Category: News

New York State just crushed its expectations for solar power as stated in the 2019 State Climate Law. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (or NYSERDA), stated that they installed 6 Gigawatts of solar energy, which crushed their expectations by a year. 

The NYSERDA has been trying to produce cleaner and more efficient energy since the State Climate Law was introduced. “This is not only a huge benefit to consumers, a huge benefit to our environment but also a huge benefit to our economy,” President and CEO Doreen Harris states. These new solar farms have not only produced $9.2 billion in private investments but also created over 14,000 jobs nationwide.

This giant influx of energy has powered over 1 million homes in New York State. With solar energy being clean, this is a huge win for environmentalists and climate change activists. The NYSERDA has claimed that they expect to distribute 10 Gigawatts of solar power by the year 2030.

The NYSERDA is doing its best to make New York State a healthier and cleaner place, by producing cleaner energy more and more every day.

The transition into a ‘low-carbon future’ would be critical in the fight against climate change and global warming. In accordance with the State Climate Law, the NYSERDA is striving to make dramatic changes in the economy, environment, and people, by cleaning up the world one state at a time. 

     You can read more about the NYSERDA by scanning the QR Code here: 

     Three of the world’s largest tobacco companies, Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco (BAT), and Japan Tobacco—have reached a tentative settlement of C$32.5 billion (US$23.6 billion) to resolve a massive class-action lawsuit brought by nearly 100,000 Canadians. These individuals, many suffering from severe health conditions linked to smoking, accused the companies of failing to accurately inform them of the deadly risks of tobacco for decades, despite knowing the dangers.

     The settlement comes after a nearly decade-long legal battle in Quebec, where the tobacco giants were originally ordered to pay billions in damages in 2015. The lawsuit claimed that the companies failed to properly warn consumers about smoking’s health risks, with some plaintiffs alleging they had developed life-threatening diseases like lung cancer and emphysema due to decades of misleading advertising and lack of clear warnings. Philip Morris, BAT, and Japan Tobacco have agreed to pay the staggering settlement, but are finding themselves in deeper controversy surrounding how they’ll fund it.

     “This is an important step toward resolving this matter and focusing on the future,” said Jacek Olczak, CEO of Philip Morris International​. What Olczak didn’t mention, and what is fueling this controversy, is that the settlement will be funded through current and future sales of tobacco products in Canada, essentially forcing future smokers to pay for the damage caused by past smoking.

     Critics have slammed this arrangement, calling it a slap on the wrist for companies that continued to profit despite the massive health risks associated with their products. Jacob Shelley, a professor at Western University, pointed out that the settlement “missed the chance to incorporate stronger policy terms” that could have curbed or slowed the tobacco industry’s harmful practices​.

     The plaintiffs now have until December 2024 to accept or reject the deal, which is expected to receive final approval by mid-2025 if accepted.

     While the settlement may seem like a victory for the plaintiffs, some say it’s a financial band-aid that allows

the tobacco industry to walk away relatively unscathed, still able to market and sell its deadly products. The tobacco companies appear eager to move on, with Imperial Tobacco Canada stating it supports the framework of the deal, which will be paid out over several years.

The plaintiffs, many of whom are elderly or dealing with severe health issues, had long fought for justice, accusing the companies of knowingly selling products that caused irreversible harm. 

“This is about holding them accountable for decades of lies,” one plaintiff said when the settlement was first proposed. However, with the tobacco companies funding the settlement through future sales, some wonder if any real accountability has been achieved—or if this is just another calculated move by an industry that has dodged responsibility for years.

This settlement, one of the largest of its kind in Canadian history, highlights the enormous toll smoking continues to take on public health, and raises the question: Will this be enough to force meaningful change or just another payday for Big Tobacco?

SpaceX, a space navigation and rocket design company run by the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, has been working on their famous Starships in hope to bring humans back to the moon, and to one day, bring them to Mars. Space exploration has been the final frontier of mankind since the Kennedy administration, and SpaceX has been one of the most prominent leaders of this industry since 2002. The Starship program started with its first flight August 27, 2019, titled “Hoppy”. In light of this endeavor, Elon Musk has been trying to create rockets that would land back on the Earth after going into space. This would dramatically change the space industry, cutting the cost of space travel into fractions of what it is now. 

