DENVER—The Center for Western Priorities and The Wilderness Society unveiled a new website today, RiggingTheSystem.org, to help Americans sort through the deluge of data and reports about oil and gas development on U.S. public lands. The website launches as Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is considering sweeping policies to increase the pace and scale of oil and gas drilling on public lands, including in national forests, wildlife refuges, and around parks and monuments.
“There’s so much noise around drilling on public lands. What we want to do with this website is help clear up the confusion and provide a resource for everyone to better understand the issues,” said Greg Zimmerman, Deputy Director at the Center for Western Priorities. “The fact is oil and gas production in the United States has reached new heights, and public lands have played an important role. But this administration is looking to throw the baby out with the bathwater, undermining common-sense safeguards that protect public lands and communities from the impacts of drilling.”
“The Interior Department is required by law to manage public lands for many different uses—not just oil and gas—including outdoor recreation, conservation, wildlife, and clean water,” said Nada Culver, Senior Counsel at The Wilderness Society.
“Unfortunately, President Trump and Secretary Zinke are selling out our public lands to oil and gas companies at the expense of Americans—not to mention the countless local western economies dependent on public lands for conservation and outdoor recreation,” Culver continued.
The new website covers a range of issues, including:
Process: the six steps that turn public lands into private oil and gas leases
Economics: how leasing and drilling decisions are driven by market forces
On the Chopping Block: parks and public lands currently threatened by development
Get the Facts: for example, currently 9 out of 10 acres of U.S. public lands is available to companies for oil and gas leasing and drilling.
Last week Secretary Zinke delivered a report to President Trump—required under the March 28, 2017 Executive Order signed by the president—identifying which protections and safeguards on leasing and drilling the agency hopes to cut. The contents of the report were not made public.
RiggingTheSystem.org will be updated regularly to provide the latest information, including facts and statistics on drilling and development and analysis of policy proposals from Congress, the Interior Department, and the Trump administration.
Greg Zimmerman and Nada Culver are available for interviews about RiggingTheSystem.org. To speak with an expert about energy development on public lands, contact Sarah Graddy at 202-429-2633 or Aaron Weiss at 720-279-0019.
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The Wilderness Society is the leading conservation organization working to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places. Founded in 1935, and now with more than 700,000 members and supporters, The Wilderness Society has led the effort to permanently protect 109 million acres of wilderness and to ensure sound management of our shared national lands.
The Center for Western Priorities is a conservation policy and advocacy organization focused on land and energy issues across the American West.
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2017 Utah Plein Air
Competition and Exhibition
Materials stamped Aug. 24 through Sept. 5, 2017
Painters will bring the outdoors indoors during the Brigham City Museum of Art and History’s 2017 Utah Plein Air Competition and Exhibition. “En plein air” is a French expression that refers to the 19th century style of painting outdoors.
Up to $4,000 may be awarded in purchase prizes at the discretion of the Museum Director. Works can be created anywhere in the state of Utah by artists of any age. Purchase prizes are sponsored by an anonymous donor in honor of Bertha "Bert" Midgley Kotter, Gillies Funeral Chapel, and Myers Mortuary. Select opportunities to sponsor the exhibition are still available.
From Aug. 24 through Sept. 5, artists must have their canvases or drawing paper stamped at the museum. Two works, which must be no longer than 30 inches on the long side, can be entered in the competition. Submissions must be received at the museum by 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept 5. The entry fee is $35. For detailed requirements, visit www.brighamcitymuseum.org or phone 435-226-1439.
Works accepted for the juried exhibition will hang in the museum Sept. 9 through Nov. 11. Admission is free.
M O R E
2 – 2017 Utah Plein Air Competition and Exhibition
An award ceremony and artists’ reception will be held Saturday, November 11 at 4 p.m. The public is invited.
The museum is located at 24 North 300 West. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m.
A separate competition and exhibition for photography will be held later in the year with entries due Nov. 8.
