• US: Western Colorado cities expect big savings from solar power
• US: Minnesota-Vermont project offers low-income families solar
• US: New Jersey port to be 1st to use electric container carrier

• 'All time, all space values will be permeated with harmony, with evenness' - Maharishi, 2003
• US: Nurses receive contact hours for attending Transcendental Meditation introductory presentation
• Promoting peace-creating technologies for Invincible Defence

• Poor sleep linked to buildup of dangerous plaques throughout body, study says
• More U.S. adults losing sleep in recent years
• Drop in U.S. consumer confidence stokes fears of economic slowdown

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Positive Trends
Short Summaries of Top Stories

US: Western Colorado cities expect big savings from solar power
15 January 2019 - Don't let the chilly air and shorter days fool you: Hundreds of solar panels located off Interstate 70 near Palisade (Colorado, elevation: 4,728 feet) are working just fine. ome January, the 12-acre (5-hectare) solar garden will go online and fully offset electricity costs for Palisade, saving the town an estimated $1.2 million over the next 20 years. (more)

US: Minnesota-Vermont project offers low-income families solar
14 January 2019 - When a Minnesota nonprofit partnered with the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe to build a community solar array in 2017, they believed their model could scale nationally. That theory is being tested as the Rural Renewable Energy Alliance travels east to Vermont's Windsor and Windham counties where they are working with Southeastern Vermont Community Action to provide solar power to 50 low-income households. (more)

US: New Jersey port to be 1st to use electric container carrier
14 January 2019 - The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will conduct the first test at a U.S. port of an electric vehicle to move cargo containers, with an eye toward eventually replacing the current gas-powered fleet. The pilot program is part of a broader effort by the Port Authority to reduce greenhouse gases at the ports, which handle billions of dollars in cargo annually. (more)

US: In first, Native American tribe displaced by sea gets land to relocate
10 January 2019 - A small Native American tribe in Louisiana whose land has nearly vanished into the sea has moved a step closer to relocating its community further inland after authorities acquired new land for the move, part of a first-of-its-kind project. Pat Forbes, an official with the state of Louisiana, which handled the purchase, said he hoped this first attempt in U.S. history to move an entire community losing its home to water would serve as a blueprint for generations to come. (more)

US: How nonprofit and public-sector clients are driving sustainable design
3 January 2019 - As these three examples of nonprofit and public-sector clients suggest, those at the top can empower architects to make impactful choices, provided they embrace sustainable goals of substance. Revisiting boundary-pushing designs from the past two decades reveals the significant role clients have in clearing obstacles and driving change in the building industry. (more)

US: Chicago crime rate drops for second year in a row
31 December 2018 - Chicago saw a significant drop in murders and gun violence for the second year in a row, according to police. Overall crime is down 10 percent since 2016 . . . overall shootings fell 14 percent compared to 2017, and have dropped 32 percent since 2016, according to police statistics. (more)

US: 'Farming for Life' program improves diabetes outcomes
29 December 2018 - Sansum Diabetes Research Institute received an significant matching grant to get an innovative 'food as therapy' project off the ground. The Hearst Foundation donated $100,000 to the Farming for Life program, which provides locally grown vegetables to low-income people with diabetes or at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Participants will be given 'produce prescriptions' -- for organic vegetables ... (more)

From duct-taped shoes to $11M: Man leaves surprise donations
28 December 2018 - Alan Naiman was known for an unabashed thriftiness that veered into comical, but even those closest to him had no inkling of the fortune that he quietly amassed and the last act that he had long planned. The Washington state social worker passed away this year at age 63, leaving most of a surprising $11 million estate to children's charities that help the poor, sick, disabled, and abandoned. (more)

US: Leafy green neighbourhoods tied to better heart health
28 December 2018 - People who live in neighbourhoods with more green spaces may have less stress, healthier blood vessels, and a lower risk of heart attacks and strokes than residents of communities without many outdoor recreation areas, a small study suggests. It's possible that green space might encourage more physical activity, and a higher density of trees and shrubs may also improve air quality by reducing levels of some pollutants, said Annemarie Hirsch, an environmental health researcher at Geisinger in Danville, Pennsylvania, who wasn't involved in the study. 'Green spaces can also increase the sense of social cohesion, a factor that has been associated with health and wellbeing, by facilitating interaction with neighbors,' Hirsch said by email. (more)

US: Memphis restaurant offers Christmas meal for homeless
26 December 2018 - A Memphis restaurant that offers a Christmas Day dinner for the homeless brightened the spirits of diners and volunteers alike on Tuesday (25 December). Employees also gave out coats and warm clothing. Downtown Memphis resident Sarah Nickell volunteered at the meal for the fourth year in a row. She said she has seen people return year after year, some of whom have been able to get off the streets and now have a stable home and job. (more)

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Success of Maharishi's Programmes
Short Summaries of Top Stories

