
On Earth Day, celebrate a trio of heartwarming efforts to make the world a better place
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This entrepreneur has created a solution to surplus food wastage
Jasmine Crowe is the founder of Goodr, an organization that collects excess food from various sources and offers it free to the hungry.
Womankind, USA TODAY
There's no place like home, as the saying goes. And on April 22 each year, we're invited to celebrate our home by observing Earth Day.
From a woman tackling waste by creating meals for the hungry from surplus food to a conservation group dedicated to rescuing and releasing sea turtles, to a community garden that lets low-income people pick produce for free, these heartwarming stories are all about enhancing the world we live in.
Watch the video below to see one woman's mission to cut food waste
Jasmine Crowe's mission to combat hunger ingeniously matches supply with demand. As the founder of Goodr, she came up with the idea of creating healthy, nourishing meals from surplus food that might otherwise be tossed away by food venues such as restaurants, airports, sports arenas, or even wedding receptions. Her business model is simple -- collect surplus food from those who have it and get it to those who need it, free of charge.
Watch the video below to see an environmental group release 100 baby sea turtles into the ocean
100 baby sea turtles scramble towards ocean
Sea Turtle Conservation of the Pacific release newborn turtles into the ocean at sunset.
Earthkind, USA TODAY
Sea Turtle Conservation of the Pacific is focused on protecting nesting beaches, rescuing and rehabilitating turtles, and combating environmental threats like climate change and pollution. To protect a batch of sea turtle eggs from possible poachers, the group rescued them and hatched them in a lab before releasing 100 baby sea turtles into the ocean.
Watch the video below to see an urban garden where the produce comes for free
Urban oasis grows farm-to-table food for community
Kula Urban Farm's 'Farm Without Borders' in Asbury, N.J. grows fresh produce and invites the community to take what they need for free.
USA TODAY
Kula Urban Farm grows fresh produce in the city for sale to local restaurants and residents, but neighbors are also invited to get that same food for free! Called the 'Farm Without Borders,' the project is not only a valuable resource for low-income people in the area but also an example of sustainable farming that promotes a sense of community.
Earth Day was created in 1970 by Gaylord Nelson. The senator from Wisconsin organized nationwide college teach-ins with the help of a young activist named Denis Hayes. The teach-ins raised awareness about environmental issues as part of a wider conservationist movement.
In 1990, Earth Day fittingly went global and is currently observed in more than 190 countries, with an estimated one billion people taking part in activities such as environmental cleanups, tree plantings, educational campaigns, and climate action.
As with any environmental discussion, the views championed on Earth Day can be polarizing and controversial. But there's one indisputable fact: we've only got one planet. So, whatever methods we choose, it's in our best interests to take care of it.
Humankind is your go-to spot for good news! Click here to submit your uplifting, cute, or inspiring video moments for us to feature. Also, click here to subscribe to our newsletter, bringing our top stories of the week straight to your inbox.
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The Hill
12 hours ago
- The Hill
Head Start faces new worries about its future with Trump, GOP
Supporters of Head Start are worried about the program's future as it faces Trump administration calls for budgetary cuts ahead of the next school year. The free, federally funded program for low-income families provides education for infants through preschoolers and had enjoyed bipartisan support for most of its 60-year history. But worries are mounting for both Head Start staff and parents. The Project 2025 blueprint calling for deep federal cuts proposed Head Start's elimination, and while calls to cut its budget have diminished, advocates don't feel the program is safe. The administration also is looking at enrollment changes that could impact students lacking permanent legal status who are covered by Head Start. 'A lot of people have called this death by a thousand cuts, what we've seen in the past six months,' said Casey Peeks, senior director of Early Childhood Policy at the Center for American Progress. Head Start seemed to escape the worst possible fate after a report earlier this year by USA Today that said the White House was ready to adopt the Project 2025 blueprint and eliminate it. Despite the fears, President Trump's final proposal didn't include an increase or decrease in Head Start funding. It kept the program at the same funding level as last year. Other early preschool programs, Preschool Development Grants and the Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools, were cut in the budget. Still, the flat funding could hurt as more families seek to use Head Start in an era of rising costs. 