SEJ
Published on SEJ (https://www.sej.org)

Home > Public

#SEJ2026 Live — Coverage of Conference Tours [1]

SEJournal is providing full coverage of all eight of the day-long tours from the annual Society of Environmental Journalists’ conference, April 15-18, in Chicago. In Part 2, contributors Meg Duff [2], Nathaniel Eisen [3], Nhung Nguyen [4] and Marlowe Starling [5] provide detailed reports from tours focused on the transitioning steel industry, microgrids, climate-friendly crop practices and evolving Midwestern agricultural systems.

Also check out the first round of tour coverage and read all the great work [1] from our team of early-career freelance journalists, part of SEJournal’s live #SEJ2026 Live conference reporting.

SEJ Publication Types: 
SEJ News [6]
Topics on the Beat: 
Activism [7]
Agriculture [8]
Air [9]
Biodiversity [10]
Chemicals [11]
Climate Change [12]
Consumer [13]
Economy & Business [14]
Energy & Fuel [15]
Environmental Health [16]
Environmental Justice [17]
Environmental Politics [18]
Environmental Studies [19]
Food [20]
Forests [21]
Government [22]
Health [23]
Infrastructure [24]
Journalism & Media [25]
Laws & Regulations [26]
Natural Resources [27]
People & Population [28]
Planning & Growth [29]
Policy [30]
Pollution [31]
Science [32]
Technology [33]
Transportation [34]
Waste [35]
Water & Oceans [36]
Wildlife [37]
Region: 
National (U.S.) [38]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [39]
Visibility: 
Public [40]
  • Read more about #SEJ2026 Live — Coverage of Conference Tours [1]

War and Pizza — #SEJ2026 in Chicago [41]

Nearly as rejuvenating as attending the Society of Environmental Journalists’ annual gathering is perusing the après-conference spoof by contributing quipster David Helvarg. While it seemed he was mostly there unabashedly preselling his forthcoming book, he somehow found time to send up SEJ’s earnest sessions, lambast its blown-up tours and rib its beat dinners. Read his Chicago roast.

SEJ Publication Types: 
SEJ News [6]
Topics on the Beat: 
Agriculture [8]
Air [9]
Chemicals [11]
Climate Change [12]
Economy & Business [14]
Energy & Fuel [15]
Environmental Health [16]
Environmental Justice [17]
Environmental Politics [18]
Fish & Fisheries [42]
Government [22]
Health [23]
Journalism & Media [25]
Natural Resources [27]
Policy [30]
Pollution [31]
Science [32]
Waste [35]
Water & Oceans [36]
Region: 
National (U.S.) [38]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [39]
Visibility: 
Public [40]
  • Read more about War and Pizza — #SEJ2026 in Chicago [41]

Wildfires Used To ‘Sleep’ At Night. Climate Now Makes Them Burn Overtime [43]

"Burning time for North American wildfires is going into overtime. Flames are lasting later into the night and starting earlier in the morning because human-caused climate change is extending the hotter and drier conditions that feed fires, a new study found."

Climate Change [12]
Disasters [44]
Forests [21]
People & Population [28]
Water & Oceans [36]
Public [40]
Alaska and Hawaii [45]
California [46]
Source: AP [47], 04/21/2026
  • Read more about Wildfires Used To ‘Sleep’ At Night. Climate Now Makes Them Burn Overtime [43]

"Record US Drought Sparks Worries About Fires, Water Supply And Food Prices" [48]

"Drought in the contiguous United States has reached record levels for this time of year, weather data shows. Meteorologists said it’s a bad sign for the upcoming wildfire season, food prices and western water issues."

Agriculture [8]
Biodiversity [10]
Climate Change [12]
Consumer [13]
Energy & Fuel [15]
Environmental Politics [18]
Infrastructure [24]
Water & Oceans [36]
Public [40]
National (U.S.) [38]
Source: AP [49], 04/21/2026
  • Read more about "Record US Drought Sparks Worries About Fires, Water Supply And Food Prices" [48]

Maine Tightens Limits On PFAS In Drinking Water. Are Communities Ready? [50]

"Nearly four dozen water systems that provide drinking water across Maine would be at risk of violating new limits on “forever chemicals” if the state began enforcing updated rules on the toxic substances today, showing how much work they have left to do to meet new requirements."

