Joan M. Wood (nee Williams), of Williamstown, formerly of Gloucester City

Joan M. Wood (nee Williams), on January 15, 2020, of Williamstown, formerly of Gloucester City. Age 68.

Loving companion of Raymond “Skip” Bellows. Devoted sister of Frances Monahan (Phil), Donna Williams (Robert), Debra Williams (John) and the late G. Robert Williams, Lynda Thiel and Josephine Wiltsey. Also survived by many nieces, nephews and friends.

Joan loved playing Bingo and going on casino trips.

There will be a viewing from 9 to 11am Wednesday morning at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE.

Funeral Service 11am at the funeral home.

Interment Bethel Memorial Park, Pennsauken.

Family requests in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Joan’s memory to American Lung Assoc., 55 W. Wacker Dr., Suite 1150, Chicago, IL 60601.

Pennsylvania Offers New Funding to Help Philly Students Discover Opportunities in Manufacturing

HARRISBURG, PA (January 15, 2020)–Governor Tom Wolf announced that the Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center (DVIRC) was approved for $110,000 in Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career funding to nearly double the number of teams in Bucks, Montgomery, and

Philadelphia counties participating in the educational competition, ‘What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?’ (WSCM).

“More and more students have a growing interest in manufacturing employment because of innovative and interactive programs like ‘What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?’ said Gov. Wolf. “We are proud to support the creative efforts being made by Pennsylvania teachers, students, and manufacturing companies as they collaborate to illustrate the opportunities available in this industry.”

WSCM matches teams with manufacturing businesses in their communities that invite student filmmakers to highlight products, interview staff, and best showcase what it would be like to work for that employer. The new funding made available by the Wolf Administration will help grow the number of participating teams from 28 to 40 this year.

WSCM was created to help shape the image of manufacturing and career and technical education opportunities for students by highlighting the potential for good-paying, stable jobs in an evolving industry. A focus on career pathways in schools and more STEM education in many Pennsylvania classrooms combined with technological innovations in the industry are shaping the future of manufacturing and preparing the next generation of workers.

The contest creates regional awareness of advanced manufacturing careers, increases both student and parent interest in STEM and technical education opportunities, helps students get an inside look at manufacturing companies in their community, encourages collaboration between industry and educators, and offers a project-based learning experience for students.

The funding will support additional outreach to schools and companies in the Philadelphia area, professional services and consultations, trainings, equipment and supplies, and more. This funding supports Governor Wolf’s commitment to enhancing the growth and competitiveness of Pennsylvania’s manufacturing industry by identifying and training a skilled workforce.

“The commonwealth’s support for ‘What’s So Cool About Manufacturing’ allows us to manage and promote the program for another year to demonstrate to the future workforce the importance of manufacturing in the region,” said DVIRC Executive Vice President Tony Girifalco. “With support from the Montgomery and Bucks County Workforce Investment boards and the Manufacturing Alliance of Bucks and Montgomery counties, we’re pushing hard to increase participation to 40 teams—a nearly 50 percent increase over last year. Companies love it, students love it, and parents and teachers love it, so anything we can do to build more interest in and support for manufacturing and manufacturing careers, we are glad to do.”

Governor Wolf’s Manufacturing PA initiative

was launched in October 2017, and since then has funded 35 projects and invested more than $9 million through the Training-to-Career program. Training-to-Career grants support projects that result in short-term work-readiness, job placement, or the advancement of manufacturing. The Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career program works collaboratively with local manufacturers to identify and teach missing essential skills for entry level applicants seeking manufacturing employment, engage youth or those with barriers to career opportunities in manufacturing, and advance capacity for local or regional manufacturers.

For more information about the Wolf Administration’s commitment to manufacturing, visit the

Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) website

or follow us on

Twitter

Facebook

, and

YouTube

CNB Hunting/Fishing News NJ: Species on the Edge 2.0 Social Media Contest

CWF invites high school students from across the state to submit a series of original social media posts showing why it is important to protect wildlife in New Jersey.

The fun and educational

Species on the Edge 2.0 Social Media Contest

capitalizes on high school students\’ expertise with social media platforms and provides them with the opportunity to showcase their talent, creativity, and love of nature.

