http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php Public News Service The Public News Service provides reporting on a wide range of social, community, and environmental issues for mainstream and alternative media. Public News Service info@publicnewsservice.org no Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/32567-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/32567-1 (Read More)]]> Animal Welfare Climate Change/Air Quality Endangered Species & Wildlife Energy Policy Environment Public Lands/Wilderness Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/31773-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/31773-1 analysis called Turning Up The Heat. Michael Bender, director of the Mercury Policy Project, says the programs run by manufacturers have captured only a small portion of the thermostats that have come out of service over the past decade. "We estimate that nationally that only about 8 percent of the available mercury thermostats are being collected,” he says, “and as a result of that about 50 tons of mercury got into the environment that could've been collected." Mercury and most its compounds are extremely toxic, and exposure can lead to a variety of physical, cognitive, and behavioral problems. "...(Read More)]]> Water Toxics Health Issues Environment Endangered Species & Wildlife Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/31707-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/31707-1 a new study says the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster is far from over. Oil still is washing ashore, said Doug Inkley, a senior scientist for the National Wildlife Federation and lead author of the report. Inkley said the impact continues to be felt by wildlife, including sea turtles and - of particular concern - dolphins. ...(Read More)]]> Criminal Justice Endangered Species & Wildlife Environment Environmental Justice Oceans Public Lands/Wilderness Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/31504-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/31504-1 (Read More)]]> Endangered Species & Wildlife Environment Hunger/Food/Nutrition Rural/Farming Sustainable Agriculture Toxics Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/30996-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/30996-1 (Read More)]]> Animal Welfare Endangered Species & Wildlife Environment Environmental Justice Oceans Public Lands/Wilderness Toxics Water Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/30899-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/30899-1 Outdoor Industry Association has totaled up the financial impact from hiking, fishing, hunting and the like. Spokeswoman Avery Stonich said outdoor recreation is a major player in the state economy. ...(Read More)]]> Budget Policy & Priorities Consumer Issues Endangered Species & Wildlife Energy Policy Environment Oceans Water Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/29112-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/29112-1 (Read More)]]> Cultural Resources Endangered Species & Wildlife Energy Policy Environment Oceans Tue, 23 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/28992-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/28992-1 rules are approved. Conservationists are concerned that some species being considered for bio-fuel status by the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) will cause more problems than they solve. Arundo donax - the "giant reed" - once welcomed in Texas as an ornamental windbreak, is now spurned as an invasive "hazard," says National Wildlife Federation legislative representative for agriculture policy Aviva Glaser. ...(Read More)]]> Budget Policy & Priorities Endangered Species & Wildlife Energy Policy Environment Rural/Farming Water Thu, 04 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/28722-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/28722-1 (Read More)]]> Climate Change/Air Quality Cultural Resources Endangered Species & Wildlife Energy Policy Environment Oceans Water Tue, 04 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/28212-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/28212-1 report from the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). Federation senior scientist Doug Inkley says the heat waves are just the tip of the iceberg. "We now have a record low amount of ice in the arctic and a record amount of ice melt in Greenland. "...(Read More)]]> Budget Policy & Priorities Climate Change/Air Quality Community Issues and Volunteering Consumer Issues Cultural Resources Endangered Species & Wildlife Energy Policy Environment Family/Father Issues Health Issues Oceans Public Lands/Wilderness Urban Planning/Transportation Waste Reduction/Recycling Mon, 02 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/27055-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/27055-1 Environmentally Friendly Fireworks, says her volunteer clean-up crew focuses its efforts on beaches, picking up pounds of plastic from pyrotechnics months after Independence Day. ...