From protecting and studying waterways to addressing chronic wasting disease, conservation voices say there are a lot of important items in Minnesota s environmental and energy spending bill. Supporters say it brings sharper focus to many long-standing requests. With Democrats holding majorities, the Legislature approved a nearly $2 billion omnibus bill to cover environmental, climate and energy priorities. .
By Caleigh Wells for KCRW.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News Service Collaboration Hours after another storm soaked Southern California, LA County’s principal stormwater engineer Sterling Klippel stands at the base of the San Gabriel Dam, looking like a kid in a candy store. He gazes in awe at the thousands of gallons of stormwater rushing through this dam every second. “Just this October, this facility was completely drained,” he says. .
By Caleigh Wells for KCRW.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News Service Collaboration The deluge of rain over the weekend flooded streets and damaged infrastructure across California. One place that didn’t flood? The Los Angeles River. That, of course, is by design. .
A favorable ruling in a case before the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the federal Clean Water Act could remove protections nationwide, and affect 90% of streams in New Mexico. The high court heard oral arguments last year in Sackett versus the Environmental Protection Agency, with a ruling expected any day. .