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New Orleans attacker planted explosives on Bourbon Street, Biden says: Updates – USA TODAY

New Orleans attacker planted explosives on Bourbon Street, Biden says: Updates – USA TODAY

NEW ORLEANS — The New Year’s Day truck attack that killed 14 people and wounded dozens of others appears to have been the act of a lone wolf and unrelated to a truck blast in Las Vegas, authorities said Thursday.
The driver in the attack here, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was fatally shot by police at the scene. Christopher Raia, deputy assistant director of the FBI’s counterterrorism division, said Thursday that law enforcement officials were following up on more than 400 tips in the case. Raia said the preliminary investigation indicated Jabbar acted alone, although a day earlier FBI Special Agent Alethea Duncan had said authorities did not believe Jabbar was “solely responsible.”
Jabbar, Raia said, posted videos on social media in the hours before the attack saying he had joined the Islamic terrorist group ISIS last year. The videos indicated Jabbar, who lived in Houston, had initially planned on harming family and friends but instead decided on an attack that would focus news coverage on the “war between the believers and the disbelievers,” Raia said.
“This was an act of terrorism. It was premeditated and an evil act,” said Raia, who described Jabbar as “100% inspired by ISIS.” 
At a White House news briefing with reporters Thursday, President Joe Biden said Jabbar had a remote detonator in his truck that was supposed to set off the explosive devices the suspect placed in two ice coolers on Bourbon Street. They didn’t go off.
Authorities also are investigating a possible act of terror in Las Vegas after a Tesla Cybertruck parked just outside the Trump International Hotel exploded Wednesday, injuring several bystanders. Spencer Evans, the FBI’s special agent in charge, told reporters a connection to a terrorist organization has not been found. Las Vegas officials said the person in the vehicle, a Green Beret on active duty named Matthew Livelsberger, died by suicide from a gunshot in the mouth before the explosion, adding that the truck’s design limited the damage.
Biden said Wednesday that federal authorities were investigating whether there was a link between the two attacks. But FBI officials said Thursday there was no connection they could discern.
On the streets of New Orleans, tourists and workers filled the storied French Quarter restaurants and shops Thursday as the city awaited the reopening of Bourbon Street, which took place around 1 p.m. The FBI had closed the popular tourist destination, the beating heart of New Orleans, on Wednesday for the investigation.
Federal officials turned the street back over to local control early Thursday and authorities reopened it hours before the postponed Sugar Bowl college football game was to kick off Thursday afternoon at the nearby, 70,000-seat Superdome.
New Year’s Day vehicle attack:New Orleans was replacing bollard street barriers at time of deadly rampage
Developments:
∎ Biden convened members of his homeland security team in the White House Situation Room to receive an update on the investigation into the New Orleans attack.
∎ David Scott, the assistant director of the FBI’s counterterrorism division, on Thursday briefed the House Homeland Security Committee members and staffers, along with members of the Louisiana delegation, on the truck attack.
What we know about the attacker:Why did he target a New Year’s Eve crowd?
Biden revealed the details about the detonator Jabbar had in his truck during a news conference after meeting with Homeland Security officials in the White House Situation Room. The explosives the assailant placed in ice coolers at separate intersections of Bourbon Street did not detonate.
“We have no information that anyone else is involved in the attack,” Biden also said at the media briefing, reiterating the FBI’s assessment announced earlier Thursday. “They’ve established that the attacker was the same person who planted the explosives in those ice coolers in two nearby locations in the French Quarter.”
Jabbar posted five videos on social media expressing support for the Islamic State terror group over approximately an hour and a half before the 3:15 a.m. CST attack, according to the FBI. An ISIS flag was found in the back of the truck.
Biden said law enforcement officials “have not found any evidence” linking the New Orleans attack with an explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas. The suspect in both cases have U.S. military ties.
“I directed my team to accelerate these investigations so we have answers to our unanswered questions and making every single resource available to get the job done,” Biden said. “And we’re going to share the facts as soon as I learn them so the American public don’t have to wonder.”
