The Energy News Digest

Monday, May 1, 2023

The Energy News Digest for May 1, 2023

The Energy News Digest is sponsored by the Northwest Public Power Association.

The News Digest on Facebook and Twitter will bring you breaking news throughout the week.

HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Washington Man Pleads Guilty to Vandalizing Four Substations & Knocking Out Power for 14,000 People on Christmas (CBS News)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/washington-man-pleads-guilty-to-vandalizing-4-substations/

FERC Staff Endorses Goldendale Hydro Storage Energy Project (Capital Press)

https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/water/ferc-staff-endorses-goldendale-energy-project/article_51e3670a-e5de-11ed-8b00-bf9399b2fd23.html

Hydropower Rep Hopes for 'Apolitical' Study on Snake River Dams (Capital Press)

https://www.capitalpress.com/state/washington/hydropower-rep-hopes-for-apolitical-study-on-snake-river-dams/article_eae65b46-e445-11ed-a6c9-6756d1cdeec0.html

Heat Pumps Are Having a Breakthrough. They Have One Issue: The Wrong Name. (Washington Post, DC – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2023/04/27/heat-pump-name-air-conditioning/

Montana: Bill Banning Greenhouse Gas Analysis from Permitting Decisions Heads to Governor (Montana Free Press)

https://montanafreepress.org/2023/04/28/greenhouse-gas-bill-pases-legislature/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1. Washington Man Pleads Guilty to Vandalizing Four Substations & Knocking Out Power for 14,000 People on Christmas

2. Hydropower Rep Hopes for 'Apolitical' Study on Snake River Dams

3. After Ninth Circuit Tosses Berkeley Gas Ban for New Buildings – Climate-Focused Cities Examine Their Options

4. California: SMUD Customers Have Seen 15% Electricity Rate Increase in Three Years. Here’s Why

5. Oregon: Fee Passthrough – Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative Itemizes City Franchise Fee

6. Arizona: Tucson to Study Creating City-Run Electric Utility; TEP Opposed

7. New Nuclear Power Could Help U.S. Climate Fight but Faces Hurdles, Report Says

8. Pending Senate Bill Would Require 30% Transfer Capacity Between Regions: Hickenlooper Aide

9. FERC Staff Endorses Goldendale Hydro Storage Energy Project

10. Massive Idaho Wind Farm Plan Generates 8,000 Comments

11. Lawmakers Crack Down on Wind-Turbine Lights That Flash All Night

12. Calif. Public Power Leaders Say New Rule Threatens Ability of Utilities to Respond to Emergencies

13. WA State: Does Spokane’s Waste-to-Energy Plant Fit into the City’s Climate Goals?

14. Bill Extending Tax Break to Washington Business That Use Wood Waste for Energy Awaits Signature for Final Passage

15. Heat Pumps Are Having a Breakthrough. They Have One Issue: The Wrong Name.

16. Can Fish & Dams Coexist on the Skagit River? New Plan May Be First Step

17. Bi-State Sage Grouse Considered for Threatened Status, Again

18. How a Group of Herring Fishermen May Get the U.S. Supreme Court to Reel in Government Power

19. Lake Powell Could Rise 50 to 90 Feet Over the Next Few Months

20. Montana: Bill Banning Greenhouse Gas Analysis from Permitting Decisions Heads to Governor

21. Portland to Ban Gas-Powered Delivery Vehicles from 16 Blocks Downtown

22. Oregon Dreams of Semiconductor Factories, But Land & Tax Breaks Are Going to Data Centers Instead

23. Digital News Sites Fight to Survive as Online Ad Dollars Dry Up

24. WordPress Drops Twitter Social Sharing Due to API Price Hike

25. WA Gov. Inslee Says He Won’t Be Running for Fourth Term

26. WA Gov. Jay Inslee Will Not Seek a Fourth Term – Who Will Run?

27. JPMorgan Wins Government Auction to Buy Seized First Republic Bank

28. Apprenticeships Become Popular College Alternative as Tuition Costs Continue to Rise

29. Marijuana Job Lands Oregon Secretary of State in Trouble

30. Commentary: President Needs to Visit Dams Before Siding with Breaching Advocates

WORD OF THE DAY

Virescent \vuh-RESS-sunt\ Adjective - Beginning to be green: greenish.

