By Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times (TNS) Every day millions of people share more intimate information with their accessories than they do with their spouse. Wearable technology — smartwatches, smart rings, fitness trackers and the like — monitors body-centric data such as your heart rate, steps taken and calories burned, and may record where you go along the way. Like Santa Claus, it knows when you are sleeping (and how well), it knows when you’re awake, it knows when you’ve been idle or exercising, and it keeps track of all of it. People are also sharing sensitive health information on health and wellness apps , including online mental health and counseling programs. Some women use period tracker apps to map out their monthly cycle. These devices and services have excited consumers hoping for better insight into their health and lifestyle choices. But the lack of oversight into how body-centric data are used and shared with third parties has prompted concerns from privacy experts, who warn that the data could be sold or lost through data breaches, then used to raise insurance premiums, discriminate surreptitiously against applicants for jobs or housing, and even perform surveillance. The use of wearable technology and medical apps surged in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, but research released by Mozilla on Wednesday indicates that current laws offer little protection for consumers who are often unaware just how much of their health data are being collected and shared by companies. “I’ve been studying the intersections of emerging technologies, data-driven technologies, AI and human rights and social justice for the past 15 years, and since the pandemic I’ve noticed the industry has become hyper-focused on our bodies,” said Mozilla Foundation technology fellow Júlia Keserű, who conducted the research. “That permeates into all kinds of areas of our lives and all kinds of domains within the tech industry.” The report “From Skin to Screen: Bodily Integrity in the Digital Age” recommends that existing data protection laws be clarified to encompass all forms of bodily data. It also calls for expanding national health privacy laws to cover health-related information collected from health apps and fitness trackers and making it easier for users to opt out of body-centric data collections. Researchers have been raising alarms about health data privacy for years. Data collected by companies are often sold to data brokers or groups that buy, sell and trade data from the internet to create detailed consumer profiles. Body-centric data can include information such as the fingerprints used to unlock phones, face scans from facial recognition technology, and data from fitness and fertility trackers, mental health apps and digital medical records. One of the key reasons health information has value to companies — even when the person’s name is not associated with it — is that advertisers can use the data to send targeted ads to groups of people based on certain details they share. The information contained in these consumer profiles is becoming so detailed, however, that when paired with other data sets that include location information, it could be possible to target specific individuals, Keserű said. Location data can “expose sophisticated insights about people’s health status, through their visits to places like hospitals or abortions clinics,” Mozilla’s report said, adding that “companies like Google have been reported to keep such data even after promising to delete it.” A 2023 report by Duke University revealed that data brokers were selling sensitive data on individuals’ mental health conditions on the open market. While many brokers deleted personal identifiers, some provided names and addresses of individuals seeking mental health assistance, according to the report. In two public surveys conducted as part of the research, Keserű said, participants were outraged and felt exploited in scenarios where their health data were sold for a profit without their knowledge. “We need a new approach to our digital interactions that recognizes the fundamental rights of individuals to safeguard their bodily data, an issue that speaks directly to human autonomy and dignity,” Keserű said. “As technology continues to advance, it is critical that our laws and practices evolve to meet the unique challenges of this era.” Consumers often take part in these technologies without fully understanding the implications. Last month, Elon Musk suggested on X that users submit X-rays, PET scans, MRIs and other medical images to Grok, the platform’s artificial intelligence chatbot, to seek diagnoses. The issue alarmed privacy experts, but many X users heeded Musk’s call and submitted health information to the chatbot. While X’s privacy policy says that the company will not sell user data to third parties, it does share some information with certain business partners. Gaps in existing laws have allowed the widespread sharing of biometric and other body-related data. Health information provided to hospitals, doctor’s offices and medical insurance companies is protected from disclosure under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act , known as HIPAA, which established federal standards protecting such information from release without the patient’s consent. But health data collected by many wearable devices and health and wellness apps don’t fall under HIPAA’s umbrella, said Suzanne