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PICKS are stories from many sources, selected by our editors or recommended by our readers because they are important, surprising, troubling, enlightening, inspiring, or amusing. They appear on our site and in our daily newsletter. Please send suggested articles, videos, podcasts, etc. to picks@whowhatwhy.org.
New Wildlife Tracking Collar Powers Itself as Animals Roam (Maria)
The author writes, “Replacing worn-out batteries in animal tracking devices can be a time-consuming, expensive duty for wildlife scientists. It’s stressful for the animals, too. Now, inspired by the technology behind a self-charging smartwatch, researchers have invented a tracker powered by the animals’ own movement. The approach could help researchers monitor animals across their entire life spans.”
Nevada’s GOP Governor Facing $1.7M Ethics Penalty for Campaigning With Sheriff’s Badge, Uniform (Reader Steve)
The author writes, “Nevada’s Republican governor is facing an almost $1.7 million ethics penalty and possible censure for wearing his badge and uniform as Las Vegas-area sheriff in campaign photos and on social media ahead of his election last year. Documents posted in advance of a June 13 hearing in Reno also recommend the appointment of an ethics compliance liaison to Gov. Joe Lombardo’s office due to alleged violations of a state law barring public officers from using their positions ‘to secure or grant unwarranted privileges, preferences, exemptions or advantages.’”
Report: 20 of the World’s Richest Economies, Including the US, Fuel Forced Labor (Roshni)
The author writes, “The world’s 20 wealthiest economies accounted for about half of the people worldwide living in ‘modern slavery,’ according to a new report. The report released [last month] by Walk Free, an international human rights group, found that countries belonging to the Group of 20 major economies helped fuel forced labor through global supply chains and state-imposed forced labor. Between the 20 countries, they imported $468 billion worth of products possibly made by forced labor, with the U.S. making up nearly $170 billion of that, the report said.”
Sanctions on Russia May Not Be Working, We Now Know Why (Mili)
From Al Jazeera: “European businesses and third countries are actively circumventing sanctions, providing Russia with sanctioned goods and thus helping its war effort.”
How the Bible Became Conservative Book Bans’ Unintended Target (Sean)
From The Week: “The ongoing efforts in deep-red states like Florida and Texas to ban books deemed culturally or sexually inappropriate for their depictions of racial injustices and LGBTQ+ content have spawned a surprising form of retaliation. Parents and community members alarmed by what they see as right-wing censorship have begun targeting the Bible for removal from schools and libraries, arguing the book’s graphic depictions of sex and violence make it just as subversive and inappropriate as the materials being banned under conservative and often overtly evangelical Christian auspices.”
From 2019: Our Lethal Air (Gerry)
The author writes, “Nearly half a century after the Clean Air Act instituted the world’s most stringent emissions controls, the problem of air pollution is far from being solved in the US or anywhere else. Pollution has proved much more persistent, and exposure to it much more damaging, than anyone expected. Today, 91 percent of people worldwide live in areas where air pollution levels exceed the World Health Organization’s recommended limits.”
Billion-Dollar Bet: New York’s Risky Investment in Lake Placid’s Olympic Dream (Dana)
From Adirondack Life: “The idea of Lake Placid as one of the world’s major winter sport meccas is compelling. The village hosted two Winter Olympics, in 1932 and 1980. The Miracle on Ice, when the US hockey team defeated Russia, is enshrined in America’s national mythology. That spirit still burns bright in nearby Adirondack towns that regularly produce world-class skiers and sledders. None of that would be possible without [the Olympic Regional Development Authority].”
Americans Are Working Less Than They Were Before the Pandemic (Al)
The author writes, “Americans are spending less time working than they did before the pandemic. That’s good for many of them, but it’s not necessarily great for the inflation-fighting Federal Reserve. The average US workweek has dropped by more than a half hour over the last three years, according to new research by former Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Katharine Abraham and her University of Maryland colleague Lea Rendell. That’s enabled some Americans to emulate their European counterparts and spend more time on leisure and other activities.”
Chonk the Snapping Turtle Delights Locals With Chicago River Appearance (Laura)
The author writes, “A large snapping turtle dubbed ‘Chonk’ has become a viral favorite of Chicago residents after the enormous reptile has been spotted repeatedly lounging by the once-toxic Chicago River. ‘Look at the size of that thing!’ Joey Santore said as he filmed ‘Chonkosaurus,’ or ‘Chonk,’ as the giant creature lay atop of what appears to be an old rusty chain and tree snags.”
