BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM If you’re an elk trekking through Park County, Colorado, winter just got a little bit smoother. Thanks to a first-of-its-kind agreement between rancher Dave Gottenborg and two conservation groups, thousands of elk now have safe passage through his 3,000-acre Eagle Rock Ranch. In return, Gottenborg gets a hefty portion of his cattle grazing lease costs covered—without signing away his land in perpetuity. “Ranchers are conservationists in and of themselves,” said Brendan Boepple, conservation director at the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust, which helped broker the deal. But traditional conservation easements—permanent legal agreements—aren’t always the best fit. “We’re trying to create new tools for conservation.” And this one has ranchers across the state asking how they can get in on it. Elk-friendly fencing, with less rancher frustration Gottenborg isn’t new to helping wildlife. Every winter, he takes down parts of his barbed wire fence to allow migrating elk to pass through without getting tangled, knowing full well they’ll still trample his grazing grounds and damage fences. “They show up and eat 20 pounds of forage per day, per elk,” he said. Not exactly ideal for a cattleman. But this year, there’s a silver lining. The Property and Environment Research Center (PERC), a conservation-minded think tank, is stepping in to ease the burden. They’re covering more than two-thirds of Gottenborg’s lease costs for five years—as long as the land remains open to elk. When asked why they weren’t paying the full cost of the lease, Gothenburg explained, “We agreed to keep the payment less than 100 percent so it would still be more profitable for third-party landowners to keep agricultural grazing usage”. If PERC footed the full bill, landowners might ditch cattle entirely and lease to elk instead—a situation Gottenborg says would “devastate” ranchers. Conservation economics with a twist PERC isn’t your average conservation organization. Founded by economists during the Cold War, the group began with a question: if markets can deliver food and cars, why not environmental quality? The answer lies in the incentives. From resolving water disputes by matching buyers and sellers of water rights to advocating for smarter national park fee models, PERC pushes for market-based solutions to environmental challenges. They’ve even explored using AI to count elk and calculate “rent” based on their presence. PERC’s conservation director, Travis Brammer, emphasized that the group’s goal is not to commodify wildlife but to “incentivize conservation.” That means new tools—not the “same old playbook” of the last 50 years. Keeping the elk moving, not camping There’s no elk baiting going on here. Gottenborg gives them no salt licks or mineral supplements to linger. “The idea is to keep them moving, but of course, they can stop if they want,” he said. The Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust will monitor compliance using trail cameras, drones, and site visits, ensuring Gottenborg sticks to the agreed pasture rotations. Boepple noted the public benefits, too: as elk migrate through Eagle Rock Ranch, they’ll be visible in public wildlife areas like the nearby Collard Ranch, offering opportunities for wildlife viewing and hunting. Addressing hunter concerns Gottenborg anticipates some raised eyebrows—especially from hunters worried he’s setting up a private outfitting business or turning the place into an elk refuge. To that, he offers a firm rebuttal: “No, no and NO. I’m not a hunter, although I’m not opposed to hunting.” He added, “Hunters will likely say, ‘the elk belong to the people of Colorado, and we should have the right to shoot them.’ Yes, they are right. But the rancher’s retort is, ‘then why don’t you come around and feed them once in a while in the winter?’” The beginning of a new migration model This isn’t a one-off. Other Colorado ranchers are already asking the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust how they can replicate the model. With elk and other migratory species often relying on a patchwork of public and private lands, this kind of incentive-based deal could change the game. “It’s business as usual for the elk,” Boepple said, “but a new way forward for how we think about conservation partnerships.”The post Elk win the right of way in Colorado thanks to a rancher’s bold conservation deal first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a breakthrough for sustainable materials, Australian startup Alt. Leather has unveiled a fully plant-based leather alternative that contains no plastics and is made entirely from natural fibers and agricultural waste. The innovative material promises a circular, animal-free substitute to traditional leather, with applications across fashion, footwear, upholstery, and automotive industries. “Ten percent of our ingredients are upcycled from textiles and cellulose destined for landfill or incineration. One hundred percent of our ingredients are derived from regenerative plants available in abundance globally,” the company states. The material is currently undergoing testing for recyclability and biodegradability, designed with end-of-life in mind. Backed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Alt. Leather has worked closely with material scientists to ensure its performance meets global ISO standards for strength, flexibility, color fastness, and abrasion resistance. Closing the loop on leather production Traditional leather comes with high environmental costs, from water-intensive animal agriculture to the chemicals used in tanning. Synthetic leathers, though animal-free, typically rely on petroleum-based plastics. Alt. Leather is aiming to offer a third way: a durable material made from plant starches, cellulose, and natural fibers without a trace of synthetic polymers. “Every ingredient we choose is carefully considered to ensure that we are tapping into regenerative and abundant resources globally,” the company explains. “Polysaccharides like cellulose and starches, recycled and natural fibres, and plant-derived resins are all part of our solution.” To get there, the team screened thousands of combinations of plant-based ingredients before arriving at their proprietary formula. The result: a sustainable leather alternative that is strong enough for daily wear but designed for circularity. Scaling with science and support Founder Tina Funder recognized a gap in the market for truly sustainable leather alternatives. But turning an idea into a scalable product required tools beyond what the small team had access to. That’s when they turned to CSIRO. “Tina saw an opportunity to tap into Australia’s abundance of regenerative plants and leading research facilities to transform the leather industry,” CSIRO said in a press release. Working with CSIRO’s Kick-Start program, Alt. Leather began testing its formulations using small-scale extruders—machines that shape material through molds. Success at that level led to trials on larger machines to assess production scalability. “The structured approach of Kick-Start allowed us to test our material in a real-world setting and confirm that it could be scaled up,” said Funder. Participation in the India Australia RISE Accelerator and the Circular Economy cohort gave the company access to manufacturing hubs in Chennai and Noida, where their materials were turned into handbags and footwear. They also received mentorship from experts across India and Australia, further refining their supply chain strategy. What’s next for Alt. Leather Alt. Leather is now focused on further improving the performance and composition of its material and is seeking collaborations with international and Australian brands committed to lowering their environmental footprint. “We’ve learned how to navigate international supply chains and manufacturing landscapes, positioning us well for global expansion,” Funder added. With growing pressure on industries to reduce environmental harm, Alt. Leather’s plant-based innovation could become a pivotal solution in the shift toward circular, sustainable materials.The post This plant-based leather alternative is plastic-free and ready to scale first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

