July 2023 – Page 14 – The Tarbabys Blog

How do I fix an overwatered plant? The warning signs – and ways to combat excessive moisture

Homes & Gardens

How do I fix an overwatered plant? The warning signs – and ways to combat excessive moisture

Drew Swainston – July 8, 2023

Overwatering plants is a common mistake to make and many people do not realize it can be as dangerous as underwatering. There is the potential for plants to be killed by overwatering as the roots can essentially be suffocated by too much moisture in the soil.

However, rest assured that there are tried-and-tested methods of fixing a plant that has been overwatered and getting it back to a healthy and thriving state again. The measures can be as simple as stopping watering until the soil dries out, to moving the plant or repotting it into a new soil mix.

Judging when to water plants is always tricky, especially so for a novice gardener, so it pays to know those classic signs of overwatering so you can spot them quickly and make any moves required to deal with that excess moisture in the soil.

What should I do if I overwater my plant?

Overwatering plants happens. It is often a case of over-enthusiasm and mis-judging how much moisture the plants need, though it can be a year-round issue and equally as problematic during the winter months as when watering plants in hot weather.

There are recommended tactics to avoid potential plant overwatering, such as watering plants from the bottom if they are in pots. You can also get aids, such as self-watering planters (our pick is below) or using DIY drip irrigation techniques to help control the watering of indoor plants or when container gardening.

However, there are tell-tale signs that any plant has been overwatered which are important to recognize. This includes yellowing or browning leaves, wilting, and also the soil can look green as a result of algae growth.

At the first sign of any of these, move quickly to see if overwatering could be the cause. While it is more common to overwater houseplants or those in containers, overwatering outdoor plants does also often occur and the signs to look out for will be the same.

The first move should be to check how wet the soil is around the base of the plants. When watering plants in containers, always use your fingers to see the moisture levels a few inches down in the pot. The soil may look dry on top, but still be very sodden below the surface and adding more moisture can easily lead to overwatering. An alternative to using your fingers is to get a soil moisture meter that can be inserted and give an instant reading with regards to water levels. Sonkir’s meter is by far Amazon’s best seller with over 30,000 positive reviews, and can also test soil pH.

If you fear overwatering to be the issue, then there are simple steps to take. Which one is the best step is likely to be dependent on how fast you spotted the signs of this garden watering mistake and how waterlogged the soil got.

ETGLCOZY 6/4.1/3.2 Inch Self Watering Planter Pots | available at Amazon
These set of five self-watering pots can allow up to 14 days of watering per fill and their clear view window allows you to monitor when it is time to fill the pot. They are ideal for indoor plants and can help prevent overwatering View Deal

1. Stop watering

It may seem obvious, but the main thing to remember is to stop giving an overwatered plant any more water. Continuing to add more water to an already overwatered plant can further exacerbate the issues and increase the chance of root rot.

It may take many days for the soil to dry out, but hold off from watering the plant while it dries out. If the problem has been identified quickly then merely letting the soil dry out and then adjusting your watering schedule to better suit the plant can often do the trick.

2. Re-pot the plant

To help the plant to recover from overwatering, it can be beneficial to re-pot it and improve the soil type in which it is living. Depending on how sodden the soil is, it might be possible to lift the plant out of the pot and allow the soil to dry in the air for a few hours. If the soil is so wet this seems unlikely, then it would be best to re-pot it completely into a better soil mix.

How to repot an overwatered plant in 5 simple steps:

Remove the plant from the pot and try to remove as much of the wet soil as you can.
Inspect the roots and cut off any rotting sections, they will look brown and potentially have a decaying odor.
Pick a pot and make sure there are holes in the bottom for drainage. You can reuse the same pot, but it is best to wash it out beforehand.
Repot the plant in a mix of free-draining compost, for example the Premium Organic Potting Mix from Burpee, with some perlite or grit added in for extra drainage. Do not reuse potting soil, or use garden soil in pots as it holds too much moisture.
Place the pot in a shady spot and refrain from watering until the soil mix feels dry.

3. Move the pot

While the instinct might be to move the plant to the sunniest spot possible to help dry out the soil, this can actually do the plant further harm. It is far better to move the plant into a shaded spot to allow it to dry out.

A plant that has been overwatered will struggle to move water to its upper leaves, which can leave the upper levels of the plant at risk of drying out due to evaporation in full sun. This can further stress the plant, it is better to move the plant to a shady spot and remove any flowers or fruits that are towards the top. Removing theses helps the plant focus its energy into recovery and surviving.

4. Increase air flow

Increasing the air flow can help to dry a plant out. This can be particularly beneficial if you can lift the plant out of the pot and air dry the soil around the root ball. Air flow can help to dry out soil that is holding too much moisture, especially if they are in porous terracotta pots, and it can dry soil throughout the whole container. This can be achieved by placing a fan nearby.

