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Sunday, May 4, 2025

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Trump signs order seeking to end federal funding for NPR and PBS; NY immigrant wrongfully sent to El Salvador 'supermax' prison; PA 'Day of Action' planned for higher minimum wage, immigrants' rights; New bill in Congress seeks to overturn CA animal welfare law.

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National Security Advisor Mike Waltz is leaving that job to become UN ambassador, bipartisan Arizona poll finds Latino voters dissatisfied by Trump's first 100 days, and Florida mass deportations frighten community members.

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Rural students who face hurdles going to college are getting noticed, Native Alaskans may want to live off the land but obstacles like climate change loom large, and the Cherokee language is being preserved by kids in North Carolina.

Marian University's David Benson spotting birds at the Nina Mason Pulliam EcoLab. Enrique Saenz/Mirror Indy
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Friday, May 2, 2025
By Enrique Saenz for Mirror Indy. Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Mirror Indy-Free Press Indiana-Public …

The osprey is found year-round in Florida, both as a nesting species and as a spring and fall migrant passing between more northern areas and Central and South America. (Pixabay)
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Teams of researchers and volunteers will fan out at dawn Friday with their smartphones and binoculars on the Florida Gulf Coast University campus for …

The Texas horned lizard currently is listed as a threatened species in Texas. It can be found from the south-central United States to northern Mexico, throughout much of Texas, Kansas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. (David McGowen/Adobe Stock)
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Wildlife conservationists are working with landowners and concerned Texans to recover at-risk species. Currently, more than 1,100 animals from …

Environmental experts say you shouldn't stress out about the carbon footprint from grilling because it is meant to be an enjoyable experience. Still, they urge trying "eco-friendly" ways of grilling, including the cleaning products you use. (Adobe Stock)
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Friday, May 2, 2025
That unmistakable smell of hamburgers or steak on outdoor grills will soon be making its way through Maryland neighborhoods. With weather warming up…

Environmental experts said you should not stress out about the carbon footprint from grilling, because it is meant to be an enjoyable experience. Still, they urged trying eco-friendly ways of grilling, including the cleaning products they use. (Adobe Stock)
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Thursday, May 1, 2025
The unmistakable smell of hamburgers or steak on outdoor grills will soon be making its way through Minnesota neighborhoods and with the weather warmi…

Ohio has seen a 14% year-over-year increase in residential solar installations, with rural counties among the fastest-growing adopters, according to UNPREDICTABLEcity's 2024 report. (Adobe Stock)
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A pair of new reports shows Ohio communities are quietly leading the way on clean energy, from urban centers to small towns, with solar power playing …

Mexican Agriculture Minister Julio Berdegue said 90% of the tomatoes exported by Mexico go to the United States. (Pixabay)
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Thursday, May 1, 2025
The Florida tomato industry is stepping into uncharted territory following the termination of a decades old trade agreement with Mexico, marking what …

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has taken steps to boost local meat-processing capacity, but policy experts said there are still plenty of gaps around the country. (Adobe Stock)
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Thursday, May 1, 2025
When consumers buy a meat product, they might like the idea it came from a local farm or ranch. But experts say there are still logjams in regional …

Lawmakers are considering several bills that would impact small farmers, including bills that would require country-of-origin labels and allow the sale of raw milk at farmers markets. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)
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Members of a Texas House committee this week will consider a bill that would limit the number of permits farmers must have to participate at farmers m…

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A key factor for producers is whether the Trump administration's Department of Agriculture will provide financial relief to farmers as the Department did during President Donald Trump's first term. (Branex/Adobe Stock)
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Thursday, May 1, 2025
By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Tennessee News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabora…

Ohio's tomato growers harvest more than 300,000 tons annually. It is a crop heavily dependent on preserved genetic traits for disease resistance and shelf life. (Adobe Stock)
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A little-known federal program has quietly safeguarded the crops feeding the nation, including key Ohio staples like soybeans, tomatoes, corn and …

