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 Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/32329-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/32329-1 House Bill 3465, would require manufacturers to follow accredited standards or to use a certified electronics recycler. ...(Read More)]]> Consumer Issues Environment Health Issues Toxics Waste Reduction/Recycling 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 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, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/31371-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/31371-1 (Read More)]]> Budget Policy & Priorities Climate Change/Air Quality Environment Toxics Urban Planning/Transportation Waste Reduction/Recycling Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/31307-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/31307-1 (Read More)]]> Children's Issues Disabilities Environment Health Issues Smoking Prevention Toxics Women's Issues Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/31058-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/31058-1 (Read More)]]> Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Children's Issues Disabilities Health Issues Smoking Prevention Toxics Women's Issues Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/31013-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/31013-1 Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA), said the biggest hurdle right now is the lack of high voltage transmission lines. Adding to that infrastructure would allow for the use of more renewable resources, he said, while helping with rural economic development. ...(Read More)]]> Toxics Sustainable Agriculture Rural/Farming Nuclear Waste Health Issues Energy Policy Climate Change/Air Quality Budget Policy & Priorities 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, 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 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, 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 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 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 Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/23489-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/23489-1 new independent lab testing on 20 popular products that found nearly all contained undisclosed toxic chemicals. Alexandra Scranton, director of science and research for Women's Voices for the Earth, says people deserve to know to what chemicals they're being exposed so they can avoid products that may cause allergic reactions or serious long-term health problems – such as cancer, birth defects or pregnancy complications. "Currently, there are no requirements for them to label or disclose any ingredient. "...(Read More)]]> Arts & Culture Consumer Issues Health Issues 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 Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/23401-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/23401-1 Breast Cancer Fund says bisphenol A (BPA) can leach from the linings of metal food cans at levels which could impact one's health. Even low-dose exposure to BPA has been linked to prostate and breast cancer, diabetes and developmental problems, says Kathleen Schuler, senior policy analyst at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. ...(Read More)]]> Budget Policy & Priorities Consumer Issues Cultural Resources Education Health Issues Hunger/Food/Nutrition Toxics Women's Issues Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/23375-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/23375-1 a new report from a coalition of environmental and labor groups. One of the obstacles to a "greener" economy is that waste companies often can make larger profits and hire fewer workers by simply disposing of recyclable materials, according to Bob Gregory, chief executive officer of Texas Disposal Systems, which handles all residential waste for the city of Austin. Gregory doesn't doubt the report's job predictions, pointing out that there's a lot more to recycling than simply collecting from curbside bins. ...(Read More)]]> Budget Policy & Priorities Climate Change/Air Quality Consumer Issues Cultural Resources Energy Policy Environment Environmental Justice Health Issues Toxics Waste Reduction/Recycling 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 Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/22984-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/22984-1 (Read More)]]> Arts & Culture Citizenship/Representative Democracy Consumer Issues Cultural Resources Environment Environmental Justice Health Issues Livable Wages/Working Families Toxics Waste Reduction/Recycling Water Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/22419-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/22419-1 environmental standards for a controversial process of tapping oil and gas reserves. Fracking - or hydraulic fracturing - has been an economic boon to parts of the state in recent years. The EPA wants all fracking wells fitted with special equipment to separate oil and gas from byproducts. ...(Read More)]]> Budget Policy & Priorities Citizenship/Representative Democracy Consumer Issues Cultural Resources Energy Policy Environment Environmental Justice Climate Change/Air Quality Health Issues Toxics 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 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/21875-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/21875-1 Healthy Legacy is warning that some school supplies contain harmful chemicals which can affect a child's learning ability and health. Organizer Kim LaBo says backpacks, lunch boxes and binders often contain polyvinyl chloride (PVC). ...(Read More)]]> Children's Issues Consumer Issues Early Childhood Education Education Environment Family/Father Issues Health Issues Toxics Youth Issues Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/21579-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/21579-1 (Read More)]]> Budget Policy & Priorities Consumer Issues Cultural Resources Health Issues Toxics Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/20764-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/20764-1 (Read More)]]> Budget Policy & Priorities Consumer Issues Energy Policy Environment Climate Change/Air Quality Health Issues Toxics Waste Reduction/Recycling Fri, 20 May 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/20195-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/20195-1 (Read More)]]> Consumer Issues Environment Health Issues Toxics Waste Reduction/Recycling Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/18773-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/18773-1 League of Conservation Voters. Votes on specific issues were tracked, and because the League is pro-environment, scores reflect decisions made along those lines. ...(Read More)]]> Budget Policy & Priorities Energy Policy Environment Environmental Justice Climate Change/Air Quality Health Issues Toxics Thu, 10 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/18398-1 http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/18398-1 Environment America, but Pennsylvania is close behind, and mercury levels are also high in Ohio and West Virginia. The research focused on mercury emitted from coal-fired power plants, an issue the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to take up next month. ...(Read More)]]> Children's Issues Energy Policy Environment Environmental Justice Climate Change/Air Quality Health Issues Toxics Women's Issues