US president tasks secretary of state Marco Rubio with making ‘immediate’ progress Donald Trump has demanded free transit for American commercial and military ships through the Panama and Suez canals tasking his secretary of state with making progress “immediately” Trump has for months been calling for the United States to take control of the Panama canal but his social media post also shifted focus on to the vital Suez route through the Panama and Suez canals!” Trump posted on Saturday He claimed both routes would “not exist” without the US and said he had asked his secretary of state to “immediately take care of” the situation The Panamanian president, Jose Raul Mulino, without directly referencing Trump said on Saturday that toll fees were regulated by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), an autonomous governing body that oversees the trade route. “There is no agreement to the contrary.” Read moreThe US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, said during a visit to Panama City this month that the US was seeking an agreement under which its warships could pass through the canal “first, and free”. He also floated the idea of US troops returning to Panama to “secure” its strategically vital canal an idea that was quickly slapped down by Panama’s government The US and China are two of the top users of the canal accounted for about 10% of global maritime trade before attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on shipping routes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden The Iran-backed rebels began targeting vessels after the start of the Israel-Gaza war It has forced ships to take a long and costly detour around the southern tip of Africa Egypt said in 2024 that its canal revenues had plunged 60% The US military has been attacking Houthi positions since January 2024 and those assaults have intensified under Trump with almost daily strikes in the past month Trump has said military action will continue until the Houthis are no longer a threat to shipping Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker United States President Donald Trump said U.S military and commercial ships should be allowed to travel free of charge through the Panama and Suez canals two strategic routes for global trade and military operations In December, Trump accused China of expanding its influence in the management of the Panama Canal and slammed officials for charging “exorbitant prices and rates of passage.”  Both are essential for global commerce, cutting down shipping time and costs, while also giving militaries a quick way to move between oceans, strengthening geopolitical influence Panama's President José Raúl Mulino responded on X that the "transits and costs of all vessels through our Canal" are regulated by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) "There is no agreement to the contrary," Mulino said opening a new front in the transatlantic trade war A draft strategy obtained by POLITICO points to the difficulty of unwinding years of American technological dominance Obama formally removed around 3 million noncitizens from the United States while president Sunday’s assault came after Trump cast fresh doubt on Putin’s willingness to end the war Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information A tug guides a container ship through the Cocoli Locks at the Panama Canal in Panama City President Donald Trump called for “free of charge” passage of American ships through the Panama and Suez canals renewing his focus of expanding US influence over critical commercial and naval waterways own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment View all partners The Panama Canal is one of the most important waterways in the world, with about 7% of global trade passing through the canal’s locks can’t raise and lower ships traveling between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and that can quickly affect Panama’s finances and economies around the world But the same freshwater is also essential for Panama’s many other needs, including drinking water for about 2 million Panamanians use by Indigenous people and farmers in the watershed When the region experiences droughts, as it did in 2023-2024, the resulting water shortages can lead to increasing water conflicts This recent drought wasn’t an anomaly. As a researcher in Panama who studies the effects of rising temperatures on water availability and sea level rise, I’m aware that as the climate warms, Panama will likely face more extremes, both long dry spells and also periods of too much rain That will force more trade-offs between residential needs and the canal over water use The Panama Canal was built over a century ago at the narrowest point of the country and in the heart of its population center. The route was historically used by the Spanish colonies and later for a rail line between the oceans The canal project was designed to take advantage of the region’s tropical climate and abundant average rainfall It harnessed the water of the Chagres River basin to run three sets of locks – chambers that lifting or lowering ships to compensate for the difference in water levels between the two oceans To ensure enough water would be available for the locks, the canal’s designers changed the shapes of the region’s mountains and rivers to create a large watershed – over 1,325 square miles (3,435 square kilometers) – that drains toward the canal’s human-made lakes About 65% of the water that flows from the watershed today goes to operate the locks The majority of that water is quickly lost to the oceans Even the two newest locks, built in 2016, only reuse about 60% of water on each transit – 40% is flushed to avoid saltwater from the oceans intruding into the watershed Panama’s wet tropical weather is predominantly influenced by its location near the equator Most of its rain falls during the wet season weather records show a drop in average precipitation starting around 1950 The driest years resulted in dangerously low water levels in Gatun Lake that made canal operations difficult, including in 1998, 2016 and most recently 2023-2024. El Niño weather patterns can mean particularly low rainfall In December 2023, the Panama Canal Authority was forced to limit the number of daily transits to 22 because too little freshwater was available Ecosystems also need enough water, and changes in forest tree composition have become evident on Barro Colorado Island in Gatun Lake in response to rising temperatures and more frequent droughts Temporary measures for saving water have been already implemented. The Panama Canal Authority shortened the chamber size in some of its locks to use less water for smaller vessels and minimized direction changes In January 2025, the authority approved plans to build the new dam on the Indio River to increase water available for the canal. The dam could solve some water concerns during drier periods for the canal along with the communities their families have lived in for generations Residents across Panama, meanwhile, regularly hear media campaigns that encourage them to save water. An Environmental Economic Incentives Program promotes forest conservation and sustainable family agriculture to conserve water resources The Panama Canal is a crucial part of international trade and it will face more periods of water stress I believe responding to those future changes will require innovative solutions that respect ecosystem limits and the needs of the population Open houses for the property are scheduled to begin May 6 A rare stretch of undeveloped property along the Venice Canals is for sale offering a trio of adjacent parcels totaling over 8,500 square feet at a combined asking price of \$6.995 million the listing represents one of only four known contiguous triple-lot holdings in the historic canal district The properties are being marketed as a single development opportunity though each lot could be addressed separately the 404 Linnie parcel has already received Coastal Commission approval for a 3,551-square-foot home designed by local architect Austin Peters including decks and garage space totaling 4,737 square feet The adjacent 408 parcel features a renovated 436-square-foot studio bungalow listed on SurveyLA for its historic relevance and could function as a guest house or auxiliary structure the three parcels front a quiet section of the canal and overlook Linnie Canal Park The zoning designation for the site is LARW1 which generally permits single-family development The sale is being handled by agents Michael Grady and Alex Quaid of The Agency kids are invited to make magic as they journey into the fun-filled is celebrating one year of business this spring... The 2,091-square-foot condo occupies the second floor of a 1972-built structure and features sweeping ocean views A beachfront condominium in.. the Gondoliers have clinched the top spot in their league and will look.. Firefighters from both departments worked together to inspect the aircraft for potential damage A small aircraft made an emergency landing.. While algal blooms and domoic acid outbreaks have occurred this particular bloom has reportedly impacted more animals than in recent.. well-priced lots in desirable locations are finding buyers .. Federal prosecutors said the defendants submitted false claims following the devastating January 2025 wildfire Three people have been charged in.. A catalog of programs and classes has opened for Summer at Crossroads an immersive experience for students to continue to.. Support Services Lead to Reduction in Frequent Emergency Calls A collaborative effort between the Santa Monica Fire Department and Wise&Healthy.. IBEW Teams Up with LADWP to Advance Gender Equity in Public Utilities The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.. and automated rulesets California Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday announced.. The grandmother’s injuries were not life-threatening A woman was taken into custody after allegedly stabbing her grandmother during a domestic.. Roll out the … robots.  