity Commission for England and Wales.."
Charities