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Delta 8 THC Introduces Quality Cartridges to the Market

February 19, 2021 by www.chiangraitimes.com Leave a Comment

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The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by the National Shooting Sports Foundation – Relief bill to become law; Cuomo in trouble

March 8, 2021 by thehill.com Leave a Comment

Presented by the National Shooting Sports Foundation

Welcome to The Hill’s Morning Report. Today is Monday and it is International Women’s Day ! We get you up to speed on the most important developments in politics and policy, plus trends to watch. Alexis Simendinger and Al Weaver are the co-creators. Readers can find us on Twitter @asimendinger and @alweaver22. Please recommend the Morning Report to friends and let us know what you think. CLICK HERE to subscribe!

Total U.S. coronavirus deaths reported as of this mornin g: 525,035.

As of this morning, 17.2 percent of the U.S. population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 9.2 percent are fully vaccinated, according to the Bloomberg News global vaccine tracker .

The Biden administration’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package is on the verge of becoming law, pending action by the House and White House in the coming days, as health experts warn that the current level of cases in the U.S. is untenable and the nation races to vaccinate the masses.

The House is set to follow the Senate’s lead and OK the nearly $2 trillion stimulus blueprint on Tuesday, with President Biden Joe Biden Lawmakers, activists remember civil rights icons to mark ‘Bloody Sunday’ Fauci predicts high schoolers will receive coronavirus vaccinations this fall Biden nominates female generals whose promotions were reportedly delayed under Trump MORE ’s signature coming shortly after to check a big-ticket item off the administration’s 100-day to-do list.

Among other things, the package provides another round of stimulus checks, aid for state and local governments — an issue that had stalled out in previous rounds of relief negotiations — and more help for small businesses and schools. Despite cries from across the aisle that the bill is laden with Democratic pet projects, wasteful spending and provisions unrelated to the ongoing pandemic, the GOP has to contend with a major political issue: the bill’s popularity.

Multiple polls conducted prior to the legislation’s passage in the upper chamber on Saturday show that the $1.9 trillion plan enjoys broad support. According to a recent Monmouth University survey , 62 percent of respondents were in favor of the bill, while 71 percent gave a thumb up to the plan when polled by Morning Consult .

Adding to the good news for Democrats, Biden continues to receive high marks for his handling of the pandemic. According to a new ABC News/Ipsos poll, 68 percent approve of Biden’s handling of the pandemic ( ABC News ).

As The Hill’s Morgan Chalfant and Alexander Bolton write , Democrats remain ever-aware of what happened last decade after the 2009 stimulus package became law, with Republicans bludgeoning that and the Affordable Care Act en route to massive wins in the 2010 midterms. Biden last week encouraged House Democrats to “speak up and speak out” about the rescue plan, suggesting that the Obama administration “paid a price” for not taking enough of a victory lap after the 2009 recovery package.

“Any of my colleagues at the time would say that we didn’t do enough to explain to the American people what the benefits were of the rescue plan and we didn’t do enough to do it in terms that people would be talking about at their dinner tables,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki Jen Psaki Mississippi governor defends ending mask mandate Border crisis creates new risks for Biden Cruz puts hold on Biden’s CIA nominee MORE said Friday. “That’s one of the reasons we, of course, have been trying to break down the impact of the American rescue plan into the key components that will impact people directly.”

The New York Times : What’s in the stimulus bill? A guide to where the $1.9 trillion is going.

The Washington Post : “An essential service”: Inside Biden’s struggle to meet his school reopening promises.

CNBC : Futures slip after Senate passes $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill.

Meanwhile, the efforts to corral the pandemic are reaching a critical phase as public health officials fret that the current level of daily infections remains too high and that another wave of the virus could be in the offing due to the rise of variants, even with the national effort to vaccinate Americans.

As of Sunday, the U.S. is averaging 60,000 new COVID-19 cases per day, a steep decline from the dead of winter when the U.S. averaged more than 200,000 new infections daily. However, As The Hill’s Reid Wilson reports , case totals have plateaued over the past week, raising fears that a new wave is just around the corner.