The lesser-known brother of Theodore Geisel, Abner, was considered the more cerebral of the siblings. Whereas Ted waxed eloquently about “Green Eggs & Ham,” Abner’s treatise was titled “The Psychological Effects of Virescent Fried Chicken Embryos & Salt-Cured Pork Flesh on Anthropomorphic Creatures in Children’s Literature.” Understandably, Ted’s writings were better sellers in every way.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1. Washington Man Pleads Guilty to Vandalizing Four Substations & Knocking Out Power for 14,000 People on Christmas (CBS News)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/washington-man-pleads-guilty-to-vandalizing-4-substations/

2. Hydropower Rep Hopes for 'Apolitical' Study on Snake River Dams (Capital Press)

https://www.capitalpress.com/state/washington/hydropower-rep-hopes-for-apolitical-study-on-snake-river-dams/article_eae65b46-e445-11ed-a6c9-6756d1cdeec0.html

3. After Ninth Circuit Tosses Berkeley Gas Ban for New Buildings – Climate-Focused Cities Examine Their Options (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/berkeley-gas-ban-impacts-cities-building-electrification/648816/

4. California: SMUD Customers Have Seen 15% Electricity Rate Increase in Three Years. Here’s Why (Sacramento Bee, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article274817401.html

5. Oregon: Fee Passthrough – Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative Itemizes City Franchise Fee (Coos-Curry Pilot, OR)

https://www.currypilot.com/news_free/electricity-fee-utility-adds-fee/article_4e5e6424-e5c8-11ed-98e5-8716227f731c.html

6. Arizona: Tucson to Study Creating City-Run Electric Utility; TEP Opposed (Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, AZ)

https://tucson.com/news/local/subscriber/tucson-to-study-creating-city-run-electric-utility-tep-opposed/article_4bc11e0c-dfcc-11ed-b847-1f96797306ed.html

7. New Nuclear Power Could Help U.S. Climate Fight but Faces Hurdles, Report Says (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/new-nuclear-power-could-help-us-climate-fight-faces-hurdles-report-2023-04-27/

8. Pending Senate Bill Would Require 30% Transfer Capacity Between Regions: Hickenlooper Aide (Utility Dive)

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/senate-hickenlooper-bill-transfer-capacity-regions-wires-spp-miso/648886/

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

9. FERC Staff Endorses Goldendale Hydro Storage Energy Project (Capital Press)

https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/water/ferc-staff-endorses-goldendale-energy-project/article_51e3670a-e5de-11ed-8b00-bf9399b2fd23.html

10. Massive Idaho Wind Farm Plan Generates 8,000 Comments (East Oregonian, Pendleton, OR)

https://www.eastoregonian.com/news/northwest/massive-idaho-wind-farm-plan-generates-8-000-comments/article_4b97bcf1-5b04-5575-af75-bf1b2f02024f.html

11. Lawmakers Crack Down on Wind-Turbine Lights That Flash All Night (Wall Street Journal)

https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2023/05/01/lawmakers-crack-down-on-wind-turbine-lights-that-flash-all-night/

12. Calif. Public Power Leaders Say New Rule Threatens Ability of Utilities to Respond to Emergencies (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/calif-public-power-leaders-say-new-rule-threatens-ability-utilities-respond-emergencies

13. WA State: Does Spokane’s Waste-to-Energy Plant Fit into the City’s Climate Goals? (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/apr/30/does-spokanes-waste-to-energy-plant-fit-into-the-c/

14. Bill Extending Tax Break to Washington Business That Use Wood Waste for Energy Awaits Signature for Final Passage (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/may/01/bill-extending-tax-break-to-washington-business-th/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

15. Heat Pumps Are Having a Breakthrough. They Have One Issue: The Wrong Name. (Washington Post, DC – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2023/04/27/heat-pump-name-air-conditioning/

FISH & WILDLIFE

16. Can Fish & Dams Coexist on the Skagit River? New Plan May Be First Step (KUOW News, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kuow.org/stories/can-fish-and-dams-coexist-on-the-skagit-river-new-plan-may-be-first-step

17. Bi-State Sage Grouse Considered for Threatened Status, Again (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/endangered-species-sage-grouse-88a904496d8ec4806fc0b54a8c89190b

18. How a Group of Herring Fishermen May Get the U.S. Supreme Court to Reel in Government Power (USA Today)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2023/05/01/supreme-court-herring-fishermen-chevron/11574448002/

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

19. Lake Powell Could Rise 50 to 90 Feet Over the Next Few Months (KSL Radio, Salt Lake City, UT)

https://kslnewsradio.com/2002235/lake-powell-could-rise-50-to-90-feet-over-the-next-few-months/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

