EPA Approves Sale of Higher-Ethanol Fuel To Try To Lower Gas Prices

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EPA Approves Sale of Higher-Ethanol Fuel To Try To Lower Gas Prices (Maria)

The author writes, “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that it would temporarily allow widespread sales of a higher ethanol gas blend in a move that they hope will tamp down consumer prices that have soared since the Iran war began. The higher blend has been prohibited in warm weather because of concerns it could worsen smog.”

Trump Voted by Mail Again While Blasting It (DonkeyHotey)

The author writes, “President Donald Trump has once again voted by mail while railing against so-called ‘mail-in cheating.’ Trump, who has staunchly opposed mail-in voting as part of his delusions of mass voter fraud, voted by mail in a special election in Florida, according to The New York Times. The website for Palm Beach County’s Supervisor of Elections listed Trump’s voter status as ‘by mail ballot.’”

Palantir Is Leading a New Age of Empire (Sean)

From Common Dreams: “Palantir has merged American empire, Zionist military infrastructure, surveillance capitalism, and technofascist ideology into a single architecture of control.”

Hawaii Has Warned for Years About Flooding Danger at Wahiawa Dam (Dana)

From Governing: “The Dole Food Co. has known for nearly five decades that the Wahiawā Dam could flood in heavy rainfall, putting 2,500 lives at risk. As rain battered Oʻahu Friday morning, the dam rose rapidly above mandatory evacuation levels for the downstream towns of Haleʻiwa and Waialua, which were already flooding from the overnight rain, with residents posting on social media that they were struggling to find ways out on inundated roads. Just before 8:30 a.m., an ‘imminent dam failure’ notice was posted by the city and county. Even before last week’s Kona low, however, the state repeatedly warned the international company about safety issues. But Dole has not made the significant improvements to the dam’s spillway required by the state to bring its more than century-old reservoir into compliance with modern safety standards.”

How Elevator Rules Are Throwing a Wrench Into America’s Housing Market (Russ)

The authors write, “[Zoning] reforms aim to boost the affordability of U.S. housing stock by building the ‘missing middle’ — townhouses or small apartment buildings, denser and more affordable than single-family houses. One of us has spent over a decade advocating for more missing-middle housing; the other uses a wheelchair and would mostly be locked out of living in such housing. The reason is that many of these buildings will share a common feature, or lack thereof: They will be walk-ups, built without elevators. And the ones that do have elevators will be more expensive than they need to be — in part because of the unintended consequences of a 1988 law designed to increase accessibility.”

Oscar-Winning Russian Documentary Takes on Putin (Al)

From Urban Milwaukee: “One of the most memorable moments of March 15’s Oscar telecast, seen by many millions worldwide, was the title and the atmosphere surrounding a film few had seen — the winning best feature length documentary Mr. Nobody Against Putin. The first positive response was to the title, since so many in the world feel like a ‘nobody’ contemplating Putin’s military strength and hold on his nation, inevitably evoking comparison to other countries’ leaders and behavior, including ours. Then there was the emotional acceptance speech by co-director David Borenstein, which I think struck many U.S. citizens in the current fever to take action.”

This New Bird ER Offers Hope for Injured Wildlife (Reader Steve)

The author writes, “When a male bullfinch smashed into Marcin Jarzębski’s apartment window, he took it in but realized it needed expert treatment. So the next morning he brought it to Warsaw’s new emergency room for wild birds. … The 24/7 emergency room in the Polish capital is actually a system of automated metal containers — something like a parcel room — where the containers can keep the birds warm in winter. The boxes send an immediate signal to the bird hospital just a few meters away, where veterinarians bring the birds for diagnosing and treatment.”