EJToday: Top Headlines

Over 17,000 Ordered To Evacuate As S. California Wildfire Threatens Homes [9]

"More than 17,000 people were under evacuation orders in Southern California on Tuesday as a wildfire threatened suburban homes. The wind-driven Sandy Fire was reported Monday in the hills above Simi Valley, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles."

Climate Change [10]
Disasters [11]
Environmental Health [12]
Pollution [13]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
California [16]
Source: AP [17], 05/20/2026
- Read more about Over 17,000 Ordered To Evacuate As S. California Wildfire Threatens Homes [9]
FWS Clears Weedkiller Atrazine, Saying It Won’t Cause Extinction [18]

"The Trump administration has determined that atrazine, a weedkiller used widely on corn and other crops, does not pose an extinction risk to threatened or endangered wildlife, effectively justifying its continued use, according to a federal review made public this week." "The finding effectively paves the way for continued use of atrazine, a widely used herbicide that has been linked to birth defects and cancer in humans."

Agriculture [19]
Biodiversity [20]
Chemicals [21]
Environmental Health [12]
Environmental Politics [22]
Environmental Studies [23]
Laws & Regulations [24]
Technology [25]
Water & Oceans [26]
Wildlife [27]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
Source: New York Times [28], 05/20/2026
- Read more about FWS Clears Weedkiller Atrazine, Saying It Won’t Cause Extinction [18]
"Sign Of The Times: NextEra-Dominion Merger Would Create Utility Giant" [29]

"NextEra Energy agreed to buy Dominion Energy in a roughly $67 billion deal that would create the largest power company in the U.S., underscoring the energy industry’s pursuit of scale and capital to meet growing electricity demand from U.S. tech companies."

Climate Change [10]
Consumer [30]
Economy & Business [31]
Energy & Fuel [32]
Environmental Politics [22]
Infrastructure [33]
Laws & Regulations [24]
Pollution [13]
Technology [25]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
Source: E&E News [34], 05/20/2026
- Read more about "Sign Of The Times: NextEra-Dominion Merger Would Create Utility Giant" [29]
"Wildlife Crossings Included In Bipartisan Transportation Bill" [35]

"Funding for wildlife crossings has been included in a bipartisan transportation bill that the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee plans to introduce to the House in the coming weeks. The BUILD America 250 Act would invest in roads, bridges and transit infrastructure across the country, as well as fund wildlife crossings through the reauthorization of the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program."

Biodiversity [20]
Climate Change [10]
Consumer [30]
Economy & Business [31]
Energy & Fuel [32]
Environmental Politics [22]
Infrastructure [33]
Laws & Regulations [24]
People & Population [36]
Planning & Growth [37]
Pollution [13]
Technology [25]
Transportation [38]
Wildlife [27]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
Source: National Parks Traveler [39], 05/20/2026
- Read more about "Wildlife Crossings Included In Bipartisan Transportation Bill" [35]
Black Dust Covers Oklahoma Town As Residents Face Renewed Pollution Fears [40]

"Across a quiet Oklahoma town, a mysterious black dust has appeared throughout neighborhoods. As residents search for answers, many say this triggers memories from decades before."

Air [41]
Environmental Health [12]
Environmental Justice [42]
Environmental Politics [22]
Laws & Regulations [24]
People & Population [36]
Pollution [13]
Public [14]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [43]
Source: KOCO5 [44], 05/20/2026
- Read more about Black Dust Covers Oklahoma Town As Residents Face Renewed Pollution Fears [40]
"Manager at Trump’s N.J. Golf Club Helped Plan Reflecting Pool Repairs" [45]

"The general manager of President Trump’s golf club in Bedminster, N.J., has offered suggestions to guide the renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and helped recruit one of the contractors for the job, according to federal documents and a government spokeswoman."

Environmental Politics [22]
Infrastructure [33]
Natural Resources [46]
People & Population [36]
Water & Oceans [26]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [47]
Source: New York Times [48], 05/20/2026
- Read more about "Manager at Trump’s N.J. Golf Club Helped Plan Reflecting Pool Repairs" [45]
US-Mexico Border Wall Is Desecrating Sacred Sites, Indigenous Leaders Say [49]

"White sage burning, Norma Meza Calles gathers guests at a Mexican wellness resort into a semicircle facing Kuuchamaa Mountain and asks everyone to close their eyes and feel its presence."

Biodiversity [20]
Environmental Politics [22]
Infrastructure [33]
Laws & Regulations [24]
Natural Resources [46]
People & Population [36]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [50]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
Mexico [51]
Source: AP [52], 05/20/2026
- Read more about US-Mexico Border Wall Is Desecrating Sacred Sites, Indigenous Leaders Say [49]
The Worst Climate Future Is Less Likely, But The Best One Is Slipping Away [53]

"Scientists are jettisoning their worst and best case scenarios for a warming world as no longer plausible. That shows how modest gains in the fight to curb climate change have dialed back the most catastrophic of future heating but also confirmed that there’s no chance to limit warming to the international goal set in 2015."