Students will create their own original content (for example: video, text, photograph, computer graphic) or use existing Conserve Wildlife Foundation content to create a series of posts focusing on a vulnerable New Jersey species that CWF helps protect.

The contest helps to develop students’ experience in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) and apply critical thinking and project management skills.

Best of all, it’s

free

– and gives students the chance to win prizes! All entries will be eligible to win a day in the field with a wildlife biologist.

place wins $1,000

place wins $500

place wins $250

Read the contest kit

for details on entering, judging and rules.

Apply online

, or use the form in the kit, by February 28, 2020.

Species on the Edge 2.0 Contest Kit 2020

–

271.8KB

Species on the Edge 2.0 Contest Kit 2020

In order to participate, the completed

entry form

must be submitted by Friday, February 28, 2020.

Social media posts must run between March 1, 2020 and March 8, 2020 at midnight.

For more information

Ethan Gilardi.

Big second quarter helps MSU sink Rutgers-Camden women

MONTCLAIR, N.J. (Jan. 15, 2020) – The Montclair State University women’s basketball team outscored Rutgers University-Camden by 20 points in the second quarter and went on to defeat the Scarlet Raptors, 88-53, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game here Wednesday night.

The Red Hawks, who improved to 11-4 overall and 6-2 in the NJAC with their sixth straight win, held a narrow 15-11 lead after one quarter before going on a 26-6 run in the second quarter. They had a nine-point run in the first quarter on a trio of three-pointers by junior guard Taylor Brown to take the lead for good at 15-9.

In the second quarter, Montclair State had an early seven-point run before closing out the half by scoring the last 12 points. They held a 41-17 lead at the break.

The loss snapped the Scarlet Raptors’ four-game winning streak and dropped Rutgers-Camden to 9-6 overall and 2-6 in the NJAC.

Montclair State now leads the all-time series, 45-17, after Rutgers-Camden won the two head-to-head games last season.

Freshman guard Nickie Carter paced the Red Hawks with 22 points, shooting 9-for-15 from the floor, including three treys. Brown, who was 4-for-8 from three-point range, finished with 12 points and a game-high six assists, while freshman forward Saniya Myers added 11.

The Red Hawks, who shot a red-hot 15-for-29 (51.7 percent) from three-point range, placed 13 players in the scoring column. Junior forward Kayla Bush had a game-high 12 rebounds to help Montclair State hold a 48-27 advantage off the boards. Bush added nine points as she barely missed a double-double.

Senior guard

Fatimah Williams

collected a game-high 15 points for the Scarlet Raptors, two days after joining the 1,000-point club against the University of Valley Forge. Williams raised her career total to 1,021 points.

Freshman guard/forward

Jalissa Pitts

finished with 12 points for the Raptors, while sophomore guard/forward

Tamara Johnson

added 11 points and seven rebounds. Freshman forward/center

Kayla Newton

paced the Raptors with 10 rebounds, tying her career high accomplished three previous times this season.

Rutgers-Camden shot 20-for-61 (32.8) from the floor, including 3-for-14 (21.4) from three-point range. Montclair State was 33-for-64 (51.6) from the floor.

The Scarlet Raptors return to NJAC action Saturday with a 1 p.m. game at New Jersey City University.

ALEX KARRAS FINALLY VOTED INTO PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME

By Raymond Rolak

Sports Editor

NEW YORK–

The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio announced that Lions Defensive Tackle Alex Karras was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the 15-person Centennial Slate for the Class of 2020.

Alex Karras hosting Saturday Night Live in 1985 with guests Billy Crystal and Tina Turner.

This special added class into the Pro Football Hall of Fame was expanded to celebrate the National Football League Centennial.

Karras was known as the dominant defensive tackle of his time who utilized a variety of innovative moves and stunts to elude his blocking opponents.

Karras played for Detroit from 1958-70 and was named first-team All-Pro three times, earned four Pro Bowl berths and was a member of the NFL’s 1960s All-Decade Team.

He was selected by the Lions in the first round (10th overall) of the 1958 NFL Draft out of the University of Iowa.

Mrs. Martha Firestone Ford, the Lions owner and chairman said, “We would like to congratulate the entire Karras family on the selection of Alex into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

While we were thrilled to induct Alex into our most recent Pride of the Lions Class in 2018, today’s announcement solidifies his place as not only one of the all-time great Lions players, but also one of the best to ever play in the NFL.

