STM Daily News
EPA Statement on the Collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge: Mid-Atlantic Region Steps in to Support Response Efforts

The recent collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland has led to a crucial joint response effort involving various agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Region swiftly deployed emergency personnel to assist in managing the environmental aspects of the incident. This blog post aims to shed light on the EPA’s role, their commitment to minimizing potential environmental impacts, and their ongoing support to the unified command.
Technical Expertise and Advisory Role:
The EPA On Scene Coordinators (OSCs) have been diligently reviewing information provided by the Unified Command regarding potentially hazardous cargo onboard the affected vessel. Drawing from their expertise, the OSCs offer recommendations and technical advice pertaining to the development of removal or recovery plans and strategies. Their crucial involvement ensures that the environmental implications are accounted for in the overall response efforts.
Environmental Response Team (ERT):
Accompanying the OSCs are members of the EPA’s Environmental Response Team (ERT), who play a vital role as technical specialists. These experts provide valuable input and guidance on environmental matters while also offering public information support through the Joint Information Center (JIC). This integrated approach ensures that public health concerns are effectively addressed and accurate information is disseminated.
Collaboration and Coordination:
EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz emphasizes the importance of cooperation between federal, state, and local agencies, stating, “Our team is coordinating with the Unified Command and working together to minimize any potential environmental impacts resulting from the bridge collapse.” Such collaboration not only enhances response effectiveness but also facilitates the sharing of resources, expertise, and operational strategies.
Navigable Waterway and the Unified Command:
As outlined in the National Contingency Plan (NCP), the United States Coast Guard (USCG) assumes the lead agency role in incidents involving actual or potential releases of oil or hazardous substances in navigable waterways. Given that the collapse occurred in the Patapsco River, considered a navigable waterway, the Unified Command structure is overseeing response priorities, operations, and environmental protection strategies.
Ongoing Commitment:
The EPA remains dedicated to supporting the unified command and maintaining a strong on-ground presence throughout the entire response effort. As the situation evolves, the agency will adapt and continue to offer its technical expertise, relying on scientific methods to safeguard public health and the environment.
Information and Media Inquiries:
For detailed information regarding the ongoing incident response efforts, the Unified Command has set up a comprehensive website at the following URL: https://www.keybridgeresponse2024.com/. The site provides updates and relevant resources to help the public stay informed. Media representatives can reach out to the Joint Information Center (JIC) at 410-631-8939 for interviews and inquiries.
The EPA’s contributions to the response efforts following the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse underscore their commitment to protecting public health and the environment. By offering technical expertise, coordinating with the unified command, and upholding a science-based approach, the EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Region is playing a significant role in minimizing potential environmental impacts. Through their collaboration with other agencies, the EPA continues to demonstrate its dedication to ensuring a swift and effective response to this unfortunate event.
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-statement-collapse-francis-scott-key-bridge
Visit our Urbanism section to read more related articles: https://stmdailynews.com/category/the-bridge/urbanism/
About the EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a US government agency focused on environmental protection. It conducts assessments, research, and education while enforcing national standards under environmental laws. The EPA collaborates with state governments, tribes, and industry to prevent pollution and promote energy conservation. Led by an administrator, the agency operates from its headquarters in Washington, D.C., with regional offices and laboratories across the country. With over 16,000 employees, the EPA comprises engineers, scientists, specialists, and other professionals.
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health and wellness
Rural Americans don’t live as long as those in cities − new research
Rural Americans, especially men, face shorter life expectancies compared to urban dwellers due to higher rates of chronic conditions and limited healthcare access. Education disparities significantly contribute to these health inequities, influencing lifestyle choices and economic stability.

Elizabeth Currid-Halkett, University of Southern California; Bryan Tysinger, University of Southern California, and Jack Chapel, University of Southern California
Rural Americans – particularly men – are expected to live significantly shorter, less healthy lives than their urban counterparts, according to our research, recently published in the Journal of Rural Health.
We found that a 60-year-old man living in a rural area is expected on average to live two fewer years than an urban man. For women, the rural-urban gap is six months.
A key reason is worse rates among rural people for smoking, obesity and chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and heart disease. These conditions are condemning millions to disability and shortened lives.
What’s more, these same people live in areas where medical care is evaporating. Living in rural areas, with their relatively sparse populations, often means a shortage of doctors, longer travel distances for medical care and inadequate investments in public health, driven partly by declines in economic opportunities.