“We could not have made a more wonderful environment for this virus to take off than we have right now,” said Michael Osterholm , director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Prevention at the University of Minnesota. “We are not driving this tiger. We’re riding it. And the first time we may be able to drive it is with widespread use of the vaccine, and we’re not there yet.”

The Hill : Former Biden COVID-19 adviser: “We are in the eye of the hurricane right now.”

The Wall Street Journal : Republican governors diverge over COVID-19 restrictions as experts urge caution.

The Hill : Scott Gottlieb : “Probable” that high schoolers will get coronavirus vaccines this year.

Anthony Fauci Anthony Fauci Fauci predicts high schoolers will receive coronavirus vaccinations this fall Texas patrons threaten to call ICE on Mexican restaurant for keeping mask mandate Gottlieb: ‘Probable’ that high schoolers will get coronavirus vaccines this year MORE , head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, called the current state of daily infections “unacceptable” and warned governors against the expeditious rollback of mask mandates and reopenings.

“Historically, if you look back at the different surges we’ve had, when they come down and then start to plateau at a very high level, plateauing at a level of [60,000] to 70,000 new cases per day is not an acceptable level. That is really very high,” Fauci told “Face the Nation” ( The Hill ).

According to Bloomberg News’s daily tracker , the U.S. is averaging 2.2 million vaccinations per day over the past week, with Saturday’s total of 2.9 million doses administered setting a new single-day total.

The Wall Street Journal : Russian disinformation campaign aims to undermine confidence in Pfizer, other COVID-19 vaccines, U.S. officials say.

The Hill : White House COVID-19 coordinator: Administration focused on expanding vaccine access.

Josh Rogin for Politico Magazine : Diplomats warned of a coronavirus danger in Wuhan — two years before the outbreak.

LEADING THE DAY

CONGRESS: The coronavirus relief efforts will soon be in the rearview mirror, prompting attention to be refocused toward the rest of the Biden administration’s legislative priorities and raising questions about the viability of passing many of the items on the Democratic wish list in the coming months.

As The Hill’s Jordain Carney points out, the upper chamber is threatening to derail the bold agenda laid out by Democrats, with progressives training their fire at the unlikely elimination of the filibuster. The passage of a number of major items in the House is putting a spotlight on the fact that without structural changes, many of the party’s campaign promises are heading for the Senate graveyard.

Senate Majority Charles Schumer Chuck Schumer Manchin firm on support for filibuster, mulls making it ‘a little bit more painful’ to use Biden takes victory lap after Senate passes coronavirus relief package Lawmakers demand changes after National Guard troops at Capitol sickened from tainted food MORE (D-N.Y.) is pledging to put the bills on the floor, daring Republicans to vote against them, effectively turning them into messaging votes. Progressives are hoping that the expected GOP blockade of Democratic bills could help sway the few Democratic senators who have voiced opposition to getting rid of the 60-vote threshold.

The Associated Press : With virus aid in sight, Democrats debate filibuster changes.

Chief among that group is Sen. Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) Manchin Democrats near pressure point on nixing filibuster All eyes on Manchin after COVID-19 aid passes Senate Justice: ‘I’m not going to get in a food fight with Joe Manchin’ on use of CARES Act funds MORE (D-W.Va.) (seen below). The West Virginia moderate was the center of attention on the Sunday show circuit, reiterating his belief that the filibuster is a tool for good overall and a necessity to a functioning Senate.

“I’m not going to change my mind on the filibuster. I will change my mind if we need to go to a reconciliation to where we have to get something done once I know they have process into it,” Manchin told “Meet the Press.”

“But I’m not going to go there until my Republican friends have the ability to have their say also,” Manchin said. “And I’m hoping they’ll get involved to the point to where we have 10 of them that’ll work with 50 of us or 15 of them that’ll work with 45 of us” ( The Hill ).

Manchin also received some backup from the White House. Communications director Kate Bedingfield Kate Bedingfield All eyes on Manchin after COVID-19 aid passes Senate Sunday shows: Manchin in the spotlight after pivotal role in coronavirus aid debate White House says Biden would prefer to not end filibuster MORE told CNN’s “State of the Union” that Biden remains committed to winning Republican support even after GOP lawmakers voted unanimously against the massive relief bill ( The Hill ).

