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Friday, December 8, 2023

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Some South Dakota farmers are unhappy with industrial ag getting conservation funds; Texas judge allows abortion in Cox case; Native tribes express concern over Nevada's clean energy projects.

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The Colorado Supreme Court weighs barring Trump from office, Georgia Republicans may be defying a federal judge with a Congressional map splitting a Black majority district and fake electors in Wisconsin finally agree Biden won there in 2020.

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Texas welcomes more visitors near Big Bend but locals worry the water won't last, those dependent on Colorado's Dolores River fear the same but have found common ground solutions, and a new film highlights historical healthcare challenges in rural Appalachia.

In 2008, Connecticut passed the Global Warming Solutions Act, which established its climate goals. This means getting greenhouse-gas emissions 10% below 1990 levels by 2020, and 80% below 2001 levels by 2050. (Adobe Stock)
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Friday, December 8, 2023
Connecticut lawmakers are reluctant to approve new emission standards that would require 90% cleaner emissions from internal-combustion engines and re…

Officials with the Aging and Climate Change Clearinghouse contended the baby boomer generation has developed consumption patterns exacerbating climate change. Officials said changing patterns, such as making their homes energy-efficient, can help reduce the climate threats they face. (Adobe Stock)
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Thursday, December 7, 2023
From prolonged droughts to intense rain and snowstorms, the Midwest is not immune to climate change threats. An emerging resource aims to place more …

Officials with the Aging and Climate Change Clearinghouse contend the baby boomer generation has developed consumption patterns exacerbating climate change. They say changing patterns, such as making homes energy-efficient, can help reduce the climate threats they face. (Adobe Stock)
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Thursday, December 7, 2023
From prolonged droughts to intense rain and snowstorms, the Midwest is not immune to climate change threats. An emerging resource aims to place more …

The Peterbilt 520 EV, a fully electric garbage truck, made a test run in Portland, Ore., on Nov. 11, 2023. (scharfsinn86/Adobe Stock)
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Friday, December 8, 2023
While lawmakers and environmental groups strive to lower vehicle emissions and the nation's carbon footprint, many truckers see unrealistic …

"Offshore wind is vital to our clean energy economy and our efforts to mitigate climate change, and we are resolute in our efforts to ensure New Jersey realizes its benefits," said New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. (Karolis/Adobe Stock)
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Wednesday, December 6, 2023
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy wants the state's Board of Public Utilities to initiate more bids for offshore wind projects in the New Year. The move …

New York State's climate goals would have the state using 70% renewable energy by 2030, and use zero-emission electricity by 2040. (Adobe Stock)
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Just as New York State prepares for its first offshore wind farm to come online, a new report predicted the state will not meet its climate goals…

A study on earth.org reveals a 6 1/2-foot artificial Christmas tree would have to be used for at least 12 years for it to be more ecofriendly than a real Christmas tree. (Adobe Stock)
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Friday, December 8, 2023
Hoosiers could get their holiday trees from any of about 200 tree farms in the state, according to the Indiana Christmas Tree Growers Association…

Along with flooding, Virginia is experiencing sea level rise. Between 1950 and 2023, the state has seen a 14-inch rise in sea level rise, putting 45,000 homes at risk of tidal flooding. (Adobe Stock)
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Wednesday, December 6, 2023
A recent report found wetlands forming on surface mines in Virginia can benefit the state. The wetlands form because surface mining flattens land…

In addition to accelerating global warming, methane emissions can cause or exacerbate asthma and other respiratory conditions. (Hihitetlin/Adobe Stock)
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Tuesday, December 5, 2023
A new rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency could reduce the amount of methane escaping from equipment in Texas oil fields. Last …

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Family farm advocates say not only are they worried about so-called factory farms getting federal conservation funds, they also contend there's little oversight of the money that is awarded to them. (Adobe Stock)
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Friday, December 8, 2023
Agriculture accounts for more than 10% of greenhouse-gas emissions in the United States. Advocates for small farms in South Dakota hope the next Farm …

Rural advocates are pushing for more protection for independent producers in the next Farm Bill. (Adobe Stock)
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Thursday, December 7, 2023
Even though the current Farm Bill has been extended for a year, rural advocates are speaking up about protecting independent and family farms when …

the National Young Farmers Coalition delivered a letter to House and Senate Agriculture Committee leadership signed by 175 national, regional and local organizations in support of the Increasing Land Access, Security and Opportunities Act. (Nikish Hiraman/peopleimages.com)
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Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Young farmers in Missouri hope the new farm bill will include key benefits regarding land access so they can continue to pursue farming passionately…

One of the goals of the Biden administration's Justice40 Initiative is that "40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved and overburdened by pollution." (Aastels/Adobe Stock)
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Thursday, December 7, 2023
There's a new resource for Nebraska communities and organizations facing environmental justice issues: the Heartland Environmental Justice Center (HEJ…

