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Carrie Hauser, the President of Trust for Public Land, discusses the importance of public spaces.

What’s in a name? Giving anything a name such as “strangler fig” immediately conjures up negative feelings towards the creature. Our “strangler fig” – a native of Florida – has the scientific name Ficus aureus – a name given to it for its quarter-inch diameter golden yellow fruit shortly before they are ripe. Yes, we have a native fig. So why aren’t its fruits larger? The large figs we buy at the supermarket are the product of human selection. The name “strangler fig” was given because birds and other animals eat its fruit and the seeds can pass through an animal’s digestive system and be deposited with a bit of fertilizer. A bird sometimes bites into the fruit with great pressure, causing seeds to pop out. Some can get stuck to the outer surface of a bird’s bill and the bird will wipe them off on a branch – where the sticky juice holds them in place. In either case, with rain, a seed can germinate and a new plant begins to grow – producing leaves that make use of the sun’s energy to produce roots. The roots are influenced by gravity and grow straight down, typically blowing in the wind until they reach the ground. While blowing in the wind, they often get wrapped around the tree trunk –which led to the name “strangler fig”. In some cases, they can kill a tree – but only after a very long time. Many 600-year-old baldcypress at Corkscrew Sanctuary are still very much alive, while encircled by Ficus aureus roots. The relationship between the fig and its “host” tree goes both directions. Once the fig roots reach the ground, they contribute to the stability for the pair during hurricane winds. Our “strangler fig” also often grows from seeds that have fallen to the ground – it doesn’t have to “strangle”. Why not recognize the positive roles it plays in Florida’s wetland ecosystems? It provides food for many species of birds, mammals, and other creatures. Perhaps we should change its common name to “Golden Fig”.

The decision of whether to cancel worship services depends on health considerations, government orders, and maybe even political leanings. Smaller churches face bigger problems.

In an internal memo this week, the National Marine Fisheries Service bars references to the coronavirus pandemic without preapproval. It suggests alternatives such as "in these extraordinary times."

Green Bay would not explicitly confirm whether Rodgers tested positive and would not comment on whether he is vaccinated. Multiple media reports say the reigning NFL MVP is unvaccinated.

The massive set of proposals includes $4 billion in new elections funding, 30 days of required early voting and a mail-in ballot to be sent to every registered voter in the country.

The number of people seeking jobless benefits shot up again last week, as 6.6 million more of the unemployed filed first-time claims. Much of the economy has shut down, leaving millions out of work.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday attempted to soften remarks made earlier this week in which he declared his authority to reopen states' economies "total," superseding even governor's powers.

Soaring natural gas prices are likely to drive consumer price inflation to 13.3% in October, the bank said. That will push Britain into recession later this year, bank forecasts show.

The pandemic, a changing party makeup and a softening approach to debt and deficit have combined to give the party space to embrace expensive policies that would have been unheard of a few years ago.