"In line with its plan to continue pesticide approvals despite the government shutdown, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced this week that it will register a new weedkiller for use in corn, soybean, wheat, and canola fields."

"A federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the Trump administration to release full funding for November’s food assistance benefits by Friday. It comes after the partial funding disbursed by the Agriculture Department earlier this week had yet to reach those who qualify for the benefits."

"Millions of Americans apply each winter for help with their energy bills. Now the funding is in limbo."

"White House budget officials leaned on EPA to broaden its rollback of tailpipe regulations as it sought this summer to repeal a foundational EPA policy that undergirds most federal climate rules, including those for cars and trucks."

"A diverse group of food advocates, farmers, chefs and scientists is urging the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to define ultra-processed foods through a lens of public health, including what’s added or taken away from foods during processing, as well as any new risks introduced."

"Overtourism and heavy maritime traffic across the Mediterranean are contributing to a rise in pollution in Greece's azure waters, say Greek scientists who have deployed thousands of mussels on the seafloor to help detect microplastics."

"Several of the country’s largest chicken and turkey companies operate processing plants that routinely violate the federal government’s safety standards for salmonella contamination, according to a new analysis released by the animal welfare organization Farm Forward."

"The race for two seats on the obscure board that regulates Georgia’s utilities is drawing national attention — and could have major implications both for electricity affordability and one of the biggest planned fossil-fuel buildouts in the nation."

"With their distinctive shaggy orange manes, pale blue faces and dense fur covering their hands and feet, it’s hard to mistake China’s endangered golden snub-nosed monkeys for any other animal. These rare and charismatic monkeys, unique to the frigid mountains of central China, have recently joined the country’s famous pandas as furry envoys to zoos in Europe for the first time... ."

"Closely watched gubernatorial campaigns in Virginia and New Jersey are serving as testing grounds for how candidates will use surging electricity prices to their advantage in next year’s midterm elections."