'All time, all space values will be permeated with harmony, with evenness' - Maharishi, 2003
12 January 2019 - Today organizations teaching Transcendental Meditation in many countries held an annual conference celebrating the achievements of the worldwide programmes founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. On this day in 2003, Maharishi placed special emphasis on a major initiative to establish large groups of Vedic experts in India to create an influence of peace and harmony in the world. In his inaugural address Maharishi said, 'From one place on earth the whole mankind will have that effect of harmony in coherence. The result will be less and less of negative trends and performances in the world, and more and more of coherence, and more and more of evolutionary trends, tendencies, and programmes in all parts of the world.' (more)

US: Nurses receive contact hours for attending Transcendental Meditation introductory presentation
8 January 2019 - Good news for nurses who would like to attend the Transcendental Meditation programme's free introductory lectures - for which they may now receive one or two 'contact hours' / continuing education credits. This is an introduction to the full course, Transcendental Meditation for Nurses: 'Developing capacity for improved judgement, decision making and resilience under stress'. This continuing nursing education activity was approved by the American Holistic Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The ANCC encourages nurses to look to their own health first by concentrating on a holistic approach to wellness. By teaching them the TM practice, TM for Nurses is building teams of resilient and fulfilled nurses in hospitals around the country. (more)

Promoting peace-creating technologies for Invincible Defence
5 January 2019 - Dr David Leffler is a founding member and executive director of the Center for Advanced Military Science at Maharishi University of Management, USA. Based on his experience in the US Armed Forces and his study of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's Consciousness-Based technologies for military defence, Dr Leffler has published over 1,400 articles worldwide on the application of Invincible Defence Technology (IDT) and the Transcendental Meditation programme. Over the past 20 years, he has promoted TM as a means of stress reduction, conflict resolution, and relief from post-traumatic stress disorder. Recent articles in response to world events have offered IDT as a solution to terrorism. (more)

USA: State's attorney brings Transcendental Meditation to New England courthouse and beyond
29 December 2018 - While Senior Assistant State's Attorney Kevin Dunn pursues his hectic, high-stress profession as a prosecutor for domestic violence cases in Connecticut, USA, he also encourages people to learn and practise Transcendental Meditation, as he has twice daily for over 40 years. Dunn has organised regular TM group meditations in a courthouse in Bridgeport, attended by colleagues from all areas of the regional legal system: prosecutors, defence attorneys, social workers, police officers, and family resource officers. Participants have noticed good effects from their TM practice, including reduced stress, a more settled mind, inner peace, and newfound energy. (more)

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's comments to the press - Christmas, 2002
25 December 2018 - Maharishi Mahesh Yogi replies to a question from the world press on the Vedic nature of Christ's words, 'Seek ye first the Kingdom of Heaven and all else will be added unto you.' - 25 December 2002, MERU, Netherlands. (more)

Is being anxious the new you? Transcendental Meditation inoculates against chronic stress and anxiety
15 December 2018 - If you find your anxiety is easily triggered, there are simple steps you can take to make sure anxiety doesn't define you, writes Vanessa Vidal, national director of Transcendental Meditation for Women in the USA. In TM practice both mind and body settle down to a state of deep relaxation, the body and brain become more balanced and damage from stress begins to be eliminated, she explains. Scientific research indicates that the TM programme reduces stress hormone levels and anxiety, and improves blood pressure, insomnia, and drug and alcohol abuse. 'After a woman takes the TM course, she finds that her life improves spontaneously, naturally, and is redefined in terms of happiness instead of anxiety. . . . Transcendental Meditation can play an enormous role in inoculating our society against the many problems that grow out of chronic stress and anxiety.' (more)

Keelan Dimick, finalist in prestigious American Pianists Awards for Cole Porter Jazz Fellowship: TM alleviates stress, 'the music writes itself'
11 December 2018 - Keelan Dimick is one of five finalists competing for the prestigious 2019 American Pianists Awards / Cole Porter Jazz Fellowship, which offers $100,000 (US) in support and career advancement. In an interview after his recent concert in the Awards series in Indianapolis, Indiana - Keelan spoke of how Transcendental Meditation 'alleviates any stress that's in my head. And stress constricts creativity. So when that's gone, it's easier to just let music write itself because the best musicians start with a seed and the music just writes itself. Meditation helps bring that about.' The 27-year-old Fairfield, Iowa native will participate in the Awards Finals 5-6 April in Indianapolis. (more)

David Lynch Foundation's 'Holiday Evening of Comedy and Conversation' benefit, 10 Dec. at The Plaza, New York - Last day to get tickets
6 December 2018 - In just a few days, on 10 December, Jerry Seinfeld, John Mulaney, Mike Birbiglia, and Vanessa Bayer will take the stage at The Plaza / New York. This 'Holiday Evening of Comedy and Conversation' will support national initiatives of the David Lynch Foundation providing Transcendental Meditation to benefit underserved youth, and prevent and treat substance use disorder, which afflicts over 20 million Americans. This Friday, 7 December, is the final day to get tickets. (more)

