1. California Gov. Jerry Brown Defends Farms' Water Use, Warns Changes May Come

Days after taking the unprecedented step of ordering mandatory water-use reductions throughout his state, California Gov. Jerry Brown defended his executive order's treatment of the state's agriculture industry and its use of water in an interview with ABC's "This Week."

Brown said California's farms are "providing most of the fruits and vegetables of America," as well as jobs for the state's most vulnerable residents. Though agriculture accounts for only 2 percent of California's economy, it consumes 80 percent of the state's water, according to the Public Policy Institute of California, a nonpartisan think tank.

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PHOTO: Gov. Jerry Brown on This Week

The Democratic governor also emphasized how much agriculture has already been hurt by the state's drought.

2. 5 Things Pope Francis Asked People to Pray for on Easter

Alessandra Tarantino/AP Photo

PHOTO:Pope Francis salutes as he arrives for an Easter mass, in St. Peter's square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 5, 2015.

On a rainy afternoon in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis used his annual Easter address to urge the world to pray for peace and for Christians to be more humble.

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OGDEN, Utah (ABC 4 Utah) Ogden City Water Utility is reacting to what it is calling a "severe water shortage" due to a combination of unusually warm weather and an inability to treat water at Ogden City's water treatment plant.

Ogden City has been reconstructing its water treatment plant since fall of 2014. The plant normally operates from mid-May through the end of September each year.

The water treatment plant operates seasonally to meet demand during the irrigation season. Pipe leaks recently discovered near the water treatment plant and other issues have resulted in delays with completing the project. These delays, coupled with peak demand anticipated to occur earlier than normal, have created the potential for a severe water shortage.

City officials recommend residents strongly consider delaying the operation of lawn sprinklers until later in the season. Once lawn watering begins, residential and commercial lawn watering is to be limited to one-half inch (1/2) of water every four days during the months of April and May.

As always is the case, lawn watering is prohibited between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Swimming pools should be allowed to drop four inches (4) below full capacity and covers should be in place when the pool is not in use.

Hard surface washing, such as sidewalks and driveways, is prohibited.

Washing personal vehicles at home, especially where water will run off of the property, is highly discouraged. The first violation of mandatory restrictions will result in a $125 fine.

The second violation carries a $250 fine and each subsequent violation carries a $500 penalty.

Commercial and industrial users are encouraged to reduce water use by 25%.

Other suggestions include the following: Daily watering should be avoided as residents are counseled to water at most every other day. Long run times on sprinkler cycles is discouraged. Irrigation systems should be kept in good repair. Landscape water should not be running off property. Visit slowtheflow.org for more water saving ideas.

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Ogden City officials ask residents to hold off on watering lawns due to water shortage

KARACHI: The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation on Friday demolished and sealed four wedding lawns constructed illegally on as many amenity plots allotted decades ago for other purposes.

One of the wedding halls was owned by Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Babar Ghauri, whose party condemned the action and blamed Local Government Minister Sharjeel Memon for victimising MQM leaders and workers on the pretext of an anti-encroachment drive.

Sources said that these plots had been allotted three to four decades back and were being misused for over a quarter of a century.

Take a look: Killed KESC chief on Altaf Hussain's orders, Saulat Mirza claims

A KMC spokesperson told Dawn that Administrator Saqib Soomro in exercise of powers of the City Council conferred on him through a governments notification dated Dec 7, 2011 allowed the KMC and defunct KDA on March 30 to cancel the lease of all such amenity plots which were not being used for the purposes for which they had been allotted.

They said that Mr Ghauris Florence Marriage Lawn in North Nazimabads Block H was built on an amenity plot, ST 2, which was originally allotted to Dr Abdul Jamil Khan on Dec 8, 1964 for the construction of a hospital to provide medical treatment to the poor and deserving patients.

They said that on Jan 5, 1993 the amenity plot was transferred to Mr Ghauri, Khurshid Ahmed and Ms Badri Sadri by Dr Khan.

The defunct Karachi Development Authority (KDA) had issued show-cause notices regarding the transfer of the plot and repeatedly warned the beneficiaries that the said plot could only be used for the construction of a hospital. However no heed was paid to the KDAs warnings in the years to come.

On Friday, the KMCs anti-encroachment department demolished the marriage hall and other construction on it and took possession of the plot.

Civic Marriage Lawn

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MQM leaders illegal wedding lawn razed in North Nazimabad - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

PLEASANTON, Calif. -- In Los Angeles a company called Turf Terminators is busy tearing out lawns and replacing them with gravel and drought resistant plants. It's paid for by a local government program that rebates $3 for every square foot of grass that's gone.

On Thursday Marise Freitas said goodbye to her thirsty lawn.

"We're essentially in a desert and people are maintaining yards like we live in the tropics and it's a silly waste of water," said Freitas.

Crews work to remove grass and install gravel to help with California's water restriction

CBS News

29 Photos

Startling pictures of the worst drought the region has seen in centuries

"We are on a wave of a new era of landscaping in Southern California, and hopefully in California in general," said Turf Terminators CEO Ryan Nivakoff.