If you can lift the root ball, lay it on a rack and get some air movement around it to help reduce some of that excess moisture. Once dried, the root ball can go back into the pot again.

FAQs

How long does it take for a plant to recover from overwatering?

The time it takes for a plant to recover from overwatering will depend on certain factors, including how sodden the soil is, the pot size, and temperature. It is a case of playing the waiting game and monitoring how long it takes for the soil to dry out completely before starting to water again. It can take between one and two weeks for a plant to dry out and start the recovery process from being overwatered.

What are signs of root rot?

The tricky thing with root rot is that, while there can be signs of the issue showing above the ground, you cannot be sure until you lift the plant. By this time there could be a lot of damage done to the plant’s overall health. The signs to look for include yellowing leaves, wilting, overall slow growth of plants, and also a rotting smell from the soil. Roots affected by rot will be brown or black in color, potentially slimey, and smelling of decay. There is no treatment for root rot, you can trim off any affected sections if you catch it in time and hope there are enough healthy roots remaining to maintain the plant.

Should I re-pot after overwatering?

There are many scenarios where it is helpful to re-pot a plant after overwatering. This is especially the case where the plant is living in a pot that does not have holes in the bottom for drainage. If there is nowhere for the water to go, the bottom of the pot can fill with moisture and start to suffocate the roots. If the soil is very sodden, or the pot does not have holes for excess water to escape through, then it is important to repot the plant.

Should I water an overwatered plant?

No, you should not water an overwatered plant. Continuing to add more moisture further increases the risk of root rot and the eventual demise of your plant. Stop watering and carefully monitor the plant until the soil dries out. Check the moisture levels regularly using your fingers to see the level a few inches into the soil. Only when the soil becomes dry to the touch should you start adding water and alter the watering schedule to prevent overwatering again.

Overwatering can often be a problem with container plants and houseplants, though it does not need to be the end of the road for any affected plant. Always get to know your plants, learn what watering they need to be at their best. and tailor any schedule to them. Never treat all plants the same when it comes to watering, as that can spell trouble. And monitor them closely, the sooner you see any troublesome signs the quicker you can act and the more likely it is the plant can pull through fine.

Texas considered a bill that would severely limit residents’ use of solar power: ‘[It] would turn all of Texas into an HOA’

TCD

Texas considered a bill that would severely limit residents’ use of solar power: ‘[It] would turn all of Texas into an HOA’

Laurelle Stelle – July 8, 2023

The Texas legislature recently considered a bill to heavily restrict the generation of wind and solar energy, University of Texas at Austin research scientist Joshua D. Rhodes revealed in a tweet.

The bill in question was Texas SB 624, co-sponsored by Senators Lois Kolkhorst, Mayes Middleton, and Bryan Hughes. It would have established new permit requirements for affordable “renewable energy” — not for dirty energy sources, such as coal. In a win for clean energy, it failed to get out of committee.

According to the latest version of the bill (as of late May), any Texas resident with a large solar or wind system who wanted to connect to the grid would have needed a permit. The lengthy permitting process would have required a public meeting to allow comments, multiple surveys and assessments, and a website with information about the project.

SB 624 would also have required that wind turbines be placed a whole 3,000 feet — more than half a mile — away from the property line, except with the permission of neighboring property owners.

“Texas #SB624 would turn all of Texas into an HOA where your neighbors are now going to be able to tell you what you can and can’t do on your own property,” tweeted Rhodes.

As written, the bill applied to facilities with a capacity of 10 megawatts or higher to connect “with a transmission facility.” That wouldn’t include small residential systems, which are usually between one and four kilowatts (0.001 to 0.004 megawatts), according to Yes Energy Solutions.

However, it would have applied to the many wind farms set up by rural property owners across Texas, Rhodes said.

“Our current and expected fleet of renewables are set to pay landowners tens of billions of dollars over their lifetimes, but those Texans might get less if their neighbors protest,” he said in a comment.

Power Up Texas said the new bill would not only have harmed Texas landowners financially but would also have made the energy grid less stable and raise the cost of electricity for everyone.

According to state legislators, the bill’s purpose was to protect wildlife, water, and land from the effects of energy generation. But it’s telling that the proposed law applied only to nonpolluting wind and solar, rather than heavily polluting energy sources like coal and oil that have a much harsher impact on our air and our planet.

Lawsuit seeks to end new law signed by Greg Abbott banning water breaks after Texas heat wave deaths

Salon

Lawsuit seeks to end new law signed by Greg Abbott banning water breaks after Texas heat wave deaths

Tatyana Tandanpolie – July 7, 2023

Officials in Houston, Texas, filed a lawsuit on Monday looking to keep the state from enforcing an oppressive law critics have dubbed the “Death Star” bill.