Live on Facebook today: ''What Is Enlightenment?'' - Dr Tony Nader, Sun. 2 December
2 December 2018 - Enlightenment may sound vast and unattainable, but in reality it is simply the fulfilment of our highest potential as human beings. The Transcendental Meditation technique provides a practical means to develop oneself from within. The profound benefits it offers, such as relief from stress and anxiety, and clearer, more creative thinking, are stepping stones on the way to full development. Tony Nader, MD, PhD, MARR has spent the last 40 years probing the deepest truths of life - both as a world-renowned medical doctor and brain researcher and as an expert in meditation, yoga, and consciousness. In this livestream broadcast, Dr. Nader will share new findings and understandings from modern medicine and quantum physics that will revolutionize our view of the human mind and the world around us. (more)

CNBC: Dr Norman Rosenthal's Super Mind, about Transcendental Meditation, featured in '10 great books for your holiday gift list'
27 November 2018 - Number 4 on CNBC's list of holiday gift books is Super Mind: How to Boost Performance and Live a Richer and Happier Life Through Transcendental Meditation. In the book, research psychiatrist Norman Rosenthal, MD, explores how anyone can perform at peak aptitude through the daily practice of Transcendental Meditation (TM), heightening physical, emotional, and intellectual capabilities. TM 'gives you an equanimity, a centeredness, a calmness - so that you can thoughtfully deal with things in a better way without being emotionally hijacked,' said Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, one of those featured in the book. (more)

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Flops
Short Summaries of Top Stories

Poor sleep linked to buildup of dangerous plaques throughout body, study says
15 January 2019 - Here's another reason why getting a good night's sleep should be on your must-do list: Sleeping fewer than six hours a night or waking frequently raises your risk of developing damaging plaque in arteries throughout your body, not just your heart. (more)

More U.S. adults losing sleep in recent years
28 December 2018 - One third of U.S. adults say they sleep less than six hours a night, which is 15 percent more than were getting too little sleep 15 years ago, researchers say. The trend toward increasing numbers of people getting too little shuteye started in 2013, the study team reports in the journal Sleep. Most of this recent shift from adequate to inadequate sleep duration was among Hispanic and non-Hispanic black adults, widening racial and ethnic disparities in sleep, and potentially disparities in health. (more)

Drop in U.S. consumer confidence stokes fears of economic slowdown
27 December 2018 - A measure of U.S. consumer confidence posted its sharpest decline in more than three years in December, rattling investors already nervous about the prospect that a global economic slowdown was spilling over into the United States. (more)

US: 'Opioid overdose epidemic continues to worsen and evolve,' CDC says
22 December 2018 - Illegally manufactured fentanyl was the driving force behind a 45.2 percent increase in deaths involving synthetic opioids from 2016 to 2017, according to a new report published Friday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (more)

AP analysis: Unemployment, income affect life expectancy in United States
18 December 2018 - Even your lifespan can be local. Researchers have long said that health disparities are heavily influenced by where you live. New data from the National Center for Health Statistics show just how much your neighborhood can impact the length of your life. (more)

E-cigarette usage nearly doubles in U.S. high-schools: survey
17 December 2018 - The percentage of high school seniors who used e-cigarettes in the last 30 days nearly doubled to 20.9 percent from last year, results of a survey released by the National Institute on Drug Abuse showed on Monday (17 December). The increase in vaping by 10th and 12th graders was the largest year-over-year jump for any substance ever measured by the survey, which started 44 years ago. (more)

US teen vaping rate doubles in one year
17 December 2018 - The use of electronic cigarettes by US teenagers has dramatically risen this year, a new report says. Researchers say the trend is reversing declines in the number of adolescents who use nicotine. 'The policies and procedures in place to prevent youth vaping clearly haven't worked,' said Richard Miech, the survey's lead author. 'Vaping is reversing hard-fought declines in the number of adolescents who use nicotine... These results suggest that vaping is leading youth into nicotine use and nicotine addiction, not away from it.' (more)

Johnson & Johnson kept a guiding hand on talc safety research
14 December 2018 - Johnson & Johnson developed a strategy in the 1970s to deal with a growing volume of research showing that talc miners had elevated rates of lung disease and cancer: Promote the positive, challenge the negative. ... J&J's effort to protect its iconic Baby Powder franchise by shaping research was led by physician and scientist executives. An early 1970s study of 1,992 Italian talc miners shows how it worked: J&J commissioned and paid for the study, told the researchers the results it wanted, and hired a ghostwriter to redraft the article that presented the findings in a journal. (more)

Johnson & Johnson knew for decades that asbestos lurked in its Baby Powder
14 December 2018 - Facing thousands of lawsuits alleging that its talc caused cancer, J&J insists on the safety and purity of its iconic product. But internal documents examined by Reuters show that the company's powder was sometimes tainted with carcinogenic asbestos and that J&J kept that information from regulators and the public. (more)

Asian tick that clones itself could spread fast and far in the US, study says
13 December 2018 - The Asian longhorned tick most likely began invading the United States years ago. Now found in nine states, the tick may soon occupy a large swath of eastern North America as well as coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest, according to research published Thursday (13 December) in the Journal of Medical Entomology. 'This tick can bite humans, pets, farm animals, and wildlife,' said Ilia Rochlin, author of the study and an entomologist and researcher associated with the Rutgers University Center for Vector Biology. (more)