Oregon State

South Carolina State

The Associated Press

Wood pellet production skyrocketed across the U.S. South to feed the European Union’s recent push for renewable energy but residents near manufacturing plants -- often those in poor, rural swaths -- believe the process is making people sick. (AP video by Stephen Smith) GLOSTER, Miss. (AP) — This southern Mississippi town’s expansive wood pellet plant was so close to Shelia Mae Dobbins’ home that she sometimes heard company loudspeakers. She says industrial residues coated her truck and she no longer enjoys spending time in the air outdoors.  Dobbins feels her life — and health — were better before 2016, when Drax opened a facility able to compress 450,000 tons of wood chips annually in the majority Black town of Gloster, Mississippi. To her, it’s no coincidence federal regulators find residents are exposed to unwanted air particles and they experience asthma more than most of the country. Her asthma and diabetes were once under control, but since a 2017 diagnosis of heart and lung disease, Dobbins has frequently lived at the end of a breathing tube connected to an oxygen cannister.

Wood pellets boomed in the US South. Climate activists want Biden to stop boosting industry growth

Montana State

The Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association (PNWH2 Association), a multi-state hub to establish a hydrogen economy, is now eligible for up to $27.5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to launch phase 1 of its program. The regional hub, which includes Washington, Oregon and Montana, is one of seven selected...

Pacific NW hydrogen hub launches phase 1 of its program with $27.5M federal award

Utah State

When the raw ingredients in your products come from a natural wonder that’s practically on your doorstep, and it’s being threatened by climate change, sustainability quickly moves from an abstraction to reality. That’s the case with Trace, a Utah-based supplement brand that extracts minerals key to human health from the Great Salt Lake, and has been doing so for more than half a century.

Exclusive Q&A: ‘Sustainability Won’t Just be a Positive, it Will be Essential’

Los Angeles Times

Wood pellet production has skyrocketed across the U.S. South to feed the European Union's push for renewable energy to replace fossil fuels.

Wood pellets production boomed to feed European demand. It comes at a cost for Black people in the South

As grocers aim to enhance their sustainability roles within the industry, it’s crucial to shift focus from simply food donations to more proactive waste management solutions. Currently, the industry’s approach to grocer waste remains largely reactive. The lack of “reuse” initiatives is evident. Most grocers opt for the...

Grocer Waste Solutions: Proactive Reuse Efforts Versus Reactive Donations

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NewsByJoshua

Here’s a story that’s making waves in the retail world: Conn's HomePlus, a well-known discount furniture chain, has just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. And the news isn’t just about numbers—it’s about real people and places, so let’s dive into what’s happening.

Another retail giant has just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is shutting down several stores.

Chicago, IL

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Foodie in Chicago

Shortly before 3 AM, people in the Chicago area may have felt their houses shake as a 3.4-magnitude earthquake occurred about 60 miles west of the city. (CHICAGO) The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported a 3.4-magnitude earthquake around Somonauk, IL. Somonauk is in DeKalb and LaSalle Counties, 64 miles west of Chicago.

Did You Feel the Earthquake?

Denver, CO

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David Heitz

A dangerous drug that is being mixed into fentanyl is causing those who inject it to develop a rash of sores that resembles a case of flesh-eating bacteria. People experiencing homelessness around Denver can sometimes be seen with these bloody, weeping wounds. I recently mentioned this phenomenon to a fentanyl user who told me about the xylazine connection.

Denver homeless people suffer sores as xylazine enters fentanyl supply

Virginia State

Ronkonkoma, NY

Cheryl E Preston

The New York Post reveals that two men who died in a plane crash at MacArthur Airport were from Virginia. The men had been visiting friends in Long Island and were returning home when the tragedy occurred.

Life partners from Virginia have been identified as the victims of a New York plane crash

Nebraska State

National Weather Force

Severe thunderstorms are expected across parts of the Northern and Central Plains, with risks of damaging winds, hail, and a few tornadoes. Check below for further details, timing and much more information.

Damaging Winds, Large Hail & Isolated Tornadoes Possible; Northern/Central Plains; July 3, 2024

Wisconsin State

Fond Du Lac, WI

Mercury Marine is laying off around 1,700 hourly employees in Fond du Lac, according to a spokesperson. The company is hitting the brakes with “short-term layoffs,” which will see workers lose eight weeks of work, split into two-week chunks. This move has certainly caught many by surprise.