House Bill 2127 is set to go into effect on Sept. 1 after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed it into law on June 6, according to MSNBC’s “The ReidOut” blog. The new law restricts local governments by preventing them from passing certain ordinances if they contradict state laws in eight key areas: agriculture, finance, business and commerce, insurance, local government, labor, natural resources, property or occupations.

In the newly filed lawsuit, lawyers representing the city argue that, in broadly pre-empting local laws, the bill violates the state Constitution, and ultimately call the measure “hopelessly vague.” The city, thus, asks the court to make the law “void and unenforceable.”

“Because of HB 2127’s vagueness, Houston will not know with any certainty what laws it may enforce, and its residents and businesses will not know with certainty what laws they must obey,” the suit reads. “This high level of uncertainty and confusion concerning the validity of virtually all local laws in important regulatory areas and those concerning health and safety themselves constitutes a concrete injury.”

Arguing that the bill will incite confusion, the lawsuit cites the so-called Death Star law’s lack of a requirement for local legislation to actually conflict with state laws in order for it to be prevented from taking effect.

“Under HB 2127, if the State regulates anything in an unspecified ‘field,’ local regulation is arguably entirely precluded in the undefined area unless there is express legislative authorization,” according to the lawsuit.

Scorching temperatures broke records three times this week and July is just getting started

The lawsuit also comes after a deadly heat wave wracked the state last month, resulting in a public health crisis, the deaths of 11 people between the ages of 60 and 80 in Webb County since the bill was signed, and a surge in emergency department visits related to the record-breaking, 100-degree temperatures.

In Texas prison facilities without air conditioning, at least nine incarcerated people, including two men in their 30s, died last month from heart attacks or unknown causes. Another harrowing incident saw a teen and his stepfather die after the 14-year-old lost consciousness during a hike in Big Bend National Park and the stepfather crashed his car while racing to find help. Plus, at least four workers have died in the state after collapsing in three-digit heat, the Texas Observer reports: a Dallas post office worker, an East Texas utility lineman and two Houston construction workers.

While the nature of the worker deaths is still under investigation, the Observer notes that hyperthermia is likely the cause. Considering climate scientists told the Tribune that heat waves will become increasingly severe and common due to climate change, the risk to public health will only rise.

Once HB 2127 goes into effect in September, local ordinances mandating water breaks for workers outdoors in cities across the state, which the Observer writes contributed to a “significant decrease in annual heat-related illnesses and heat deaths,” will be overturned and localities will be barred from passing new ones.

A spokesperson for Abbott said that “ensuring the safety of Texans is a top priority as our state experiences high summer heat,” in a statement, noting that overriding local laws won’t keep workers from taking breaks under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) standards.

But some workers fear that the lack of local protections will mean bosses hoping to increase production will eliminate breaks, the Observer said.

The city of Houston’s lawsuit also calls out the possibility of widespread, city deregulation sparked by individuals and businesses pursuing their own interests and justifying the acts under the law.

“Houston will have to defend against a likely barrage of lawsuits brought by trade associations or individuals essentially to deregulate their industries or businesses at the local level,” the suit claims, adding an accusation that Texa’ Republican legislators are creating “a public/private enforcement regime that will penalize and raise the risk of Houston’s exercising its clear and expansive constitutional authority.”

Climate change is driving earlier springtimes. For some birds, that could equal extinction: Study

If successful, the suit will protect the water mandates and other measures like the Houston program providing 30,000 uninsured people with healthcare, Mayor Sylvester Turner noted.

“HB 2127 reverses over 100 years of Texas constitutional law without amending the Constitution,” Turner said in a public statement. “Because Texas has long had the means to preempt local laws that conflict with State law, HB 2127 is unnecessary, dismantling the ability to govern at the level closest to the people and therefore punishing all Texas residents. Houston will fight so its residents retain their constitutional rights and have immediate local recourse to government.”

Biden said he decided to send Ukraine controversial cluster bombs because Kyiv is ‘running out of ammunition’

Business Insider

Biden said he decided to send Ukraine controversial cluster bombs because Kyiv is ‘running out of ammunition’

Alia Shoaib – July 8, 2023

Joe Biden has agreed to send Ukraine deadly cluster munitions.

He defended his decision and said Ukraine needed them because they were “running out of ammunition.”

The controversial weapons are banned under an international treaty signed by 123 countries, but not the US.

President Joe Biden defended his decision to send Ukraine controversial and deadly cluster munitions, explaining it was because Kyiv was “running out of ammunition” after 500 days of war.

“It was a very difficult decision on my part. And by the way, I discussed this with our allies, I discussed this with our friends up on the Hill,” Biden told CNN’s Fareed Zakaria on Friday.

“The Ukrainians are running out of ammunition,” he added.

