"Going Beyond Grass: Turning Lawns Into a Pollinators’ Paradise"
"It’s time to rethink the American lawn: a landscaping default that sucks up money, water, chemicals, and time."
Source: The Revelator, 07/08/2025
EJToday: Top Headlines
EJToday is a daily weekday digest of top environment/energy news and information of interest to environmental journalists, independently curated by Editor Joseph A. Davis. Sign up below to receive in your inbox. For queries, email EJToday@SEJ.org. For more info, read an EJToday FAQ. Plus, follow EJToday on social media at @EJTodayNews, and flag stories of note by including the @EJTodayNews handle on your posts. And tell us how to make EJToday even better by taking this brief survey.
Want to join the EJToday team? Volunteer time commitments can vary from just an hour a month up to a daily contribution, and would involve helping to curate content of interest. To learn more, reach out to the director of publications, Adam Glenn, at sejournaleditor@sej.org.
Note: Members have additional options to choose from (you'll need your log-in info).
Texas Braces For More Rain. Death Toll Hits At Least 82 With Dozens Missing
"Rising death toll: At least 82 people have died and dozens are still missing after devastating floods hit central Texas. In Kerr County, the hardest-hit area, at least 40 adults and 28 children have been killed, officials say."
Source: CNN, 07/07/2025"As the World Warms, Extreme Rain Is Becoming Even More Extreme"
"Colossal bursts of rain like the ones that caused the deadly flooding in Texas are becoming more frequent and intense around the globe as the burning of fossil fuels heats the planet, scientists say."
Source: NYTimes, 07/07/2025"E.P.A. Suspends 144 Employees After They Signed a Letter Criticizing Trump"
"The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday placed 144 employees on administrative leave and opened an investigation into their decision to sign a letter accusing the Trump administration of politicizing the agency."
Source: NYTimes, 07/07/20255 Ways GOP Megabill Boosts Fossil Fuels And Hurts Renewables, Climate Action
"The Trump administration’s agenda megabill passed this week by the Senate and [passed] in the House contains a slew of provisions that are expected to bolster fossil fuels or harm the build-out of renewable energy — ultimately exacerbating climate change.
The extent of the phaseout of subsidies for green energy sources has been a significant point of contention among Republicans; but, ultimately, the cuts they make are expected to result in deep reductions in subsidies for the sector, even if moderates manage to stave off some of the most dramatic changes.
Source: The Hill, 07/07/2025Sewage Treatment Plants Channel ‘Forever Chemicals’ Into Waterways Nationwide
"Harmful “forever chemicals” flow from wastewater treatment plants into surface water across the U.S., according to a new report by a clean-water advocacy group."
Source: Inside Climate News, 07/07/2025Florida Home Insurance Crisis Hits Hardest in State’s Poorest Counties
"While wealthy coastal counties bear the brunt of landfalling storms, poor residents in inland counties are navigating an even bleaker insurance market that leaves them at risk of no coverage."
Source: Inside Climate News, 07/07/2025"Trump Pollution Exemptions Would Shield Lawbreakers, Endanger Millions"
"Analysis shows EPA rollbacks of the HON rule would put overburdened communities at risk and benefit chemical plants that frequently violate their permits."
Source: Public Health Watch, 07/07/2025"New Handbook Aims to Protect Scientists From Autocratic Threats"
"As autocratic regimes around the world increasingly step up attacks on scientists and academic freedom, a team of researchers has published a new anti-autocracy handbook to help scientists protect their personal safety and their work."
Source: Inside Climate News, 07/07/2025Will the Trump Admin Save Workers from Preventable Overheating Deaths?
"In hearings on a draft rule to prevent heat-related illness in millions of vulnerable U.S. workers, top health and safety experts explain why relying on employers to “do the right thing” costs lives."
Source: Inside Climate News, 07/07/2025"Pope Leo XIV Approves New Mass Centered On Care For The Environment"
"As record‑breaking heat scorches much of Europe — with triple‑digit temperatures, wildfires and deaths reported — the Vatican released a new liturgy Thursday for Mass reflecting concern for the environment, offering prayers, readings and hymns that highlight the church’s responsibility to protect the Earth."
Source: Religion News Service, 07/07/2025EPA Says It Will Delay Water Pollution Rules For Coal Plants
"The Trump administration says that it plans to delay and potentially loosen water pollution rules for coal-fired power plants."
Source: The Hill, 07/03/2025"Methane-Tracking Satellite Is Lost, in a Blow to Climate Efforts"
"The spacecraft, MethaneSAT, was just a year into its mission to provide a clearer picture of planet-warming emissions from oil and gas sites." "For nearly two weeks, however, the mission’s controllers have been unable to get in contact with the satellite. It has lost power, they said, and most likely cannot be recovered."
Source: NYTimes, 07/03/2025"5 Things To Know About Trump’s Attacks On The Montreal Protocol"
"The binding climate treaty has been a success, earning the support of businesses and Republicans. It could be in peril under President Donald Trump."
Source: E&E News, 07/03/2025"Despite Protests, Elon Musk Secures Air Permit for xAI"
"xAI’s gas turbines get official approval from Memphis, Tennessee, even as civil rights groups prepare to sue over alleged Clean Air Act violations."
Source: WIRED, 07/03/2025
