Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire: 8/11/19

Thursday, August 15, 2019

NRC Public Meeting Regarding Diablo Canyon 08 27 19

Attached find the official NRC announcement of a public meeting
regarding the proposed decommissioning of Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP)
in 2025.

This meeting will occur on Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at the SLO County
Government Center from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Please attend this meeting and
speak up for saving DCPP.

PUBLIC MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT
Meeting Near Diablo Canyon Power Plant on the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (NEIMA) Section 108
August 27, 2019, 06:00 PM to 09:00 PM
County Government Center, Board of Supervisors Chambers 1055 Monterey Street
San Luis Obispo, CA

This is a Category 3 meeting. Public participation is actively sought for this meeting to fully engage the public in a discussion of regulatory issues.

To assist the NRC staff in identifying best practices and lessons learned for establishment and operation of local community advisory boards (CABs) associated with power reactor decommissioning activities.

John Hickman 301-415-3017 john.hickman@nrc.gov
NRC

Marlayna Doell 301-415-3178 marlayna.doell@nrc.gov

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Region IV
Office of Public Affairs
Office of Congressional Affairs

05000275
05000323

A questionnaire will be available at the meeting to solicit information on specific topics that NEIMA Section 108 requires the NRC to include in a report to Congress on this topic.
Please submit any special accommodation requests (e.g., need for a sign language interpreter, closed captioning, etc.) as soon as possible to the meeting contact.
All times are local to the meeting venue. This meeting may close early based on participation.

PUBLIC MEETING AGENDA
Meeting Near Diablo Canyon Power Plant on the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (NEIMA) Section 108
August 27, 2019, 06:00 PM to 09:00 PM
County Government Center, Board of Supervisors Chambers 1055 Monterey Street
San Luis Obispo, CA

The time of the meeting is local to the jurisdiction where the meeting is being held.

The NRC provides reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities where appropriate. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in this meeting, or if a meeting notice, transcript, or other information from this meeting is needed in another format (e.g., Braille, large print), please notify the NRC meeting contact. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
ADAMS Accession Number: ML19219B389
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
Link to meeting details: https://www.nrc.gov/pmns/mtg?do=details&Code=20190861

Gas Flaring “Running Rampant” In The Permian | OilPrice.com

Gas Flaring “Running Rampant” In The Permian | OilPrice.com: Gas flaring in the Permian basin is “running rampant,” and may not be fully resolved even after new gas pipelines come online

The Dangers of Moving Too Rashly to Renewables | RealClearEnergy

The Dangers of Moving Too Rashly to Renewables | RealClearEnergy: The Dangers of Moving Too Rashly to Renewables | RealClearEnergy

Radiation up to '16 times' the norm near Russia blast site

Radiation up to '16 times' the norm near Russia blast site: Moscow (AFP) Aug 13, 2019 - Radiation levels were up to 16 times the norm in a nearby town after an explosion at a Russian missile testing site, the national weather service said Tuesday.

When Will All the Ice in the Arctic Be Gone? - Scientific American

When Will All the Ice in the Arctic Be Gone? - Scientific American: Scientific American is the essential guide to the most awe-inspiring advances in science and technology, explaining how they change our understanding of the world and shape our lives.

The 4th Generation | The Women of Nuclear Energy

The 4th Generation | The Women of Nuclear Energy: Attend some nuclear industry conferences, take a look at the speakers lists, visit a nuclear lab or a nuclear power plant or a university nuclear engineering faculty or a federal ministry office: you will see that all these places are increasingly populated by women. The nuclear energy industry, like many conventional industries, is evolving. It …

Growing Populations: Time to Talk about Nuclear Power?

Video of Growing Populations: Time to Talk about Nuclear Power?

14 August 2019

Producer: IAEA Multimedia

The IAEA is organizing the 2019 International Conference on Climate Change and the Role of Nuclear Power in Vienna from 7 to 11 October 2019.
The conference will provide a platform to discuss objectively the scientific and technical aspects of the role of nuclear power in combating climate change.
Topics covered in the conference will include: challenges and opportunities for existing nuclear power plants with respect to their continuous contribution to the avoidance of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; factors necessary to support high rates of deployment, including for advanced nuclear power technologies, consistent with achieving the climate change goals, including those established in the Paris Agreement, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely Goal 7 (Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all) and Goal 13 (Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts); and the prospects for synergies between nuclear power and other low carbon energy sources.

