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Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has signed a law requiring every classroom in the state to display a copy of the Ten Commandments, inviting lawsuits from critics. This move is part of a broader effort by conservative Christian politicians to blend religion with law, supported by the Trump-appointed Supreme Court justices. Trump's influence over the Republican Party and its laws is still significant, as shown by the party's courtship of Christian conservatives. Similar legislation has been introduced in other states, reflecting the current political environment that rewards such audacious acts. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and the electric utility sector. While AI has increased electricity demand as companies build data centers, it has also brought climate risks to the forefront. The traditional utility business model, which relies on building new infrastructure and raising rates, is being challenged by factors such as the rise of rooftop solar and lawsuits related to power lines. The article highlights the importance of clean energy infrastructure and the role of tech giants in meeting clean-energy targets. [Extracted from the article]

Maine environmental groups recently proposed replacing the state's investor-owned utilities with a consumer-owned nonprofit utility called Pine Tree Power. However, around 70% of voters rejected the proposal, despite the utilities being widely disliked. The utilities spent over $34 million opposing the referendum, and the potential cost of buying out the utilities, estimated at $6 billion to $13 billion, may have influenced the outcome. While buying out utilities is expensive, there are other avenues for change, such as electing consumer advocates to state commissions that regulate utilities. [Extracted from the article]

Compassion fatigue, the feeling of numbness, overwhelm, or agitation after being exposed to others' suffering, is a phenomenon that can affect anyone, not just healthcare workers or those directly involved in trauma. While it hasn't been extensively studied in the general population, ongoing conflicts and difficult world events can contribute to compassion fatigue. To protect oneself from compassion fatigue, experts recommend taking purposeful breaks from the news, focusing on personal wellness, spending time outdoors and with loved ones, and finding ways to give back to the community. Replenishing one's compassion is essential to avoid emotional exhaustion and other symptoms associated with compassion fatigue. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and the utility industry. While AI has increased electricity demand as companies build data centers, it has also brought climate risks to the sector. The traditional utility business model, which relies on building new infrastructure and raising rates, is being challenged by factors such as the spread of rooftop solar and lawsuits related to power lines. The article highlights the importance of clean energy infrastructure and mentions that tech giants building data centers have not wavered in their commitment to clean-energy targets. [Extracted from the article]

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has signed a law requiring every classroom in the state to display a copy of the Ten Commandments, inviting lawsuits from critics. This move is part of a broader trend of conservative politicians aligning themselves with Christian conservatives, particularly white Christian nationalists. The Supreme Court, with its conservative majority, may be more inclined to support such displays of faith, as evidenced by recent rulings. Similar legislation has been introduced in other states, indicating that this issue is likely to continue to be debated. [Extracted from the article]

A recent report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that the latest COVID-19 vaccine provides strong protection against the dominant strain of the virus. The vaccine was found to be about 54% effective in preventing symptomatic infection. Surprisingly, it was also 49% effective against the JN.1 variant, which is currently causing most new infections in the U.S. The CDC plans to release more detailed data on the vaccine's impact in the coming weeks. It is important for high-risk individuals, such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, to get vaccinated as soon as possible. [Extracted from the article]

Chinese automakers, particularly BYD, are emerging as significant competitors in the global electric vehicle (EV) market, surpassing Tesla as the world's largest producer of EVs. With plans to expand in the European market, Chinese EV makers offer cheaper options compared to their European and American counterparts. This rise in the Chinese auto industry poses a challenge to Western exports and market share, as Chinese government subsidies and investments in clean technology have positioned Chinese companies to internationalize. The energy transition and demand for clean technologies are shaping various industries, emphasizing the importance of being proactive in this transition. [Extracted from the article]

Pence became the first major candidate to exit the GOP chase of the deeply uncivil Trump. It took him a beat longer than a lot of folks, but former Vice President Mike Pence got there eventually--and, maybe significantly, early enough to force his fellow Republicans to take a clear-eyed look at their party and its trajectory. Pence suspended his money-challenged presidential campaign and took a not-so-veiled swipe at his former boss, President Donald Trump: "I urge all my fellow Republicans here, give our country a Republican standard bearer that will, as Lincoln said, appeal to the better angels of our nature.". [Extracted from the article]

