Urban Planning/Transportation / Public News Service

Monday, June 5, 2023

Building Solutions for 'Range Anxiety' Can Boost Electric Vehicle Transition

By Whitney Bauck for Reasons to be Cheerful.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Netw…

Project developers have announced ambitions for more than 200 new capture facilities to be operating by 2030, capturing more than 220 metric tons of CO2 per year globally, according to the International Energy Agency. (Adobe Stock)

Environmentalists Build Opposition to CO2 Pipelines at Des Moines Hearing

The federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration regulates carbon dioxide pipelines, and is holding a two-day conference in Des …

Researchers found cities with the highest ParkScore rankings are healthier places to live based on the metrics of physical inactivity and mental health. (Adobe Stock)

Wisconsin Does Well in Park Rankings

Two of Wisconsin's largest cities land in the top twenty in a new ranking for parks. The nonprofit Trust for Public Land has issued its annual …

In 2017, Delaware became the second state to adopt the Idaho Stop, 35 years after the Gem State did so. (skilas/Adobe Stock)

Idaho Stop Law for Cyclists Rolls Across U.S.

The "Idaho Stop" measure for bicyclists is spreading to other states. Minnesota is the latest to adopt the so-called Idaho Stop, in which cyclists …

The New Mexico Legislature passed a bill this year to provide free IDs for individuals experiencing homelessness. (Seventyfour/AdobeStock)

Study: New Mexico Homelessness Up Nearly 50% in 2023

Rent for New Mexicans has increased 70% since 2017, while wages have only grown by 15%, which is one factor pushing more people into homelessness…

Hundreds of wildlife crossing structures are still needed across Colorado to restore historic migration corridors. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado Set to Tap Federal Infrastructure Funds for Wildlife Crossings

New funding recently added to the Colorado Wildlife Safe Passages Fund could provide relief for mule deer and elk populations, which are on the …

The EPA admits its new standards for air pollution at power plants could bring small increases in utility bills, but projects the plan would bring a total of $85 billion in climate and health savings. (Adobe Stock)

New EPA Standards Seen as Attack on Coal-Fired Power Plants

The Environmental Protection Agency's proposal to cut pollution from power plants not already set to retire by 90% by 2030 is the most ambitious in ov…

According to the EPA, the proposals would reduce oil imports by approximately 20 billion barrels. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed EPA Rule Could Mean More Electric Cars on NV Roads

The Environmental Protection Agency announced last month new and more stringent vehicle-emission standards which some say could significantly help red…

If left unchecked, and without access to medications, chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure can turn into complications such as diabetic neuropathy and coronary vascular disease. (Adobe Stock)

Critical Medicines Closer to West Denver Metro Residents

After 18 months of planning and renovations, STRIDE community health center has opened its second pharmacy inside the Wheat Ridge clinic at 29th St…

According to Consumer Reports, 71% of Americans express some level of interest in buying or leasing an all-electric car. (Adobe Stock)

New EPA Rule Could Mean 2 out of 3 Cars is Electric by 2032

The Environmental Protection Agency announced last month new and more stringent vehicle emission standards, which some say could significantly help …

According to the East Coast Greenway Alliance, 50 million bike rides, runs and walks occur every year along the project's existing route. (Adobe Stock)

North Carolina Greenways: A Path to Health, Happiness, and Economic Growth

By Ashira Morris for Reasons to be Cheerful.Broadcast version by Shanteya Hudson for North Carolina News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalis…

In 2022, the Living Schoolyards Act was introduced in Congress, which would direct federal resources toward greening school grounds like those above. However, the bill failed to advance out of committee. (Adobe Stock)

Green Playgrounds Help NY Achieve Climate Goals

By Marianne Dhenin for Next City.Broadcast version by Edwin J. Viera for New York News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-…

Signs someone could be having a stroke and needs immediate emergency care include loss of speech, vision or the inability to move their arms or legs or maintain balance. (Adobe Stock)

National Stroke Awareness Month Spotlights Environmental Factors

Cardiovascular diseases are the world's leading cause of disability and death, and are responsible for nearly a million deaths each year in the U.S.…

A schoolyard in Concord, California. More than 4.2 million of the students in California public schools are on campuses with less than 10% tree canopy, half with less than 5%. (Sharon Danks)

Reimagining Schoolyards to Improve Health and Learning

By Carl Smith for Governing.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News…

Ohio Army National Guard and Ohio State Highway Patrol officers assist with traffic control after the train derailment in East Palestine. (Flickr/Ohio National Guard)<br />

East Palestine Residents Want FEMA to Address Long-Term Needs

Four months after the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, residents say they continue to struggle with ongoing health problems, and face an …

The Philadelphia Public School District purchased its first five electric school buses in 2022 and says it plans to expand its fleet this year to reduce its carbon footprint. (Viktoriia/Adobe Stock)

More PA Districts Look to Upgrade School Buses with EPA Grants

School districts in Pennsylvania and across the country can apply for grant funding to get new buses that run on cleaner fuel sources. There's $400 …

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 91,000 police reports of accidents in 2017 involved

