Stories You Might Have Missed This Week
Gun deaths in the U.S. hit a 20-year high, the Supreme Court declines to wade into an abortion debate, and a study offers some hope for coral reefs.
Conservation
What Will the New Farm Bill Mean for Key Programs Like SNAP?
After a fierce partisan fight, Congress has reached an agreement on SNAP, forestry, and conservation programs.
Lawmakers Have Reached an Initial Agreement on the Farm Bill
Negotiators are one step closer to a bill funding crucial food assistance and agriculture programs.
Utah's Grand Staircase-Escalante Faces an Uncertain Future as the Public Comment Period Ends
Under the Bureau of Land Management's plan, close to 700,000 acres of previously protected land would be open to drilling and mining.
Could the Reintroduction of Wolves Help Save Japan's Forests?
A large chunk of the country's forests were harmed in 2015 by wildlife—77 percent due to deer. Bringing back an apex predator could help staunch the bleeding.
Industry Influence at the DOI: Five Takeaways From Our Investigation
An investigation by Pacific Standard and the Guardian revealed the full extent to which Ryan Zinke's Department of the Interior favored industry over conservation.
Hurricane Michael Was the Most Devastating Disaster Florida's Farmers Have Seen in Decades
The storm wiped out nearly a million acres of crops and caused $158 million in agricultural losses.
Trump Signs the Water Infrastructure Act
The law authorizes billions of dollars for state-level projects aimed at improving the nation's rivers, harbors, and drinking water.
A Former Monsanto Executive Could Be the Next U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director
Aurelia Skipwith is a biologist and lawyer who's been with the Department of the Interior since April of 2017.
Behind the Partisan Fight to Eliminate the Country's Largest Conservation Program
With Congress at an impasse, sustainability advocates worry the farm bill could cut funds for conservation and give more to agriculture's biggest polluters.
With Family Plots and Migratory Hubs in Its Crosshairs, the Border Wall Looms Large in Texas
After securing over $500 million in March to build a border barrier, the Department of Homeland Security has begun laying the foundation for the first miles of Donald Trump's long-promised wall. The blueprint bisects federally protected public lands and dismembers private property that's been passed down for generations.
Inside Utah's Anti-Public Lands Agenda
New documents obtained by Pacific Standard show the scope of Utah's efforts to roll back key protections for public lands across the country.
In the Salish Sea, Native American Communities Bond Over a Rigorous Canoe Voyage
The Tribal Canoe Journey has become one of the largest Native American gatherings in North America. For one writer, it's also a chance to connect with family.
Mapping Bat Communications With Artificial Intelligence Could Be Key to Conversation
Scientists have developed an open-source artificial intelligence algorithm for acoustic identification of bat species that could help save them from the threat of wind farms.
Drink Beer, Save the Planet
New research finds most American beer drinkers are willing to pay more for an eco-friendly brew.
South American Jaguars Are Losing Critical Habitat Due to Agricultural Deforestation
This has led to over-hunting and persecution by cattle ranchers becoming even bigger threats to the survival of the big cat.
California's Largest Proposed Water Storage Project Hits Regulatory Hurdles
Regulators warnings that the Sites Reservoir may have to cut its stated water storage goals have thrown the future of the ambitious project into doubt.
What Will Happen Now That the Farm Bill Has Expired?
The current farm bill expired on Sunday, putting the debate over key USDA programs that protect public health and the environment on hold.
The Precarious Position of China's Primate Population
A new study warns that most primates in the second-most primate-rich country in Asia could be wiped out by the end of the century.
Inside the Effort to Preserve Migratory Bird Habitat in Central California
Concerned citizens, scientists, and conservation groups have joined forces to protect what stopover spots remain for birds migrating from South America to the Arctic.
Won't You Be My Climate-Conscious Neighbor?
New research suggests social comparison can be an effective way to reduce energy consumption.
California Works to Protect Its Shrinking Wetlands
The Trump administration is rolling back regulations aimed at preserving vital wetlands, but the state government isn't ready to cede control.
Americans Want Businesses—Not Local Governments—to Reduce Straw Pollution
In a new poll, nearly 80 percent of respondents supported companies switching to biodegradable straws.
Hunting for Ghost Nets in the Great Lakes
Free-floating fishing nets can kill fish and sailors. On the Great Lakes, anglers and tribes are confronting the problem.