The Sunday Shows : Manchin in the spotlight after pivotal role in coronavirus aid debate.

The Washington Post : Narrow relief bill victory provides warning signs for broader Democratic agenda.

The Hill : Rep. Jefferson Van Drew (R-N.J.), after flipping parties, bashes bills he once backed.

The Hill : Lawmakers gird for spending battle over nuclear weapons.

*****

POLITICS: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Andrew Cuomo Top New York Democrats call on Cuomo to resign Whitmer encourages investigation into Cuomo’s conduct Sunday shows: Manchin in the spotlight after pivotal role in coronavirus aid debate MORE (D) maintained on Sunday that he will not resign after two additional women accused him of sexual harassment or unwanted advances and more high profile New York Democrats called for his ouster, saying that he will allow state Attorney General Letitia James (D) to complete her investigation into the claims.

“I was elected by the people of the state. … I’m not going to resign because of allegations,” Cuomo told reporters on a conference call. “There is no way I resign” ( Fox News ).

On Saturday, Karen Hinton , a former aide to Cuomo, accused him of making an unwanted advance in a hotel room in 2000. The governor forcefully disputed the allegations, calling Hinton a “longtime political adversary.”

“Every woman has a right to come forward. That’s true. But the truth also matters. What she said is not true,” Cuomo said of the allegation.

The Wall Street Journal also reported on Saturday of another allegation from Ana Liss , a former staffer who said that Cuomo made her uncomfortable by inquiring about her dating life and kissing her on the hand in 2013.

The new revelations also brought forth a potential political deathblow as Andrea Stewart-Cousins , the head of the New York state Senate, called for his resignation, saying it would be “for the good of the state.”

“Every day, there is another account that is drawing away from the business of government,” Stewart-Cousins said in a statement. “We need to govern without daily distraction. Governor Cuomo must resign.”

As The New York Times notes, Cuomo is following the same track as former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D), who saw his standing evaporate when political leaders in Albany called for him to step down amid his 2008 prostitution scandal.

Politico : Cuomo leans on crisis management playbook as walls close in.

> Lone Star uprising?: It’s been a rocky start to 2021 for Texas Republicans, boosting hopes among Lone Star State Democrats that they can bounce back from a poor 2020 cycle that saw them lose a number of key congressional races, fall in their bid to flip the Texas state House and fail to unseat Sen. John Cornyn John Cornyn Senate holds longest vote in history as Democrats scramble to save relief bill Biden gets involved to help break Senate logjam Overnight Defense: Capitol Police may ask National Guard to stay | Biden’s Pentagon policy nominee faces criticism | Naval Academy midshipmen moved to hotels MORE (R-Texas).

As The Hill’s Jonathan Easley writes , the once-in-a-blue-moon power grid failure that led to a humanitarian crisis last month drew attention to the GOP’s leadership in a state that has not elected a Democrat to statewide office in nearly a quarter-century. Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward Cruz Cruz puts hold on Biden’s CIA nominee It will be Vice (or) President Harris against Gov. DeSantis in 2024 — bet on it Senate rejects Cruz effort to block stimulus checks for undocumented immigrants MORE ’s (R-Texas) brief jaunt to Cancun, Mexico, during the crisis also ignited anger and severe blowback.

Last week, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced he was lifting the statewide mask mandate and fully reopening Texas for business despite lagging vaccination rates and a higher coronavirus infection rate than the national average, eliciting a response from the president in the process.

Texas Democrats are still picking themselves up off the mat after a dismal 2020 showing. But the rough two months in the national spotlight for Texas Republicans has Democrats optimistic about 2022 as they seek to win in swing districts where they were defeated last cycle.

The Hill : Nevada looks to shake up presidential primary calendar.

The New York Times : Sen. Josh Hawley Joshua (Josh) David Hawley DeSantis, Pence tied in 2024 Republican poll Chamber of Commerce clarifies stance on lawmakers who voted against election certification Crenshaw pours cold water on 2024 White House bid: ‘Something will emerge’ MORE (R-Mo.) Is “not going anywhere.” How did he get here?

