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Wednesday, April 30, 2008

 

OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY

Union leadership could help reform sick-worker program
(Knoxville News Sentinel) The evolving campaign to help sick nuclear workers at sites around the country, including Oak Ridge, got a boost this week when Ron Ault, president of the Metal Trades Department (AFL-CIO), blasted the federal compensation program and called for a congressional investigation. The Atomic Trades and Labor Council, which represents union workers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Y-12 National Security Complex, is a branch of the Metal Trades department...4/30

Alexander calls for 'Manhattan Project' on clean energy
(Knoxville News Sentinel) With gas prices hitting $4 a gallon, U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander said today he will call for a five-year effort similar to the Manhattan Project to put the country on the path to clean-energy independence...The senator said he would lay out the specifics of his proposal during a speech at Oak Ridge National Laboratory on May 9...4/29

community:
More on Maria, and her daffodils and redbuds
(Oak Ridger) Last week, we introduced the history of the daffodil flowers and redbud trees planted on the scenic Pellissippi Parkway heading south out of Oak Ridge. This week we continue to focus on Maria Compére, the 90-plus year old lady who is the inspiration for the beautification of Pellissippi Parkway...4/29

state & regional :

Report finds entertainment tab for TVA tops $100,000
(AP) TVA spent more than $100,000 entertaining legislators, business prospects and its own employees in 2005 and 2006, according to an inspector general's report...4/30

State spending may need to be cut $380M more this year
Naashville (AP) As much as $380 million more may have to be cut from the Tennessee budget this year, the State Funding Board was told Tuesday...4/29

NRC conducting special inspection at Browns Ferry
(Knoxville News Sentinel) [Scroll to read] Federal regulators are conducting a special inspection at the Browns Ferry nuclear plant in north Alabama.TVA, which operates the plant, found significant degradation of heat-exchanger service water- flow control valves on Unit 3 last month...4/30

other stories :
The American Bison Can Thrive Again
(Newswise) Bison can repopulate large areas from Alaska to Mexico over the next 100 years provided a series of conservation and restoration measures are taken, according to continental assessment of this iconic species by the Wildlife Conservation Society and other groups...4/29
 

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL:

Bush, Congress clash over economy
(CS Monitor) In the run-up to a high-profile update on the nation's economic growth Wednesday, President Bush and Congress clashed over who is to blame for delays in responding to top concerns of American families: soaring gas and food prices, a housing crisis, and the student loan crunch...4/30

ENERGY & SCIENCE POLICY:

Has U.S. Science Lost Its Competitive Edge?
(Science Now) How far has the United States risen above the gathering storm of global competition in science? Not nearly far enough, warned a succession of luminaries at a symposium held today by the U.S. National Academies...4/29

U.S. renewable energy could quadruple in 10 years
(Reuters) Solar, wind and other sources of renewable energy could double or even quadruple their presence in the United States in the next 10 years, an executive in General Electric's energy finance unit said on Tuesday...4/29

Siphoning Off Corn to Fuel Our Cars
(Washington Post) ...Across the country, ethanol plants are swallowing more and more of the nation's corn crop. This year, about a quarter of U.S. corn will go to feeding ethanol plants instead of poultry or livestock. That has helped farmers like Johnson, but it has boosted demand -- and prices -- for corn at the same time global grain demand is growing...4/30 [Requires registration]

Inside Energy Extra - 4/29 A daily report on U.S. energy policy [pdf file; ORNL subscription - internal use]

doe:

Secretary Bodman Honors DOE Employee with President’s Top Award for Volunteer Service
(DOE Press Release) As part of President Bush’s call for citizens to make a difference in their communities through volunteer service, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Samuel W. Bodman this week recognized George H. Kerestes, a Federal employee at DOE and its predecessor agencies for more than 30 years, for his outstanding dedication to volunteerism...4/29

science & technology:

Race Is on to Advance Software for Chips
(NY Times) In the computer world’s equivalent of “The Amazing Race,” three rival teams of computer researchers are working on new types of software needed to better use computer chips that can process many tasks at the same time...4/30

Inside the Tsunami Factory
(Popular Science) What causes a monster wave? Scientists are drilling seismic hot zones to find out ...4/29

'Sticky Nanotubes' Hold Key To Future Technologies
(Science Daily) Researchers at Purdue University are the first to precisely measure the forces required to peel tiny nanotubes off of other materials, opening up the possibility of creating standards for nano-manufacturing and harnessing a gecko's ability to walk up walls...4/29

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Last Updated:  Wednesday, April 30, 2008  -  76