Chemicals [21]
Climate Change [10]
Economy & Business [31]
Energy & Fuel [32]
Laws & Regulations [24]
People & Population [36]
Pollution [13]
Technology [25]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
International [54]
Source: AP [55], 05/20/2026
- Read more about The Worst Climate Future Is Less Likely, But The Best One Is Slipping Away [53]
"Chesapeake Crab Population Rallies A Bit From Long-Term Slump" [56]

"The Chesapeake Bay’s blue crabs have clawed their way out of the cellar. The dredge survey conducted last winter by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Virginia Institute of Marine Science found that the Bay’s crab population — especially the young crustaceans — have rebounded from a protracted slump, despite an unusually harsh winter."

Agriculture [19]
Biodiversity [20]
Consumer [30]
Fish & Fisheries [57]
Laws & Regulations [24]
Pollution [13]
Science [58]
Water & Oceans [26]
Public [14]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [47]
Source: Bay Journal [59], 05/20/2026
- Read more about "Chesapeake Crab Population Rallies A Bit From Long-Term Slump" [56]
"2026 World Cup Set To Become ‘Most Polluting’ Games Ever" [60]

"As nearly 300,000 fans prepare to arrive in Los Angeles for the men’s World Cup soccer championship in mid-June, the international soccer federation is coming under fire for what climate scientists and advocates are calling the most polluting World Cup in history."

Air [41]
Climate Change [10]
Economy & Business [31]
Energy & Fuel [32]
Environmental Politics [22]
People & Population [36]
Pollution [13]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
International [54]
Canada [61]
Mexico [51]
Source: LA Times [62], 05/20/2026
- Read more about "2026 World Cup Set To Become ‘Most Polluting’ Games Ever" [60]
"Federal Chemical Safety Board Sends Warning on Trump Disaster Policy" [63]

"The board said the administration is taking “a significant step backwards” on preventing chemical disasters."

Economy & Business [31]
Energy & Fuel [32]
Environmental Health [12]
Environmental Justice [42]
Environmental Politics [22]
Government [64]
Infrastructure [33]
Laws & Regulations [24]
People & Population [36]
Pollution [13]
Technology [25]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
Source: New York Times [65], 05/19/2026
- Read more about "Federal Chemical Safety Board Sends Warning on Trump Disaster Policy" [63]
"E.P.A. to End Some Limits on ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water" [66]

"The Trump administration announced Monday that it will drop some limits on “forever chemicals” in drinking water that officials had determined can cause cancer and other serious health problems — angering some key activists who had supported President Trump’s campaign."

Environmental Justice [42]
Environmental Politics [22]
Environmental Studies [23]
Infrastructure [33]
Laws & Regulations [24]
People & Population [36]
Pollution [13]
Water & Oceans [26]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
Source: New York Times [67], 05/19/2026
- Read more about "E.P.A. to End Some Limits on ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water" [66]
Oily Sludge Is Flooding Their Dream Home. Okla. Regulators Don't Help. [68]

"The Merediths were forced to abandon their house after it filled with black goo, reaching gas concentrations at explosive levels. Despite evidence of oil and gas pollution, the state “wanted to act like it would go away,” the family says."

Chemicals [21]
Disasters [11]
Energy & Fuel [32]
Environmental Health [12]
Environmental Justice [42]
Environmental Politics [22]
Infrastructure [33]
Laws & Regulations [24]
People & Population [36]
Pollution [13]
Technology [25]
Water & Oceans [26]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [43]
Source: Frontier/ProPublica [69], 05/19/2026
- Read more about Oily Sludge Is Flooding Their Dream Home. Okla. Regulators Don't Help. [68]
"Tick Bites Surge, Sending Many To ER. Maps Show Where." [70]

"Emergency department visits for tick bites have surged to the highest level for this time of year since 2017, driven by warmer temperatures that are boosting tick activity especially in the Northeast and Midwest."

Biodiversity [20]
Climate Change [10]
Consumer [30]
Environmental Health [12]
People & Population [36]
Wildlife [27]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [71]
Source: USA TODAY [72], 05/19/2026
- Read more about "Tick Bites Surge, Sending Many To ER. Maps Show Where." [70]
"Data Centers Drive 76% Surge In PJM Power Prices" [73]

"The findings highlight inflationary pressures on electricity costs in mid-Atlantic and Midwestern states. “The price impacts on customers have been very large and are not reversible,” the grid market monitor said."

Climate Change [10]
Consumer [30]
Economy & Business [31]
Energy & Fuel [32]
Environmental Health [12]
Environmental Politics [22]
Infrastructure [33]
Laws & Regulations [24]
People & Population [36]
Technology [25]
Public [14]
National (U.S.) [15]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [47]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [71]
Source: E&E News [74], 05/19/2026
- Read more about "Data Centers Drive 76% Surge In PJM Power Prices" [73]

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