The US finally agreed to send the weapons as part of a new $800 million security assistance package on Friday, following months of requests from Kyiv.

The cluster munitions will be compatible with US-provided 155mm howitzers, which have been a key piece of artillery for Ukrainian forces, CNN reported.

Cluster bombs are particularly dangerous because they break apart into multiple little bombs when fired, some of which do not always explode upon impact. The unexploded ordinance can put civilians at risk for years to come, like landmines.

Experts say cluster bombs will be useful for Ukraine’s forces against well-dug-in Russian trenches amid a grueling counteroffensive.

However, the lethal weapons are highly controversial and are banned under an international treaty signed by 123 countries – but not the US, Russia, and Ukraine.

A casing of a cluster bomb rocket lays on the snow-covered ground in Zarichne on February 6, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images

Human Rights Watch said last year that Russia was actively using cluster bombs in Ukraine and had killed and maimed hundreds of civilians with them.

Biden told Zakaria that the weapons were being sent to Ukraine during a “transition period” until the US is able to produce more 155mm artillery.

“This is a war relating to munitions. And they’re running out of that ammunition, and we’re low on it,” Biden said.

“And so, what I finally did, I took the recommendation of the Defense Department to – not permanently – but to allow for this transition period, while we get more 155 weapons, these shells, for the Ukrainians.”

Ukraine launched its much-anticipated counteroffensive to take back territory occupied by Russia in early June, but gains have so far been slow.

Biden said it took him a while “to be convinced” to send cluster bombs, but he ultimately decided Ukraine “needed them.”

Former chief of general staff for the British Army Lord Dannatt said that Biden’s move risks “fracturing” NATO harmony, considering so many NATO countries have banned them.

Responding to Biden’s decision, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak noted on Saturday that the UK was a signatory of the international treaty banning and discouraging their use but said his government would continue to support Ukraine in other ways.

Ukraine told to investigate its use of banned ‘butterfly’ antipersonnel mines

18 PFM-1 in cluster dispenser. Also known as 'butterfly' mines. — 18 PFM-1 in cluster dispenser. Also known as ‘butterfly’ mines.German Army Combat Training Centre Letzlingen 2019/Wikicommons

Last week, Human Rights Watch told Ukraine to investigate the use of banned land mines by the Ukrainian military after new evidence that they had caused civilian casualties was discovered.

The group called for Ukraine to investigate the use of Russian-made PFM-1 antipersonnel mines around the eastern Ukrainian city of Izium between April and September 2022. It said it had evidence of 11 civilian casualties from the mines, including one fatality.

The miniature PFM-1, also known as “butterfly” or “petal” mines, are fired from rockets and scatter indiscriminately on a wide area.

Putin is cannibalizing Russia’s economy as war in Ukraine derails financial order, Yale researchers say

Business Insider

Putin is cannibalizing Russia’s economy as war in Ukraine derails financial order, Yale researchers say

Jennifer Sor – July 8, 2023

putin russia flag — Russia’s President Vladimir Putin speaks at the victory ceremony at an Annual International Vladivostok Jigoro Kano Cadet Judo Tournament at Fetisov Arena, on Day 2 of the 2018 Eastern Economic ForumMikhail Klimentyev\TASS via Getty Images

Putin has begun a “merciless cannibalization” of Russia’s economy, two Yale academics said.
Researchers pointed to the chaos unfolding in Russia as Putin tries to cover the nation’s growing budget deficit.
Russia’s show of economic strength is a “facade,” the researchers said.

Vladimir Putin is ruining his nation’s economy, as the Russian president is derails the financial order in his quest to conquer Ukraine, according to two Yale researchers.

In a recent op-ed for TIME, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Steven Tian, two academics from the Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute, pointed to the economic chaos unfolding in Russia as the war in Ukraine drags on.

Though some estimates show that Russia is spending surprisingly little on its “special military operation,” official statistics show that the nation has racked up around a $40 billion budget deficit so far this year, thanks to increased military spending and falling revenue as western sanctions bite into key sectors of its economy.

“Far from the prevailing narrative on how Putin funds his invasion, Putin’s financial lifeline has his merciless cannibalization of Russian economic productivity,” Sonnenfeld and Tian said. “He has been burning the living room furniture to fuel his battles in Ukraine, but that is now starting to backfire amidst a deafening silence and dearth of public support.”

Putin, for his part, has tried to shore up more money as the war effort continues, but has done so in ways that have largely ignored Russia’s fiscal responsibilities, the researchers said. That includes measures like printing record volumes of Russia’s ruble “out of thin air,” forcing institutions to buy “near-worthless” Russian debt assets, hefty windfall taxes on “basically anything that moves,” and taking billions out from Russia’s sovereign wealth fund to square the nation’s finances.