On average 60 percent of domestic water use goes to outdoor irrigation, so that's the obvious place to make the 25 percent reduction.

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California prepares for new life, new look under water restrictions

When Amber Blevens came out of jail for the fifth and final time, a window opened.

It was fleeting, but it was a real opportunity for her to give up heroin and regain control of her life. Most, if not all addicts have a window like this, said Blevenss stepmother, Kriss Blevens.

To overcome addiction is impossible without an overlapping moment when the addict is ready to change his or her life and support services are ready to help, the elder Blevens said.

If our health care system is set up to be ready when the addict is ready, the magic of recovery can happen, she said. If the funding and the bed is not there . . . there is no opportunity. It will progress until death.

At 8:30 tomorrow morning, 300 people will lie as if dead on the State House lawn to say that New Hampshire isnt ready to help its citizens who suffer from substance-abuse disorders. They represent the more than 300 people who died last year in the state as a result of a drug overdose.

At 22 years old, Amber Red Blevens was one of the 300 lost.

Ahead of a review of the states budget, the bodies will serve as a reminder and hopefully a prompt to restore substance abuse-related services cut by the House Finance Committee from the governors proposed budget, said Joe Gallagher, communications director for New Futures, the group organizing the event.

In January 2014, Amber told Kriss Blevens through a glass partition in jail that when she was released a few days later, she was ready for help. She wanted to check in to long-term rehab, get clean and pursue her goal of becoming an EMT.

Kriss Blevens put Amber on the waiting list for Farnum Center in Manchester, hoping that a bed would soon open up so Amber could receive long-term treatment there. When Kriss returned to the jail two more times in the following week to visit Amber, she had to relay the fact that no beds were open.

Her desperation became more and more, Kriss said.

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300 to play dead on State House lawn

The confirmation last week of an infestation of emerald ash borer, or EAB, in Clinton begs the question of when the ash-killing pest will be found in Moline and the Iowa Quad-Cities.

With the discovery of EAB in Rock Island in late 2013, most people who work with trees assume the pest is already in those other locations,just undetected.

So if you're a homeowner with ash trees, should you treat them? That is a personal decision, but foresters say the only ash trees that will survive once EAB hits an area in full force are those that are treated, something that must be done for the life of the tree.

Some people would rather remove a tree and plant a replacement.

Ash trees within 15 miles of a confirmed EAB site are at risk ofattack, and preventativetreatments are suggested withinthis zone, if an owner so chooses. At present, that includes the entire metro Quad-Cities, plus Muscatine and Clinton.

The next window for preventive treatment measures (trunk injection, soil injection, soil drench or basal trunk sprays) will be from mid-April to mid-May.

Usethe next few weeks to have landscape and tree service companies bid on work so you can review thembefore the recommended treatment time.

The city of Davenport has set up a process for homeowners to treat city trees in the boulevard, the area between the sidewalk and the street. For more information on this, go to cityofdavenportiowa.com. Click on "departments," "public works" and "trees."

Here is more information about treatment from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, as well as some common questions and answers:

Ash trees can be protected with insecticide applied by a commercial pesticide applicator or the homeowner. Trees must be healthy, vigorously growing and valuable to your landscape.

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EAB discovery in Clinton begs question for other areas

Severe back pain can change a person's life and take them away from the activities they enjoy.

That is what happened with Kevin Lee, of Dartmouth. However, life is getting back to normal after he tried a non-invasive procedure that eliminated his pain in a matter of hours.

"I just may move a certain way or bend over a certain way, and all of a sudden, I'm done and I can't get up," said Lee. "These episodes where I'd be flat on my back, and it would take a week to get back on my feet."

That was tough for Lee to handle. At 64 years old, he was very active and spent time every week rowing or steering a whale boat in New Bedford Bay. The boats are big, and the work can be grueling.

"29 feet long, weighs 927 pounds, 6 foot at the beam, five rowers, one steering. We can row out into rough waters. We can take pretty heavy chop," Lee said.

Chronic lower back pain eventually took Lee out of the boat. He was often unable to walk or standup straight. When the pain flared up, he had to use a cane or even a walker to get around.

"I wasn't mowing my lawn. I wasn't stacking my own firewood. I wasn't able to play with my grandchildren," said Lee.

He saw a spinal surgeon, but they couldn't help.

Eventually, he ended up at a pain management clinic at Brigham & Women's Health Care Center in Foxborough. He met Dr. Pradeep Dinakar, a neurologist and interventional pain management specialist, who realized he was suffering from sacroiliac joint pain on his right side.

"You're in pain, you don't exercise. Your core becomes weak. A weak core makes things worse. It gets to the point that you're debilitated," said Dinakar. "This technique definitely breaks the cycle."