Reid Wilson, The Hill : GOP’s tyranny of the minority.

Washingtonian : 250 of the most influential experts and advocates who shape policy debates (working outside of government), organized by subject categories.

Bloomberg News : Researchers have found a stronger correlation between political instability and rising homicide rates than prevailing hypotheses, such as economic distress and prevalence of guns.

IN FOCUS/SHARP TAKES

ADMINISTRATION: The president signed a new executive order on Sunday to leverage federal resources in an effort to protect and strengthen access to the ballot, a response to ongoing effort by GOP state legislatures to restrict voting rights after the 2020 election ( The Hill ).

Biden’s order, which directs agencies to increase access to voter registration materials and reduce barriers to voting for certain groups, comes amid a push by congressional Democrats to pass H.R. 1, a sprawling bill the House passed last week to reform voting processes and elections. House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) acknowledged on Sunday the reality that the bill will likely die in the Senate because of the filibuster, adding that the result will be “catastrophic.”

“There’s no way under the sun that in 2021 that we are going to allow the filibuster to be used to deny voting rights. That just ain’t gonna happen. That would be catastrophic,” Clyburn told The Guardian .

The president’s executive action coincided with the 56th anniversary of the “Bloody Sunday” march in Selma, Ala., which served as a catalyst for the passage of the Voting Rights Act. As The Hill’s Marty Johnson notes , Sunday’s commemoration of the 1965 violent clash between 600 civil rights marchers and white police officers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge was the first to take place without the late Rep. John Lewis John Lewis Lawmakers, activists remember civil rights icons to mark ‘Bloody Sunday’ Clyburn: Allowing filibuster to be used to deny voting rights would be ‘catastrophic’ Walking in the footsteps of giants — honoring the legacy of Rep. John R. Lewis MORE (D-Ga.), who died in July.

The Associated Press : Biden marks “Bloody Sunday” by signing voting rights order.

The Hill : Biden to formally establish new Gender Policy Council.

> Border: The Biden administration is faced with a burgeoning crisis along the U.S.-Mexico border as officials have seen the number of unaccompanied minors crossing into the U.S. rise steadily over the first six weeks of the nascent presidency.

Thousands of migrants have crossed into the U.S. since Biden took office, many of them unaccompanied minors, testing the administration’s resources and ability to quickly implement its own strategy at the border in the face of criticism from across the aisle. According to The Hill’s Brett Samuels and Jonathan Easley , the Biden administration is rapidly adapting its approach to meet the growing need for space and manpower in a reflection of the seriousness of the situation.

The Hill : Political landmines await Merrick Garland Merrick Garland Senate to vote next week on Garland’s AG nomination Biden’s justice reform should influence prosecutor appointments Politics in the Department of Justice can be a good thing MORE at Department of Justice.

Axios : Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga set to become first foreign leader to visit Biden in White House.

The Morning Report is created by journalists Alexis Simendinger and Al Weaver. We want to hear from you! Email: [email protected] and [email protected] . We invite you to share The Hill’s reporting and newsletters, and encourage others to SUBSCRIBE !

OPINION

The road to reopening won’t be a straight line , by Scott Gottlieb and Mark McClellan, opinion contributors, The Wall Street Journal. https://on.wsj.com/3tbfDqz

Do liberals care if books disappear? By Ross Douthat, columnist, The New York Times. https://nyti.ms/3v3gpaI

WHERE AND WHEN

The House meets at noon.

The Senate convenes on Tuesday at 3 p.m. and will resume consideration of the nominations of Rep. Marcia Fudge Marcia Fudge We need to lay the foundation for meaningful housing policy change Black Caucus members lobby Biden to tap Shalanda Young for OMB head Sanders votes against Biden USDA nominee Vilsack MORE (D-Ohio) to become secretary of Housing and Urban Development and Garland to lead the Department of Justice.

