Kickstart: Keeping single-use plastics out of parks

A new survey from environmental group Oceana says that Americans want to keep single-use plastics out of national parks.

The survey of 1,005 American adults conducted by the nonpartisan polling company Ipsos, released Jan. 13, found that 82 percent of American voters would support a decision by the U.S. National Park Service to stop selling and distributing single-use plastics at parks. That's only a hair lower than the 83 percent who said "it is important that national parks remain free of plastic trash," Oceana said in its news release.

That support for a ban comes from both political parties, with 90 percent of Democrats and 73 percent of Republicans backing a move to stop single-use plastics sales and distribution.

"The National Park Service was created to preserve these natural and historic spaces, and in order to truly uphold that purpose, it needs to ban the sale and distribution of single-use plastic items, many of which will end up polluting our environment for centuries to come despite being used for only a moment," Christy Leavitt, Oceana's plastics campaign director, said in the release.

Auxiliary equipment supplier FlackTek SpeedMixer Inc. is urging support for community organizations providing help to residents near its operations in Louisville, Colo., impacted by a fire that swept through the community.

"[FlackTek] narrowly escaped the Marshall fire that destroyed upwards of 1,000 homes, damaged hundreds more and caused tens of thousands of people to be evacuated," the company said in a Jan. 13 news release. "The fire started due west of the SpeedMixer facility and was fueled by high winds. The FlackTek ... manufacturing facility escaped fire damage by just a few hundred yards."

Some employees were displaced by the fire, the South Carolina-based company said, but customer delivery should not be impacted.

It is encouraging anyone interested in supporting its employees and the community to consider aiding groups including the Community Foundation for Boulder County, Sister Carmen, Boulder Office of Emergency Management and Colorado Responds.

"We are devastated by the loss of property and livelihood of our neighbors," stated Matthew Gross, founder of FlackTek. "Our hearts go out to all who are impacted by this tragic fire. FlackTek Manufacturing will continue to be a proud employer in the Colorado region and do all we can to support the community."

FlackTek mixers are used for polyurethane foam and 3D printing applications.

Mattel Inc.'s Barbie brand is rolling out the latest in its Inspiring Women line of dolls just in time for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and Black History Month.

Ida B. Wells was born into slavery but gained fame as a journalist shining "the light of truth" on lynchings, injustice and suffrage.

"When kids learn about heroes like Ida B. Wells, they don't just imagine a better future — they know they have the power to make it come true," the brand said in introducing the doll on social media.

The Ida B. Wells doll comes complete with a plastic version of The Memphis Free Speech and Headlight, the newspaper she owned in Memphis.