Air Quality / Public News Service

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have recently come under scrutiny for not doing more to enforce factory farm manure discharge permits. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 17, 2025

Iowa slaughterhouse faces water pollution lawsuit

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration In …

Agriculture trade groups want to see a rollback of federal environmental regulations on the meatpacking industry, along with fewer worker protections and food safety measures. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 17, 2025

Nebraska meatpackers call on feds to deregulate industry

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Nebraska News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service …

The Trump administration is working to lower air-quality standards, which could allow easier permitting for the oil and gas industry. (Travelview/Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 17, 2025

CA local leaders protest massive rollback of federal environmental protections

Local leaders in California are slamming the Trump administration's moves to gut dozens of environmental policies on climate change and pollution in l…

Expanded oil and gas subsidies, included in current versions of upcoming federal tax legislation, would support a massive expansion of LNG projects to more than double national export capacity by 2030. (Jeeraphun/Adobe Stock)

Friday, March 14, 2025

Religious leaders gather in TX to fight oil and gas subsidies

Forty religious leaders from different denominations gathered in Texas this week to call for an end to fossil-fuel subsidies and expansion of related …

From data centers to clean-energy projects to factory farms, rural communities are being asked to shoulder a number of key projects factoring into how society functions, potentially leading to a major dynamic shift in how local residents organize their response. (Adobe Stock)

Power of rural organizing reflected in SD carbon pipeline law

The future of a big carbon capture project in the Midwest was thrown off balance after a new South Dakota law was adopted. Rural property owners made …

A new trend, forests releasing more carbon than they capture, is expected to continue with prolonged drought and bigger and more frequent wildfires. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado forests emit more CO2 than they absorb due to insects, wildfire

Researchers at Colorado State University have found the state's nearly 23 million acres of forests are currently releasing more carbon dioxide into th…

Air Quality Index levels above 100 are considered unhealthy, especially for sensitive groups. (rck/Adobe Stock)

With ozone season, bad air days to increase in NC

Bad air quality days are a heightened concern as ozone season begins in North Carolina. Ozone season in the state lasts from March through October…

Samples taken in 2017 by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources found increased radioactivity after a commercial deicing liquid (oil and gas brine) was applied to roadways. (Siri Lawson, Farmington Township, Warren County)

OH Statehouse symposium to address oil, gas waste on rural roads

Concerns are growing in Ohio over the use of oil and gas waste for dust control on rural roads, a practice some environmental groups argued is …

A Carbon Census sensor's sophisticated electronic components (shown here during the Los Angeles fires) can detect a variety of atmospheric compounds. (Mike Glier)

Study: L.A.’s urban trees remove more C02 than expected

A new study shows trees in mid-city Los Angeles absorb up to 60% of carbon dioxide emissions during spring and summer when the trees are most active…

Some 36% of S&P 500 companies participate in carbon offsetting, according to the website CarbonNeutral.com. (Adobe Stock/generated with AI)<br />

Why carbon offsets often don’t work, explained

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabo…

The Stark Area Regional Transit Authority is partnering with energy company Enbridge and the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub, or ARCH2, to make fuel at its Ohio site using solar power. (Kathiann M. Kowalski/Canary Media)

Ohio regional transit group plans shift to 'green' hydrogen for bus fleet

By Kathiann M. Kowalski for Canary Media.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-…

Texas is already experiencing the effects of climate change, with rising temperatures creating intensified heat waves across the state. In 2023, Texas recorded its second-hottest summer on record. (Kasper/Adobe Stock AI)

Texans encouraged to 'decarbonize' buildings to fight climate change

School districts and county governments across Texas are being encouraged to consider building decarbonization to combat climate change. The process …

Drones are among the many new tools now used to detect methane leaks at drilling sites. (tostphoto/Adobe Stock)

New Mexico's methane mitigation jobs beat national average

A study commissioned by the Environmental Defense Fund showed the industries developed to find and repair methane leaks have grown by 88% over the pas…

Median wages for methane mitigation jobs are $127,000 a year in manufacturing, and as high as $145,000 in service-sector jobs. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado's methane waste-reduction industry surging

An industry that got its start in Colorado finding and fixing methane leaks at oil and gas sites is on the rise. There are now some 74 sites where …

Ohio's agriculture industry contributes more than $124 billion annually to the state's economy, supporting more than one in eight jobs statewide. (stockbusters/Adobe Stock)

JD Vance’s agriculture agenda: What’s next for Ohio farmers?