The similarities in the high-profile New Year’s Day attacks are striking: Both were perpetrated by men who served in the Army, were stationed in the same North Carolina military base and did tours of duty in Afghanistan at the same time.
In addition, both carried out their assaults using electric trucks rented from the same company.
But federal investigators say there is no known link between Jabbar and Livelsberger, who were five years apart in age, nor a connection between their deadly actions in New Orleans and Las Vegas, respectively. Authorities noted their investigations are ongoing.
“At this point, there is no definitive link between the attack here in New Orleans and the one in Las Vegas,” the FBI’s Raia said Thursday.
− Lauren Villagran
Authorities assessed no “credible threat” to New Orleans’ New Year’s events prior to the attack, according to a joint Louisiana and New Orleans police threat assessment obtained by Reuters. The document is dated December 2024 and notes there was no credible threat from international terrorists or domestic violent extremists.
The document notes that “unaffiliated lone offenders and homegrown violent extremists” are of particular concern because of their ability to “remain undetected until operational.” The police departments also say that foreign terrorist organizations and their affiliates “continue to call on individuals to conduct independent attacks in the U.S” using improvised explosive devices and vehicles.
The 2025 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on Thursday featured heightened security, a moment of silence, and chants of “USA”, one day after the deadly attack less than a mile from the famous stadium.
A Notre Dame Fighting Irish player carried an American flag as his team took the field to face the Georgia Bulldogs at the Superdome in what was also the college football playoffs quarterfinal. Fans entering the stadium met an increased police presence and enhanced security checks, and chants of “USA, USA” could be heard after the pre-game singing of the national anthem at the 83,000-capacity stadium.
“I’m looking forward to it just so we can at least smile a little bit today,” Jerrold Sneed, the father of Notre Dame linebacker Jaylen Sneed, said before the game.
After the game, Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard offered condolences to those impacted by the attack and praised the fans who packed into the stadium.
“It has been a very hard week and our thoughts and prayers go out to all the families affected. We’re praying for them,” Leonard said.
— Reuters
A family member, who did not wish to be identified citing safety concerns, said, “I don’t think he did this of his own free will.”
“I could never see him doing that,” the person said. “Maybe he just went… If he did … he may have just went crazy. I just don’t see it happening.”
The relative said the Jabbar family is “doing all right,” but they are still in shock over the events in New Orleans.
Phaedra Trethan
Bourbon Street reopened for business around 1 p.m. local time Thursday, and tourists immediately began flooding in amid a heavy police presence.
“We open! We open!” called security guard Harry Walker, 32, as he swung back the doors to one of the street’s multiple Slush Daiquiris bars.
Walker said the street’s closure has hurt bartenders and other servers who depend heavily on tourist tips. Louisiana’s minimum wage for tipped workers is $2.13 an hour.
Among the first visitors was Ashleigh Armstrong, who came to the city with family from west Tennessee to celebrate her 40th birthday. They had begun their trip to New Orleans on Wednesday before they knew about the terror attack.
“It’s somber. It’s surreal,” Armstrong said. “Without the crowds you see stuff you’ve never seen before.”
Earlier in the day, tourists decked out in Georgia and Notre Dame football gear appeared eager to get back to normal, lining up for jazz brunch outside multiple restaurants as they waited for Bourbon Street to reopen. Inside the French Truck Coffee restaurant on Canal Street, general manager Beth Walker drew cheers from assembled tourists waiting in line as she hyped the Notre Dame-Georgia game.
“We appreciate you giving the city a chance,” she said to loud cheers. “We all appreciate it.”
‘100% inspired by ISIS’:A timeline of driver’s movements before New Orleans attack
While official Islamic State channels haven’t yet commented on the massacre in New Orleans, there have been some “tentative celebrations” on social media from ISIS “fanboys,” an expert on jihadi communications said Thursday. 
“The fanboys or girls are excited about a successful attack on the U.S., which they haven’t had in a while,” said Devorah Margolin, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. 