Bernstein, counsel at Electronic Privacy Information Center. “In the U.S. because we don’t have a comprehensive federal privacy law ... it falls to the state level,” she said. But not every state has weighed in on the issue. Washington, Nevada and Connecticut all recently passed laws to provide safeguards for consumer health data. Washington, D.C., in July introduced legislation that aimed to require tech companies to adhere to strengthened privacy provisions regarding the collection, sharing, use or sale of consumer health data. In California, the California Privacy Rights Act regulates how businesses can use certain types of sensitive information, including biometric information, and requires them to offer consumers the ability to opt out of disclosure of sensitive personal information. “This information being sold or shared with data brokers and other entities hypercharge the online profiling that we’re so used to at this point, and the more sensitive the data, the more sophisticated the profiling can be,” Bernstein said. “A lot of the sharing or selling with third parties is outside the scope of what a consumer would reasonably expect.” Health information has become a prime target for hackers seeking to extort healthcare agencies and individuals after accessing sensitive patient data. Health-related cybersecurity breaches and ransom attacks increased more than 4,000% between 2009 and 2023, targeting the booming market of body-centric data, which is expected to exceed $500 billion by 2030, according to the report. “Nonconsensual data sharing is a big issue,” Keserű said. “Even if it’s biometric data or health data, a lot of the companies are just sharing that data without you knowing, and that is causing a lot of anxiety and questions.” ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.24 Exchange Receives SEC Approval of its New National Securities Exchange, "24X National Exchange"
NoneFormer South Carolina star A'ja Wilson will have her No. 22 jersey retired by the school on Feb. 2. Wilson, who won her third WNBA MVP award this season, led South Carolina to the 2017 national title. She was the consensus National Player of the Year for the 2017-18 season. The 6-foot-4 Wilson is the Gamecocks' all-time leading scorer with 2,389 career points. She won SEC Player of the Year honors three times and was a three-time first-team All-American. Wilson still holds 22 school records, according to South Carolina. She was the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft by the Las Vegas Aces in 2018 and is a six-time All-Star and two-time WNBA champion. Wilson, now 28, also won her second Olympic gold medal for Team USA this summer. The jersey retirement will be held prior to a Feb. 2 game against Auburn. An 11-foot bronze statue of Wilson was unveiled outside Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C., in 2021. --Field Level MediaMCC has only one official Facebook page, mayor clarifies
BREAKING: Luke Humphries crashes out of World Darts Championship after huge Peter Wright shockHUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Paul Zilinskas put up 32 points as IU Indianapolis beat Alabama A&M 88-83 on Monday. Zilinskas shot 11 for 20 (5 for 10 from 3-point range) and 5 of 5 from the free-throw line for the Jaguars (3-5). Jarvis Walker scored 13 points while going 3 of 9 from the floor, including 2 for 5 from 3-point range, and 5 for 7 from the line. Timaris Brown and Sean Craight both added 11 points. Darius Ford led the Bulldogs (4-4) in scoring, finishing with 20 points, six rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Anthony Bryant added 17 points for Alabama A&M. Chad Moodie also had 16 points and three blocks. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Marler to retire from rugby on Friday, a month after quitting international duty with England(The Center Square) – Prosecutors introduced secretly recorded audio and video along with a troubled star witness at the public corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Former Chicago Alderman Daniel Solis returned to the Everett McKinley U.S. Courthouse Monday. Solis is facing one federal count of bribery under a deferred prosecution agreement. The ex-alderman began cooperating with federal investigators in 2016. Separately Monday, former Chicago Alderman Daniel Solis, former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and Madigan codefendant Michael McClain enter the federal court building in Chicago Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. U.S. government attorney Diane MacArthur first introduced a recording of Madigan and Solis nearly two years before the alderman started cooperating with the government. The recording involved a conversation with Chinese developer, See Wong, who wanted to build a hotel on a parcel of land in Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood. The land was owned by the state of Illinois at the time, but Solis said a zoning change would be required from the city in order for a hotel to be built. At Madigan’s request, Solis said he facilitated the meeting on Aug. 8, 2014, at Madigan’s law firm, Madigan and Getzendanner, about the land along Wentworth Avenue between Archer Avenue and Cermak Road. Madigan’s law partner, Bud Getzendanner, discussed how successful the firm had been in working with hotels to make sure they were not taxed more than necessary. ”A large component of your expense for hotels is real estate taxes,” Getzendanner said