"The federal government censored, withheld or said it couldn’t find records sought by citizens, journalists and others more often last year than at any point in the past decade, according to an Associated Press analysis of new data."
"President Donald Trump says in his budget that he’s asking for the highest amount ever for certain wildfire prevention programs. His proposal actually contains less money for wildfire prevention efforts than the current federal spending plan."
"The Interior Department has a new press secretary, with the elevation of Faith Vander Voort to the high-speed, high-profile post this week."
"It’s a green big deal for a tiny sliver of a country. Costa Rica, population 5 million, wants to wean itself from fossil fuels by 2050, and the chief evangelist of the idea is a 38-year-old urban planner named Claudia Dobles who also happens to be the first lady."
The vast Colorado River, recently in the news over a troubled drought deal, is at the heart of numerous environmental problems in the American West, where water is scarce and the legal complexities of water rights voluminous. The latest Issue Backgrounder offers an explainer on the story, which involves at least seven states, the federal government, Native American tribes, a hornet’s nest of irrigation districts and even Mexico.
"EPA plans to consolidate its research office, combining several of the agency's science programs into a smaller, more streamlined division."
"If they had known, they never would have bought the house on Bayou Glen Road. Sure, it was a beautiful lot, tucked in a bend of the creek, backyard woodsy and wild, the neighbors friendly and the street quiet."
"Fresh off his Senate confirmation, Andrew Wheeler has brought on a slate of new senior officials at EPA, including a public affairs chief, the agency announced this morning.
Corry Schiermeyer will be EPA's associate administrator for public affairs, starting March 18.
"The federal government has fallen back in its efforts to protect against the financial risks posed by climate change, the Government Accountability Office said in a report released today."
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