## Urban trees aren’t just nice, scientists say — they’re mandatory

Authored by grist.org

Urbanites rush by them without noticing, and without appreciating all the work they do: Trees reduce temperatures, mitigate flooding, and provide habitat for animals.

“In the same way that we treat education, security, transportation, it has to be elevated to that level.”.

For one, trees significantly cool the concrete jungle by providing shade and releasing water vapor to “sweat.”

Spending time in parks also boosts mental health, while urban farms produce nutritious food and create jobs.

At the same time, vegetation absorbs pollutants, improving air quality for everyone.

Urban forestry isn’t just about buying a bunch of trees and hiring people to put them in the ground.

Cities, for example, have to identify not just the tree species that communities prefer, but ones that will actually survive ever-climbing temperatures. »

### Sightings of humpback whales surge in Rio de Janeiro, fueling demand for whale-watching trips

Authored by abcnews.com

Humpback whales are increasingly spotted off Rio de Janeiro as their population recovers from past commercial whaling.

The species' population has jumped from around 2,000 to around 35,000 in approximately 40 years, close to their population before whaling, said Enrico Marcovaldi, co-founder of the Humpback Whale Project.

It shows that the whales are making a recovery, are healthy and thriving, and hopefully they’ll continue to do so,” said Marcovaldi. »

### Democratic Rep. Khanna says Israeli settlers and IDF soldiers blockaded him in West Bank for over an hour

Authored by edition.cnn.com

Speaking with CNN on Saturday, Khanna called on the Israeli government to prosecute the IDF soldiers and the settlers.

The incident followed a visit to an elementary school that was destroyed by extremist Israeli settlers, Khanna said.

But when four IDF soldiers arrived at the scene, they sided with the settlers, Khanna claimed. »

### Lindsey Graham, US senator and staunch supporter of Israel, dies at 71

Authored by jpost.com

"Senator Graham's family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period," the statement read.

Graham, 71, was a prominent Republican senator from South Carolina.

A former Air Force lawyer and member of the South Carolina Air National Guard, Graham was elected to the Senate in 2002. »

### 40 Epstein-Tied Billionaires Have Injected $1.6B Into US Elections, Report Finds

Authored by truthout.org

Americans for Tax Fairness Action Fund reveals in a new report Thursday that 40 billionaires and billionaire families with ties to Epstein have injected over $1.57 billion into U.S. elections since 2010.

According to the group’s analysis, 84 percent of this spending, or over $1.3 billion, went toward Republicans or conservative causes.

This is despite a roughly even split between Republicans and Democrats among the billionaires, which include people who formerly donated to the Clinton family. »

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