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Thursday, December 4, 2025

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Supreme Court clears the way for Republican-friendly Texas voting maps; In Twin Cities, riverfront development rules get on the same page; Boston College Prison Education Program expands to women's facility; NYS bill requires timely state reimbursement to nonprofits; Share Oregon holiday spirit by donating blood.

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Trump escalates rhetoric toward Somali Americans as his administration tightens immigration vetting, while Ohio blocks expanded child labor hours and seniors face a Sunday deadline to review Medicare coverage.

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Native American tribes are left out of a new federal Rural Health Transformation Program, cold temperatures are burdening rural residents with higher energy prices and Missouri archivists says documenting queer history in rural communities is critical amid ongoing attacks on LGBTQ+ rights.

Rising energy costs and a potential strain on local water resources and infrastructure are two issues linked to data center construction. (Adobe Stock)
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The Trump administration's long-term plan for artificial intelligence could have far-reaching environmental impacts across the country. His strategy …

Washington Bee Atlas volunteers participate in a collecting event in the Palouse, a region in the state known for its agricultural production. (WA State Dept of Agriculture)<br />
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After one year, Washington's first comprehensive bee survey has documented 15 species that have never been collected in the state before. The …

Nearly 20% of New Mexico's Gila National Forest is protected under the federal Roadless Area Conservation Rule. (newmexico.org)
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The Trump administration wants to overturn a conservation rule that had garnered more public comment than any in U.S. history up until that time…

Microgrids can provide up to 10 megawatts of power, enough to power approximately 2,000 homes, and can be equipped with batteries for storage.  (Oulailux/Adobe Stock)
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Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has signed into law the first set of statewide policies in the country supporting community-owned microgrids. Microgrids are …

The Alaska Energy Authority has funded three large solar energy projects in the largely rural state, efforts that could be derailed under changes in the new Trump administration budget. (Adobe Stock)
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Rural Alaska power customers are likely to pay higher electricity rates as a result of the elimination of incentives to switch away from traditional f…

Just 30% of U.S. solar and 57% of wind projects are expected to survive under the new GOP tax and spending law signed by President Donald Trump. (Adobe Stock)
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More than $7 billion in Colorado's GDP and 9,600 jobs are projected to be lost under President Donald Trump's signature tax and spending bill which cu…

California's Proposition 12 requires producers to give laying hens one square foot of space each, and breeding sows 24 square feet each. (Krustovin/Adobe Stock)
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Pork producers are expected to argue against California's animal welfare laws at a hearing Wednesday before the House Committee on Agriculture…

The shift to cage-free eggs has accelerated after 11 states, including Colorado, set regulations on so-called conventional eggs, and the recent bird flu crisis, which led to the loss of more than 125 million U.S. hens. (Adobe Stock)
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A new "Compassion Calculator" launched by the charity portal FarmKind aims to help Coloradans who eat meat improve their animal welfare footprints by …

Veterinarians said when there is a bout of unhealthy air from wildfire smoke and you have to get your pet some outside time, mornings are best when the weather is cooler. (Adobe Stock)
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Minnesota's transition to the warmer months has been rough when factoring in air quality. Just like in 2023, there are occasional bouts of unhealthy …

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Accurate climate and hydrologic data are essential to managing the Colorado River Basin and forecasting drought. (Adobe Stock)
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On Tuesday, 20 Colorado officials sent a letter to the state's congressional delegation protesting six cuts to public lands management in the new tax …

An agroforestry project is a partnership between the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, Savannah Institute and The University of Wisconsin-Madison to establish four publicly-accessible, educational demonstration sites across southeast Wisconsin. (Michael Fields Agricultural Institute)
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A Wisconsin nonprofit is working with farmers in Southeast Wisconsin to educate communities about the importance of agroforestry, with plans to …

Iowa farmers produced 2.63 billion bushels of corn in 2024, making the state the nation's number one corn producer, according to CropProphet. (Adobe Stock)
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Despite the elimination of a handful of alternative energy tax incentives in the new federal budget, Iowa corn farmers will benefit from one that was …

Americans generate more than 35 million tons of plastic waste every year, almost all of which ends up in a landfill or is incinerated. (diy13/Adobe Stock)
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Oregon has received good marks in the fight against plastic pollution. This month is Plastic-Free July and a report called "The United States of …

A 2023 study from the University of Nevada, Reno found that Lake Tahoe has the third-highest concentration of microplastics among the 38 lakes studied worldwide. (Carl Mazur Photo/Adobe Stock)
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Nevada receives extremely low marks in the fight against plastic pollution. This is Plastic-free July and a report called The United States of …

