"Trump’s Water Jurisdiction Rule: What’s All the Fighting About?"
"The Trump administration’s long-anticipated water jurisdiction rule has already drawn a half-dozen legal challenges since its April release, with more on the way."
"The Trump administration’s long-anticipated water jurisdiction rule has already drawn a half-dozen legal challenges since its April release, with more on the way."
"In its rush to roll back the most significant climate policy enacted by Barack Obama — mileage standards designed to reduce pollution from cars — the Trump administration ignored warnings that its new rule has serious flaws, according to documents shared with The Washington Post."

With drought can come fire, and with megadrought, routine reporting becomes disaster headlines. Reporter’s Toolbox gets you to the bottom of the drought data sources that help determine what’s ahead for your region, sorting through the complicated set of federal drought monitoring agencies and resources.
"The Trump administration yesterday defended its decision to end a moratorium on new coal leasing, telling a federal judge it had done enough to assess the environmental impact of the policy change."

For reporters investigating the coronavirus-environment connection, you might look to the untreated sewage that can sometimes overflow municipal systems during wet weather, possibly bringing the novel pathogen to beaches and other places where people can get sick from it. The latest TipSheet takes a look at the reality, plus provides story ideas and reporter resources.
"A new study takes aim at the idea that environmental reviews take too long for timber and other projects in national forests."
Conservation Champion and Head of the Andrus Center Was Also a Staunch Advocate for SEJ. The Society of Environmental Journalists is saddened to learn of John Freemuth's passing. John was a stalwart supporter of SEJ and it was his vision that brought SEJ's 2020 conference to Boise State University. As the inaugural chair of the university's Andrus Center for Public Policy, he upheld the legacy of its namesake by leading a national dialogue on public lands policy.

"When things get tough, many of us often turn to books for new information, inspiration or simple entertainment. Well, we’ve got you covered on all three counts, with 14 great new environmental books coming out this month."
"The Trump administration abruptly cut off funding for a project studying how coronaviruses spread from bats to people after reports linked the work to a lab in Wuhan, China, at the center of conspiracy theories about the Covid-19 pandemic’s origins."

As researchers are finding that soot and other forms of fine particulates in the air may actually make people more vulnerable to the coronavirus, the EPA decided earlier this month against tightening related standards under the Clean Air Act. The latest TipSheet explains why the decision matters, provides deeper context and offers story ideas and resources.