An afterschool learning center for robotics and STEM is hosting weekly camps this summer designed.. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and events in Venice and the surrounding areas Made with ❤️ by ENKI Tech New York Almanack May 5, 2025 by Leave a Comment Award-winning author Laurie Lawlor’s full-color narrative nonfiction explores how this monumental, 363-mile canal was built across a daunting upstate New York landscape at a time when America had no trained engineers, no idea how to make water-proof concrete, no modern mechanical tools, and no reliable source of workers Many Voices takes a deep dive into how canal construction altered the environment and uprooted the Haudenosaunee from their long-standing homeland in New York Linking the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean the Erie Canal boosted the global economic status of New York City expanded Westward settlement deep inside America’s farming heartland and spiked growth in cities as varied as Chicago Just as today’s Internet has created a “superhighway” of purchasing possibilities and an array of political, social, cultural, and religious ideas from around the globe, the Erie Canal propelled nationwide trade and a network of new ideas — everything from abolition of slavery to promoting women’s right to vote the Canal that Changed America includes more than ninety photos The book has been listed as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection Trained as a journalist at Northwestern University Laurie Lawlor is a visiting lecturer in creative writing She has created forty-three works of award-winning fiction and nonfiction for children and Pond How a Small Trail Can Make a Big Difference (Holiday House) received the Society of Midland Authors Honor for Nonfiction Lawlor’s This Tender Place: the Story of a Wetland Year (University of Wisconsin Press) chronicles one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world Her work also explores the lives of remarkable women The Fifty-year Friendship between Beethoven and Nannette Streicher Who Built his Pianos; Rachel Carson and her Book that Changed the World winner of the John Burroughs Riverby Award for Excellence in Nature Writing; and Fearless World Traveler which received the Junior Guild Gold Standard Selection Super Women: Six Scientists Who Changed the World profiles pioneers in fields ranging from astronomy to mathematics Learn more about Lawlor and her books here. Book Purchases made through this Amazon link support the New York Almanack’s mission to report new publications relevant to New York State See more new books HERE   Stories written under the Editorial Staff byline are drawn from press releases and other notices. Submit your news to New York Almanack here New York Almanack receives no public funds Please give today (a monthly recurring gift is best) PayPal Venmo Rally.org Patreon Buy Me A Cup of Coffee CashApp Use your bank’s “bill pay” option (or just send a check) Without your support we cannot publish the Almanack (Click the link below to not see this message again) Don't Show Me This Message Again. By Fred Knapp Senior Reporter/Producer Nebraska Public Media Colorado landowners are fighting back against Nebraska’s threat to condemn their land to build the Perkins County Canal – which would bring water to Nebraska Fred Knapp of Nebraska Public Media News went to Colorado to talk to some of the people who own the land Nebraska wants JJ Parker drives his pickup down Sedgwick County Road 28 about five miles south of the Nebraska border JJ is in the fourth generation of Parkers to live on the land signed by Theodore Roosevelt,” Parker tells him Parker points to a meadow where he grows hay to feed his cattle and to sell It's never been anything – it's never been broke up I still have all the stuff – still have all the horse-drawn equipment,” he says But this generation of Parkers may be the last to work the meadow Parker said the state of Nebraska wants to acquire about 38 acres of his land outright to divert water from the South Platte River and begin the Perkins County Canal That’s a project to bring water from Colorado to Nebraska A century-old agreement between the states gives Nebraska the right to get land for the canal in Colorado Parker got a letter giving him 90 days to accept an offer for his land or face the possibility of Nebraska using eminent domain to condemn the land Parker also did not feel Nebraska offered him a reasonable price a lot of us – this going to put us out of the farming business anyway,” he says When asked how he would characterize the way the state of Nebraska has dealt with him “Have you ever been condemned before?" he asked "That's not the greatest thing ever.” He objects to how Nebraska is trying to get land even before it's gotten the environmental permits that it will need for the canal “Taking land from families that have had 100 years on that land when you don't have the key elements of being able to build your project… seems premature and pretty devastating to that family,” Kross says None of them want to sell to Nebraska,” he says and we've hired what we consider to be – and is considered by many people to be – the best attorney in Colorado to fight condemnation and that's what we're intending to do We'll do whatever it takes to fight condemnation.” The deadline to accept Nebraska’s offer or face possible eminent domain proceedings was April 17 I guess we're just – it's kind of a waiting game We don't know what Nebraska is going to do so I guess we'll just wait and see,” he said The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources declined an interview request to talk about where things stand with its land acquisition efforts it said “The Department of Natural Resources is currently in the negotiation phase on a number of property acquisitions related to the Perkins County Canal Project We will not be commenting until such transactions are complete.” another landowner who said Nebraska has talked to him about using his land said the states need to look for a win-win solution "Nebraska and Colorado need to be happy with the end result and there might be more efficient ways to provide Nebraska with water it needs And the gold standard today may not be a canal but it may not be viable in 2025,” he said But Lasater added he doesn’t see any movement in that direction yet “Maybe both sides aren't ready to sit down and carve out Maybe we're still posturing,” he said Nebraska Department of Natural Resources official says Colorado landowners seem uninterested in canal negotiations Train of bills temporarily sidetracked, Perkins diversion heard Colorado official threatens legal action over Perkins County Canal Nebraska seeks Colorado canal land, school choice fight resumes Nebraska moving ahead with Perkins County Canal plans despite Colorado’s concerns Colorado wary of Nebraska’s plans for Perkins County Canal Pillen: 'I'll abandon Perkins Canal if legal costs get too high' Nebraska begins buying Colorado land for Perkins County Canal Get the latest from around Nebraska delivered to your inbox online and mobile platforms.Your support is essential While it remains unclear whether Trump is simply posturing which is less afflicted by territorial disputes than regions such as the Middle East and Asia It shows a willingness to flout treaties and anger allies to further US interests which Trump has falsely said is operating the Panama Canal a narrow passage on the tip of South America between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans Jason Lemon is a Senior Politics Editor at Newsweek based in Brooklyn, New York politics and international affairs. He joined Newsweek in 2018 and had previously worked as an editor at a Middle Eastern media startup called StepFeed He also worked a year as a contributor to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and has bylines in The Christian Science Monitor Al Fanar Media and A Magazine. He is a graduate of the American University of Beirut in Lebanon and Andrews University in Michigan You can get in touch with Jason by emailing j.lemon@newsweek.com either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content President Donald Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Saturday that all U.S ships should be granted free passage through the Panama and Suez canals Newsweek reached out the Panama Canal Authority and Suez Canal Authority by email outside of normal business hours on Saturday evening for comment Before taking office in January to start his second term, Trump said the U.S. could take control of the Panama Canal and Greenland for "national security" purposes. He called former President Jimmy Carter's decision to give control of the canal to Panama "a big mistake...a very big mistake" that "cost us the equivalent of a trillion dollars," and Trump has vowed to "take it back" if necessary The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans offering a shortcut for cargo ships as well as reducing transit times and costs for vessels the Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea and accounts for 10 to 12 percent of global trade "American Ships, both Military and Commercial, should be allowed to travel, free of charge, through the Panama and Suez Canals! Those Canals would not exist without the United States of America. I've asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to immediately take care of Trump and his supporters have continued to criticize fees levied against ships to use the Panama Canal and alleged that China controls the waterway a claim the Panamanian government has denied U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after a call with Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino in February said that the two nations had reached an agreement and Panama would waive fees for U.S but Mulino later denied such a deal existed Hegseth, at the time, reiterated the concerns about Chinese influence around the canal, particularly ports at either end currently controlled by a Hong Kong consortium that announced plans to sell its controlling stake to a group that includes U.S.