Our team arrived at these findings by using a simulation called the Future Elderly Model. With that, we were able to simulate the future life course of Americans currently age 60 living in either an urban or rural area.
The model is based on relationships observed in 20 years of data from the Health and Retirement Study, an ongoing survey that follows people from age 51 through the rest of their lives. Specifically, the model showed how long these Americans might live, the expected quality of their future years, and how certain changes in lifestyle would affect the results.
We describe the conditions that drive our results as “diseases of despair,” building off the landmark work of pioneering researchers who coined the now widely used term “deaths of despair.” They documented rising mortality among Americans without a college degree and related these deaths to declines in social and economic prospects.
The main causes of deaths of despair – drug overdoses, liver disease and suicide – have also been called “diseases of despair.” But the conditions we study, such as heart disease, could similarly be influenced by social and economic prospects. And they can profoundly reduce quality of life.
We also found that if rural education levels were as high as in urban areas, this would eliminate almost half of the rural-urban life-expectancy gap. Our data shows 65% of urban 60-year-olds were educated beyond high school, compared with 53% of rural residents the same age.
One possible reason for the difference is that getting a bachelor’s degree may make a person more able or willing to follow scientific recommendations – and more likely to work out for 150 minutes a week or eat their veggies as their doctor advises them to. https://www.youtube.com/embed/_WzwHJbAGVc?wmode=transparent&start=0 Rural communities are increasingly hampered by their lack of access to health care.
Why it matters
The gap between urban and rural health outcomes has widened over recent decades. Yet the problem goes beyond disparities between urban and rural health: It also splits down some of the party lines and social divides that separate U.S. citizens, such as education and lifestyle.
Scholarship on the decline of rural America suggests that people living outside larger cities are resentful of the economic forces that may have eroded their economic power. The interplay between these forces and the health conditions we study are less appreciated.
Economic circumstances can contribute to health outcomes. For example, increased stress and sedentary lifestyle due to joblessness can contribute to chronic health issues such as cardiovascular disease. Declines in economic prospects due to automation and trade liberalization are linked to increases in mortality.
But health can also have a strong influence on economic outcomes. Hospitalizations cause high medical costs, loss of work and earnings, and increases in bankruptcy. The onset of chronic disease and disability can lead to long-lasting declines in income. Even health events experienced early in childhood can have economic consequences decades later.
In tandem, these health and economic trends might reinforce each other and help fuel inequality between rural and urban areas that produces a profoundly different quality of life.
What still isn’t known
It should be noted that our results, like many studies, are describing outcomes on average; the rural population is not a monolith. In fact, some of the most physically active and healthy people we know live in rural areas.
Just how much your location affects your health is an ongoing area of research. But as researchers begin to understand more, we can come up with strategies to promote health among all Americans, regardless of where they live.
The Research Brief is a short take on interesting academic work.
Elizabeth Currid-Halkett, James Irvine Chair in Urban and Regional Planning and Professor of Public Policy, University of Southern California; Bryan Tysinger, Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management, University of Southern California, and Jack Chapel, Postdoctoral Scholar in Economics, University of Southern California
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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FDA CDC News
Alert: Kroger Issues Food Recalls Affecting Multiple States

As of early February 2025, Kroger has announced a series of food recalls affecting customers across at least 15 states, as well as several subsidiary stores nationwide. The recalls, initiated due to safety concerns, include a variety of products that consumers should be aware of.
Twelve Hummus Tubs from King Harvest
Kroger subsidiary stores Fred Meyer and QFC, located in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, have recalled the following King Harvest hummus tubs, each weighing 10 oz:
- King Harvest Lemon Hummus
- King Harvest Classic Hummus
- King Harvest Roasted Garlic Hummus
- King Harvest Toasted Onion Hummus
- King Harvest Chipotle Hummus
- King Harvest Spinach Hummus
- King Harvest Black Olive Hummus
- King Harvest Sesame Hummus
- King Harvest Jalapeño Hummus
- King Harvest Balsamic Hummus
- King Harvest Sun Dried Tomato Hummus
- King Harvest Roasted Pepper Hummus
These products were recalled on February 5, 2025, due to a defect in their plastic tubs that may lead to the presence of plastic foreign objects within the containers. Kroger has advised customers, “Customers who purchased any of the item(s) below should not eat the product.” It remains unclear whether this recall is connected to a previous incident from September 2024 involving similar concerns.