Global food security depends on work done by the National Plant Germplasm System. Its scientists and funding are on the DOGE chopping block. (s1llu/Adobe Stock/AI enhanced)
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Working without fanfare, federal scientists at 22 U.S. sites maintain the nation's agricultural plant species collected since 1898. But the Trump …

Experts say the Food Security and Farm Protection Act could potentially threaten over 1,000 public health, food safety and welfare laws across the country. (Dusan Petkovic/Adobe Stock)
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By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabor…

Since bird flu outbreaks began in 2022, more than 456,000 birds in Tennessee have been affected, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Abdullah/Adobe Stock)
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Rising egg prices have some wondering if raising backyard chickens could save money, but experts warn that this may not be a money-saving option…

In 2024, the National Chicken Council estimated per capita consumption of chicken in the U.S. was 104 pounds. (Adobe Stock)
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By Grace Hussain for Sentient.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Indiana News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration Eg…

The average driver in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District travels 9,300 miles and spends $1,398 on 430 gallons of gasoline annually, according to a report by Coltura. (Adobe Stock)
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Congress could vote today on a measure to eliminate Nebraska's ability to set its own auto emission standards, which are among the most stringent in …

New clean energy manufacturing plants, including for EV batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines, are being built across states like Michigan, Georgia, and Ohio. (Steve/Adobe Stock)
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By Alyssa Burr for the Michigan Independent.Broadcast version by Chrystal Blair for Michigan News Connection reporting for the Michigan Independent-Pu…

Under the Congressional Review Act, Congress has 60 legislative days to disapprove of new regulations. If no disapproval occurs, regulations remain in effect. (Herr Loeffler/Adobe Stock)
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A Michigan clean fuels expert is weighing in as three Congressional resolutions introduced last week take aim at Environmental Protection Agency waive…

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Under a new "emergency permitting procedure" from the U.S. Department of the Interior, required environmental assessments for potential energy projects as per the National Environmental Policy Act will take about 14 days, down from about a year. (Adobe Stock)
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The Trump administration has announced what it terms "emergency permitting" for energy projects, streamlining a sometimes yearslong process down to 28…

NASA describes natural gas, or methane, as a powerful greenhouse gas releaseing carbon dioxide during combustion. (Adobe stock)
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Indiana now classifies natural gas and propane as clean energy under a new state law. Gov. Mike Braun signed Senate Bill 178, granting the fuels …

The Government Accountability Office report found the waivers for the emissions standards don't count as a regulatory rule that falls under congressional authority. (Adobe Stock)
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Lawmakers in the U.S. House will vote on a bill this week affecting Virginia's ability to create stronger emissions standards for vehicles and trucks…

Elise Ketcham, communications director for the Arizona Wildlife Federation, said Arizona's ephemeral and intermittent streams are also crucial in diverting water for flood control. (Adobe Stock)
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Arizona has a unique relationship with water and a proposed rule by the Environmental Protection Agency could further complicate it. It was only two …

Among those surved, 70% of Nevadans believe inadequate water supply is a serious problem, according to Colorado College's State of the Rockies Conservation in the West Poll. (Kit Leong / Adobe Stock)
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Both water quantity and quality are important in the dry climate of Nevada. Now, a proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency could roll back …

"Our goal is to protect America's water resources consistent with the law of the land while empowering American farmers, landowners, entrepreneurs and families to help power the Great American Comeback," said Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lee Zeldin. (Adobe Stock)
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Water is scarce in Utah's dry climate, and a proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency could threaten the state's water resources. EPA …

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 …

Paraquat is a dangerous pesticide, currently banned in more than 70 countries but <br />still approved for use in the United States. (Marritch/Adobe Stock)
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One organization is taking the Trump administration's promises to "Make America Healthy Again" seriously. The Center for Biological Diversity is …