With President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance now in office, Ohio's farming community is watching closely to see how their policies could …

Methane mitigation jobs offer median wages as high as $127,000 in the manufacturing sector and $145,000 in the service sector, according to a new report from the Environmental Defense Fund. (Adobe Stock)

Wyoming ripe for growth in methane mitigation industry

Drilling and mining activities can lead to leaked methane, a gas responsible for 11% of all greenhouse gas emissions and experts said capturing …

Oil and gas operators seeking to reduce their methane emissions have many options, with 266 companies offering more than 18 categories of cost-effective technologies and services. (peterschreiber.media/Adobe Stock)

TX leads nation in methane mitigation

The methane mitigation industry has experienced a surge in Texas and around the nation over the last decade. A recent study found Texas has 293 …

Methane is a major contributor to Utah's status among the top 10 regions in the U.S. for levels of ozone, short-term particle pollution, and annual particle pollution, according to the American Lung Association. (Adobe Stock)

Methane mitigation industry battles climate change, creates UT jobs

New research found solving the $2 billion methane waste problem is creating economic opportunities for workers in Utah and other energy-producing stat…

A report commissioned by the Environmental Defense Fund showed in 2024, there were 266 mitigation companies operating in the U.S., a 24% increase from 2021. (Adobe Stock / AI)

Report: Methane mitigation industry grows in LA, nationwide

A new report on growth in the methane mitigation industry shows positive developments for oil and gas companies, as well as the environment. The …

Diesel exhaust represents about 80-percent of the potential cancer risk from all air toxics in the Puget Sound area. (Natalia Bratslavsky/Adobe Stock)

Shore power bill would improve WA air quality, cut emissions

New legislation would transition more ocean-going container ships to run off electricity instead of diesel while they are docked at Washington ports…

Life expectancy for New Mexicans is 73 years, compared to almost 80 years for top-rated Hawaii. (niyazz/Adobe Stock)

NM lawmakers weigh bills to protect air, land, water for future generations

Recognizing climate change is not isolated to certain parts of New Mexico, legislators are considering bills to help protect the state's air…

A 2017 Technology Risk Assessment by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives found the potential returns on waste gasification are smaller and more uncertain, than the risks of gasification and pyrolysis. Vicky Abou-Ghalioum of the Buckeye Environmental Network identified explosion risks of pyrolysis. (Yellow Boat/Adobe Stock)

Pushback grows as Ohio EPA approves controversial plastic incineration plant

Ohio residents gathered in Youngstown late last week to protest the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's decision to grant an operational permit to …

New Mexico's Aztec Ruins National Monument, established in 1923, consists of preserved structures constructed by the Pueblo Indians. (nps.gov)

NM's national monuments face new development threats from Trump

Areas surrounding New Mexico's Aztec Ruins National Monument, and other monuments, are at risk of losing federal protections from the "Unleashing …

Advocates for public lands warn that even drilling on lands adjacent to such places as Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado and Utah can lead to industrial contamination of shared waterways. (Adobe Stock)

Trump order could open CO national monuments for drilling

As the Trump administration considers oil, gas and mining on lands owned by all Americans, including in national monuments designated under the …

NV Conservation League sets 2025 policy priorities

The Nevada Conservation League says its policy priorities for this year's legislative session reflect what Nevadans value - protecting the state's uni…

Large cattle operations on factory farms are one of the largest producers of methane emissions, one of the primary components of greenhouse gases driving climate change. (Adobe Stock/AI)

Scientists debate best farming methods to reduce effects of climate change

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaborat…

People living within many miles of industrial swine operations feel the effects of ammonia pollution. (lightpoet/Adobe Stock)

Study shows air quality disparities from industrial ag in NC

The negative effects on air quality from industrialized animal facilities in North Carolina stick around for a long time, according to a new study…

According to Consumer Reports, a majority of Americans support regulations that push automakers to deliver new vehicles that cost less to fuel and have fewer emissions. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Fuel efficiency top of mind for AR car shoppers

Americans continue to see improving fuel economy as the most significant change they want from vehicle manufacturers when they offer new products…

Unhealthy concentrations of fine particle matter can threaten vulnerable groups like children, the elderly and people with heart or lung disease, according to the National Institutes of Health. (Adobe Stock)

NH air monitoring project grows with help from citizen scientists

By Elijah de Castro for Keen Sentinel. Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for New Hampshire News Service, for the Solutions Journalism Network-…

In 2023, the Biden-Harris administration invested $5.3 million in environmental justice related projects benefiting communities throughout Pennsylvania. (kardaska/Adobe Stock)

