Environment
Wisconsin’s coal-burning plants pump out more greenhouse gas
Thomas Content and Lee Bergquist of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report on how Wisconsin is responsible for disproportionate contributions to global warming. By examining public records, they found that coal-burning power plants generate greenhouse gases about one-third faster than the national average. Wisconsin is one of twelve states that relies on coal for the majority…
Read MoreThe Big Squeeze
An investigation by The Press-Enterprise (Riverside, Calif.) shows that the habitat of endangered species is being developed despite a plan to protect such lands. “Some of the best places for western Riverside County’s rarest animals and plants face destruction by developers despite a costly, sweeping plan to protect such habitat…In case after case, county and…
Read MoreBack in Black
In a three-day series, Spencer Hunt of The Columbus Dispatch reports on the environmental issues arising out of a resurgence in coal mining in the state of Ohio. He found that “state laws and programs designed to safeguard the land and water are riddled with problems.“
Read More“Blighted Homeland”
In a 4-part series, the Los Angeles Times looks at the lingering results of uranium mining on a Navajo reservation where almost 4 million tons of uranium was mined for over 4 decades. “Navajos inhaled radioactive dust, drank contaminated water and built homes using rock from the mines and mills. Many of the dangers persist…
Read MoreSuburban growth taxes water supply
In a series for the The Daily Herald (Elgin, IL), Patrick Garmoe reports on the threat of water shortages in the several Chicago counties in the coming years due to suburban growth placing stresses on natural resources. “McHenry County’s Groundwater Resources Management Plan predicts the county’s population growth, and corresponding surge in water demand, will…
Read MoreCounty dumps toxic materials, fails to clean up
Asjylyn Loder of the St. Petersburg Times used local and state documents to show that Hernando County’s public works facility served as a toxic dumping ground for years, and “instead of cleaning up the site, the county continued polluting. Instead of cracking down on the county’s ineffective cleanup, the state allowed delay after delay.” Despite…
Read MoreMaui’s sand could be gone in five years
Ilima Loomis of The Maui News reports that Maui’s sand is expected to run out. “The vast system of inland sand dunes that stretches across Wailuku has largely been covered by development, and what’s left is being mined — about 318,000 tons of the stuff dug out and used each year, 70 percent of it…
Read MoreCity’s weekly dam reports fabricated
Greg Bruno and Jessica Gardner of The Times Herald-Record reviewed documents to show that inspection reports designed to prevent catastrophic failings at two New York City-owned dams in the Catskills were repeatedly fabricated, even as water officials publicly proclaimed the structures’ safety. “Since September 2002, about 70 percent of the city’s weekly inspections for the…
Read MoreTrains carry dangerous cargo through neighborhoods
Phil Pitchford, Ben Goad, David Danelski, Mark Kawar and projects editor Cathy Armstrong of The (Riverside, Calif.) Press-Enterprise examine the safety issues surrounding trains carrying hazardous cargo as they travel through populated areas. “Every day, trains hauling tons of hazardous chemicals roll past Inland homes, schools, hospitals and businesses.” The newspaper says residents are “largely…
Read More‘Guest workers’ suffer from exploitation, neglect
A nine-month investigation by Tom Knudson and Hector Amezcua of The Sacramento Bee “has found pineros [Latino forest workers in the United States] are victims of employer exploitation, government neglect and a contracting system that insulates landowners — including the U.S. government — from responsibility.” The report, “based on more than 150 interviews across Mexico,…
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