'We do have concerns that flat funding … would equate as a cut to Head Start and Early Head Start programs, given cost of living, inflationary costs, as well as just higher costs of operating services, the needs to be able to provide a competitive wage in order to have staff,' said Tommy Sheridan, deputy director for the National Head Start Association. A report last week released by the Government Accountability Office found a temporary funding freeze to Head Start at the beginning of the administration was illegal. The move put programs into chaos, and some even briefly shut down during the pause. While funding was mostly spared, Head Start has watched the Trump administration target staff and enrollment changes. In April, around 50 percent of staff at the Office of Head Start were cut and all staff at regional offices of Head Start were fired. 'We're also seeing a lot of chaos and panic among Head Start staff. They don't know if their jobs are as secure as they once were, which is really causing a problem, because it's not just Head Start, but across the early childhood sector there is a workforce shortage and these types of concerns, lack of reliability, it really doesn't help with the retention issues that are already a problem in normal circumstance,' said Peeks. The latest curveball thrown at Head Start was a notice from the Department of Health and Human Services that said undocumented students can no longer participate in the programs. The directive did not come with any clear instructions, sending programs into confusion as immigration status was never considered in Head Start's history. Twenty Democratic-led states filed a lawsuit against the directive while the federal government argued it 'ensures that public resources are no longer used to incentivize illegal immigration.' 'There's still a lot of confusion about what exactly it means, and we're encouraging people not to take action until there's more guidance or clarity on who exactly it affects and what the Head Start programs are required to do,' said Melissa Boteach, chief policy adviser for Zero to Three. 'But I think an important point is that it has a chilling effect, regardless, and that if you're [an] immigrant family, regardless of what your status is in terms of legal permanent residence, or mixed status family or refugee or whatever it is, you're legitimately scared of sending your child to an Early Head Start or Head Start program,' she added. Some fear this is just the beginning of an effort to go after the program despite previous bipartisan support, including during the first Trump administration. In Trump's first four years in office, Head Start received funding increases and greater support, especially at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are signs the program could come under more pressure from Republicans who say Head Start has not been accountable enough in how it has spent money. Days after Trump came into office, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce highlighted a report by the Government Accountability Office regarding abuse and negligence in Head Start programs, including child safety concerns and lack of oversight over classroom materials. 'These programs continue to suck up millions in taxpayer funding without serious accountability or oversight. We have an obligation to protect these children and end this gross negligence immediately,' Committee Chair Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) said at the time. Proponents of Head Start argue there is data to show it helps lower crime rates, reduces health care costs and increase tax revenue. 'This is proof of the effectiveness of Head Start, and the effectiveness and the impact of the investment that Head Start has been making,' said Sheridan. 'And so, we believe that there's really no sound reason to interfere with that, and we believe that Congress and the administration should come together and really commit to building on the 60 year of bipartisan support that Head Start has had, and double down on that fundamental commitment that our country has made to children and to our collective future.'


Indianapolis Star
a day ago
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Women's dating safety app Tea hit by data breach impacting thousands of photos
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Yahoo
a day ago
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What does 'MKT' mean on a menu? These customers learn the hard way in viral Tiktok
Do you know what MKT means? Not knowing what those initials mean could end up costing you, especially as beef prices are on the rise and tariffs are impacting prices of food, groceries and goods. Like it did for Aribella Menold. "POV: you didn't know what 'mkt' meant on steak menu and now (you're) paying for it," the text on the TikTok video from Menold reads. In a video on Instagram with 21.8 million views and the same video on Tiktok with 3.6 million views, you can see the reaction of three young women when the bill came. Their order had included two steaks, which each cost $52, a kid's grilled cheese sandwich for $10 and a baby kale Caesar salad for $28. A credit card surcharge of 3% was also added. With sales tax, the bill totaled $159.14. Menold, 20, told USA TODAY she and two young relatives were out to dinner at a separate table from other family members while on vacation in North Carolina. At most, she said she thought the MKT price steak would be "around 20 bucks. I'm pretty sure we just read the menu wrong but come from a big family so we never go out to fancy restaurants (too) often." The popular video sparked a lot of debate in the comments about whether the price for the meal was normal or expensive and whose responsibility it is to know how much something costs if the menu price isn't listed. So, is MKT just another way to say "expensive"? Here's what you need to know before you order: What is MKT or MP price? MKT stands for market price, and