On October 13, 2024, SpaceX sent up their fifth Starship test flight, and in light of their previous launches, all fingers were crossed. In complete shock, SpaceX staff watched as they narrowly and very finely landed their rocket by catching it in the arms of a tower with a height of around 480 feet, making their goal of having a fully reusable rocket possible and a reality. “What we just saw, that looked like magic,” said Dan Huot, a SpaceX communications administrator.

SpaceX continues to this day to create more reusable rockets, until we can comfortably entrust SpaceX to take astronauts into space and back with minimum expenses of both property value and human life. With this incredulous milestone, the possibility of the United States returning to the moon, or even stepping foot on Mars, Earth’s neighboring planet, seems more possible than ever.

Photo credit: SpaceX

  Everyone knows Hudson Valley Community College’s mascot is Victor the Viking, but did you know that there were 50 skeletons found in Denmark, popular for their Viking history, that were well-preserved in a burial ground. 

     In the village of Aasum, Denmark, 50 well-preserved skeletons were found in a burial site, which may give historians more information about the viking age in Denmark. Denmark is a smaller country in Northern Europe, famous for its lustrous forests and Viking culture. The Vikings were a nomadic people of Nordic descent, commonly found in Norway, Denmark, and other countries in Northern Europe. Many Vikings would typically be associated with ocean travel, being well-known to sail the oceans. 

     Did you know that Vikings were the first to discover America, not Christopher Columbus? There are many things that your typical history class may not teach you about the Vikings, such as their cultural norms or lifestyles. These skeletons may give scientists and historians answers to many sought after questions about the Viking age and the vikings themselves. Along with the skeletons, there were many Viking belongings such as necklaces, knives, and some broken glass. 

     Studying these fossils and historic remains would shed a much greater light on the livelihood of these ancient nomads. Archaeologists say that the artifacts may date as far back as the 10th century. These artifacts have been dug up from their burial sites by archaeologists, and given to the Museum Odense’s preservation labs for ‘cleaning and analysis’. They hope that by studying these ancient relics, they can uncover some hidden secrets about the old Danish Vikings.

Photo credit: Museum Odense/Wikimedia Commons

    Singer Liam Payne, who came to fame with the beloved band One Direction, died on Wednesday, October 16, at the age of 31. He was staying at a hotel in Palermo, Argentina, and fell from his balcony on the third floor.

The circumstances surrounding his death are still slightly mysterious, as we don’t know whether his fall was accidental or not. It appears that he was under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, and police had been called to the hotel minutes before the fall to address reports of an “aggressive man”, per a statement given to NBC. The guest who made the call said that “when [Liam] is conscious he breaks the whole room” and “I don’t know if he is at risk.” Payne’s autopsy report suggested that he “could have fallen in a state of semi or total unconsciousness.”

    Liam Payne auditioned for The X Factor at the age of 14, and while he didn’t make the cut the first time around, he was encouraged by Simon Cowell to try again when he was older. In 2010 he was put together with Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson to compete on the show again as a group. They took on the name of One Direction and came in third place, signing to Cowell’s label and becoming the band we know and love.

   Liam was a frequent songwriter for the group, helping out on hits such as “Night Changes”, “Steal My Girl”, and “History”, and after One Direction broke up he eased into working on solo albums, producing EDM music, and making collaborations with artists such as Rita Ora, Alesso, and Zedd. He also dated fellow singer Cheryl Cole from 2016-2018, and they have a seven-year-old son together named Bear.

Photo credit: AP News

  Many fans around the world and all four of Payne’s former band mates have posted touching tributes on Instagram expressing their love for him and their shock and sadness at his passing. Niall Horan wrote that “The bond and friendship we had doesn’t happen often in a lifetime”, while Louis Tomlinson said that “Liam was in my opinion the most vital part of One Direction” and, speaking to Liam, “I want you to know that if Bear ever needs me I will be the Uncle he needs.” Harry Styles described Payne as having “an energy for life that was infectious” and Zayn Malik wrote that “we could always rely on you to know which way to steer the ship next…. Love you bro.”