***Article written by Mary Alice Hobbs
Photo: “Gray Day in Perry” by John Poon, Liberty, Utah, First Place winner in the 2016 Utah Plein Air Competition.
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ARIZONA SURGEON SURVIVES CANCER &
INVENTS WORLD RECORD SETTING CANCER SURGERY
Release: http://www.thomas-pr.com/drmarchand/drmarchandrelease.html
Dr. Greg Marchand MD Sets World Record in Tumor-Removal Surgery
for Removing Largest Cancerous Tumor:
17-centimeter (Approximately 7 inch) Ovarian Tumor Removed through
In-Bag Morcellation Technique with Belly Button Incision Smaller than a Dime
--For Minimal Scarring, Less Pain, and Faster Recovery--
Dr. Greg Marchand MD Endocatch Device Left: Typical Surgery with Large Scar
Right: Surgery with Dr. Marchand’s Technique
B-roll: https://youtu.be/xotuRC-jalc
Video: https://youtu.be/PgXB5i7FIxE
Unedited: https://youtu.be/4NtmXNdkFg4
Mesa, AZ, August 2, 2017 -- Dr. Greg J. Marchand http://gregmarchandmd.com/, an award-winning board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist dedicated to reducing invasive surgeries, recently became the first U.S. surgeon to earn a prestigious accreditation for his outstanding record of performing and promoting minimally invasive procedures. The World Record Academy awarded Dr. Greg J. Marchand and his surgical team the world’s record for removing the largest cancerous tumor -- a 17-centimeter (6.69-inch) cancerous ovarian tumor about the size of a junior sized soccer ball -- using an incision smaller than a dime.
Dr. Marchand’s In-Bag Morcellation Technique for Minimally Invasive Surgery for Cancerous Tumors
Dr. Marchand and his team completed the procedure using “In-Bag” Morcellation, a technique developed by Dr. Marchand in which the tumor is bagged and broken down so the particles can be extracted one by one laparoscopically. Otherwise, patients would need a sizeable incision to surgically remove such a large mass, requiring additional recovery time, pain, risk, and a delay in chemotherapy or other medications. Dr. Marchand, a board-certified OB-GYN specializing in minimally invasive surgery, worked closely with a gynecologic oncologist in completing this amazing surgery. While removing cysts and tumors using laparoscopic surgery is a standard practice, it is rare to use the technique in conjunction with an ovarian cancer staging procedure.
Marchand placed an Endocatch bag (Endo Catch™ II 15 mm Specimen Pouch) around the tumor through incisions made through the belly button, then brought the lip of the bag to the incision. He then broke apart the mass inside the bag and took the pieces out. Marchand said the most difficult part of the surgery was removing the cancerous mass without spilling any cancer cells into the abdomen. If cancerous material spilled back into the abdomen, the cancer could have spread and worsened the patient’s prognosis. The World Record Academy verified that this type of technique had never been accomplished previously on any malignant tumor this large.
Advancements in Cancer Surgery are Just as Important as Newest Cancer-Fighting Drugs
Dr. Marchand, who was diagnosed in 2010 with mixed-cell carcinoma (an aggressive cancer of the testes), said it is particularly gratifying that his technique can help cancer patients. He received surgery and treatments in 2010 and has been in remission ever since. “I know what it’s like to face a diagnosis of cancer,” Marchand said. “In my opinion, advancements in the surgical treatment of cancer are just as important as the newest cancer-fighting drugs and chemotherapy agents. If we can use minimally invasive surgery to take some of the recovery time and complications out of cancer surgery, then I think we’ve really done a lot of good for patients fighting cancer.”
This is Dr. Marchand’s second world record in laparoscopic surgery. In 2008, Dr. Marchand was awarded a Guinness World Record for the removal of the largest uterus laparoscopically. In this case, it was not a cancerous mass, but a seven-pound benign (non-cancerous) uterus that was removed. In addition to the two world records, Dr. Marchand is extensively published in laparoscopic surgery publications and was recently recognized as the first U.S. surgeon to receive SOEMIS recognition (Surgeon of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Surgery) from The American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopist’s (AAGL.org) and the Surgical Review Corporation http://www.surgicalreview.org.