Flu: Everyone 6 months or older should be getting a flu shot to protect against influenza, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This respiratory-disease season, however, we're armed for the first time with tools against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes disease primarily in older people and infants. The vaccine will target the XBB.1.5 variant, which was circulating earlier this summer when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's expert committee of vaccine experts met to advise manufacturers about updating their shots. [Extracted from the article]

Approximately 8% to 10% of workers with acute kidney injury (AKI) from heat will go on to develop CKDnt within 12 months, says Glaser. First documented in El Salvador's sugarcane workers 21 years ago, chronic kidney disease of nontraditional origin (CKDnt) occurs among manual laborers working in high-heat conditions. But in a dangerous oversight, public-health tracking of the disease in the U.S. is limited, says Glaser, head of the CKDnt-advocacy organization La Isla Network. [Extracted from the article]

Since taking over as CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences last July, Bill Kramer has been putting out fires. The Academy is still dealing with the fallout of Will Smith's slapping Oscars host Chris Rock. To Gina's point about not a lot of people wanting to see The Woman King because [Academy members] didn't think it was "the sort of film that they should be considering", we need to break down those barriers. [Extracted from the article]

In the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be time to rethink booster recommendations, says one vaccine expert who serves on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's vaccine advisory committee. In addition, studies show that people who received the bivalent Omicron booster don't make appreciably higher levels of virus-fighting antibodies against the BA.4 and BA.5 strains than people who received the original booster. "The experience of the past year has taught us that chasing these Omicron variants with a bivalent vaccine is a losing game", says Offit, who also developed the rotavirus vaccine and is director of the vaccine-education center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. [Extracted from the article]

The current Republican Party is highly unlikely to nominate an openly never-Trump candidate for much of anything, which explains why most of Pence's tome is laudatory. As Mike Pence's armored SUV arrived at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, the Vice President turned to his daughter with a mix of frustration and compassion for the thousands already gathered on the east front. "God bless those people", he said. It certainly helps explain how Trump and his team wound up selecting Pence over options who were more closely aligned with Trump's style of antagonism. [Extracted from the article]

For more COVID-19 news, sign up for the Coronavirus Brief at time.com/coronavirus PHOTO (COLOR): Subway riders, some masked, wait on a train platform in New York City PHOTO (COLOR) Though it may feel as if COVID-19 is a thing of the past, researchers fear another surge is coming, just in time for the holiday season. Get your Omicron booster now instead of timing it for just before holiday events, says Dr. Kristin Moffitt, an infectious-disease physician at Boston Children's Hospital. [Extracted from the article]

On average, state taxes add 31¢ to the cost of a gallon of gas while federal taxes add another 18.4¢, according to federal data. Across the globe, politicians are fuming about record-high gas prices and proposing a range of policy mechanisms to bring down costs, including cutting gas taxes and offering drivers rebates. The research group found that if you add up all the mileage-related externalities--namely congestion, accidents, and local air pollution--the cost comes to a whopping $2.10 per gallon. [Extracted from the article]

Renowned Israeli gastronome Michal Ansky is a professional taster and a Master Chef judge. The tasting was hosted by the Tel Aviv--based meat-tech startup SuperMeat at its in-house restaurant, The Chicken. Ever since 2013, when the first lab-grown hamburger was presented to the public with a $330,000 price tag, alternative-meat companies have been inching closer to a product that is just as tasty and nearly as affordable as the real thing, but without the climate impacts. [Extracted from the article]

The meal carbon counts at COP26 were provided by Klimato, a Swedish startup that analyzes the carbon footprint of food items so food service facilities can display the climate impact of their food offerings. Consumers already understand that taking the bus is better for the climate than driving, but food has a lot of variables: How do you weigh the carbon reductions of locally sourced meat against imported vegetables? Klimato uses a life-cycle analysis that looks at CO2 emissions from both production and distribution on an ingredient-by-ingredient basis to come up with a final emissions total for a meal. [Extracted from the article]

President Joe Biden pulled off his sunglasses when he heard the reporter's question on the South Lawn. Voters in Virginia, after voting for Biden last year, elected Republican Glenn Youngkin as their next governor, and in reliably blue New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy very nearly lost his re-election bid. If Democrats stand a chance next year, Uncle Joe may need to become Sheriff Joe. [Extracted from the article]