11-4: Five quick things for your Saturday

Winter's coming. We all have chores to do. Let's make this simple: Five quick hits to keep you up to date on our environment and health.



Gov't climate report at odds with Trump and his team

Coverage of the federal climate assessment takes Trump to task:

AP's Seth Borenstein:

As President Donald Trump touts new oil pipelines and pledges to revive the nation's struggling coal mines, federal scientists are warning that burning fossil fuels is already driving a steep increase in the United States of heat waves, droughts and floods.

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Three top stories for Saturday

  1. New Jersey sets new PFOA level below Vermont standard. New Jersey last week set its safe drinking water standard for the chemical PFOA at 14 parts per trillion, 30 percent lower than Vermont's standard. (Vermont Public Radio)
  2. Louisville neighborhoods use trees to fend off heart disease. The poets were right all along: Trees are a drug, in ways marvelous and often misunderstood. We underestimate at our peril the powers of a walk in the woods. (USA Today) (thanks to Univ. of Louisville's Alex Carll for pointing us to that story)
  3. Will the bird that dodged a bullet pay the price of peace? "Armed conflict is good for preventing deforestation." (Mike Shanahan, Under the Banyan)

One must-read opinion

As ice shelves crumble and the Twitter president threatens to pull out of the Paris accord, author Jonathan Franzen reflects on the role of the writer in time of crisis (The Guardian)

One beautiful thing

Those are my kids (and dog), at 6:30 a.m. on a Saturday. Eleven inches of snow fell overnight in Bozeman, Montana.

It's ski swap weekend here, and people are already to find a sweet deal on winter gear. I told my kids we weren't moving the car until the driveway was clear.

Amazing how much energy a motivated kid has.

Today's gift in Bozeman is reminder for us all: Get outside and enjoy the weather. It's beautiful out there.

Hurricane satellite view
Credit: Getty Images For Unsplash+

The dangerous combination that made Melissa a monster hurricane

Hurricane Melissa’s power was undeniable, intensifying faster than most storms on record.
red and black heavy equipment on green grass field under white clouds during daytime
Credit: Jeff W/Unsplash

Oklahoma oil regulators failed to stop spread of toxic wastewater

Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, is spewing from old wells. Experts warn of a pollution crisis spreading underground and threatening Oklahoma’s drinking water.
An older woman with a bottle of water being taken care of by two other people during a heat wave

‘Unsustainable, unhealthy and ultimately unliveable’: Report reveals deadly cost of climate inaction

A new Lancet study finds that government delays in tackling climate change are worsening health crises worldwide, with surging heat-related deaths, air pollution fatalities, and food insecurity threatening millions.

Two construction workers on a hot roof
Credit: JSB Co.For Unsplash+

Growing threat to heat-exposed workers: chronic kidney disease

Some experts believe CKD is the first chronic illness directly linked to climate change.
A warehouse or data center sited in the middle of green fields.
Credit: Getty Images/Unsplash+

AI is pushing climate goals out of reach, new reports say

Without a big increase in investment in renewable energy globally, humanity will not limit global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius, but much of the data center boom is powered by fossil fuels.
Pipeline running through mountainous region
Credit: Photo by GWANGJIN GO on Unsplash

Can the US and Canada revive Keystone XL?

An earlier push to build the pipeline ended during the Biden administration. Both countries could try again if they settle their trade war.
Electric vehicle plugged into charging station
Photo by Haberdoedas on Unsplash

Making EVs takes big energy, but after 2 years, they’re cleaner than gas-fueled cars, study finds

Producing and manufacturing electric vehicles and their batteries uses a lot of energy, leading many to be skeptical about the environmental benefits of going electric.
From our Newsroom
Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

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