Too Little Sleep Contributes to Chronic Health Conditions, Accidents

Feeling drowsy during the day isn't the only problem associated with getting too little sleep, which is the case for nearly one-third of U.S. adults…

Since the early 90s, the state has lost about 250,000 mule deer. (Adobe Stock)

Elk Linked to Declining Mule Deer Populations

Thriving elk herds are adding to the challenges facing mule deer populations, which have been on the decline for decades in Wyoming and across the …

The Nevada Legislature is considering the Windsor Park Environmental Justice Act, which would establish a program for relocating residents of the North Las Vegas neighborhood of Windsor Park. (Adobe Stock)

NV Senator Aims to Help Owners of Sinking Homes in North Las Vegas

A Nevada senator is trying to help relocate residents of Windsor Park in North Las Vegas for a unique reason - their homes are sinking. State Sen…

A passage under U.S. Highway 97 south of Bend is one of Oregon's five completed wildlife crossings. (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife)

OR Lawmakers Consider Bill to Protect Wildlife from Busy Roads

Oregon lawmakers are considering a measure to increase the number of wildlife crossings in the state. Crossings help animals get under or over busy …

According to the Lake Carriers' Association, the Great Lakes fleet moves more than 90 million tons of cargo annually. (icholakov/Adobe Stock)

Could Great Lakes’ Cargo Fleet 'Go Green?'

By Audrey Richardson for Great Lakes Echo.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Michigan News Connection reporting for Solutions Journalism-Public Ne…

Union County averaged 1.3 high ozone days giving them a

NC Air Report Highlights Needs for Emission Reduction, Rural Air Monitoring

A new study emphasizes the urgent need for enhanced air quality monitoring in rural regions, while drawing attention to the efforts required to …

In Tennessee, growth in the electric vehicle/hybrid sector could add 200,000 EVs by 2028, which the Tennessee Department of Transportation said creates a challenge in terms of the state's ability to build and maintain transportation infrastructure. (Sundry Photography/Adobe Stock)

New Law Aims to Help with TN Traffic Congestion

Legislation has been signed to revamp the roads in fast-growing Tennessee and spend more money on them. The Transportation Modernization Act invests …

Tours of the mid-century modern M Building, renovated by Diane McGinley and her husband in downtown Casper, is just one of this year's many sites to be celebrated during Preservation Month, which was started by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1973. (Diane McGinley)

M Building Kicks Off WY Historic Preservation Month

The Alliance for Historic Wyoming is putting a spotlight on the people responsible for preserving places during Preservation Month, which kicks off …

Some 21,134 existing housing units in Denver are currently unoccupied, more than enough to house all the estimated 10,000 people experiencing homelessness across the state. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Colorado's Housing Affordability Crisis Calls for Strategic Investments

Housing affordability has become a top priority for Colorado lawmakers and voters, and a new report from an organization with nearly four decades of …

Electric-car sales reached a record high in 2021, despite supply chain bottlenecks and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Compared with 2020, sales nearly doubled to 6.6 million, according to the International Energy Agency. (Adobe Stock)

Experts School IA Emergency Responders on EV Car Crashes

With more electric vehicles on the road, automakers are training emergency workers in best practices to respond to crashes involving the battery-…

Electric vehicles, which can carry a battery pack with up to 50,000 volts of electricity, can be a danger, both to passengers and first responders, in accidents. (Adobe Stock)

EV Accident Response Training Emerges for First Responders

The auto industry and public agencies are looking ahead to a bigger transition to electric vehicles, and it's not just adding more charging stations…

Beyond Infrastructure, EV Movement Includes First-Responder Training

The auto industry and public agencies are looking ahead to a bigger transition to electric vehicles, and it's not just adding more charging stations…

Maine labor law allows tipped employees to be paid a lower cash wage than the standard minimum wage by their employers, as up to $5.50 in tips earned per hour can be deducted from their wage as a

ME Lawmakers Aim to Raise Minimum Wage to $24 by 2033

Maine lawmakers are considering legislation to raise the state's minimum wage to $24 an hour by 2033. The current minimum wage of $13.80 would jump …

Research shows West Virginia's Corridor H highway could potentially impact threatened and endangered species such as the West Virginia flying squirrel. (Adobe Stock)

After WV Town Greenlights Corridor H Highway, Residents Want Input

Residents in West Virginia want more input on a four-lane highway slated to cut through the towns of Thomas and Davis, continuing over the Blackwater …

First Responders Learn to Deal with Electric-Vehicle Accidents

As the number of electric vehicles on Illinois roads grows, so does the danger of injury for emergency medical technicians and firefighters …

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, transportation contributes 27% of greenhouse-gas emissions across the nation. (e.v Energy)

New NY Program Provides Incentives for EV Charging

Orange and Rockland counties in New York are instituting a cash-incentive program for electric-vehicle owners. The SmartCharge New York program …

One of Pittsburgh's building efficiency goals is to reduce energy and water consumption by 50% by 2030, according to the city's Climate Action Plan. (Checubus/Adobe Stock)

Pittsburgh Plans for Climate Goal with Priority-Based Budgeting

By Claire Elise Thompson for Grist.Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Keystone State News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Netwo…

One billion people in more than 193 countries participate in Earth Day activities, according to Earth Day Network. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa Educators Focus on Sustainability During Earth Month

As part of Earth Month, an extension of the annual Earth Day celebration, educators and researchers are calling on Iowans to put sustainability first …

The Inflation Reduction Act extended the $7,500-per-vehicle tax credit through 2032. (Adobe Stock)

Could Churches be Prime Locations for EV Charging Stations?