Meat, dairy, bones or diseased plants should be avoided when composting to discourage pests and diseases, according to the Johnson County Recycling Center. (Adobe Stock)
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A cleaner environment through less waste is the goal of a new state organization, the Indiana Composting Council. The council will enlist …

Deep-sea habitats like this one in American Samoa are being considered for mineral mining projects. (Susanna Pershern/Submerged Resources Center)
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Conservation groups in Hawaii are calling for a moratorium on deep-sea mining for minerals, citing the need for further research on the environmental …

Deep-sea corals are among the species at risk from seabed mining. A greenspotted rockfish hides behind gold coral off the California coast. (Oceana)<br />
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Conservation groups, including the National Wildlife Federation and Oceana, are calling for a moratorium on deep-sea mining for minerals until more …

The E-Wolf is the state's first zero-emission ferry, operating out of San Diego. (Pacific Environment)
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June is World Oceans Month and California environmental groups are highlighting advances in zero-emission shipping. International shipping emits …

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Northern pike spawning habitats require roughly a foot of water in grassy marshland. (Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Assoc.)
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An effort to restore Northern pike habitat in Green Bay is also benefiting other wildlife species and raising local awareness about the effects of cli…

Colorado's 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan identifies 626 "Species of Greatest Conservation Need"  including bighorn sheep, native cutthroat trout and golden eagles. (Adobe Stock)
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Colorado Parks and Wildlife wants to hear from all Coloradans about their updated 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan, a blueprint for preserving at-risk …

The Island Fox is the only carnivore unique to California. (Photo courtesy Chuck Graham)
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A small fox that lives on the Channel Islands off the coast of southern California is thriving after near extinction. The island fox - found nowhere …

Since 2005, New Mexico's "downwinders" have rallied for federal payment of medical bills to compensate those exposed to radiation following the first atomic bomb test at the White Sands Missile Range. (nuclearactive.org)
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Today's 80th anniversary of the Trinity nuclear bomb test in New Mexico comes weeks after Congress agreed to include the state in the Radiation Exposu…

Countries like the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. are investing in small modular reactors as part of their clean energy strategies, and not without controversy. (VPales/Adobe Stock)
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Environmental groups are voicing concerns about plans to build the nation's first small modular reactors at the Palisades Nuclear Plant in Covert Town…

Hanford is a decommissioned nuclear reactor site in Washington state, on the Columbia River. (jdoms/Adobe Stock)
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Interest in nuclear energy as a solution to "dirty" sources of power is growing, including a proposal in the Northwest. However, some critics say it …

The Democratic Republic of Congo is estimated to hold $24 trillion in natural wealth, yet workers in cobalt mines still live in extreme poverty. (Erberto Zani/Adobe Stock)
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A new documentary looked at ways to reduce the human and environmental harms stemming from the mining of "critical minerals." Without minerals like c…

The Natural Resources Defense Council points to a large body of research showing communities of color are disproportionately exposed to fumes, toxic dust, ash, soot and other pollutants from hazardous facilities in their neighborhoods. (Adobe Stock)
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Minnesotans are cooling off after last weekend's extreme heat but communities bearing the brunt of environmental injustice said there will be more cli…

The average cost for a gallon of regular gas is about $3.24 in Pennsylvania, according to AAA. (Dusan Petkovic/AdobeStock)
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As federal electric vehicle incentives face potential rollbacks, a new study highlighted the burden of gasoline costs on Black and Latino …

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A seed drill used by New Mexico farmers to plant cover crops causes minimal disturbance to the soil. (photo: courtesy NMhealthysoil.org)
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New Mexico farmers finding it more difficult to grow historic crops are taking up conservation techniques to meet the challenge. Drought, water …

Some Pennsylvania farmers benefit from carbon markets or improved efficiency, such as savings on bedding from manure separators or reduced fuel costs from no-till farming. But owners of some smaller farms question the practicality of "climate-smart" technologies. (Adobe Stock)
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By Carolyn Beans for Lancaster Farming.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Keystone State News Connection reporting for the Lancaster Farming-MIT…

Rogue Climate staff and volunteers are seen at the community-led Fire Relief Center, following the Almeda Fire in the Rogue Valley in 2020. (Rogue Climate)
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Oregon's new state budget cuts funding for programs intended to protect residents from extreme weather and make renewable energy more accessible…

The study found in 2024, Illinois beaches had potentially unsafe levels of fecal contamination on at least 25% of all days tested.  (Adobe Stock)
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"Don't go into the water" is a warning Illinoisans may want to heed. A 2024 study released this week found all state-border beaches on Lake Michigan …