We also would like to congratulate all of Alex’s fellow Centennial Slate Hall of Fame inductees.”

He also was a member of what many consider to be the NFL’s original “Fearsome Foursome” – Karras, Roger Brown, Darris McCord and Sam Williams.

These four defensive linemen dominated the NFL in the early 1960’s.

In 2018, along with Herman Moore and Roger Brown, the Lions inducted Karras into the ‘Pride of the Lions’, the highest honor bestowed upon former Detroit Lions players.

He was previously snubbed by the Pro Football Hall of Fame because of his NFL suspension in 1963.

Karras\’s partial ownership in Detroit\’s Lindell A.C. Bar became a source of controversy.

League officials urged him to sell his financial interests in the place because of reports of gambling and organized crime influence.

After first threatening to retire rather than give the bar up, Karras admitted placing bets on NFL games and was suspended by the league, along with Green Bay Packers\’ running back Paul Hornung.

The suspensions were harsh.

Both received banishment for one season.

During his exile, Karras had a celebrated pro wrestling match, taking on the memorable character, Dick-the-Bruiser, in front of a standing-room-only event at the Olympia Stadium in Detroit.

Karras\’ story telling skills and unique sense of humor came to the attention of writer George Plimpton.

Plimpton had heard many funny Karras stories while training with the Lions for his book

Paper Lion

When the book was made into a full featured movie in 1968, Karras made his film debut, playing himself.

The film premiered in Detroit on October 2, 1968 and starred Alan Alda.

That was the start of a new career for Karras.

In 1972, Karras hosted a local weekly football program for Windsor, Ontario CBC affiliate CKLW-TV,

The Alex Karras Football Show

; his program generally preceded the CBC\’s Wednesday night CFL telecasts.

A very memorable role came shortly after.

In the western parody and comedy,

Blazing Saddles

(1974), Karras played Mongo, a very strong and slow-witted thug.

Mongo rode into town on a huge Brahman Bull and knocked out a horse with one punch.

His famous line came next.

He responded to a question from the Sheriff with, \”Don\’t know …… Mongo only pawn in game of life.\”

The scene made pop-culture history.

Alex Karras was born on July 15, 1935 in Gary, Indiana.

Besides football, he excelled as an actor, sports broadcaster, author and producer.

Other hit credits also included

Porky\’s

(1981) and

Victor Victoria

(1982).

In the 1980s, Karras had huge success with the TV sitcom

Webster

, playing George Papadapolis.

It was the story of an inter-racial adoptive father and son.

It was a role that showcased his softer side.

Karras had a contentious relationship with his college coach, Forest Evashevski.

On Evy’s 90th birthday, Karras called his old coach and apologized for being such a ‘Malakas‘ (Greek for jerk), at Iowa.

Karras was very proud of his Greek heritage.

Karras was selected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1991.

He was married to the actress Susan Clark.

His first wife was Ivalyn Joan Jurgensen.

He had six children.

He died on October 10, 2012 of chronic kidney failure in Los Angeles, California.

Five Ways To Take Your Manufacturing Business To The Next Level

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(January 16, 2020)–There comes a time where every manufacturing business will be ready to reach the next level. Once you have found some stability and initial success, it is important to keep this positive momentum going so that you can continue to grow, develop and evolve.

It is easy for the competition to catch up when you stand still for too long in the business world, so an intelligent owner will always be aware of a few growth strategies that can be used to take the manufacturing company forward.

Here are a few effective strategies to consider if you are looking to reach new heights with your business.

1. Embrace New Technology

Technology has developed at a rapid rate in the last decade, and the manufacturing industry is one which has benefited greatly from this. This includes automation which can speed up the process, reduce errors and costs, while AI is a technology that is now also

being used heavily in this industry

2. Upgrade Equipment

Similarly, you are likely to find that there is new and better manufacturing equipment which could streamline the entire manufacturing process and make work much easier for staff. This might include finding high-quality

conveyors for sale

which can speed up the process, reduce errors and allow for a more efficient daily operation.

