by Jon Fleetwood, Jon Fleetwood: Animals that ingest the oral vaccine are said to be contagious to other animals and humans for over a month. The Texas Department of Health and Human Services (DHS) has begun its annual distribution of RABORAL V-RG®, an oral rabies vaccine (ORV) bait—dropping the live laboratory-made virus from airplanes over Texas, […]

from The Prather Point: TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

  Environmentalism is a common pursuit in modern activist endeavors, but in the early and mid-twentieth century, it was less of a concern. Though it wasn’t front and center, damage to the ecosystem from human activity was happening under the noses of American citizens. Many people simply didn’t realize these effects until one woman made it her mission to change that. Rachel Carson made an indelible mark on environmental protection in the United States, and along the way, proved that in the early ages of feminism, a woman had the power to make a difference.   Young Rachel Louise An information board at the Rachel Carson Homestead in Springdale, PA. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Rachel Louise Carson, born on May 27th, 1907, was the third and youngest child of Robert and Maria Carson. She grew up in Springdale, Pennsylvania, a small town near Pittsburgh. At a young age, Carson developed a love for nature, inspired by her mother’s same interest, and a talent for writing. By the age of 10, she had been published in a children’s magazine.   Neither her older brother nor her sister completed high school, and Rachel became the first child in her family to do so. She continued her education at Pennsylvania College for Women, now Chatham College. Carson originally planned to major in English, but changed her focus to biology partway through her studies. The ocean was of special interest to her, and her collegiate work included a research project in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. She graduated magna cum laude in 1929. A Master’s degree in Zoology followed at Johns Hopkins University, but unfortunately, her desire to pursue a doctorate was foiled by strained family finances.   Woods Hole, MA, was one of the locations that helped to develop Rachel’s love for the ocean and the life within it. Source: Kenneth C. Zirkel/Wikimedia Commons   Rachel began looking for a career to support her family, which would eventually include her two orphaned nieces. It was the onset of the Great Depression, and jobs were hard to come by, especially in the field of biology, where opportunities for women at the time were severely limited. She looked for a job in teaching, but failing to secure one, took the civil service exam. She outscored all of the other applicants to become the second woman ever hired by the US Bureau of Fisheries in 1936.   A Daring Career A portrait of Rachel Carson. Source: Smithsonian Institute Archives/Wikimedia Commons   Carson’s job at the Bureau of Fisheries allowed her to combine her two talents and interests—writing and natural sciences. She appeared on public radio programs and made brochures to help citizens understand the latest scientific information. She published several articles, most of them relating to marine biology. Eventually, she was promoted to Editor-in-Chief for all US Fish & Wildlife Service publications (The Bureau of Fisheries was merged with the Bureau of Biological Survey to create the Service in 1940).   A view from the Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge in Maine. Source: Hollingsworth John and Karen, US Fish and Wildlife Service/Wikimedia Commons   In the meantime, Carson was also publishing independent work. In 1937, her article “Undersea” was published in the Atlantic Monthly, and she was recruited to expand the piece into a full-length book. Her first book, Under the Sea-Wind, was published in 1941, and it established Carson’s celebrated writing style, displaying her ability to combine the scientific with the literary to engage audiences. While her writing style was appreciated, Under the Sea-Wind lagged in sales. Her second book, The Sea Around Us, released in 1951, was much more successful. It broke records by staying on the New York Times Bestseller list for 86 weeks, and won a National Book Award for nonfiction as well. The book highlighted Carson’s love for the sea and is often described as “poetic.”   Amongst her successes, Rachel continued to care for her ailing mother and adopted her grandnephew, Roger Christie. She developed a notable friendship with a woman named Dorothy Freeman, who had written to her after reading her novels. Freeman summered on the coast of Maine, and Carson soon began spending a great deal of time in Maine with her friend. There is a great deal of speculation about their intimate friendship, and Carson is often labeled as queer as a result. The pair wrote to one another frequently when they were apart, and they destroyed many of their letters before Carson’s death.   Creating Environmental Consciousness Standing in the Atlantic Ocean with fellow scientist Robert Hines. Source: US Fish & Wildlife Service/Wikimedia Commons   The Sea Around Us was followed in 1955 by The Edge of the Sea, which explores the ecology of the ocean’s shoreline. Carson’s three ocean-centered novels are considered “The Sea Trilogy” today, but their acclaim paled in comparison to that of her fourth novel, Silent Spring, published in 1962. Silent Spring was first published as a three-part series in The New Yorker before its release as a book. This novel exposed America to the threat of chemical pesticides, particularly Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, or DDT. After World War II, DDT became widely used throughout the United States to kill insects that threatened America’s farms and home gardens. However, it became apparent that the chemical was killing multiple types of wildlife. It caused eggshell thinning in birds, playing a role in the decline of creatures such as the Bald Eagle. In addition, DDT’s effects on humans hadn’t been studied in depth. In Silent Spring, Carson encouraged both the government and the public to look at pesticide use with a new concern.   The Impact of Silent Spring A smiling portrait of Carson. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Silent Spring was an immediate sensation, igniting controversy on a national level. Chemical companies lashed out at Carson, attempting to discredit her as a hysterical woman. Former Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Taft Benson wrote to former president Dwight D. Eisenhower, saying that Carson was “probably a communist” and wondered why a “spinster was so worried about genetics.” She was called a “pseudoscientist” and “faddist” in the media. Several businesses pulled ads from CBS after they planned a special on Carson’s work in April 1963. 15 million viewers watched the special regardless, and President Kennedy’s Science Advisory Committee soon released a report validating Carson’s research.   These two factors launched public concern to new levels. Carson testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, advocating for new labeling on chemical products. The environmental awareness that resulted from Silent Spring would only grow, and DDT was eventually banned for use in the United States. The burden of proof around pesticide and chemical safety was shifted to manufacturers of such products, and regulations grew around their use.   The Rachel Carson Conservation Park is located in Montgomery County, Maryland. Source: John Brighenti/Wikimedia Commons   Hidden from public knowledge was Carson’s diagnosis of breast cancer, which she received in 1960. In fact, she told only her closest friends and family, fearing that after Silent Spring was published, the information would be used against her somehow. She underwent surgeries and therapies such as radiation, but her illness was deemed terminal. Despite her health, she went on to publish Silent Spring and continue advocacy work after its publication. Although she understood the importance of Silent Spring, Carson expressed disappointment that it was this work for which she would be remembered, rather than her true love, the ocean and its biology. She died on April 14, 1964, at her home in Silver Spring, Maryland.   Remembering Carson Today Rachel Carson conducting research with fellow scientist Bob Hines in the Atlantic Ocean in 1952. Source: US Fish & Wildlife Service/Wikimedia Commons   In the modern era, Silent Spring remains celebrated as a seminal work in environmental and scientific literature. The book was celebrated anew in 2012 with the release of a 50th anniversary edition, which the Natural Resources Defense Council called “more relevant than ever.”   The National Audubon honors American women who advance conservation with the Rachel Carson Award annually. However, Carson isn’t just remembered in America. The British Ecological Society awards the Rachel Carson Prize, recognizing early-career scientific authors focusing on people and nature, and Applied Microbiology International celebrates outstanding environmental microbiology progress with the Rachel Carson Environmental Conservation Excellence Award. In 1966, the US Fish & Wildlife Service, along with the state of Maine, established the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. It covers 50 miles of coastline in York and Cumberland counties in the southern part of the state, including boreal forests, dunes, meadows, and coastline.   A Rachel Carson monument in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Source: Laura A. Macaluso/Wikimedia Commons   Rachel Carson made incredible strides for environmental awareness in the United States. Because of her, the natural world has been elevated and recognized for its importance. Dedication to its preservation and conservation is a direct result of her work. In addition, she proved that women were qualified to play an integral role in the scientific world. Carson challenged the idea that humans were superior to nature, and essentially created the modern environmental movement that is so important to the world today.