-based BlackRock Inc U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in February told reporters: "China-based companies continue to control critical infrastructure in the canal area. That gives China the potential to conduct surveillance activities across Panama. This makes Panama and the United States less secure, less prosperous, and less sovereign. And as President Donald Trump has pointed out Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an interview with Fox News in February: "I am very happy that after our visit – I think the same day I was there – Panama became the first country in Latin America to get out of the Belt and Road Initiative And I think there'll be more news coming up soon with regards to Panama – all positive for America." The Panama Canal Authority will likely issue a response to Trump's demand and Rubio will provide an update after he pursues the issue as he has done consistently since taking his role in the administration ET: This article has been updated with additional information Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsweek is committed to journalism that is factual and fair We value your input and encourage you to rate this article Newsletters in your inbox See all (FOX26) — A crash led to the death of a motorcycle rider who was hit by a truck sending the rider and the motorcycle into the canal near Fedora and Maroa Avenues Friday night Officers received a call at around 9:30 p.m of a report of a truck hitting a motorcycle accident at Maroa and Fedora [RELATED]Traffic Accident on North Maroa and E Fedora Avenue They were able to find the truck that was a part of the accident The investigation showed that the motorcycle and the rider had landed in the canal after the collision The assistance of the Fresno Fire Department was able to get the man out of the canal and he was taken to a nearby hospital 21-year-old Bryce Tomlinson of Fresno pronounced dead at the hospital Officers are still investigating what could be attributed to the cause of the accident RESERVE YOUR SPACE is one of the most intriguing destinations in the Mediterranean The region offers spectacular scenery; ancient and Renaissance history and art; and charming towns and villages and discover the rich culture and history of this majestic corner of the world We begin our itinerary by strolling across Venice’s Piazza San Marco as well as the city’s acclaimed art and sculptures We will then discover the historic coastal towns of Croatia and Montenegro home to the ancient palace of Emperor Diocletian one of Europe’s most beautifully preserved medieval cities renowned for its stunning architecture and rich history we venture into Albania and discover Butrint another UNESCO World Heritage Site with Trojan ruins spanning 2,500 years You’ll experience the mythical Greek past where the echoes of the Oracle of Apollo resonate amid olive groves overlooking Itea As we pass through the legendary Corinth Canal — an engineering marvel initiated by Roman Emperor Nero but completed only in 1893 — you’ll feel the weight of history surrounding you A member of W&L’s faculty will accompany the voyage to provide insights into the complex history of this part of the world and expert guest lecturers will also share their knowledge Our cruise vessel will be the state- of-the-art 192-guest Diana a ship that has received high praise from W&L travelers on previous voyages for its elegant accommodations © Copyright 2025 Washington and Lee University and first responders are calling 20-year-old Hunter Koricanek a hero after he was pinned underwater and died while trying to prevent a side-by-side with two people in it from falling into a canal near Vidor Orange County Sheriff Bobby Smith tells KFDM/Fox 4 News his deputies received a call at about 12:20 a.m Sunday reporting an accident involving side-by-side vehicles in a canal near South Terry Road and Concord Street The Sheriff's Office deputies saw a side-by-side halfway submerged in water in a nearby canal south of the roadway had been traveling westbound on the canal when the driver attempted to go around a hole in the ground and the side-by-side slipped into the canal on its right side Hunter jumped out of a side-by-side into the water to attempt to stop the side-by-side from falling into the canal The side-by-side fell into the canal on top of Hunter He was pinned under the water for several minutes before he was removed from underneath the side-by-side Those canals would not exist without the United States of America,” Trump wrote on Truth Social “I’ve asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to immediately take care of built by the United States in 1914 connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans carries about two-fifths of US container traffic each year Trump has repeatedly said earlier that he wants to regain control over the Panama Canal as Panama had violated the agreement by handing over the task of running the canal to China—a claim rejected by both Panama and China Trump posted on social media that the ‘wonderful soldiers of China’ were ‘lovingly Officials in Panama City and Beijing rejected this claim Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino had termed the claim ‘nonsense’ stressing that there was ‘absolutely no Chinese interference’ in the canal Search Companies editorial@fibre2fashion.com President Donald Trump demanded free transit for US ships crossing the Panama and Suez canals arguing that the routes wouldn’t exist without Washington Trump has vowed repeatedly to take control of the Panama Canal over what he calls the unfair treatment of American firms; Panama says the canal’s sovereignty is not in question Trump’s bid for free travel came as Beijing dialed up its scrutiny of a deal for a Hong Kong firm to sell two ports on either side of the canal to a US consortium Sign up for Semafor .css-w8sqnb{text-transform:capitalize;}flagship a chronic and hard-to-treat dental infection affects more than half of the population worldwide and is the leading cause of tooth loss but existing approaches to treat the infection have many limitations that can cause complications a joint research center between Penn Dental Medicine and Penn Engineering that leverages engineering and computational approaches to advance oral and craniofacial healthcare innovation In a paper published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation an FDA-approved iron oxide nanoparticle formulation greatly reduces infection in patients diagnosed with apical periodontitis “This is the first study showing the clinical efficacy of a nanotherapy in the treatment of a severe chronic biofilm infection,” says Hyun (Michel) Koo of Penn Dental Medicine “We previously found that ferumoxytol effectively inhibits pathogenic biofilms in the human mouth so we asked if these same nanoparticles could treat an even more challenging biofilm: those hidden inside the root canal.” sticky communities of bacteria that attach to surfaces and cause recalcitrant infections A protective matrix and the antimicrobial resistance of microbes residing in them make biofilms (like dental plaque) difficult to treat when they form deep in the tooth root canal The small size and antimicrobial efficacy of nanoparticles make them excellent candidates for treating biofilms and the researchers were able to demonstrate that topical applications of ferumoxytol in combination with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) potently disrupt biofilms in multiple experimental models “Ferumoxytol nanozymes—because of their unique catalytic (enzyme-like) activity—offer new and very effective ways to treat biofilm infections,” says David Cormode of Penn Medicine and Penn Engineering “They represent an exciting new type of therapeutic agent since they exhibit novel therapeutic effects while being low-cost and shelf stable.” Currently, sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is the gold standard disinfection solution used during root canals; however, it can cause complications if not contained to the treatment area, explains Bekir Karabucak of Penn Dental Medicine “Effective root canal disinfection is essential for treatment success targeting microbes while preserving tooth structure is challenging Current procedures require mechanical methods and harsh disinfectants to eliminate biofilm infection these solutions can harm surrounding tissues” says Karabucak The researchers treated 44 patients with periapical periodontitis with either ferumoxytol/H2O2 or NaOCl after they underwent standard endodontic surgical procedures; bacterial samples were taken before and after treatment They found that patients who received ferumoxytol/H2O2 achieved a 99.9% reduction in bacterial counts without experiencing any adverse effects demonstrating that this treatment to be a safer and effective alternative to NaOCl they found an unexpected result: nanozymes had a positive effect on a population of stem cells found at the tip of the developing tooth root stimulating their growth and activating them to produce bone—a property known as osteogenic capacity “What started as a simple inquiry into potential toxicity evolved into something revolutionary: a treatment capable of eliminating stubborn biofilms while simultaneously regenerating tissue for healing, which is a novel concept for tissue regeneration through activation of one’s own tissue’s stem cells,” says Chider Chen of Penn Dental Medicine This finding paves the way for investigating the use of ferumoxytol nanozymes in vital pulp therapy a viable alternative in the early stages of disease that prevents patients from going through root canal treatment “Enhancing the success of vital pulp therapy with affordable effective biomaterials can lower dental care costs it helps patients preserve their natural tooth structure and lifelong chewing function,” says Karabucak Nanozymes may also be a promising approach for repairing craniofacial bone defects and treating other bone-related diseases such as osteoporosis given their ability to