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Asheville Citizen-Times

Behind the scenes, American Flood Coalition bridges WNC’s partisan divide

Behind the scenes, American Flood Coalition bridges WNC’s partisan divide

Working behind the scenes, the American Flood Coalition helps WNC Republicans and Democrats press for recovery and flood protection.

Senators Daines and Cantwell Urge CMS to Recertify LifeCenter Northwest, Citing Flawed Evaluation Methodology

Senators Daines and Cantwell Urge CMS to Recertify LifeCenter Northwest, Citing Flawed Evaluation Methodology

U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) have sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy and Administrator Oz of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The letter urges strong support for the recertification of LifeCenter Northwest, which serves as the primary organ procurement organization (OPO) for Montana, Washington, Alaska, and northern Idaho. The senators, joined by other bipartisan lawmakers including Representatives Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), expressed concerns that CMS's current OPO evaluation methodology does not adequately account for the unique operational challenges of serving a large, rural, and geographically dispersed area. They highlighted issues such as limited availability of transplant centers, variations in acceptance practices for complex organs, and the necessity of long-distance air transport within narrow clinical timeframes. The l...

Philanthropic Funds Bolster Civic Infrastructure to Maximize Impact of Public Investments

Philanthropic Funds Bolster Civic Infrastructure to Maximize Impact of Public Investments

Philanthropic organizations, including Invest in Our Future (IOF) and BuildUS, are strategically investing in civic infrastructure to ensure that large-scale public investments, such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), effectively reach communities and achieve their intended benefits. Following the IRA's passage, it became evident that navigating its complex mix of grants, tax credits, and incentives required significant local capacity. These philanthropic efforts have focused on supporting grassroots movements, local leaders, and community organizations to overcome implementation obstacles, secure permitting, recruit clean energy workers, and address regulatory and financing gaps at the regional level. This approach aims to make progress durable and future advancements possible, even amidst political volatility and federal funding rollbacks.

U.S. Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Honor Zeus 95 Crew with Arlington National Cemetery Monument

U.S. Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Honor Zeus 95 Crew with Arlington National Cemetery Monument

U.S. Representatives Kim Schrier (D-Sammamish), Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), Mike Carey (R-Ohio), Suzan DelBene (D-Medina), Marilyn Strickland (D-Tacoma), Michael Baumgartner (R-Spokane), and U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) have introduced the Zeus 95 Memorial Act. This bipartisan bill aims to establish a monument in or near Arlington National Cemetery to honor the six crew members of the Zeus 95, who died in a plane crash on March 12, 2026, during Operation Epic Fury against Iran. The fallen service members include Air Force Capt. Ariana Savino of Covington, Washington; Maj. John A. Klinner of Auburn, Alabama; Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt of Bardstown, Kentucky; Capt. Seth R. Koval of Mooresville, Indiana; Capt. Curtis J. Angst of Wilmington, Ohio; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons of Columbus, Ohio. The proposed monument seeks to commemorate their service and sacrifice.

TV networks to resume coverage of Trump events, CNN says

TV networks to resume coverage of Trump events, CNN says

WASHINGTON, Sept 25 (Reuters) - US television networks will resume their coverage of President Donald Trump's events, a CNN reporter said on Friday, amid an ongoing court fight after the administration blocked it from the White House along with MS NOW and Politico.

Judge temporarily blocks Trump ban on CNN, MS NOW, Politico

Judge temporarily blocks Trump ban on CNN, MS NOW, Politico

U.S. District Judge Tim Kelly ordered the outlets' press passes restored immediately and blocked enforcement of Trump's ban for 14 days.

US FAA says error messages in telecommunications circuit prompted shift to backup on Sunday

US FAA says error messages in telecommunications circuit prompted shift to backup on Sunday

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - The head of the US Federal Aviation Administration said a series of error messages in a telecommunications circuit prompted the agency on Sunday to switch to a backup fiber line before an outage snarled thousands of flights along the East Coast.

Wilmington Star-News

Wilmington lands state funds to rebuild park bridge

Wilmington lands state funds to rebuild park bridge

Wilmington recently received a boost from the state to rebuild a popular bridge at a city park.

Showers and Gusty Winds Hit Spokane Friday

Showers and Gusty Winds Hit Spokane Friday

A cold front is moving through Spokane, Washington, bringing a day of active weather on Friday. The region will experience widespread showers throughout the morning, accompanied by gusty winds. Temperatures are expected to remain in the low 60s (around 16°C), marking a noticeable shift from the calm and mild conditions earlier in September. This weather change is part of a broader pattern as the area transitions into fall. Residents should prepare for wet and breezy conditions as the day progresses.

Melania Trump takes China's first lady on a museum outing that's watched for diplomacy and style

Melania Trump takes China's first lady on a museum outing that's watched for diplomacy and style

First ladies Melania Trump and Peng Liyuan have toured the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art, celebrating cultural ties between the United States and China during China’s diplomatic visit to Washington

Birmingham City Council Approves Repairs for Village Creek Pedestrian Bridge and Pratt-Ensley Rezoning Plan

Birmingham City Council Approves Repairs for Village Creek Pedestrian Bridge and Pratt-Ensley Rezoning Plan

The Birmingham City Council has approved an agreement to renovate a wooden pedestrian bridge over Valley Creek. This bridge connects the residential area along Blocton Avenue and Sugar Ray Drive to the Roosevelt City Recreation Center. The current bridge, built in the late 1990s, has deteriorated, necessitating repairs. An interlocal agreement with Jefferson County was required because a portion of the site extends into unincorporated land outside city limits. Council President Wardine Alexander, whose district includes the bridge, expressed excitement about the long-awaited repairs, highlighting its importance for community access. In other business, the council also approved zoning changes related to the Pratt-Ensley Framework Plan after a public hearing. This plan is one of nine developed under the city’s 2013 Comprehensive Plan, aiming to guide Birmingham’s future growth, investments, and neighborhood revitalization. Additionally, an intergovernmental agreement was approved, allowing the city of Mounta...

Marine Clouds Blanket Pacific Northwest

Marine Clouds Blanket Pacific Northwest

A picturesque layer of morning clouds, driven by cool marine air from the Pacific Ocean, covered western Washington and Oregon on September 19, 2026. According to NASA's Earth Observatory, low-lying stratus clouds and fog extended inland to the Cascade foothills, while taller mountain ranges like the Olympic Mountains and Oregon Coast Range appeared as islands above the cloud layer. The MODIS instrument on NASA’s Terra satellite captured the extent of this cloudy phenomenon at 10:45 a.m. Pacific Time (17:45 UTC). Offshore, abundant clouds were visible over the Pacific, while smoke from wildfires filled valleys in the North Cascades. The cloudy conditions were caused by a temperature inversion, where moist air near the surface cooled enough to condense into clouds.