Miami-based radio news director Dan Grech recounts his journey covering the traumatic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, becoming homeless thanks to Hurricane Wilma, his subsequent training on trauma reporting, and shares his lessons learned with you.
In this issue: Covering and surviving trauma; goodbye to SEJournal editor Mike Mansur; interview with award-winning Seattle Times reporter Craig Welch; MIT @ 150 years; media's vetting of candidates on climate change; negotiating the 'new' journalism world; environmental and economic impacts of world's growing demand for food; and more.
"In a victory for environmentalists, a flame retardant common in furniture and baby products was officially listed yesterday by the state as a cancer-causing chemical."
EPA has charged a Maryland man with fraud in an alleged biofuels credit scheme, signalling a federal crackdown on fraud and abuse of the Renewable Fuels Standard.
"As legislation to limit U.S. EPA's power to regulate coal ash hits the House floor this week, environmental advocates see industry footprints all over the bill's language. They say millions of dollars spent in lobbying and campaign contributions have yielded another congressional proposal to block Obama administration environmental oversight -- and have allowed the industry to frame the debate."
"In wake of last year's BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a new study from an environmental watchdog group contends that current federal standards underestimate the risk to pregnant women and children of cancer-causing contaminants that can accumulate in seafood from such spills."
"Energy Department career employees admonished and occasionally ignored the Obama fundraiser who managed DOE’s public rollout of Solyndra's loan guarantee, according to internal Obama administration emails that POLITICO reviewed on Wednesday."
With a $10 billion maintenance backlog, the National Park Service is struggling to make do as aging buildings deteriorate. This week it shuttered the Grand Teton's Indian Arts Museum, because uncontrolled humidity and other conditions there were ruining a world-class collection of ancient Native American artifacts.
"LAFAYETTE, La. -- Pelican Refining Company pleaded guilty to felony violations of the Clean Air Act at its refinery in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and to obstruction of justice charges Wednesday in federal court in Lafayette. If the court sentences according to the terms in the plea agreement, Pelican will pay $12 million in criminal penalties, the largest criminal fine ever imposed in Louisiana for violations of the Clean Air Act."
"HOUSTON -- A Houston-based natural gas and oil drilling contractor pleaded guilty Tuesday to a negligent violation of the Clean Water Act in federal court in Muskogee, Oklahoma."
