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New US Rules Aim to Crack Down on Toxic Air Pollution From Steelmakers (Maria)
The author writes, “New Environmental Protection Agency rules aim to crack down on toxic air pollution from US steelmakers by limiting pollutants such as mercury, benzene and lead that have long poisoned the air. … Gas from the ovens creates an individual cancer risk in the air around steel plants of 50 in 1,000,000, which public health advocates say is dangerous for children and people with underlying health problems. The chemicals do not travel far from the plant, but advocates say they have been devastating for public health in ‘fenceline’ low-income neighborhoods around steel facilities, and represent an environmental justice issue.”
Nikki Haley Writes ‘Finish Them’ on IDF Artillery Shells During Israel Visit (Sean)
From The Guardian: “The former South Carolina governor’s graphic display of support came on a trip to Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, where she was accompanied by Danny Danon, a former Israeli ambassador to the United Nations and a noted hawkish member of Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party in the Knesset. Her shell-signing activities came at a time when Israel is engaged in a devastating military offensive in Gaza that has so far killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, an estimated 15,000 of them children.”
Graduating Seniors Seek Degrees in Climate Change and More US Universities Deliver (Laura)
The author writes, “In these programs, students learn how the atmosphere is changing as a result of burning coal, oil and gas, along with the way crops will shift with the warming planet and the role of renewable energy in cutting use of fossil fuels. They dive into how to communicate about climate with the public, ethical and environmental justice aspects of climate solutions and the roles lawmakers and businesses play in cutting greenhouse gases. Students also cover disaster response and ways communities can prepare and adapt before climate change worsens. The offerings require biology, chemistry, physics, and social sciences faculty, among others.”
How to Force Justices Alito and Thomas to Recuse Themselves in the Jan. 6 Cases (DonkeyHotey)
From The New York Times: “The U.S. Department of Justice — including the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, an appointed U.S. special counsel and the solicitor general, all of whom were involved in different ways in the criminal prosecutions underlying these cases and are opposing Mr. Trump’s constitutional and statutory claims — can petition the other seven justices to require Justices Alito and Thomas to recuse themselves not as a matter of grace but as a matter of law.”
Why the Uncanny “All Eyes on Rafah” Image Went So Viral (Laryn)
The author writes, “It’s somewhat ironic, then, that the viral image was so clearly AI-generated — but this is also likely a cause of its success. While Instagram has been a crucial tool for journalists and activists covering the devastation in Gaza, its parent company Meta has been accused of censoring pro-Palestinian content on both Instagram and Facebook, even among its employees, though it has repeatedly denied doing so. A computer-generated image would have an easier time bypassing Instagram’s moderation policies, which remove posts that it considers violent and graphic.”
Some Candidates in WA Are Printing Their Protests Right on the Ballot (Reader Steve)
From The Seattle Times: “A former officer at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Harman is one of five candidates running for lieutenant governor in this August’s primary. Two are Democrats, including the incumbent Denny Heck, two are Republicans and then Harman, who is on the ballot marked as ‘Liberal Republican.’ ‘I’m trying to make a statement with that,’ Harman told me. ‘It’s a fair description of who I am. I’m also trying to distance myself from the wing nuts in the Republican Party.’”
