Latest news with #ARS
Yomiuri Shimbun
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
US Farm Agency Fires 70 Foreign Researchers Following National
WASHINGTON, July 18 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture said it has fired 70 foreign contract researchers after a national security review intended to secure the U.S. food supply from adversaries including China, Russia, North Korea and Iran. 'USDA has completed a thorough review of individuals authorized to work on contracts with the department and identified approximately 70 individuals from countries of concern,' a spokesperson said. 'The individuals working on these contracts from countries of concern will no longer be able to work on USDA projects.' U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on July 8 had announced a farm security plan that included efforts to bar purchases of U.S. farmland by nationals of the four countries, and to terminate any existing research agreements with them. Rollins said the moves were necessary to secure the U.S. food supply. The contractors had worked at the Agricultural Research Service, the in-house research arm of the USDA, said Thomas Henderson, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 1657, which represents ARS workers in Albany, California. Most of those dismissed were Chinese post-doctoral researchers on two-year contracts with the agency, and who were already subject to vetting before being hired, Henderson said. Some arrived to work on July 9 to find their badges no longer worked, he said. Because of a federal hiring freeze that has been extended through October 15, the USDA will not be able to replace the fired staff and will need to halt ongoing scientific work that benefits farmers, like a project to develop a vaccine for a deadly toxin that occurs in undercooked beef, Henderson said. 'We don't have the talent now to progress on these research projects. It's setting us back by years, if not decades,' he said. The USDA did not comment on the concern about lost research capacity. The ARS conducts research on agriculture topics like pests, food safety and climate change that are high-priority to American farmers. The agency has lost about 1,200 employees, more than 17% of its 2024 staffing level, to terminations and voluntary incentives to quit offered by President Donald Trump's administration. In a July 8 memo, Rollins prohibited USDA staff from publishing research with foreign nationals from the four 'countries of concern' without agency approval and from attending events organized by 'foreign adversaries.' Some ARS staff were further told in a meeting that all publications currently under review will be re-analyzed and those co-authored with foreign nationals from the four countries will be denied, said Ethan Roberts, an ARS employee and president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3247. Before the memo, there were already extra review processes in place to publishing research conducted with people from the four countries, Roberts said.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
USDA fires foreign workers from adversarial countries, including China, in national security protection move
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said Friday it had fired dozens of foreign contract workers from China, Russia, North Korea and Iran. The cuts of about 70 workers followed a national security review for U.S. food safety. A USDA spokesperson said the contract workers came from "countries of concern" and will "no longer be able to work on USDA projects." The workers had been with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the research arm of the USDA, Thomas Henderson, who represents the union for some of the research workers, told Reuters. Trump Administration Moves Decisively To Block China From 'Weaponizing' American Farmland ARS does research on areas of importance to American farmers, such as pests, food safety and climate change. Read On The Fox News App Most of the contract workers were vetted Chinese post-doctoral researchers, with some even arriving to work this week to find out their badges no longer worked. Earlier this month, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced in a new plan to keep U.S. farmland safe that contracts with any workers from China, North Korea, Iran and Russia should be canceled, and nationals from those countries wouldn't be allowed to buy farmland in the U.S. All ARS project publications are also expected to be reanalyzed and those co-authored with researchers from the four countries will be denied, Ethan Roberts, an ARS employee who is also the president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3247 union, told Reuters. Brooke Rollins: Farm Security Is National Security The workers won't be able to be replaced until the Oct. 15 federal hiring freeze is lifted. That will force some research projects to be halted, Henderson said, citing a project to develop a vaccine for a deadly toxin that occurs in undercooked beef. "We don't have the talent now to progress on these research projects. It's setting us back by years, if not decades," he told Reuters. The agency is down about 1,200 workers through downsizing efforts this year. Fox News Digital has reached out to the USDA for comment. Reuters contributed to this report. Original article source: USDA fires foreign workers from adversarial countries, including China, in national security protection move
Miami Herald
12-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Company's Alligator Alcatraz contracts followed donation to the Florida GOP
A Texas-based company gave $10,000 to Florida's Republican Party days before getting state contracts to help with transportation at a state-run detention facility for migrants in the Everglades. IRG Global Emergency Management Inc. made the donation on June 24, according to state campaign finance filings, days after state Attorney General James Uthmeier first publicly floated the Alligator Alcatraz detention center. The same day it made the donation, the company inked a $1.1 million contract with the state to 'provide operational support services in support of migration efforts in the State.' On July 1, the company got two more contracts with Florida, one for $2.9 million and another for $2.2 million, for site shuttles, armory systems, on-site emergency services and air operations. The address listed on both contracts is in Ochopee, where Alligator Alcatraz is located. A spokesperson for IRG Global did not return two requests for comment Friday. A spokesperson for Gov. Ron DeSantis said his office has no involvement with the Republican Party of Florida. A spokesperson for the state GOP did not respond Friday to a request for comment. Alligator Alcatraz isn't the first time the emergency management firm or its affiliate company has worked with Florida. IRG Global is affiliated with ARS Global Emergency Management, which in Florida's business filings is listed as Access Restoration Services. A spokesperson for ARS did not respond to requests for comment Friday. That group was involved in Florida's 2023 effort to relaunch a program to fly migrants to left-leaning cities and states. Last month, IRG also received a $19.6 million contract from the state for planes to fly people out of Israel amid the conflict with Iran. ARS previously donated about $150,000 to the state GOP through contributions in February 2023 and October 2024. Other contractors that are working with Florida for the immigrant detention center have also donated to Republican leaders, including CDR Maguire and its affiliate, CDR Health. That company and its executives have donated nearly $2 million to Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican Party of Florida.