National (U.S.)

Districts Face A Back-To-School Math Problem: The High Price Of Diesel

"As the new school year kicks off, school districts are facing a challenging math problem: the high cost of diesel. The price of a gallon of diesel is up nearly $2 compared with this time last year. That is meaningful for schools, considering that around 90% of the United States' 480,000 school buses run on diesel."

Source: NPR, 08/28/2026

A Hard-Won Rule to Cut Chemical Plant Pollution Is Being Unraveled

"In 2024, the Biden administration enacted wide-ranging regulations to protect communities near petrochemical plants from air toxics. The Trump administration has since granted exemptions to scores of polluting facilities and is working to rewrite the long-awaited rule."

Source: Yale Environment 360, 08/28/2026

As Water Pollution Concerns Grow in Iowa, So Do Fertilizer Industry Profits

"As farmers balk at skyrocketing fertilizer costs and runoff threatens drinking water sources in Iowa, North American manufacturers are raking in cash." "The net earnings of North America’s top fertilizer producers raise questions about who benefits most from fertilizer use, an advocacy group says."

Source: Inside Climate News, 08/28/2026

Trump DOI Moves To Fast-Track Arctic Drilling Without Environmental Review

"The Interior Department will soon publish a “categorical exclusion” that will rubber stamp oil and gas development in Alaska’s remote National Petroleum Reserve."

Source: Public Domain, 08/28/2026
September 15, 2026

DEADLINE: The Penlight Prize for Excellence in Paywall-free Public Records Reporting

The Penlight Prize, presented by Freedom of the Press Foundation, honors exemplary public-records-based news stories made available to readers free of charge with a $25,000 prize. DEADLINE EXTENDED TO SEPT. 15.

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Lawsuit Seeks to Block Closure of Top Federal Climate Research Center

"The Trump administration move is “politically motivated,” said the plaintiff, one of the nation’s leading environmental gr�oups."

"One of the nation’s largest environmental groups is challenging the Trump administration’s closure of a leading climate institute, filing a lawsuit Thursday [Aug. 20] in federal court saying the closure is unlawful.

Source: Inside Climate News, 08/27/2026

PJM Has Finally Greenlit A Lot Of New Clean Power. Can It Get Built?

"The country’s biggest energy market has a problem: It can’t build enough power plants to keep up with electricity demand." "More than 50 GW of solar, wind, and batteries can now connect to PJM’s grid. It could help drive down costs — if states, utilities, and hyperscalers make it happen."

Source: Canary Media, 08/27/2026

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