promote bone growth “Iron oxide nanozymes may be a transformative new class of therapeutics that provides both antibiofilm and tissue regenerative properties offering a regenerative approach to antimicrobial therapy,” he says “The options are limitless: it is biocompatible and can be incorporated in a variety of formulations We are expanding nanozyme use in other aspects of oral health care.” Bekir Karabucak is a professor and chair of the Department of Endodontics in Penn Dental Medicine Chider Chen is an assistant professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Pharmacology in Penn Dental Medicine David Cormode is a professor of radiology and bioengineering with appointments in the Perelman School of Medicine and School of Engineering and Applied Science at Penn and Zhenting Xiang of the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania The work was supported in part by funds from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) (R01DE025848 and NIDCR R21DE033128) and the Department of Endodontics Research Fund ZR was supported by the NIDCR Postdoctoral Training Program (R90DE031532) the ambitious Dakar Greenbelt project seeks to create an extensive network of ecological infrastructure in and around the city to sustainably address environmental concerns and enhance urban life With support from David Gouverneur and Ellen Neises candidate Rob Levinthal in the Weitzman School of Design led two courses that included a field trip to Dakar that culminated in students presenting their visions for parts of the Greenbelt The new Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology boasts adaptable laboratory spaces to support the dynamic needs of pioneering research An artist’s rendering shows Project Nexus in California’s Central Valley The USC-led California Solar Canal Initiative could transform major portions of the state’s 4,000 miles of canals into a powerful source of clean energy and water conservation USC is leading a consortium of research universities to test a bold plan to blanket California’s vast network of canals with solar panels a strategy aimed at tackling two of the state’s most pressing challenges: preserving vital water resources and accelerating the shift to renewable energy without disturbing valuable land The ambitious project — the California Solar Canal Initiative (CSCI) — could maximize the state’s water and energy for the good of the public — and the planet Organized by the Public Exchange at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and the independent advisory firm Solar AquaGrid CSCI is exploring how fitting solar panels over the state’s vast canal network could simultaneously conserve water reduce air pollution and generate renewable energy — all while maximizing the use of existing land and infrastructure The multidisciplinary team of CSCI researchers includes faculty from seven research universities: USC; University of California Irvine; University of California College of the Law San Francisco; San José State University; and University of Kansas The goal is to fast-track the deployment of solar power across the state by identifying prime locations and potential community benefits The team aims to equip decision-makers with the data they need to advance this novel climate solution “This groundbreaking initiative highlights the power of innovation and collaboration to tackle our most urgent climate challenges,” said USC President Carol Folt, who launched Assignment: Earth in 2022 to formalize USC’s commitment to combating climate change through 2028 and beyond “The California Solar Canal Initiative is a testament to our dedication to pioneering bold scalable solutions that advance sustainability and help build a more resilient sustainable future for generations to come.” Folt established sustainability as one of her “moonshots” when she became president of USC in 2019 establishing it as an important objective for the university for both research and education researchers and students will make sustainability a campus value as well as a research and educational objective reduce waste and pollution and preserve the planet researchers hope using existing canal infrastructure can address multiple challenges at once CSCI researchers will assess the potential of “solar canals” to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving energy market remain economically competitive with other renewable energy sources and deliver benefits to local communities The researchers are collaborating closely with the state agencies responsible for water land and energy: the California Department of Water Resources the California Natural Resources Agency and the California Energy Commission academia and private sector experts guides the CSCI research “California is leading the way in exploring innovative solutions to tackle climate change and strengthen our water and energy resilience,” California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot said in a news release from CSCI “We are excited to see top research institutions come together to help deploy solar panels over water canals — a big idea with great potential Science-driven collaborations like this one are critical to guide our path forward.”  “This project embodies a truly holistic approach, carefully balancing economic, environmental and community considerations to achieve sustainable and equitable outcomes,” said Detlof von Winterfeldt a professor of systems engineering at the USC Price School of Public Policy and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering “It’s a blueprint for turning complex challenges into actionable solutions,” said Winterfeldt who is developing CSCI’s comprehensive decision framework The framework will integrate all the research findings into a tool that will provide decision-makers project developers and stakeholders with data and insights to identify the best canal locations for arrays of solar panels “One of the unique aspects of this project is how it brings together diverse disciplines to tackle interconnected issues. It’s not just about water or power; it’s about a range of challenges that require constant communication and collaboration among all teams,” said Santina Contreras an assistant professor of urban planning and spatial analysis at USC Price who leads the community resilience and benefits analysis arm of CSCI Contreras’ team will work closely with community stakeholders to evaluate the impacts of the solar canal project ensuring that the benefits – such as potential water and energy savings – are benefiting the communities that will be impacted by the development of the projects Copyright © 2025 University of Southern California Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Ulreka's journey began humbly and after finishing a technical career she did her career in the Banking Field for over 40 years where she retired from she brightened every room and place she walked in but more than anything her favorite hobby was always the time spent with her family She is survived by her loving daughter Isabel and her son Dr who will forever remember her as a guiding light and a source of unwavering support Her legacy is further carried on by her brothers Francisco Ulreka’s heart swelled with pride for her grandchildren: Beverly (Juan) Tripari Each of them held a special place in her heart and her love for them will forever be imprinted on their lives filled her heart and home with immeasurable joy and warmth Ulreka was preceded in death by her beloved parents as well as her sisters Marta and Isabel Canals Their memory lived on in her stories and in the values she instilled in her family A Celebration of Life will be held for Ulreka on Thursday 2025 at 5:00PM at Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home - Austintown Chapel Arrangements were handled by Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home - Austintown Chapel Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors President Donald Trump called for the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal to provide no-cost transits for all U.S The remarks on Panama reflect his previous statements but this is the first time that Trump has made equivalent demands about access to the Suez Canal.  Trump claimed that the French- and Egyptian-built Suez Canal "would not exist without the United States of America," and said that he has instructed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to "immediately take care of this situation." The remarks drew outrage from Egypt's political class - but not its rulers The Suez Canal was built by French diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps' Compagnie Universelle du Canal Maritime de Suez during the period of the U.S supported by participation from international shareholders and it initially depended upon forced labor and a substantial number of casualties during construction the canal opened in late 1869 and was an immediate commercial success and British troops defended it from attack until Egypt nationalized it in 1956 with new parallel channels for two-way traffic.  traffic accounts for about 10-20 percent of the volume on the Suez Canal and generates fees of $400-700,000 per vessel traffic for the Egyptian government's Suez Canal Authority Waiving these fees would be a significant blow to the SCA's already-reduced finances.  Egyptian commentators have expressed surprise at Trump's demand and have questioned whether the canal's existence depended on the U.S. British and Egyptian operating history.  "[Egypt] refused the presence of any military bases from the Americans and before them the Russians," said Egyptian member of parliament Mahmoud Badr in a social media statement "The Suez Canal was built by Egyptians with their blood and is protected by the Egyptian army." which includes several of the country's political opposition parties accused Trump of "a lack of historical awareness and unacceptable arrogance." "The Egyptian people consider the Suez Canal a red line and will never accept any infringement on Egypt's sovereignty and national security," the group said in a statement "They will follow in the footsteps of their fathers and grandfathers in defending their nation's freedom and territorial integrity." the Suez Canal's traffic levels have fallen drastically due to the Houthi threat in the Red Sea The militant group carried out more than 100 attacks and caused two sinkings off Yemen in 2024; merchant shipping is now taking a cautious approach to the Suez route and traffic on the canal has fallen by 60 percent since 2023 The Houthis' stated objective - a Gaza ceasefire - briefly occurred with U.S support in January; Israel ended that ceasefire in March has turned to an intensive campaign of airstrikes to suppress the Houthis' capacity to interfere with shipping this campaign would benefit Egypt and the Suez Canal Metrics details Revealing the evolutionary processes which resulted in the derived morphologies that characterize the Neanderthal clade has been an important task for paleoanthropologists One critical method to quantify evolutionary changes in the morphology of hominin populations is through evaluating morphological phenotypic diversity (i.e. disparity) in phylogenetically informative bones as a close proxy to neutral evolutionary processes The goal of this study is to quantify the degree of disparity in the Neanderthal clade We hypothesize that a reduction in bony labyrinth disparity is indicative of the underlying genetic variation resulting from bottleneck events We apply a deformation-based geometric morphometric approach to investigate semicircular canal and vestibule shape of a chronologically broad sample of individuals belonging to the Neanderthal lineage Our results identify a significant reduction in disparity after the start of Marine Isotope Stage 5 supporting our hypothesis of a late bottleneck possibly leading to the derived morphology of Late Pleistocene Neanderthals Background satellite image was downloaded from © Mapbox © Maxar and rescaled to fit to figure panel size b–e Three-dimensional models of the left semicircular canal and vestibule of selected individuals for the four groups considered in the present study DMorph was used on the semicircular canal shape of three samples that encapsulate the chronological and geographical distribution of the European and Western Asian Neanderthal clade Two relatively large and chronologically constrained samples—a Middle Pleistocene population from Sima de los Huesos and a late Middle Pleistocene population from Krapina—and a spatially and chronologically heterogeneous sample of late Neanderthal individuals The latter was designed to maximize the morphological variation for Late Pleistocene Neanderthals sapiens sample comprised of extant Europeans and two Upper Paleolithic modern humans (Cro-Magnon 1 and Laugerie-Basse) We conceived four scenarios (Fig. 2) for the variation of the Neanderthal clade throughout its evolution, with a variable number of potential bottlenecks in phenotypic diversity: a Scenario #1: no occurrence of bottleneck events; b Scenario #2: occurrence of an early bottleneck event between Sima de lo Huesos and Krapina populations; c Scenario #3: occurrence of a late bottleneck event after population of Krapina and before late Neanderthals; d Scenario #4: occurrence of both an early and late bottleneck events The horizontal line is a schematic representation of time with earlier occurring groups on the left and later occurring ones on the right The thickness of the horizontal bars corresponds to the suggested phenetic variation Colors are coded as follows: blue = Sima de los Huesos; purple = Krapina; green = late Neanderthals Scenario #1: No bottleneck events (Fig. 2a) we predict that there would not be a clear morphological break in the fossil record either (1) after the estimated age of the Sima de los Huesos and prior to the onset of a fully derived Neanderthal morphology or (2) between the estimated age of Krapina and late Neanderthals and late Neanderthal samples should show similar levels of morphological variation (i.e. Sima de los Huesos population ≈ Krapina population ≈ late Neanderthals) This scenario is consistent with a fully anagenetic accretion model Scenario #3: Late bottleneck event (Fig. 2c). If a bottleneck occurred after the estimated age of Krapina and prior to that of late Neanderthals (Fig. 2c) we predict that the variation in the Sima de los Huesos and Krapina populations should be greater than in late Neanderthals (i.e. Sima de los Huesos population ≈ Krapina population > late Neanderthals) This scenario would represent a variant of the two-phase model with a bottleneck event occurring later in time Scenario #4: Early and late bottleneck events (Fig. 2d) If both early and late bottleneck events occurred we predict a significant decline in variation both (1) after the estimated age of the Sima de los Huesos and prior to that of Krapina as well as (2) between the estimated age of the Krapina and that of late Neanderthals (i.e. Sima de los Huesos > Krapina > late Neanderthals) drift and/or extinction) would be the main driver of the Neanderthal clade evolution and it would be compatible with an accretion model where Neanderthal features become fixed in the population through time reaching their highest frequency in late Neanderthals we use a similar approach and measure the morphological disparity in the semicircular canal and vestibule of Neanderthal clade groups to use it as a proxy for their underlying genetic diversity Results highlight a high morphological disparity in the Middle Pleistocene and show the presence of a phenotypic bottleneck within the Neanderthal lineage after the estimated age of Krapina No reductions are instead identified at earlier stages as postulated based on an organismic model of evolution Differences in vestibular system shape also hint at the possible presence of local evolution in the analyzed Middle Pleistocene paleodemes Modern humans show tighter clustering than the Neanderthal clade groups as a whole in the multidimensional shape space (PC1-4; Fig. 3) thus occupying a smaller hypervolume of the morphospace with their convex hull (modern humans = 42.84; Neanderthal clade = 237.05) This is an expected result as the latter covers a broader chronological and geographical range besides two individuals from the Late Pleistocene (Cro-Magnon 1 and Laugerie-Basse) belong to a recent European-only population late Neanderthals show the smallest variation (hypervolume = 5.17) despite differences in age and geographical provenance Krapina individuals are more variable along these PCs (hypervolume = 7.85) whereas Sima de los Huesos humans are even more diverse (hypervolume = 19.29) thus excluding sex as the driver of the increased morphological variance of the Krapina population the disparity pattern observed within the Neanderthal lineage demonstrates that Krapina individuals were more variable than Sima de los Huesos humans thus contradicting our Scenario #2 that a bottleneck event occurred early in the evolution of the Neanderthal clade between the Sima de los Huesos and Krapina populations we cannot rule out the possibility of a temporary decline in population size and genetic diversity within the Neanderthal clade which could have then rapidly recovered before Krapina This instead must be tested with the inclusion of additional Middle Pleistocene individuals (e.g. although the overall limited number of specimens for this time range might partially hinder a proper assessment Additional insights into population dynamics and their role in shaping the morphological diversity distribution observed here could be obtained by analyzing the variation of western Asian Neanderthals (Shanidar which were unfortunately not available for the present analysis we find no evidence of a similar bottleneck during MIS 8-6 as previously proposed under an organismic model of evolution the evidence provided by semicircular canal shape variation suggests the need to reconsider the scenario for the origin and evolution of the Neanderthal clade and highlights the role played by population structure It also suggests that paleodemes might have started to locally evolve and diverge more frequently than previously understood posing the possibility that some of them (i.e. Krapina individuals) might not have a direct phyletic relationship with later Neanderthal populations No relevant ethical regulations were required for the present study This module minimizes the distances between the triangles composing the meshes using an iterative process that translates and scales the 3D object in a similar way to Procrustes superimposition The aligned.PLY files were then converted to.VTK format in the opensource software ParaView v.5.6.0 (Kitware) Further information on research design is available in the Nature Portfolio Reporting Summary linked to this article The R code and the metadata used to perform the analyses described and discussed in the main text and supplementary material is available in Supplementary Code 1 Reconstructing the genetic history of late Neanderthals The evolutionary history of Neanderthal and Denisovan Y chromosomes Evidence for Neandertal jewelry: modified white-tailed eagle claws at Krapina A rock engraving made by Neanderthals in Gibraltar Unearthing Neanderthal population history using nuclear and mitochondrial DNA from cave sediments A high-coverage Neandertal genome from Vindija Cave in Croatia Nuclear DNA sequences from the Middle Pleistocene Sima de los Huesos hominins Dental evolutionary rates and its implications for the Neanderthal-modern human divergence A mitochondrial genome sequence of a hominin from Sima de los Huesos Neandertal roots: Cranial and chronological evidence from Sima de los Huesos The Atapuerca sites and their contribution to the knowledge of human evolution in Europe The Sima de los Huesos crania (Sierra de Atapuerca The Neandertal nature of the Atapuerca Sima de los Huesos mandibles The status of Homo heidelbergensis (Schoetensack 1908) Mapping interactions of Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens from the fossil and genetic