Can't get there from here

The Blue Ridge Parkway is still closed to traffic, as is the Mt. Mitchell State Park, since damages from Hurricane Helene haven't yet been repaired to various roads...maybe next year. So here's a memory of a visit from the Way-Back-Machine, through my old blog Living in Black Mountain. 

View from picnic area on Mt. Mitchell, 2010

Today's quote:

What is Art any way?

When I think of how hopelessly unable I am to answer that question I can not help feeling like a farce… I'll lose what little self respect I have — unless I can in some way solve the problem a little — give myself some little answer to it. 

 Georgia O'Keefe

Our area which was devastated by Hurricane Helene, has now been doing something to train people to be able to help their neighbors. Here's the article about that...

Lessons in Survival.

And some Good news:

 Texas Republicans were blocked from passing their new redistricting plan—at least for now—after dozens of Democrats left the state in protest.

In a huge victory for solar power, the California Supreme Court unanimously ruled that state regulators were given undue deference in deciding to roll back rooftop solar credits for homeowners, reversing an appeals court ruling that upheld the regulators' decision.

The National Weather Service will hire back 450 meteorologists, hydrologists, and radar technicians, months after being hit by DOGE-related staffing cuts.

A first-of-its-kind city-funded shelter for trans and gender non-conforming people experiencing homelessness has opened in New York City. Located in Long Island City, the shelter is managed by LGBTQIA+ non-profit Destination Tomorrow and is named Ace’s Place, in honor of the founder’s late mother.⁠

The Third District Court of Appeals in Miami, FL upheld an earlier ruling by a Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge declaring that the city of Miami had no legal authority to postpone its November election until 2026 without voter approval.

King County, WA passed a ballot measure to renew a fund that expands parks and wild spaces.

Rhode Island Democrat Stefano Famiglietti won a landslide victory in his Senate District 4 race, winning over 80% of the vote – a 56-point greater margin than the top of the ticket’s victory in this district in November 2024.

In Delaware Democrat Alonna Berry defeated GOP nominee Nikki Miller in a special election for a state house seat.

ICE officers are no longer allowed to identify themselves as local police or use deceptive tactics during home arrests in Southern California, following a court-approved settlement reached in a class action lawsuit.

A federal judge has thrown out a defamation lawsuit filed by Devin Nunes—former congressman and current CEO of Trump Media—against NBC Universal over a comment made by MSNBC host Rachel Maddow.

The House Oversight Committee has officially issued the Epstein files subpoena. The Trump DOJ must now release the files by August 19.

A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from reallocating $4 billion meant to help communities protect against natural disasters.

The Gates Foundation announced a new $2.5 billion commitment meant “to accelerate research and development focused exclusively on women’s health.”

A philanthropist gave 500 free bikes to youth in Milwaukee to help them bike to school and around their community.

Jen Pawol became the first woman to umpire in Major League Baseball this weekend when she worked games between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves.

A federal judge said the construction of “Alligator Alcatraz” in Florida must stop for 14 days while she considers arguments that building and operating the immigration detention facility would harm the environment.

Global fur production has collapsed.

Overall crime in the U.S. declined last year, with both violent and property crimes reaching their lowest levels in years.

ICE released Purdue University student Yeonsoo Go, who was abruptly arrested after leaving her visa hearing last week and then detained in Louisiana.

A new law in Illinois will require all public schools to offer third- through 12th-grade students a free, optional mental health screening once a year.

Arrests by U.S. immigration agents dropped by nearly 20% in July.

Missouri is building a nearly 300-mile-long butterfly trail to attract monarchs and tourism.

The Long Beach Public Library is opening up its e-book library so teens from other states can read banned books.

The leading professional association for gynecologists is cutting financial ties with the federal government rather than adhere to Trump administration policies that it says prevent it from providing evidence-based guidance.

