Environment

Drinking water samples from homes in southwestern Puerto Rico are tested at Interamerican University of Puerto Rico in San German.

Puerto Rico's Tap Water Often Goes Untested, Raising Fears About Lead Contamination

8:19pm September 20, 2018

by Rebecca Hersher

People in Puerto Rico don't trust the water supply, and with good reason. Local systems aren't adequately tested for contaminants, including lead.

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A North Carolina resident sits on his staircase earlier this week, staring into the water that surrounded his home after Florence hit Emerald Isle, N.C.

Footing The Bill For Climate Change: 'By The End Of The Day, Someone Has To Pay'

2:06pm September 20, 2018

by Colin Dwyer

As the risks of disasters grow, the insurance industry is adapting with them — and consumer advocates and others fear that the brunt of the bills will increasingly hit low-income homeowners.

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Forty percent of Segassia Vineyard's vines were damaged after wildfires raged through Napa Valley in 2017.

Father-Son Duo Turns Ruined Grapes Into Tasty Aid For Napa Fire Victims

8:02am September 20, 2018

by Kelsey Ogletree

The Cates family has been turning excess wine grapes into raisins as a way to reduce food waste. Since last year's devastating fires in California's wine-growing region, they've expanded.

Assessing The Contamination Brought By Flooding

5:28am September 20, 2018

Aerial views of parts of North Carolina show whole buildings, including industrial livestock farms, inundated. Steve Inskeep talks with Kemp Burdette of Cape Fear River Watch.

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Flood Damage In The Carolinas Will Be Widespread, But Insurance Coverage Isn't

6:05pm September 19, 2018

Flood damage from Hurricane Florence will be extensive, but in North Carolina many don't have flood insurance. North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey discusses the situation.

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Protesters disrupt construction of the Bayou Bridge Pipeline in early September. Trespassing near pipelines is now a felony offense in Louisiana, punishable by up to five years in prison.

Tougher Laws On Pipeline Protests Face Test In Louisiana

3:07pm September 19, 2018

by Travis Lux

A number of states are making it harder to protest the construction of oil and gas pipelines. Recent felony arrests in Louisiana could be a test case for these tougher new laws.

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Kenny Babb walks down a staircase on his flooded property as the Little River continues to rise in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. Coastal residents may have to accept floods as part of life.

Experts Warn Some Coastal Residents Should Consider Rebuilding Inland

2:59pm September 19, 2018

by Debbie Elliott

The Carolinas' recovery from Hurricane Florence is already raising difficult questions about repeated flooding.

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Whales And Navy Sonar

7:19am September 19, 2018

by Steve Walsh

The Navy is rolling out its latest plan to manage wildlife in training waters. After years of legal battles, some environmentalists worry the Navy is backsliding in its latest plan.

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Why The Way Hurricanes Are Classified Can Be Deceptive

7:14pm September 18, 2018

Meteorologists have been using a nearly 50-year-old scale to measure the wind speed and storm surge of a hurricane. But it's not a good measure for rain, which can often become the most dangerous aspect of a storm.

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Protests Continue In Port City In Iraq Over Lack Of Drinking Water And Corruption

4:37pm September 18, 2018

by Jane Arraf

Iraq's port city of Basra is a hub of oil wealth but is poor and angry. Protests have continued for weeks over a lack of drinking water and an excess of political corruption — with some blaming Iran.

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