Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) slammed the U.S. Supreme Court this week for siding with the Biden administration in its fight to stop Texas from being able to secure its border with Mexico. The remarks‚ which Cruz made on his “Verdict” podcast‚ come after the Supreme Court ruled that the administration could cut through or remove sections of razor wire that Texas has placed along the border to stop the millions of illegal aliens who have poured into the state under the Biden administration. “Look‚ this is a horrible decision. I’m angry about it‚” Cruz said. “It is deeply disturbing. Fact number one: we are seeing an invasion at our southern border — 9.6 million illegal immigrants have crossed in under Joe Biden. It is deliberate. He wants this to happen. It is the worst illegal immigration in our nation’s history.” Cruz noted that the decision was reached by the Court’s left-wing justices along with Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Justice Clarence Thomas‚ Justice Samuel Alito‚ Justice Neil Gorsuch‚ and Justice Brett Kavanaugh all voted against the Biden administration’s request. “There is a heavy presumption in Washington‚ in federal courts‚ which is that the federal government gets to trump the states‚” Cruz said. “And that is part of the Constitution is the supremacy clause that says the Constitution‚ the federal laws‚ are the supreme law of the land. I think it is a real problem that John Roberts is a creature of Washington. I don’t think he understands what is happening at the southern border. I think Amy Coney Barrett is a law professor from Indiana. I don’t think she has any understanding of what’s happening at the southern border.” “What I don’t think the justices have a real appreciation for is how horrifically bad it is‚ how lawless it is‚ what the Biden administration is doing‚” he continued. “There’s never been a president who refuses to follow the law like Joe Biden did.” Cruz said that Biden wanted the crisis that he created on the border and that he has no intention of fixing the problem. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “He wants more illegal immigrants. And I said‚ for Pete’s sakes‚ Biden is actively litigating against the state of Texas‚ to stop Texas from securing the border. That’s what they want‚” he said. “They want this invasion. And that’s exactly what the Biden administration is doing‚ with the emphatic support of essentially every Democrat member of the Senate and every Democrat member of the House.” WATCH: The Supreme Court's decision blocking Texas from securing its border is horrible. The Court does not appreciate the lawlessness of Biden's refusal to enforce border security laws. He is destroying our country and enabling an invasion.https://t.co/hdWGvGlJCR pic.twitter.com/VFy8ffdb1u — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) January 24‚ 2024

A recent study published in the journal JAMA Health Forum provides solid evidence that soda levies are beneficial in reducing sugary drink consumption. The study examines five U.S. cities‚ including Philadelphia‚ Seattle‚ San Francisco‚ Oakland‚ and Boulder‚ and finds a consistent decline in sales following the adoption of taxes ranging from one to two cents per ounce. According to lead author Scott Kaplan‚ an economics professor at the United States Naval Academy‚ the study takes a novel method by examining the cumulative impact of soda levies across different locations. “For every one percent increase in price‚ we find that purchases fall by about one percent‚” Kaplan says‚ highlighting the link between price increases and decreased consumption. Significant price increases result in substantial purchase declines The survey shows sugar-sweetened drink costs increased by an average of 33.1 percent‚ but purchases decreased by an identical amount (33 percent). This association highlights the direct impact of pricing on consumer behavior. The data indicate that people are sensitive to increasing prices and adjust their purchasing habits accordingly. Kaplan highlights the substantial and sustained effect‚ stating‚ “When people had to pay more for sugary drinks‚ they reduced their purchases – and the effect was large and sustained.” This understanding of consumer behavior may pave the path for more widespread implementation of soda levies at the state or national levels. Debunking the myth of cross-border purchases A common objection to soda taxes is that consumers may seek cheaper alternatives outside taxed areas. However‚ the study contradicts previous findings by showing no indication of consumers traveling to neighboring regions to escape taxes. This dispels the myth that such taxes just redistribute the burden instead of reducing overall consumption. Kaplan explains that inconsistent findings from previous studies motivated the current study to investigate whether people made cross-border purchases. The team discovered no supporting data‚ confirming the impact of the tariffs on local consumption patterns. Public health experts advocate for soda taxes Public health professionals‚ including Jennifer Pomeranz from New York University‚ support soda taxes as an important public health measure. Pomeranz underlines the lack of nutritional value in sugary drinks‚ which account for a considerable amount of added sugar in the American diet. The link between excessive sugar consumption and health problems such as diabetes‚ obesity‚ and heart disease emphasizes the significance of limiting sugary beverage consumption. “Sugar-sweetened beverages make up a quarter of all the added sugar we see in the average adult American diet. And that’s a really big amount‚” notes Kaplan. The data lends credence to the claim that soda taxes have an important role in preventing diet-related disorders. Renewed interest in soda taxes: a possible health boost Despite initial obstacles and criticism from the beverage industry‚ the study’s findings are expected to spark renewed interest in soda taxes. Pomeranz believes that the positive results could rekindle momentum for implementing such levies‚ especially given the endorsements of major health groups such as the American Heart Association and the World Health Organization. Pomeranz expressed confidence‚ saying‚ “The new findings are ‘great.’ I am thinking it could renew interest.” The study’s ability to refocus attention on the benefits of soda taxes may influence policy changes targeted at encouraging healthier beverage choices. Beverage industry response and counterarguments While the American Beverage Association believes that the industry’s strategy of providing lower-sugar choices is effective‚ the study questions this. According to the report‚ despite industry efforts‚ taxes continue to be an effective tool for lowering sugary drink consumption. The dispute over industry interests vs public health considerations continues. The American Beverage Association responded to the study by emphasizing customer choice‚ claiming‚ “The calories that people get from beverages have decreased to its lowest level in decades.” The industry’s opposition to sugary drink levies remains a source of dispute‚ despite the study’s data in favor of their effectiveness. The study’s detailed review of soda taxes in various cities sheds information on their efficacy in lowering sugary drink consumption. As health experts urge for these taxes to prevent diet-related disorders‚ the findings may rekindle support for their implementation‚ challenging the beverage industry’s resistance and encouraging healthier choices. Source study: JAMA Health Forum—Evaluation of changes in prices and purchases following implementation of sugar-sweetened beverage taxes across the USThe post Soda taxes have a remarkable impact: sales plummet as prices rise in US cities first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

