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"In March 2023, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law meant to curb “frivolous lawsuits” that he said were raising insurance rates for consumers while enriching predatory lawyers and scaring off insurance carriers. But a new analysis suggests the law — which has served as a model for other states — may have benefited insurance companies more than it has protected consumers."

"Dozens of residents opposed to Harvest Med Waste Disposal’s site in Remlap, Alabama, packed the Blount County courthouse to voice their concerns. Online, a paid campaign supporting the facility has been active, though its backers have remained anonymous."

"Williams Cos. went online to seek local backing for its Transco expansion project, but the effort may have backfired." 

"As oily rain fell on Roseland, where 90% of kids live in poverty, the Trump administration is considering gutting chemical-disaster safeguards."

"New EPA data shows PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” in 200 more drinking water systems nationwide, including Durham and Fayetteville, as NC utilities work to remove them."

"Twenty years out from the New Orleans disaster, the city’s levee and flood wall system must be raised or the region could become ineligible for federal flood insurance."

"In the 20 years since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, hurricane scientists have made great strides toward understanding how climate change influences tropical cyclones, at the same time as they have vastly improved hurricane forecasting. Better forecasts, in turn, save the country billions every time a storm makes landfall, according to a 2024 analysis published in the National Bureau of Economic Research."

"A powerful dust storm wreaked havoc on Nevada’s annual Burning Man festival over the weekend, tossing around early attendees’ campsites and trapping incoming Burners in up to eight hours of stop-and-go traffic."

"Misleading Mailer: Despite locals’ health concerns, the Chamber of Commerce has gone to unusual lengths to promote a data center, including sending a mailer with inaccurate information. 'Concierge Service': The chamber has a five-member operations team dedicated to xAI, one of Musk’s companies, as it tries to transform Memphis into a global hub of technological innovation."

"U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Williams late Thursday issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting more detainees from coming to the site, barring new construction and giving the state 60 days to remove many of its major elements."