NRC Certifies HI-STAR 100MB Nuclear Fuel Transporting System - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers

NRC Certifies HI-STAR 100MB Nuclear Fuel Transporting System - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers: The latest nuclear news in Nuclear Power Industry about utilities, companies, suppliers in the nuclear energy market.

Oil Is At The Center Of The 2020 Elections | OilPrice.com

Oil Is At The Center Of The 2020 Elections | OilPrice.com: Oil prices rallied back early this week as the White House postponed additional tariffs on China, but the demand growth outlook remains weak

Strengthening International Standards for Nuclear Safety: IAEA Safety Publications Restructured

Nathalie Mikhailova, IAEA Office of Public Information and Communication

Achieving high levels of safety in the many areas in which countries use nuclear technologies requires a robust and comprehensive international safety framework. The IAEA this year completed a structural revision that has further strengthened the IAEA safety standards, a series of publications which outline the international consensus recommendations for protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.
The IAEA safety standards highlight how authorities and other stakeholders can ensure the safety of activities such as the operation of nuclear installations, transport and use of radioactive material, management of radioactive waste, as well as the application of radiation sources in medicine, industry, agriculture, education and research. Developed in close cooperation with governments and organizations, the contents of these publications are the result of knowledge and experience gained from the use of nuclear technologies and from the application of the safety standards themselves.
The standards consist of three sets of publications: the Safety Fundamentals, the Safety Requirements and the Safety Guides. The first of these establishes the fundamental safety objective and principles of protection and safety and constitutes the conceptual basis for the IAEA's entire safety standards series. The Safety Requirements set out the conditions that must be met to ensure the protection of people and the environment, both now and in the future, and the Safety Guides provide recommendations and guidance on how to comply with the requirements.
The revision of the standards’ structure has increased their user friendliness, harmonized terminology and improved methods for collecting feedback, strengthening the standards and promoting their universal application. The publication of the new Site Evaluation for Nuclear Installations in 2019 marks the completion of the whole set of Requirements in line with the revised long-term structure.
The revised structure comprises seven General Safety Requirements that are applicable to all facilities and activities and seven Specific Safety Requirements, which are facility and activity specific.
“The safety standards underpin global nuclear safety, so we need them to be excellent. And they are – in part thanks to the work of our Member States,” said Juan Carlos Lentijo, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security. “The new structure makes it easier for users to identify which standards apply to their facilities and activities.”
As a part of the revision, the format of the publications themselves was also reformed, with each Safety Requirement now containing a set of overarching requirements, each of which is followed by more detailed requirements that describe the conditions to be met.
“What is significant about this new structure is the improved stability and solidity of the standards themselves,” said Dominique Delattre, Head of the IAEA’s Safety Standards and Security Guidance Development Section. “This project entailed not only integrating new definitions and concepts in radiation protection and lessons learned in recent years, but also ensuring strengthened harmony among the standards, further integrating the various thematic areas covered in these publications.”
“We have arrived at the long-term structure thanks to an elaborate consulting process with experts from countries all over the world, taking tens of thousands of comments into account,” he said. “This kind of engagement is crucial to improving user-friendliness and therefore promoting the role of the standards as the global reference. We will maintain this intensive engagement during the ongoing revision of the Safety Guides that support the Requirements.”
The IAEA has also recently published a new edition of its Safety Glossary, which defines and explains technical terms used in the Standards, as well as provides information on their usage. The Glossary aims to harmonize all terminology and its usage in practice.
The IAEA has also developed an advanced online search tool, the Nuclear Safety and Security Online User Interface (NSS-OUI), which allows users to easily access and browse the content of the IAEA’s safety publications as a complete set and search for specific keywords or text in order to find specific requirements, recommendations and guidance related to selected subject areas or concepts.

Reactor Vessel For MBIR Fast Neutron Research Reactor Passes Hydraulic Tests :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency

Reactor Vessel For MBIR Fast Neutron Research Reactor Passes Hydraulic Tests :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency: The reactor vessel for the MBIR multipurpose fast neutron research reactor in Russia has passed hydraulic tests at AEM Technologies in Volgodonsk, state nuclear corporation Rosatom said.

