Across the region, Western Governors are fighting back against the economic hardships caused by the pandemic.

In South Dakota, residents who have lost their job as a result of COVID-19 are eligible for free, or heavily discounted, training through the state’s four technical colleges. Route Fifty reports that the UpSkill program spearheaded by Gov. Kristi Noem “offers online certification programs in 22 fields, including agriculture, finance, information technology and marketing.”

Similarly, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon recently announced a $7.5 million effort to send unemployed adults to the state’s university and community colleges.  “Working adults are facing both economic and pandemic-related challenges and need training and education to obtain the skills employers are looking for,” Ben Moritz, deputy director of the state Community College Commission, told The Casper Star-Tribune. “This grant program opens up these training opportunities to working adults who need it.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has created an “unemployment strike team” in his state, tasked with addressing backlogged unemployment benefit claims and streamlining the process going forward, according to Governing Magazine.

"There should be no barriers between Californians and the benefits they have earned," Newsom said in a statement. "Unprecedented demand due to job loss during this pandemic paired with an antiquated system have created an unacceptable backlog of claims. Californians deserve better, and these reform efforts aim to move the [Employment Development] Department in that direction."

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has created his own task force, focused primarily on addressing a spike of coronavirus cases in Burleigh and Morton Counties, Prairie Public News reports. Its predecessor, the Red River Valley Task Force, succeeded in managing an outbreak in the Fargo-Moorhead area, bringing cases back below the state average in a matter of months.

To learn more about Western Governors’ ongoing efforts to combat the novel coronavirus, check out “COVID-19 in the West: A state-by-state breakdown of the Governors’ work,” updated weekly.

Community College: At community colleges, where students are more likely to be first-generation students, lower-income and non-white, educators are struggling to make their campuses more accommodating in a post-COVID world, according to KSUT Public Radio.  “A major portion of learning experience happens outside of the classroom: with leadership, athletics, in residence halls, in a number of areas. And our students may not get that now,” said Timothy Alvarez, president of Otero Junior College in Colorado. “I think about how [can] we create these connections with students, this sense of pride when they may never come to campus.” Find out how academic institutions across the region are coping in the era of social distancing.

Human-Caused Wildfires: After months of isolation, many are flocking to the great outdoors as a respite, leading to an increase in human-caused wildfires. Oregon Public Broadcasting reports that in July, humans were responsible for 90% of the state’s incidents, a roughly 20 percentage point increase from the yearly average. “The same kind of weather that makes it enjoyable to go hiking or recreating also makes the woods a lot more susceptible to catching fire if there’s a source of ignition,” said Jim Gersbach, Oregon Department of Forestry public information officer. “So that’s a bit concerning and certainly a reason why the public should be mindful while enjoying the outdoors this time of year.” Read more.

Tourism’s Impact: Outdoor tourist destinations such as Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks have seen a steady stream of visitors this summer, creating a “meaningful impact” on Montana’s COVID case numbers, according to Boise State Public Radio. Data from the state’s health department reveals that nonresidents comprise at least 20% of all confirmed cases of COVID-19 in two Montana counties bordering those parks, although experts warn that this number isn’t an exact figure. Because there is no data collected once a tourist leaves the state, it’s impossible to know how many visitors later tested positive once they returned home. Learn more about the role of tourism in facilitating the spread of the novel coronavirus. 

Microplastics: A recent study published by Janice Brahney, an assistant professor of watershed scientists at Utah State University, found that wind and rain are scattering tiny pieces of plastic throughout national parks and wilderness areas in the West, The Idaho Statesman reports. Microplastics, as the particles are called, are small remnants of plastic-based products, such as synthetic microfibers and the microbeads used in facial scrubs and other beauty products. “The plastics we’re seeing in the atmosphere are old,” Brahney said. “They’re not plastics we threw out yesterday. They were thrown out maybe a few decades ago.” Discover what effect these particles may be having on the environment and what can be done to mitigate their impact.

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