Those measures have contributed to the flight of millionaires and everyday workers, who have left the country to look for better opportunities, significantly hurting the nation’s output and productivity. And though Putin has made a show of Russia’s economic strength, his actions have only bought Russia more time, researchers warned.

“That resilience is nothing but a Potemkin façade, sustained not through genuine economic productivity but rather through shaking down the entire country for pennies to direct towards war,” Sonnenfeld and Tian said. “Putin can continue to sustain his invasion of Ukraine this way, but in doing so, continues to rip off his own people. In avoiding outright economic collapse by mortgaging Russia’s future, he grows more unloved by his people and is thus increasingly weakened.

Sonnenfeld and Tian have been critical of the state of Russia’s economy, despite Putin’s attempts to assure the public that Russia is doing just fine. Unpublished statistics from the Kremlin are likely to show a weaker picture of Russia’s economy than the government has led on, Sonnenfeld and Tian said, who previously argued that Russia’s economic figures were merely “cherry-picked” and that its economy was actually imploding.

“Amidst such undisguised plundering of the Russian economy, stripping it down for war toys, it is perhaps no surprise that Prigozhin’s failed putsch this past weekend revealed no lost love for Putin domestically from the Russian populace and elites,” the researchers said.

A parasite in bagged salad was linked to a spike in cases of a stomach bug that can cause explosive diarrhea

Insider

A parasite in bagged salad was linked to a spike in cases of a stomach bug that can cause explosive diarrhea

Serafina Kenny – July 7, 2023

An opened bag of leafy greens and carrot salad — Leafy greens are a common source of food contamination.Getty

A doubling of stomach illnesses in Florida was linked to a parasite.
Cyclosporiasis can cause explosive diarrhea, but usually goes away on its own.
Leafy greens like salad are among the leading causes of food poisoning in the US.

A doubling in cases of a stomach illness in Florida last year was partly linked to people eating bagged salad containing a parasite, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The illness, cyclosporiasis, is caused by a microscopic parasite called Cyclospora cayetanensis, which can spread to humans from food and water contaminated with feces carrying it. In the US, cases are often linked to people ingesting imported fresh produce carrying the parasite, according to the CDC. However, cases have recently been linked to US-grown produce.

There were 513 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis in Florida in 2022, double the amount reported the previous year, according to a CDC report published on Thursday. The Florida Department of Health surveyed 457 of these people to find out how they were exposed to the parasite.

Of those, 330 hadn’t travelled internationally, including 200 who had been exposed to prewashed bagged salad in the weeks before they became ill the in spring and summer of 2022. A further 85 of those 200 people (43%) had eaten the same brand of Caesar salad kit from the same grocery store chain, which contained only romaine lettuce.

Genetic testing of stool samples from 211 of the cyclosporiasis patients also traced the illnesses back to bagged salad, but the source of the contamination was not discovered.

Cyclosporiasis can cause diarrhea, stomach pain, and nausea

Symptoms of cyclosporiasis include watery diarrhea and sometimes explosive bowel movements, as well as loss of appetite, bloating, stomach pain, nausea, and fatigue, according to the CDC.

The illness can go away by itself in people with healthy immune systems, which can take between a few days to a month if left untreated. Doctors can also prescribe antibiotics to treat the illness, and antidiarrheal medicine can help to lessen the symptoms.

Leafy greens are a common cause of food poisoning

Most bagged salads are safe to eat, but a 2018 CDC study found that between 1998 and 2008, leafy vegetables were the type of produce most likely to cause illness.

This is because there are so many points at which fresh produce can become contaminated before it reaches your plate – including germs from animal poop getting into the water used to keep plants hydrated, in the processing and transportation of the produce, and from unwashed hands picking produce up in grocery stores.

Leafy greens also spoil quicker than other foods, so can go bad even before they are technically out of date. Unlike other foods, they are risky to consume after their use-by date.

You can prevent cyclosporiasis by washing your fresh produce

Anyone can get sick with cyclospoiasis, but handling fresh fruit and vegetables correctly can help prevent it from spreading. This means washing all fresh produce before eating or cooking with it, and refrigerating cut, peeled or cooked produce as soon as possible, the CDC says.

The US government’s FoodKeeper App recommends that you refrigerate bagged leafy greens and consume them within two days of opening.

DeSantis’ veto of electric cars bill cost taxpayers $277 million, critics say

Orlando Sentinel

DeSantis’ veto of electric cars bill cost taxpayers $277 million, critics say

Jeffrey Schweers, Orlando Sentinel – July 7, 2023

Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/TNS

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis was more concerned about Iowa corn farmers than Florida taxpayers when he vetoed a popular bill that could have saved the state $277 million by adding electric vehicles to state and local government fleets, a Democratic critic says.

More EVs would mean less of a demand for ethanol, which is processed from corn grown in states such as Iowa, the expected home to the first presidential caucus next year.

