This Newsletter Has To Transition To A New Platform. - issue #58

Transitioning Out

Photo by Henrik Donnestad by Unsplash

I knew this day would come. But I didn't think it would be this soon. This platform was never a permanent one. I always knew that I would have to move this newsletter somewhere else. I wanted to do that on my own terms. If you have not heard or seen, Revue is shutting down. Revue will cease January 18.

Revue was acquired by Twitter a while ago. If you haven't been watching the news, Elon Musk has changed Twitter. Since Musk's takeover, a lot of workers have been fired. The future of Twitter seems uncertain.

So what is The Intersection going to do? Well, The Intersection is moving to another platform.

Where? I don't know yet. But, don't worry. I will provide you with all the necessary info by next week.

But before I move on to the latest news in Prince George's County, I want to say thank you for rocking with me. You all have been great. To the people who just signed up, welcome! Thank you for staying through all the changes, and my mistakes :(. Your support means a lot.

Annoucement

The USDA has awarded Prince George's County $3.25 million to do climate-centric farming. The money will help support farmers and producers who want to provide healthy food. An excerpt:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jennifer Lester Moffitt today announced Prince George’s County has received a competitive $3.25 million grant from Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities. The grant will fund a pilot program to support farmers and producers, particularly those of color, to implement climate-centric practices in organic farming.

“USDA is committed to supporting a diverse range of farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners through Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities,” said Under Secretary Moffitt. “We congratulate Prince George’s County in receiving this award that will expand markets for America’s climate-smart commodities, leverage greenhouse gas benefits of climate-smart commodity production, and provide direct, meaningful benefits to production agriculture, including for small and underserved producers.”

Funding for Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities is available through USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation in two pools. Seventy projects were announced in September from the first funding pool, which included proposals seeking funds ranging from $5 million to $100 million. Seventy-one projects seeking funds from $250,000 to under $5 million, including the pilot program from Prince George’s County, were announced on December 12.  Prince George’s County is the only County and government entity in Maryland to receive a grant under the second funding pool.  Access the complete list of selected projects.  

News

In jam-packed first session, newly-elected Prince George's Council members undo zoning measures sought by developers.

Prince George's County council has a new majority, leadership and agenda, naming itself "the people's council."

Six inmates at the Prince George’s County jail were involved in a fight on Monday, authorities say.

Health

The Biden administration is making four rapid COVID-19 tests available to all U.S. households through covidtests.gov.

Lapses in strategies to tackle COVID-19 continue to create perfect conditions for a new variant, the WHO head said.

The new subvariants do not have radically different symptoms from previous versions of Omicron in vaccinated people.

According to the report, mental health professionals claim they do not have enough funds to provide widespread services to the growing population of non-fluent English speakers

Many parents are utilizing 'gentle parenting,' which emphasizes empathy, respect, understanding, and boundaries.

Politics

As the United States navigates uncertain economic waters, Gov. Larry Hogan, Comptroller Peter Franchot and other Maryland officials on Thursday urged Democratic Gov.-elect Wes Moore and other newcomers to the executive and legislative branches to budget with caution.

Lieutenant Governor-elect Aruna Miller will address MACo Winter Conference attendees at the Women of MACo and County Officials Diversity Caucus joint reception. The Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) is pleased to host Lieutenant Governor-elect Aruna Miller at MACo’s upcoming Winter Conference. The Lieutenant Governor-elect will address the joint reception hosted by the Maryland County Officials Diversity […]

An initiative to increase congressional staff diversity by the Joint Center.

Launched in 2014 by then-president Barack Obama, the US has, until now, put this diplomatic exercise on the backburner

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday opened the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington by spotlighting Africa's youthful population — making the case that the continent's demographics will inevitably lead it to become a key global player in the decades to come.

US 3-year funding pledge contains $20 billion for health programs for the continent