3. Add To Your Product Range

One of the smartest ways to take your manufacturing business to the next level is to add to your product range. This will help you to retain your existing customers as well as attract new ones, plus, it is also helpful for developing brand reputation and awareness.

The products that you add should keep your target customer in mind, and be complementary to your current range.

4. Hire The Right People

When first starting out, the recruitment process can often be rushed, but it will be hard to succeed if you do not have the right people in place. This is why you need to be intelligent with recruitment and take the time to find people that are skilled, experienced, and passionate about their work.

You then need to create a

positive working environment

and support staff so that you can retain your top performers and encourage people to work to the best of their ability each day.

5. Research The Competition

A smart business owner will always

keep a close eye on the competition

, so that they can learn from them and make informed business decisions. You should consider what your competitors are doing well, what mistakes they have made, and if there are any gaps in the market that you could fill. You must be careful not to copy intellectual property when learning from your competitors, but you should find that there will be something to learn from them.

If you want to take your manufacturing business to the next level, then these are the best strategies to do so.

Combining a few of these could have a huge impact on your success and help you to achieve your goals.

NEW JERSEY SPORTSBOOKS’ HOT DECEMBER PUSHES 2019 HANDLE TO MORE THAN $4.5 BILLION

Sportsbooks, online casinos combine to generate nearly $800 million in revenue during booming 2019, according to

PlayNJ.com

(ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.) — New Jersey’s sportsbooks and online casinos performed in December in much the same way they spent the rest of 2019: With new records and more growth. With a strong closing month, which included a near-record monthly sports betting handle, retail and online sportsbooks combined with online casinos and poker to generate nearly $800 million in revenue in 2019, sending New Jersey into 2020 with plenty of momentum, according to PlayNJ analysts.

“Online sports betting and casino gambling should continue on or near its current growth trajectory in 2020,” said Dustin Gouker, lead analyst for

PlayNJ.com

. “Online growth will continue to be a net win for New Jersey’s gaming industry.”

In December, New Jersey’s online and retail sportsbooks collected $557.8 million in bets, falling just short of the record $562.2 million handle set in November, according to official reporting released Tuesday. The December 2019 handle was up 74.7% from $319.2 million in December 2018.

Revenue from sportsbooks reached $29.4 million, down from $32.9 million in November and up 41.4% from $20.8 million won in December 2018. December’s revenue yielded $3.7 million in tax revenue for the state.

For 2019, New Jersey’s sportsbooks combined to generate:

$4.6 billion in bets. Of that $3.8 million, or 83.7%, was generated online.

Revenue of $299.4 million, including $244.5 million online.

State tax revenue of $36.5 million.

In a neck-and-neck race since summer 2019 to be the country’s largest legal sports betting jurisdiction, New Jersey will fall short of Nevada in annual handle. Nevada has generated $4.7 billion in bets through November.

“2019 could very well go down as the last year that New Jersey was eclipsed by Nevada,” said Eric Ramsey, analyst for

PlayNJ.com

said. “From its proximity to the New York market to its pioneering online sports betting infrastructure, New Jersey’s positives as a sports betting market will continue to fuel its growth.”

In December, online betting generated $488.9 million, or 87.6% of the state’s handle, up from 86.5% in November.

FanDuel Sportsbook/PointsBet continues to lead the market, tallying $12.1 million in gross revenue, down from $12.2 million in November. Anchored by DraftKings and Fox Bet, Resorts Digital generated $9.3 million, up from $9.1 million. The online market leaders were followed by:

Monmouth/William Hill/Sugarhouse/TheScore ($1.9 million, even with November)

Ocean Casino/William Hill ($1.2 million, down from $2.1 million in November)

BetMGM/Borgata ($995,096, down from $1.3 million)

Golden Nugget/BetAmerica ($102,524, down from $163,863)

Caesars Sportsbook/888sport ($64,759, down from $455,553)

Tropicana/William Hill ($32,958, down from $71,706)

Hard Rock/Bet365/Unibet (-$294,442, down from $517,252)

FanDuel Sportsbook at The Meadowlands posted $2.4 million in November gross revenue, down from $2.7 million in November, to retain the retail market lead. FanDuel was followed in gross revenue by:

Borgata ($1.3 million, up from $734,240 in November)

Monmouth Park ($617,410, down from $664,468)

