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Alabama faces battle at the ballot box; groups look to federal laws for protection; Israeli Cabinet votes to shut down Al Jazeera in the country; Florida among top states for children losing health coverage post-COVID; despite the increase, SD teacher salary one of the lowest in the country.

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Civil rights groups criticize police actions against student protesters, Republicans accuse Democrats of "buying votes" through student debt relief, and anti-abortion groups plan legal challenges to a Florida ballot referendum.

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Bidding begins soon for Wyoming's elk antlers, Southeastern states gained population in the past year, small rural energy projects are losing out to bigger proposals, and a rural arts cooperative is filling the gap for schools in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

After the "Rockets' Red Glare" Comes the Cleanup

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Tuesday, July 3, 2012   

NASHUA, N.H. - After the colorful Fourth of July fireworks have faded from the night sky, they're not really gone . . . not if you count the leftover plastic that litters beaches, lawns and fields across the state. And one group wants people to think about that this year, and next.

Ellen Anderson with "Environmentally Friendly Fireworks" says volunteer clean-up crews pick up pounds of plastic for months after the July Fourth holiday.

"You know, we get however many we can grab the morning after, but the tide takes out a lot of these plastics because they've been shot through the air, from the beach out into the water. So, every month, it's bringing in more of these silly little pieces of plastic that float out on the water."

When purchasing fireworks, she suggests avoiding the aerial or missile styles and also novelty products made to look like tanks, planes and boats, as they tend to contain the most plastic parts. New Hampshire only permits the sale of cone and cylindrical fountains, ground spinners, party poppers, snake or glow-worm snappers, wheels and small sparklers.

Anderson says there are ways to minimize the environmental impact of fireworks, but you have to be a smart shopper. Look closely at what's inside the cellophane wrapping, and read the label.

"If it says 'battery' on the labeling, you are pretty much guaranteed that, for however many shots there are in that battery - if it's 25 or a hundred - you're going to have that many pieces of plastic."

Anderson also suggests people mention to fireworks vendors that they'd like to see products without plastic. She says one major manufacturer has told her it is developing some, although it may be several years before they're on the market.





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