Jabbar had pledged allegiance to the global terrorist group in videos made before the attack, officials said. ISIS “has a history of acknowledging attacks that were not organized by the Islamic State without taking responsibility,” Margolin said. 
For example, ISIS celebrated a 2015 mass shooting in San Bernadino, California, carried out by a married couple who decided to kill in the group’s name. So far, ISIS hasn’t had anything to say about Jabbar’s act of mass murder. An official acknowledgement of the New Orleans attack could take days. 
Since the so-called ISIS “caliphate” was smashed in Syria in 2019, the group’s centralized propaganda operation, once known for its slick jihadi recruitment videos, has been scattered across the globe and “is not what it once was,” Margolin said.
– Dan Morrison
Dale Buckner, CEO of the international security firm Global Guardian, told USA TODAY the primary takeaway from the attack is that “anything can happen anywhere.” Large public celebrations, Christmas markets, concerts and religious services are high-value “soft targets” for Islamic extremists, he said. New Orleans and other cities will need to reevaluate their security efforts, he said.
“Terrorists will always take the path of least resistance and stopping someone willing to die is very difficult,” Buckner said. If bollards had been in place to block vehicle access, Jabbar “could have easily wrapped IEDs around himself in a makeshift suicide vest and walked into a crowded bar,” Buckner said.
In northern Houston, media descended on the street where Jabbar lived. The community, full of double-wide and mobile homes, is predominantly Muslim, according to Jabbar’s neighbor, who asked not to be named. He said he last saw Jabbar on New Year’s Eve morning loading up a white pickup.
The neighbor said nothing looked suspicious, that what Jabbar was packing in the vehicle looked like “hand-held items.” Jabbar was a quiet, calm and “non-violent,” neighbor who moved in more than a year ago but had said he planned to move to Louisiana, the man said.
“He was quiet. Not bother anybody. Not touching anybody. I have a family, so I would have been afraid for that type of person to be here, but no,” the neighbor said.
Houston has the largest Muslim population in Texas and in the southern U.S. Ramadan Khairallah, a manager at Ramadan Halal Meat Market a few miles from Jabbar’s home, told USA TODAY Network reporters he’s not worried about backlash against the community after the New Orleans attack, even though there have been previous anti-Muslim incidents in the area.
“The people that are around us and stuff, there’s nothing to be concerned about from them,” Khairallah said. “Nothing but positive energy in here.” 
John Oliva and Karoline Leonard
The so-called Islamic State organization that appears to have inspired Jabbar peaked as a fighting force about 10 years ago. At its height, the Islamic State controlled large areas of Iraq and Syria from which itlaunched attacks in the region and beyond, including a series of high-profile assaults in France.
The group’s last physical presence in Syria was captured and dismantled in 2019 by a U.S.-led coalition numbering dozens of countries. Its leader, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, was killed in a U.S. raid on his compound in northern Syria later that year. Current leader Abu Hafs al Qurayshi took over in August 2023 but little is publicly known about him or his priorities.
Since Baghdadi’s death the Islamic State’s aggressive media operation, which fueled much of its recruitment drive in the West, has dwindled.
“ISIS will remain a centralized global organization even as it has been forced to rely on regional branches … (and will attempt) to conduct and inspire global attacks against the West and Western interests,” the Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. intelligence community said in its most recent report, published in 2024.
Kim Hjelmgaard
New Orleans attack victims:A former college football player, a beloved daughter among the dead
Witnesses described a terrifying scene as the attack in New Orleans unfolded.
“There were people everywhere,” said Kimberly Strickland of Mobile, Alabama. “You just heard this squeal and the rev of the engine and this huge loud impact and then the people screaming and debris − just metal − the sound of crunching metal and bodies.”
Loved ones have begun to identify some of the victims of the truck attack. Law enforcement and officials in New Orleans have not publicly identified any of the victims, but family and friends said the fatalities include Martin “Tiger” Bech, 28, a former Princeton football player; Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, an 18-year-old recent high school graduate; Reggie Hunter, 37, a father of two; and Nicole Perez, 27, a mother.