Chemicals [11]
Consumer [13]
Environmental Health [16]
Environmental Politics [18]
Infrastructure [24]
Laws & Regulations [26]
People & Population [28]
Pollution [31]
Water & Oceans [36]
Public [40]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [51]
Source: Maine Monitor [52], 04/21/2026
  • Read more about Maine Tightens Limits On PFAS In Drinking Water. Are Communities Ready? [50]

Asia’s Longest Free-Flowing River Polluted By Arsenic From Myanmar Mines [53]

"Independent testing of the Salween River began in September 2025 after researchers found alarming levels of toxic contaminants in the nearby Kok, Sai and Ruak rivers in Thailand, much of it linked to unregulated mining in Myanmar."

Chemicals [11]
Environmental Health [16]
Fish & Fisheries [42]
Natural Resources [27]
Pollution [31]
Waste [35]
Water & Oceans [36]
Public [40]
Asia [54]
Source: Mongabay [55], 04/21/2026
  • Read more about Asia’s Longest Free-Flowing River Polluted By Arsenic From Myanmar Mines [53]

"‘The Absolute Edge Of Precedent’: FERC Prepares To Take On Data Centers" [56]

"The commission is pushing to get data centers onto the grid, and fast. The high-stakes move could tip the balance of regulatory power against the states."

Climate Change [12]
Consumer [13]
Energy & Fuel [15]
Environmental Politics [18]
Government [22]
Infrastructure [24]
Laws & Regulations [26]
Planning & Growth [29]
Pollution [31]
Technology [33]
Water & Oceans [36]
Public [40]
National (U.S.) [38]
Source: E&E News [57], 04/21/2026
  • Read more about "‘The Absolute Edge Of Precedent’: FERC Prepares To Take On Data Centers" [56]

Trump Interior Dept. Unveils Emergency Plans For Colorado River [58]

"The Trump administration will pull its emergency levers to head off a major water and power crisis." "Interior said it will cut releases out of one of the river’s two main reservoirs, Lake Powell, to the minimum amount legally allowed — 6 million acre-feet — between now and October."

Agriculture [8]
Biodiversity [10]
Climate Change [12]
Consumer [13]
Disasters [44]
Environmental Politics [18]
Government [22]
Laws & Regulations [26]
People & Population [28]
Planning & Growth [29]
Technology [33]
Water & Oceans [36]
Public [40]
National (U.S.) [38]
Source: E&E News [59], 04/21/2026
  • Read more about Trump Interior Dept. Unveils Emergency Plans For Colorado River [58]

Green Group Warns Potomac Is Nation's Most Endangered River [60]

"The Potomac River, otherwise known as “the nation’s river,” has been named the most endangered river in the country, following a massive sewage spill earlier this year and the ongoing buildout of thirsty data centers across the watershed."

Biodiversity [10]
Chemicals [11]
Climate Change [12]
Disasters [44]
Environmental Health [16]
Environmental Politics [18]
Fish & Fisheries [42]
Infrastructure [24]
Pollution [31]
Waste [35]
Water & Oceans [36]
Public [40]
National (U.S.) [38]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [61]
Source: Virginia Mercury [62], 04/21/2026
  • Read more about Green Group Warns Potomac Is Nation's Most Endangered River [60]

"Environmental Groups Sue to Block BP’s Plan to Drill in Deep Gulf Waters" [63]

"Environmental groups sued the Trump administration on Monday to stop the British oil giant BP, which operated the Deepwater Horizon drilling platform that exploded in 2010, from starting a new $5 billion drilling project in ultra-deep waters in the Gulf of Mexico."

Biodiversity [10]
Chemicals [11]
Consumer [13]
Disasters [44]
Energy & Fuel [15]
Environmental Health [16]
Environmental Justice [17]
Environmental Politics [18]
Fish & Fisheries [42]
Health [23]
Infrastructure [24]
Laws & Regulations [26]
People & Population [28]
Pollution [31]
Water & Oceans [36]
Public [40]
National (U.S.) [38]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [64]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [65]
Source: NYTimes [66], 04/21/2026
  • Read more about "Environmental Groups Sue to Block BP’s Plan to Drill in Deep Gulf Waters" [63]

Pages

  • « first [67]
  • ‹ previous [68]
  • …
  • 34 [69]
  • 35 [70]
  • 36 [71]
  • 37 [68]
  • 38
  • 39 [72]
  • 40 [73]
  • 41 [74]
  • 42 [75]
  • …
  • next › [72]
  • last » [76]
  • Contact Us  |
  • Donate  |
  • Join  |
  • Members  |
  • Privacy & Security Policies  |
  • Reach SEJ Members  |
  • Renew  |
  • Site Map
The Society of Environmental Journalists
1629 K Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20006
Telephone: (202) 558-2055
Email: sej@sej.org
© 2026 The Society of Environmental Journalists. All Rights Reserved.
All graphics © SEJ, unless otherwise stated.