By Amethyst Holmes for Religion News Service.Broadcast version by Brett Peveto for Maryland News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Net…

Former Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker signed a landmark climate law in 2021 which requires utilities like Eversource and National Grid to increase their renewable-energy portfolio by at least 3% every year. (Adobe Stock)

Boston Moves to Implement Climate-Friendly Building Code

Boston is set to become the eighth and largest city in the Commonwealth to implement a new state climate-friendly building code to reduce the use of f…

Devoted mother, daughter, sister and niece, Ohio resident Erica Easley died at age 39 in a car crash caused by distracted driving. (Courtesy of Stephanie Easley)<br />

Ohio Distracted Driving Deaths Up; Family Members Raise Awareness

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and in Ohio, fatal accidents caused by distracted drivers are on the rise. Deaths in 2021 …

In 2022, there were more than 37,000 dollar stores in the United States, up by 1,500 from the previous year, according to the website Statista. (Adobe Stock)

In Toledo, Dollar Stores Leave Trail of Neighborhood Disinvestment

New research found more communities are rejecting the expansion of so-called "dollar stores" into their areas, and even enacting local laws to limit …

In Nevada, between 2018 and 2021, there were more than 1.4 million citation issued by law enforcement agencies. (Adobe Stock)

UNLV Researchers Reveal New Data on Car Crashes in Nevada

Scientific researchers at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas are looking at traffic related injuries and …

More than 2,400 buses, 95% of them electric, will go to 402 school districts from this first of five rounds of the EPA's Clean School Bus Rebate Program. (Robert Peak/Adobe Stock)

Infrastructure Act-Funded EPA Program Sends Electric Buses to NE Schools

Students in six rural Nebraska school districts will be riding to school in new electric school buses beginning next fall. The districts were …

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government gave the airline industry a $54 billion lifeline meant to keep the airlines running and cover payroll for 18 months, through September 2021. <br />(Adobe Stock)

Consumer Air Travel Complaints Surge Despite Fewer Travelers

The number of people who traveled on U.S. airlines last year remained below pre-pandemic levels but consumer complaints about the airlines nearly …

The debate over reimagining interstates in urban settings has surfaced in several Midwestern cities, including Milwaukee. (Adobe Stock)

As Climate Money Pours In, Some Urban Freeways May Disappear

A REASONS TO BE CHEERFFUL/SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM NETWORK/WISCONSIN NEWS CONNCECTION COLLABORATION Milwaukee is tied to a wave of freeway removals in th…

According to a 2022 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report, 3% of drivers fiddle with their cell phones in their car, a dangerous act taking a driver's eyes off the road for five seconds. It is more than enough time to get into a fatal car accident, more than 3,100 of which are caused by distracted driving each year. (Adobe Stock)

IA Senate Advances Hands-Free Cell Phone Bill

The Iowa Senate has advanced a bill to outlaw handling a cellphone while driving. The state already has a distracted driving law, but it allows …

Arkansas would expect to receive $246 million over five years under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to improve public transportation options across the state. (SeanPavonePhoto/AdobeStock)

AR Mayor Focuses on Infrastructure and Revitalization Projects

An Arkansas mayor joined city leaders from across the country for the National League of Cities Congressional City Conference in the nation's capital …

A report from AARP New York finds older New Yorkers living in rural areas are struggling to age in place because of how expensive modifications to homes would be. While they can utilize New York's Access to Home for Medicaid Recipients program, it only gets enough funding to handle $1 million in improvements, but has received requests totaling $12 million. (Andre Carrotflower/Wikimedia Commons)

NY Mayor Eager to Address Numerous Issues After Conference

A New York state mayor is eager to implement new initiatives he observed during the National League of Cities Congressional City Conference. …

Joellen Russell says diesel buses emit fumes like formaldehyde and benzene, the same chemicals found in cigarettes. (Adobe Stock)

Expert: AZ's Dirty Energy Negatively Impacts Kids, Federal Dollars Could Help

April is Earth Month, and for many climate scientists and advocates across the world, it's a time to raise environmental awareness. In Arizona…

According to Abbott, about 110,000 people call Sparks home. (Adobe Stock)

NV Councilmen Eager to Discuss Infrastructure Projects with Federal Officials

Close to 3,000 city leaders from across the country were in Washington D.C. this week for the National League of Cities' Congressional City …

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, 68% of extremely low-income renter households in Connecticut are severely cost burdened, meaning they spend more than half their monthly income on housing. (Adobe Stock)

CT Councilwoman Redoubles Focus on Housing, Public Safety

One Connecticut elected official is eager to begin addressing issues in focus at the National League of Cities' Congressional City Conference…

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