Bally’s AC ($108,437, down from $252,778)

Tropicana Casino ($71,460, down from $108,392)

Golden Nugget ($66,306, down from $163,863)

Hard Rock AC (-$51,182, down from $19,837)

Ocean Casino (-$68,035, down from $492,357)

Harrah’s AC (-$107,646, down from $22,565)

Resorts AC (-$406,493, down from $51,278)

“In addition to constant growth, one of the constants in New Jersey’s sports betting market has been FanDuel’s dominance,” Gouker said. “The brands under Resorts Digital have made it a relatively close second in the online market, but it has proven difficult to overcome FanDuel’s advantages, despite the brand recognition that comes from DraftKings and Fox Bet.”

DECEMBER PUSHES ONLINECASINOS TO NEARLY $500 MILLION IN ANNUAL REVENUE

New Jersey’s online casino and poker industry nearly surpassed $50 million in monthly revenue for the first time in December, completing a year of incredible expansion. Online casino games and poker generated a record $49.3 million in December, up 70% from $29 million in December 2018.

Such growth is hardly an outlier. For the year, online casinos and poker generated a record $482.7 million, up 61.6% from $298.7 million in 2018. And online casinos set monthly revenue records eight times throughout the year.

“Online casino gambling has clearly become one of the biggest winners from online sports betting,” Ramsey said. “In a highly competitive market such as online casino gambling, the cross-selling of online gambling products has successfully kept customers playing.”

Some other important online casino and poker data from the December report:

Online casinos injected $7.4 million into state coffers in December and $72.5 million for the year.

The Golden Nugget, the unrivaled online market leader, took in $17.3 million, outpacing its land-based counterpart ($14.3 million) for the third consecutive month.

The industry generated a $1.6 million per day during the 31 days in December, up from $935,750 per day in December 2018.

Online casino games generated $47.6 million in December, even with November. Online poker posted $1.7 million, up from $1.5 million.

For more information and analysis on regulated sports betting and online gaming in New Jersey, visit

PlayNJ.com/news

About the

PlayUSA.com

Network:

The

PlayUSA.com

Network is a leading source for news, analysis, and research related to the market for regulated online gaming in the United States. With a presence in over a dozen states,

PlayUSA.com

and its state-focused branches (including

PlayNJ.com

and

PlayPennsylvania.com

) produce daily original reporting, publish in-depth research, and offer player advocacy tools related to the advancement of safe, licensed, and legal online gaming options for consumers. Based in Las Vegas, the PlayUSA Network is independently owned and operated, with no affiliations to any casino — commercial, tribal, online, or otherwise.

DEP MODIFIES HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM GRANT PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS,

EXTENDS DEADLINE TO PROVIDE MORE FLEXIBILITY TO APPLICANTS

TRENTON – The Department of Environmental Protection has extended by 15 days the deadline for submission of applications for a $2.5 million grant program to fund projects to help reduce the occurrence of harmful algal blooms in the state.

The decision to extend the deadline for the harmful algal bloom management grant program to Jan. 27 follows a meeting last month with potential applicants who were looking for more financial flexibility and improved guidance in order to quickly implement projects to mitigate and/or control harmful algal blooms, also known as HABs.

As a result of this meeting, the DEP has published an updated notice that now allows in-kind services provided by applicants to be credited toward the program\’s matching-fund grant eligibility requirement, thus helping local governments that are working on finalizing operating budgets for this year. The DEP has also provided examples for clarity on what constitutes an eligible match, including short-term operation and maintenance of the demonstration project.

\”Reducing the impacts these blooms have on public health, the environment and our economy is of utmost importance to the state,\” Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe said. \”We fully understand the current budget planning needs of municipalities and counties that are interested in applying for grants and are committed to working closely with them to get these projects launched as soon as possible.\”

In November, Governor Murphy announced a comprehensive harmful algal bloom strategy that includes $13.5 million in funding for local projects that will improve water quality and help prevent, mitigate and manage harmful algal blooms in lakes and ponds.

This effort earmarks $10 million in Clean Water State Revolving Fund money as principal-forgiveness (grant-like) funding for projects that address HABs by improving water quality. The administration is also providing $3.5 million from two grant programs for projects addressing harmful algal blooms.