Rosatom said the tests – one of the key steps in manufacturing a reactor – had confirmed the strength of the vessel and the quality of all welds.

Rosatom gave no details of the construction schedule for the MBIR plant but reports in Russia earlier this year said it would begin operation in 2024.

Net zero carbon emissions ‘impossible’ without hydrogen says UK energy alliance - Power Engineering

Net zero carbon emissions ‘impossible’ without hydrogen says UK energy alliance - Power Engineering: The UK’s North West Hydrogen Alliance (NWHA) is calling for government investment in hydrogen projects to meet ambitious carbon reductions targets in Britain.

A hotter planet will make solar power less efficient

Photovoltaic cells are notoriously sensitive to temperature. Now a new study reveals how global warming will reduce output across the globe by 2100.

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/614140/a-hotter-planet-will-make-solar-power-less-efficient/

The Fastest Growing Energy Producer In The World | OilPrice.com

The Fastest Growing Energy Producer In The World | OilPrice.com: Production growth is a key performance indicator for E&P companies, and Russian energy giant Gazprom is leading the charge

California city stays course on gas-fired repowering project - Power Engineering

California city stays course on gas-fired repowering project - Power Engineering: The city’s utility division plans to replace most of the plant with new equipment and a combination of combined-cycle and simple cycle gas turbine generation units.

NRC and CNSC Sign Historic Memorandum to Enhance Technical Reviews of Advanced/Small Modular Reactor Technologies

No: 19- 037 August 15, 2019CONTACT: Office of Public Affairs, 301-415-8200
NRC and CNSC Sign Historic Memorandum to Enhance Technical Reviews of Advanced/Small Modular Reactor Technologies

https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/news/2019/19-037.pdf

Koch Exits Canadian Oil Sands | OilPrice.com

Koch Exits Canadian Oil Sands | OilPrice.com: Koch Industries has sold its oil sands assets to Canadian Cavalier Energy, the Financial Post reports, noting that the deal closed two months ago

Reminder of October Deadline to File Injury or Loss Claims Resulting from Northern California Fires | Energy Central

California sues Trump administration over rollback of Obama clean energy rules | Energy Central

US Agriculture allocates $181 million in funding for smart energy upgrades | Energy Central

The new nuclear option: small, safe and cheap

The new nuclear option: small, safe and cheap: Can an emerging generation of small-scale reactors overcome Australians' resistance to nuclear power?

Texas Power Grid Operator Declares Level 1 Emergency Amid "Extreme Heat" | Zero Hedge

Texas Power Grid Operator Declares Level 1 Emergency Amid "Extreme Heat" | Zero Hedge: "That should be the highest price of the year so far."

Nuclear Plant Where U.S. Flirted With Its Own Chernobyl to Close - Bloomberg

Nuclear Plant Where U.S. Flirted With Its Own Chernobyl to Close - Bloomberg: Three Mile Island turned the nation against nuclear energy. Now the notorious complex is closing just as some say it still has a role to play.

Experts to review mine design at US nuclear waste dump | KRQE News 13

Experts to review mine design at US nuclear waste dump | KRQE News 13: CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — The contractor that manages the federal government’s nuclear waste repository in southern New Mexico has assembled a panel of experts to review the effectiveness of ground control and mine design at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. Officials with Nuclear Waste Partnership say the experts’ recommendations will help ensure worker safety and […] | Local News from KRQE News 13 in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Murkowski to Release ‘Strategic Energy for America Act’ for Global Project Financing

Is This The Key To Commercial Nuclear Fusion? | OilPrice.com

Is This The Key To Commercial Nuclear Fusion? | OilPrice.com: Nuclear fusion has been hailed the “Holy Grail” of energy science, and with the help of artificial intelligence, we could be closer than ever to making it a reality

Editorial: Feds finally made good on one nuclear promise to SC. That's not enough. | Editorials | postandcourier.com

Editorial: Feds finally made good on one nuclear promise to SC. That's not enough. | Editorials | postandcourier.com: It’s encouraging that the federal government finally managed to sneak a second half a metric ton of deadly plutonium out of South Carolina.

