Wheat Bulls Push Higher After Stocks CutElon Musk teased the internet with an X post about "Xmail" as a potential rival to Gmail, which sparked trolling among fans and critics. Musk doubled down on a conversation he started earlier in February, when he claimed to be developing a new email service called Xmail, seemingly coming for Gmail's 1.8 billion users . "When we making XMail?" asked X security engineer, Nate McGrady, to which Musk replied, "It's coming." When we making XMail? Today Musk reignited the conversation, setting his target on Gmail, which is owned by Google . The topic quickly became the No. 2 trending conversation on X with 22,600 posts talking about it. "Interesting," Musk wrote on X. "We need to rethink how messaging, including email, works overall." Interesting. We need to rethink how messaging, including email, works overall. https://t.co/6wZAslJLTc Musk wrote his reply after Nima Owji, an independent app researcher, commented, "Having an @x.com email address is the only thing that can stop me from using Gmail!" The post had 16.9 million views after it was published at 12:46 pm. Sunday. Musk's news was met with humor, with many memes trolling the idea of abandoning Gmail for Xmail, considering X's questionable key changes about collecting users' biometric data . "X wanting ppl to replace their GMAL with X mail," said user, @TrumpDownfall in an X post , and followed by a meme of Natasha Robinson and Amanda Seales hysterically laughing in a scene from the TV show Insecure . A user named @KirbyMiningCo said in an X post, "Nobody throwing out their Gmail accounts for an X email service lol." Nobody throwing out their gmail accounts for an X email service lol While some users on X were ready to sign up for Musk's undeveloped Xmail account, the general consent was not favorable for Musk on Reddit . "Ha, and I cannot stress this enough, ha," said commenter, DeliciousPumpkinPie, 10 months ago in the Subreddit r/technology , that published, " Elon Musk to Take on Gmail With New Xmail Service ." " Yeah, hard pass on that ," said an anonymous commenter with over 200 upvotes on Reddit , while another commenter asked, "Who the [expletive] would trust this person with their email?" According to the Express Tribune , Gmail makes up 30.70 percent of the email market with Apple Mail leading the way with 53.67 percent. About 10 percent use Outlook, Google Android, and Yahoo! Mail.
Do you know what Edmund Burke, a very wise man, once said? “The arrogance of age must submit to be taught by youth.” In other words, older people in charge should listen carefully to what younger people are saying. Right now, in China, that’s becoming more important than ever. In recent weeks, young people in China have been making headlines. First, thousands of students hopped on their bikes and rode more than 30 miles from one city to another just to enjoy a delicious soup-dumpling breakfast. At first, the government thought it was a fun activity, but then they got nervous and stopped the rides. Then, something sad and scary happened: on a college campus, eight people were killed, and 17 were hurt by someone who was upset about failing exams and struggling with internships. Why does this matter so much to China’s leaders? Because young people are powerful. When the economy is tough, and they feel frustrated, they don’t stay quiet. Remember in 2022, when young Chinese people held up blank sheets of paper to protest strict COVID-19 rules? They didn’t even need words to make a big impact—those protests made the government change its rules. This isn’t just a China thing. Around the world, young people have often been the ones to spark big changes. They tore down the Berlin Wall, fought for freedom in Ukraine, and made their voices heard in protests against the Vietnam War. So, what should China’s leaders do? They should pay attention. What makes young people happy? What stresses them out? Is it the pressure of school and exams? Or the way social media shows a distorted view of life? Understanding young people is crucial. Whether it’s art like Banksy’s or music like Sidhu Moose Wala’s, the things that inspire youth matter. Leaders need to listen, connect, and support them—not shut them down. After all, the future belongs to the young, doesn’t it?It's time for "Sunny Side Up," the good news broadcast, with your host, David Pogue! Good morning! Well, you may remember 2024 as a year of bad news. For example ... what am I doing? Why would I remind you?!? But there was also GREAT news this year that you might have missed. We begin with ... murder hornets! Murder hornets These giant bugs arrived in Washington state four years ago from Asia . They can wipe out entire hives of honeybees, and even kill people. If they were to spread, that would be bad news. So, authorities set up traps, tip lines, and tiny tracking devices, and by December 18, entomologist Sven Spichiger announced: "Now we can officially say that eradication has been achieved, and it's a significant victory." Score: Humanity 1, Nightmare 0. "Murder hornets" eradicated in the U.S., agriculture officials say Overdose reduction But zero is only one good number; 20,000 is another – 20,000 Americans who didn't die of drug overdoses in 2024, compared to last year's total – a 17% decline, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . "The really great news is that we've seen a historic decline in overdose deaths in the past year – the largest decline in overdose deaths ever recorded in history," said Magdalena Cerdá, a professor of epidemiology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. So, why