records Brain development after birth differs between Neanderthals and modern humans On the phylogenetic position of the pre-Neandertal specimen from Reilingen New age estimates for the Swanscombe hominid and their significance for human evolution Homo antecessor: The state of the art eighteen years later Evolution of Homo in the Middle and Late Pleistocene Resolving the “muddle in the middle”: The case for Homo bodoensis sp The accretion model of Neandertal evolution In: Neandertals and Modern Humans in Western Asia (eds On the character of Neandertal occupation of northern environments Inquiries into Neanderthal craniofacial development and evolution: “accretion” versus “organismic” models In: Neanderthals Revisited: New Approaches and Perspectives (eds Tempo and mode in the Neandertal evolutionary lineage: A structuralist approach to mandible variation Targeted retrieval and analysis of five Neandertal mtDNA genomes Skeletal anomalies in the Neandertal family of El Sidron (Spain) support a role of inbreeding in Neandertal extinction A high-coverage Neandertal genome from Chagyrskaya Cave Nuclear DNA from two early Neandertals reveals 80,000 years of genetic continuity in Europe Virtual excavation and analysis of the early Neanderthal cranium from Altamura (Italy) climatic instability and population demography in Middle Pleistocene Europe Living on the edge: Was demographic weakness the cause of Neanderthal demise Partial genetic turnover in neandertals: continuity in the East and population replacement in the West Long genetic and social isolation in Neanderthals before their extinction Recurrent gene flow between Neanderthals and modern humans over the past 200,000 years The genome of the offspring of a Neanderthal mother and a Denisovan father Pleistocene sediment DNA reveals hominin and faunal turnovers at Denisova Cave The complete genome sequence of a Neanderthal from the Altai Mountains Early history of Neanderthals and Denisovans Ancient gene flow from early modern humans into Eastern Neanderthals Issues from Neandertal genomics: Diversity adaptation and hybridisation revised from the El Sidrón case study A high-coverage genome sequence from an archaic Denisovan individual Early modern human diversity suggests subdivided population structure and a complex out-of-Africa scenario A Pliocene-Pleistocene stack of 57 globally distributed benthic δ18O records Genetic determinants of phenotypic diversity in humans Ruminant inner ear shape records 35 million years of neutral evolution The effect of ancient population bottlenecks on human phenotypic variation Genomic and cranial phenotype data support multiple modern human dispersals from Africa and a southern route into Asia A new partial temporal bone of a juvenile hominin from the site of Kromdraai B (South Africa) Reassessment of the phylogenetic relationships of the late Miocene apes Hispanopithecus and Rudapithecus based on vestibular morphology The evolution of the vestibular apparatus in apes and humans A comparative analysis of the vestibular apparatus in Epipliopithecus vindobonensis: phylogenetic implications Human bony labyrinth is an indicator of population history and dispersal from Africa Comparative review of the human bony labyrinth Three-dimensional geometric morphometric analysis of the bony labyrinth of Xujiayao 6 A late Neanderthal associated with Upper Palaeolithic artefacts Brief communication: Investigation of the semicircular canal variation in the Krapina Neandertals The bony labyrinth of the middle Pleistocene Sima de los Huesos hominins (Sierra de Atapuerca Geometric morphometric analysis of the bony labyrinth of the Sima de los Huesos hominins The bony labyrinth in the Aroeira 3 Middle Pleistocene cranium New Middle Pleistocene hominin cranium from Gruta da Aroeira (Portugal) Morphometry of anatomical shape complexes with dense deformations and sparse parameters Shifting spaces: Which disparity or dissimilarity measurement best summarize occupancy in multidimensional spaces Disparities in the analysis of morphological disparity In: Evolutionary Developmental Biology (eds de la Rosa N Hominoid intraspecific cranial variation mirrors neutral genetic diversity A cross-population study of sexual dimorphism in the bony labyrinth Sexual dimorphism of the bony labyrinth: A new age-independent method Can bony labyrinth dimensions predict biological sex in archaeological samples Sexual differences in European Neanderthal crania with special reference to the Krapina remains Biomechanics of the semicircular canals and otolith organs Semicircular Duct Dimensions and Sensitivity of the Vertebrate Vestibular System Dimensional analysis and dynamic response characterization of mammalian peripheral vestibular structures Assessing morphology and function of the semicircular duct system: introducing new in-situ visualization and software toolbox 3D enamel thickness in Neandertal and modern human permanent canines Exploring the biomechanics of taurodontism Mandibular molar root morphology in Neanderthals and Late Pleistocene and recent Homo sapiens introducing a comprehensive geometric morphometric approach Temporal labyrinths of eastern Eurasian Pleistocene humans et al The Hofmeyr bony labyrinth: Morphological description and affinity In: Hofmeyr: A Late Pleistocene Human Skull from South Africa (ed The bony labyrinth of Qafzeh 25 Homo sapiens from Israel Evolutionary trends in the temporal bone in the Neandertal lineage: A comparative study between the Sima de los Huesos (Sierra de Atapuerca) and Krapina samples The primate semicircular canal system and locomotion Cranial discrete traits in the Middle Pleistocene humans from Sima de los Huesos (Sierra de Atapuerca Does hypostosis represent any increase in “ontogenetic stress” along the Neanderthal lineage Luminescence dating and palaeomagnetic age constraint on hominins from Sima de los Huesos Insights from a quantitative genetic approach to human morphological evolution The Last Interglacial–Glacial cycle (MIS 5–2) re-examined based on long proxy records from central and northern Europe The influence of climatic variability on morphological integration Deeply divergent archaic mitochondrial genome provides lower time boundary for African gene flow into Neanderthals Insights from genomes into the evolutionary importance and prevalence of hybridization in nature Hybridization increases population variation during adaptive radiation Merging morphological and genetic evidence to assess hybridization in Western Eurasian late Pleistocene hominins Patterns of coding variation in the complete exomes of three Neandertals Impact of the last interglacial climate change on ecosystems and Neanderthals behavior at Baume Moula-Guercy The Neanderthal niche space of Western Eurasia 145 ka to 30 ka ago A genetic analysis of the Gibraltar Neanderthals The cochlea of the Sima de los Huesos hominins (Sierra de Atapuerca Spain): New insights into cochlear evolution in the genus Homo The ear of the Sima de los Huesos hominins (Atapuerca Krapina 1: A juvenile Neandertal from the early late Pleistocene of Croatia Variation and characteristics of the cranial vault thickness in the Krapina and Western European Neandertals In: La Chapelle-aux-Saints et la préhistoire en Corrèze (eds Y.) Association pour la Recherche Archéologique en Limousin (1990) Dating the Middle Paleolithic deposits of La Quina Amont (Charente A multi-method luminescence dating of the Palaeolithic sequence of La Ferrassie based on new excavations adjacent to the La Ferrassie 1 and 2 skeletons Pluridisciplinary evidence for burial for the La Ferrassie 8 Neandertal child Reevaluating the timing of Neanderthal disappearance in Northwest Europe Thermoluminescence dates for the Neanderthal burial site at Kebara in Israel TL Dates for the Neanderthal Site of the Amud Cave Human bony labyrinth dataset: Co-registered CT and micro-CT images An Early Gravettian cultural attribution for the human fossils from the Cro-Magnon rock shelter (Les Eyzies-de-Tayac Datation de vestiges humains présumés du Paléolithique Supérieur par la méthode du carbone 14 en spectrometry de masse par accélérateur Quantitative assessment of the lumbar spinal canal by computed tomography Deformetrica 4: an open-source software for statistical shape analysis Deep evolutionary roots of strepsirrhine primate labyrinthine morphology RStudio: Integrated Development for R (2023) R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing R Foundation for Statistical Computing (2023) Chapter 9 - Morpho and Rvcg – Shape analysis in r: r-packages for geometric morphometrics In: Statistical Shape and Deformation Analysis (eds and environmental correlates of human temporal bone variation function and shape diversification in the inner ear of platyrrhine primates dispRity: A modular R package for measuring disparity Tracking modern human population history from linguistic and cranial phenotype Download references This publication is part of R + D + I projects PID2020-116908GB-I00 and PID2021-122355NB-C31 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/FEDER Research has also been funded by the Generalitat de Catalunya/CERCA Programme and a Margarita Salas postdoctoral fellowship funded by the European Union NextGenerationEU (A.U.) We are grateful to Antoine Balzeau and Dominique Grimaud Hervé for providing access to the La Ferrassie to Israel Hershkovitz and Julia Abramov for the access to Amud and Kebara individuals We would also like to thank Clément Zanolli and David M Alba for the constructive discussion about Neanderthal and bony labyrinth morphology evolution Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP-CERCA) Cátedra de Otoacústica Evolutiva y Paleoantropología (HM Hospitales-UAH) Julia Diez-Valero & Mercedes Conde-Valverde Centro Mixto (UCM-ISCIII) de Evolución y Comportamiento Humanos designed research and performed the analyses; I.M. conducted fieldwork and directed the acquisition of digital images for Sima de los Huesos; A.U. performed the segmentations and reconstruction of the microCT scans; R.Q. contributed to the