Nuclear Power: Clean & Reliable Energy U.S. Should Embrace | National Review

Nuclear Power: Clean & Reliable Energy U.S. Should Embrace | National Review: As electricity becomes ever more important to the U.S. economy, with many politicians demanding electrification to combat climate change, nuclear power should take center stage because it is both clean and reliable.

60% of spent nuclear fuel in Japan to be stored in metal casks in the future, research shows | The Japan Times

60% of spent nuclear fuel in Japan to be stored in metal casks in the future, research shows | The Japan Times: Over 60 percent of the some 15,200 tons of spent nuclear fuel in Japan could be stored in metal casks in the future, as the cooling pools that currently ho

Native American tribe claims nuclear waste can't be stored on its land - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper

Native American tribe claims nuclear waste can't be stored on its land - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper: To the Western Shoshone, most of Nevada isn’t Nevada. At least not in the current sense. More than 150 years after the first treaty between the Western Shoshone and the federal ...

Experts to review mine design at US nuclear waste dump

Experts to review mine design at US nuclear waste dump: CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — The contractor that manages the federal government's nuclear waste repository in southern New Mexico has assembled a panel of experts to review the effectiveness of ground...

Federal appeals court dismisses Nevada's SRS plutonium arguments | News | aikenstandard.com

Reactor innovation center to come to INL | Government | postregister.com

Reactor innovation center to come to INL | Government | postregister.com: Idaho National Laboratory could be the center of nuclear reactor development in America for decades to come, the U.S. Department of Energy announced Wednesday.

Sellafield launches repackaging of plutonium canisters - World Nuclear News

Sellafield launches repackaging of plutonium canisters - World Nuclear News: Work has started on a five-year GBP1 billion (USD1.21 billion) programme to address an identified degradation risk in a small proportion of plutonium canisters stored at Sellafield in northwest England and dating from about 50 years ago. The start has been announced with the opening and repackaging of one such can for the first time.

WANO completes technical support mission at Leningrad II-2 - World Nuclear News

WANO completes technical support mission at Leningrad II-2 - World Nuclear News: Experts from the Moscow Centre of the World Association of Nuclear Operators have completed a technical support mission at unit 2 of the Leningrad Phase II nuclear power plant under construction in northwest Russia.

US DOE orders exascale computer - World Nuclear News

US DOE orders exascale computer - World Nuclear News: The US Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration has signed a USD600 million contract with Cray Inc to build its first exascale supercomputer, El Capitan. The computer will be housed at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California.

Preparing Ukraine’s next nuclear generation | KyivPost - Ukraine's Global Voice

Preparing Ukraine’s next nuclear generation | KyivPost - Ukraine's Global Voice: WASHINGTON — A conference this month in the U.S. furthered vital plans for America to help Ukraine prepare the next generation of nuclear scientists ready to operate the country’s aging nuclear reactors and replace them with new ones. George Washington University and Virginia Tech hosted a two-day workshop that brought together top academics and researchers …

Fusion: A Giant Step for Energy

Fusion: A Giant Step for Energy: One very, very hot bottle

What Russia's Nuclear Explosion Reveals About the Arms Race | Time

What Russia's Nuclear Explosion Reveals About the Arms Race | Time: "Accidents happen," said Russian President Vladimir Putin of the military explosion. But this wasn't simply a case of rotten luck

Official source: Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant has the safest design of its kind in the world - Egypt Independent

Official source: Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant has the safest design of its kind in the world - Egypt Independent: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reviewed the Dabaa project’s safety measures in Egypt, said an official source with the Nuclear Power Plants Authority, adding that Dabaa has the safest design of its kind in the world. The source added that Egypt is particularly keen to secure safety measures for the plant, and that’s why it … Continued

Latvia eyes electricity from Belarus nuclear plant - Emerging Europe | News, Intelligence, Community

U.S. Blacklists China Nuclear Firms Accused of Aiding Military - Bloomberg

U.S. Blacklists China Nuclear Firms Accused of Aiding Military - Bloomberg: The U.S. added four Chinese nuclear entities to a trade blacklist, accusing them of helping to acquire advanced U.S. technology for military use in China.

