Public

Plastic Industry Tackles Seattle Bag Fee

"SEATTLE - Leaders of this famously green city last year passed the nation's first grocery-bag fee, and other cities around the nation quickly followed. But the plastics industry has been fighting back, bringing lawsuits, aggressively lobbying lawmakers, and bankrolling a referendum in Seattle that aims to overturn the 20-cent charge. The measure goes before voters Tuesday."

Environmental Politics

Public

Northwest (OR WA)

Source: AP, 08/17/2009

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"Firefighters Gain on California Wildfires"

Firefighters have largely contained many of the major fires that forced thousands of residents in various parts of California to flee their homes. Some are already returning.

Disasters

Public

California

Source: LA Times, 08/17/2009

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"New Coal Ads Emphasize Energy Costs in Bid for 'Hearts and Minds'"

"Coal's well-funded lobbying group today launched a television ad campaign featuring ordinary people talking about the importance of low-cost electricity, a message analysts described as coal's effort to rebrand itself before the Senate tackles climate legislation."

Environmental Politics

Public

National (U.S.)

Source: Greenwire, 08/17/2009

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"A Gritty Problem: New Bedford Built Schools, Homes on Old Dump"

The redevelopment of a New Bedford waste dump raises toxic threats to homes, schools, and churches.

Waste

Public

Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT)

Source: Boston Globe, 08/17/2009

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"Gloomy Negotiators End Bonn Climate Talks"

"The latest round of preparatory talks for the U.N. climate conference concluded today with negotiators lamenting that the languid pace of talks could mean there won't be a deal on emissions in Copenhagen this December."

Climate Change

Public

International

Source: Greenwire, 08/17/2009

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"A Drifting Danger for Central Valley Schoolchildren"

"Despite regulations and laws to protect children, Fresno County authorities say school buses are still being exposed to pesticide clouds once or twice a year."

Chemicals

Public

California

Source: LA Times, 08/17/2009

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"'The Clunkers of the Power-Plant World'"

An aging fleet of coal-fired power plants continue to pollute many urban areas. They were exempted from pollution-control requirements of the 1977 Clean Air Act. Companies rebuild them over and over to avoid installing pollution-control equipment. "The clunkers of the power-plant world" may once again escape new rules and modern technology.

Air

Public

National (U.S.)

Source: WashPost, 08/17/2009

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Toolbox: Hurricanes and Tropical Storms

Hurricanes and tropical storms are often major news stories. Are you prepared to cover them? Are your readers, listeners, and viewers courting disaster? Updated August 25, 2017.

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