(Read More)]]> Arts & Culture Children's Issues Community Issues and Volunteering Consumer Issues Cultural Resources Endangered Species & Wildlife Environment Family/Father Issues Oceans Public Lands/Wilderness Rural/Farming Waste Reduction/Recycling Youth Issues Mon, 04 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/26746-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/26746-1 (Read More)]]> Arts & Culture Citizenship/Representative Democracy Climate Change/Air Quality Community Issues and Volunteering Consumer Issues Cultural Resources Endangered Species & Wildlife Energy Policy Environment Environmental Justice Health Issues Rural/Farming Toxics Waste Reduction/Recycling Water Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/26415-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/26415-1 (Read More)]]> Budget Policy & Priorities Climate Change/Air Quality Consumer Issues Cultural Resources Endangered Species & Wildlife Energy Policy Environment Health Issues Public Lands/Wilderness Toxics Urban Planning/Transportation Waste Reduction/Recycling Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/26143-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/26143-1 a new survey, a majority of Republicans, Independents and Democrats agree they'd like Congress to work on an energy policy that supports renewable energy, protects public health and promotes energy independence. The survey was commissioned by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Civil Society Institute and conducted by ORC International, a global market research firm. Kerwin Olson, executive director of the Citizens Action Coalition, says the poll shows the political divide over energy issues is largely a myth. ...(Read More)]]> Water Waste Reduction/Recycling Urban Planning/Transportation Toxics Public Lands/Wilderness Oceans Health Issues Environment Energy Policy Endangered Species & Wildlife Cultural Resources Consumer Issues Climate Change/Air Quality Citizenship/Representative Democracy Budget Policy & Priorities Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/25955-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/25955-1 (Read More)]]> Citizenship/Representative Democracy Community Issues and Volunteering Consumer Issues Cultural Resources Endangered Species & Wildlife Energy Policy Environment Toxics Urban Planning/Transportation Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/25920-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/25920-1 (Read More)]]> Climate Change/Air Quality Community Issues and Volunteering Consumer Issues Cultural Resources Education Endangered Species & Wildlife Energy Policy Environment Oceans Philanthropy Public Lands/Wilderness Urban Planning/Transportation Waste Reduction/Recycling Water Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/25856-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/25856-1 a just-released National Wildlife Federation report. While coastal areas in Texas and other Gulf states may appear relatively normal on the surface, the study finds evidence of lasting, widespread harm to species and ecosystems. David Muth, the federation's coastal Louisiana state director, says even clean-up and oil dispersal efforts have done their share of damage since the Deepwater Horizon blowout. ...(Read More)]]> Budget Policy & Priorities Climate Change/Air Quality Consumer Issues Cultural Resources Endangered Species & Wildlife Energy Policy Environment Health Issues Oceans Public Lands/Wilderness Toxics Urban Planning/Transportation Water Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/25672-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/25672-1 group of Republicans is trying to change that in Congress. It's asking House Speaker John Boehner to quickly advance 19 bills that would designate new wilderness areas, conserve wetlands and fight invasive species in 14 states. The list includes a park along the Bosque River in Waco where the public can view remains of prehistoric mammoths. ...(Read More)]]> Budget Policy & Priorities Climate Change/Air Quality Consumer Issues Cultural Resources Endangered Species & Wildlife Energy Policy Environment Public Lands/Wilderness Water Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/25545-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/25545-1 (Read More)]]> Citizenship/Representative Democracy Climate Change/Air Quality Community Issues and Volunteering Consumer Issues Cultural Resources Endangered Species & Wildlife Energy Policy Environment Environmental Justice Health Issues Public Lands/Wilderness Toxics Urban Planning/Transportation Water Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/25264-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/25264-1 (Read More)]]> Climate Change/Air Quality Consumer Issues Cultural Resources Endangered Species & Wildlife Energy Policy Environment Health Issues Oceans Public Lands/Wilderness Water Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/25149-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/25149-1 (Read More)]]> Citizenship/Representative Democracy Climate Change/Air Quality Community Issues and Volunteering Consumer Issues Cultural Resources Endangered Species & Wildlife Environment Health Issues Oceans Urban Planning/Transportation Waste Reduction/Recycling Water Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/24529-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/24529-1 (Read More)]]> Budget Policy & Priorities Children's Issues Climate Change/Air Quality Cultural Resources Early Childhood Education Education Endangered Species & Wildlife Energy Policy Environment Public Lands/Wilderness Sustainable Agriculture Toxics Waste Reduction/Recycling Water Youth Issues Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/24382-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/24382-1 California Academy of Science who contributed to the report for the Endangered Species Coalition, says the industry is taking a big toll on vulnerable plants and animals. ...(Read More)]]> Climate Change/Air Quality Consumer Issues Cultural Resources Endangered Species & Wildlife Energy Policy Environment Oceans Public Lands/Wilderness Water Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/24222-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/24222-1 Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. More needs to be done regarding the use of antibiotics in agriculture, he says, adding that he's in favor of the ban on certain off-label uses of the class of antibiotics known as Cephalosporins. ...