Army, Contractor Begin Planning to Dismantle Deactivated Fort Greely Nuclear Power Plant | KUAC

Army, Contractor Begin Planning to Dismantle Deactivated Fort Greely Nuclear Power Plant | KUAC: The Army Corps of Engineers is moving ahead on a project to decommission the mothballed nuclear-power plant at Fort Greely. A team from the agency has just

The rebirth of nuclear power could come from Bellevue, if Congress approves | Crosscut

The rebirth of nuclear power could come from Bellevue, if Congress approves | Crosscut: A decade after it was founded, TerraPower has been thwarted by the Trump Administration’s China policy. Now it’s banking on Plan B.

Nuclear Plant Where U.S. Flirted With Its Own Chernobyl to Close - Bloomberg

Meltdown averted: How VR headsets are making nuclear power plants safer | ZDNet

Meltdown averted: How VR headsets are making nuclear power plants safer | ZDNet: Simulations are increasingly used to put front line employees through disaster scenarios.

Moderator for Environmental Degradation meeting Opening Plenary announced

The 19th International Conference on Environmental Degradation of Materials in Nuclear Power Systems - Water Reactor

August 18-22, 2019 | Seaport Hotel and World Trade Center | Boston, MA

Dr. Baranwal to moderate Opening Plenary

Join colleagues from around the world next week at the 19th International Conference on Environmental Degradation of Materials in Nuclear Power Systems - Water Reactor. The meeting takes place August 18-22 at the Seaport Boston Hotel.

It's not too late to register and reserve your hotel room. ANS members save $200. Not a member? Join today.

Learn new details about the Opening Plenary session, moderated by Dr. Rita Baranwal, and taking place from 8-10 am on Monday, August 19:

Opening Plenary:
Regulatory Perspectives on Challenges Stemming from Modernization of Nuclear Energy
A three-person, moderated panel consisting of high-level representatives from the U.S., United Kingdom and Canada will discuss the unique regulatory challenges that arise from advancements in technologies, including advanced materials and processing techniques, that are integral to nuclear reactor primary and secondary systems.

Moderator:
Dr. Rita Baranwal, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Nuclear Energy, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

Dr. Baranwal leads the office's efforts to promote research and development (R&D) on existing and advanced nuclear technologies that sustain the existing U.S. fleet of nuclear reactors, enable the deployment of advanced nuclear energy systems, and enhance the U.S.A.'s global commercial nuclear energy competitiveness.

Panelists:
Raj Iyengar, US NRC
Mark Foy, UK Regulator
Ramsay Jammal, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

Learn more at envdeg.ans.org

NUCLEAR: NRC holds first hearing for small modular reactor site -- Thursday, August 15, 2019 -- www.eenews.net E&E News -- Start a free trial

NUCLEAR: NRC holds first hearing for small modular reactor site -- Thursday, August 15, 2019 -- www.eenews.net E&E News -- Start a free trial: A Nuclear Regulatory Commission meeting yesterday turned a new page for preliminary plans to develop small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) at a site near Oak Ridge, Tenn.

NRC Schedules Meetings on Decommissioning Advisory Boards - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1

NRC Schedules Meetings on Decommissioning Advisory Boards - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1: ExchangeMonitor covers nuclear weapons, waste management, nuclear cleanup, international intelligence as well as carbon capture and storage.

Lack of Pilgrim emergency funding worries legislators - News - capecodtimes.com - Hyannis, MA

Lack of Pilgrim emergency funding worries legislators - News - capecodtimes.com - Hyannis, MA: Amendment stripped from state budget that would pay for protections for neighboring towns.

NRC set to approve Pilgrim's sale, license transfer - News - Wicked Local Plymouth - Plymouth, MA

NRC set to approve Pilgrim's sale, license transfer - News - Wicked Local Plymouth - Plymouth, MA: BOSTON - Federal nuclear energy regulators are prepared to approve the sale and license transfer of Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth to a company that intends to conduct an "accelerated decommissioning" of the now-shuttered plant.
Entergy, which bought Pilgrim from Boston Edison in 1999, is seeking to sell the plant to Holtec International. In past filings with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Holtec laid out the process its subsidiary would use to decommission the power plant and

In defense of Ohio's bailout of nuclear, and other, generating stations

http://coldair.luftonline.net/2019/08/in-defense-of-ohios-bailout-of-nuclear.html?fbclid=IwAR1iQ5_-sBPQgQufNV2EPWi_IktI6jWy-lSTS56QAv_dCiFw3tdYkJX2Gh0

FAA Bans Certain Laptops from Flights after Recall

(Our product safety information is produced by our editors and some content sourced from information provided by the respective company directly and government regulatory agencies. If this is a recall we encourage you to contact the company directly for complete information.)

