The Gophers men’s basketball program signed its first big man via the NCAA transfer portal on Wednesday.

Minnesota added 6-foot-8, 245-pound forward/center Robert Vaihola after playing two years at San Jose State and one year at Fresno State.

New Gophers coach Niko Medved saw Vaihola up close as head coach at Colorado State last year. In a statement, Medved called him “one of the best rebounders in the Mountain West” Conference.

“He has a great physical presence in the paint, a gritty competitor and just a force around the rim,” Medved added in his statement. “Off the court, he’s just an amazing person to have on our team and we’re excited that he’s a Gopher.”

Vaihola, who appears to have one year of eligibility remaining for Minnesota, averaged 7.5 rebounds (2.5 on the offensive glass) and 7.5 points last season. He shot 54% from the field and averaged 1.4 blocks across all 31 games a year ago.

The San Mateo, Calif., native did not play in a redshirt year in 2023-24, but averaged 7.6 points and 6.5 rebounds in 35 games for San Jose State in 2022-23. During his freshman year at Fresno State in ’21-22, he was mostly a reserve — 1.5 points and 2.0 rebounds in 6.9 minutes per game — before transferring out.

Vaihola is the fourth incoming player to be added via the portal, joining Colorado State forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, Davidson wing Bobby Durkin and California forward BJ Omot.

Minnesota has six remaining scholarship spots available for next season.

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Según los defensores de vivienda que hablaron con City Limits, el memorando es un esfuerzo más de la administración Trump para arremeter contra los inmigrantes y no constituye una base para el desalojo.

El secretario del HUD, Scott Turner, y la secretaria del DHS, Kristi Noem, anunciando el memorando “Programas de vivienda para ciudadanos estadounidenses” el 24 de marzo de 2025. (YouTube/HUD)

Este artículo se publicó originalmente en inglés el 7 de abril. Traducido por Daniel Parra. Read the English version here.

El 24 de marzo, el Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de EE.UU. (HUD por sus siglas en inglés) anunció una asociación con el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS por sus siglas en inglés), que creará “un punto de contacto” entre las dos agencias federales para compartir datos sobre los inmigrantes indocumentados que viven en viviendas subvencionadas por el gobierno.

“Trabajando más estrechamente y con mayor colaboración, identificaremos a los extranjeros ilegales que no reúnan los requisitos para recibir ayudas federales a la vivienda y tomaremos medidas correctivas para poner fin a este despilfarro y abuso, incluida la remisión a las autoridades de inmigración”, dice el Memorándum de Entendimiento, o MOU por sus siglas en inglés.

Pero los funcionarios locales no están seguros hasta ahora de lo que el memorando, denominado “Programas de vivienda para ciudadanos estadounidenses”, significa para sus agencias y las leyes santuario de la ciudad.

Las personas indocumentadas no pueden recibir directamente ayudas federales a la vivienda. Recibir ayudas federales a la vivienda está limitado a ciudadanos estadounidenses y no ciudadanos con un estatus migratorio que cumpla los requisitos, como residente legal permanente, refugiado o asilado, entre otros, según los defensores y el Departamento de Conservación y Desarrollo de Viviendas de la ciudad De Nueva York (HPD por sus siglas en inglés).

Ahora bien, los inmigrantes que no reúnan los requisitos pueden vivir en un hogar que reciba una subvención federal siempre que otros miembros de ese hogar reúnan los requisitos, y la ayuda que reciba el hogar se basará en el número de personas que reúnan los requisitos.

Por ejemplo, si un inmigrante indocumentado vive con hijos nacidos en EE.UU. que reúnen los requisitos, el hogar recibiría un subsidio menor y pagaría una parte mayor del alquiler para tener en cuenta al miembro de la familia que no reúne los requisitos. Esto se conoce como ayuda prorrateada.

“La asistencia ya está prorrateada para cubrir sólo a los miembros elegibles del hogar”, dice un comunicado de Alliance for Housing Justice, un grupo nacional de defensa, en respuesta al memorando, y agrega que el Secretario de HUD Scott Turner está “tergiversando cómo funcionan realmente los programas de su agencia”.

“Esto no se trata de la integridad del programa, se trata de la vigilancia, miedo y culpar falsamente a las familias inmigrantes por los fracasos de un sistema de vivienda que pone las ganancias por encima de la gente común”, dice el grupo.

Un portavoz del HUD dijo que “el propósito del memorando de entendimiento es establecer el intercambio de información entre el HUD y el DHS para asegurar que los extranjeros ilegales no están en viviendas públicas”, pero no dio más detalles.

Según Anna Luft, directora del Proyecto de Justicia en la Vivienda Pública de New York Legal Assistance Group, el memorando aplica a todas las viviendas subvencionadas por el HUD, incluida la Sección 8 —también conocida como Programa de Vales de Elección de Vivienda, que ofrece ayudas al alquiler a familias con ingresos bajos y moderados— y a las autoridades de vivienda pública que gestionan dichos programas.