It’s another example of DeSantis putting his own political ambitions to be president over the needs of Floridians, said Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando.

“The Iowa caucus voters who are all about ethanol don’t see electric vehicles as something that is economically in their favor,” Eskamani said. “DeSantis is catering to his Iowa voters, not passing policy for Floridians.”

The electric car bill, SB 284, sponsored by Sen. Jason Brodeur, R-Lake Mary, would have required all state and local governments, colleges and universities to buy vehicles based on their lowest lifetime costs. Current law requires such purchases to be based on fuel efficiency.

It ordered the Department of Management Services to make recommendations by July 1, 2024, to state agencies, colleges, universities and local governments about buying electric vehicles and other vehicles powered by renewable fuels.

“It allows us to look at procuring electric vehicles,” Brodeur said. “It doesn’t mean you have to purchase any.”

The governor’s veto last week was perplexing, supporters said. Both the Florida Natural Gas Association and the Sierra Club supported the measure, along with the Advanced Energy United and Electrification Coalition, a group that supports increasing the use of alternative-fuel vehicles.

“It was a common sense, good governance bill. There is nothing in this bill that any person in America should be against,” said former Sen. Jeff Brandes, a Tampa Bay Republican who tried getting similar legislation through last year.

The law could have saved state and local governments $277 million over 15 years by adding more electric vehicles to their fleets, said Michael Weiss, the Florida state lead at Advanced Energy United, a trade association of clean energy companies.

Advanced Energy United and the Electrification Coalition calculated the bill would have saved governments an average of $18,000 per vehicle by switching to an all-electric vehicle fleet, Weiss said. Using the state’s vehicle data provided by the Department of Management Services, they conducted a total cost analysis of the state’s fleet.

“This veto is a baffling decision that will cost Florida taxpayers millions of dollars,” Weiss said. “The Florida Legislature saw the clear economic and taxpayer benefits of a modern and efficient state fleet, but Gov. DeSantis somehow didn’t get the memo.”

It was only a few years ago that DeSantis touted the benefits of electric cars at a news conference announcing the construction of EV charging stations at rest stops along Florida’s Turnpike.

“It’s amazing how much cheaper it is to just charge a vehicle than to fill up a gas tank,” DeSantis said at the time. “And so as technology evolves, we hope that that’ll be reflected in people’s pocketbooks. So we want to make sure we have the infrastructure in place to make that a reality.”

His staff didn’t respond to a request to explain the veto.

The bill passed both chambers of the Legislature with just a single no vote, by Rep. Yvonne Hinson of Gainesville. But it is not likely anyone would even suggest trying to override the veto because of the governor’s immense grip on Tallahassee.

“That’s not going to happen,” Eskamani said.

Eskamani said DeSantis also has put personal politics first with culture war laws such as sexual orientation in schools, banning gay-themed books and drag shows, and making it harder for unions to collect dues.

She and other Democrats have pointed out problems such as soaring insurance premiums and a spike in housing costs that go unsolved.

“Not a single part of his agenda that passed is helping Floridians,” she said. “His agenda is tailored to the needs of Republican [primary and caucus voters].”

As an Idaho Republican, I yearn for a return to the party’s true conservative roots

Idaho Statesman – Opinion

As an Idaho Republican, I yearn for a return to the party’s true conservative roots | Opinion

Idaho Statesman – July 7, 2023

Idaho GOP

As a common-sense Republican, I find myself increasingly disheartened by the actions and direction of the Idaho Republican Party. What was once a party rooted in conservative principles, fiscal responsibility and limited government has seemingly veered off course. Instead of focusing on the core values that initially attracted me, I witness a growing inclination toward extreme ideologies, divisive rhetoric, and attention to issues that do not matter. It is disappointing to see a lack of collaboration, compromise, and a willingness to engage with diverse perspectives, which includes members of their own party. The party should be a platform for inclusive and effective governance, but it seems to be losing sight of its purpose. As a Republican, I yearn for a return to the party’s true conservative roots and a renewed commitment to serving the people of Idaho with integrity and thoughtful leadership.

William Moylan, Caldwell

Maternal mortality

On July 1, Idaho became the only state without a legal requirement or specialized committee (Maternal Mortality Review Committee) to review maternal deaths related to pregnancy.

Idaho stands alone with this “achievement,” and disbanding the committee at this point comes exactly at the time when maternal rates in the U.S. are rising (and are much higher than maternal deaths in other high-income countries such as Canada and Germany). We know how many people die from heart disease; we know how many graduate from high school, how many people have disabilities, total food service sales, and the average travel time workers commute. Mothers seem to be important only while they can birth babies (evidenced also by our lack of societal support for mothers). If a woman dies due to pregnancy, we don’t appear to care enough to try to prevent the next death. We don’t even want to know. Shame on us and particularly, once again, shame on the Idaho legislature.