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Less than a month after it was launched, 24 Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives have already joined the Sharia Free America Caucus. Republican Reps. Keith Self and Chip Roy of Texas created the caucus to “fight back against the radical ideology” and “save Western Civilization from the threat of Sharia.” “Sharia law and groups linked to radical Islamist ideology seek to gain a foothold in our communities, challenging the Constitution and the Western values on which our nation was founded,” Roy told The Daily Signal. “I am encouraged that more Members of Congress are recognizing these threats and are joining the Sharia Free America Caucus to confront them head-on in Congress.” ‘Nations Are Losing Their Identity and Freedoms’ to Radical Islam The threat of Sharia Law in Muslim-dominated American communities has increasingly garnered conservative lawmakers’ attention. Sharia law is a system of Islamic religious law that guides personal behavior and civil and criminal justice, often in conflict with Western concepts of liberty and government. Self, the caucus’s co-founder, told The Daily Signal that the group’s “core mission is to sound the alarm on the alarming rise and spread of Sharia in the United States—before it erodes our sovereignty, culture, and way of life,” as it has been seen “in parts of Europe, where nations are losing their identity and freedoms.” The caucus hopes to “educate” Congress, foreign lawmakers, and the American people on the “clear dangers of Sharia,” to “U.S. law and our constitutional rights, while preventing “any infiltration of Sharia,” through the reinforcement of America’s legal and immigration systems, and the advancement of “bold legislation.” In March of 2025, the first major Sharia Law-only compound, known as EPIC City, emerged in the United States. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted that he has “signed laws that BAN Sharia Law and Sharia Compounds in Texas.” I signed laws that BAN Sharia Law and Sharia Compounds in Texas.No business & no individual should fear fools like this. If this person, or ANYONE, attempts to impose Sharia compliance, report it to local law enforcement or the Texas Dept. of Public Safety. https://t.co/cVV2MJItLH— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) September 8, 2025 In response, the Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned Abbott’s response. What the Sharia Free America Caucus Wants The “bold” initiatives championed by the group includes the Preserving a Sharia-Free America Act and the No Sharia Act, which aims to bar the enforcement of Sharia-based judgments in U.S. courts. Other legislation upheld by the caucus includes the No Tax Exemptions for Terrorist Acts, which would target the funding and tax-exempt status of groups tied to Sharia Law, such as the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR. By enacting such legislation, the caucus aims to ensure that “no foreign legal system, religious code, or radical ideology will ever supersede the Constitution as the unchallenged foundation of American governance.” Self-added. Other members, such as Reps. Randy Fine, R-Fla., and Mark Harris, R-N.C., told The Daily Signal that the caucus ultimately aims to “call evil by its name” and “reduce the threat of radical Islam.” Harris told The Daily Signal that “radical Islam isn’t just a threat in places like Mamdani’s New York City—it’s already here in suburban North Carolina and spreading rapidly across America.” Fine told The Daily Signal that “mainstream Islam is one of the biggest threats facing the United States today.” “We just saw the Muslim Attorney General in Minnesota siding with the rioters who stormed a Christian Church, because he claimed it was their First Amendment right to desecrate a place of worship,” Fine added. “We need to call evil by its name. Sharia Law seeks to subjugate women; it seeks to destroy what made America, America,” Fine continued. “We can see it in the Muslim Somalis, who have come to this country, where 84% are on welfare, and compare that to the Hindus, where 10% are on welfare.” “We cannot ignore the danger on our doorstep. Sharia Law encourages its followers to harm innocent people – the exact opposite of our Constitution, which protects the liberty and rights of all Americans,” Harris added. “Radical Islam is not compatible with Western Civilization.” The post An Inside Look at Congress’ New Anti-Sharia Law Caucus appeared first on The Daily Signal.

