National (U.S.)

"The U.S. is edging closer to possible meat shortages with another major plant taken off line. About a quarter of American pork production and 10% of beef output has now been shuttered, according to the United Food & Commercial Workers, which estimates that 13 U.S. plants have seen closures."

"U.S. shale producers, refiners and pipeline companies are scrambling for cash and face likely restructuring as they struggle under heavy debt loads while engulfed in the worst crisis the oil industry has faced."

"Clean Water Act attorneys have a new permitting guidepost after the Supreme Court on Thursday struck a middle ground in a landmark case on federal water protections. The justices in a 6-3 opinion ruled that polluters must get permits for indirect water contamination that’s the “functional equivalent” of a direct discharge into federal waterways."

"President Trump said Wednesday that his administration would begin to reopen national parks as states relax restrictions meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus."

"NextEra Energy Inc., the world’s largest utility owner by market value, says it’s poised to increase its dominance over other renewable power developers amid fallout from the coronavirus."

"The day Tom Steyer suspended his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, in late February, was the same day the first death from COVID-19 was reported in the United States."

"Two bipartisan draft water infrastructure bills unveiled this week by the Senate environment committee are a good start but will need even more funding in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, water agencies and other groups said Wednesday."

"The oil and gas industry is holding thousands of unused drilling permits on federal lands even as Interior Department field office employees say permitting wells has crowded out other responsibilities, according to a government watchdog."

"Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D), who centered his short-lived 2020 presidential campaign around climate change, said Wednesday that he would endorse former Vice President Joe Biden's White House bid after receiving assurances that the issue would be a major focus of a Biden administration."

"The official who led the federal agency involved in developing a coronavirus vaccine said on Wednesday that he was removed from his post after he pressed for rigorous vetting of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug embraced by President Trump as a coronavirus treatment, and that the administration had put “politics and cronyism ahead of science.”"