Nearly half of people living in Alamosa, where Xcel Energy plans to build one of three new natural gas power plants, identify as Hispanic or Latino according to U.S. Census data. (Adobe Stock)
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Xcel Energy says its latest proposal before the Public Utilities Commission will help Colorado reach it's clean energy goals - by adding more wind and…

Based on current environmental impacts, residents of Petersburg have a life expectancy 10 years lower than the national average, according to U.S. News & World Report. (Adobe Stock)
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The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved a plan extending a natural-gas pipeline in Virginia. The Virginia Reliability Plan and Transcot's …

The Farm Credit System is cumulatively the largest lender to the agricultural sector, making about 45% of all agricultural loans, with $350 billion in assets. (Dusan Kostic/Adobe Stock)
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Thursday, December 7, 2023
A new report is calling for greater accountability in the system providing funding to farmers in underserved communities. The research takes a dive …

The Farm Credit System is cumulatively the largest lender to the agricultural sector, making about 45% of all agricultural loans, with $350 billion in assets. (DiedovStock/Adobe Stock)
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A new report calls for greater accountability in the system that provides funding to farmers in underserved communities. The research takes a dive …

The Farm Credit System is cumulatively the largest lender to the agricultural sector, making about 45% of all agricultural loans, with $350 billion in assets. (Adobe Stock)
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A new report calls for greater accountability in the system that provides funding to farmers in underserved communities. The research takes a dive …

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Wolverines are powerfully built and have short legs with wide feet for traveling across the snow. They are a vital part of ecosystems in northern climes, according to Defenders of Wildlife. (Adobe Stock)
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Wednesday, December 6, 2023
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has added the wolverine to the list of endangered species. Advocates said it will add critical protections for the …

A decision on whether to provide Endangered Species protections to wolverine has wavered since the 1990s. (Karlos Lomsky/Adobe Stock)
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In a long-awaited decision being celebrated by conservation groups, the wolverine will receive greater protections across the northern Cascades and …

Wolverine need deep snow for their habitats, but experts say snow levels are dwindling due to climate change. (jamenpercy/Adobe Stock)
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Conservation groups are celebrating a long-fought battle to protect the dwindling population of wolverine in the Northwest and northern Rockies…

According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, the Y12 complex has about 4,500 employees and another 2,000 contractors. (Enzo/Adobe Stock)
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Wednesday, December 6, 2023
A Knoxville-based environmental group is voicing health and safety concerns about the development of a landfill for radioactive waste from the Y12 Ura…

The U.S. Department of Energy wants to develop nuclear waste interim storage facilities. (Satakorn/Adobe Stock)
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Federal officials are in Idaho to discuss where to store nuclear waste. The U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board, an independent federal agency…

The new film "Oppenheimer" chronicles development and detonation of the first nuclear bomb near the homes of Hispanic and Native American residents in New Mexico. (magann/Adobe Stock)
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This summer's "Oppenheimer" movie will shine a light on development of the first nuclear weapons, but for many in southern New Mexico it is another …

An endangered Pacific leatherback sea turtle swims off San Francisco, in September 2022. (Geoff Shester/Oceana)
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Wednesday, December 6, 2023
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife just announced a marine warden discovered an endangered Pacific leatherback sea turtle dead, drowned …

More than 6,000 blue economy businesses in Massachusetts employ a total of 100,000 individuals, who earn nearly $4 billion in annual wages. (Adobe Stock)
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Lawmakers and scientists in Massachusetts are working to bolster the state's growing "blue economy." Several pieces of legislation aim to create a "b…

California sea lions off the coast of Santa Barbara. (Oceana)
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A new analysis by Oceana found crews in the California set gillnet fishery have severely underreported the number of seals and sea lions caught and ki…

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At least 33 different types of wetlands occur in Michigan. Twenty-six are considered rare because fewer than 100 are intact, Eight of the 26 rare wetland types are considered imperiled and at high risk of extinction. An additional three wetland types are considered critically imperiled and at very high risk of extinction. (rodimovpavel/Adobe Stock)
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Michigan's duck-hunting season runs through January, and many enthusiasts are concerned about how plentiful their future quarry will be because of a …

Missouri wetlands have been reduced to 643,000 acres, a loss of 87% from their original footprint. (rodimovpavel/Adobe Stock)
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Missouri's duck-hunting season runs through January, and many enthusiasts are concerned about how plentiful their future quarry will be because of a …

A great egret forages for fish in a shallow pond in Marion County, Ill. (Adobe Stock)
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States like Illinois are dealing with the fallout of a Supreme Court decision made earlier this year. In May, the U.S. Supreme Court effectively …