DJs Boudain Products in Texas and Louisiana
Kroger stores in Texas and Louisiana have also issued a recall for the following DJs Boudain products:
- DJs Boudain Hot Jalapeño Boudain, 12 oz
- DJs Boudain Boudain Sausage, 24 oz
- DJs Boudain Boudain Sausage, 16 oz
These items were recalled on February 1, 2025, due to potential contamination with pieces of a pen. This recall is part of a broader action directed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which called for around 17,720 pounds of boudain sausage link products to be removed from stores across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
Gerber Products for Teething Children
In addition, two Gerber products intended for teething children were recalled from Kroger stores across multiple states, including Ohio, Virginia, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, West Virginia, Texas, and Louisiana. The affected products are:
- Gerber Soothe N Chew Teething Sticks Banana, 3.2 oz
- Gerber Soothe N Chew Teething Sticks Strawberry Apple, 3.2 oz
These products were removed from shelves due to potential choking hazards. Kroger has assured customers that those who purchased these items can return them for a full refund. This recall is part of a nationwide action announced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Gerber has expressed regret over the situation, stating, “The recall was initiated after receiving consumer complaints of choking incidents. To date, one emergency room visit has been reported to the firm…We sincerely apologize for any concern or inconvenience this action represents to parents, caregivers, and retail customers.”
Conclusion
Customers who have purchased any of the recalled products are urged to refrain from consuming them and to return the items for a refund. It is always advisable to stay informed about food recalls to ensure the safety of you and your family. For more updates on recalls and food safety, keep an eye on announcements from Kroger and the relevant health authorities. Stay safe!
STM Daily News is a vibrant news blog dedicated to sharing the brighter side of human experiences. Emphasizing positive, uplifting stories, the site focuses on delivering inspiring, informative, and well-researched content. With a commitment to accurate, fair, and responsible journalism, STM Daily News aims to foster a community of readers passionate about positive change and engaged in meaningful conversations. Join the movement and explore stories that celebrate the positive impacts shaping our world.
Read the article in Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/kroger-food-recalls-issued-15-states-full-list-products-impacted-2027160
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News
3D-printed guns, like the one allegedly used to kill a health care CEO, are a growing threat in the US and around the world

Nir Kshetri, University of North Carolina – Greensboro
Police investigating the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024, have announced that the suspected assailant had used a 3D-printed gun. Several high-profile crimes in recent years have involved this kind of homemade, or partially homemade, weapon.
Often called “ghost guns” because they can be hard to trace, these firearms can be either partially or completely made with components that have been produced in metal or plastic on commercially available 3D printers. The U.S. Supreme Court is considering the legality of current federal restrictions on these firearms.
The first known criminal case involving a 3D-printed gun resulted in the arrest of a U.K. man in 2013. But since then, police worldwide have reported finding increasing numbers of these weapons.
My research focuses on the economic and social effects of advanced digital technologies, including 3D printing. I see that the use of 3D-printed guns in criminal and violent activities is likely to continue to increase. And it will likely prove ever harder for governments and police to regulate these firearms.
Surge in arrests and seizures
Arrests and seizures connected to 3D-printed guns are escalating quickly. Between 2017 and 2021, U.S. law enforcement agencies seized and reported nearly 38,000 suspected ghost guns, according to a 2024 report from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. In 2021 alone, 19,273 suspected ghost guns were traced, a significant increase from 8,504 in 2020. The number of seized 3D-printed guns in New York state alone surged dramatically, from 100 in 2019 to 637 in 2022.
Arrests linked to 3D-printed guns are also rising. The world recorded 108 arrests in the first half of 2023, compared to 66 arrests in all 2022.
North America leads in 3D-printed gun-related arrests, with 166 cases from 2013 to June 2023. Europe followed with 48 arrests, while Oceania ranked third with 24 arrests.
The U.S. is a particular hot spot, with 36% of total global arrests related to 3D-printed firearms in 2023. But Canada is close behind, with 34%. The U.K. had 10%, and Australia had 8%.
Growing global security threat
Police and media reports indicate that many efforts to acquire or manufacture 3D-printed firearms were connected to plans for violent actions.
These guns have been used by diverse groups including far-right extremists, ethno-separatists, jihadists, left-wing anarchists, organized crime groups in Europe and pro-democracy rebels in Myanmar.