(Read More)]]> Animal Welfare Consumer Issues Cultural Resources Endangered Species & Wildlife Environment Health Issues Hunger/Food/Nutrition Rural/Farming Sustainable Agriculture Toxics Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/23458-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/23458-1 The Nature Conservancy. ...(Read More)]]> Arts & Culture Children's Issues Climate Change/Air Quality Consumer Issues Cultural Resources Endangered Species & Wildlife Energy Policy Environment Health Issues Rural/Farming Sustainable Agriculture Toxics Waste Reduction/Recycling Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/23360-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/23360-1 (Read More)]]> Budget Policy & Priorities Climate Change/Air Quality Consumer Issues Cultural Resources Endangered Species & Wildlife Energy Policy Environment Environmental Justice Health Issues Human Rights/Racial Justice Public Lands/Wilderness Rural/Farming Social Justice Toxics Urban Planning/Transportation Water Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/22726-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/22726-1 online petition demanding an end to burro shootings in Big Bend Ranch State Park. More than 100 burros have been killed there in the past few years. Department officials say it is normal practice to protect native species and scarce water supplies from invaders like feral hogs, water hyacinth and burros. ...(Read More)]]> Animal Welfare Cultural Resources Endangered Species & Wildlife Environment Public Lands/Wilderness Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/22551-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/22551-1 Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has been fielding an unusually high volume of calls and e-mails on the subject. Mark Simmons, director of the center's Ecosystem Design Group, has been conducting research on native grasses for several years. ...(Read More)]]> Consumer Issues Cultural Resources Endangered Species & Wildlife Energy Policy Environment Climate Change/Air Quality Public Lands/Wilderness Water Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/22359-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/22359-1 reported upon by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). "Turtle excluder" devices can keep the turtles from getting tangled up in fishing gear, but the Federation's senior biologist, Dr. Doug Inkley, says many shrimpers use them improperly, or not at all, and that's a violation of the law. ...(Read More)]]> Water Oceans Hunger/Food/Nutrition Climate Change/Air Quality Environmental Justice Environment Energy Policy Endangered Species & Wildlife Cultural Resources Consumer Issues Animal Welfare Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/22115-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/22115-1 a new report from Earthjustice, an environmental advocacy law firm. One scientist who has reviewed the data on the dispersants, and noted the problems their ingredients can cause, is Dave Valentine, a biochemist at the University of Southern California. "Five chemicals were associated with cancer, 33 with skin irritation or linked to eye irritation, 11 chemicals suspected of potential respiratory toxins or irritants, and suspected kidney toxins." The report also says the 57 chemicals used in the dispersants could be toxic to fish and other marine organisms, but because the exact formulas have not been made public, the findings are incomplete. "...(Read More)]]> Cultural Resources Endangered Species & Wildlife Energy Policy Environment Climate Change/Air Quality Health Issues Oceans Public Lands/Wilderness Toxics Water Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/21640-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/21640-1 (Read More)]]> Budget Policy & Priorities Cultural Resources Endangered Species & Wildlife Energy Policy Environment Climate Change/Air Quality Hunger/Food/Nutrition Oceans Sustainable Agriculture Water Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/21084-2 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/21084-2 a bill that would expand the powers of the Department of Homeland Security by waiving compliance with 36 environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act, within a 100-mile buffer along borders and coastlines. Lynn Scarlett, a former deputy Interior secretary under President George W. ...(Read More)]]> Cultural Resources Endangered Species & Wildlife Environment Environmental Justice Immigrant Issues Oceans Public Lands/Wilderness Water Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/21096-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/21096-1 (Read More)]]> Budget Policy & Priorities Endangered Species & Wildlife Environment Livable Wages/Working Families Poverty Issues Water Thu, 07 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/19351-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/19351-1 Texas Campaign for the Environment converge on the state Capitol today, trying to focus attention on the need to reduce disposable bags in the waste stream. "Plastic Bag Monsters" will also be roaming the grounds. Here's a preview of what those "monsters" will be saying. ...(Read More)]]> Community Issues and Volunteering Consumer Issues Endangered Species & Wildlife Environment Oceans Public Lands/Wilderness Rural/Farming Urban Planning/Transportation Waste Reduction/Recycling Water