20. Montana: Bill Banning Greenhouse Gas Analysis from Permitting Decisions Heads to Governor (Montana Free Press)

https://montanafreepress.org/2023/04/28/greenhouse-gas-bill-pases-legislature/

21. Portland to Ban Gas-Powered Delivery Vehicles from 16 Blocks Downtown (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.koin.com/news/portland/portland-to-ban-gas-powered-delivery-vehicles-from-16-blocks-downtown/

BEAM ME UP, SCOTTY - THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY & CYBERSECURITY

22. Oregon Dreams of Semiconductor Factories, But Land & Tax Breaks Are Going to Data Centers Instead (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2023/04/oregon-dreams-of-semiconductor-factories-but-land-and-tax-breaks-are-going-to-data-centers-instead.html

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

23. Digital News Sites Fight to Survive as Online Ad Dollars Dry Up (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2023/05/01/1172996849/digital-news-sites-fight-to-survive-as-online-ad-dollars-dry-up

24. WordPress Drops Twitter Social Sharing Due to API Price Hike (Mashable)

https://mashable.com/article/wordpress-drops-twitter-jetpack-social-sharing

MANAGEMENT & GOVERNANCE

25. WA Gov. Inslee Says He Won’t Be Running for Fourth Term (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/gov-inslee-says-he-wont-be-running-fourth-term/6XAHB45U5FCPDBUZA37QEKD7YM/

26. WA Gov. Jay Inslee Will Not Seek a Fourth Term – Who Will Run? (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.theolympian.com/news/politics-government/article274922006.html

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

27. JPMorgan Wins Government Auction to Buy Seized First Republic Bank (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/california-financial-regulator-takes-possession-first-republic-bank-2023-05-01/

28. Apprenticeships Become Popular College Alternative as Tuition Costs Continue to Rise (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/news/local/college-decision-day-apprenticeship-alternative-students-tuition-us-labor-department-money-deadline-washington-state-university-coug-husky-books-room-board-trade-school-enrollment-workforce-hands-fields-training-opportunity-employer-high-demand

29. Marijuana Job Lands Oregon Secretary of State in Trouble (ABC News)

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/audit-marijuana-rich-oregon-prep-us-legalization-98948354

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

30. Commentary: President Needs to Visit Dams Before Siding with Breaching Advocates (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA)

https://www.union-bulletin.com/opinion/opinion_columns/commentary-president-needs-to-visit-dams-before-siding-with-breaching-advocates/article_070c296a-e525-11ed-9e46-afdad714946d.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

A Student Ate an Art Installation Worth Over $100,000 Because He Was Hungry

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/05/01/student-eats-banana-art-installation-comedian/70170089007/

Missing Dog Found 6 Years Later, 470 Miles from Home

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/05/01/Wayne-County-Virginia-dog-Atlanta-Georgia/7911682953397/

Mother Duck Leads Ducklings on Parade Through Virginia School

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/04/27/ducklings-parade-through-Virginia-school/6331682624345/

Teen Saves the Day as School Bus Driver Faints

https://news.yahoo.com/us-teen-saves-day-school-185931976.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra – Breathless

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTSp-iDm58I

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in The Energy News Digest are for current stories. I try to choose stories that are accessible without paying a subscription. Individual experiences may vary. Media attribution includes information about possible paywall restrictions. Regular clearing of your browser’s history and cookie files may help in accessing some paywall sites.

Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links.

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

The Energy News Digest for April 26, 2023

The Energy News Digest is sponsored by the Northwest Public Power Association.

The News Digest on Facebook and Twitter will bring you breaking news throughout the week.

Subscribe to The Energy News Digest.

HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

‘It Was Preventable’: Landmark Case on Liability for 2020 Oregon Wildfires Begins with Opening Arguments (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/pacific-power-2020-wildfire-trial-opening-arguments/283-a352aaad-b0f3-46dd-9689-b524084c4fe4

A Look at How Washingtons 2023 Snowpack Data Could Impact Local Farmers in the Summer (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Yakima/Tri-Cities, WA)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/top_video/a-look-at-how-washingtons-2023-snowpack-data-could-impact-local-farmers-in-the-summer/video_d6c1ec1e-e334-11ed-abec-835d7e7f19c0.html

Switching to Wind & Solar Energy Will Require a Lot of Land (Washington Post, DC – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/04/24/switching-wind-solar-energy-will-require-lot-land/