did this happen? "We have a lot of hypotheses," Dr. Cerdá said. "One of them is that there's been a really concerted investment in access to naloxone, which is a drug that can be used to reverse overdoses. Also, what we've seen is a shift from people injecting drugs to people smoking drugs. There's also been a decline in people just using drugs, like fentanyl, among adolescents and young adults." Within epidemiology circles, is this a big deal? "Absolutely!" she said. "Of course, there's still more than 90,000 people who died of an overdose in the past year; that's unacceptably high." The friendly skies once again Remember New York's LaGuardia airport? The one with low ceilings, narrow corridors, and not enough gates for today's big planes? It was dim and dingy. It was "hailed" as the worst airport in the United States. In 2015, then-Vice President Joe Biden famously remarked, "I must be in some third world country," when talking about one of America's busiest airports. So, in 2015, they started building a whole new airport, in stages, over and around the old one, and then demolished the original without ever shutting down the airport! The move to upgrade U.S. airports ("Sunday Morning") Speaking from LaGuardia, airport critic David Pogue has his verdict: "Well, one thing's for sure: It's not dim and dingy anymore! Now, it's big, bright and airy, flooded with natural light, more efficient security, super-cool art, including a computer-controlled waterfall. And the planes are now closer to the runways, so there's less sitting on the ground." The critics sing a different song now. They call it the best airport in America! At this point, there's only one thing left to do: Start the whole thing again, at JFK Airport! Artificial intelligence AI has been in the news almost daily this year – mostly about how scary it is . What gets less coverage is how AI is predicting the weather better ... adjusting traffic lights more efficiently ... and diagnosing diseases more accurately . But the biggest AI story of the year might just be AlphaFold. Its purpose is to map the shapes of proteins — infinitesimal, folded-up molecules, too small to see with a normal microscope. "For a long, long time, we've tried to figure out, 'What are the shapes of these?'" said John Jumper, director of the AlphaFold project at Google's DeepMind division. "Because if you get the wrong shape, you often get disease." Jumper says that if we knew the shapes of the proteins that cause many of the worst diseases, we could start making drugs to fix them. Before AlphaFold, the shape of a protein was determined through a laborious process: "Maybe a year of time, maybe $100,000 in expense to get a single answer, to get just one," Jumper said. But AlphaFold works thousands of times faster; this year, it finished calculating the shapes of all 200 million known proteins . The scientific world went crazy! The Breakthrough of AlphaFold 3: Revolutionizing Biological Research (Sidecar) 'It will change everything': DeepMind's AI makes gigantic leap in solving protein structures (Nature) Why AlphaFold 3 is stirring up so much buzz in pharma (PharmaVoice) Better yet, Google then offered its discovery to the world for free . Over 2 million researchers are already using it to tackle malaria, cancer, Parkinson's, COVID, diabetes, and much more. Jumper said, "I am certain that we have saved or will save lives with AlphaFold. We will have medicines that we didn't have because of this technology." This year also brought a little good news especially for John Jumper: He just won the 2024 Nobel Prize for chemistry ! Still more good news! Well, I'm afraid that's all the time we have. We won't be able to mention the 24 states that raised their minimum wage this year ... How the U.K. shut down its last coal plant ... How you can now renew your passport online ... The 800 school districts now using electric school buses , for cleaner air and fewer child asthma cases ... The first successful return from the dark side of the moon ... How the hole in the ozone layer is healing faster than anyone expected ... Or the postal service's new mail trucks . They may have a little bit of a platypus vibe, but they finally offer airbags, air conditioning, side doors for unloading, anti-collision systems – and most of them will be electric. Have a joyous new year, and remember: Bad news breaks suddenly, but good news happens everywhere, all the time. Good morning, everyone! For more info: Washington State Department of Agriculture Magdalena Cerdá, professor of epidemiology, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine AlphaFold (Google DeepMind) Story produced by Annie Iezzi. Editor: Emanuele Secci. David Pogue is a six-time Emmy winner for his stories on "CBS Sunday Morning," where he's been a correspondent since 2002. Pogue hosts the CBS News podcast "Unsung Science." He's also a New York Times bestselling author, a five-time TED speaker, and host of 20 NOVA science specials on PBS. For 13 years, he wrote a New York Times tech column every week - and for 10 years, a Scientific American column every month.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The largest artificial intelligence data center ever built by Facebook’s parent company Meta is coming to northeast Louisiana, the company said Wednesday, bringing hopes that the $10 billion facility will transform an economically neglected corner of the state. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry called it “game-changing” for his state's expanding tech sector, yet some environmental groups have raised concerns over the center's reliance on fossil fuels — and whether the plans for new natural gas power to support it could lead to higher energy bills in the future for Louisiana residents. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, is expanding its existing supercomputer project in Memphis, Tennessee, the city's chamber of commerce said Wednesday. The chamber also said that Nvidia, Dell, and Supermicro Computer will be “establishing operations in Memphis,” without offering further details. Louisiana is among a growing number of states offering tax credits and other incentives to lure big tech firms seeking sites for energy-intensive data centers. The U.S. Commerce Department found that there aren’t enough data centers in the U.S. to meet the rising AI-fueled demand, which is projected to grow by 9% each year through 2030, citing industry reports. Meta anticipates its Louisiana data center will create 500 operational jobs and 5,000 temporary construction jobs, said Kevin Janda, director of data center strategy. At 4 million square feet (370,000 square meters), it will be the company's largest AI data center to date, he added. “We want to make sure we are having a positive impact on the local level,” Janda said. Congressional leaders and local representatives from across the political spectrum heralded the Meta facility as a boon for Richland parish, a rural part of Louisiana with a population of 20,000 historically reliant on agriculture. About one in four residents are considered to live in poverty and the parish has an employment rate below 50%, according to the U.S. census data. Meta plans to invest $200 million into road and water infrastructure improvements for the parish to offset its water usage. The facility is expected to be completed in 2030. Entergy, one of the nation's largest utility providers, is fast-tracking plans to build three natural gas power plants in Louisiana capable of generating 2,262 megawatts for Meta's data center over a 15-year period — nearly one-tenth of Entergy's existing energy capacity across four states. The Louisiana Public Service Commission is weighing Entergy's proposal as some environmental groups have opposed locking the state into more fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure. Meta said it plans to help bring 1,500 megawatts of renewable energy onto the grid in the future. Louisiana residents may ultimately end up with rate increases to pay off the cost of operating these natural gas power plants when Meta's contract with Entergy expires, said Jessica Hendricks, state policy director for the Alliance for Affordable Energy, a Louisiana-based nonprofit advocating for energy consumers. “There’s no reason why residential customers in Louisiana need to pay for a power plant for energy that they’re not going to use," Hendricks said. "And we want to make sure that there’s safeguards in place.” Public service commissioner Foster Campbell, representing northeast Louisiana, said he does not believe the data center will increase rates for Louisiana residents and views it as vital for his region. “It’s going in one of the most needed places in Louisiana and maybe one of the most needed places in the United States of America,” Foster said. “I’m for it 100%.” Environmental groups have also warned of the pollution generated by Musk's AI data center in Memphis. The Southern Environmental Law Center, among others, says the supercomputer could strain the power grid, prompting attention from the Environmental Protection Agency. Eighteen gas turbines currently running at xAI’s south Memphis facility are significant sources of ground-level ozone, better known as smog, the group said. Patrick Anderson, an attorney at the law center, said xAI has operated with “a stunning lack of transparency” in developing its South Memphis facility, which is located near predominantly Black neighborhoods that have long dealt with pollution and health risks from factories and other industrial sites. “Memphians deserve to know how xAI will affect them,” he said, “and should have a seat at the table when these decisions are being made.” Sainz reported from Memphis, Tennessee. Associated Press writer Matt O’Brien in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report. Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96Former MP Prof. Charitha Herath has weighed in on recent comments made by Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Minister Sunil Handunneththi, who accused public sector officials of obstructing the Government’s efforts by clinging to outdated systems. Herath called for a more constructive approach, emphasising the need for systemic reform rather than blaming public officials. Minister Handunneththi, speaking at a program held in Colombo recently, expressed frustration over the challenges faced in implementing Government policies, alleging that some public officials continue to operate within a “corrupt old system.” He claimed this resistance hindered efforts to provide relief to the people, protect their rights, and support local industries. Handunneththi further noted that his current struggle lies with the Ministry of Finance, particularly over issues like tax policies, which he said fail to align with the new Government’s vision. In response, Herath took to social media platform ‘X’ to defend the role of public officials. “It is not correct to view public officials as adversaries of the Government. Their role is to operate within the framework of the laws, regulations, and policies in place,” Herath said. Herath clarified that when officials highlight contradictions between the Government’s directives and