SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN)

(AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN)

Florida Defamation Bills Could Signal Threat to First Amendment

For journalists of all stripes, the central pillar of libel law protecting them from damaging defamation suits is Times v. Sullivan. And while at least a couple of Supreme Court justices have indicated an openness to reevaluating the decades-old decision, WatchDog Opinion warns that the real risk to defamation protections may come in the form of legislation, such as from states like Florida.

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Bill Aiming To Preserve Kentucky’s Coal Power Plants Becomes Law

"A bill that would make it harder for Kentucky’s utility regulator to allow utilities to retire coal plants on the state’s electricity grid became law Friday without Gov. Andy Beshear’s signature."

Source: States Newsroom, 03/28/2023

Bring Home Cyber Risks to Water Supply, in Wake of EPA Tightening

With the federal government now requiring that states pay closer attention to cybersecurity risks in their regular audits of public drinking water systems, environmental journalists should be doing the same, suggests the latest TipSheet. Here’s how to gauge the cyber risk and to understand the current safe drinking water regulatory regime, plus story ideas and resources to bolster your local reporting.

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"Tornado Tears Across Mississippi, More Than Two Dozen Dead"

"Rescuers combed through rubble on Saturday after a powerful storm tore across Mississippi late on Friday, killing at least 25 people there and one person in Alabama as it leveled hundreds of buildings and spawned at least one devastating tornado."

Source: Reuters, 03/27/2023

"Scientists Say Mine Plan Claiming No Swamp Harm Has Errors"

"Scientists for the federal government say documents that Georgia state regulators relied upon to conclude a proposed mine won’t harm the nearby Okefenokee Swamp and its vast wildlife refuge contain technical errors and “critical shortcomings” that render them unreliable."

Source: AP, 03/24/2023

"Residents Sue St. James Parish To Halt Chemical Plants"

"St. James Parish community groups are calling for a ban on new petrochemical plants to halt what they say is a history of racist land use decisions that have concentrated polluting industries in Black neighborhoods, according to a federal lawsuit."

Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune, 03/22/2023

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