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About 500,000 children in the U.S. are exposed to lead, disproportionately on poor and Black and brown families. (Adobe Stock)
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As the city of Milwaukee continues to grapple with addressing unsafe levels of lead across public schools, experts are calling it an environmental …

Online datasets already archived include FEMA's Future Risk Index and the U.S. Department of Energy's Local Investments Map. (Adobe Stock)
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As U.S. government website purging continues, the Open Environmental Data Project is one of several groups working to preserve public access to …

Thousands of datasets on a variety of issues have been taken off government websites. (Adobe Stock)
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Since President Donald Trump took office, thousands of public government datasets have been removed from federal websites. Often, the data involves …

Conservation voices said when European settlers first arrived in South Dakota, 96% of the state was grassland but today only around 50% of the original native grasslands remain. (Adobe Stock)
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April is National Native Plant Month, an observance at the core of South Dakota's identity. People wanting to protect the state's beloved grasslands …

America's 63 national parks and 433 National Park Service-managed sites such as New Mexico's White Sands have been ordered to remain open, despite significant worker cuts. (nps.gov)
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New Mexico's national parks generally operate year-round - but they might not operate at 100% efficiency this year due to employee firings, layoffs …

More than 1,300 mine claims across the country are within the boundaries of units managed by the U.S. National Park Service, according to the National Park Conservation Association. (LM Swanson/Adobe Stock)
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The number of mining claims on U.S. public lands is growing. A 27% increase since 2019 has brought the total to nearly $500,000. A new study shows …

Between 65 and 92 million tons of textile waste ends up in landfills each year, according to the Environmental Research and Education Foundation. (Adobe Stock)
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Designers and stylists will showcase their "upcycled" garments as models hit the runway for what is being dubbed a "trashion show" at the Waste EXPO i…

Researchers in industries from food production to textiles to technology are using microbes to make products like bioplastics, biofuel, metals and animal feed. (Adobe Stock)
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By Carolyn Beans for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Wisconsin News Connection reportin…

The population of Kane County, Illinois, is about 500,000. Reducing rotting food in landfills will help the county achieve its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25% below 2019 levels by 2030. (Adobe Stock)
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Kane County officials plan to launch four composting programs at large-scale facilities to reduce food waste, as part of meeting the county's climate …

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The Empire Builder currently provides rail passenger service through Montana's Hi-Line, paralleling U.S. Highway 2 through the northern part of the state. The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority hopes to expand service through eastern and southern Montana. (Adobe Stock)
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Communities in southern and eastern Montana were connected to passenger rail lines running from Chicago to Seattle until 1979. An effort to fund the …

Federal data show in 2023, an estimated 3,275 people were killed nationwide in distracted driving-related crashes. (Adobe Stock)
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Law enforcement agencies are still trying to get the message through about the dangers and costs that stem from distracted driving. A Minnesota …

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers latest Report Card, 5.4% of the 12,974 bridges in Arkansas were structurally deficient in 2024. (Retrophoto/Adobe Stock)
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The latest infrastructure Report Card from the American Society of Civil Engineers said Arkansas lags behind the rest of the nation when it comes to t…

Commercial fishing has become a $229 billion industry, with between 1.1 trillion and 2.2 trillion fish caught every year. (Wakr10/Adobe Stock)
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By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabor…

There are currently 23 oil and gas facilities in federal waters off the coast of California, including one near Santa Barbara. (Oceana)
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A coalition of environmental groups is suing the Trump administration to reinstate protections against new offshore drilling. President Donald Trump …

Farmed seafood products make up half of the world's seafood supply, but U.S. production lags, leading to a $16.9 billion seafood deficit in the United States in 2020, according to NOAA. (Adobe Stock) <br />
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The Trump administration aims to increase domestic seafood production through industrial aquaculture but opponents said it puts Maine's coastal commun…

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 …

New nuclear-energy technology has been proposed but not yet built in the United States. (Ezume Images/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 said it …

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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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