According to FAA regulations "If a product that is dangerous goods or that contains a dangerous goods component (e.g., battery) is subject to a safety recall related to the dangerous goods, it must not be carried aboard an aircraft or in baggage unless the recalled product/component has been replaced or repaired or otherwise made safe per manufacturer/vendor instructions. The FAA and your airline may offer further public guidance on individual recalled products."
The FAA has banned the following Apple MacBook Pro Laptops from checked or carry-on baggage in accordance with the above regulation.
15-inch MacBook Pro Battery Recall Program

Apple has determined that, in a limited number of older generation 15-inch MacBook Pro units, the battery may overheat and pose a fire safety risk. Affected units were sold primarily between September 2015 and February 2017 and product eligibility is determined by the product serial number.
Customer safety is always Apple's top priority, and we have voluntarily decided to replace affected batteries, free of charge.

Eligibility

First check to see which 15-inch MacBook Pro you have.
Confirm your model is "MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)."

If your MacBook Pro is eligible, please stop using it and follow the instructions below to have your battery replaced.

Replacement Process

Choose one of the service options below to have your battery replaced. In all cases, your device will be sent to an Apple Repair Center for service. Your MacBook Pro will be examined prior to any service to verify that it is eligible for this program. Service may take 1-2 weeks.

Find an Apple Authorized Service Provider.
Make an appointment at an Apple Retail Store.
Contact Apple Support to arrange mail-in service via the Apple Repair Center.

To prepare your MacBook Pro for service, please back up your data.

This program is for battery replacement only. Please contact Apple Support and speak with an Advisor if you would like to arrange paid service for any additional issue.

Additional Information

This worldwide Apple program doesn't extend the standard warranty coverage of the 15-inch MacBook Pro.
This program does not affect your statutory or warranty rights.

Information as of 2019-06-20, Apple

‘Stunning’ Poll Results Show Canadian Public ‘Ahead of Our Politics’ on Climate Action | The Energy Collective Daily

‘Stunning’ Poll Results Show Canadian Public ‘Ahead of Our Politics’ on Climate Action | Energy Central

Netanyahu backtracks after pressure from Trump, bars Omar, Tlaib from entering Israel - Israel News - Haaretz.com

Netanyahu backtracks after pressure from Trump, bars Omar, Tlaib from entering Israel - Israel News - Haaretz.com: Barring Congresswoman would greatly damage Israel's relations with Democratic party, Israeli diplomats warn ■ Trump tweets allowing their visit is 'great show of weakness'

U.S. Views of China Amid Trade War Turn Sharply Negative | Pew Research Center

U.S. Views of China Amid Trade War Turn Sharply Negative | Pew Research Center: Unfavorable opinion of China in the U.S. is at its highest level in 14 years of polling. Americans also increasingly see China as a threat, and more than half see friction in the current bilateral economic relationship.

Kayden wasn’t expected to make it to his first birthday; now he's a high school graduate — Aleteia

Kayden wasn’t expected to make it to his first birthday; now he's a high school graduate — Aleteia: Kayden McClanahan was born with Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18), and his parents were told he wasn't expected to live, or if he did, to live a life worth living. Today, he has health problems, but he's a happy 18-year-old.

Tomgram: Rebecca Gordon, How the U.S. Created the Central American Immigration Crisis | TomDispatch

Tomgram: Rebecca Gordon, How the U.S. Created the Central American Immigration Crisis | TomDispatch: null

The Privacy Concerns Over Recent DNA Criminal Cases | Matthew Schneider

The Privacy Concerns Over Recent DNA Criminal Cases | Matthew Schneider: A string of recent cold cases have been solved by DNA. However, these cases are different. Instead of having a suspect and asking him for a sample, or even running the sample against a government database, they are taking it to ancestry sites to find relatives and narrow down the search. At first glance, this seems

According To The Federal Government, 19 Million Acres Of Farmland Were Not Planted With Crops This Year – Investment Watch

A Special day for the Augustine Institute

Happy Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary!

