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U.S. gender wage gap grows for first time in a decade; Trump has embraced NC's Mark Robinson, calling him 'Martin Luther King on steroids'; Volunteers sought as early voting kicks off in MN; Women's political contributions in congressional races fall short of men's.

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Rising threats of political violence, a Federal Reserve rate cut, crypto industry campaign contributions and reproductive rights are shaping today's political landscape.

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A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Stricter Smog Prevention Could Improve Health for 700,000+ in MA

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Monday, February 2, 2015   

BOSTON - People in the Bay State have a chance to sound off about federal efforts to reduce ground-level ozone, commonly known as smog. The Environmental Protection Agency says it's a dangerous air pollutant and is proposing updated smog prevention standards.

Ed Miller, senior vice president, public policy with the American Lung Association of the Northeast, says it's an opportunity for folks in the Bay State to clean up the air. He says six of the state's 14 counties got failing grades for the number of high-ozone days in the 2014 "State of the Air" report.

"There are things Massachusetts has been doing to to reduce ozone withing the state," Miller says. "But without a strong national standard, Massachusetts is powerless to fight those sources of ozone that come from out of state and that's why the Clean Air Act was developed."

Miller says the new standards would help more than a half-million adults and 144,000 children in Massachusetts who suffer from asthma. Industry leaders say the current ozone standard is working, and that making it tougher raises their costs.

The last public hearing on the issue is today in California, but the EPA is accepting written comments until March 17.

The current ozone standard is 75 parts per billion. The new proposal is 65 to 70 parts per billion. Doctor Georges Benjamin, executive director with the American Public Health Association, says he doesn't think the EPA is going far enough.

"Costs are considered as part of the process, and there is a balance that you always have to do," says Benjamin. "But we can achieve these numbers for sure and those of us who think it needs to go down to 60 believe we can do that in a responsible manner, without excessive costs."

Benjamin notes ozone is an air pollutant, a byproduct of emissions from tailpipes and smokestacks. It exacerbates asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and can cause premature death. He calls it a significant problem that can be addressed by reducing the amount of ozone that's produced.


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