We Should All Learn This Lesson

With brutal winter conditions on the horizon, a meteorologist made headlines for issuing an ‘exploding tree’ advisory in parts of the Midwestern United States. “EXPLODING TREES are possible in the Midwest and Northern Plains on Friday and Saturday, as temperatures are forecasted to fall 20 degrees BELOW zero!” meteorologist Max Velocity said. EXPLODING TREES are possible in the Midwest and Northern Plains on Friday and Saturday, as temperatures are forecasted to fall 20 degrees BELOW zero! pic.twitter.com/nqnoqsbHNU — Max Velocity (@MaxVelocityWX) January 21, 2026 Patch explained further: Also known as “frost cracking,” the term does not mean trees literally explode, but rather that extreme cold can cause trees to crack or split abruptly. The phenomenon occurs when sap inside a tree freezes and expands, or when wood contracts rapidly in very dry, frigid air. The sudden stress release can sound like a gunshot or small explosion. The risk increases during severe cold snaps like the one forecast for Minnesota, where overnight temperatures are expected to fall near or below 20 degrees below zero, with wind chills approaching 40 to 45 below in some areas. While rare, tree cracking is most often reported overnight or in the early morning during the coldest part of an Arctic outbreak. The primary hazard comes from falling limbs rather than the cracking itself. Stay safe out there this Friday and Saturday in Wisconsin. Wind chills expected as low as -50 degrees. Hopefully this will keep the protestors off the streets of Minneapolis for a while. Also, watch out for exploding trees too! pic.twitter.com/2arq45XiFp — Brady Penfield (@brady_penfield) January 21, 2026 Residents are advised to avoid parking cars beneath large trees and remain indoors during the coldest stretches of the extreme weather. There were mixed reactions to the ‘exploding tree’ alert, with some people familiar with the phenomenon and others utterly clueless. I thought this was a joke, but apparently we need to be concerned with exploding trees & frost quake booms in Minnesota rn pic.twitter.com/jtmK7KGxGw — Laura Kuschel (@LaKusch) January 21, 2026 This is a real thing. I moved from Fires, Traffic and earthquakes to exploding trees. https://t.co/gE9G3y70gD — Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) January 21, 2026 Can’t say I had exploding trees on my 2026 bingo card https://t.co/SNHm3tvLCm — greg (@greg16676935420) January 21, 2026 Trees can explode during extreme cold due to sap expansion when it freezes.Oak, maple, and fruit trees with high moisture are most vulnerable to exploding.Extreme cold can also cause “cryoseismic booms” or “frost quakes” due to ground expansion. pic.twitter.com/Of8pmT2yHM — Pure Memeigan (@kalamazoo_memes) January 21, 2026 The U.S. Sun has more: Weather experts have warned about the incoming cold snap, set to hit much of America in the coming days. A brutal snowstorm is set to cause chaos with “unrelenting” freezing temperatures incoming. Multiple blasts of snow, ice and winds are set to batter the US that experts have warned could “take lives.” Americans are being warned to brace themselves for a new storm that could coat roads, trees and power lines with ice across a wide expanse of the south. “The storm arriving late this week and into the weekend is shaping up to be a widespread potentially catastrophic event from Texas to the Carolinas,” warned Ryan Maue, a former chief scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “I don’t know how people are going to deal with it,” he said. Weather experts say they fear the incoming onslaught of freezing temperatures could even weigh down trees and affect power lines – triggering widespread outages across homes and businesses. “Great swathes” of heavy snow, sleet and rain are expected to begin on Friday in much of the midsection of America. From there the storm is expected to make its way toward the East Coast throughout the weekend, according to The National Weather Service.