MKT or MP are often a standard way to express that on a food menu, said David Ortega, a food economist and professor at Michigan State University. "It signals that the cost of the item changes regularly based on current supply and demand conditions, rather than being listed as a fixed dollar amount. It's most often used for items whose wholesale prices fluctuate frequently, like fresh seafood, premium cuts of meat, or seasonal ingredients," Ortega told USA TODAY. "This approach gives restaurants flexibility for items whose costs can vary. Instead of constantly reprinting menus, they list the item as market price and adjust based on what they paid to source it. This means the final price consumers pay may change from one visit to the next, depending on what is happening in the market for that product." Ortega said he has also seen "seasonal pricing," on menus, especially for items like oysters or lobster that tend to be more seasonal depending on the location. How or why does the MKT price change for a particular food? Market prices fluctuate due to supply, demand, seasonality, and other factors, especially for items whose wholesale costs can vary daily, like seafood or steak, said Katie Thomas, who leads the Kearney Consumer Institute, an internal think tank at global management consulting firm Kearney. "Restaurants use MKT pricing to adjust with the real-time cost and maintain profitability," Thomas told USA TODAY. Prices can change due to shifts in supply and demand, said Ortega. "For example, ocean temperature fluctuations can reduce lobster availability, pushing prices up. For beef, the impact of drought and herd reductions has been tightening supply, driving up costs. Increased demand for certain items, like lobster in the summer, can also drive up prices," he said. Are tariffs and other economic pressures causing MKT prices to be even more volatile? While tariffs are affecting prices for a variety of products, tariffs and global economic pressures have increased food price volatility, said Thomas. "New tariffs, supply chain disruptions, labor costs, and even climate-related factors all contribute to unpredictable swings in prices for ingredients, which make menu items with MKT pricing more volatile than ever," she said. The higher tariffs on imported food or ingredients can raise the cost for restaurants, said Ortega. Other challenges like labor shortages, rising input costs, and extreme weather can also affect prices, he said. The ease of the supply chain getting food products to the restaurant also affects pricing, said Phil Kafarakis, CEO of IFMA, The Food Away From Home Association. "Many restaurants are starting to manage their food costs by using 'market price' on their menu for their most expensive and unique items," Kafarakis told USA TODAY. "Also, market price can be the cause of not having an item or being out of stock on an item, so it is a very effective technique to manage the variability in food costs on a daily basis." What should you do when you see MKT? Consumers should always ask for the current price before ordering a MKT item, said Thomas. "While the practice allows restaurants to offer fresh, high-quality dishes, diners should not assume these dishes are affordable. Sometimes they are significantly higher than the average menu item." It is a completely normal and fair question to ask your server if you see MKT or MP on the menu, said Ortega. "That way, there are no surprises when you get the bill. In some cases, the cost can exceed expectations, so it's important to ask," he said. "Some servers may offer that information upfront, but that's not always the case." Ortega also adds: "If something is listed as 'market price', it doesn't necessarily mean it's overpriced. In some cases, when there is plenty of supply, you might actually get a deal." Are beef prices the new eggs?: Beef prices at all-time high: Why summer grilling costs a lot more this year What foods or other menu items are most likely to be listed as MKT price? Dishes most likely to be listed as MKT or MP are those with the most variable and seasonal ingredient costs, such as fresh seafood (like lobster, oysters, or fish), certain steaks, or specialty produce, said Thomas. These items depend on real-time market rates for freshness and availability, she said. Additionally, Ortega said market pricing can be on items with highly variable sourcing costs or limited supply, such as seafood, premium meats (like dry-aged or high-end steaks), specialty imports (like truffles and caviar), and in some cases, seasonal produce. Chef's specials or dishes built around highly seasonal ingredients may also be listed as market price, he said. Specialty vegetables and greens, "think truffles, both white and black," are also often listed as market price, said Kafarakis. "Traditionally, when in a high-end restaurant, there is a high likelihood you will see market price and perhaps a tasting menu of items that have been bundled for one meal cost," he said. Menold's advice for others? "Pay attention to details." She will be asking the MKT price in the future, "considering the fact I learned the hard way, I know what it means now." Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at blinfisher@ or follow her on X, Facebook or Instagram @blinfisher and @ on Bluesky. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, which will include consumer news on Fridays, here. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What does 'MKT' even mean? These women diners pay for not knowing Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data