Source URL:https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/81/all/target%3D%26amp%3B?page=37

Links
[1] https://www.sej.org/publications/sej-news/sej2026-live-coverage-conference-tours [2] https://www.sej.org/publications/sej-news/sej2026-live-coverage-conference-tours#Duff [3] https://www.sej.org/publications/sej-news/sej2026-live-coverage-conference-tours#Eisen [4] https://www.sej.org/publications/sej-news/sej2026-live-coverage-conference-tours#Nguyen [5] https://www.sej.org/publications/sej-news/sej2026-live-coverage-conference-tours#Starling [6] https://www.sej.org/category/sej-publication-types/sej-news [7] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/activism [8] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/agriculture [9] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/air [10] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/biodiversity-1 [11] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/chemicals/toxics [12] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/climate-change [13] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/consumer [14] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/business [15] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/energy [16] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-health [17] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-justice [18] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-politics [19] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmentalists [20] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/food [21] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/forests [22] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/government [23] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/health [24] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/infrastructure [25] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/journalism/media [26] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/laws [27] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/land [28] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/people-population [29] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/cities-towns [30] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/policy [31] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/pollution [32] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/science [33] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/technology [34] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/transportation [35] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/waste [36] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/water [37] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/wildlife [38] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national [39] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/great-lakes [40] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/81 [41] https://www.sej.org/publications/sej-news/war-and-pizza-sej2026-chicago [42] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/fisheries [43] https://www.sej.org/headlines/wildfires-used-sleep-night-climate-now-makes-them-burn-overtime [44] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/disaster [45] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/alaska-and-hawaii [46] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/california [47] https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-climate-change-hotter-drier-maui-los-angeles-42ecbce3440d8d387a5617cc2d1e65a8 [48] https://www.sej.org/headlines/record-us-drought-sparks-worries-about-fires-water-supply-and-food-prices [49] https://apnews.com/article/drought-us-food-prices-wildfire-water-supply-3625f832e5122c988904fc66d39906f7 [50] https://www.sej.org/headlines/maine-tightens-limits-pfas-drinking-water-are-communities-ready [51] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/northeast [52] https://themainemonitor.org/maine-tightening-limits-forever-chemicals-drinking-water/ [53] https://www.sej.org/headlines/asia-s-longest-free-flowing-river-polluted-arsenic-myanmar-mines [54] https://www.sej.org/category/region/international/asia [55] https://news.mongabay.com/2026/04/asias-longest-free-flowing-river-contaminated-by-arsenic-linked-to-myanmar-mines/ [56] https://www.sej.org/headlines/absolute-edge-precedent-ferc-prepares-take-data-centers [57] https://www.eenews.net/articles/the-absolute-edge-of-precedent-ferc-prepares-to-take-on-data-centers/ [58] https://www.sej.org/headlines/trump-interior-dept-unveils-emergency-plans-colorado-river [59] https://www.eenews.net/articles/interior-unveils-emergency-plans-for-colorado-river-2/ [60] https://www.sej.org/headlines/green-group-warns-potomac-nations-most-endangered-river [61] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/mid-atlantic [62] https://virginiamercury.com/briefs/conservation-groups-raise-alarm-as-potomac-river-named-most-endangered-in-the-nation/ [63] https://www.sej.org/headlines/environmental-groups-sue-block-bp-s-plan-drill-deep-gulf-waters [64] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/southeast [65] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/southwest [66] https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/20/climate/bp-kaskida-drilling-lawsuit.html?unlocked_article_code=1.cVA.YnZ_.wSVM97nYP8H0&smid=url-share [67] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/81/all/target%3D%26amp%3B [68] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/81/all/target%3D%26amp%3B?page=36 [69] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/81/all/target%3D%26amp%3B?page=33 [70] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/81/all/target%3D%26amp%3B?page=34 [71] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/81/all/target%3D%26amp%3B?page=35 [72] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/81/all/target%3D%26amp%3B?page=38 [73] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/81/all/target%3D%26amp%3B?page=39 [74] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/81/all/target%3D%26amp%3B?page=40 [75] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/81/all/target%3D%26amp%3B?page=41 [76] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/81/all/target%3D%26amp%3B?page=4768