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Spring Is Coming. How Silent Will It Be? [1]

Bird populations remain in steep decline, mostly due to human activity. But as the latest TipSheet reports, reporting on the disappearance of our avian residents can lead journalists to some bread-and-butter environmental stories: whether about local ecosystems, climate change, chemicals, land disturbance and more. Read on for more, including nearly a dozen-and-a-half story ideas and reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types: 
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat: 
Biodiversity [3]
Chemicals [4]
Climate Change [5]
Environmental Health [6]
Environmental Studies [7]
Health [8]
Wildlife [9]
Region: 
National (U.S.) [10]
International [11]
Canada [12]
Visibility: 
Public [13]
  • Read more about Spring Is Coming. How Silent Will It Be? [1]

‘Bombshell’: Doubt Cast On Discovery Of Microplastics Throughout Human Body [14]

"High-profile studies reporting the presence of microplastics throughout the human body have been thrown into doubt by scientists who say the discoveries are probably the result of contamination and false positives. One chemist called the concerns 'a bombshell.'"

Chemicals [4]
Environmental Health [6]
Pollution [15]
Science [16]
Public [13]
International [11]
Source: Guardian [17], 01/15/2026
  • Read more about ‘Bombshell’: Doubt Cast On Discovery Of Microplastics Throughout Human Body [14]

"Maine Adopts Tougher Limits On PFAS In Drinking Water" [18]

"The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention has lowered the state limit on forever chemicals, or PFAS, in drinking water to align with rigorous federal standards established by the Biden administration."

Chemicals [4]
Environmental Health [6]
Laws & Regulations [19]
People & Population [20]
Pollution [15]
Water & Oceans [21]
Public [13]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [22]
Source: Portland Press Herald [23], 01/15/2026
  • Read more about "Maine Adopts Tougher Limits On PFAS In Drinking Water" [18]

Kennedy and Fluoridated Water Skeptics Turn to Obstructing Other Sources [24]

"Florida and Utah have banned fluoridation, with multiple other states looking to do the same. Critics of fluoride in drinking water point to supplements as an alternative, but many are creating barriers to these very products."

Chemicals [4]
Environmental Health [6]
Environmental Politics [25]
Laws & Regulations [19]
Water & Oceans [21]
Public [13]
National (U.S.) [10]
Source: ProPublica [26], 01/15/2026
  • Read more about Kennedy and Fluoridated Water Skeptics Turn to Obstructing Other Sources [24]

"What A Fracking-Waste Dispute Says About Ohio’s Energy Double Standard" [27]

"Ohio is letting the oil and gas industry put more toxic waste underground despite community concerns — even as the state defers to local opponents of clean energy."

Chemicals [4]
Consumer [28]
Environmental Health [6]
Environmental Politics [25]
Laws & Regulations [19]
People & Population [20]
Pollution [15]
Water & Oceans [21]
Public [13]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [29]
Source: Canary Media [30], 01/15/2026
  • Read more about "What A Fracking-Waste Dispute Says About Ohio’s Energy Double Standard" [27]

"North Carolina Pushes Back as EPA Moves To Scale Back PFAS Reporting" [31]

"After decades of PFAS contamination, North Carolina’s attorney general is challenging an EPA proposal to narrow reporting requirements for toxic 'forever chemicals.'"

Chemicals [4]
Consumer [28]
Environmental Justice [32]
Environmental Politics [25]
Journalism & Media [33]
Laws & Regulations [19]
People & Population [20]
Pollution [15]
Public [13]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [34]
Source: WRAL [35], 01/14/2026
  • Read more about "North Carolina Pushes Back as EPA Moves To Scale Back PFAS Reporting" [31]

"As MAHA Wages War On Pesticides, The GOP Is Caught In The Middle" [36]

"The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement’s crusade against pesticides is creating divisions in the Republican Party, as some members back the industry while others stand with MAHA activists."

Agriculture [37]
Chemicals [4]
Consumer [28]
Environmental Health [6]
Laws & Regulations [19]
Pollution [15]
Public [13]
National (U.S.) [10]
Source: The Hill [38], 01/14/2026
  • Read more about "As MAHA Wages War On Pesticides, The GOP Is Caught In The Middle" [36]

"Detroiters Grapple With Unknowns As Lead, Arsenic Found At Demo Sites" [39]

"Arsenic and lead are among the contaminants found at dozens of Detroit neighborhood demolition sites, according to the first round of test results released by the city late last month amid state and local investigations — at least one criminal — into potentially toxic dirt used as backfill across hundreds of vacant lots."

