People & Population

FEMA Will Resume Staff Reductions That Were Paused During Storm: Managers

"The Federal Emergency Management Agency will resume staff cuts that were briefly paused during January’s severe winter storm, according to two FEMA managers, stoking concern across the agency over its ability to address disasters with fewer workers."

Source: AP, 02/10/2026

"EPA To Delay Enforcement Of Life-Saving Air Pollution Rule"

"EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin could delay enforcement of an air pollution standard projected to save thousands of lives while the agency awaits a pivotal court ruling, a spokesperson indicated Monday." "The agency missed a Saturday deadline to determine which parts of the country are flunking the tightened 2024 rule for soot exposure."

Source: E&E News, 02/10/2026

Torrance Residents Urge Ban Of ‘Flesh-Eating’ Chemical Used At Refinery

"Residents and advocates gathered Saturday to demand the ban of a chemical that’s used at a Torrance oil refinery and that they say has the potential to cause a mass casualty disaster."

Source: LA Times, 02/09/2026

Poison at Play: Unsafe Lead Levels Found In Half Of New Orleans Playgrounds

"Verite News tested lead levels at more than 80 parks. Even trace amounts of the toxic metal can cause learning problems and behavioral issues in children."

Source: Verite News, 02/09/2026

"Colorado River Negotiators Are Nearly Out of Time and Snowpack"

"Amid one of the driest winters on record, representatives from seven Western states have less than two weeks to meet an already-delayed federal deadline to find a new way to share the dwindling Colorado River—one that recognizes the megadrought and overconsumption plaguing the basin."

Source: Inside Climate News, 02/05/2026

Mexico’s Push For US Natural Gas Sparks Community Opposition

"The sun has set and the clouds are washed in purple as Mauricio Contreras and his daughter Eunices head out to fish in the Gulf of Mexico. Eunices casts the heavy net for snapper, pollock or cabrilla while her father pilots their small boat."

Source: AP, 02/05/2026

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