Emergency evacuations are hard to plan under normal circumstances. Now the coronavirus pandemic makes them even more complicated and risky. With the summer disaster season upon us, the latest TipSheet explores how environmental journalists can report on emergency planning under COVID-19, with suggested questions to help you dig up stories.
"The EPA’s biggest union will enter into bargaining with the agency July 13 for a week of talks about rapidly developing plans to reopen offices, according to the American Federation of Government Employees."
"Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.) is asking Attorney General William Barr to preserve any records related to a hacking probe on environmental groups that was launched in the Southern District of New York (SDNY) prior to former U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman’s dismissal."
"The Senate on Thursday put off further action for weeks on its mammoth defense authorization bill that has become a battleground for efforts to address exposure to PFAS."
"A task force designed to help shape Mr. Biden’s climate plan has recommended that he embrace moving to 100 percent renewable electricity in 15 years and a rapid transition to energy-efficient buildings."
"Letters by key legislators including North Dakota’s governor written by officials of MDU Resources, a subsidiary of WBI Energy".
"As coal declines and wind and solar energy rise, some are pushing to limit the use of natural gas, but utilities say they are not ready to do so."
Racial disparities in who contracts the virus have played out in big cities like Milwaukee and New York, but also in smaller metropolitan areas like Grand Rapids, Mich., where the Bradleys live."
"President Donald Trump just put two of his favorite Senate allies in a tough spot." "Either Cory Gardner and Steve Daines back an anti-environment extremist and outrage public land advocates, or they oppose him and face Trump’s wrath."
"One of the costliest storms in the past decade struck indiscriminately along the southeast coast of the United States in 2016. The government's response showed more bias."
