New Orleans Prepares For Mississippi River Flooding
The Mississippi River is expected to crest Sunday. Officials in low-lying New Orleans don't expect this time to be as bad as last month, but they're not taking any chances.
Environment
Forecast For Vikings-Seahawks Game Reminds Former Player Of 'Freezer Bowl'
The weather for Sunday's Vikings vs. Seahawks football game looks like it will be ridiculously cold. NPR's Kelly McEvers talks to Dave Lapham, a former player for the Cincinnati Bengals and currently the color analyst for the Bengals radio broadcast, about how to survive the frigid conditions.
U.S. Weather Wet And Wild In 2015, Though No Big Hurricanes
The U.S. had 10 weather events in 2015 that cost $1 billion or more in damage, with December the warmest and wettest month on record. Climate scientists blame a warming climate and strong El Nino.
Is Obama's Hope For Better Fuel Economy Sputtering Out?
For a while, the president's plan for increasing vehicles' fuel efficiency worked; he said it would save money and reduce carbon pollution. Then came cheap gas, and the improvements have stalled.
These Photos Inspired The Creation Of That Occupied Oregon Refuge
A century before militants seized Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, two photographers visited Malheur Lake. Their hand-colored images persuaded Theodore Roosevelt to protect the area's wildlife.
California Declares State Of Emergency Over Months-Long Gas Leak
Since October, a natural gas storage well near Los Angeles has been spewing hundreds of tons of methane gas each day. The leak isn't expected to be fixed for months.
How Much Do Your Text Messages Contribute To Global Warming?
An NPR reader wrote to All Tech Considered, asking for help quantifying how texting may contribute to global warming. We consult Mike Berners-Lee, who studied "the carbon footprint of everything."
Southern California Moves To Protect Homeless As El Niño Rain Hits Region
Rain, and lots of it, is falling in parts of California as the first of several El Niño storms makes its way across the state. In the Los Angeles area, county officials have spent extra to offer more shelter options for its large homeless population.
As Technology Marches On, Reservoir Caretakers Stay At Their Posts
When it comes to dam safety, human eyes are still one of the best tools to recognize problems — so in some areas, workers live in remote locations to watch over the water supply.
Critics Say State's New Coal Ash Classifications Don't Go Far Enough
The state recently issued a new classification system for coal ash ponds.