Specifically, the modifications apply to the $2.5 million harmful algal bloom management grant program, in which the state provides $2 in funding for every $1 invested by the applicant.

In-kind services directly related to the proposed project may now be used to count toward the local match for these projects, but applicants are advised that this may change in possible future grant opportunities and that they should begin budgetary planning accordingly.

Harmful algal blooms, also known as HABs, are not true algal blooms. Rather, they are caused by naturally occurring cyanobacteria that can reproduce to unhealthful levels under certain conditions, including sunlight, nutrients from sources such as fertilizers and improperly operating septic systems, warm weather and stagnant water. They frequently form dense mats, resembling pea soup or spilled paint.

Exposure to blooms can result in a range of health effects, including rashes, allergy-like reactions, flu-like symptoms, gastroenteritis, respiratory irritation and eye irritation. Exposure to a bloom that is actively producing cyanotoxins may result in more serious health effects, including liver toxicity and neurological effects.

People, pets and wildlife are susceptible to adverse health effects if they come into contact with or ingest water that is experiencing a bloom. For more information on harmful algal blooms, visit

www.state.nj.us/dep/hab

In all, more than 70 suspected blooms were reported last year, with 39 confirmed. These blooms resulted in health and water-contact advisories, closures of bathing beaches and, in some cases, had direct impacts on tourism-related businesses.

The Nation’ Names Elie Mystal Justice Correspondent and Ken Klippenstein DC Correspondent

Mystal and Klippenstein join a world class line-up of political writers and thinkers poised to deliver landmark coverage of the 2020 election and the lasting impacts of the Trump administration’s policy-making.

This release was also just published

here

New York, NY—January 15, 2020—

The Nation

, America’s leading source of progressive politics and culture, marks the new year with the appointment of

Elie Mystal

(

@ElieNYC

/ New York, NY) as justice correspondent and

Ken Klippenstein

(

@kenklippenstein

/ Washington, DC) as DC correspondent.

“Elie’s talent for making legal and political issues accessible to non-lawyers, without losing the nuance of core legal concepts, has made him an indispensable resource to

Nation

readers and the larger public,” says

Nation

editor D.D. Guttenplan. “He navigates political waters with an eloquence and ferocity unique in this moment, and I\’m delighted he\’s signed on to our masthead. I’m also particularly pleased to welcome Ken, who on his resume describes himself as ‘a bloodhound who enjoys sniffing out scoops’—a fitting successor to a job once held by I.F. Stone.”

“

The Nation

has always been at the heart of the debate on the left about how to best advance the cause of social progress and justice,” says Mystal. “In late republic America, that progress now calls for nothing less than the defeat of authoritarianism.

The Nation

stands against America’s state-sponsored propaganda, and I am honored to add my voice and be counted among those who will never be cowed by the bullying, disinformation, and lies that Republicans think counts as an agenda.”

“It’s both exciting and a little surreal, in our age of ephemeral web media clickbait farms, to join an outlet that is older than many of the federal agencies about which I’ll be reporting; and in all that time has maintained a firm commitment to progressive values,” adds Klippenstein.

The Nation

’s robust political coverage during the Trump administration has won awards and accolades, exposed widespread injustices, and spoken truth to power to champion progressive ideals. While mainstream media analysis focuses on the polls and candidates’ “likability,”

The Nation

’s team continues to offer insight into the ideas and issues—from racial justice and health care reform to the climate crisis and corporate corruption to moving away from endless war and reimagining our foreign policy—that Americans care about most.

In his new role, Elie Mystal, a prolific writer on politics, culture, law, and racial justice, who in 2019 published two

Nation

cover

stories

tackling the Trump courts head on, will increase his output exclusively for

The Nation

. In addition to writing regular commentary for

TheNation.com

and occasional features for the print edition of the magazine, he will bring his keen legal mind and pointed pen to debut a new monthly column, “Objection!”—providing incisive, unparalleled analysis on a whole range of issues related to justice. In addition to courts, the law, and the judiciary, his mandate will also cover the institutions of law enforcement and our political system more broadly. Mystal’s first article for

The Nation

in his new capacity is “

Why Was Pete Buttigieg Still on the Debate Stage—And Kamala Harris Wasn’t?

