Federal Court Allows Dominion Energy to Continue Virginia Offshore Wind Project

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Federal Court Allows Dominion Energy to Continue Virginia Offshore Wind Project (Maria)

The author writes, “US District Court Judge Jamar K. Walker granted Dominion Energy a preliminary injunction on Friday, pausing a stop work order from the Trump administration and allowing the utility to resume construction on its Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project as a court case proceeds. The ruling comes after the Interior Department last month issued the stop work order on Dominion’s $11B project and four other offshore wind farms, citing national security threats without offering specifics.”

Allegations of Racial Profiling of US Citizens on the Rise as Ice Surge Expands in Minnesota (Reader Steve)

The author writes, “Luis Escoto panicked when he looked out the window of his family’s West St. Paul restaurant this month and saw armed and masked ICE agents surrounding his 69-year-old wife as she parked her car. His wife is, like him, a US citizen, and Escoto ran out with her passport to prove it. When he asked agents why they were questioning her, he said, they told him it was because she is Mexican. ‘She’s brown. I look white,’ Escoto said when recounting the exchange. ‘My God, is this America?’ The Jan. 11 incident is one of multiple documented instances in recent weeks of Department of Homeland Security agents confronting people of color — at bus stops, on sidewalks, in parking lots — and demanding proof of citizenship. Many of the interactions have been filmed by the individuals themselves or other observers and showcased on social media platforms.”

Indiana Judge and His Wife Are Shot at Their Suburban Home (DonkeyHotey)

From the New York Times: “An Indiana judge and his wife were shot at their home on Sunday, prompting concerns for the safety of the state’s judiciary after recent increases in threats and violence against public officials nationally. The police in Lafayette, Ind., said on Monday that they were investigating the shootings of the judge, Steven P. Meyer of Tippecanoe County Superior Court, and his wife, Kimberly Meyer. Both were in stable condition. Judge Meyer, 66, recently announced plans to retire at the end of the year. In 12 years on the bench, he has presided over a number of high-profile cases.”

Scary Findings on Microplastics in Our Bodies May Be Flawed. That’s Good — and Bad (Dana)

From Mother Jones: “High-profile studies reporting the presence of microplastics throughout the human body have been thrown into doubt by scientists who say the discoveries are probably the result of contamination and false positives. … There is no doubt that plastic pollution of the natural world is ubiquitous, and present in the food and drink we consume and the air we breathe. But the health damage potentially caused by microplastics and the chemicals they contain is unclear, and an explosion of research has taken off in this area in recent years. However, micro- and nanoplastic particles are tiny and at the limit of today’s analytical techniques, especially in human tissue. There is no suggestion of malpractice, but researchers told the Guardian of their concern that the race to publish results, in some cases by groups with limited analytical expertise, has led to rushed results.”

Are These 50 Experts Real People? (Reader Jim)

From The Honest Broker: “There’s disturbing evidence that a growing number of experts cited in the media simply don’t exist. And they are showcased in some of the most prestigious newspapers and online platforms. A group of journalists recently tried to verify the existence of 50 experts featured more than a thousand times in prominent articles. But these people can’t be found in the real world. In many instances, the articles include a photo that appears to be AI-generated.”

The Simplest Way Teens Can Protect Their Mental Health (Mili)

The author writes, “Teens who sleep in on weekends may be giving their mental health a boost. A new study found that young people who made up for lost weekday sleep had a significantly lower risk of depression. While consistent sleep is still best, weekend catch-up sleep appears to offer meaningful protection. The findings highlight how powerful sleep can be for adolescent well-being.”