    On October 5, more than 50 Capital Region residents received essential, free dental care at the Capital Region Community Dental Event. This initiative was held at Hudson Valley’s Robert H. Hill II Dental Hygiene Clinic and was an attempt to give oral healthcare to those in need. The mobile dental labs were provided by Kare Mobile 

     The event provided individuals with an oral health assessment along with screenings, x-rays, pain management guidance, and extractions. Those who needed more emergent care were referred to dental vans where volunteer dentists could help them. To ensure continuity of care, a community dental health coordinator met with each patient to develop a follow-up care plan. 

Overall, the goal of the event was to relieve patients of discomfort and create the foundations for good oral health amongst those who may be unable to access it. This was also a great collaboration between Dental hygiene and Dental assisting students that fosters mentorship. In addition, it gives the 63 dental Hygiene students, 3 Dental assisting students, and 2 dental Hygiene alumni who participated in the event more experience in the field. 

     Looking ahead, the New York State dental Foundation aims to replicate this community dental event model across the state. By continuing to engage in these vital initiatives, the foundation hopes to further improve access to dental care and health for communities in need.

     The Hudson Valley’s annual Pumpkin Palooza Fall Festival is coming up on Thursday, October 24. Join the community for an exciting day of fun and festivities. Students, staff, and families from the community are all invited to celebrate the early spirit of Halloween. All attendees are welcome to wear Halloween costumes! In fact, a varying number of student volunteers running the festival may also be dressed up. The event will have various free activities throughout the day for participants of all ages to enjoy. Families can enjoy the live music and captivating magic show by Jim Snack, the magician, providing entertainment that will surely delight both children and adults. For those who enjoy art, caricatures and face painting booths will also be present to capture the memorable moments of the day. Moreover, the event will have the special appearance of Mr. Twisty, the friendly clown to entertain with his antics and jokes. 

      Refreshments will be available to keep everyone fueled and energized. In addition, there will be a plethora of carnival games with prizes for families and kids to enjoy run by student volunteers. If interested, any participants also have the opportunity to explore and walk through a display of pumpkins carved and/or decorated by Hudson Valley Students and Staff from a competition.

The Pumpkin Palooza is a fun event with many exciting opportunities. It runs on Thursday, October 24 from 5:30PM to 8PM, and is located in the McDonough Sports Complex. 

Don’t miss this free pre-halloween celebration!

Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding was just accused of leading a violent international drug ring.

The FBI says that Wedding orchestrated the shipment of tons of cocaine from Columbia and Mexico to the USA and Canada, along with the ordering of multiple killings. It’s been also said that Wedding is in Mexico, a federal warrant was issued for him one month ago in the US Central District Court in LA.

A grand jury indictment was filed in June charging Wedding with numerous counts of felonies, He currently is the lead defendant in a superseding indictment that was unsealed this week that named 16 people.

    “They have triggered an avalanche of violent crimes, including brutal murders… Wedding, the Olympian snowboarder, went from navigating slopes to contouring a life of incessant crimes.” Matthew Allen, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Los Angeles division, said in a statement.

     Authorities say that the drug conspiracy operated at a large scale, from Columbia, Mexico, to three California counties, that being LA, Riverside, and San Bernardino. Agents were able to monitor the actions of the group earlier this year due to a mole who relayed coded messages about the alleged drug shipments.

  As a part of a federal investigation – dubbed Operation Giant Slalom, echoing at an Olympic event Wedding once competed in, Law enforcement caught the defendants with a total of 1.8 metric tons of cocaine along with some weapons as well.

 It was estimated to be around $255,450 in cash and more than $3.2 million in cryptocurrency.

If Wedding is convicted “would face a mandatory minimum penalty of life in federal prison on the murder and attempted murder charges,” according to the Justice Department.

This is the second time that the US authorities have leveled serious drug charges against Wedding, as he was previously convicted in 2009 of conspiracy to distribute cocaine where he served a year in prison. He’s also been investigated by the Canadian authorities with prior drug investigations.

Photo credit: Adam Pretty/Getty Images