A University of Georgia student was critically injured in the assault, university President Jere Morehead said in a statement. Also critically injured were two 19-year-old women from Fort Myers, Florida: Elle Eisele, a University of Georgia student, and Steele Idelson, a San Diego State University student, according to a statement from The Canterbury School.
Two Israeli citizens were also hurt, and a consulate representative is traveling to New Orleans, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on X. The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on X two Mexicans were injured, both reportedly in stable condition. Read more here.
N’dea Yancey-Bragg
Tens of thousands of revelers descend on the city each year to ring in the New Year and to attend the prestigious Sugar Bowl college football game. The attack took place around 3:15 a.m. in the heart of the historic French Quarter, an area known for music and bars that draw big crowds.
About 400 officers were on duty in the French Quarter at the time of the incident, including a number who had established a makeshift barrier to prevent anyone from driving into the pedestrian zone, police said.
Revelry to terror:How the deadly New Orleans truck attack unfolded
Louisiana Lt. Gov. Bill Nungesser said New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell failed to do enough to protect the city’s residents and visitors from the deadly attack early Wednesday.
“I’m angry,” Nungesser said in an interview with the USA TODAY Network, calling Cantrell and her administration “dysfunctional.”
“It’s a clear lack of leadership,” said Nungesser, the state’s chief tourism officer.
Nungesser blamed Cantrell for not having a functional barrier system in place that may have prevented Jabbar from accessing Bourbon Street in a Ford 150 pickup truck and plowing through the crowd of people. Instead, police blocked the street with an SUV, which the suspect circumvented by driving onto the sidewalk around the cruiser.
“To think that someone in the city wasn’t on top of this is unthinkable,” Nungesser said.
In a statement to the USA TODAY Network, the city said it would work closely with partners after the incident and that the “City of New Orleans will not be distracted by outside commentary and welcomes everyone to join the positive efforts of the unified command partners.” Read more here.
— Greg Hilburn, Shreveport Times
Jabbar, 42, was a U.S. citizen and Army veteran from Texas, the FBI said. The agency said in a statement an ISIS flag was found in Jabbar’s rented truck. Raia said the bureau has recovered three phones and two laptops that belonged to Jabbar.
Jabbar was in the Army from March 2007 until January 2015 and then in the Army Reserve until July 2020, an Army spokesperson said. He deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010 and held the rank of staff sergeant at the end of his service.
Court records in Texas show Jabbar, who had been married and divorced twice, had written of financial troubles during his legal ups and downs with wives. As he negotiated his second divorce two years ago, his attorney attached records to court files indicating Jabbar’s finances were compromised.
“Time is of the essence. I cannot afford the house payment. It is past due in excess of $27,000 and in danger of foreclosure if we delay settling the divorce,” Jabbar wrote to his attorney in January 2022.
Did New Orleans suspect act alone?Authorities conduct an urgent search
Officials said security barriers along Bourbon Street had been malfunctioning and were in the process of being replaced. The older barriers − known as bollards − were being replaced ahead of the city hosting Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9, which will be played about a mile from where the attack occurred, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said during a news conference Wednesday.
As a temporary measure, police vehicles and officers attempted to provide a barrier, Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said.
“We did indeed have a plan, but the terrorist defeated it,” Kirkpatrick said. Read more here.
Tesla Cybertruck explosion:Blast near Las Vegas Trump hotel investigated as possible terror act
Turo confirmed Wednesday that the vehicles involved in the Las Vegas explosion and New Orleans attack were rented from the car rental service.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families,” Turo said in a statement. “We are devastated by these horrible incidents, and remain dedicated to helping the authorities however we can.”
Turo said its trust and safety team is working with law enforcement to “share any information that could be helpful in their investigations.” Turo also said it does not believe either renter had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat and that the company was not aware of any information suggesting the two incidents are related.
Contributing: Thao Nguyen; Tom Vanden Brook, Bart Jansen, Claire Thornton, USA TODAY; Reuters