The president and Vice President Harris will receive the Presidential Daily Brief at 9:50 a.m. Biden and Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough Denis Richard McDonough The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented by ExxonMobil – Increased security on Capitol Hill amid QAnon’s March 4 date The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Lawmakers face Capitol threat as senators line up votes for relief bill Pentagon launches civilian-led commission to address military sexual assault MORE at 1 p.m. will visit the D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where the administration of COVID-19 vaccines to veterans is taking place. Biden, Harris and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Lloyd Austin Biden nominates female generals whose promotions were reportedly delayed under Trump Sunday shows: Manchin in the spotlight after pivotal role in coronavirus aid debate Pentagon chief: Response to rocket attack in Iraq will be ‘thoughtful’ and ‘appropriate’ MORE will also deliver remarks on International Women’s Day from the White House at 4:20 p.m.

First lady Jill Biden Jill Biden Jill Biden redefines role of first lady Biden faces criticism over push to vaccinate teachers Overnight Health Care: Biden slams Texas, Mississippi for lifting coronavirus restrictions: ‘Neanderthal thinking’ | Senate panel splits along party lines on Becerra |Over 200K sign up for ACA plans during Biden special enrollment period MORE at 10 a.m. will address the 2021 International Women of Courage Award ceremony hosted by the State Department and Secretary of State Antony Blinken Antony Blinken China: Electoral reform would bring ‘brighter future’ for Hong Kong State sanctions Ukrainian billionaire over alleged corruption Australian PM Morrison says Biden will join first-ever ‘Quad’ meeting MORE . The event is live streamed HERE .

The White House press briefing is scheduled at 11:30 a.m.. The White House COVID-19 response team will brief the news media at 11 a.m.

The National League of Cities Congressional City Conference begins today through Wednesday, including virtual remarks from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy Pelosi Trump White House associate tied to Proud Boys before riot via cell phone data Greene sounds off on GOP after Hill story ‘Bloody Sunday’ to be commemorated for first time without John Lewis MORE (D-Calif.), Schumer, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen Janet Louise Yellen The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented by ExxonMobil – Senate begins marathon vote-a-rama before .9T COVID-19 relief passage The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Virus relief bill headed for weekend vote Debt to break WWII record by 2031 MORE , Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg Pete Buttigieg The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented by ExxonMobil – Senate begins marathon vote-a-rama before .9T COVID-19 relief passage The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Virus relief bill headed for weekend vote Biden turns focus to next priority with infrastructure talks MORE , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky Rochelle Walensky Overnight Health Care: CDC study links masks to fewer COVID-19 deaths | Relief debate stalls in Senate | Biden faces criticism over push to vaccinate teachers CDC study links masks to fewer COVID deaths The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented by ExxonMobil – Increased security on Capitol Hill amid QAnon’s March 4 date MORE , Fauci and more. Information is HERE .

Hill.TV’s “Rising” program features news and interviews at http://thehill.com/hilltv or on YouTube at 10:30 a.m. EST at Rising on YouTube .

ELSEWHERE

➔ INTERNATIONAL: Two protesters were shot dead in Myanmar on Monday by security forces as demonstrations continue to take place across the country in response to the military coup that took place last month. Two people were shot and killed in Myitkyina in Kachin State, with the military using tear gas and some automatic gunfire in an attempt to disperse the crowd. Protests also took place in Naypyitaw, the capital city, and Mandalay ( The Associated Press ).

➔ TECH: Silicon Valley giants are drawing battle lines over personal data collection practices and targeted ads. Google was the latest to take a step toward data privacy by announcing plans this week to phase out its own tracking features used for personalizing ads. That move came after Apple drew Facebook’ s ire with its anticipated anti-tracking feature. Experts and pro-privacy advocates say that while Google’s update may be a small step toward giving users more control over their data protection, the change may hurt Google’s rivals more than the company itself ( The Hill ).

➔ UN-ROYALED: Prince Harry and wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, told Oprah Winfrey Oprah Gail Winfrey Prince Harry says he felt ‘trapped’ in royal familiy Meghan Markle says she wasn’t able to get help for suicidal thoughts as a member of the royal family Meghan Markle says royal family discussed her unborn son’s skin color MORE during a much-ballyhooed interview on CBS on Sunday that they struggled mightily with life in the Royal Family, including Harry saying that he felt “trapped” and Meghan making a number of allegations that could rock the British royals. The Duchess made two stunning revelations: that she had suicidal thoughts after marrying Harry and that the royals did not give her access to mental health resources, and that there were conversations within the family about “how dark” their son Archie’s “skin might be” ( The Associated Press ).

Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle Prince Harry says he felt ‘trapped’ in royal familiy Meghan Markle says she wasn’t able to get help for suicidal thoughts as a member of the royal family Meghan Markle says royal family discussed her unborn son’s skin color MORE ” width=”580″ height=”435″ data-delta=”5″ />

THE CLOSER

And finally … Dogs are good. Sports are good. Dogs and sports together though? Of course they’re good!

The fabulous combo came together on Sunday as the 49th edition of the Iditarod kicked off (or mushed off?) in Deshka Landing in Alaska . Like other sporting events these days, it has been modified to comply with COVID-19 restrictions. The mushers — of which there are a limited number this year — are wearing masks from start to finish, and social distancing is being adhered to at all times.

The course has also been shortened to 852 miles, and organizers have asked fans to stay home. The event will also end in Deshka Landing, marking the first time in the Iditarod’s history that it will end somewhere other than Nome, Alaska.

Last year, the Iditarod was the final sporting event to be completed before the worldwide shutdown took place ( Anchorage Daily News ).

Tags Rochelle Walensky Kate Bedingfield Denis McDonough Merrick Garland Charles Schumer Antony Blinken Pete Buttigieg Anthony Fauci Meghan Markle Oprah Winfrey Lloyd Austin Nancy Pelosi Marcia Fudge Janet Yellen Andrew Cuomo John Cornyn Joe Manchin Josh Hawley Jill Biden John Lewis Joe Biden Jen Psaki Ted Cruz

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PMC fails to prove the majority of tree felling cases in court

May 16, 2019 by punemirror.indiatimes.com Leave a Comment

Most of the people accused of illegal cutting or trimming walk free, just because officials in multiple cases pay no attention to details

While the city’s greenery diminishes rapidly and alarmingly, the custodians in charge of protecting this natural cover don’t seem to care much. This remarkable conclusion has come forth in the fact that for several years now, scores of complaints of tree cutting across the city have remained on paper, with the accused running scot-free — thanks to being acquitted for the pettiest of reasons.

It has emerged that the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has regularly failed on several counts to prove cases of rampant tree cutting in court. While the officials concerned were prompt in filing the cases, they were unable to follow through and honour due process.

With Mirror coming across several dozen such cases that could not hold water in court because of silly inconsistencies, PMC was quick to put the blame on tree officers, promising to look into the problem.

L-R, from above: While reports of tree cutting emerged from locations in various city areas, the cases failed to hold water in court due to lack of records, proofs or panchnamas

The trend apparently started at least half a decade ago, with one of the first cases this newspaper came across taking place in December 2014. At the time, PMC horticulture mistry Balasaheb Chavan had registered a case against two members of Ganesh Complex in Manikbaug, Sinhagad Road, and accused them of illegally chopping four branches of a Gulmohar tree. During the cross-examination, however, the complainant and Chavan confessed to visiting the site for a panchnama 10 whole days after the plaint was received.

Chavan also couldn’t explain if the photos were taken with a camera or mobile phone, and the complainant and witness proved to be the same person, instead of a third party witness. Necessary proofs of the deed were missing from their possession, and it was revealed meanwhile that another resident of the same society had obtained permission for tree felling. In the face of all these shoddy discrepancies, the court acquitted both accused in the case.

Similarly, on February 8, 2017, a case was filed over the felling of a tree in Ashok Nagar, Bhavani Peth. Officers here could neither prove that the tree existed, in the absence of its geographic information system (GIS) mapping, nor that it was felled without seeking permission. Photos produced as evidence had no date and time stamps; shockingly, no panchnama was also produced. A relative of Suresh Ramlal Vyas, who was one of the accused in this case, offered a counterpoint to Mirror, saying, “The tree was dangerous to the wall and slab of the house being constructed next to it. Due process was followed to axe it.”

