skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Biden administration moves to protect Alaska wilderness; opening statements and first witness in NY trial; SCOTUS hears Starbucks case, with implications for unions on the line; rural North Carolina town gets pathway to home ownership.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The Supreme Court weighs cities ability to manage a growing homelessness crisis, anti-Israeli protests spread to college campuses nationwide, and more states consider legislation to ban firearms at voting sites and ballot drop boxes.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Wyoming needs more educators who can teach kids trade skills, a proposal to open 40-thousand acres of an Ohio forest to fracking has environmental advocates alarmed and rural communities lure bicyclists with state-of-the-art bike trail systems.

White House to Develop Drought Strategies with Cities, States

play audio
Play

Friday, March 25, 2016   

PHOENIX – At this week's White House Water Summit, President Obama issued an executive order expanding federal efforts to reduce the nation's vulnerability to drought, particularly in Western states.

Arizona and its neighbors are already working on the problem, with Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton leading a group of mayors from Western cities to develop cooperative drought solutions.

Stanton's water services director, Kathryn Sorensen, said climate change is bringing major challenges to the region.

"The White House is really trying to emphasize the importance of building resilience for extreme events," said Sorensen. "And we know that, as the climate changes and we face an increasingly uncertain climate, we need to have good, sound strategies in place to deal with these events."

In his proclamation, Obama noted that almost 40 million Americans live under the threat of severe drought conditions.

He named the National Drought Resilience Partnership, with officials from 13 different agencies - including NASA, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy - to help states and communities manage drought.

At a U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in January, Stanton got together with other mayors from Arizona, California, Colorado and other states to discuss best practices for managing water resources and, according to Sorensen, lay the groundwork for future cooperation.

"They were able to talk about local leadership in climate change and water issues in general," she said. "You know, it's those kinds of relationships that can really help us plan for a future that, in terms of climate, is very uncertain."

She said the mayors plan to continue meeting to discuss drought strategies. Obama's order requires the panel to, by mid-summer, develop a comprehensive National Preparedness Report for states and cities coping with climate change and drought.



get more stories like this via email

more stories
More than 70 million Americans have a criminal record that can create significant barriers to employment, according to the White House. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

A new website aims to help Kentuckians just out of prison re-enter their communities and find job training, employment and recovery services…


play sound

Late Friday, a majority of Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga overwhelmingly voted to join the United Auto Workers. The vote is historic, as they are …

play sound

Boston University's Prison Education Program is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and is hoping to expand. Students at Massachusetts Correctional …


The proposed Ambler industrial mining road would have crossed nearly 3,000 waterways, including the Kobuk and Koyukuk rivers, which are important spawning grounds for the Yukon salmon. (National Wild and Scenic Rivers System)

Environment

play sound

Conservation groups are rejoicing over the decision Friday by the Biden administration to reject a proposed mining road in Alaska. The 211-mile …

Environment

play sound

Today, in honor of Earth Day, climate advocates are asking California lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom to rally around a plan to put a $15 billion …

A new study concludes that while anti-bullying protections in schools are effective, they are likely insufficient to address the mental health struggles of LGBTQ youth. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

A new study suggests laws in New Mexico and 22 other states to protect school-aged LGBTQ youth are having a positive impact. According to research …

Social Issues

play sound

Gov. Janet Mills has signed legislation to increase temporary assistance payments to families experiencing deep poverty. Payments will increase by 2…

Environment

play sound

Today is Earth Day, and one initiative in southern Arizona is helping build public gardens providing beneficial habitat for pollinators, from Monarch …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021