News from around the nation.

Trump questions purpose of U.N. in address to general assembly; a changing climate poses threats to NM's pecan crop; TN coalition pushes back on Tesla's tunnel project in Nashville; New federal budget bill predicted to drive up energy costs for PA.

Transcript

The Public News Service Tuesday afternoon update, I'm Mike Clifford.

President Trump took to the lectern at the United Nations General Assembly convened today on its 80th anniversary with the wars raging in Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine and peace and stability the core objectives of the body remaining as distant as they were a year ago.

That for the New York Times, Trump initially forced to read from prepared remarks because his teleprompter was not working, targeted the United Nations claiming that he had solved the conflicts around the world while the UN had done nothing and questioned its purpose.

We head next to New Mexico, where an ongoing drought has significantly reduced water levels in the Rio Grande River, raising some to question whether growing water-intense crops like the state's pecans will be sustainable.

Last year, pecan growers generated about $167 million in revenue, making pecans the state's largest food crop.

High country news reporter Jeremy Miller says the smattering of pecan trees planted in Southern New Mexico by American settlers only began to flourish in the 1930s after the Elephant Butte Dam was built on the Rio Grande.

The conditions that led to the establishment of this crop don't exist today.

We're living in a time of climate change.

We're living in a time of growing populations and water scarcity and political turmoil.

New Mexico ranks just behind Georgia in its production of pecans.

I'm Roz Brown.

This story produced with original reporting by Jeremy Miller with the High Country News and the Food and Environment Reporting Network.

Meantime, a coalition of advocacy and transit groups is challenging Tennessee's approval of Elon Musk's Music City Loop.

The underground tunnel to be built by Musk's boring company would carry people in Tesla electric vehicles between downtown Nashville, the airport, and the convention center in about eight minutes.

Jess Williams with the Equity Alliance says the plan looks more like a private ride service than true public transit.

We've seen what happened when policies such as like transportation policies, for instance, are made for us and not with us.

Take a look at like I-40 cutting through Jefferson Street in North Nashville and the harm that that has caused to Black Nashville.

This is the same concept, but it's underground.

The group is calling for safety and environmental reviews and for Nashville residents to have a real say in the project.

And as the rollback of clean energy tax credits Congress this summer starts to take effect.

It's raising concerns in Pennsylvania.

David Kiva of E.D.F. Action, the advocacy arm of the Environmental Defense Fund, says many households already face financial difficulties, but Pennsylvanians can expect to see an increase of $160 a year on their electric bills.

So far this year, there have been over a dozen rate increase requests from Pennsylvania utility.

That's a leading indicator that prices will increase even more.

An analysis by Energy Innovation warns ending tax credits could halt construction.

Danielle Smith reporting.

This is Public News Service.

Mexico activated emergency controls Monday after detecting a new case of New World screw worm in cattle in the northern border state of Nuevo Leon, the closest case to the U.S. borders since the outbreak began last year.

The Associated Press says the animal came from the Gulf state of Veracruz.

The last case was reported in July in that same location, prompting Washington to suspend imports of live Mexican cattle.

The parasite attacks warm-blooded animals including humans.

Mexico has reported more than 500 active cases in cattle across southern states.

This week is National Farm Safety and Health Week, bringing focus to an industry that can be surprisingly dangerous.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2021 to 2023 found farming, fishing and forestry occupations had the most injuries per capita of any profession.

Cynthia Curl is the director of Boise State University's Curl Agricultural Health Lab.

She says there are many dangers in agricultural work that we might associate with other professions like construction, such as the use of heavy machinery.

There are also unique hazards to farm work like pesticides, livestock, different kinds of diseases for people that are working in animal production.

And then there's all of those kinds of weather challenges that also face construction workers like extreme heat.

The National Education Center for Agricultural Safety leads this Awareness Week.

It comes as the busy fall harvest season ramps up.

The theme this year is safety first and avoid the worst.

And finally, the Girl Scouts are tackling mental health, self-esteem and career concerns among teen girls and young adults across Texas.

Freda Ross has details.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, mental health issues among teens have been on the rise since at least 2012.

Feelings of sadness, depression and despair are higher among young girls than boys.

Jennifer Bartkowski with Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas says symptoms increased following the pandemic with 78 percent of girls saying they feel like they're going to explode.

Given all the pressures they're facing from social media, AI, school, all the things that are coming at them.

It is a different generation this generation is and we have to create a space and an environment for girls to build their confidence so they can make the best decisions for themselves.

The organization recently opened one of its new dream labs in Denton County in Northeast Texas.

Girls don't have to be a Girl Scout to participate in activities at the facility.

The organization supports girls across 32 Northeast Texas counties.

I'm Freda Ross reporting.

And again, that was Freda Ross and I'm Mike Moen for Public News Service, member and listener supported.

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