For more information on Dr. Marchand, his research, and publications, please see Fact Sheet: http://www.thomas-pr.com/drmarchand/drgregmarchandmdfactsheet.html, Website: www.gregmarchandmd.com, and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marchandobgynpllc/.
Press Contact for TV show appearances and more info:
Karen Thomas/Eva Yutani
Thomas PR
kthomas@thomaspr.com / eyutani@thomaspr.com
(631) 549-7575 www.thomas-pr.com www.thomaspr.com
Videos:
B-roll: https://youtu.be/xotuRC-jalc
Unedited: https://youtu.be/4NtmXNdkFg4
Video: https://youtu.be/PgXB5i7FIxE
Fact Sheet: http://www.thomas-pr.com/drmarchand/drgregmarchandmdfactsheet.html
Case Report: http://www.thomas-pr.com/drmarchand/drgregmarchandmdcasereport.html
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First, we are releasing our 10th Utah Women Stats research snapshot today titled “The Gender Wage Gap in Utah,” with co-authors Robbyn T. Scribner & Janika Dillion. We are grateful to the Utah Women’s Giving Circle for their grant to help fund the research behind this snapshot. Thanks to Michelle Proctor who created this wage gap infographic.
Second, we are pleased to announce our first free community event of the 2017-2018 academic year. On September 14, 2017 (6:30- 8:30PM), we will have an evening event titled, “Strengthening the Impact of Girls & Women: Resilience, Social Media, and Unconscious Bias.” The keynote will be by Elaine Dalton (well-known author and speaker), and then attendees will choose from one of three workshops:
The event is designed for women (12 years and older), and influencers (including men) are welcome to join us too! RSVP Online Now. The keynote and workshops will live stream as well for those who cannot get to UVU. Thanks to our fabulous event sponsors this year: Squire & Company, Utah Education Network, Steve & Bette Gibson Family, Business Resource Center in Orem, Center for the Advancement of Leadership (UVU), Women’s Success Center (UVU), and the Woodbury School of Business (UVU). Details on the Utah Women & Leadership Project homepage.
Third, for women who are employed in Utah higher education settings, the Utah Women in Higher Education Network (UWHEN) is hosting three fall regional workshops at various colleges/universities. The first is scheduled at UVU on September 15th (1:00-3:30PM) and is titled, “Strengthening Our Impact by Understanding Women’s Negative Interactions with Each Other.” You can find more details and register here. UWHEN will be sending more details about their other 2 fall regional workshops including one at Western Governors University (Oct. 6) and another at Southern Utah University (Nov. 3).
Finally, the Women’s Leadership Institute has two upcoming events they would like us to announce:
You can enjoy the beauty of Park City~Opportunity Drawing and Event Tickets on Sale Now-Sneaker Soirée 2017!
http://girlsontherunutah.home.qtego.net
In a new article for RealClearLife.com, Tom Anderson expands upon an argument we at CER have been making for years: that the NAACP, whose members benefit most from charter schools, somehow opposes these engines of progress.
As two of our directors wrote earlier this week, “Rather than embrace the opportunities that charter schools represent to families of color across the nation, the NAACP has chosen to stifle a movement that, for thousands of children, is the greatest — and only — hope for achieving a quality education.”
Indeed, the NAACP's anti-charter position has been strongly gainsaid by none other than Wyatt Tee Walker. Who’s he, you ask?
Walker served as Martin Luther King Jr.’s chief of staff, as head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and as a central figure in the famous Birmingham civil-rights march (in the picture above, he’s the one standing at the center in a light suit).
When asked whether Dr. King would have supported charter schools, Walker replied with clarity and cogence.
Click here to read his answer.
Founded in 1993, the Center for Education Reform aims to expand educational opportunities that lead to improved economic outcomes for all Americans — particularly our youth — thus ensuring that conditions are ripe for innovation, freedom, and flexibility throughout U.S. education.
