Coconut Oil, Walrus, Senate Russia Probe

Missoulian: Coconut oil uses touted, but benefits questionable

Coconut Oil
“Possibly effective for...

Eczema. Research suggests that applying virgin coconut oil to the skin twice daily for 8 weeks improves symptoms about 30% more than mineral oil in children with eczema.”

Walrus are extremely social and gregarious animals. They tend to travel and haulout onto ice or land in groups. Walrus prefer to lie in close physical contact with each other; young often lie on top of the adults. Image of six walrus in snow from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Missoulian:Walrus and the Endangered Species Act

Walrus Factsheet

Missoulian: Senators to discuss first findings in Russia probe

WATCH LIVE: Senators to discuss first findings in Russia probe

ODNI Statement on Declassified Intelligence Community Assessment of Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent U.S. Elections ICA_2017_01.pdf

Puerto Rico

Missoulian: Trump in Puerto Rico, lauds administration's relief effort

Donald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump  Oct 1

We have done a great job with the almost impossible situation in Puerto Rico. Outside of the Fake News or politically motivated ingrates,...

Donald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump  Oct 1

...people are now starting to recognize the amazing work that has been done by FEMA and our great Military. All buildings now inspected.....

Donald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump  Oct 1

...for safety. Thank you to the Governor of P.R. and to all of those who are working so closely with our First Responders. Fantastic job!

Trump contrasts Puerto Rico death toll to 'a real catastrophe like Katrina'

"Every death is a horror," Trump said, "but if you look at a real catastrophe like Katrina and you look at the tremendous -- hundreds and hundreds of people that died -- and you look at what happened here with, really, a storm that was just totally overpowering ... no one has ever seen anything like this."

"What is your death count?" he asked as he turned to Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló. "17?"

FEMA
“There are more than 12,300 federal staff representing 36 departments and agencies and including more than 800 FEMA personnel, on the ground in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands engaged in response and recovery operations from Hurricanes Maria and Irma.”

Texas Hurricane Harvey: Total Public Assistance Grants
Dollars Obligated: $323,676,091.81

Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria: Total Individual & Households Program

Dollars Approved: $6,916,000.00

Las Vegas Shooting

Missoulian: Trump condemns 'act of pure evil' in Las Vegas

Statement by President Trump on the Shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada
Statement from Governor Brian Sandoval on shooting in Las Vegas
“This tragic and vicious attack on innocent people has claimed the lives of our fellow Americans and devastated hundreds of others who were simply enjoying a country music festival.”

Burma Violence, Flu Season

Missoulian: S.Res.250 A resolution condemning horrific acts of violence against Burma's Rohingya population and calling on Aung San Suu Kyi to play an active role in ending this humanitarian tragedy.

UN Briefing, 9/25/17
“The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that the number of Rohingya refugees who have fled Myanmar and arrived in Bangladesh in the past month has reached 436,000.”

Missoulian: US health officials brace for potentially bad flu season

CDC- Influenza

Zinke Monument Cuts, EPA Understaffed

Missoulian: Zinke wants smaller monuments, but not at home

Memorandum for the President

Missoulian: After 34 years, EPA not sure whether Butte residents are exposed to heavy metal contamination

EPA’s Distribution of Superfund Human Resources Does Not Support Current Regional Workload 
“Region 8 stated in its survey response that it had site work it could not start due to lack of FTEs at the Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area NPL site in Butte, Montana. Specifically, work is currently delayed at the West Side Soils Operable Unit (OU13), which includes the mining-impacted areas in and around the city. For the site, potential health threats include direct contact with and ingestion of contaminated soil, surface water and groundwater; and inhaling contaminated soil.”

Trump Tax Cuts

Missoulian: Trump vows to cut taxes 'tremendously' for middle class

Remarks by President Trump Before Meeting with Bipartisan Members of the House Committee on Ways and Means

“Second, we will cut taxes tremendously for the middle class -- not just a little bit, but tremendously. That includes nearly doubling the standard deduction that most families take on their taxes, and increasing the child tax credit families really want, and we've talked about it for a long time.

Third, we will lower tax rates for businesses to create more jobs and higher wages for Americans. America has the highest business tax rate in anywhere in the developed world. We're the highest-taxed nation in the developed world, and I think in the undeveloped world too.”

The 25 countries with the highest tax rates in the world (USA doesn’t make the list)
The Global Competitiveness Report 2016–2017

International Comparisons of Corporate Income Tax Rates - Includes the Effective Corporate Tax Rate which is 18.6

Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson Proposal on Health Care

Missoulian: The Latest: Protesters in wheelchairs disrupt bill hearing

Hearing to Consider the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson Proposal