BOZEMAN, Mont. – The Smithsonian is partnering with American Prairie Reserve to research and restore one of the country's most treasured landscapes. The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute does science and conservation work around the world, and is bringing that expertise to APR's reserve in northeastern Montana.

Before European settlement, more than 40 percent of North America was prairie and home to about 60 million bison. Only a fraction of that terrain and species remain.

Bill McShea, a wildlife ecologist with the Smithsonian who studies grasslands around the world, says he's excited to look at this landscape in North America for the first time.

"It has a unique suite of species and it's something that is being restored, and we're always interested in places that are being restored to some historical condition," says McShea.

Over the next three years, McShea says his organization will be getting its bearings. After that, the hope is to partner with APR and other organizations to restore some species that roamed the northern great plains, such as bison and the black-footed ferret – the most endangered mammal in North America.

The Smithsonian will start with two research projects. The first will look at how grazing cattle and bison affect biodiversity on the prairie. The second will look at the biodiversity of prairie dogs, a species integral to this ecosystem, and design a restoration program for black-footed ferrets.

Kyran Kunkel, director of wildlife restoration and science at APR, says the researchers have a lot to learn about this place.

"A great place for them to do science in North America on a system that has been little studied,” says Kunkel. “So they're very excited about some of the questions that they can address that have not been looked at before in any detail, especially in the northern great plains."

APR manages 400,000 acres of purchased, leased and partnered lands, with the goal of reconnecting three million acres of public and private prairie lands to help native plant and animal species.


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Arizona environmental advocates and organizers have laid out their 2025 priorities for Gov. Katie Hobbs and the state legislature, which is set to convene Monday.

Sandy Bahr, director of the Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club, said her group's priorities represent what she called "a positive vision on climate and clean energy." She acknowledged while the majority of the legislature has not made environmental protection or climate action a priority in the past, she and others are asking them to do so now.

"The priorities ask for needed changes to address climate change and extreme heat that is literally killing people in our communities, environmental justice and to limit the depletion of precious water resources," Bahr outlined.

Last year in Maricopa County alone there were 466 preliminary confirmed heat-related deaths and almost 200 heat-related deaths are still under investigation.

As it relates to water, Bahr emphasized urgent action is needed. While legislators have attempted to regulate groundwater use in the Grand Canyon State, they have been unsuccessful. Bahr argued it needs to change. The lack of regulation has attracted out of state ag companies who come to Arizona to set up shop.

Rep. Oscar De Los Santos, D-Laveen, the House minority leader, said for decades, "greedy corporations," have poisoned water supplies in Arizona and left working Arizonans to pay the price. He contended as a result of corporate greed, Arizonans' health, jobs and way of life are in jeopardy.

"In a desert, we have no resource more valuable and more precious than water," De Los Santos pointed out. "But these greedy corporations aren't just using our water, they're hoarding it and speculating on it."

Arizona has garnered a business-friendly reputation because of its lack of oversight and for those wanting more government regulation, it could prove to be a challenge as Republicans now hold majorities in both chambers of the Legislature.

Vania Guevara, advocacy and political director for the advocacy group CHISPA Arizona, said people of color are disproportionately affected by climate change, and she argued all Arizonans deserve clean air and healthy water.

"My hope for the legislative session is that our leadership, regardless of political affiliation really listen to the concerns and needs and address climate concerns," Guevara urged. "Because they represent everyone."

As public awareness about the link between plastics and cancer risk increases, environmental groups said they want the Trump administration to make sweeping policy changes when it comes to plastics, including banning vinyl chloride, a toxic chemical used to make PVC plastic and vinyl.

The EPA is considering tightening regulations on the chemical.

Judith Inck, president of the advocacy group Beyond Plastics, explained 16,000 chemicals are used in manufacturing plastics and thousands have been shown to be dangerous for human and environmental health. She added there is no safe level of vinyl chloride exposure, which has been linked to lymphoma, leukemia, brain and lung cancer.

"Chemicals like PFAS, the whole family; vinyl chloride, heavy metals, should not be in packaging," Inck contended. "Particularly food and beverage packaging, particularly in baby food packaging."

Included in a series of policy recommendations by Beyond Plastics is a ban on chemical recycling facilities, which purport to recycle plastics. At least two such businesses are planned to operate in West Virginia. Critics said they produce more hazardous wastes and toxic air pollutants.

According to an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll published last year, 32% of adults, especially women and college graduates, said they are avoiding single-use plastic products.

Inck pointed out without state-level and federal laws aimed at eliminating single-use plastics and incentivizing alternatives, it is up to companies themselves to choose to stop plastic usage. She noted groups like the U.S. Plastic Pact are working to push corporations in the right direction.

"An organization of many consumer product companies," Inck explained. "They announced in January of 2022 that they will stop using PVC plastic by 2025 but this is just a voluntary pledge."

Reporting by The New York Times and others have shown how the plastic industry is trying to combat the growing wave of anti-plastic sentiment through social media influencers by proclaiming certain types of plastics are more environmentally friendly than others.

Athens, Alabama, is bouncing back after an EF-1 tornado ripped through its downtown late Saturday night, leaving devastation but sparing lives.

Now, days into recovery, city crews and volunteers have cleared most debris, reopened streets and restored power to most homes and businesses.

Ronnie Marks, mayor of Athens, credits the quick response and community spirit for the progress made so far.

"We are so fortunate that we don't have any injuries or any fatalities," Marks pointed out. "The tough news is it's hit our downtown, but overall our city and county workers have done a tremendous job in cleaning up debris, rooftops laying in the middle of the street."

According to the city's Facebook page, additional damage includes fallen trees blocking major roads, structural damage to public buildings such as Fire Station Number 3, and debris in key areas like Pryor Street and the Veterans Museum.

Marks noted the tornado's toll on local businesses has been severe, with some potentially facing total losses. He added among the hardest hit was a local bookstore, which suffered catastrophic roof damage. Marks emphasized the importance of rallying around these businesses as they rebuild.

"There's some severe damage to some of the small business people and that's their livelihood, and it's ours and we're supportive," Marks emphasized. "For example, the CEI bookstore is totally destroyed. A lot of other businesses have rooftops and HVACs blown off of the top of their building."

Marks stressed community volunteers have stepped up to clear debris and provide meals to city workers, with support pouring in from across the state and even as far as Tennessee. The Limestone County Emergency Management Agency is actively documenting the damage to determine if the area qualifies for additional aid.


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