From 2019 to mid-2022, there were at least nine documented cases in Europe and Australia of extremists, terrorists or paramilitary groups either producing or attempting to produce firearms using 3D-printing technology. An analysis of 165 cases of 3D-printed firearms from 2013 to mid-2024 reveals that 15% were linked to terrorism. Far-right groups appear to be the most frequent users among terrorism-related cases.
A widely varied legal landscape
Often, 3D-printed guns are homemade firearms without serial numbers. This lack of identification makes them attractive to criminals because it is harder for law enforcement to link specific guns to particular crimes or suspects. Different countries take very different approaches to regulating these weapons.
Japan enforces stringent laws governing the manufacture, possession and sales of firearms. Its legal system strictly prohibits unauthorized firearm production, including 3D-printed guns. In 2014, a 28-year-old Japanese man was sentenced to two years in prison for producing plastic 3D-printed firearms.
In 2023, Canada effectively banned ghost guns. It is illegal to possess or manufacture them without a license from the government.
In Australia, making a 3D-printed firearm is illegal, and in some states, possessing a digital blueprint to create one is also an offense. In the state of New South Wales, a person convicted of possessing blueprints can face up to 14 years in prison. In Tasmania state, the punishment can be even more severe – up to 21 years in prison.
Across the European Union, making or owning homemade firearms, including 3D-printed ones, is broadly prohibited. However, laws and penalties vary, with some nations criminalizing even the possession of digital files or blueprints related to 3D-printing guns.
In the U.K., where firearms are very restricted, 3D-printed guns have been considered illegal. But in November 2022, the government updated the laws to specifically ban possessing, buying or producing parts for 3D-printed guns. The proposal aims to explicitly ban 3D-printed guns, addressing their unique challenges directly, rather than relying on existing laws designed for traditional firearms. The U.K. National Crime Agency has called for a ban on possessing blueprints as well, and Parliament is currently considering two bills proposing such a ban. https://www.youtube.com/embed/c1g-C7c-57U?wmode=transparent&start=0 An NBC News investigation describes how easy it is to build a ghost gun.
Federal rules in the US
The U.S. Constitution poses some unique challenges to regulating ghost guns, especially for the federal government, but also for states.
For regular firearms – that is, those not produced by 3D printing – U.S. federal law requires that a key component, called the lower receiver, bear a unique serial number. Purchasing a lower receiver requires a federal background check and conducting the transaction through a merchant who holds a Federal Firearms License.
The situation is more complicated when it comes to 3D printing weapons. The First Amendment to the Constitution protects freedom of expression, which includes sharing digital files that could contain firearm designs. And the Second Amendment protects citizens’ right to bear arms.
In the U.S., selling 3D-printed firearms requires a federal license. But producing or owning homemade firearms for personal use is allowed. That includes 3D-printing the lower receiver component, and assembling the rest of the weapon with unregulated parts.
Current federal law, under review by the Supreme Court, also requires 3D-printed guns meet specific guidelines, even if they do not contain any currently regulated firearms components. Under the rule, makers of ghost gun kits must obtain a federal license, conduct background checks, record information about their customers and add serial numbers to their products.
The type of weapon also matters when determining the legality of a 3D-printed firearm. Automatic weapons, or machine guns, can continue to fire ammunition as long as the user holds the trigger down. These weapons have been heavily regulated by federal law for almost 90 years.
Criminals have used 3D printers to produce “Glock switches” or auto-sears, which convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic machine guns. That turns those items into machine guns under federal law, making them illegal. Owning this kind of 3D-printed conversion device can lead to a maximum of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
In the states
The states can also regulate firearms, and many are trying to get control of 3D-printed guns.
By November 2024, 15 U.S. states had established regulations on ghost guns, though exact requirements vary. The rules typically require a serial number, background checks for firearm component purchases and reporting to authorities that a person is producing 3D-printed guns.
For instance, in New Jersey, a 2019 law mandates that all ghost guns have a serial number and be registered. Under current New York law, possession or distribution of a 3D-printed gun is classified as a misdemeanor. However, a proposed law seeks to elevate the manufacturing of firearms using 3D-printing technology to a felony offense.
As technology advances and rules evolve, criminals who use 3D-printed firearms will continue to pose threats to public safety and security, and governments will continue playing catch-up to effectively regulate these weapons.
Nir Kshetri, Professor of Management, University of North Carolina – Greensboro
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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