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DACA recipients now eligible for affordable health insurance in Nevada – KOLO

DACA recipients now eligible for affordable health insurance in Nevada – KOLO

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Thousands of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients in Nevada can now access affordable health insurance for the first time, thanks to a policy change by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The change allows DACA recipients to enroll in plans offered through Nevada Health Link, the state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace. This means they now have access to comprehensive health benefits, including emergency care, prescriptions, and mental health services. To qualify, recipients must meet the ACA’s standard requirements, such as filing taxes. Many will also be eligible for subsidies to help lower monthly premiums.
Open enrollment for Nevada Health Link runs through Jan. 15, 2025. Those who apply by Dec. 31, 2024, will have coverage starting Jan. 1. Applications submitted between Jan. 1 and Jan. 15 will begin coverage on Feb. 1.
Navigator program manager Rosa Alejandre says this policy change is a long-awaited opportunity for DACA recipients, many of whom work and pay taxes like other people living in Nevada.
“They’re not taking away from anyone else,” Alejandre said. “Now they’re just getting the credit back in advance.”
For assistance with enrollment, people can call 1-800-547-2927 or visit the Nevada Health link website for more information.
Copyright 2024 KVVU. All rights reserved.

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Education: First Lady flags-off distribution of 45,000 U-lesson Tablets – Voice of Nigeria

Education: First Lady flags-off distribution of 45,000 U-lesson Tablets – Voice of Nigeria


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Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has flagged-off the distribution of 45,000 units of U-Lesson tablets; an educational tool for use by secondary school students in nine States across the Niger-Delta region of the country.
She affirmed that the country must ensure inclusive, equitable and quality education is given to citizens especially children of school age, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, Goal 4.
Mrs Tinubu stated these at the flag-off the distribution of U-lesson tablets to primary and secondary schools in the nine States of the Niger Delta Region in Nigeria, at the State House Conference Center, Abuja on Saturday.
The event was organized by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in collaboration with the First Lady’s pet project, Renewed Hope Initiative.
The First Lady said doing so will promote all-time learning opportunities for all, as well as enable students in schools across the country to be equipped with digital tools.
Educational Revolution
She noted that digital lesson devices are revolutionizing education across the world and Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind.
These devices provide access to a wealth of educational resources that will empower students to learn at their own pace and style, in addition to classroom teachings. Rather than mere gadgets of recreation, these tablets serve as powerful teaching tools that foster academic excellence, creativity, and innovation.
“By harnessing the power of digital learning resources, it will enhance students’ engagement, streamline curriculum development and accessibility, and ultimately boost student performance and achievement,” she said.
An educationist herself, Mrs Tinubu commended the fact that the U-Lesson education software is tailored to align with the Nigerian educational system, ensuring its relevance to the nation’s local context.
“One of the prominent features of this software is its offline video library, which allows learners to play, pause, and rewind educational content without the need for an internet connection. 
“Additionally, the software includes parental controls and a long battery life of up to 18 hours, making it a reliable and safe tool for both students and teachers.”
She said as the education software, services, and tablets are distributed, Nigeria is taking a significant step towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals’ Goal 4, which seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable and quality education for all.
“By equipping our schools with these digital tools, we are not only supplementing traditional face-to-face instruction but also empowering students to master their materials and perform better in their tests and examinations, as we believe that every student in Nigeria deserves access to quality education, and government is dedicated to providing the necessary resources to make that a reality.”
Future
Mrs Tinubu further implored students, teachers and parents who she said are all stakeholders, to embrace this opportunity with great enthusiasm and optimism.
“To the students, I hope that these tablets will inspire you to dream big, work hard and achieve your goals. Remember, education is the key to unlocking your potential and shaping your future.
“Let us encourage our children to study and learn on these devices. Together, we can harness the power of technology to build a better future for our country, where every child has the tools and opportunity to succeed,” the First Lady advised.
The Managing Director of NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, outlined the significance of the initiative saying it is a special project, aimed at boosting education in the Niger-Delta region.
“This is just the first phase of our project. We recognize that there are more than 45,000 students in the Niger Delta who need access to these resources, and we will continue to engage U-Lesson to produce more tablets for our students.”
He stressed that investing in digital technology is crucial for creating equality in education.
Addressing concerns about equitable distribution, Ogbuku assured that the NDDC is committed to delivering tablets to functional schools rather than merely distributing them politically.
“We are collaborating with the Renewed Hope Initiative and state education ministries to ensure that these resources reach deserving students,” he stated.
Partnership
He added that the NDDC has also partnered with U-Lesson to establish offices in each of the nine states for immediate technical support and training for teachers on using the tablets effectively.
The Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh expressed optimism about the collaboration, stating, “This partnership represents a shared vision of prosperity and self-reliance for every child, youth, and woman in our communities.”  
He stressed that the initiative targets critical areas of sustainable development, including education, health, youth empowerment, women’s empowerment, and agriculture.
 
 
 

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U.S. Consumers Willing to Pay More for Sustainable Products – NACS Online