WA State: Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe to Fish for Salmon on Elwha River a Decade After Dams Fell (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/tribe-to-fish-for-salmon-on-elwha-river-a-decade-after-dams-fell/

The Chevy Bolt, GM’s Popular Electric Vehicle, Is on Its Way Out (National Public Radio)

https://fm.kuac.org/npr-news/2023-04-26/the-chevy-bolt-gms-popular-electric-vehicle-is-on-its-way-out

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1. ‘It Was Preventable’: Landmark Case on Liability for 2020 Oregon Wildfires Begins with Opening Arguments

2. Montana: Policy Analyst Concerned About Future Colstrip Costs to NorthWestern Customers

3. An Oregon City Banned Natural Gas. The Gas Company Fought Back

4. Debate Over Snake River Dams – Key to Wheat Exports & Clean Power, Battle Over Snake River Dams, Salmon, & Environmental Justice

5. Man Arrested After Allegedly Threatening Avista Crew with Shotgun

6. Less Natural Gas Was Withdrawn from Storage This Winter Than in the Last Seven

7. Retiring Coal-Fired Power Plants Need a Replacement. These Western States May Have the Answer

8. Groups Voice Opposition to Proposed Pole Attachments Legislation

9. Switching to Wind & Solar Energy Will Require a Lot of Land

10. WA State: Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe to Fish for Salmon on Elwha River a Decade After Dams Fell

11. Can the United Nations Help Save Pacific Salmon?

12. A Look at How Washingtons 2023 Snowpack Data Could Impact Local Farmers in the Summer

13. Huge Rocky Mountain Snowfall Provides Drought Relief but Causes Flood Worries

14. Panel: Climate Change, Not Wind Prep, Is Threat to Whales

15. Cable TV ‘Cord-Cutters’ Became the Majority in 2022

16. WA State: Okanogan County Broadband Action Team Works to Expand Better & Faster County Access

17. How Broadband-Powered Remote Work Is Good for the Environment

18. WA State: Douglas County PUD Agrees to More Power for East Wenatchee Data Center

19. A New Front in the Water Wars: Your Internet Use

20. The Chevy Bolt, GM’s Popular Electric Vehicle, Is on Its Way Out

21. U.S. Supreme Court Will Decide If Government Officials Can Block Social Media Critics

22. Podcast: How to Build More Hydropower – Adding Terawatts of Hydropower Capacity Doesn’t Have to Increase Ecosystem Impacts

23. Dumb State Laws Blocking Community Broadband Could Mar Historic Subsidy Efforts

WORD OF THE DAY

Bohemian \bo-HEE-mee-un\ Noun - 1a: a native or inhabitant of Bohemia b: the group of Czech dialects used in Bohemia 2a: vagabond, wanderer; especially gypsy b: a person (as a writer or an artist) living an unconventional life usually in a colony with others.

Barnabas thought he was living life to the Bohemian fullest: rooming with four guys; drinking Jägermeister each night with wild abandon; blogging incoherently about anything and everything that popped into his febrile mind; rolling out of bed, bleary-eyed the following morning to raise the dough for rent and the rare Pork Top Ramen. His distraught mother put it more succinctly: “My son? He’s living like a bum.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1. ‘It Was Preventable’: Landmark Case on Liability for 2020 Oregon Wildfires Begins with Opening Arguments (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/pacific-power-2020-wildfire-trial-opening-arguments/283-a352aaad-b0f3-46dd-9689-b524084c4fe4

2. Montana: Policy Analyst Concerned About Future Colstrip Costs to NorthWestern Customers (The Daily Montanan)

https://dailymontanan.com/2023/04/21/policy-analyst-concerned-about-future-colstrip-costs-to-northwestern-customers/

3. An Oregon City Banned Natural Gas. The Gas Company Fought Back (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-25/oregon-s-first-natural-gas-ban-ignites-industry-counterattack

4. Debate Over Snake River Dams – Key to Wheat Exports & Clean Power, Battle Over Snake River Dams, Salmon, & Environmental Justice (Progressive Farmer)

https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/business-inputs/article/2023/04/24/key-wheat-exports-clean-power-battle

5. Man Arrested After Allegedly Threatening Avista Crew with Shotgun (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/apr/25/men-arrested-after-allegedly-threatening-avista-cr/

6. Less Natural Gas Was Withdrawn from Storage This Winter Than in the Last Seven (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=56280

