A Vermont farmer built a dam in the 1950s; its 2022 removal restored the farm creeks floodplain to slow stormwater flowing into Lake Champlain

A dam built in the early 1950s for an irrigation pond came out in 2022, and the valley below was reshaped into a wide floodplain and wetland. (AI-generated/ChatGPT)

Anyone who’s seen a street flood after a heavy storm knows just how quickly water can move when it has nowhere to go. That was the problem with a small Vermont creek for decades. The fix began with taking something out. According to the Vermont Land Trust, a dairy farmer in Colchester built an earthen … Read more

US home sellers turn to mortgage rate buydowns as high rates slow home sales

US home sellers offer mortgage rate buydowns and price cuts as high rates slow home sales. (Unsplash)

Selling a home in the US has become more difficult as fewer buyers are looking to purchase homes and mortgage rates remain high. Sellers are now cutting home prices and offering financial benefits to attract buyers. These benefits include paying some of the buyers’ closing costs or giving them money to lower their mortgage rates. … Read more

YouTube down: Thousands report videos not loading, slow playback amid outage

YouTube down for thousands (Unsplash)

YouTube TV users reported problems on Saturday, October 3, 2026, with many saying they were unable to watch live programmes, including college football games. Downdetector showed a sharp rise in reports around 5:11 pm EDT, with complaints coming from users across the US. YouTube down for thousands (Unsplash) The reported problems included videos failing to … Read more

Inside Chris Pratt’s 100-acre Washington ranch with sheep, pigs and award-winning wool, where farm life helps him slow down away from Hollywood

Inside Chris Pratt’s 100-acre Washington ranch with sheep, pigs and award-winning wool, where farm life helps him slow down away from Hollywood

A glimpse inside Chris Pratt’s Washington ranch, where life moves by the seasons, not Hollywood’s release schedules. Hollywood star Chris Pratt and his wife, Katherine Schwarzenegger, have built a life that extends well beyond the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles. While the couple have made headlines for their high-profile relationship and impressive real-estate portfolio, … Read more

Where have all the Atlantic hurricanes gone? El Nino might bring record slow storm season

Where have all the Atlantic hurricanes gone? El Nino might bring record slow storm season

The Atlantic is quiet — record quiet — this hurricane season thanks to an enormous El Nino that crushes storms before they get going. Where have all the Atlantic hurricanes gone? El Nino might bring record slow storm season No Atlantic hurricanes have formed yet this year and none are likely to form for at … Read more

Quote of the day by Cicero: 'If we are not ashamed to think it, we should not be ashamed to say it' and the slow psychological toll of hiding what you really believe

Quote of the day by Cicero: 'If we are not ashamed to think it, we should not be ashamed to say it' and the slow psychological toll of hiding what you really believe

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 BCE) was a Roman statesman, lawyer, philosopher, and one of history’s greatest orators A boardroom full of executives sits in silence, agreeing with an aggressive expansion plan that several of them privately believe will fail. Each person can see the serious problems, but no one chooses to speak.This gap between what … Read more