U.S. Consumers Willing to Pay More for Sustainable Products – NACS Online

Purchase the Latest NACS State of the Industry Report®
The convenience and fuel retailing industry’s premier benchmarking tool and the most comprehensive collection of data and trends. Discover what’s next and how to get there faster.
December 3-4, 2024 | Dallas, TX
The inaugural NACS Loss Prevention and Safety Symposium is the industry’s only and fully dedicated event designed exclusively for convenience retailers, wholesalers and suppliers who are seeking the latest insights, tools and resources that can help them proactively prepare for and mitigate risks.
April 8, 2025 | Dallas, TX
The 2025 NACS Food Safety Forum will take place April 8 in conjunction with the NACS State of the Industry Summit. Join food safety, foodservice, and quality assurance professionals at the only industry-specific food safety event for the convenience retail community.
October 7-10, 2024​ | Las Vegas, NV
For four days, attendees will be networking with industry experts, attending thought-provoking and empowering education sessions, and exploring a show floor with the latest merchandise for convenience and fuel retailing.
DOH_EventDropdown_350x155.png
NACS Day on the Hill
Join your colleagues in Washington DC to magnify our industry’s voice on Capitol Hill as we meet with lawmakers whose work can have a very real impact on you and your business.
Don’t Forget to Renew Your Membership!
Latest Magazine Cover Read the latest issue of NACS Magazine for a monthly dose of insights, industry data and best practices from leading retailers.
December 3-4, 2024 | Dallas, TX
The inaugural NACS Loss Prevention and Safety Symposium is the industry’s only and fully dedicated event designed exclusively for convenience retailers, wholesalers and suppliers who are seeking the latest insights, tools and resources that can help them proactively prepare for and mitigate risks.
Purchase the Latest NACS State of the Industry Report®
The convenience and fuel retailing industry’s premier benchmarking tool and the most comprehensive collection of data and trends. Discover what’s next and how to get there faster.
DOH_EventDropdown_350x155.png
NACS Day on the Hill
Join your colleagues in Washington DC to magnify our industry’s voice on Capitol Hill as we meet with lawmakers whose work can have a very real impact on you and your business.
Don’t Forget to Renew Your Membership!
Latest Magazine Cover Read the latest issue of NACS Magazine for a monthly dose of insights, industry data and best practices from leading retailers.
PDI Technologies’ annual sustainability report reveals continued demand for sustainable business practices.
April 24, 2024
PDI Technologies released its fourth annual “Sustainability, EV, and Convenience Retail Survey Report,” finding consumers not only want sustainable and environmentally friendly options—they increasingly expect them in the fuel and convenience retail industry. The annual survey again revealed that consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable products at an increased volume, the company said in a press release.
According to the study, when comparing two similar products priced at $10 or less, 71% of consumers would select the one that follows sustainable practices.
The 2024 findings showed 80% of consumers are very or somewhat concerned about the environmental impact of the products they buy, up from 68% in 2023 and 66% in 2022. When it comes to filling their tanks, 65% of Americans say they would pay more for gas if stations offered carbon offsetting.
That environmental awareness at the gas station extends to expectations inside the store, with 38% of consumers believing that c-stores should be resource-efficient and that brands and CPG companies should use sustainable packaging (34%).
“The data is clear,” said Maryann Michela, senior director, PDI Technologies. “Between these statistics and the regulatory conversations that are happening in our industry, there are more compelling reasons than ever for retailers and brands to understand and act upon consumer sentiment toward sustainable businesses. This movement reaches beyond the United States, with consumer sentiment and regulations more prevalent in regions like Europe, the Middle East, Africa and others.”
The top 5 sustainability expectations for c-stores were:
The 2024 survey revealed the challenges and opportunities for EVs, with nearly half of the respondents citing battery charge and travel distance—commonly referred to as “range anxiety”—as the top concern (47%, up slightly from 2023).
Also reflected in the survey results, 77% of consumers indicated an interest in pairing sustainable products and services with loyalty programs. If businesses can offer them rewards and incentives to go green, consumers often opt for sustainable products. Sustainability focused loyalty programs can help businesses attract new customers and deepen their engagement with current customers.
“Whether it involves more innovative checkout experiences, online delivery options or sustainable business practices—to name just a few areas—consumer sentiment continues to influence the convenience retail experience across the globe,” said Sid Gaitonde, president, enterprise productivity, PDI Technologies. “At PDI, we’re building enterprise solutions and consultancy practices that help retailers maximize their operations to remain competitive and successful during their ongoing evolution.”
Coinciding with Earth Day, Love’s and Sheetz recently highlighted how they make sustainability a priority.
7-Eleven released its 2023 Impact Report, a snapshot summarizing the company’s “work to build thriving communities, protect the environment and promote responsible consumption,” NACS Daily reported.
Download the full “Sustainability, EV, and Convenience Retail Survey Report” for more.
April 08-10, 2025
Dallas, TX

Advancing Convenience & Fuel Retailing

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Indians in Flood-Prone Areas Are on Front Lines of Growing Mental Health Crisis – Truthout