Another case was filed the very next day, on February 9 two years ago — this was against the company Gokhale Constructions, accused of digging patches around a mango and Ashoka tree on Prabhat Road in such a way that it ensured the trees would die. But once more, there was no evidence of a tree existing in that space in official records, neither was a spot panchnama done. Contradictions were rife as evidence revealed the developers had sought permission for the activity, but there was no clarification if the permit was awarded. Moreover, the complainant admitted that the PMC garden department had granted a no objection certificate (NOC) in the case. Result: Another one bites the dust.

The next month, in March 2017, Shivajinagar resident Sumedha Kamte was accused by officers of pruning a fig tree more than permitted. During the cross-examination, the officer could not recall reasons given for the pruning application, and it also could not be established who had raised the complaint. Thanks to the lack of photographs or witnesses for the panchnama, Kamte walked free.

Confronted with this history, Chavan squarely blamed the complainants, while admitting, “We normally make our complainants as witnesses in cases. But, despite going to them personally to give the hearing notices and requesting them to remain present in court, they fail to turn up. This is what happened in the 2014 Sinhagad Road case, too. So, we couldn’t prove it.”

Asked about the trend, social activist Sushil Ghate said his tree cutting study over the past few years revealed the system’s inefficiency. “Of some 450 cases, only 30 per cent even came to the hearing stage. In the majority, the horticulture mistry is the complainant — this is eyewash as the tree officer from the tree authority is actually accountable. In many cases, PMC failed to establish the existence of a tree from its own records. For years, the civic body has not even appointed a dedicated contractor to ensure that trees are not cut or trimmed beyond permitted amounts. All this is a deliberate attempt to not produce technical evidence and ensure that cases remain weak. It is the failure of the authorities that they have not been able to convict even a single person properly,” he asserted.

Officials weren’t able to provide definitive answers. Additional municipal commissioner Rubal Agrawal only said, “This shouldn’t happen. We will have to check on a case-tocase basis to see what went wrong, and will conduct an inquiry into it thereafter.”

Meanwhile, Mayor Mukta Tilak assured, “I will look into this. If any official is found guilty, I will talk to the PMC commissioner and ensure he probes this situation. It is clear that this is allowed due to the ignorance of tree officers. We will have to review work and take steps to curb such circumstances.”

How to Treat Grief and Pregnancy Loss

March 4, 2021 by www.psychologytoday.com Leave a Comment

Jessie Cuadros is a Certified EMDR therapist who specializes in grief and pregnancy loss. Her practice in Orlando Florida accommodates both in-person and telehealth services. She shared with me her passion to treat those who have lost a pregnancy via miscarriage , abortion, or stillbirth. I really wanted to chat with an expert to highlight this topic as it’s something I have encountered in my work as a couples therapist. People do not talk about this issue enough and many couples tell me the pain can feel so isolating even within their own relationship.

Grief and Loss

Source: Valeria Boltneva/Pexels

Kari: Let’s start with EMDR. How do you explain this treatment to clients?

Jessie: EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a special form of therapy that has been extensively researched and proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences. EMDR is designed to resolve unprocessed traumatic memories in the brain, allowing it to resume its natural healing process so that it is not reacting as if it is still in danger. It uses bilateral stimulation (such as back and forth eye movements) to activate the right and left hemispheres of the brain. The idea behind it is that maladaptive behaviors, thoughts, and emotions are a result of unprocessed memories. There are eight phases to the model that focuses on preparing and stabilizing for processing, the reprocessing, and the installation of new thoughts and behaviors.

Kari: What interested you in getting trained and certified in EMDR?

Jessie: After the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, FL in 2016 there was an overwhelming amount of trauma that the city experienced. The Trauma and Recovery Network of Central Florida initiated an EMDR training to help respond to the local crisis. I wanted to learn the tools to be able to respond to the outpouring of trauma happening in our community. I completed my training in 2016 and continued with the certification process which I completed in 2018.

Kari: When did you start working with those who have lost a pregnancy?

Jessie: I have had a lot of friends who have experienced all different types of pregnancy loss. To be able to provide support as a friend led me to be interested in this area therapeutically. In 2008, I got involved with a pregnancy loss retreat as a volunteer and transitioned to a counselor. In 2019, I opened my private practice to better help serve those with pregnancy loss.