existing laws or policies, they are not obstructing but pointing out administrative constraints. He stressed that addressing such issues requires legislative and executive action, including revising outdated laws, amending regulations, and ensuring Cabinet decisions align with the Government’s vision. “This requires action in Parliament and at the Cabinet level, not mere criticism of public officials,” he noted. “Dismissing officials as obstacles undermines their professionalism and does nothing to enhance the Government’s effectiveness,” Herath added, urging the Government to prioritise collaboration and systemic reforms over criticism.Secret escape tunnels used by the Assad family have been discovered after by rebel forces over the weekend. A video allegedly shows an underground network under Major General Maher al-Assad’s mansion in , shows a large staircase leading downwards into a large complex with sitting rooms, metal doors and bedrooms. Reportedly filmed by a rebel who helped storm the capital, the footage shows a number of rooms and a network of passages. It was captioned: “Massive tunnel complex beneath Maher Assad’s mansion, wide enough for trucks carrying Captagon and gold to drive through.” Maher al-Assad is the deposed ’s brother, and led a unit of the Syrian army and served as a major general during his family’s autocratic regime. Their downfall came after under top commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani, which saw the government’s forces withdraw and the fighters seize the key cities of Aleppo, Homs and the capital. In the two-minute video, a number of boxes, documents and designer bags can be seen littering the empty hallways, as well as a kitchen stocked with Tetley Tea and Pepsi cans. Assad’s 24-year reign of terror was brought to an end on Sunday, and he and his family fled to Moscow in a plane after Vladimir Putin offered him refuge, bringing to an end six decades of rule by the Assad dynasty. Regarded as one of the 21st century’s most brutal dictators, his regime is said to be responsible for the deaths of an estimated 300,000 Syrians, with the country plunged into years of civil war. Tens of thousands of Syrians have celebrated across the country by firing guns into the air, waving the rebel flag and entering his presidential palace, which has since been looted. It is understood his luxury vehicles, which included Mercedes, Ferraris and Audis, have also been seized while rebels also stormed and looted the Iranian embassy. Meanwhile, the volunteer Syrian White Helmets were investigating reports of prisoners trapped in hidden underground cells in the notorious Sednaya jail. There is so far “no evidence confirming the presence of detainees other than those who were released yesterday [Sunday]”, it said in an update on Monday. Sir Keir Starmer has announced £11m in additional humanitarian aid funding for Syria after Assad’s regime was toppled. The money will help NGOs and the UN meet the needs of the “most vulnerable” people in the country, including the estimated 370,000 people who have been displaced by recent events.
DENVER (AP) — Travis Hunter made a pair of proclamations Thursday: He’s for sure entering the NFL draft after this season, but not until he sees Colorado all the way through the College Football Playoff — if the Buffaloes make it there. The first was already a given for the draft-eligible junior who plays both receiver and cornerback. The second is a risk-reward play for a projected high first-round pick who averages around 120 snaps a game. In years past, it took two extra postseason wins to capture a national title. Now, it could take up to four additional contests. That’s more of a chance to shine, but also more chance for an injury. “I don’t think nobody will opt out because you’re showing NFL teams that you’re more focused on something else, other than the team goal,” Hunter said of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. “So I don’t think players are going to opt out of the playoffs.” Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders chatted Thursday in a set of Zoom calls about turning around the program at Colorado (from 4-8 last season to bowl eligibility), chasing a Big 12 title, turning pro — Hunter acknowledged he will “for sure” — and, of course, the Heisman race, where Hunter is currently the odds-on favorite in an award each wants to see the other win. “He’s deserving of it, and if it’s between me and him, I want him to get it,” said Sanders, whose 16th-ranked Buffaloes (8-2, 6-1 Big 12, No. 16 CFP ) travel to Arrowhead Stadium to face Kansas (4-6, 3-4) this weekend. “He does a lot of amazing things that have never been done before.” Countered Hunter: “I know he wants me to win it, but I also want him to win as bad as I want to win it.” Hunter is a generational talent shining on both sides of the ball. As a receiver, he has 74 catches for 911 yards and nine touchdowns. On defense, he has picked off three passes, even though teams are reluctant to throw his direction. Like he did in high school and now in college, he believes he can do both on the next level. But he understands the trepidation of the NFL team that picks him. “They don’t want their top pick to go down too early," Hunter said. “I like when people tell me I can’t do it, because they just motivate me to continue to do what I want to do.” Sanders is turning in a stellar season as well with 27 touchdown passes, one away from tying Sefo Liufau for the most in a single season in program history. He's projected to be one of the first QBs off the draft board. The future certainly looks bright at Colorado thanks to the legacies Sanders and Hunter under coach Deion Sanders. But that's a point to ponder later. “I can’t think too much forward past Saturday,” Shedeur Sanders cracked. “The main thing is winning the Big 12 championship. That’s the main thing we’re focused on." Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballUNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The search for a woman who is believed to have fallen into a sinkhole in western Pennsylvania shifted to a recovery effort after two treacherous days of digging through mud and rock produced no signs of life, authorities said Wednesday. Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson Trooper Steve Limani said during a news conference that authorities no longer believe they will find 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard alive, but the search for her remains continues. “We’ve had no signs of any form of life or anything” to make rescuers think they should “continue to try and push and rush and push the envelope, to be aggressive with the potential of risking harm to other people,” Limani said. He noted oxygen levels below ground were insufficient. Emergency crews and others have tried to locate Pollard for two days. Her relatives reported her missing early Tuesday and her vehicle with her unharmed 5-year-old granddaughter inside was found about two hours later, near the sinkhole above a long closed, crumbling mine. Rescue workers continue to search for Elizabeth Pollard, who is believed to have disappeared in a sinkhole while looking for her cat, Wednesday in Marguerite, Pa. “We feel like we failed,” Limani said of the decision to change the status of the effort from a rescue to a recovery. “It’s tough.” Limani praised the crews who went into the abandoned mine to help remove material in the search for Pollard in the village of Marguerite, about 40 miles east of Pittsburgh.. “They would come out of there head to toe covered in mud, exhausted. And while they were getting pulled up, the next group’s getting dropped in. And there was one after the next after the next,” Limani said. Authorities said earlier that the roof of the mine collapsed in several places and was not stable. “We did get, you know, where we wanted, where we thought that she was at. We’ve been to that spot," Pleasant Unity Fire Chief John Bacha, the incident's operations officer, said earlier Wednesday. “What happened at that point, I don’t know, maybe the slurry of mud pushed her one direction. There were several different seams of that mine, shafts that all came together where this happened at.” Searchers used electronic devices and cameras as surface digging continued with the use of heavy equipment, Bacha said. In coming days, they plan to greatly widen the surface hole, with winter weather forecast in the region. Rescue workers search through the night in a sinkhole for Elizabeth Pollard, who disappeared while looking for her cat, Tuesday in Marguerite, Pa. Sinkholes occur in the area because of subsidence from coal mining activity. Rescuers used water to break down and remove clay and dirt from the mine, which has been closed since the 1950s. Crews lowered a pole camera with a sensitive listening device into the hole, but it detected nothing. Another camera lowered into the hole showed what could be a shoe about 30 feet below the surface, Limani said Tuesday. Searchers also deployed drones and thermal imaging equipment to no avail. Pollard's family called police about 1 a.m. Tuesday to say she had not been seen since going out at about 5 p.m. Monday to search for Pepper, her cat. The temperature dropped well below freezing that night. Limani said the searchers met with her family before announcing the shift from rescue to recovery. Pollard's son, Axel Hayes, described her as a happy woman who liked going out to have fun. She and her husband adopted Hayes and his twin brother when they were infants. She used to work at Walmart but recently was not employed. Hayes called Pollard “a great person overall, a great mother” who “never really did anybody wrong.” He said at one point Pollard had about 10 cats. “Every cat that she’s ever come in contact with, she has a close bond with them,” Hayes said. The top of a sinkhole is seen Tuesday in the village of Marguerite, Pa., where rescuers searched for a woman who disappeared. Police said they found Pollard's car parked behind Monday's Union Restaurant in Marguerite, about 20 feet from the sinkhole. Hunters and restaurant workers in the area said they had not noticed the manhole-size opening in the hours before Pollard disappeared, leading rescuers to speculate the sinkhole was new. Pollard lived in a small neighborhood across the street from where her car and granddaughter were found by state police. It's unclear what happened to the cat. In an era of rapid technological advancement and environmental change, American agriculture is undergoing a revolution that reaches far beyond the farm gate. From the food on consumer plates to the economic health of rural communities, the transformation of U.S. farming practices is reshaping the nation's landscape in ways both visible and hidden. LandTrust explores how these changes impact everyone, whether they live in the heartland or the heart of the city. The image of the small family farm, while still a reality for many, is increasingly giving way to larger, more technologically advanced operations. According to the USDA, the number of farms in the U.S. has fallen from 6.8 million in 1935 to about 2 million today, with the average farm size growing from 155 acres to 444 