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that wider street lanes contribute to high rates of traffic-related fatalities in the U.S. (Olga/Adobestock)<br />
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Redrawing some California traffic lanes to make them narrower would make many city streets safer according to a new study from Johns Hopkins Universit…

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found travel lane width is one of several contributors to the high rates of traffic-related fatalities in the U.S. They urged road engineers to consider narrower lanes. (Adobe Stock)
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Wisconsin's largest city has seen recent debate over highway expansion plans amid environmental concerns, and a new study suggested for similar …

Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection finds 67% of nitrogen oxide emissions, a key component of smog, came from transportation. (Adobe Stock)
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A Connecticut Department of Transportation study has outlined plans to make Hartford a walkable city. The Greater Hartford Mobility Study proposes …

The Lincoln Prosperity Proposal would add wilderness area while at the same time opening up more recreational opportunities for motorized-vehicle enthusiasts, bikers and hikers. (Lincoln Prosperity Proposal)
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Residents of the Montana town of Lincoln are working to create a new economic development plan adding recreational opportunities and wilderness…

Research shows people who live near parks or natural spaces have lower rates of disease and higher rates of social cohesion. (Yaya Ernst/Adobestock)
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Have you ever wanted to see the California redwoods, play in the Sierra snow, take a dip at the beach or just throw a family barbecue at the park? …

The Bureau of Land Management does not currently have regulations directly promoting conservation efforts for all resources. The proposed rule is intended to address the gap. (Adobe Stock)
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Nevada conservationists want to get a proposed Bureau of Land Management rule across the finish line. The rule would put conservation efforts on par …

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Experts on vegan diets say non-meat-based holiday roasts can include ingredients such as cranberry, apricot and pumpkin seed stuffing. (Adobe Stock)
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November is almost here, and some Wisconsin households might be planning their menu for upcoming holiday meals. Those who support vegan diets say …

A legislative analysis of the EATS Act from Harvard says it "defies basic notions of federalism and would circumvent decades of settled constitutional jurisprudence." (Adobe Stock)
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A coalition of animal-welfare and family-farm advocates say a proposed amendment to the 2023 Farm Bill jeopardizes states' ability to regulate their o…

When the summer heat becomes unbearable, pet owners are urged to go to great lengths to keep their animals cool, including a constant stream of safe drinking water. And experts say you should never assume your pet can swim, and you should monitor them at all times near the water. (Adobe Stock)
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Next week, parts of Wisconsin will see the return of near 90-degree temperatures. Animal rights voices say as hot stretches become more common…

Salmon continue to struggle to migrate from the Pacific Ocean to Idaho to spawn. (NorthwestWildImages/Adobe Stock)
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The Biden administration wants to get serious about restoring salmon populations to the Northwest. A presidential memorandum directs federal …

Roughly 68 million culverts carry roadways that were built with design approaches dating from the 1950s, which did not consider the needs of aquatic organisms to move up and downstream, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. (Adobe Stock)
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Fish passage is set to improve in the Northwest with an investment from Congress's bipartisan infrastructure law. The Biden administration has …

Salmon populations in the Northwest face growing decline in the region. (jamie/Adobe Stock)
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The Biden Administration is considering the future of Pacific Northwest salmon and the effect of dams in the region. The White House Council on …

PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals," enter public water systems across the country through industrial discharges and other substances, such as firefighting foam. (Rawpixels)
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Environmental groups say a proposal to cut $4 billion from the Environmental Protection Agency budget would gut the regulations designed to clean up t…

It's estimated that 200 million Americans are drinking water contaminated with PFAS, according to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. (Rachel Conn)
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Environmental groups and concerned citizens scored a victory in New Mexico on Thursday that could lead to better regulation of PFAS, also known as …

A new U.S. Geological Survey study confirms that PFAS, or "forever chemicals," have a stronger presence in urban drinking water systems. But health and environmental experts warn even low levels pose a threat to human health. (Adobe Stock)
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A new government study estimates nearly half of the nation's tap water has at least one type of Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), also known …

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Some 90% of middle and high schools and 84% of elementary schools were providing a device for every student, according to a March 2021 Education Week survey of school leaders. (Adobe Stock)
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Education advocates say pending expiration dates for Google Chromebooks teach kids the wrong lesson about technology. Software on thirteen models …

People can cut down on single-use plastics by avoiding bottled soft drinks and bottled water, and bringing reusable jugs instead. (Lazyllama/Adobe Stock)<br />
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This Fourth of July, ocean conservation groups want Americans to declare their independence from single-use plastics. A new report, "Charting a …

Once laptops have expired, they don't receive updates and can't access secure websites. (Adobe Stock)
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The U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund is urging Google to allow Chromebook owners a right to repair the devices and extend their …

 

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