Kari: What do people need to know about getting help for pregnancy loss?

Jessie: First of all, you need to know your pain is valid. Often times society doesn’t view pregnancy loss as a legitimate loss and this is unfortunate because the parents may be left to grieve alone. It’s important to know that this form of loss goes through the grieving process like any other form of loss. Sometimes people may be tempted to ignore it but if you don’t process the grief, it can interfere with other areas of your life. Grief can be a form of trauma especially when the loss involves your body such as with pregnancy. Trauma can be stored in the mind and body in ways that can be overwhelming for the individual or couple. This is where EMDR can be an effective form of treatment for those experiencing pregnancy loss.

Kari: I’ve heard people who’ve experienced this loss say it can be very isolating. Tell me more about that.

Jessie: Often times when someone experiences a pregnancy loss, the feeling that no one will understand what they are going through can be true and valid. It may be hard for friends or family to understand if they haven’t been through a similar experience. This form of grief is unique as often times there isn’t a funeral or traditional ritual with loved ones to process the loss. Partners may also have difficulty understanding as they may experience the loss differently. Instead of grieving together, this can cause a lack of connection between them. With abortion, this can be a stigmatized topic and the individual feels they can’t open up for fear of judgment.

Kari: I know all types of pregnancy loss can be devastating. Are there special complexities in certain losses?

Jessie: As mentioned before, abortion is considered a controversial topic regarding pregnancy loss. The very nature of this can leave the individual feeling trapped. Not everyone feels like they have a choice with abortion, there could be a medical issue, domestic abuse , rape, pressure from loved ones, financial instability, etc. Even if those reasons aren’t the case, someone can experience regret later on and grief is still a natural response to any loss. In regards to a miscarriage if there are infertility issues this can complicate the trauma because it can be ongoing. There is no physical representation of the baby so others may not understand. With a stillbirth, a full-term baby was carried, celebrations may have occurred and the expectations beyond birth have been shattered. This creates a complex trauma experience.

Kari: I read a research article about how men are often neglected when we think about pregnancy loss. How can we improve accessibility for support for men who’ve experienced loss too?

Jessie: I think what would be helpful is talking about it more to make it a more known issue. Men are most definitely affected by a pregnancy loss and because they didn’t carry the pregnancy themselves it may make their grief more complex. It would be helpful for conversations to be held at the doctor’s office about both partners seeking supportive services. I would also love to see more research and literature on how men are affected by pregnancy loss to make the issue more transparent.

Many thanks to Jessie for sharing her expertise. Learn more about her and her work here. Along with seeking individual therapy for pregnancy loss, couples counseling can be extremely helpful. As Jessie stated couples, can have different reactions when experiencing grief and trauma that can cause issues in the relationship. Using the Gottman Method , I work with the couple to communicate and find a deeper understanding of their partner’s feelings and needs about the loss. We work on rituals of connection to honor their loss and build shared meaning in the relationship. Shared grief can be a hard thing to navigate and seeking a qualified trauma couples therapist can help you stay connected and repair any hurt between you.

Nasa’s new Mars rover Perseverance hits dusty red road, driving 6.4m

March 5, 2021 by www.stuff.co.nz Leave a Comment

Nasa’s newest Mars rover hit the dusty red road this week, putting 6.4 metres on the odometer in its first test drive.

The Perseverance rover ventured from its landing position Thursday, two weeks after landing on the red planet to seek signs of past life.

The roundabout, back and forth drive lasted just 33 minutes and went so well that the six-wheeled rover was back on the move Friday.

During a news conference Friday, Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, shared photos of the tyre tracks over and around small rocks.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been happier to see wheel tracks and I’ve seen a lot of them, said engineer Anais Zarafian. ”This is just a huge milestone for the mission.”

As soon as the system checks on Perseverance are complete, the rover will head for an ancient river delta to collect rocks for return to Earth a decade from now. Scientists are debating whether to take the smoother route to get to the nearby delta or a possibly tougher way with intriguing remnants from that once-watery time 3 billion to 4 billion years ago.