during the recorded meeting. Getzendanner said the firm charged 12.5% of the tax savings obtained. Madigan told Wong and an interpreter about the quality of service his firm provided. “We don’t take a second seat to anybody,” Madigan said. The developer then asked for a picture with Madigan and Solis. Solis told the group that Wong would benefit from working with Madigan. “If he works with the Speaker, he will get anything he needs for that hotel,” Solis said on the recording. Solis testified that he meant the city would provide the zoning change the developer needed from the city if the developer hired Madigan’s law firm. Solis said the zoning change was approved, but the proposed hotel was never built. MacArthur asked Solis about the bribery charge he is still facing, which Solis said involved the redevelopment of a property in Chicago from a restaurant to a residential building in 2015. Solis said two problems prevented the project from moving forward: labor unions’ perceived lack of representation in the development and residents' concerns in the ward. The former alderman admitted that he solicited a campaign contribution from the developer or from one or more of the developer’s vendors while the project’s zoning change was still under consideration. Solis said he believed the developer was on board and that he would be getting donations from the developers’ vendors. The zoning change was approved by the city council, Solis said. He testified he solicited and accepted campaign contributions from other developers who had matters pending before the city council’s zoning committee. Solis then testified about about a variety of things like massages that turned sexual, trips to Las Vegas, tickets to professional sporting events, no-paperwork six-figure loans he'd paid back. He even admitted to an extramarital affair he had with an interpreter. Solis said he was separated from his wife for about five years and their house went into foreclosure. He also confessed that he lied to a collection agency by saying he was out of work. MacArthur asked Solis about his sister, Patti Solis Doyle, who worked on campaigns for former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, former President Bill Clinton and former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, D-New York. Solis Doyle also managed Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in 2008. Solis said his sister was involved in a hotel project in which the developer offered her $100,000. Solis said his sister offered to split the sum with her brother. As chairman of the city’s zoning committee, Solis said he told his sister he could not accept money regarding a hotel development. Solis said his sister told him there would be another way she could compensate him. The former alderman said he did receive funds from his sister for referring her to his friend Brian Hynes’ state vendor assistance program. Monday afternoon, Solis testified that FBI agents visited his home on June 1, 2016, and played audio and video recordings. After considering an attorney, Solis said he decided to cooperate with the FBI a few days later and agreed to let investigators tap his phone. Solis also said he told an attorney friend that he was cooperating with the FBI in regard to an investigation of an organization he was involved in. Solis said he made recordings for several investigations he was involved in as part of his deferred prosecution agreement. He began communicating with Madigan after receiving a voicemail message on June 12, 2017. Solis said he discussed the Chinatown land deal, his interest in getting a state board appointment, and referring clients to Madigan’s law firm while cooperating with the government from June 2016 to December 2017. Solis admitted that he was not really interested in a state board appointment, but he raised the issue with Madigan at the direction of law enforcement. Solis said he began communicating with Madigan codefendant Michael McClain about the Chinatown parcel in the fall of 2017. He said he had to continue to perform his duties as an alderman while cooperating with the FBI because of “the farce” that he was involved in. Solis discussed a 2017 redevelopment project that required a zoning change involving a Union West development in Chicago’s West Loop. MacArthur played a recording, dated June 12, 2017, of Madigan asking Solis about the development. During the call, Solis told the speaker he would try to arrange an introduction for Madigan with the developers. In a subsequent call, Solis promised to arrange a meeting and said, “I think these guys get it, the quid pro quo and how it works.” When MacArthur asked Solis why he said that, Solis said he didn’t know and said it was “dumb.” MacArthur asked Solis if he used the words “quid pro quo” at the direction of law enforcement. “No,” Solis said. Union West developer Andrew Cretal agreed to meet with Madigan and told Solis, “confidentially,” that his company was working with Goldman Sachs as an equity partner and that he would “circle back” with Solis. MacArthur played a recording of Madigan privately telling Solis not to use the words, “quid quo pro.” The conversation immediately preceded the meeting Cretal and the Union West group had at Madigan's and Getzendanner’s law office. During the meeting, Madigan repeated to Cretal’s group what he had said to See Wong. “We don’t take a second seat to anybody,” Madigan said. Solis said he met with Madigan again privately after