April 17, 2025
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
A Tulane study confirms long-standing claims that Black communities in Louisiana's "Cancer Alley" suffer disproportionate pollution while being excluded from both high...
A fiscal crisis is looming for many US cities
Summary
U.S. cities, including Chicago, San Francisco, and Houston, face mounting fiscal crises due to climate disasters, declining downtown economies, underfunded pensions, and the loss of federal COVID-19 relief funds. Houston, for example, is struggling with a $330 million budget deficit, worsened by a court-mandated $100 million investment in street repairs and drainage after years of severe flooding. Climate-related disasters are straining municipal budgets nationwide, forcing cities to spend on costly infrastructure upgrades while property tax revenues decline. The downturn in commercial real estate further reduces tax income, while rising pension costs add to financial pressures. With pandemic-era federal aid drying up, cities have fewer resources to cover shortfalls. The Trump administration’s opposition to aiding Democrat-led cities suggests federal support is unlikely. Experts warn that without new revenue strategies or spending cuts, cities may face service reductions, credit downgrades, or even municipal bankruptcies in the coming years.
April 11, 2025
Climate
Climate
A $378 million funding delay to LIHEAP after mass HHS layoffs threatens vital cooling aid for low-income Americans amid intensifying heat waves.
A federal appeals court ruled a lawsuit can proceed against St. James Parish, Louisiana, for alleged racist land-use policies...
April 9, 2025
Climate
Climate
Trump administration terminated NASA's contract supporting staff for the U.S. National Climate Assessment, potentially crippling its development...
President Trump rescinded federal flood standards requiring climate-resilient rebuilding, raising concerns that taxpayer-funded infrastructure...
The Trump administration plans to close the Community Relations Service, a Justice Department office created in 1964 to mediate racial tensions, sparking concerns...
The USDA resumed clean energy grants but encouraged recipients to strip diversity and climate goals, raising concerns about political interference and uncertainty over funding...
The article reflects on Dr. King’s enduring legacy, urging continued resistance against systemic oppression through community building, political courage, and cultural...
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designated 483 census tracts as Community Disaster Resilience Zones (CDRZs).
April 2, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change
The Trump administration is halting federal support for climate-friendly transit projects in Democratic-led states, threatening funding...
March 31, 2025
Food & Water Justice
Food & Water Justice
A $1 billion groundwater pipeline project to supply booming Central Texas cities has ignited a legal battle over aquifer rights, exposing the limits...
February 28, 2025
Economic Justice
Economic Justice
Climate disasters cost U.S. farmers over $20 billion in 2024, yet most federal aid favors large commodity producers...
March 19, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change
The Climate Change Committee (CCC) stresses that low-carbon farming is essential for Northern Ireland’s climate goals.
The UN's World Meteorological Organization reports that the past decade was the hottest on record, with 2024 surpassing the 1.5°C warming limit.
Trump’s vow to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, some Republicans and business leaders back its clean energy tax credits...