skip to main content

Friday, June 2, 2023

play newscast audioPlay

A Wisconsin group criticizes two of its members of Congress, a new report says the Phoenix area cannot meet its groundwater demands, and Nevada's sporting community sends its priorities to the governor.

play newscast audioPlay

The Senate aims to get the debt limit spending bill to President Biden's desk quickly, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis makes a campaign stop in Iowa, and a new survey finds most straight adults support LGBTQ+ rights.

play newscast audioPlay

Oregon may expand food stamp eligibility to some undocumented households, rural areas have a new method of accessing money for roads and bridges, and Tennessee's new online tool helps keep track of cemetery locations.

Science Moms: Climate Solutions Aren't Out of Reach for Families

play audio
Play

Thursday, April 6, 2023   

April is Earth Month, and moms who work in scientific fields are trying to get the attention of other parents, hoping they'll take advantage of clean-energy opportunities. They say there are options even in rural states like South Dakota.

The federal Inflation Reduction Act includes a number of tax credits households can use to transition to clean-energy products for consumers.

A campaign by the nonpartisan group Science Moms has launched to let more people know about these incentives.

Joellen Russell, professor of geosciences at the University of Arizona and co-founder of Science Moms, said there is greater awareness about the effects of fossil fuels, and staying with them is not in children's best interest.

"The normal, the status quo, is taking a toll on children's developing bodies and threatening their futures," Russell asserted.

Depending on where you live, she pointed out consistently higher temperatures can lead to heat stroke, while air-quality issues can push asthma cases higher. South Dakota ranks low among states for electric-vehicle charging stations. Russell recommended buying a hybrid instead. And researchers said heat pumps are emerging as a viable alternative to natural gas for home heating, even in cold climates.

Russell added it is normal for parents to feel some pressure to achieve "climate perfection" in their day-to-day life. She reassured them they are not being asked to carry the burden by themselves.

"No one is climate perfect, we're all on a journey," Russell stated. "I'm a climate scientist. I know exactly what I'm talking about and yet, I am nowhere near ready."

But she stressed through collective action, households can help reduce emissions by considering products which fit into their life. Federal incentives also cover home improvements, like new, more energy-efficient doors or windows.

Science Moms also encouraged families to urge their school boards to consider improvements like electric school buses.


get more stories like this via email

Almost all departments in Connecticut schools saw shortages in 2022, following a long-standing national trend. A 2022 American Federation of Teachers report found before the COVID-19 pandemic, almost 300,000 teachers were leaving the profession each year. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

As the school year ends, Connecticut's teacher shortage seems to have only worsened. In March, school districts across the state reported having 2,60…


Social Issues

play sound

A Muslim rights group is taking the Kent County Sheriff's Office to court for forcing a Michigan woman to remove her hijab for a booking photo…

Social Issues

play sound

A rally was held in Salem Thursday to urge passage of a bill to provide food assistance to Oregonians regardless of their immigration status…


Pennsylvanians must register to vote by Oct. 23 to be eligible to vote in the general election on Nov. 7. (Vesperstock/AdobeStock)

Social Issues

play sound

The Keystone State's general election is less than six months away and a nonpartisan, grassroots organization is already getting the word out to …

Social Issues

play sound

This week's debt ceiling deal saw federal policymakers compromise on budget-related matters, but a new awareness campaign from a Wisconsin grassroots …

A 2019 report from the New York State Comptroller's Office found almost 85% of green jobs were in increased demand. A 2022 report found there are 35,700 workers in New Jersey's green economy. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

Offshore wind in New York and New Jersey is becoming a large contributor to job growth. New York's offshore wind investments are slated to create …

Social Issues

play sound

Hoosiers could play a pivotal role in pushing back against a surge of hate and violence against Jews in America. Nearly two-thirds of all …

Environment

play sound

The Nevada hunting and fishing community is sharing its top 10 conservation priorities for 2023 with Gov. Joe Lombardo's office, as they seek to …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021