acres. This shift has profound implications for rural communities and the food system as a whole. Despite these changes, diversity in farming practices is on the rise. A landmark study published in Science , involving data from over 2,000 farms across 11 countries, found that diversifying farmland simultaneously delivers environmental and social benefits. This challenges the longstanding idea that practices boosting biodiversity must come at a cost to yields and food security. The adoption of precision agriculture technologies is transforming how farmers manage their land and resources. GPS-guided tractors, drone surveillance, and AI-powered crop management systems are becoming commonplace on many farms. These technologies allow farmers to apply water, fertilizers, and pesticides with pinpoint accuracy, reducing waste and environmental impact while improving yields. However, the digital divide remains a challenge. More than 22% of rural communities lack reliable broadband internet access, hindering the widespread implementation of AI and other advanced technologies in agriculture. While technology offers new opportunities, farmers are also facing significant economic challenges. The USDA's 2024 farm income forecast projects a 4.4% decline in net farm income from 2023, following a sharp 19.5% drop from 2022 to 2023. This financial pressure is compounded by rising production costs and market volatility. Climate variability adds another layer of complexity. Extreme weather events, changing precipitation patterns, and shifting growing seasons are forcing farmers to adapt quickly. These factors could reduce agricultural productivity by up to 25% over the coming decades without significant adaptation measures. But adapting requires additional financial resources, further straining farm profitability. In the face of these challenges, many farmers are turning to diversification as a strategy for resilience and profitability. The Science study mentioned earlier found that farms integrating several diversification methods supported more biodiversity while seeing simultaneous increases in human well-being and food security. Agritourism is one popular diversification strategy. In 2022, 28,600 U.S. farms reported agritourism income, averaging gross revenue of $44,000 from these activities. Activities like farm tours, pick-your-own operations, and seasonal festivals not only provide additional income but also foster a deeper connection between consumers and agriculture. The changing face of agriculture is directly impacting consumers. The rise of farm-to-table and local food movements reflects a growing interest in where our food comes from and how it's produced. If every U.S. household spent just $10 per week on locally grown food, it would generate billions of dollars for local economies. However, the larger challenges in agriculture can also lead to price fluctuations at the grocery store. The USDA's Economic Research Service projects that food-at-home prices will increase between 1.2% and 2.2% in 2024. Looking ahead, several innovations are poised to reshape agriculture: The transformation of American agriculture affects everyone, from the food we eat to the health of our environment and rural communities. Consumers have the power to support sustainable and diverse farming practices through our purchasing decisions. As citizens, they can advocate for policies that support farmers in adopting innovative and sustainable practices. The challenges facing agriculture are complex, but they also present opportunities for innovation and positive change. By understanding and engaging with these issues, everyone can play a part in shaping a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable food system for the future. This story was produced by LandTrust and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
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and are probably not the first games that come to mind when thnking of official crossovers, but Bethesda has decided to bring the Doom Slayer's equipment and more to its latest sci-fi RPG with a surprise add-on. Celebrating the 31st anniversary of the franchise, a unique crossover mission named At Hell's Gate is now available for download from official Creations lineup. Presented by Bethesda Game Studios and developed by well-known community group Kinggath Creations (Sim Settlements), this comes in as a new downloadable quest that adds a slice of into . "A band of mercenaries has narrowly escaped an encounter with something that can only be described as beyond evil," says the Creation page's description. "Investigate this mysterious happening and prevent a vile force from invading your universe." For 's 31st anniversary, Hell has come to the Settled Systems in a free brand-new DOOM-themed mini-quest by Kinggath Creations! 🔥 Includes: ⚔️ DOOM Slayer's armor ⚔️ Iconic weapons ⚔️ Plushie collection The Creation page for the "At Hell's Gate" , or it can be downloaded straight from the in-game Creations menu on both Xbox consoles and PC. Players can start the quest by visiting any SSNN broadcast pillar in a major city (New Atlantis, Cydonia, Akila City, or Neon) across the galaxy after downloading it. By completing this quest, that involves some lore-friendly encounters, players will receive the iconic Praetor Suit from the new games, the legendary Super Shotgun for decimating foes, as well as the handy Crucible Blade for slicing up any opponents, from hell or otherwise. At the same time, the Industrial Workbench can be used to craft six plushies from Doom for decorating player homes, outposts, and ships.