Members of the Blackfoot Drought Committee, first formed in 2000, include local landowners, irrigators and outfitters, as well as representatives from state and federal agencies, conservation organizations, and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. (Jason Olstad/Adobe Stock)
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Following last year's historic drought in Montana and hot temperatures early this spring, the Blackfoot River is running at roughly 25% of normal …

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller says farmers in south Texas are suffering the most from water shortages caused by drought and failing infrastructure. (sawitreelyaon/Adobe Stock)
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Because of drought and failing infrastructure, the state of Texas will run out of water by 2030, according to the Texas Water Development Board…

Residents along the Guadalupe River say it will take years for the area to recovery from the deadly flooding event on July 4. (Photo courtesy Casey Claiborne)
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Tributes and memorials are pouring in for victims of the deadly flooding along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County. The storm stalled over the Texas …

Polls consistently show that most Americans, no matter their political affiliation, oppose the federal government selling off public lands. (Adam/Adobe Stock)
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Supporters of public lands will gather in Santa Fe next week to oppose pending legislation that would sell off millions of acres in 11 Western states…

According to a 2023 report, more than one-third of all foreign tourists traveling to the United States, or 14 million people annually, visit a national park site like Wyoming's Yellowstone. (Adobe Stock)
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International tourists visiting U.S. national parks may pay more at the gate starting next year. Advocates say it's a "common-sense policy" that …

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In rural America, 3.7 million residents do not drive, making access to such services as medical care especially challenging. (Adobe Stock)
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A new AARP grant is helping older adults in Marion County access medical care they cannot find close to home. The $15,000 award is part of AARP's …

The Internal Revenue Service approved more than 300,000 federal tax credits for electric vehicle purchases in 2024, totaling more than $2 billion. (Adobe Stock) <br />
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President Donald Trump's budget bill took another step forward Tuesday by passing in the U.S. Senate. The bill would end some tax credits one Kansas …

The Great American Rail-Trail utilizes more than 150 existing trails but has more than 80 gaps. Montana's section is 25.3% complete. (Adobe Stock)
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The U.S. Department of Transportation has frozen millions in grant dollars awarded by the Biden administration, leaving those counting on them in …

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Arkansas farmers sell almost $14 billion in goods annually. (Pawel/Adobe Stock)
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More than 37,000 farmers in Arkansas could be affected by the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" before Congress, according to a sustainable farming …

The University of Minnesota and The Land Institute are among those leading research into developing   an earth-friendly grain which can be used for beer. (Adobe Stock)
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CLARIFICATION: In the initial release of this story, the photo caption included a typo that resulted in an unintentional racial slur. In discussions …

The U.S. agriculture sector includes farms and related industries. Together, they account for 5.5% of the country's gross domestic product and provide 10.4% of all U.S. jobs. (Anastasia Knyazeva/Adobe Stock)
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With more than 95,000 farms, Missouri ranks among the top farming states in the nation. Now, a national agriculture group is warning that bills …

A 2022 Colorado law bans the use of PFAS, or forever chemicals, but a new report has raised concerns about their continued use at oil and gas wells. (Adobe Stock)
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In 2022, Colorado passed a law requiring oil and gas operators to let the public know what chemicals were being used underground. Chemicals are …

The Pesticide Action Network said after acquiring Monsanto in 2018, the company Bayer has faced nearly 100,000 lawsuits and was eventually ordered to pay up to $10.9 billion to settle claims alleging its product Roundup, widely used in farm fields, caused cancer. (Adobe Stock)
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North Dakota lawmakers have opted to side with farm chemical manufacturers facing legal challenges about the safety of their products. The state has …

The Paint Care program is funded by a small fee paid at the point of purchase, which then provides consumers an easy way to recycle their unused paint. (CLShebley/Adobe Stock)
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On Earth Day, one easy way to help the environment is to make sure your leftover paint is put to good use. The PaintCare program allows you to …

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The Klamath River was once home to the third largest salmon run on the West Coast. (Piotr Wawrzyniuk/Adobe Stock)
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Wild Chinook salmon have returned to the Upper Klamath River less than two months after the largest dam-removal project in U.S. history to remove …

Salmon species in the Northwest have been struggling because of increasing temperatures. (Cavan/Adobe Stock)
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Struggling salmon and other fish species could benefit from an updated Northwest Forest Plan. The U.S. Forest Service is set to release a draft …

Critics of PacifiCorp say the company broke a 2004 promise to retrofit its hydroelectric dams to include fish passages. (Kevin/Adobe Stock)
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Coming into the new year, Columbia Riverkeeper is supporting efforts by the Cowlitz Tribe and Yakama Nation to restore salmon migration throughout …

 

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