'Attempt to coerce and control Harvard'

Atari is once again bringing back it’s classic game, Missile Command, but with an exciting new twist thrown in. Missile Command Delta is a brand new, … The post Atari Is Relaunching Missile Command With a New Twist appeared first on The Retro Network.

Too Good to Check: Biden Handlers Photoshopped Easter Family Photo?

President Donald Trump excoriated Jerome Powell, the chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, and the stock market responded by continuing to shed value. The market has lost trillions of dollars in value since Trump commenced his plan to issue massive tariffs to raise revenues and lower the trade deficit with U.S. trading partners. 'There can be a SLOWING of the economy unless Mr. Too Late, a major loser, lowers interest rates, NOW.' On Thursday, Trump accused Powell of waiting too long to lower interest rates at the Fed, and he continued his attack on Monday. “'Preemptive Cuts' in Interest Rates are being called for by many. With Energy Costs way down, food prices (including Biden’s egg disaster!) substantially lower, and most other 'things' trending down, there is virtually No Inflation," said Trump on social media."With these costs trending so nicely downward, just what I predicted they would do, there can almost be no inflation, but there can be a SLOWING of the economy unless Mr. Too Late, a major loser, lowers interest rates, NOW," he continued. "Europe has already 'lowered' seven times. Powell has always been 'To Late,' except when it came to the Election period when he lowered in order to help Sleepy Joe Biden, later Kamala, get elected. How did that work out?"After his comments, the S&P 500 index dropped by 3% for a total drop of 12% since the start of the year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has lost about 10%, while the Nasdaq has fallen by 18%. Powell had said in remarks at the Economic Club of Chicago that he believed the economy was very strong but that the future was cloudy because of volatility caused by the president's sudden and large-scale tariff policies. Trump had previously suggested that Powell would soon be terminated from the position. Powell has previously said that the president cannot legally fire the chair of the Federal Reserve, and he reiterated that position Thursday. "Generally speaking, Fed independence is very widely understood and supported in Washington, in Congress, where it really matters," Powell said. "We’re never going to be influenced by any political pressure," said Powell. "People can say whatever they want. ... That’s not a problem, but we will do what we do strictly without consideration of political or any other extraneous factors.”In June 2022, Powell said the Fed's goal was to slowly ease the pain of inflation, which was at 8% at the time, down to the more manageable level of 2%. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said that because of El Salvador's actions in the detainment of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an illegal alien, Congress should be looking at removing federal aid to the country and warned that Democrats will remember countries that helped the Trump administration when they are back in power.During his interview on "Pod Save America," Raskin said, "We should be talking about cutting aid to El Salvador right now." He further added that he does not believe El Salvador President Nayib Bukele's claim that he cannot return Abrego Garcia to the United States.'That's an assault on our Constitution and our people.'"He's our legal agent in this dubious arrangement they've created," Raskin said, referring to Bukele. "Of course he's got the power to return him. So he and Trump are just acting like a couple of dictators having fun at the expense of a man's life and his family, and they want to be able to do that all over the place."Raskin said Democrats need to do a better job of connecting with democratic movements and governments across the world to "try to prevent the spread of the lawlessness and the fascist chaos that has been unleashed against us.""If and when we come back to power, and we will, we are not going to look kindly upon people who facilitated, to use the word of the day, who facilitated authoritarianism in our country. That's an assault on our Constitution and our people," he continued.Democrats maintain that the Trump administration is violating the Supreme Court's recent ruling on the matter, where they said the U.S. must "facilitate" Abrego Garcia's return. The same ruling also noted the "scope of the term 'effectuate' in the district court's order is, however, unclear, and may exceed the district court's authority," and that the lower court "should clarify its directive, with due regard for the deference owed to the executive branch in the conduct of foreign affairs."As of Monday, four House Democrats are in El Salvador to continue advocating for Abrego Garcia's release after Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) did the same last week. Reps. Robert Garcia (Calif.), Maxwell Frost (Fla.), Yassamin Ansari (Ariz.), and Maxine Dexter (Ore.) say they are there to continue the conversation and not let Abrego Garcia, who the U.S. government says is an MS-13 gang member, be forgotten. — (@) Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

An unprovoked attack in Phoenix led to a victim's right eye being ripped out of its socket by a 39-year-old homeless suspect, according to Arizona police. Daniel Lanks allegedly attacked the victim on April 11 at about 1 a.m. near the intersection of 48th Street and Broadway Road, according to court documents. The victim was able to get to his home, where he had his girlfriend call police. When they arrived, they said they found the victim holding his eyeball in a bloodied towel. The victim said that Lanks grabbed him from behind and forcefully ripped out his eyeball. Lanks then punched the man after the victim fell to the ground, which fractured his jaw, according to court documents. The victim was able to get to his home, where he had his girlfriend call police. When they arrived, they said they found the victim holding his eyeball in a bloodied towel. "When asked to removed [sic] the towel, officers observed the victim's eyeball was completely removed from his eye socket, hanging down his face," officers wrote. Police said they arrested Lanks three days later near 23rd and Dunlap Avenues. The victim was able to pick Lanks out of a lineup. Lanks allegedly told police to "shut the f**k up" and said he did not understand his Miranda rights. He was booked into jail on aggravated assault and held on a cash bond of $500,000. The victim said the attack has devastated his life. "The victim stated this loss of the use of his right eye and fractured jaw will forever impact his quality of life and is unsure if he will be able to work again or perform many basic life functions," said court documents. "The victim stated that during this incident he was in fear for his life and safety, believing that Daniel could have killed him and stated the attack was completely unprovoked, and he did not threaten Daniel, challenge him, and did not have any form of weapons to be perceived as a threat." A KSAZ-TV report found that Lanks had been released from jail on his own recognizance on charges of aggravated assault and organized retail theft just a week before the alleged horrific incident. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

GI-NOPE: Woman Sues Navy After Her Application for SEAL Training Is Rejected

Watch: Senate Republicans Release Brutal New Ad Mocking MS-13-Loving Dems Visiting El Salvador