National (U.S.)

The nuclear industry may get a shot in the arm -- as the Energy Department is set to announce $18.5 billion in new loan guarantees.

After a perceived shortage of gasoline refineries a few years ago, five U.S. refineries have shut down this year. Refiners seem convinced that -- even after the economy recovers -- demand will not grow much.

Some golf courses get a bad rap from environmentalists, but there's a budding green movement in the golf industry.

"Communities in cold climates around the USA are changing their approach to snow and ice removal from highways in an effort to reduce potential harm to wildlife and vegetation caused by road salt runoff."

"A report has found that farmers are using more herbicides on genetically engineered soybeans, corn, and cotton because of resistant weeds."

"Federal regulators under President Barack Obama have sharply shifted course on long-standing policy toward pharmaceutical residues in the nation's drinking water, taking a critical first step toward regulating some of the contaminants while acknowledging they could threaten human health."

"Reversing a decade-old decision, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday that it plans to require pesticide manufacturers to disclose to the public the inert ingredients in their products."

"A federal jury on Friday awarded more than $100 million to 10 workers who claimed they were injured in 2007 when a toxic substance was released at BP’s Texas City plant."