Indians in Flood-Prone Areas Are on Front Lines of Growing Mental Health Crisis – Truthout

Health care workers in India note rising instances of solastalgia, the pain of seeing one’s home environment degrade.
Health care workers in India note rising instances of solastalgia, the pain of seeing one’s home environment degrade.
Whenever farmer Namdev Kamble visits a doctor, he remembers the hundreds of trees that once surrounded him. “We live in the same area today, but everything around us has changed completely,” he said in a voice heavy with nostalgia and loss.
On his way to his farmland in Shirdhon village of India’s Maharashtra state, Kamble would see the giant tamarind, babul, neem, and several other types of trees. “They gave relief and comfort,” he said. Over the years, these trees were cut to pave the way for broader roads, houses, industries and commercial crops like sugarcane.
Kamble finds it difficult to share his experiences. “It’s a completely different feeling. Sometimes, I feel anxious, nervous, and then I feel like I miss something, although I live in the same place,” the 77-year-old told Truthout.
Kamble has been experiencing solastalgia, a form of emotional distress faced when the environment undergoes significant changes. It is caused by climate change, deforestation, rapid urbanization, and other environmental factors. Scholar Glenn Albrecht first introduced this term at a conference in Montreal in 2003, highlighting the unique mental pain of seeing one’s home environment degrade.
In his paper, Albrecht describes solastalgia as the pain experienced when the place one resides in and loves is under immediate assault. Derived from the word solace, Albrecht says, “Solastalgia is a form of homesickness one gets when one is still at home.”
Over the years, research on solastalgia has increased. However, studies remain limited, particularly in lower- and middle-income countries, which are severely impacted by the climate crisis. In India, the effects of this gap are becoming evident. As recurring floods, heat waves, and other climate impacts intensify, health care workers in India note rising instances of solastalgia, a deeply personal and distressing experience for those affected.
Kamble has been experiencing solastalgia for the past six years as he has witnessed environmental changes in his village. He remembers the Balanites aegyptiaca, commonly known as Hinganbet trees, which are over 19 feet tall. “There used to be thousands of them, and we would wash clothes using the fruit’s pulp,” he said. “Back then, washing soaps were hard to find in the village.”
Today, not a single such tree remains in his village. Moreover, Shirdhon has been grappling with the impacts of rising temperatures and recurring floods, which have further deepened Kamble’s feelings of solastalgia.
Kamble, who owns an acre of land, says the environment began to change over the last two decades, particularly after the trees disappeared. “Earlier, even after heavy rains, the water would drain within two days. Now it stays for over eight days, destroying all the crops and houses.”
“If neglected, solastalgia risks becoming a chronic condition that no one takes seriously until it reaches a point of unbearable or even fatal severity.”
Recurring floods have left him with mounting stress. Like Kamble, many Shirdhon residents, especially older ones, remain affected by the trauma of floods.
A government report from 2024 points out that 50 percent of the climate change-affected population in India suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Floods alone affected more than 218 million people in India from 2015 to 2020. However, what remains hidden in these numbers is the prevalence of solastalgia.
Sharada Jagtap, a community health care worker from Maharashtra’s flood-affected Kavatheguland village, emphasizes the need for support and understanding — both from the government as well as other community members. “Over the years, there has been a rise in stress levels, anxiety and mental health issues caused by recurring floods and changes in the environment,” she told Truthout.
India experienced extreme weather events on 255 out of 274 days in the first nine months of 2024, according to an analysis by the Center for Science and Environment, an Indian think tank.
Many people like Kamble struggle to adapt to the changes and havoc these disasters bring. Research from northern India’s Bihar state found that climate change leads to loss of traditional customs and nature-related practices, which can eventually cause solastalgia. The study concluded that involuntary separation from traditional farm work, forced adaptation methods, loss of cultural practices and reduced self‐worth in coping with the deteriorating environment have all been concerns for parts of the state’s rural population. “The changing climate instigates feelings of emotional distress, resulting in adverse mental health and psychological well‐being outcomes,” the study found.
This phenomenon has been observed in other countries as well. A study of U.S. and U.K. residents found anticipatory solastalgia (worry about future environmental losses) to be a distinct response to climate change, and should not be conflated with generalized worry. In Australia, a study found solastalgia in bushfire-affected communities. The researchers described solastalgia as a “distinct challenge,” affecting not only bushfire-impacted communities but also those who perceived a profound loss of the unique elements that made their environment special, including native mammals and birds. The Australian study warned that environmental management that ignores local knowledge exacerbated solastalgia, leading to feelings of powerlessness. Another study from rural Australia found that while the word itself was not commonly used, Indigenous communities described experiencing feelings associated with solastalgia following unprecedented floods and bushfires.