the meeting with the intention of discussing the Chinatown parcel. Solis said he had been having frequent meetings about the land with potential developers. During the recording, Solis said that nothing could really happen until the state transferred the land. Connie Mixon, professor of Political Science and director of the Urban Studies Program at Elmhurst University, served as an expert witness at the corruption trial of longtime Chicago Democrat Ed Burke, who served on the city council from 1969 to 2023. A jury convicted Burke in December 2023 on 18 counts of racketeering, bribery, attempted extortion and conspiracy to commit extortion and using interstate commerce to facilitate an unlawful activity. Mixon said that Solis also testified as a cooperating witness during Burke’s trial. “It seemed as if, in the sentencing for the Burke trial, the judge did take a bit of exception to the fact that Solis, who also had potential criminal charges, was essentially getting away without any sort of repercussions,” Mixon told The Center Square. Mixon described Solis as a damaged witness. “He’s absolutely damaged, but as much as he’s damaged, you have the words on the wiretap. Having the defendants’ words played in the courtroom, they are really the witness against themselves when you have those wiretaps,” Mixon explained. Before the jury was seated Monday morning, prosecutors said they would provide the court with revised jury instructions by Dec. 3. Judge John Robert Blakey said he could deny admittance of new materials after that date if he deemed them to be untimely. Madigan and McClain are charged with 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct. The trial is scheduled to resume Tuesday morning in Chicago.Marler to retire from rugby on Friday, a month after quitting international duty with England
While is often associated with the pursuit of excellence and winning at all costs, many might assume this meant following a strictly regimented lifestyle with a balanced diet and avoiding all vices to maintain his A-Game every night. However, contrary to those beliefs, the five-time MVP's relationship with cigars wasn't limited to post-championship celebrations or retirement, but by the latter phase of his career, he developed a tendency to smoke cigars before every home game. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.
Subtle detail in new Ariana Grande photo proves she is getting serious with boyfriend Ethan Slater The pop star celebrated her starring role in her hometown Boca Raton, Florida Ariana spent 24 hours in Boca with her 99-year-old grandmother and Ethan READ MORE: Wicked fans slam Ariana Grande's 'distracting' makeup malfunctio n By MARGARET ABRAMS FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 18:00 EST, 25 November 2024 | Updated: 18:00 EST, 25 November 2024 e-mail View comments Ariana Grande celebrated her starring role in Wicked by sharing behind-the-scenes photos in her hometown - and one subtle detail proved she's getting serious with boyfriend Ethan Slater. The pop star was snapped seeing Wicked in her hometown, Boca Raton, Florida , and her Wicked co-star Ethan, who plays munchkin Boq, was photographed in the back, having accompanied her home. Ariana, 31, also shared photos on her Instagram Story with her 376 million followers giving them a peek at her private life. Ethan spent time with Ariana's beloved grandmother Marjorie Grande, also known as 'Nonna,' proving that their relationship is becoming quite serious after they kept it under wraps for months. Ari, who plays Glinda in the record-breaking blockbuster hit, shared details on social media, posting a sweet snap with her grandmother and brother, while making sure to tag Ethan. 'Flew to Boca for a day to watch with Nonna at the movie theater I grew up going to every weekend, Cinemark 20 in Boca,' Ariana wrote. The luxury movie theatre was previously known as Muvico until it was bought by the Cinemark chain, and is known for having valet parking, bar, and restaurants. The former child star was photographed mingling with fans in the main lobby alongside her beau. Ariana Grande celebrated her starring role in Wicked by sharing behind-the-scenes photos in her hometown - and fans noticed he was also in the pictures The pop star was snapped seeing Wicked in her hometown, Boca Raton, Florida at her childhood movie theatre alongside co-star and boyfriend Ethan, who plays Boq READ MORE Ariana Grande's stunning fashion evolution, from cat ears to custom couture on the Wicked press tour Ariana took to her Instagram Story to share a second snap of her watching alongside her grandmother and brother, writing 'photo by @ethanslater :).' The South Florida native, born Ariana Grande Butera, has always been extremely close with her grandmother and celebrated her 99th birthday with her on October 12. On Reddit , Arianators noticed that Ethan, 32, wasn't in the family photos celebrating Nonna's birthday, and some wondered if they had split - but now, he's snapping pictures of the Grande matriarch. The co-stars kept their controversial romance under wraps after meeting in December 2022 on the UK set of the film adaptation of the Broadway hit. When they first met, the Dangerous Woman singer was married to Dalton Gomez. The Grammy winner filed for divorce in September 2023 and listed the date of separation as February 20, 2023. The former Nickelodeon star announced her separation from the luxury real estate agent only three days