A Wisconsin company is laying off thousands of workers

Massachusetts State

Dianna Carney

Hammy and Cheyanne, two miniature poodles, are in search of their forever home. Weighing 6.3lb and 6.4lb respectively, these sweet pups are a bonded pair with a sad past. Sandy Paws Rescue Inc., a foster-based rescue in Massachusetts, shares their story, explaining that "Hammy & Cheyanne are cruelty case pups that are a bonded pair. They're from a rural area in Texas. These are a pair of sweet little pups that are in need of a fresh start together!"

Meet The Sweet Little Dogs Who Are Looking For Love

A council has plans to shake up its approach to recycling collections in a bid to save money and make it easier for residents. Colchester City Council has proposed replacing the current system of collecting materials separately, to residents using one wheeled bin for plastics, paper, metals and card and only a separate box for glass.

Plans to shake up recycling system to save money

Redbox, the iconic movie rental company with over 34,000 locations nationwide, has announced the closure of its operations following its parent company's filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This decision has left many of its loyal users saddened, marking the end of an era for physical media enthusiasts.

A rental company with 34,000 locations has closed its doors

In the landscape of sustainable innovation, Notpla stands out as a pioneering force, revolutionising the packaging industry with its seaweed-based solutions. From its humble beginnings to its current global influence, Notpla's journey showcases the power of inventive thinking and environmental commitment. By leveraging the natural properties of seaweed, they have created functional and biodegradable alternatives to plastic, reducing the environmental impact of single-use packaging.

Notpla: On a mission to make plastic packaging disappear

Savannah, GA

Daily Coffee Press

Newly returned indictments in the Southern District of Georgia include felony charges for illegal firearms possession and drug distribution, while additional defendants have been sentenced to federal prison or await further proceedings after pleading guilty to federal gun charges.

Federal Charges in Southern GA: Indictments and Sentences for Firearms and Drug Offenses

Explore Beaufort SC

The mantis shrimp is one tough customer. Beautiful and deadly are two words you don’t typically use to describe shrimp, but the mantis shrimp is definitely in a class of its own; earning a reputation as the ‘savage boxer of the sea’ and one of the most fearsome creatures in the ocean. And, they're right at home here in South Carolina.

Savage Boxer of the Sea: The Deadly Beauty of Mantis Shrimp

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 29, 2024-- Denali, the nation’s leading and largest recycler of organic materials, today announced a collaboration with Walmart to roll out innovative depackaging services that can help improve the food waste recycling process at more than a thousand Walmart and Sam’s Club locations nationwide. The innovative depackaging technology aims to help drive operational efficiencies for Walmart enterprise associates, and based on early testing, has increased the volume of potentially reusable organic content recovered from participating Walmart and Sam’s Club locations by more than 60% and reduced their compactor trash by an estimated 12%. As of today, the program has launched in over 1,400 Walmart and Sam’s Club locations in more than 16 markets across the country including Houston, Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Indianapolis, Phoenix and cities across New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut – with rollout to continue nationwide into 2025. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240729382885/en/ Denali’s depackaging technology and process separate food from its packaging materials, producing a cleaner stream of organic material that can be turned into animal feed or compost. (Photo: Business Wire)

Denali and Walmart Collaborate to Rollout Innovative Organic Recycling & Reuse Technology Across Thousands of Walmart and Sam’s Club Stores Nationwide

Polk County, FL

Uncovering Florida

In a recent operation, officers responded to reports of illegal harvesting of saw palmetto berries in the Arbuckle Wildlife Management Area. The officers, Cody Seitz and Vincent Fioramanti, observed two individuals harvesting saw palmetto berries. As the officers approached, the individuals attempted to flee on foot but were quickly located by Officer Seitz, hiding in the saw palmettos.

Meth & Berries: Illegal Berry Harvest Leads to Arrests in Polk County

The Current GA

Since 2020, the condition known as long COVID-19 has become a widespread disability affecting the health and quality of life of millions of people across the globe and costing economies billions of dollars in reduced productivity of employees and an overall drop in the work force .

Expert: Long COVID puzzle pieces are falling into place – picture is unsettling

NewsBreak

Mass timber’s sustainability promise: does it stack up?

The Portland-based firm PAE Consulting Engineers wanted its new headquarters to be among the world’s most environmentally friendly — a “Living Building” that stood five stories...

Mass timber’s sustainability promise: does it stack up?

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