Donna M. Carlson, Boise

Beavers

An excellent article on beavers by Julie Jung.

People are the problem, not the beaver. One quote from the article “sometimes a beaver will just try to make a home in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Apply this quote to people and look no further than the Boise/Treasure Valley, where people have made homes in the wrong place at the wrong time replacing crop/agricultural land with rooftops, pavement and concrete. There is a day coming when this land will be needed to feed a growing population.

Les Sweeney, Payette

Fireworks

How is it possible to sell illegal fireworks to someone as long as they sign an affidavit? It’s like selling alcohol to a minor and them saying they won’t drink it in Idaho. Maybe instead of distracting people about which kid can use which bathroom we actually solve real problems? The fire trucks were going up and down 10th Avenue putting out fires from illegal fireworks from people saying they won’t use them in Idaho. It was like a war zone in Caldwell, and no cop in sight.

Douglas Badger, Caldwell

LGBTQ attacks

My brother-in-law used to quip that “Everybody needs someone to look down on, and there is nobody lower than a hippy, that’s why all hippies have dogs.” For decades Idaho GOP leadership has fought against equal rights for LGBTQ+ citizens. I have to think that is either because “everybody needs someone to look down on,” or because they are not above putting this entire group of people down for their own political gain. Presently, the RINO extremists making the loudest and most destructive noise in the Idaho GOP leadership are not above putting down this whole group of people for their own personal gain, but they are doing so in a very reckless and dangerous way. Displaying a belief that God made only some people in his image, and that man is to love only some of his neighbors, they are hell bent on demonizing all LGBTQ+ people, jeopardizing their lives, their families, and Idaho. Are they doing so out of pure evil, hatred, or only for political gain? No matter why, this needs to stop!

Tom Newton, Caldwell

Caucus

Idaho accidentally got rid of its presidential primary, so we had to find another way to have our say. The Idaho GOP decided a caucus was the best option. Some people think this takes away our rights, but I think it’s a chance to come together as a community and have some fun.

Caucuses have been around for a long time in America, even before we started voting with ballots. At a caucus, you get to meet your neighbors and folks from your community. You can talk openly and debate the presidential race, and then decide who you want to support.

Candidates often send representatives to caucuses to speak on their behalf. It’s a good way to learn about the different players and make an informed choice.

Voting can sometimes feel ordinary and sterile. You just fill out a ballot and that’s it. But a caucus is more like a county fair than an election. It’s supposed to be enjoyable.

I hope every Idaho Republican takes part in their county caucus on March 2. You can make your voice heard and meet your neighbors at the same time.

Brian Almon, Eagle

Affirmative action

It’s interesting that the Supreme Court has prohibited affirmative action policies by colleges, the purposes of which are to provide admission because of the value to the schools and to the students of racial diversity, while voicing no objection to other similar admission policies. Schools have policies that value athletics, geographic diversity, arbitrary tests of intelligence, leadership abilities, legacies (children of graduates), cultural diversity, particular extracurricular activities, socioeconomic diversity, first-generation college attendance, large parental donations, unusual perspectives, sexual orientation diversity, artistic talent, musical ability, and high school academic performance. But the Court says they are prohibited from placing any value on racial diversity. Perhaps the Court just hasn’t gotten around to dealing with these other college admissions policies. Quick, let’s find someone to bring lawsuits against schools for these reasons as well, so that we can get these cases up to the Court before anything happens to its conservative majority.

Walt Thode, Boise

‘Woke’ isn’t going to die in DeSantis’ Florida. It’s just taking its dollars elsewhere

Miami Herald – Opinion

‘Woke’ isn’t going to die in DeSantis’ Florida. It’s just taking its dollars elsewhere | Opinion

The Miami Herald Editorial Board – July 7, 2023

Think of a dystopian, polarized country, where Americans are not only divided based on political beliefs but also on where they live and shop, what beer they drink, what doctors they visit, whether they are vaccinated, where they go on vacation and attend professional conferences.

This is what politicians who want to inject extremism (from the right or the left) into governing seem to want to accomplish: to reshape their communities so that only like-minded people feel comfortable co-existing.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has made no secret that his approach to governing is “You’re either with me or get the heck out.” He has signed laws and used state power against: teachers; transgender people; African Americans; women’s bodies; teachers and unions; university professors and academic freedom; universities that want to diversify their student body; immigrants; LGBTQ people and drag queens.

Most recently, DeSantis defended a bizarre and homophobic video his campaign shared on Twitter, calling it “fair game” to attack Donald Trump for past statements in support of LGBTQ rights. Not surprising coming from the governor of the state “where woke goes to die.”