interpretation of the results; A.U. wrote the paper with input from all other authors The authors declare no competing interests : Nature Communications thanks Zach Cofran and Hugo Reyes-Centeno for their contribution to the peer review of this work Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56155-8 Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science — Neighbors in Martin County want to sound the alarm about erosion along the banks of a canal they said could impact their homes Kyle Hilliker from Hobe Sound showed WPTV's Tyler Hatfield how his yard is being eroded away by a canal behind his home in Heritage Ridge North "We used to be able to walk around my deck and now we gotta swim around it," said Hilliker Hilliker moved into his home near the canal with his family seven years ago and he said the erosion is getting worse "Anytime you get moving water or heavy rain you're seeing more and more of the erosion," said Hilliker WPTV first met Hilliker when he came to our Let's Hear It event in Stuart He told WPTV he's worried his property could be impacted "All it could take is one good heavy downpour and who knows that bank could wash away," said Hilliker Jenny Fread has been living along the canal for around 22 years and said she must move her flower bed constantly because of what she sees "I’m so afraid that I'm not going to have a backyard," said Fread The county told WPTV they've reviewed the area in person in 2021 and 2024 They added they reviewed aerial time lapse photos from 1954 to 2024 concluding there's "little to no change," but will continue to monitor the area Fread and Hilliker have both seen the photos and heard the same response "I have this fear that if we get really big rains then it's going to erode more,” said Fread “And I’m not even going to have a flower bed." 2025 (Bloomberg) –President Donald Trump called for “free of charge” passage of American ships through the Panama and Suez canals While Trump began pushing for an exit of Chinese port operators around the Panama Canal soon after returning to the White House in January, the post on his Truth Social network on Saturday also turned attention to the Suez Canal which cuts through Egypt to link the Mediterranean and the Red Sea “Those Canals would not exist without the United States of America,” Trump said adding that he’s asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to “immediately take care of” the situation Trump’s focus — with tariffs and other measures, such as proposed fees at US ports — has been on Chinese commercial shipping and shipbuilding, with the ultimate goal of promoting a revival of US shipbuilding The US government argues that China’s dominance in ship construction was achieved unfairly and harms US interests has shriveled since the 1980s due to subsidy cuts and foreign competition Read Also: U.S. and Panama Agree to Counter Chinese Influence in Panama Canal Sign up for gCaptain’s newsletter and never miss an update and updates delivered daily straight to your inbox 2025 (Bloomberg) –Kyiv detained a ship it says was part of Moscow’s “shadow fleet” which illegally exports grain from areas of Ukraine occupied by Russian forces... Container shippings is experiencing significant disruptions as continued blank sailings on Transpacific routes reach unprecedented levels amid escalating trade tensions between the United States and China Container freight spot rates maintained their downward trajectory this week as tariff uncertainty continued to plague the transpacific market and demand elsewhere failed to match supply Subscribe to gCaptain Daily and stay informed with the latest global maritime and offshore news Stay informed with the latest maritime and offshore news For general inquiries and to contact us,please email: [email protected] To submit a story idea or contact our editors, please email: [email protected] For advertising opportunities contactEmail: [email protected]Phone: +1.805.704.2536 Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe A  lot of my readers think that Braavos was inspired by Venice and if I had a bucket list it would be right up near the top… but so far I have never found the time was certainly inspired in part by the Doge… but there’s some of Prague in Braavos too along with some things that were purely imaginary Did you know that Amsterdam has more canals than Venice when I visited Amsterdam for the first time   I liked what I saw of the Netherlands before the con and the magnificent fireworks display we happened to run into at the Hague… but it was Amsterdam that I fell in love with Great art in world class museums (the Rijkmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum among them) all the history on display in the Maritime Museum the coffee houses and “coffee” houses of the old red light district the beer in the medieval taverns and sidewalk cafes the tall narrow houses with their pointed roofs the houseboats along the canals…  Day or night One of the museums that I had missed on my previous visits to Amsterdam was the Anne Frank House I made certain that we did not miss it this time   I had read Anne Frank’s diary many decades ago when I was not much older than she had been when she died and of course  I knew the broad outlines of World War II and the Holocaust… but standing in that house slipping through the bookcase into the secret rooms where Anne and her family hid during the last years of their lives… there was something profound and moving about that   It is one thing to read of camps and trains of millions shipped off and millions starved and gassed and killed… but the story of Anne Frank and her family a story full of hope that ends in death… there’s a power to it that goes beyond all the statistics that brings home the humanity of Anne and all the others who died in a way no history book can match   There’s often a long line in front of the Anne Frank House and the wait can sometimes be lengthy… but it is worth it   You will leave there sadder than when you entered… but wiser too as you contemplate all the horror and heroism of which the human race is capable My visit to Amsterdam was not all about museums and sightseeing and Indonesian food; our summer trip combined business and pleasure as almost all my travel has for the past couple of decades    It had been a decade or more since I last met with my Dutch editors and publishers and my agents and I agreed that it was past time   So my first stop was at the offices of Luitingh-Sijthoff my editors took us out for a lovely dinner at an outdoor cafe a book reviewer… and Melisandre of Asshai Our lodgings in Amsterdam were at the Hotel De L’Europe a glorious old luxury hotel in the heart of the city some fine restaurants… and balconies on many of the suites many a night I found myself unable to sleep after my minions had headed off to bed and sat looking out on the moonlit city while I mulled life and art and the woes of the world   It was a welcome respite from all the conflict that I had been dealing with for the past half year The best thing about the hotel was its location   Sid booked us a cruise on a canal boat one afternoon   We got a private boat just big enough for the three of us rather than one of the long glassed-in supper boats crowded with tourists and for close to three hours we wound our way through the waterways of the city is nothing at all like Amsterdam… but for my most of my childhood we lived in the projects on First Street right across from Brady’s Dock and the deep waters of the Kill Von Kull where the big freighters made their way from New York to Newark One of these days I need to write that story about Braavos we were developing for HBO   They shelved that one a couple of years back but that does not mean I won’t go back to it… after WINDS OF WINTER is done Maybe then I will have enough free time to visit Amsterdam again This blog is the only place for official communication from George R.R. Martin. For press inquiries, please contact David Moench Another white school bus has appeared at South Venice Boulevard overlooking the Venicecanals as this permanently parked vehicle has been in the same spot for several months according to numerous local sources.  The vehicle has no license plates or tags and has not been ticketed for street sweeping.  There was another white school bus that was parked at Fourth that was removed by city officials as it was determined no one was actually residing in the vehicle but was being used as a storage facility on wheels by the owner.  This is another stretch of parking by the beach that was overwhelmed by RVs It was one of the major cleanups by city officials back in 2023 when Councilwoman Traci Park (CD-11) and Mayor Karen Bass assumed office.  These pictures were taken earlier this week by an area resident and shared with us.  