EJToday: Top Headlines

Killing Endangered Wildlife Is Legal If They Aren’t The Target: Trump [9]

"Killing endangered animals while logging a forest or building a dam would not be considered illegal unless the animals were specifically targeted, under a new interpretation of the Endangered Species Act by President Donald Trump’s administration that marks a sea change in how the landmark environmental law is enforced."

Agriculture [10]
Biodiversity [11]
Climate Change [12]
Energy & Fuel [13]
Environmental Politics [14]
Fish & Fisheries [15]
Laws & Regulations [16]
Science [17]
Wildlife [18]
Public [19]
National (U.S.) [20]
Source: AP [21], 09/18/2026
- Read more about Killing Endangered Wildlife Is Legal If They Aren’t The Target: Trump [9]
China Stockpiled Oil, and Now It Could Dominate the Energy Landscape [22]

"One of the most important lessons from the war with Iran is one that few saw coming. The conflict has made clear that China, which has long been highly vulnerable to oil supply shocks, has managed to transform that weakness into a surprising source of geopolitical power. The country made that big shift by stockpiling huge amounts of oil, building extra oil refining capacity and investing in coal and other alternatives."

Economy & Business [23]
Energy & Fuel [13]
Environmental Politics [14]
Natural Resources [24]
Public [19]
International [25]
Asia [26]
Source: New York Times [27], 09/18/2026
- Read more about China Stockpiled Oil, and Now It Could Dominate the Energy Landscape [22]
Rogers, El-Sayed Call for Suspension of Federal, Michigan Gas Taxes [28]

"Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers (R) on Thursday called on lawmakers to suspend taxes on gas sales as Americans face higher prices at the pump."

Climate Change [12]
Consumer [29]
Economy & Business [23]
Energy & Fuel [13]
Environmental Politics [14]
Laws & Regulations [16]
Technology [30]
Public [19]
National (U.S.) [20]
Source: The Hill [31], 09/18/2026
- Read more about Rogers, El-Sayed Call for Suspension of Federal, Michigan Gas Taxes [28]
Gas Prices Are About To Take A Big Jump, Analysts Say. Worst To Come. [32]

"The effects of the U.S.-led war on Iran are about to intensify in the form of huge jumps in the prices of gasoline and diesel, analysts predict. And despite the Trump administration’s assurances, a new and potentially even more economically damaging phase of the war may be about to begin."

Economy & Business [23]
Energy & Fuel [13]
Environmental Politics [14]
Government [33]
Military [34]
People & Population [35]
Transportation [36]
Public [19]
National (U.S.) [20]
Middle East [37]
Source: New York Times [38], 09/18/2026
- Read more about Gas Prices Are About To Take A Big Jump, Analysts Say. Worst To Come. [32]
OpenAI Discloses Six New Incidents of ‘Concerning’ A.I. Behavior [39]

"OpenAI on Wednesday disclosed six new instances in which artificial intelligence systems hid mistakes, made up data and moved files onto the open internet without permission, amid an ongoing industrywide debate about A.I. safety."

Disasters [40]
Infrastructure [41]
Laws & Regulations [16]
Technology [30]
Public [19]
National (U.S.) [20]
Source: New York Times [42], 09/18/2026
- Read more about OpenAI Discloses Six New Incidents of ‘Concerning’ A.I. Behavior [39]
Rivers Deliver Staggering Amount Of Microplastics Into The Ocean: Study [43]

"Up to a quarter of all plastic flowing from rivers into the ocean are microplastics — delivering more than 260,000 metric tons in 2022, according to a new study published last week in Science." "Nearly all of the pollution comes from rivers in developing countries. High plastic use, mismanagement of waste, strong rainfall and high solar radiation are major factors."

Chemicals [44]
Environmental Health [45]
Pollution [46]
Waste [47]
Water & Oceans [48]
Public [19]
National (U.S.) [20]
International [25]
Asia [26]
Source: Washington Post [49], 09/18/2026
- Read more about Rivers Deliver Staggering Amount Of Microplastics Into The Ocean: Study [43]
Toxic Fracking Waste Bubbling Up in Ohio Is Becoming a Political Issue [50]

"The Democratic candidate for governor backed restrictions on disposal of fracking wastewater around a hard-hit town, and called for a “thorough investigation” of the dangers."