7. Retiring Coal-Fired Power Plants Need a Replacement. These Western States May Have the Answer (Deseret News, Salt Lake City, UT)

https://www.deseret.com/utah/2023/4/25/23688248/nuclear-power-replacing-coal-utah-wyoming-terrapower-electrical-grid

8. Groups Voice Opposition to Proposed Pole Attachments Legislation (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/groups-voice-opposition-proposed-pole-attachments-legislation

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

9. Switching to Wind & Solar Energy Will Require a Lot of Land (Washington Post, DC – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/04/24/switching-wind-solar-energy-will-require-lot-land/

FISH & WILDLIFE

10. WA State: Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe to Fish for Salmon on Elwha River a Decade After Dams Fell (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/tribe-to-fish-for-salmon-on-elwha-river-a-decade-after-dams-fell/

11. Can the United Nations Help Save Pacific Salmon? (Crosscut Seattle)

https://crosscut.com/environment/2023/04/can-united-nations-help-save-pacific-salmon

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

12. A Look at How Washingtons 2023 Snowpack Data Could Impact Local Farmers in the Summer (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Yakima/Tri-Cities, WA)

https://www.nbcrightnow.com/top_video/a-look-at-how-washingtons-2023-snowpack-data-could-impact-local-farmers-in-the-summer/video_d6c1ec1e-e334-11ed-abec-835d7e7f19c0.html

13. Huge Rocky Mountain Snowfall Provides Drought Relief but Causes Flood Worries (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2023/04/25/1171800338/huge-rocky-mountain-snowfall-provides-drought-relief-but-causes-flood-worries

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

14. Panel: Climate Change, Not Wind Prep, Is Threat to Whales (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/ocean-offshore-wind-fossil-fuel-dead-whales-633d21db47b211b027daa7d713b1a479

LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS

15. Cable TV ‘Cord-Cutters’ Became the Majority in 2022 (Sacramento Bee, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/article274727981.html

16. WA State: Okanogan County Broadband Action Team Works to Expand Better & Faster County Access (Quad City Herald, Brewster, WA)

https://www.qcherald.com/news/broadband-action-team-works-expand-better-and-faster-county-access

17. How Broadband-Powered Remote Work Is Good for the Environment (NCTA)

https://www.ncta.com/whats-new/how-broadband-powered-remote-work-is-good-for-the-environment

BEAM ME UP, SCOTTY - THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY & CYBERSECURITY

18. WA State: Douglas County PUD Agrees to More Power for East Wenatchee Data Center (Wenatchee World, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/douglas-county-pud-agrees-to-more-power-for-east-wenatchee-data-center/article_f224b762-e2c5-11ed-822d-a33e11eb7cf8.html

19. A New Front in the Water Wars: Your Internet Use (Washington Post, DC – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/04/25/data-centers-drought-water-use/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

20. The Chevy Bolt, GM’s Popular Electric Vehicle, Is on Its Way Out (National Public Radio)

https://fm.kuac.org/npr-news/2023-04-26/the-chevy-bolt-gms-popular-electric-vehicle-is-on-its-way-out

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

21. U.S. Supreme Court Will Decide If Government Officials Can Block Social Media Critics (engadget)

https://www.engadget.com/supreme-court-will-decide-if-government-officials-can-block-social-media-critics-155717504.html

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

22. Podcast: How to Build More Hydropower – Adding Terawatts of Hydropower Capacity Doesn’t Have to Increase Ecosystem Impacts (Canary Media)

https://www.canarymedia.com/podcasts/catalyst-with-shayle-kann/how-to-build-more-hydropower

23. Dumb State Laws Blocking Community Broadband Could Mar Historic Subsidy Efforts (TechDirt)

https://www.techdirt.com/2023/04/24/dumb-state-laws-blocking-community-broadband-could-mar-historic-subsidy-efforts/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Harry Belafonte: Singer & Civil Rights Activist Dies Aged 96

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-65390525

California Is Covered in Flowers – California Is Experiencing a ‘Superbloom’ After a Super-Wet Winter

https://gizmodo.com/california-superbloom-flowers-photos-1850374072

Colorado Rescue Discovers Rare Male Calico ‘Unicorn’ Kitten

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/04/25/unicorn-cat-male-calico-kitten/3811682452027/

Lost Dog Reunited with Idaho Owner After Two Years

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/04/26/lost-dog-found-two-years-Idaho-pug-Sven/9421682524904/

SONG OF THE DAY

Harry Belafonte – Jamaica Farewell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aajSxr8nghE