before confirming her new relationship with Ethan. Ethan, who played SpongeBob on Broadway, was married to his high school sweetheart, Lilly Jay, when he joined Wicked. Ariana took to her Instagram Story to share a second snap of her watching alongside her grandmother and brother, writing 'photo by @ethanslater :)' Since Ariana and Ethan's relationship was first made public, they've only been seen together a handful of times, including at the Los Angeles premiere of Wicked in November Ethan and Lily welcomed a son in 2022 and filed for divorce in July 2023, five years after they tied the knot. Since Ariana and Ethan's relationship was first made public, they've only been seen together a handful of times. They were photographed on the Wicked premiere red carpets and during his opening night in Spamalot on Broadway. Now, it looks like they're going far more public, with Ariana spending time with her family and Ethan, and making sure to give him credit for his pictures on social media. Ariana Grande Share or comment on this article: Subtle detail in new Ariana Grande photo proves she is getting serious with boyfriend Ethan Slater e-mail Add commentFranklin Resources Inc. lessened its holdings in Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. ( NYSE:ATMU – Free Report ) by 91.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 28,236 shares of the company’s stock after selling 297,667 shares during the quarter. Franklin Resources Inc.’s holdings in Atmus Filtration Technologies were worth $1,114,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in ATMU. Quarry LP bought a new position in Atmus Filtration Technologies during the second quarter valued at about $29,000. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in shares of Atmus Filtration Technologies by 89.3% during the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,641 shares of the company’s stock valued at $62,000 after acquiring an additional 774 shares during the period. Rothschild Investment LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Atmus Filtration Technologies during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $68,000. KBC Group NV raised its holdings in shares of Atmus Filtration Technologies by 42.1% in the 3rd quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 2,424 shares of the company’s stock worth $91,000 after purchasing an additional 718 shares during the period. Finally, nVerses Capital LLC purchased a new position in Atmus Filtration Technologies in the second quarter valued at approximately $115,000. 32.73% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Atmus Filtration Technologies Stock Down 1.5 % Shares of NYSE:ATMU opened at $38.69 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $3.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.00, a PEG ratio of 4.42 and a beta of 1.69. Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. has a one year low of $21.09 and a one year high of $45.43. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $41.18 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $35.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.61, a current ratio of 2.11 and a quick ratio of 1.35. Atmus Filtration Technologies Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 13th. Investors of record on Thursday, October 31st were paid a $0.05 dividend. This represents a $0.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.52%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, October 31st. Atmus Filtration Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is currently 9.30%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Atmus Filtration Technologies from $39.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, October 11th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered shares of Atmus Filtration Technologies from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $42.00 to $45.00 in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Northland Securities raised their price target on Atmus Filtration Technologies from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. Finally, Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on Atmus Filtration Technologies from $42.00 to $48.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $44.80. Get Our Latest Analysis on Atmus Filtration Technologies About Atmus Filtration Technologies ( Free Report ) Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc designs, manufactures, and sells filtration products under the Fleetguard brand name in North America, Europe, South America, Asia, Australia, Africa, and internationally. The company offers fuel filters, lube filters, air filters, crankcase ventilation, hydraulic filters, coolants, and fuel additives, as well as other chemicals; and fuel water separators and other filtration systems to original equipment manufacturers, dealers/distributors, and end-users. Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Atmus Filtration Technologies Earnings Per Share Calculator: How to Calculate EPS Buffett Takes the Bait; Berkshire Buys More Oxy in December Using the MarketBeat Stock Split Calculator Top 3 ETFs to Hedge Against Inflation in 2025 What is the Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index? These 3 Chip Stock Kings Are Still Buys for 2025 Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ATMU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. ( NYSE:ATMU – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Atmus Filtration Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Atmus Filtration Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Virginia’s booming data center industry is driving unprecedented energy demands, straining the state’s natural gas infrastructure and prompting calls for new pipelines. A Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, or JLARC, report warns that expanding pipeline capacity may be necessary to meet the surge, bringing with it additional logistical and environmental challenges. Some efforts to expand pipeline capacity are already underway. In October, Tulsa, Oklahoma-based energy firm Williams Companies filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for its Southeast Supply Enhancement Project, or SSEP, which would add about 55 miles of pipeline — mostly in Southwest Virginia — to the existing 10,000-mile Transco Pipeline stretching from Texas to New York. This follows the company’s approval last year for its Commonwealth Energy Connector Project in Southside, designed to link in Greensville County with the Columbia Gas Virginia Reliability Project. That initiative, now under construction, will deliver natural gas to the Hampton Roads region, addressing growing energy needs in that part of the state. The Mountain Valley Pipeline’s right-of-way is seen from Boones Mill on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. The Southgate extension project, an effort to extend the Mountain Valley Pipeline from Pittsylvania County into North Carolina, began consultations with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, or DEQ, this year for permit reviews. In October, Balico, the Herndon-based developer previously associated with the canceled Atlantic Coast Pipeline, proposed a massive data center campus with 84 buildings and an on-site natural gas plant for power. However, strong community opposition forced the company to scale back its plans. Mike Atchie, director of community and project outreach for Williams Companies, emphasized the importance of the SSEP, which seeks to expand natural gas infrastructure across Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. “It ensures that infrastructure exists to support the rapid economic and population growth in the southeast,” Atchie said, adding that it also meets the region’s growing demand for stable and reliable energy to heat homes and power essential services. The recent pipeline developments have drawn sharp criticism from environmental groups, which warn about the potential impact on waterways the projects may need to cross and the continued reliance on carbon-emitting fossil fuels. Scientists link these emissions to worsening climate change, including more frequent and intense storms. “Basically, we’re looking at two co-located projects,” said Jessica Sims, a field coordinator for Appalachian Voices, a Boone, North Carolina-based nonprofit clean energy advocacy group. “You have two projects, co-located in Pennsylvania County, approximately [that] could be built at the same time.” Williams Company plans to add about 55 miles of pipeline in Virginia and North Carolina through a series of loops: parallel pipes designed to increase carrying capacity along existing lines. In Virginia, the Eden Loop would include about 30.8 miles of 42-inch-wide pipeline running from Pittsylvania County into Rockingham County, North Carolina. The loop also includes two 33,000-horsepower, electric-powered compressor stations, in addition to others in North Carolina. A map shows the extent of Tulsa, Oklahoma-based energy firm Williams Companies' Southeast Supply Enhancement Project. Williams has requested approval for the project by February 2026, with an in-service date set for Nov. 1, 2027. Among the gas recipients are the city of Danville and Southwest Virginia Gas, which would take 1,500 and 5,000 dekatherms, respectively. “Without new capacity, there is a risk of repeating past shortages and power outages,” Atchie said. “The expansion taps into established pipeline corridors to minimize environmental and landowner impacts and will be built and maintained using Williams’ industry-leading safety standards, including 24/7 monitoring and rigorous maintenance.” The SSEP pipeline is planned to follow a similar route to the 31-mile Southgate Extension project, which the team behind the Mountain Valley Pipeline announced last year it would be reviving. Since then, the company has engaged with federal and state regulatory agencies, including the DEQ, to discuss the permits required for the project’s revised scope, spokesman Shawn Day said. But Sims of Appalachian Voices raised concerns during a State Water Control Board meeting last month about Virginia code provisions that allow the DEQ to waive the requirement for a Section 401 permit under the federal Clean Water Act if the pipeline is below 36 inches. The Mountain Valley Pipeline right-of-way and some piping is visible beside Virginia Route 460, Sunday, July 16, 2023, in Elliston. The revised plans reduced the Southgate pipeline from 75 to 31 miles, eliminating the need for a controversial compressor station, but increased the pipeline diameter from 24 and 16 inches to 30 inches, still under the threshold allowing the DEQ to waive the need for a water permit. “The cumulative impacts from two major construction projects is one reason to give South gain more scrutiny than last time,” Sims told the board, pointing to its proximity to the SSEP project. When asked by