A major chunk of the Hopi Reservation’s dry mesas in northeast Arizona is underserved by internet service. Hopi Telecommunications‚ which provides internet and telephone services in the area‚ is dealing with the restrictions of an out-of-date copper wire network. The company’s service order coordinator‚ Alicia Youvella‚ underlines the importance of upgrading: “It’s literally like pulling the veins out of the earth and having to relay down new ones.” Despite providing free internet to kids during the COVID-19 outbreak and offering cheap pricing through federal programs‚ not all residents benefit because of the aging infrastructure. The company received federal subsidies to install fiber optic lines directly into homes‚ a project that began in September and is expected to be completed by 2025. Native Nations take initiative against inequity Native Nations‚ which have historically had little access to high-speed internet‚ were disproportionately affected by the pandemic‚ emphasizing the importance of solving the digital divide. The Hopi‚ among others‚ are taking control of the situation. The movement is motivated not just by necessity‚ but also by a desire to become self-sufficient and provide critical services to their communities. “It’s within our mission to be self-sufficient and to grow in a way that we can provide the types of services that are needed out here‚” says Youvella‚ reflecting the resilience of Native communities amidst adversity. State initiatives and digital equity laws Several jurisdictions have taken measures in response to the growing awareness of this digital gap. Louisiana‚ Montana‚ New Mexico‚ and Oregon passed laws in 2023 to streamline funding for broadband expansion‚ with a focus on underserved communities‚ including tribes. California’s Digital Equity Bill of Rights emphasizes the state’s commitment to providing equal broadband access to all residents. Matthew Rantanen‚ director of technology for the Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association‚ welcomes improvements but underlines the importance of a collaborative effort: “And we’ve had a boost — in small little steps — but it’s happening.” The role of non-profits and challenges in broadband development Nonprofit organizations‚ such as Connected Nation‚ have played critical roles in closing the digital divide. Frank Martinez‚ vice president of strategic initiatives at Connected Nation‚ emphasized the importance of specialized solutions due to the diversity of Native countries. The Institute for Local Self-Reliance’s 2021 report demonstrates effective broadband infrastructure construction in a variety of Native communities. Traditional ways have failed‚ according to Joe Valandra‚ chair and CEO of Tribal Ready: “Giving money to the incumbent provider hasn’t worked before‚ and there’s no faith that it’ll work now.” Tribal Ready enables tribes to take control by identifying financial resources and programs to build networks under tribal governance. Empowering tribes with independent networks One of the most ongoing issues for tribes is financing and providing cheap prices for residents. Tribal Ready‚ as a Native-owned and governed organization‚ helps tribes navigate these obstacles. The ultimate goal is to give tribes the ability to control broadband in the same way that they regulate other public utilities. “I think we’ll see over the next decade or so more tribes standing up their own utility authority to encompass this because it’s a benefit for their communities‚” declared Joe Valandra. Maintaining networks and workforce challenges The focus has changed from network construction to network maintenance‚ with the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program providing subsidies to low-income families living on qualified Native territory. H Trostle of the Center for Indian Country Development emphasizes the difficulties of running and maintaining networks‚ particularly wireless networks with significant operational expenses. Youvella of Hopi Telecommunications sheds light on the workforce challenges: “These are our struggles‚ but again‚ we always somehow break through and we work through it.” Housing constraints exacerbate the challenge of hiring skilled staff‚ prompting the corporation to invest in extensive training programs. Navigating the digital frontier with determination As Native nations traverse the digital frontier‚ a tapestry of difficulties and achievements develops. From modernizing aging infrastructure to developing independent networks‚ the process is characterized by resilience. With growing state and federal backing‚ tribal communities are crafting a connected future in which they control their digital destiny.The post Native Nations without reliable internet take broadband networks into their own hands first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

Exploring the Impact of Joseph's Story on Contemporary Life

No matter what is going on around us‚ even if it seems like everything is falling apart‚ we must remember that God holds the entire universe in His hands. He is completely sovereign. Nothing passes through His hands by accident.

No matter what is going on around us‚ even if it seems like everything is falling apart‚ we must remember that God holds the entire universe in His hands. He is completely sovereign. Nothing passes through His hands by accident.

'Then they should have turned out to vote for Nikki in Iowa and New Hampshire'

'What happened to my client Chris Young at a bar in Nashville on Monday night was wrong'

'Mr. Baldwin is entitled to a fair and speedy disposition'

Robert Kraft is a real one for this