skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

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

Macron interrupts Trump, clarifies how Europe gave money to Ukraine; Trump administration faces lawsuits over oil and gas drilling; Delays in public EV chargers put NH tourism revenue at risk; Southern WV residents demand lawmakers address ongoing water crisis.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Federal employee performance reviews face a confusing moment, Congress debates voting rights, consumer advocates push to reinstate the CFPB, Canadian and Mexican import tariffs raise economic concerns, and environmental groups fight offshore drilling.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The Taos County Sheriff says he won't conduct raids or round ups of immigrants, New Hampshire worries a dearth of charging stations will force tourists driving EVs to pick another vacation destination, and Southern states improve education with workarounds.

Under WA Bill, City Growth Plans Would Consider Climate Impacts

play audio
Play

Friday, April 7, 2023   

Climate resiliency could soon play a greater role in how cities in Washington plan for population growth.

House Bill 1181 would update the state's Growth Management Act so that cities and counties must consider climate change in their comprehensive planning.

"This would require all of those plans to take into account climate resiliency, climate-change impacts, planning for those hazards, making communities safer and protected and more resilient to the impacts," said Jamie Stroble, climate director for The Nature Conservancy in Washington.

Stroble said preparing for the impact would vary between localities. Some would plan for sea-level rise or managing stormwater from more precipitation, while others might plan for buffer zones in areas prone to wildfires.

Opponents say it will slow the process for creating affordable housing. The legislation has passed the House and is awaiting action in the Senate.

Washington state's Growth Management Act was passed in 1990. Advocates from that effort formed Futurewise after that as a watchdog group in the state. Its executive director, Alex Brennan, said House Bill 1181 would reduce communities' dependence on cars.

"Providing more housing in the places that already have that walking, biking, transit infrastructure, that already have essential goods and services within walking distance," Brennan said, "so creating housing options that allow more people to take advantage of those existing neighborhoods."

Stroble said the bill also emphasizes support for Washingtonians disproportionately impacted by climate change and pollution, requiring that front-line communities be included in planning processes.

"This isn't a one size fits all across the entire state," Stroble said. "This is really giving jurisdictions the tools and the resources to be able to address this in their specific context in that way."

Disclosure: The Nature Conservancy of Washington contributes to our fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Energy Policy, Environment, Public Lands/Wilderness. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
Concentrated animal feeding operations are major polluters of the air and water, yet less than a third in Illinois have National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits, which are required when discharging livestock waste. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

Illinois is known for having some of the weakest environmental laws for concentrated animal feeding operations, with a lack of oversight and public …


Environment

play sound

In its 15th annual year of polling on Conservation in the West, the State of the Rockies Project this year has found support for conservation by some …

Social Issues

play sound

Tax season is here and North Carolinians should find the relevant financial documents to ensure filing their returns is as smooth as possible…


The U.S. Energy Information Administration said after nearly two decades of stagnation, electricity demand is starting to grow and is not expected to slow at all in the coming years. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

South Dakota is cited in a new report which argues to avoid an energy crisis, America needs to have a shared vision of what a strong power grid looks …

Health and Wellness

play sound

New research found most Connecticut residents support creating a family caregiver tax credit. The state has 420,000 family caregivers, providing a …

A total of 195,972 Arkansas households are impoverished and another 366,907 are defined as ALICE. (Andrii/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

By Wesley Brown for the Arkansas Delta Informer.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for The Arkansas Delta Informer-Wi…

Environment

play sound

Many residents of southern West Virginia say the water flowing out of their taps is a brown or orange color and most continue to rely heavily on bottl…

Environment

play sound

A Midwest coalition of consumer, farmer and rural groups, including those in Missouri, is pushing to reinstate mandatory country-of-origin labeling …

 

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