the Virginia Mercury if the DEQ would waive any permits for the Southgate Extension project, DEQ spokesman John Giese said the agency has not received formal plans. “Southgate/Equitrans has informed [the] DEQ of their intent to move forward on a project and has discussed their general layout and timing of design,” Giese said. “However, no formal plans or permit application(s) have been submitted to [the] DEQ for review.” The project is aiming to be operational by 2028 “to provide PSNC Energy and Duke Energy with an affordable, reliable and resilient natural gas supply to meet residential and business demand and generate electricity,” Day said, adding the project “will secure all necessary permits and authorizations.” The JLARC report highlighted natural gas as the most viable option for on-site power generation, a necessity for many large-scale projects in Southwest Virginia. “Of the current technologies available, only natural gas appears viable for on-site generation, and it can be deployed only close to pipeline infrastructure that has sufficient capacity to serve generation needs,” the report says. A engineering plan shows a data center campus and on-site power generation source in Pittsylvania County. In Pittsylvania County, Balico initially proposed a 2,300-acre data center campus with a 3,500-megawatt natural gas plant, but withdrew the plan after significant community pushback. In November, the company submitted a scaled-down application for a project requiring “more than 760 acres” and rezoning land for “private electric power generation,” with a letter of intent from Mountain Valley Pipeline owner EQT “for the supply of a sufficient volume of natural gas to fuel the power plant proposed for the campus.” The proposal is expected to be reviewed next year. Nearby, the town of Hurt passed a resolution supporting the project, agreeing to provide 2 million gallons of water per day through the construction of a new water plant. Community opposition to the original proposal had largely centered on the water demands of the project. This story was originally published in the Virginia Mercury . Charlie Paullin covers energy and environment for the Virginia Mercury. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Oregon already secured its spot in the Big Ten championship game, but the top-ranked Ducks have plenty to play for in their regular-season finale. Revenge may be on Oregon's mind when the Ducks host longtime rival Washington on Saturday in Eugene, Ore. Oregon (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten) would perhaps be closing in on its second straight College Football Playoff appearance had the Huskies (6-5, 4-4) not dealt the Ducks their only two losses last season. Washington edged Oregon 36-33 in Seattle last October, then slipped past the Ducks 34-31 in the Pac-12 title game to secure a playoff spot for the second time in school history. Both teams joined the Big Ten in August. Third-year Oregon head coach Dan Lanning is 33-5 leading the Ducks. But he remains winless against the Huskies (0-3). Oregon plots to sprint out of its late-season bye after using time to heal injuries, but Lanning doesn't believe the break should stall the flow of an undefeated season. "It's always about what we're able to do on the field. Motivation is overrated," Lanning said. "Our guys have to want to go out there and execute at a really high level. Since the beginning of the season we've talked about playing our best football at the end of November. We're there. This is our opportunity to go play our best football against a good team." The Ducks could have star wide receiver Tez Johnson back from a shoulder injury this week. Johnson has missed the past two games. That would be good news for quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who would regain the team's leader in receptions (64), receiving yards (649) and receiving touchdowns (eight). Washington, under first-year head coach Jedd Fisch, is 63-48-5 all-time against Oregon but is just 1-12-1 when facing the No. 1-ranked team in the country. The Huskies are led on offense by running back Jonah Coleman, who has racked up 1,008 yards and nine scores on the ground this season. Coleman averages 5.8 yards per carry and has 36 runs of at least 10 yards. In the passing game, wide receiver Denzel Boston is tied for the Big Ten lead with nine in touchdown catches and ranks sixth in the conference with 764 receiving yards. Whom Boston will be catching passes from is not yet known, however. Washington has not revealed whether Will Rogers or Demond Williams Jr. will start at quarterback. Rogers has started every game for the Huskies but was benched in favor of Williams two weeks ago after throwing a pair of interceptions in a 31-19 win over UCLA. Fisch said he has a "good idea" of how he will use his quarterbacks on Saturday, and while he wouldn't go as far as to name a starter, he did say Rogers responded well in practices last week. "On the same token, Demond's energy and Demond's confidence showed up. His ability to jump right in and feel really good about leading the group whenever it was his turn... he did a really nice job there as well," Fisch told Seattle Sports. "I think both guys responded well to the week of practice, and now, really, it's important for us that the guy we believe will start the game gets a significant amount of reps in practice week. But as you know, we're not afraid to play two quarterbacks." --Field Level Media