En la ciudad de Nueva York hay tres grandes autoridades de vivienda pública: La Autoridad de la Vivienda de la Ciudad de Nueva York (NYCHA por sus siglas en inglés), que administra un programa de la Sección 8, así como viviendas públicas de la Sección 9, HPD, y la División de Vivienda y Renovación Comunitaria (DHCR por sus siglas en inglés), que forma parte de la agencia estatal de vivienda asequible, New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR por sus siglas en inglés).

Sólo HPD dijo que entraría en el memorando. Un portavoz de NYCHA dijo: “NYCHA no es parte de este MOU”, a pesar de ser la mayor agencia de vivienda pública de la ciudad. Un portavoz de HCR no especificó lo que el memorando significa para sus programas, limitándose a decir que “mientras seguimos supervisando el impacto de estas acciones, la gobernadora Hochul está luchando para garantizar la seguridad y el bienestar de todos los neoyorquinos”.

Según los defensores de vivienda que hablaron con City Limits, el memorando es un esfuerzo más de la administración Trump para arremeter contra los inmigrantes y no constituye una base para el desalojo. Desde antes de las elecciones, Donald Trump ya estaba culpando a los inmigrantes de la crisis de la vivienda y del aumento de los costes de la vivienda, a pesar de que los economistas e investigadores decían lo contrario.

Como muchas de las propuestas de Trump, esta tiene raíces en el primer mandato. En 2019, la administración Trump propuso un cambio de regla que esencialmente habría prohibido a las familias con estatus migratorios mixtos vivir en viviendas públicas o subsidiadas por el gobierno federal. En 2021, la administración Biden retiró la regla propuesta por Trump, por lo que nunca se implementó.

Un análisis de impacto regulatorio del HUD de 2019 estimó que aproximadamente 25.000 hogares que reciben un subsidio federal en todo el país tenían al menos un miembro no elegible.

«Geográficamente, el 72 por ciento de las familias mixtas se concentran en tres estados -California (37 por ciento), Texas (23 por ciento) y Nueva York (12 por ciento)-, mientras que el resto está disperso por todo el país con un 3 por ciento o menos de familias mixtas por estado», indica el análisis del HUD.

Un portavoz del Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano reiteró que la normativa del HUD para los programas federales de subsidio de alquiler, incluidos los vales de la Sección 8, exige que las familias tengan al menos un miembro con un estatus migratorio que reúna los requisitos, y que el subsidio de vivienda que recibe una familia se prorratea en función del número de miembros que son elegibles. 

En NYC, el HPD proporciona vales de alquiler, incluida la Sección 8, a un total de 42.000 hogares, detalló un portavoz. De estos, aproximadamente 5.900 tienen miembros con estatus de inmigrantes elegibles, y alrededor de 350 hogares de la Sección 8 son de estatus migratorio mixto.

No está claro si las leyes santuario de la ciudad, que restringen a las agencias locales compartir información con las autoridades federales de inmigración, podrían desempeñar un papel en el nuevo acuerdo de intercambio de datos y de ser así, cómo.

Debido a que los hogares deben declarar su ciudadanía y estatus migratorio elegible al aplicar, el HUD ya tiene información sobre el estatus migratorio de los hogares que reciben beneficios federales de vivienda, de acuerdo con HPD, NYCHA, y los defensores de vivienda.

Tanto HPD como NYCHA deben proporcionar información sobre el estatus migratorio al HUD, según las normas del HUD, explicaron portavoces de ambas agencias. El HPD añadió que el impacto real del memorando dependerá de cómo utilicen esa información el HUD y el DHS.

El memorando detalla que el HUD está dedicando sólo un empleado a tiempo completo a este esfuerzo de intercambio de datos, para “ayudar a detener la ola de inmigración ilegal en los Estados Unidos e incentivar a los extranjeros ilegales a abandonar voluntariamente el país, entramos en este MOU”, dice el memo.

Un portavoz del HPD dijo que el HUD no se ha puesto en contacto con las agencias locales acerca de la medida, y como el memorando es muy nuevo, el objetivo en este momento es recopilar información, evitar causar daño o pánico, coordinar con las agencias de vivienda pública, y luego comunicarse con los clientes (aunque la agencia no proporcionó detalles sobre los esfuerzos de comunicación).

Como esta es la primera vez que un memorando como este entra en vigor, existe una gran incertidumbre. Los defensores de vivienda recomiendan que las familias consulten con abogados especializados en inmigración para realizar evaluaciones individualizadas.

“Nuestro consejo para las personas que están preocupadas y viven en viviendas subvencionadas por el HUD”, dijo Luft, “es que hablen con sus abogados de inmigración y evalúen cuál es su riesgo individual de expulsión y qué deben hacer”.

