Environment

Court Ruling On Popular Weedkiller Dicamba Upends Midwestern Agriculture

6:34am June 09, 2020

by Dan Charles

A federal court ordered farmers to stop spraying one of the country's most widely used herbicides. But the Environmental Protection Agency says farmers can use chemicals that they've already bought.

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News Brief: George Floyd Funeral, N.Y. Police Bills, State Environmental Records

6:30am June 09, 2020

Houston hosts funeral services today for George Floyd. New York's legislature passes a first wave of bills overhauling police. And, states face requests for environmental leniency during the pandemic.

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A woman walks her dog through the French Quarter in New Orleans as Tropical Storm Cristobal reaches the U.S., on Sunday.

Environment

Tropical Storm Cristobal Hits Louisiana, Mississippi Coasts

4:02pm June 07, 2020

by Austin Horn

Storm surge warnings have been issued for the southeast Louisiana coast as well as the Mississippi coast for Sunday, with Mississippi being the hardest hit so far.

After a series of devastating wildfires, like the 2019 Kincade Fire, California had planned on spending billions to prepare for climate-driven disasters.

California Was Set To Spend Over $1 Billion to Prevent Wildfires. Then Came COVID-19

8:00am June 07, 2020

by Lauren Sommer

Communities were counting on historic levels of funding to prepare for climate change-driven disasters. Now, efforts are on hold.

So far, fewer pigs than feared have had to be euthanized due to the coronavirus shutting down pork plants.

Farmers Find Ways To Save Millions Of Pigs From Being Euthanized

8:58am June 05, 2020

by Dan Charles

When COVID-19 infections forced pork companies to close processing plants, some farmers predicted that it would force them to euthanize millions of hogs. The actual number has been much lower.

President Trump proposes changes to the National Environmental Policy Act in January. His latest executive order allows agencies to waive requirements of the bedrock law to speed up infrastructure projects.

Trump Waives Environmental Reviews, Citing Pandemic Economic Emergency

8:09pm June 04, 2020

by Jeff Brady

A White House executive order aims to expedite infrastructure projects to boost economic recovery. It lets federal agencies waive environmental protections, but critics question its legality.

New Executive Order To Waive Environmental Protections For Federal Agencies

6:02pm June 04, 2020

by Jeff Brady

President Trump is signing an executive order that lets federal agencies waive environmental protections. The move aims to expedite infrastructure projects to help the economy recover.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin, shown here earlier this month, declared a state of emergency on Wednesday in a region of Siberia after more than 20,000 tons of diesel fuel spilled from a power plant storage facility and fouled waterways.

Russian Power Plant Spills Thousands Of Tons Of Oil Into Arctic Region

4:54pm June 04, 2020

by Lucian Kim

More than 20,000 tons spilled in a remote Arctic region, prompting Russian President Vladimir Putin to declare a state of emergency. The company says thawing permafrost may have caused the spill.

After years of protests against the Constitution Pipeline, New York recently denied a key water quality permit for the project. A new EPA rule would make it harder for states to do that.

Trump Administration Limits States' Power To Stop Oil And Gas Pipelines

5:27pm June 01, 2020

by Jeff Brady

In recent years, climate activists and states have used the Clean Water Act to block pipelines and other fossil fuel projects. A new EPA rule makes that harder,

Members of the Florida National Guard are seen at a coronavirus testing site on April 27 in North Miami. Restrictions are easing, but officials worry people might now hesitate to evacuate during a hurricane.

Hurricane Season Collides With Pandemic As Communities Plan For Dual Emergencies

1:21pm June 01, 2020

In Florida, officials fear widespread confusion when stay-at-home policies conflict with evacuation orders, and they worry about the coronavirus spreading in crowded shelters.

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