New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is set to sign an executive order Tuesday imposing a one-year moratorium on the construction of new large-scale data centers. The order, which the governor’s office said will take effect immediately, pauses state permitting to allow regulators time to establish new standards for energy demand, water usage, and environmental impact. … Read more
President Donald Trump has announced plans to scale back the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in Utah, reviving a policy battle over federal land management that has shifted between administrations for years. According to the Associated Press, these actions seek to undo proclamations made by his predecessors, including President Joe Biden, who had … Read more
The Trump administration has finalized a regulatory change to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) that narrows the legal definition of “harm,” effectively permitting industrial activities such as logging, mining, and oil and gas drilling on critical wildlife habitats. According to administration officials, the rule change is intended to align agency enforcement with a 2024 Supreme … Read more
OPEC+ plans to increase oil production by 188,000 barrels per day starting next month, a move intended to stabilize global markets as fuel prices retreat from post-war highs. According to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, seven nations—Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman—will participate in this output expansion, marking the fifth … Read more
Extreme heat warnings were issued for New York, Boston, and Philadelphia on Wednesday as a heat dome pushes temperatures into the high 90s across the Northeast. The National Weather Service reports that humidity could cause heat indices to rise even higher, with Philadelphia and Boston potentially reaching temperatures above 100 degrees by Thursday. Why is … Read more
Tragedy on the Front Lines Three firefighters died and two others sustained burn injuries Saturday while battling the Snyder Fire near the Colorado-Utah border. The crew members, employed by the U.S. Wildland Fire Service and the U.S. Forest Service, were overcome by flames during a “burnover”—a situation where fire movement blocks all escape routes—and were … Read more
Prolonged heat waves are pushing avian and wildlife species toward their physiological thermal limits, according to experts from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and McGill University. As temperatures rise, birds face dehydration and heat stress because they lack sweat glands, relying instead on behaviors like “gular fluttering” and seeking shade to regulate body temperatures. Wildlife … Read more
The 1,200-year-old Major Oak in Sherwood Forest, a landmark famously linked to the legend of Robin Hood, has reportedly died after failing to sprout leaves this spring. According to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the tree’s demise is attributed to a combination of soil compaction from millions of visitors, historical structural … Read more
Angler Elliot Sudal successfully removed a fishing hook from a nearly nine-foot great white shark off the coast of Nantucket on June 7, highlighting the growing intersection between recreational fishing and protected marine predators. While the shark was released unharmed, the incident underscores the strict federal regulations governing interactions with white sharks, which are managed … Read more
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Monday that two additional cases of New World screwworm have been confirmed in Texas, bringing the state’s total to four. The infestation, which involves fly larvae that consume the living flesh of warm-blooded animals, has triggered concerns regarding the potential impact on the nation’s cattle industry. Officials confirmed … Read more