Volunteers in South Carolina are building and installing hundreds of manufactured reefs to restore Kiawah Island’s coastline. One of the area’s “most critical ecosystems,” the watershed marsh provides a buffer to storm surges and increased tides, a habitat for marine life, and water filtration.

​Online bookselling platform Bookshop.org saw 65% growth in the first six months of 2025.

The U.S. Department of Defense said it will continue sharing key satellite data for hurricane forecasts, reversing its original plans to stop providing it by the end of July.

A new Gallup poll released this week finds more Americans identify as Democrats or independents who lean toward the Democratic Party (46%) than Republicans or Republican-leaners (43%). This is a 3 point increase since the beginning of the year.

DuPont and two other companies will settle environmental claims concerning PFAS, commonly referred to as "forever chemicals," and pay New Jersey up to $2 billion. It’s the largest settlement of its kind in the state’s history.

Immigration arrest rates in California are far below the rates of arrests in red states. The Los Angeles Times attributes this to sanctuary laws, community resistance, and rapid response networks. Obviously these rates are still way too high, but nice work keeping them lower than they would otherwise have been, CA!

As the Trump administration ends 988 crisis line support for LGBTQ+ individuals, members of a Michigan-based nonprofit are stepping in, offering support and resources to trans youth and their family members with a revamped hotline run by parents with trans children.

New research reveals that three East African fig tree species have the unusual ability to create and store calcium carbonate—sequestering carbon by essentially turning into stone in their branches, trunk, root systems, and even their leaves.

A new report has shown that local climate activism leads to ‘remarkable’ gains.

The Trump administration wants to eliminate the Energy Star program, but an “unlikely coalition” of bakers, builders, hot tub lobbyists, and chemical companies are trying to save it.

A new report shows that pediatric asthma ER visits dropped 40 percent after a coal processing plant near Pittsburgh closed down.

A federal judge ruled that Rhode Island’s gun permit system, which requires residents to show “a need” to openly carry a firearm throughout the state, does not violate the Second Amendment.

A judge has blocked a recent Arkansas law requiring a copy of the Ten Commandments be hung in all public schools and buildings.

After organizing by Faith in Action Bay Area, San Francisco will now allow homeless families extensions to remain in shelters after just 90 days – giving families more time to stabilize and rebuild.

Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to be placed on house arrest for the remainder of his ongoing trial.

Rep. Mike Flood faced a barrage of criticism at a packed town hall in Lincoln, Nebraska, Monday evening as audience members repeatedly confronted him over his support for Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” immigration policy and what they described as threats to democracy.

Penske Truck Rental released a statement condemning the Department of Homeland Security for using its trucks in Los Angeles immigration raids.

The Tucson city council voted unanimously against bringing the massive and water-devouring Project Blue data center — tied to tech giant Amazon — into city limits.

Geoff Duncan, who served as Lieutenant Governor of Georgia from 2019 to 2023 as a Republican, announced in an Op-Ed that he’s officially swapping sides to join the Democrats.

For the first time in the Culinary Union’s 90-year history, all major casinos on the Vegas Strip are now unionized. Backed by 60,000 members, most of them in Las Vegas, it is now the largest labor union in Nevada.

The Trump admin is restoring full funding for a CDC program that provides grants to reduce and track drug overdoses, including fentanyl.

A hospital system in Central Ohio is upgrading the cameras used during forensic exams for survivors of sexual assault. This new technology can make exams faster, more precise, and less invasive.

The city of San Francisco is fast-tracking an all-electric standard for major renovations.

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon was interrupted in the middle of a talk to the conservative Young America's Foundation by audio of someone calling her a "corrupt billionaire" and another clip of circus music.

“South Park” took on Trump’s immigration raids and poked fun at Kristi Noem’s “ICE Barbie” persona in the show’s second episode of the season.

Democrats in Texas, in blue governors’ seats, and even in DC are showing a renewed grit, spine, and fight. We are thrilled to see it!

Thanks "Chop Wood, Carry Water."