The governor probably doesn’t lose sleep over the few conferences that Florida has lost recently as professional organizations take their dollars and thousands of attendees to states with less extreme policies. That blue parts of the state, Broward and Orange counties, lost the opportunity to host those events fit right into the governor’s strategy. DeSantis’ motto is to “own the libs.”

Two organizations canceled events that were planned in the Orlando area in coming years. AnitaB.org, a group of women and nonbinary tech workers, canceled a 2027 event that normally draws about 16,000 visitors. The group told the Orlando Sentinel it will no longer hold events in the state after this year’s conference at the Orange County Convention Center. The reasons are Florida’s abortion ban, its easing of gun regulations and the state’s efforts “to erase the identities and dignities of people from historically marginalized and excluded groups, including Black, Brown, LGBTQIA+, and Indigenous people.”

Broward County has lost more than half-dozen conferences, thanks to Florida’s political climate, organizers told the county’s tourism agency Visit Lauderdale, as the Sun Sentinel reported Friday. Among them is the 2024 National Family and Community Engagement and Community Schools Conference, which would have needed more than 2,000 hotel rooms. The organization “decided to pull out of Florida due to concerns about what the Governor is doing in the education/schools and that he will likely run in 2024. They do not want to lose attendees due to this,” according to a list of cancellations Visit Lauderdale put together.

The governor’s office told the Sun Sentinel the cancellations are “nothing more than a media-driven stunt.” His administration recently released numbers that show the number of tourists visiting the state is up compared to last year. Florida also welcomed nearly 320,000 new residents from other states between 2021 and 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. DeSantis claims credit for those new residents but Florida benefits from a series of factors, such as the longstanding lack of state income taxes and the rise of remote work during the pandemic

Have DeSantis’ policies caused widespread financial ruin in Florida? No, though the hotels and conference centers that lost business might see it differently.

The bigger question is who DeSantis thinks Florida is for. Nonbinary tech workers are not his intended demographic. Neither are college professors, who have warned that the state’s crackdown on what they can teach regarding race is causing a brain drain. Nor are the undocumented workers who are leaving the state after DeSantis signed into law one of the most draconian immigration laws in the country (it requires, among other things, that immigrants disclose their citizenship status at hospitals).

Are these people leaving in big enough numbers to make a difference? We bet that’s the governor’s goal.

The Florida Blueprint he’s trying to sell to presidential primary voters doesn’t concern itself with having a diverse workforce, attracting the best and brightest or ensuring that Florida’s agriculture has enough people to work its fields. Its myopic focus is fighting the outsider — and there are more and more of those — and rewarding those who fall in line.

Russia’s ruble has nowhere to go but down

Business Insider

Russia’s ruble has nowhere to go but down as capital flight continues in aftermath of Wagner mutiny attempt, economist says

Matthew Fox – July 7, 2023

Russian President Vladimir Putin.MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/RIA NOVOSTI/AFP via Getty Images

The Russian ruble has nowhere to go but down amid the war in Ukraine, an economist said.
The ruble is one of the worst-performing currencies and fell Friday to nearly 92 per US dollar.
Capital flight, declining tax revenues, and a depleted central bank are hurting Russia’s currency.

The Russian ruble is one of the worst-performing currencies this year, falling about 24% to nearly 92 per US dollar, and the decline could get even worse.

“The ruble doesn’t have anywhere to go but down,” Konstantin Sonin, a University of Chicago economist, said in a tweet Thursday.

The volatility in the ruble surged in recent weeks after the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, staged a short-lived revolt against the Kremlin.

The uncertainty in Russia has sparked a surge in demand for other currencies, with Bloomberg estimating that $43.5 billion of retail deposits ditched the ruble in favor of other currencies since the war began in February 2022.

Sonin said that while the ruble surged in 2022 because of “weird” macroeconomic effects, including a dramatic fall in imports, those effects were over and the currency faced several headwinds that could push it to record lows.

“What remains is continuing capital flight, decreasing budget revenues, both oil/gas and domestic taxes, declining real incomes, CB reserves lost because of the war,” Sonin said, referring to central-bank reserves.

The decline in oil prices has been an especially difficult challenge for Russia to navigate this year, as much of its country’s revenues are derived from the sale of the commodity.

Crude-oil prices have dropped about 10% year to date, and the G7 imposed a $60-a-barrel price cap on seaborne crude, dimming Russia’s chances of getting full market value for its oil sales.

Russia’s revenues from the sale of oil slumped 50% in the first quarter of the year, leading the country to report a $42.5 billion budget deficit in the first four months of 2023. And the country’s war efforts aren’t helping its broader economy as it suffers from a brain drain among its high-skilled workforce.

With Russia’s economy facing mounting headwinds amid its war against Ukraine, Sonin expects the ruble to continue its decline, though “not necessarily as fast as in the last couple of months,” he said.