Para ponerse en contacto con el reportero de esta noticia, escriba a Daniel@citylimits.org. Para ponerse en contacto con la editora, escriba a Jeanmarie@citylimits.org

The post El HUD firmó acuerdo de intercambio de datos con autoridades de inmigración. ¿Qué significa para NYC? appeared first on City Limits.

By Laurie Baratti, TravelPulse

With the massive heat waves we’ve witnessed over the past few summers, both in the U.S. and abroad, it comes as no surprise that travelers appear to be shifting their focus away from traditionally warm European hot spots and turning toward cooler destinations for the summer of 2025.

According to leading travel insurance comparison platform Squaremouth, there has been a notable increase in the popularity of “coolcations” — trips to regions known for their milder climates and outdoor appeal. Countries such as Iceland, Norway, Canada, Scotland and Ireland are seeing a surge in visitor interest, drawing travelers away from sun-drenched destinations like Spain, Italy and France.

Rising interest in cooler destinations

Iceland has emerged as the front-runner in this travel trend, experiencing a year-over-year growth of more than 30%. The country’s accessibility, particularly for East Coast travelers, has made it an increasingly attractive option.

Norway follows closely behind, witnessing a 27% increase in travel insurance purchases compared to the previous summer. Its “right to roam” policy, which allows visitors unrestricted access to the country’s breathtaking fjords, mountains and coastlines, continues to appeal to adventure seekers and those in search of nature’s splendor.

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Canada and Scotland have also seen significant growth, with Canada up by 25% and Scotland experiencing a 21% increase in popularity. Rounding out the top five, Ireland has climbed in ranking among Squaremouth travelers, moving from the 12th most desirable destination last year to breaking into the top 10, with a 17% rise in interest.

“With an increasing number of travelers seeking unique coolcation experiences this summer, the demand for travel insurance is growing as well. Whether you’re exploring outdoor adventures or immersing yourself in local traditions, travel insurance provides peace of mind for increasingly expensive trips, ensuring your summer getaway remains as stress-free as possible,” said Ned Tadic, manager of public relations at Squaremouth.

Travelers embarking on either cool- or warm-weather international vacations this summer can benefit from the peace of mind that comes from investing in comprehensive travel insurance plans to safeguard their trips.

Coverage options should include:

Trip cancellation: Protection for non-refundable travel expenses in case of unforeseen cancellations or interruptions.
Medical coverage: Reimbursement for unexpected healthcare expenses while traveling abroad.
Travel delay: Compensation for costs incurred due to significant, uncontrollable travel delays.
Luggage protection: Coverage for lost, stolen or delayed baggage.
Hurricane and weather protection: Reimbursement for cancellations or interruptions caused by adverse weather conditions.

And, for travelers planning adventurous activities, such as hiking Icelandic volcanoes or skiing in Norway’s alpine regions, selecting a policy with specialized adventure coverage is crucial.

The coolcations trend isn’t the only one currently gaining traction among today’s travelers. According to a Harris Pool survey conducted on behalf of cash-back platform Rakuten, “dealcations” are also the order of the day. Dealcations indicate that travelers are increasingly selecting destinations and experiences based on how much money can be saved and the ability to use cash-back rewards to help pay for the trip.

©2025 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Visit at travelpulse.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By JESSICA DAMIANO, Associated Press

If you’re a human living on this planet, you should get to know Doug Tallamy, the entomologist and University of Delaware professor whose groundbreaking 2006 book, “Bringing Nature Home,” supercharged the native plants movement.

Tallamy made a case that our native birds and insects evolved with native plants, so they recognize them as food. The loss of these native plants and habitats to development poses an existential threat not just to wildlife, but to us.

Since then, Tallamy co-founded Homegrown National Park, a grassroots movement whose mission is to “urgently inspire everyone to address the biodiversity crisis by adding native plants and removing invasive ones where we live, work, learn, pray, and play.”

Tallamy chatted with The Associated Press about his decades-long research, his new book, “How Can I Help?” and what he’s planning next.

This book cover image provided by Timber Press shows “How Can I Help? Saving Nature with Your Yard,” by Douglas W. Tallamy. (Timber Press via AP)

The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

AP: What initially inspired you to focus on native plants and their relationships with insects?

TALLAMY: I am an entomologist, so I always think about insects, but it was when my wife, Cindy, and I moved into our home in Oxford, Pennsylvania. The developer had mowed the land for hay, and when you do that, what comes back is all the invasive plants from Asia, so we ended up with 10 acres of invasive species. Watching the insects interact with those plants showed very clearly that our native insects do very poorly with them.

So we put the plants that they require back. Ever since, I’ve been measuring the number of bird species that have bred on our property — 62 — and the number of moth species — 1,337 — that produce the caterpillars that those birds need to reproduce. And that tells me it works.