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Articularis Rheumatology Specialists Expands into Central Alabama with New Birmingham Practice
Led by Dr. Kurt Blake, new location enhances access to specialized care. BIRMINGHAM, Ala., July 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Articularis Rheumatology Specialists (ARS), a division of Articularis Healthcare Group (AHG), is pleased to announce the opening of its newest practice in Birmingham, Alabama, on July 9. This expansion marks a significant step in the organization's mission to bring advanced, community-based rheumatologic care to communities across the country. The Birmingham practice, located at 4902 Valleydale Road, will improve access to high-quality care for patients throughout Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Homewood, and the greater Birmingham area. Led by Dr. Kurt Blake, ARS will provide expert diagnosis, treatment, and management of a wide range of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, gout, osteoporosis, and Sjögren's syndrome. The practice is equipped with the latest medical technology and offers on-site infusion therapy and in-house laboratory services to streamline care and enhance the patient's experience. "My goal is to provide personalized, compassionate care that empowers patients to manage their conditions effectively," said Dr. Blake. "Through a combination of advanced medical treatments and education, we aim to help patients stay active and improve their quality of life." Dr. Blake is a distinguished provider with dual board-certifications in internal medicine and rheumatology. After earning his medical degree from the University of the West Indies, Mona in Jamaica, Dr. Blake completed an internal medicine residency at Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center in Georgia and completed a rheumatology fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Beyond his extensive experience in diagnosing and treating complex autoimmune and musculoskeletal conditions, he has served as a pharmacology instructor at St. George's University School of Medicine in Grenada and as a sports medicine physician for the Jamaican national soccer team. "Expanding into Birmingham is an important milestone as we continue working to close gaps in access to specialty care," said Robert Kirk, CEO of Articularis Healthcare Group. "Dr. Blake's experience and patient-first philosophy make him an exceptional addition to our growing network of rheumatology providers." As the nation's leading rheumatology management services organization, AHG is committed to supporting independent practices with comprehensive operational services. The group remains focused on elevating patient care through physician leadership, clinical innovation, and operational excellence. Articularis Rheumatology Specialists is now accepting new patients in Birmingham. Appointments can be scheduled online or by calling 205-677-5454. For more information about the services available at the new Birmingham practice, please visit: About Articularis Rheumatology Specialists: Articularis Rheumatology Specialists (ARS) is a premier provider of comprehensive rheumatology care for patients living with autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. As part of Articularis Healthcare Group, the nation's leading independent rheumatology group, ARS and its board-certified medical care teams combine cutting-edge treatments with compassionate care. With locations in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee, ARS serves communities with a patient-centered approach to improve health outcomes and quality of life. Learn more at About Articularis Healthcare GroupArticularis Healthcare Group, Inc. (AHG) is the nation's leading rheumatology management services organization, dedicated to preserving and advancing community-based care. Founded in 2015, AHG provides private practice rheumatologists with administrative expertise, industry relationships, innovative technology, and economies of scale that allow their practices to thrive while ensuring exceptional patient care. AHG's management expertise encompasses all phases of practice operations, including drug procurement and management, revenue optimization, financial services, marketing and public relations, infusion suite management, clinical research, quality improvement and assurance, practice operations, human resources, laboratory services, and information technology. AHG's network includes 18 practices across nine states. Learn more at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Articularis Rheumatology Specialists
Time Out
04-07-2025
- Time Out
6 lunches that make leaving work (or home) worth it
At the back of the beautiful Pasaje del Correo in Recoleta is BIS Bistró, owned by the prestigious chef Gonzalo Aramburu— read the exclusive interview here —and recognized for the second consecutive time by the 2025 Michelin Guide Argentina as Bib Gourmand. This alone is a great reason to visit, but there's more: their midday menu is a best-value experience worth trying. In a cozy bistro with classic vibes, globe lamps, bench seats, and large mirrors, you can enjoy familiar flavors that reveal the talent of chef Ramiro Zabala and the quality of seasonal products used. There are two options: main and dessert for ARS 26,000 or starter, main, and dessert for ARS 32,000, accompanied by a glass of Terraza de los Andes wine (or a non-alcoholic drink) and coffee. The porteño-spirited recipes change daily, featuring perfectly cooked pasta, meat, or fish of the day. Some highlights? Omelet with blood sausage and alioli, tagliatelle with Brussels sprouts and garlic, wood-fired flank steak with sweet potatoes and gremolata, roasted fish with carrot purée, and pear tart with cream.