Dear friends in Christ,

There is something remarkable about the Solemnity of the Assumption.
In 2005 on this day, Lighthouse Catholic Media was consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Lighthouse Catholic Media went on to provide talks about the Faith to hundreds of thousands of Catholics, helping them rediscover and deepen their love for their faith. These are the famous "Lighthouse Talks" that you can find at the entrance of many parishes.

In 2005, on this same day, the Augustine Institute was consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Founded as a Graduate School of Theology, the Augustine Institute quickly branched out to become content creators, releasing well-known series such as FORGIVEN and PRESENCE, the Lectio Study series, and more.
And Our Lady definitely has had a hand in both of these stories.

In 2015, the Lighthouse Catholic Media and the Augustine Institute merged to form the Augustine Institute as we know it today, providing even more amazing content to those who are seeking to enter the Faith, learn more about it, or rediscover their faith. These initiatives have included FORMED.org, and many productions from our Studios team, as well as many books, among which is our new What Every Catholic Should Know series.

What a beautiful journey! We are very blessed to be able to follow Christ's call to help in the New Evangelization in such a profound way. We consider ourselves very blessed.
All of this we attribute to the grace of God, and to the protection and guidance of our Blessed Mother. She has helped us reach millions of people around the world, enkindling in their souls a love for the Lord.
We also want to express an important "Thank You" to so many people for the generous financial help and hard work , and to you for supporting us in every way.
On this important solemnity, you all are in our prayers!
Please pray for us, too, as we all continue to follow Christ.
If you have a FORMED subscription through your parish or on your own, we encourage you to visit FORMED.org, search "Mary," and learn something new about our Lady on her feast day today.

God Bless,

The Augustine Institute Team

VISIT FORMED

Planned Parenthood May Withdraw From Title X Funding Rather Than Comply With Trump Admin | The Daily Caller

Planned Parenthood May Withdraw From Title X Funding Rather Than Comply With Trump Admin | The Daily Caller: Planned Parenthood will formally withdraw from Title X funding by Aug. 19 unless a federal court intervenes.

Bishop Barron's Gospel Reflection Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Luke 1:39-56

Friends, today’s Gospel tells of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth. I’ve always been fascinated by Mary’s “haste” in this story of the Visitation. Upon hearing the message of Gabriel concerning her own pregnancy and that of her cousin, Mary “proceeded in haste into the hill country of Judah” to see Elizabeth.

Why did she go with such speed and purpose? Because she had found her mission, her role in the theo-drama. We are dominated today by the ego-drama in all of its ramifications and implications. The ego-drama is the play that I’m writing, I’m producing, I’m directing, and I’m starring in. We see this absolutely everywhere in our culture. Freedom of choice reigns supreme: I become the person that I choose to be.

The theo-drama is the great story being told by God, the great play being directed by God. What makes life thrilling is to discover your role in it. This is precisely what has happened to Mary. She has found her role—indeed a climactic role—in the theo-drama, and she wants to conspire with Elizabeth, who has also discovered her role in the same drama. Like Mary, we have to find our place in God’s story.

Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Mass During the Day
Lectionary: 622

Reading 1 Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab

God's temple in heaven was opened,
and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.

A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet,
and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.
Then another sign appeared in the sky;
it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns,
and on its heads were seven diadems.
Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky
and hurled them down to the earth.
Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth,
to devour her child when she gave birth.
She gave birth to a son, a male child,
destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod.
Her child was caught up to God and his throne.
The woman herself fled into the desert
where she had a place prepared by God.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
"Now have salvation and power come,
and the Kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Anointed One."

Reading 2 1 Cor 15:20-27

Brothers and sisters:
Christ has been raised from the dead,
the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since death came through man,
the resurrection of the dead came also through man.
For just as in Adam all die,
so too in Christ shall all be brought to life,
but each one in proper order:
Christ the firstfruits;
then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ;
then comes the end,
when he hands over the Kingdom to his God and Father,
when he has destroyed every sovereignty
and every authority and power.
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
The last enemy to be destroyed is death,
for "he subjected everything under his feet."

Gospel Lk 1:39-56

Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
"Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled."

And Mary said:

"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever."

Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home.