”

The outgoing executive editor of

Above the Law

, a legal website offering news, insights, and opinions on law firms, lawyers, law schools, and lawsuits, Mystal is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School and a former associate at Debevoise & Plimpton. He is a frequent guest on MSNBC and SiriusXM.

Ken Klippenstein’s reporting focuses on the machinations of the American national security state. Through aggressive use of the Freedom of Information Act and a robust network of government sources, he will provide readers with a warts-and-all look at how our government’s most secretive agencies, from the FBI to the Pentagon, operate. At

The Nation

, Klippenstein will also use his investigative know-how to document under-the-radar politics and policies enacted by the Trump administration.

Klippenstein was previously senior investigative reporter for

The Young Turks

, and a frequent contributor to the

Daily Beast

. His reporting has been referenced by

The New York Times

The Washington Post

and

The Atlantic

, and cited by Congress—including, in one instance, to grill FBI Director Wray.

Mystal and Klippenstein join a world class line-up of political writers and thinkers poised to deliver landmark coverage of the 2020 election, the Trump impeachment scandal, and the more lasting impacts of policy decision-making that go beyond the omnipresent distractions of this president’s administration and Twitter takes. They will be part of the growing and diverse chorus of

Nation

writers, columnists, and editors providing in-depth reporting and commentary for 2020 and beyond, unpacking and analyzing every twist and turn of political theater. These include national-affairs correspondents Jeet Heer, John Nichols, and Joan Walsh; long-time columnists Eric Alterman, Laila Lalami, and Katha Pollitt; and correspondents Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, Zoë Carpenter, Stephen F. Cohen, Bryce Covert, Ben Ehrenreich, Greg Grandin, Mark Hertsgaard, Jane McAlevey, Dani McClain, Dave Zirin, and more.

For interview requests or further information, please see contact information above.

ABOUT:

Founded by abolitionists in 1865,

The Nation

has chronicled the breadth and depth of political and cultural life, from the debut of the telegraph to the rise of Twitter, serving as a critical, independent, and progressive voice in American journalism.

How to Take Care of Your Backyard

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(January 16, 2020)–When you have a backyard in your home, it’s crucial that you take care of it. The last thing you are going to want is a patch of overgrown mess behind your property. Not only will this look bad, but you won’t be able to use it to its full advantage either. When guests come over you’ll be embarrassed about the look of your yard, and the longer you leave it, the harder it will be to tidy.

image courtesy of unsplash.com

Many people don’t really know how to take care of a backyard. They may never have had one before, or perhaps someone else always looked after it in the past. It could be that you don’t have a ‘green thumb’ and you’re just not confident in yard work. However, it isn’t so difficult to keep your yard looking neat and tidy and usable. Here are some tips.

Get Help

The first thing to do when you have a backyard that needs taking care of is to work out which jobs you can do yourself and which you are going to need professional assistance with. It will depend on your level of physical fitness, your budget, and how much time you have. You could get a gardener in to do all the work, or you might just want a

tree company Lake Mary

to come in and ensure the trees in your yard are safe and tidy.

This is the first step you should think about when you want to take care of your yard. Once you know what you need to do and what someone else can do, you can determine a plan of action to get it all completed in a reasonable time frame.

Keep it Clear

It’s easy for a backyard to become full of debris and trash over time. If you’re renovating the interior of your home, for example, your yard could be where you store your equipment and everything that really needs to go to the dump. Or it might be that you have children and they leave their toys and games all over the lawn.

The debris in your yard might not even be manmade. Leaves that fall can turn into mulch and become slippery and unsightly, so making sure you

rake them up

and remove them is important.

The clearer your yard is, the more enjoyable it will be. Even if you don’t do anything else to it, keeping the trash out of your yard is a good idea.

Use Fertilizer

If you really want to take care of your yard then using fertilizer to ensure the plants, flowers, fruit, vegetables, saplings — or anything else you might choose to plant outside — grow well is a great option.

Fertilizer gives your backyard the right amount of extra nutrients that it can’t get elsewhere, and this stimulates growth. To have your backyard looking its best, fertilizer is always going to work for you, and it’s cheap too — if you can speak to a farmer or stables about collecting their

horse manure

, you might even get it for free.