ENVIRONMENT

Apr 22 2026ENVIRONMENT

Storm warning closes key route to Yosemite

A stretch of road leading into a popular national park has shut down after heavy rain and warnings of landslides made travel unsafe. The closure covers a 10-mile section of State Route 140 in Mariposa County, cutting off access from Midpines to El Portal at 7 p. m. on Monday. Officials say the move

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Apr 22 2026ENVIRONMENT

Colorado braces for high fire risk as dry winds sweep in

A large stretch of the Great Plains, including most of Colorado, is now under fire weather alerts this week. The concern isn’t just the heat—it’s the combo of bone-dry air, gusty winds, and unusually warm temperatures that could spark wildfires fast. Forecasters expect parts of Colorado’s I-25 corri

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Apr 22 2026ENVIRONMENT

SpaceX’s big plans face pushback from locals and activists

A small but vocal group in southern Texas isn’t happy about SpaceX’s latest moves. The company’s Starbase facility has become a flashpoint for environmental concerns, especially after a 2023 test launch left a nearby town covered in dust and sparked a fire that burned over three acres in a nearby st

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Apr 21 2026ENVIRONMENT

Utah’s Quiet Energy Revolution

In a state known for coal and oil, Utah has quietly become a leader in clean power. Over the last 25 years, one advocate has watched coal’s share of electricity fall from nearly all to less than half. Today the state ranks sixteenth in solar, supplies enough wind and storage for a million homes, and

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Apr 21 2026ENVIRONMENT

Finding Home in a Shifting World

The conversation shifts from the familiar idea of “home” to a deeper sense of belonging that emerges when we look beyond borders and systems. A Moroccan storyteller named Hajar Tazi explains how her grandmother’s garden, a place of ritual and weaving, helped her feel connected to land and lineage. T

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Apr 20 2026ENVIRONMENT

Iowa’s woodlands need better protection, not extra costs

Iowa once had twice as much forest as it does today. Back in 1906, lawmakers created the Forest Reserve Program to stop landowners from clearing poor soil land. The idea was simple: leave trees standing to prevent erosion, protect clean water, and support wildlife. Instead of paying taxes on low-val

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Apr 20 2026ENVIRONMENT

Why wind and dry air make North Carolina a fire risk today

North Carolina’s Piedmont and Sandhills regions are facing a different kind of storm today—not rain, but strong, dry winds. A cold front slid through during the morning, and instead of bringing showers, it left behind air so dry that humidity levels could drop below 25%. Add northwest gusts as high

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Apr 19 2026ENVIRONMENT

Grand Canyon Guardian: A Scientist’s Lifelong Mission

Kelly Burke grew up in Colorado, always drawn to wide open spaces. In 1986 she moved north to study geology at a university near the Grand Canyon. Her love for the canyon deepened when she helped drive river trips to keep money flowing while finishing her thesis. A chance ride on the Colora

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Apr 19 2026ENVIRONMENT

LECA Trash on Portugal’s Coast: A Hidden Problem

A new study shows that lightweight expanded clay aggregates, a common building material, are flooding Portugal’s beaches. Researchers walked along 50‑meter stretches of shore at eight different spots around Aveiro, from open ocean dunes to sheltered lagoon edges and a busy port channel. At eve

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Apr 19 2026ENVIRONMENT

Northern Minnesota Adds More Counties to Burning Ban Amid Wildfire Threat

The state is tightening rules on outdoor fires because the heat and dryness are making wildfires more likely. Starting at 8 a. m. on Monday, April 20, the Department of Natural Resources added several northern counties to its list where open burning is prohibited. These new areas include Becke

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