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 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/32192-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/32192-1 (Read More)]]> Budget Policy & Priorities Cultural Resources Environment Public Lands/Wilderness Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/32076-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/32076-1 research out of the University of Utah finds that some time in the great outdoors can improve a person's creativity and problem-solving ability. Professor David Strayer said those tested after four days immersed in nature with Outward Bound did dramatically better than people who took similar tests before heading out. "We found a 50-percent improvement in the creativity scores. "...(Read More)]]> Children's Issues Environment Mental Health Public Lands/Wilderness Youth Issues Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/31993-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/31993-1 The 2013 list of America's Most Endangered Rivers is out - and the San Saba River in Texas is on it. The report from the group American Rivers cites excessive water withdrawals by landowners and irrigators. That has a negative impact on agriculture and the ecosystem, said Griff Thomas, a rancher along the San Saba. ...(Read More)]]> Climate Change/Air Quality Environment Public Lands/Wilderness Rural/Farming Water 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 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 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, 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 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, 09 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/25794-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/25794-1 polling shows that Americans expect to pay significantly more this summer during peak travel season. However, as tight supplies and geo-politics continue to drive up prices in the short run, experts predict new fuel-economy standards will eventually deliver consumers a bit of a break. ...(Read More)]]> Budget Policy & Priorities Climate Change/Air Quality Consumer Issues Cultural Resources Energy Policy Environment Health Issues Livable Wages/Working Families Oceans Poverty Issues Public Lands/Wilderness 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 Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/24818-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/24818-1 (Read More)]]> Budget Policy & Priorities Consumer Issues Cultural Resources Early Childhood Education Education Energy Policy Environment Public Lands/Wilderness Toxics Water Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/24611-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/24611-1 (Read More)]]> Budget Policy & Priorities Citizenship/Representative Democracy Climate Change/Air Quality Consumer Issues Cultural Resources Energy Policy Environment Health Issues Public Lands/Wilderness Rural/Farming Toxics 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 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 Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/23364-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/23364-1 Un reporte de la National Wildlife Federation (Federación Nacional de la Vida Silvestre) concluye que los beneficios económicos a las comunidades no deben opacar el interés en los problemas del medio ambiente y la salud pública, asociados con la perforación hidráulica. El reporte establece que el gas natural es un ingrediente importante y temporal en la evolución de la dieta energética de la nación. Pero advierte que no hay que apresurarse y usar prácticas de extracción que son controversiales, como la perforación hidráulica tan común en los depósitos de esquisto de Texas y otros estados, procesos que no cuentan con investigación ni regulación razonables. ...(Read More)]]> Climate Change/Air Quality Energy Policy Environment Environmental Justice Public Lands/Wilderness 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, 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 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 Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/19552-2 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/19552-2 (Read More)]]> Arts & Culture Children's Issues Consumer Issues Cultural Resources Early Childhood Education Education Family/Father Issues Health Issues Media Reform Public Lands/Wilderness Youth Issues 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