Chemicals [4]
Environmental Health [6]
Environmental Justice [32]
Laws & Regulations [19]
Pollution [15]
Waste [40]
Public [13]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [29]
Source: Detroit Free Press [41], 01/14/2026
  • Read more about "Detroiters Grapple With Unknowns As Lead, Arsenic Found At Demo Sites" [39]

States Need More Help Replacing Lead Pipes. Congress May Cut Funds Instead. [42]

"The Senate is taking up a spending package passed by the House of Representatives that would cut $125 million in funding promised this year to replace toxic lead pipes. "

Chemicals [4]
Consumer [28]
Economy & Business [43]
Environmental Health [6]
Environmental Justice [32]
Environmental Politics [25]
Infrastructure [44]
Laws & Regulations [19]
People & Population [20]
Pollution [15]
Water & Oceans [21]
Public [13]
National (U.S.) [10]
Source: Inside Climate News [45], 01/13/2026
  • Read more about States Need More Help Replacing Lead Pipes. Congress May Cut Funds Instead. [42]

"EPA to Stop Considering Lives Saved When Setting Rules on Air Pollution" [46]

"In a reversal, the agency plans to calculate only the cost to industry when setting pollution limits, and not the monetary value of saving human lives, documents show."

Chemicals [4]
Climate Change [5]
Consumer [28]
Economy & Business [43]
Environmental Health [6]
Environmental Justice [32]
Environmental Politics [25]
Environmental Studies [7]
Health [8]
Laws & Regulations [19]
People & Population [20]
Pollution [15]
Science [16]
Public [13]
National (U.S.) [10]
Source: NYTimes [47], 01/13/2026
  • Read more about "EPA to Stop Considering Lives Saved When Setting Rules on Air Pollution" [46]

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[1] https://www.sej.org/publications/tipsheet/spring-coming-how-silent-will-it-be [2] https://www.sej.org/category/sej-publication/tipsheet [3] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/biodiversity-1 [4] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/chemicals/toxics [5] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/climate-change [6] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-health [7] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmentalists [8] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/health [9] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/wildlife [10] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national [11] https://www.sej.org/category/region/international [12] https://www.sej.org/category/region/international/canada [13] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/81 [14] https://www.sej.org/headlines/bombshell-doubt-cast-discovery-microplastics-throughout-human-body [15] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/pollution [16] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/science [17] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/13/microplastics-human-body-doubt [18] https://www.sej.org/headlines/maine-adopts-tougher-limits-pfas-drinking-water [19] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/laws [20] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/people-population [21] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/water [22] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/northeast [23] https://www.pressherald.com/2026/01/12/maine-adopts-tougher-limits-on-pfas-in-drinking-water/ [24] https://www.sej.org/headlines/kennedy-and-fluoridated-water-skeptics-turn-obstructing-other-sources [25] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-politics [26] https://www.propublica.org/article/fluoride-supplements-fda-rfk-jr-ken-paxton-restrictions [27] https://www.sej.org/headlines/what-fracking-waste-dispute-says-about-ohio-s-energy-double-standard [28] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/consumer [29] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/great-lakes [30] https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/fossil-fuels/fracking-waste-dispute-ohio-double-standard [31] https://www.sej.org/headlines/north-carolina-pushes-back-epa-moves-scale-back-pfas-reporting [32] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-justice [33] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/journalism/media [34] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/southeast [35] https://www.wral.com/news/state/north-carolina-challenges-epa-pfas-reporting-january-2026/ [36] https://www.sej.org/headlines/maha-wages-war-pesticides-gop-caught-middle [37] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/agriculture [38] https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5685317-maha-pesticides-glyphosate-roundup-bayer-rfk-jr/ [39] https://www.sej.org/headlines/detroiters-grapple-unknowns-lead-arsenic-found-demo-sites [40] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/waste [41] https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2026/01/12/toxic-dirt-lead-arsenic-found-at-detroit-demolition-sites/88045134007/ [42] https://www.sej.org/headlines/states-need-more-help-replacing-lead-pipes-congress-may-cut-funds-instead [43] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/business [44] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/infrastructure [45] https://insideclimatenews.org/news/12012026/congress-may-cut-lead-pipe-replacement-funding/ [46] https://www.sej.org/headlines/epa-stop-considering-lives-saved-when-setting-rules-air-pollution [47] https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/climate/trump-epa-air-pollution.html?unlocked_article_code=1.EFA.P6ui.qWj_RPRUhvnw&smid=url-share [48] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/108/all/target%3D%27_blank%27 [49] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/108/all/target%3D%27_blank%27?page=4 [50] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/108/all/target%3D%27_blank%27?page=1 [51] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/108/all/target%3D%27_blank%27?page=2 [52] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/108/all/target%3D%27_blank%27?page=3 [53] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/108/all/target%3D%27_blank%27?page=6 [54] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/108/all/target%3D%27_blank%27?page=7 [55] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/108/all/target%3D%27_blank%27?page=8 [56] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/108/all/target%3D%27_blank%27?page=9 [57] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/108/all/target%3D%27_blank%27?page=504