PA pollution, flooding concerns rise as Trump ends 'Justice40' initiative

Black communities affected by industrial pollution in South Philadelphia are among those watching a Trump administration rollback of health protection…

Just 27% of Americans agree automakers care about lowering fuel costs for their customers, according to Consumer Reports. (Adobe Stock)

Arizona drivers prioritize better fuel economy

Spending less money at the gas pump is important for Arizona drivers, according to a new survey. Chris Harto, senior policy analyst for …

Duke Energy Carolinas said a quarter of additional energy demand will come from data centers by 2028. (kwarkot/Adobe Stock)

Report: Data centers drive gas power plant building in NC, Southeast

Data centers are driving the building of gas-powered plants in the Southeast but it will leave ratepayers on the hook if higher energy needs do not ma…

Numerous studies have found a link between exposure to long-term air pollution and a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. (24Novembers/Adobe Stock)

Wayne State study links type 2 diabetes and air pollution

A new study from Wayne State University showed breathing in air pollution, especially benzene, can raise the risk of developing type 2 diabetes…

Small streams account for a very small percentage of total surface area, yet a study found they contribute 20% to 30% of total nitrous oxide emissions, making them

IL research shows high greenhouse gas levels in farm streams

By Gabriella Sotelo for Sentient.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Illinois News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service C…

Panelists at the 9th annual NC BREATHE Conference explored issues like hazardous environmental toxins and the climate crisis. (CleanAIRE NC)

Report explores environmental health issues, solutions in NC

A new report highlights steps North Carolina can take as it faces pressing environmental health issues. The report lays out conclusions from the 9th …

Factory farms are responsible for between 11% and 20% of global greenhouse emissions, according to the group World Animal Protection. (By Larry Rana-USDA, Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons)<br />

UN Green Climate Fund invests in KY factory farming, report finds

By Sophie Kevany for Sentient.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabor…

The City of Dallas code states landlords must provide - and maintain in working order - heating equipment capable of maintaining an indoor temperature at least 15°F warmer than the outdoor temperature. (Nimur/Adobe Stock)

TX looks at ways to protect apartment tenants during extreme weather

Extreme weather has hit Texas over the last few weeks bringing snow to many parts of the state. During cold weather, landlords are required to …

Iowa produces around 2.5 billion bushels of corn annually, making it the nation's top corn-producing state, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa farmers on board with corn-based jet fuel

A company working to create sustainable energy sources is investing in corn to make jet fuel, which it said burns far cleaner than the traditional…

The hottest year on record was 2024, as average global temperatures continue to rise due to the use of fossil fuels. (Adobe Stock)

Worker's coalition aims to address climate emergency, economic inequality

As President Donald Trump abandons a promise the U.S. made in Paris nearly a decade ago, organized workers across Colorado are joining forces to …

The average retail electricity price in Texas is 2% lower than in West Virginia, 9% lower than in Ohio and 20% lower than in Pennsylvania, according to the Ohio River Valley Institute. (Adobe Stock)

PA power demand spurs concerns over rising rates, gas dependency

Utility providers foresee a big rise in electricity demand which could lead to double-digit rate hikes if it is met with new natural gas-fired power p…

According to the Texas Tree Foundation, the lack of trees and green spaces contributes significantly to the

TX nonprofit calls trees good for your health, cooling your neighborhood

By María Ramos Pacheco for The Dallas Morning News.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism …

Federal incentives are being offered for carbon capture projects, including a multistate pipeline proposal for the Midwest involving ethanol emissions. However, skeptics said the project's designs are too big for unproven technology. (Adobe Stock)

Carbon pipeline and landowner rights take their seat again in SD's capitol

South Dakota lawmakers begin a new legislative session today and are already hearing from worried landowners about their rights as a private company k…

Ohio ranks among the top 10 states in U.S. natural gas production, contributing about 5% of the nation's output and reserves, which is integral to the state's hydrogen hub project. (Calin Tatu/Adobe Stock)

Local concerns rise over Ohio’s hydrogen project

Ohioans are raising questions about the future of fracking and its environmental and community impacts, following the ARCH2 hydrogen hub open house …

Researchers are testing a number of propulsion systems, such as hydrogen, electricity and biofuels, to reduce the aviation industry's carbon footprint or cut it to net-zero. (Artist's Rendering/Adobe Stock)

Colorado strategizes with stakeholders to decarbonize future of air travel

By Ethan Brown for The Sweaty Penguin.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network…