Energy & Fuel [13]
Environmental Health [45]
Laws & Regulations [16]
People & Population [35]
Pollution [46]
Technology [30]
Water & Oceans [48]
Public [19]
National (U.S.) [20]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [51]
Source: New York Times [52], 09/18/2026
- Read more about Toxic Fracking Waste Bubbling Up in Ohio Is Becoming a Political Issue [50]
Ranch Manager Tied to Trump Appointee Started 5,600-Acre Idaho Wildfire [53]

"A state investigation shines light on the unpermitted fire, which cost nearly $950,000 to contain."

Climate Change [12]
Conflict/Corruption [54]
Environmental Politics [14]
Forests [55]
Laws & Regulations [16]
Public [19]
National (U.S.) [20]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [56]
Source: Public Domain [57], 09/18/2026
- Read more about Ranch Manager Tied to Trump Appointee Started 5,600-Acre Idaho Wildfire [53]
Calif. Eyes Prison Heat Protections That Fall Short of Other Workplaces’ [58]

"California is crafting weaker heat protections for prisons than for other workplaces, citing billions in costs to cool aging institutions as climate and health risks increase."

Climate Change [12]
Disasters [40]
Environmental Health [45]
Environmental Justice [59]
People & Population [35]
Public [19]
National (U.S.) [20]
California [60]
Source: Canary Media [61], 09/18/2026
- Read more about Calif. Eyes Prison Heat Protections That Fall Short of Other Workplaces’ [58]
Colorado River Officials Back Emergency Releases From Wyoming Reservoir [62]

"Officials in the Upper Colorado River Basin plan to continue draining Flaming Gorge in Wyoming to protect Lake Powell, one of the basin’s largest reservoirs."

Climate Change [12]
Consumer [29]
Laws & Regulations [16]
Science [17]
Water & Oceans [48]
Public [19]
National (U.S.) [20]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [56]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [63]
Source: Colorado Sun [64], 09/18/2026
- Read more about Colorado River Officials Back Emergency Releases From Wyoming Reservoir [62]
New Cat Species Discovered In Bolivia For First Time In Over 100 Years [65]

"A new cat has been discovered in Bolivia, the first time in more than a century that scientists have confirmed a new feline species in the world."

Biodiversity [11]
Science [17]
Wildlife [18]
Public [19]
International [25]
South America [66]
Source: Washington Post [67], 09/18/2026
- Read more about New Cat Species Discovered In Bolivia For First Time In Over 100 Years [65]
Trump Donor Harold Hamm’s Oil Company Announces Venezuela Deal [68]

Trump donor Harold Hamm’s oil company Continental Resources announced a deal Wednesday to drill in Venezuela.

Climate Change [12]
Conflict/Corruption [54]
Economy & Business [23]
Energy & Fuel [13]
Environmental Politics [14]
Laws & Regulations [16]
Natural Resources [24]
Pollution [46]
Public [19]
National (U.S.) [20]
Central America & the Caribbean [69]
South America [66]
Source: The Hill [70], 09/17/2026
- Read more about Trump Donor Harold Hamm’s Oil Company Announces Venezuela Deal [68]
House Passes Bill To Put Data Center Electricity Costs On Tech Companies [71]

"The House on Tuesday passed a bill aimed at shielding Americans from increased electricity costs associated with data centers"

Consumer [29]
Energy & Fuel [13]
Environmental Politics [14]
Laws & Regulations [16]
Technology [30]
Public [19]
National (U.S.) [20]
Source: The Hill [72], 09/17/2026
- Read more about House Passes Bill To Put Data Center Electricity Costs On Tech Companies [71]
"Climate Change Primed Nepal Glacier for Deadly Collapse" [73]

"Climate attribution researchers say “there is absolutely no doubt” that decades of global warming set the stage for the deadly rock and glacier collapse on Langtang Lirung Mountain in Nepal."

Climate Change [12]
Disasters [40]
People & Population [35]
Water & Oceans [48]
Public [19]
International [25]
Asia [26]
Source: Inside Climate News [74], 09/17/2026
- Read more about "Climate Change Primed Nepal Glacier for Deadly Collapse" [73]
Miners Stake Claims Where Trump Slashed Bears Ears National Monument [75]

"The first mining claims have been staked in areas that were formerly part of Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument, after President Donald Trump issued an order in July shrinking it to less than 10 percent of its original size."

Conflict/Corruption [54]
Environmental Politics [14]
Laws & Regulations [16]
Natural Resources [24]
Public [19]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [56]
Source: Washington Post [76], 09/17/2026
- Read more about Miners Stake Claims Where Trump Slashed Bears Ears National Monument [75]

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