Venice will continue to monitor this particular stretch of street for any repopulation of encampments and RVs Nick Antonicello is a thirty-two-year resident of the neighborhood who exclusively monitors the encampment and RV crisis on the streets of Venice Open houses for the property are scheduled to begin May 6 A rare stretch of undeveloped property along the Venice.. US president Donald Trump has called for free passage of American ships through two of the vital shipping waterways Trump said in a social media post on Saturday that American ships adding that the two routes “would not exist” without the US and that he had asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to “immediately take care of” the situation The Panama Canal in Central America connects the Pacific and the Atlantic The Suez Canal in the Middle East links the Mediterranean to the Red Sea The Trump administration has repeatedly insisted that the US will take back control of the Panama Canal in Central America and which he claims to be under China’s influence The US largely built the canal in the 1900s and administered the territory surrounding the passage for decades Washington handed control of the waterway to Panama in 1999 under a treaty signed in 1977 under President Jimmy Carter after a period of joint administration An estimated 5% of global seaborne trade sails through the artificial 82-km waterway in an average year The shortcut dramatically reduces the time for ships to travel between the two oceans enabling them to avoid the route around the southernmost tip of South America via the Drake Passage or Strait of Magellan It helps move roughly $270bn worth of cargo annually including about 40% of all US container traffic said during a recent visit to Panama City that the US was seeking a deal under which its warships could pass through the canal “first and free” He also floated the idea of US troops returning to Panama to “secure” its strategically vital canal Trump’s demand on the Suez route —a major economic lifeline for Egypt delivering billions in revenue and a vital shipping artery— represents a new shift of focus The 193-km link between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean attracted about 12% to 15% of worldwide trade and about 30% of global container traffic before attacks by Yemen’s Houthis on shipping routes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden The Red Sea crisis saw Egypt’s revenue stream from the operation plunge by more than 50% as ships started taking a long detour around the southern tip of Africa The US has been attacking Houthis since January last year and that campaign has intensified under Trump who has pledged to pressure the Iran-backed militants until they are no longer a threat to shipping Those Canals would not exist without the United States of America I’ve asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to immediately take care of “the two routes “would not exist” without the US” or many other maritime nations The USA itself “would not exist” without the UK or France The United States makes itself contemptible trying to run a protection racket They should be bright yellow so they are visible in the ocea.. Don't have an account? The first solar-over-canal project in California Plans are now in the works to expand the technology to other areas A groundbreaking initiative led by faculty from seven top research universities aims to accelerate the deployment of solar arrays over California's extensive canal network According to a 2021 UC Merced study published in Nature Sustainability covering large sections of the state's 4,000 miles of canals with arrays of solar panels could help conserve water and generate clean energy using existing land and infrastructure A pilot effort, Project Nexus is being built over Turlock Irrigation District canals to test the theory The pilot is funded by the state of California and is a public-private-academic partnership between Turlock Irrigation District UC Merced and the California Department of Water Resources TID General Manager Brad Koehn said the panels on the initial phase of Project Nexus have started to generate electricity The California Solar Canal Initiative (CSCI) research project aims to accelerate the use of solar power across the state by equipping government agencies community members and other interested parties with data on optimal locations and identifying willing host communities Led by the University of Southern California (USC) Dornsife Public Exchange and independent advisor Solar AquaGrid  CSCI researchers will collaborate with the state agencies responsible for water and land: California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and California Natural Resource Agency (CNRA) “California is leading the way in exploring innovative solutions to tackle climate change and strengthen our water and energy resilience,” said CNRA Secretary Wade Crowfoot “We are excited to see top research institutions come together to help deploy solar panels over water canals — a big idea with great potential ...” CSCI researchers will evaluate solar canals' potential to address the needs of a rapidly changing energy market compete with other distributed-solar projects enhance current canal operations and maintenance procedures navigate existing water and land regulations and provide numerous benefits to communities where projects are developed USC Dornsife Public Exchange has assembled a multidisciplinary research team that includes faculty from USC San Jose State University and the University of Kansas The CSCI research is guided by an advisory council of experts from government academia and the private sector to ensure its outcomes are actionable Environmental Policy Center and Stanford Water in the West the California Solar Canal Summit was held in Sacramento with research faculty state agencies and community partners in attendance While not all canals are suitable for solar installations, the UC Merced study, led by project scientist Brandi McKuin estimated that covering all 4,000 miles of California's exposed canals with solar panels could generate enough electricity to power about 2 million homes each year conserve enough water to supply up to 2 million homes annually and reduce land use by placing solar arrays on developed land “We hypothesized that putting solar panels over canals would have multiple benefits,” McKuin said in a video promoting Project Nexus The study indicated that covering significant portions of canals could provide benefits beyond power and water including conserving up to 50,000 acres of land and habitat by placing solar arrays over existing infrastructure; lowering maintenance costs by shading the canals which reduces weed and algae growth in the canals; enhancing the efficiency of the solar panels due to the cooling effect of the water below; and creating local jobs to install and maintain the systems emphasizing the continued need to conserve water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while meeting the state's increasing energy needs CSCI represents the next step in the state's commitment to exploring solar canal deployment to meet its 2045 clean energy goals and 30x30 conservation commitment Find out what happens to your brain when you get a concussion and why you might want to think twice before signing your kid up for certain sports Author and UC Riverside creative writing professor Susan Straight identifies 1,001 novels that highlight the American experience across generations and cultures The University of California opened its doors in 1869 with just 10 faculty members and 40 students the UC system has more than 295,000 students and 265,000 faculty and staff with 2.0 million alumni living and working around the world USC Price University of Southern California Facing severe droughts and other threats posed by climate change California policymakers must find ways to conserve water and generate clean energy that doesn’t pollute the air Two researchers from the USC Price School of Public Policy are examining a possible solution to both problems both where they make sense and where they don’t.  Solar canals have the potential to produce several benefits: reducing evaporation of vital water conserving land by using existing infrastructure and generating electricity more sustainably The projects could also provide economic benefits to the communities where solar canals are built.  “As these big environmental questions continue to come up it requires thinking about them from different viewpoints and gives us the chance to come up with holistic solutions,” Contreras said “The interesting thing about the solar canals project is that it inherently has a little bit of that already because it can potentially address two issues That’s what has attracted people to it: Could we get more bang for our buck and other stakeholders with an analysis and an online decision-making tool to help identify the ideal locations for solar canals across the state The initiative’s academic experts will research five areas in phases over the coming years including: data for scaling the technology The latter part will be led by von Winterfeldt the initiative’s principal investigator who is tasked with building an overarching framework to identify priority locations for solar deployments and locations where solar may not be suitable An expert in decision analysis and environmental policy von Winterfeldt used similar frameworks in the past to analyze decisions involving multiple criteria and stakeholders.  Tiberti Chair of Ethics and Decision Making at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering is identifying and interviewing stakeholders related to solar canals that indigenous tribes along the canals may have concerns or operational challenges to cleaning canals with solar panel covers “We are interviewing stakeholders partly because you want to make sure that all of the concerns are covered,” said von Winterfeldt Executive Director at the USC Center for Sustainability Solutions before you go through licensing and all the bureaucratic things.” an expert in environmental planning and community engagement is part of the  group analyzing community resilience and benefits She and colleagues will evaluate how solar canal projects’ impacts and benefits are distributed among communities and how they can be designed to support underserved and disadvantaged communities.  but potential questions include whether construction of the canals can bring jobs and other economic benefits to the communities where they’re built – or if the projects will bring noise “The larger exercise is thinking about what those things are and then thinking about whether there are ways we can distribute positives that bring additional benefits for some of these spaces,” Contreras said.  The statewide project is even giving Contreras the chance to work with a familiar face: David Feldman a Professor at UC Irvine who was on Contreras’ PhD committee “It’s been interesting and fun to see how all of these experts across the state are being pulled together to work on this topic,” she said Professor of Industrial & Systems Engineering and Policy Tiberti Chair in Ethics and Decision Making Subscribe © 2025 University of Southern California Thailand has been known to reinvent itself and the history of its canals is an excellent example of that