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Canadian Wildfire Smog Spurs Air Quality Alerts in NYC (Maria)
The author writes, “Intense Canadian wildfires are blanketing the northeastern US in a dystopian haze, turning the air acrid, the sky yellowish gray and prompting warnings for vulnerable populations to stay inside. The effects of hundreds of wildfires burning across the western provinces to Quebec could be felt as far away as New York City and New England, blotting out skylines. … US authorities issued air quality alerts.”
WA Ban on Sale of AR-15s and Other Semi-Automatic Rifles Can Go Forward, Judge Rules (Reader Steve)
From The Seattle Times: “A federal judge Tuesday denied an attempt to halt Washington’s new ban on the sale of AR-15s and other semi-automatic rifles. The same late April day that Gov. Jay Inslee signed a ban on the sale of dozens of firearms, including AK-47s, AR-15s and M16s, the Bellevue-based Second Amendment Foundation and other opponents filed a lawsuit challenging it. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Robert Bryan denied their move to block the law from being enforced. The plaintiffs had sought an injunction in early May.”
Florida Investigates Duval Jail Medical Provider After Heart Transplant Recipient Dies (Dana)
The author writes, “The man pleaded multiple times to get his medication to prevent organ rejection and was denied. It’s not the first time the jail’s medical contractor was involved in an inmate’s death. The Florida Department of Management Services has opened an investigation into the contracted medical provider of the Duval County jail after the death of an inmate who did not receive needed organ rejection medication.”
Biden Administration Bans Drilling Around Native American Cultural Site (Mili)
From The New York Times, “The Biden administration took action on Friday to block new oil and gas leasing on federal land around Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, one of the nation’s oldest and most culturally significant Native American sites. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced that her agency would withdraw public lands within a 10-mile radius of Chaco Canyon and the area around it, known as Chaco Culture National Historical Park, from access to new oil and gas leasing for 20 years, following through on a 2021 pledge by President Biden to protect the area from drilling.”
The Laws That Took Down Mobsters Are Now Being Turned Against Big Oil (Laura)
From Grist: “Cities in New Jersey and Puerto Rico claim oil companies are behind a conspiracy to deceive the public.”
Is Air Quality in China a Social Problem? (Sean)
The author writes, “The tradeoffs between environmental protection and economic growth arguably present a greater challenge for developing countries, as their economic development often depends on industrial output, urbanization, and motorization — all of which can greatly increase pollution. For China, rapid economic growth has lifted millions of people out of poverty, but it has also resulted in immense levels of environmental degradation.”
Bringing Nature Inside Can Improve Your Health. Here’s How to Do It. (Russ)
The author writes, “‘Biophilic design’ is a research-backed approach to interiors that encourages connecting with the outdoors.”