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Local doctors offering procedure to help ease back pain

NEWS TWLOHA, Z Society raise suicide awareness by Mairead Crotty | Mar 24 2015 | 18 hours ago

The University chapter of To Write Love on Her Arms placed 1,100 black flags on the South Lawn Monday to represent the 1,100 college students who die by suicide every year.

TWLOHA is a nonprofit organization seeking to fight the stigma surrounding mental health, create a better and safer conversation about mental health and educate and inform people about the importance of receiving treatment.

With the help of the Z Society, TWLOHA placed the black flags, both to respect student lives lost to suicide and to raise awareness. TWLOHA Vice President Arianna Trickey, a Curry graduate student, said the campaign is a way to bring attention to the conversation surrounding mental health.

The Black Flag Advocacy Campaign is a way to break the stigma, Trickey said. Suicide is not something that anyone wants to talk about, even though the ripple effect of a suicide affects everyone.

The Black Flag Campaigns goal is to encourage students struggling with their mental health to seek the medical attention they need.

That being said, its not meant to be a bandwagon, Trickey said. Its part visibility, but weve also made sure that resources are available. We want to stress that suicide is not the answer there are other avenues to get help here at the University.

Trickey also explained the purpose of the University chapter of the organization.

As an organization we try to do a lot of advocacy work to end the stigma and discuss what being a college student in a culture that stigmatizes mental health is, Trickey said. Were trying to show that U.Va. is not alone in this problem, and that there are so many people who have faced these issues.

The main goal of TWLOHA is to educate and advocate for people struggling with mental health. Ten percent of students have depression, and an estimated two-thirds of those students are untreated, Trickey said. TWLOHA aims to connect people to the resources they need to combat mental health problems.

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Black Flag Campaign calls attention to mental health

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) March 23, 2015

After killing over 50 million Ash trees across 25 states, Emerald Ash Borer is making its presence known in the Philadelphia region according to Giroud Tree and Lawn. Ash trees infested with Emerald Ash Borer, decline quickly and usually die within 3-5 years depending on size. Treatment is the only way to save Ash Trees from this 100% fatal pest.

"Over the past 12 years, government and university researchers have extensively studied Emerald Ash Borer and how to control it," says Lou Giroud, ISA Certified Arborist and President of Giroud Tree and Lawn, a tree service company. Research has proven that biannual trunk injections of TREE-age, Emamectin benzoate, provide the best control against Emerald Ash Borer.

Considered the most destructive forest pest ever seen in North America according to EmeraldAshBorer.info, Emerald Ash Borer kill Ash Trees when the larvae tunnel beneath the bark, stop food and water movement and starve the tree to death.

Property owners living in the high risk zones of Bucks County, Montgomery County PA and parts of Philadelphia need to take action to control Emerald Ash Borer. The following steps help to ensure Ash trees are properly evaluated and treated:

Reaching average heights of more than 80 feet tall and girths as much as 6 feet around, Ash Trees are a valuable part of many landscapes. Losing a tree of this size and stature will have a lasting impact on area homes, businesses and communities. Early detection and treatment to control this deadly pest are keys to preserving Ash trees in the Philadelphia region.

About Giroud Tree and Lawn Giroud Tree and Lawn specializes in tree service, tree removal and lawn care programs that make customers love doing business with the company since 1974. Serving Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties, the company offers professional tree and lawn evaluation, tree pruning, tree removal, insect and disease control, fertilizing, stump removal and traditional and 100% organic lawn programs to keep lawns healthy and green . Giroud Arborists are certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and have the knowledge and experience required to properly diagnose, treat and maintain trees and lawn health. The company is Accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has been awarded the Angie's List Super Service Award every year since 2005. The Giroud Treework for Charity program donates free tree care services to parks, historical sites and other non-profit organizations located in the Companys service area. For more information, visit the company website at http://www.giroudtree.com or call 215-682-7704.

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Emerald Ash Borer Is Spreading in Philadelphia Forcing Homeowners to Choose Between Treatment to Save Valuable Ash ...

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

By: Jillian Austin

Posted: 3:00 AM | Comments:

TIM SMITH / BRANDON SUN Enlarge Image

Sam Hofer, a councillor for the RM of Cornwallis, inside the pumphouse that is used to treat the water for the village of Chater.

CHATER, Man. -- High water rates have Chater residents drowning in "atrocious" bills, and some say it may force them to move out of the village.

Since the RM of Cornwallis took over the community's water management last summer, residents have experienced soaring water costs -- in some cases bills have tripled or quadrupled.

"Something's got to be done," said Carol Pashnyk, a Chater resident of 15 years. "We're just so terribly, terribly upset with our ridiculous water rates... It's unreal."

Carol and her husband George Pashnyk are retired and on a fixed income. They were shocked when they received a $500 water bill for two months, when they were used to paying in the realm of $300 for six months.

"I would say the most we've ever paid in a full year -- and that's watering (the lawn) quite a bit -- is $600," she said. "Well, we paid $500 for two months."

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Huge water bills make townsfolk want to move