This 2023 image provided by Doug Tallamy shows the University of Delaware entomologist and father of the modern native plants movement posing with native Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) growing in Oxford, Pa. (Cindy Tallamy via AP)

About 80% of the plants in our residential landscapes are non-native plants. They don’t have to be invasive to wreck the food web. So that led me in a whole new research direction to find out what is happening to the food web.

We got the numbers that supported the argument that native plants are essential, insects are essential, insects are declining, the birds that need them are declining.

AP: How has public awareness of native plants and biodiversity evolved since you wrote “Bringing Nature Home”?

TALLAMY: I have been talking about it for 20 years and can measure the public response. I get three or four speaking requests a day. Interest is going through the roof.

My message is that you can be part of the solution instead of contributing to the problem just by how you landscape your property. You can reduce the area that you have in lawn, you can put in powerful plants that support biodiversity and you can watch it come back to your own yard. And that empowers people.

AP: What are the biggest misconceptions that people have about insect conservation and native plants?

TALLAMY: A common one is that native landscaping is essentially the lack of landscaping and you just stop doing anything. That’s not true at all. They think all native plant landscapes are wild and messy, but they don’t have to be, by any stretch.

Another misconception is that if you use native plants instead of crape myrtle from Asia, it’s going to lower your property value. These are the talking points of homeowners’ associations. If you don’t have most of your property in lawn, you’re not a good citizen.

AP: How do you respond to people who fear that “wild” look?

We do have lawn as a status symbol. So, I don’t suggest we get rid of lawn. Instead, reduce the amount of area that’s in lawn.

You should use lawn where you walk because it’s the best plant to walk on without killing it. Line your sidewalk and your driveway with lawn, and have swaths of grass going through your property where you’re going to walk.

Keep it low and manicured to show you understand what the culture is and that you’re intentional and taking care of your yard.

And when you do that, nobody even notices. You don’t get cited. You get cited when you try to put a big meadow in your front yard because nobody’s used to that.

AP: What simple actions can homeowners take to make the biggest impact on their local ecosystem?

TALLAMY: There are two.

First, reduce the lawn. Every property has to support pollinators, every property has to manage the watershed in which it lies and every property has to sequester carbon (plants remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere). That’ll help combat climate change. And every property has to support the viable food webs of the animals associated with the property.

Lawn does none of those things.

If you have a lot of lawn, you get a lot of runoff, and you’re polluting your watershed with the fertilizers and the pesticides you put on the lawn. When you have a well-planted property, it keeps the water on site, cleans it, helps it soak into the ground and recharges your water table.

AP: What’s the second action?

TALLAMY: Choose plants that are going to support that food web, the ones that will share the most energy with other living things. That’s the problem with plants from other continents; our insects can’t eat them. So, there are no insects for the birds, and the food web stops.

This Nov. 11, 2024, image provided by Jessica Damiano shows New England aster, a keystone native flowering plant, blooming on Long Island, N.Y. (Jessica Damiano via AP)

In 84% of the counties where they occur, oaks are the No. 1 plant for passing along that energy. If you’re going to plant a tree, that is the best plant to choose.

AP: In your new book, “How can I Help?”, you answer 499 questions you’re most frequently asked and address the importance of ecological balance. How would you explain that to homeowners who may not be familiar with the science?

TALLAMY: I included chapters like that because we were never taught these things. How can I expect somebody to understand that conservation is important when they don’t know what biodiversity does, when they don’t know how much we depend on it totally? Or what evolution or natural selection is.

So, it’s a little primer to basic ecological knowledge that will help you understand how important these issues are.

AP: What upcoming projects are you excited about?

TALLAMY: Well, I’m getting closer to retirement, but I just graduated a master’s student who is looking at how we landscape underneath our trees.

We talk about the importance of trees in creating the caterpillars that drive the food web. But those caterpillars drop from the tree and they pupate in the ground. And how we landscape under those trees determines whether or not those caterpillars will survive. So, that’s really an important addition to our landscape management tools.

This April 9, 2007, image provided by Bugwood.org shows a Northern red oak in Hinsdale, Ill. (Richard Webb/Bugwood.org via AP)

You want uncompacted areas where we’re not walking, which means beds around our trees. If you’re mowing or walking under it, you’re squishing all those caterpillars.

So, we ranked all of the plant genera in North America in terms of their ability to support caterpillars and keep that food web going. We haven’t published it yet, but now we’ve got that data for every country in the world.

AP: Anything else you’d like to share?

TALLAMY: I always like to convey a sense of responsibility. It’s not just the job of a few ecologists or conservation biologists. It’s everybody’s responsibility because we all need it.

You can do that by voting properly. You can do that by not hindering conservation efforts, or you can actively do it right on your own property. But everybody has a responsibility to do it.

Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. You can sign up here for weekly gardening tips and advice.