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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

WA High Court Ruling Disappoints Environmentalists

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Friday, January 19, 2007   


The Washington Supreme Court ruled yesterday that Seattle City Light cannot pass the costs of a program to reduce greenhouse gases on to its ratepayers. While that sounds on its surface like good news for ratepayers, environmental groups say it may squash efforts in Seattle and other cities statewide to reduce pollution and improve public health in the process.

The program costs about $2 per customer per year, but a group of ratepayers challenged those special agreements, called "offset contracts," and the state Supreme Court has ruled 5 to 4 in favor of the ratepayers, saying the offset contracts 'don't relate to a utility company's main purpose, which is to supply power, not necessarily to reduce pollution.' But KC Golden of the Seattle-based group Climate Solutions argues the two go hand-in-hand. His and other
environmental groups have watched the court case play out.

"They got it flat wrong. I mean, the ruling finds that there is no sufficient connection between the business of producing electricity and cleaning up the emissions associated with producing electricity. There's clearly a very close connection, as close as the connection between cancer and smoking."

Golden believes the court's ruling may not be the last word on the issue.

"I think the Legislature's going to have to clarify this and I think it probably will. I don't think anybody
wants to take away from cities the authority to clean up their messes and do it in the most cost-effective way."

Golden adds that environmental groups will now ask the State Legislature to clarify whose responsibility it is to pay for pollution clean-up, and to encourage other cities and utilities to make cleaner air a priority. Seattle City Light has had its program in place since 2001.



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The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

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Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

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Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

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Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

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Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

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New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Social Issues

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Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

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Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

 

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