With rapid changes in the climate and the village surroundings continuing to degrade, Kamble has begun to experience increased anxiety and stress. In the past five years, he says he has visited a doctor over 150 times, seeking treatment for stress, severe body pain and inflammation. “I feel helpless when I look at my surroundings, which causes me a lot of stress,” he said. This chronic stress eventually snowballed into hypertension.
He has now stopped working in the fields, further straining his family. “Earlier, he never fell sick, but now he visits a doctor almost every 15 days,” shared his wife, Tayna Kamble, who is in her late 60s and works on the farm to help the family.
Susi Ferrarello, an associate professor of philosophy at California State University, East Bay, believes solastalgia will become an increasingly common phenomenon. “It is essential to prepare to support the growing number of individuals experiencing this unique form of anxiety, which cannot be treated in the same way as other forms of anxiety,” she told Truthout. To do this, psychologists and clinical practitioners need to recognize solastalgia as a legitimate psychological phenomenon worthy of attention and study.
Jagtap says a major issue community health care workers like her face is the lack of awareness. “Many people aren’t even aware they are dealing with solastalgia,” she said. During her routine visits, she asks people about their mental health and connects them with mental health care professionals.
Shakuntala Mohite, 67, from Kurundvad town in Maharashtra, fondly remembers the days over a decade ago when she walked 15 kilometers to reach the farmland where she worked. “Hundreds of big trees surrounded the road,” she recalled.
While returning from work, it was a ritual for Mohite and her friends to sit beneath one of these trees for lunch. However, over the years, the number of trees steadily declined. Somehow, she began coping with the reality — and that’s when a flood devastated her house in 2019. Before she could recover from the trauma, another flood struck in 2021, submerging her house under seven feet of water.
The emotional distress of losing her house and surroundings started deteriorating her health, which she said led to severe anxiety and stress. Two years ago, she stopped working in the fields. Like Kamble, she also falls sick frequently.
“What will the young generation know of what the world looked like earlier? In the quest for rapid development, we are losing our connection to nature,” Mohite told Truthout.
Mohite barely expresses her emotions to anyone. “Who should I share such emotions with?” she said.
Ferrarello commented that human beings can adapt and adjust to almost anything — however, she warns that this comes at a cost. “Nature, traditionally seen as a sanctuary where we recharge and escape the stresses of daily life — whether through holidays, hikes or relaxing days at the beach — can become a source of constant threat. When this happens, it forces individuals to retreat, living in fear that the same traumatic experience might occur again,” she explained, noting how human-induced harm to the environment can manifest into stressors. In some cases, this fear can even lead to symptoms resembling those of PTSD, she added.
“If neglected, solastalgia risks becoming a chronic condition that no one takes seriously until it reaches a point of unbearable or even fatal severity, making effective treatment much harder to achieve,” Ferrarello said, highlighting the need for a timely diagnosis and acknowledgment of people’s lived experiences.
That’s where India’s community health care workers are stepping in. After extreme weather events like floods, these health care workers visit every house and speak at length with vulnerable people, often asking them to share their emotions. “While this might not help completely, people start experiencing some sense of safety once they start sharing their traumatic experiences,” said Jagtap who has spoken to thousands of people in her 15 years of experience.
However, Kamble adds that not everyone shares their experiences, especially when they feel they have lost all hope. Kamble, who once found solace sitting under the trees in the village, said none of those trees remain, and neither do his friends, who passed away over the years. “It’s difficult to live with this.”
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Sanket Jain is an independent journalist and documentary photographer from Maharashtra, India. His work has appeared in over 35 publications including Devex, MIT Technology Review, Yale Climate Connections, The British Medical Journal, Telegraph and Wired. He has reported extensively on climate change, mental health, agrarian crisis, public health care, and other issues through the lived experiences of everyday people. Jain has also been honored with Forbes’s 30 under 30 for his consistent reporting on climate change. In 2023, Covering Climate Now named him as a winner of its Emerging Journalist of the Year award.
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