Despite the New York Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act's minimum benefits for disadvantaged communities, there is insufficient integration of this and other justice mandates of the law into energy transmission plans. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NYS grid transmission process must be more equitable

A new report found New York State needs a more equitable grid transmission process. The Energy Justice Law and Poverty Center report noted …

U.S. Steel has had a presence in the Mon Valley since 1901 and currently employs about 4,000 workers.<br />(Jeffrey Bowser/Adobe)

Blocked sale of U.S. Steel does not allay fears of effects on workers, health, community

A Pennsylvania environmental justice group is voicing concerns about the blocked sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel, citing its effect on the …

New York's Climate Change Superfund Act could collect as much as $75 billion over 25 years for climate change impacts from those who are most responsible for it: big oil and gas companies. (Adobe Stock)

NY's Climate Change Superfund Act takes effect

A law signed by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul takes effect this week to penalize polluters for emissions. The Climate Change Superfund Act puts a fine …

Two large-scale Wisconsin clean energy projects, the Apple River Solar Project in Polk County and the Darien Solar Energy Center in Walworth and Rock counties, are scheduled for 2025. (Adobe Stock)

Wisconsin ends year on a high note in clean energy

Wisconsin is ending the year on a high note in the clean energy space, with some notables like a first-of-its-kind energy dome and approval for the …

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the Public News Service (podcast)"
	"Hey Google, play the Public News Service podcast"
	"Alexa, play Public News Service podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the 2025 Talks podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the 2025 Talks podcast"
	"Alexa, play 2000 25 Talks podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the Yonder Report podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the Yonder Report podcast"
	"Alexa, play the Yonder Report podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

PNS Daily Newscast - March 18, 2025

2025Talks - March 18, 2025

The Yonder Report - March 13, 2025

Air Quality

Iowa slaughterhouse faces water pollution lawsuit

Nebraska meatpackers call on feds to deregulate industry

CA local leaders protest massive rollback of federal environmental protections

Religious leaders gather in TX to fight oil and gas subsidies

Power of rural organizing reflected in SD carbon pipeline law

Colorado forests emit more CO2 than they absorb due to insects, wildfire

With ozone season, bad air days to increase in NC

OH Statehouse symposium to address oil, gas waste on rural roads

Study: L.A.’s urban trees remove more C02 than expected

Why carbon offsets often don’t work, explained

Ohio regional transit group plans shift to 'green' hydrogen for bus fleet

Texans encouraged to 'decarbonize' buildings to fight climate change

New Mexico's methane mitigation jobs beat national average

Colorado's methane waste-reduction industry surging

JD Vance’s agriculture agenda: What’s next for Ohio farmers?

Wyoming ripe for growth in methane mitigation industry

TX leads nation in methane mitigation

Methane mitigation industry battles climate change, creates UT jobs

Report: Methane mitigation industry grows in LA, nationwide

Shore power bill would improve WA air quality, cut emissions

NM lawmakers weigh bills to protect air, land, water for future generations

Pushback grows as Ohio EPA approves controversial plastic incineration plant

NM's national monuments face new development threats from Trump

Trump order could open CO national monuments for drilling

NV Conservation League sets 2025 policy priorities

Scientists debate best farming methods to reduce effects of climate change

Study shows air quality disparities from industrial ag in NC

Survey: Fuel efficiency top of mind for AR car shoppers

NH air monitoring project grows with help from citizen scientists

PA pollution, flooding concerns rise as Trump ends 'Justice40' initiative

Arizona drivers prioritize better fuel economy

Report: Data centers drive gas power plant building in NC, Southeast

Wayne State study links type 2 diabetes and air pollution

IL research shows high greenhouse gas levels in farm streams

Report explores environmental health issues, solutions in NC

UN Green Climate Fund invests in KY factory farming, report finds

TX looks at ways to protect apartment tenants during extreme weather

Iowa farmers on board with corn-based jet fuel

Worker's coalition aims to address climate emergency, economic inequality

PA power demand spurs concerns over rising rates, gas dependency

TX nonprofit calls trees good for your health, cooling your neighborhood

Carbon pipeline and landowner rights take their seat again in SD's capitol

Local concerns rise over Ohio’s hydrogen project

Colorado strategizes with stakeholders to decarbonize future of air travel

Report: NYS grid transmission process must be more equitable

Blocked sale of U.S. Steel does not allay fears of effects on workers, health, community

NY's Climate Change Superfund Act takes effect

Wisconsin ends year on a high note in clean energy