For many Americans, lakes and rivers provide a much-needed escape—a place to cool off on a hot day, relax with loved ones, or simply enjoy the beauty of nature. However, water quality remains a major public health concern across large portions of the United States. According to data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), over 70% of freshwater lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and wetlands (by acreage) and over 42% of creeks, rivers, and streams (by mileage) are considered too polluted for primary contact recreation such as swimming.

Report: U.S. States with Worst Water Quality for Swimming

The Associated Press

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A New Zealand charity working with homeless people in Auckland unknowingly distributed candies filled with a potentially lethal dose of methamphetamine in its food parcels after the sweets were donated by a member of the public. Auckland City Mission said Wednesday that staff had...

New Zealand food bank distributes candy made from a potentially lethal amount of methamphetamine

South Carolina State

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Colleton County, SC

Explore Beaufort SC

Some beachgoers were in for a surprise this week when a bizarre looking prehistoric fish washed ashore in Colleton County along Edisto Beach at Edisto Beach State Park. It turned out to be an atlantic sturgeon.

Rare Atlantic sturgeon washes ashore on South Carolina beach

Pouring your morning coffee leftovers into your favorite houseplant or sprinkling used coffee grounds around the soil of your vegetables is a nugget of homespun growing advice that gardeners have been passing down for generations. But does it really work to boost the health of your plants? Some say that...

What Adding Coffee Does to Your Plants, According to Experts

In a remarkable revelation, recent research shows that mature forests are critical warriors in the battle against climate change. Contrary to prevailing theories, the study has revealed that older trees react to higher atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) by boosting their production of woody biomass. This discovery strengthens the...

Mature forests play a surprising role in climate mitigation

Ohio State

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The Lantern

On Tuesday, licensed Ohio dispensaries began legally selling non-medical marijuana to consumers; however, the drug’s possession, growth and/or usage are still prohibited on Ohio State’s campus. Credit: Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times/TNS [Original caption: Four citizen-led petitions with proposals to update Dallas’ charter hit the 20,000 valid signature threshold to make it on the Nov. 5 election ballot, including one that would ban police officers from arresting or citing people carrying less than four ounces of marijuana.] As of Tuesday, students 21 and older can now legally purchase marijuana in Ohio.

Dispensary sales of recreational marijuana began Tuesday; possession and usage still prohibited on Ohio State’s campus

Colorado State

David Heitz

A bill quietly introduced this spring in the Colorado legislature to decriminalize the possession of drug paraphernalia obtained by harm reductionists has become law. As low-key as the legislation was introduced, the bill was signed into law without fanfare June 6. It garnered little to no media attention.

Colorado legalizes needles, pipes for meth and crack if obtained by harm reduction group

Michigan State

The optimism from environmental advocates comes after the Michigan Supreme Court ruled on July 31 that the state’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has full authority to require industrial animal agriculture to take much stronger actions to manage the torrent of manure waste polluting waterways. The closely watched case pit the administration of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer against the powerful agricultural industry, led by the Michigan Farm Bureau.

Movement to limit CAFO pollution seen strengthened by Michigan court ruling

A-Z-Animals

Making compost helps the environment and your garden at the same time. You need to know not only what to compost, but what not to.

Avoid Putting These 7 Kinds of Common Household Waste in Compost

Archaeologists found remains of 16 roundhouses at the construction site of HMP Highland in Inverness.

Prehistoric settlement uncovered at new prison site

Denver, CO

In addition to collecting more than 8,000 used needles in the past year from Denver drug users, the Harm Reduction Action Center passed out 10,000 meth pipes and “snort kits,” according to a newsletter sent to its supporters Thursday. They also connected about 1,700 people to medical, mental health and substance abuse treatment.

Denver group hands out 10K meth pipes, ‘snort kits,’ connects 1,700 to treatment annually

Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian writer and activist, was one of 24 prisoners released on 1 August.

Freed prisoner details time in 'harshest' Russian jail

The Lens

This year’s area of low oxygen in the Gulf of Mexico is larger than average, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced on Thursday. The “dead zone” is approximately 6,705 square miles , as measured last week. Within NOAA’s 38 years of measuring the dead zone, this year’s assessment marks the 12th-largest area of low to no oxygen, which can kill fish and marine life.

Gulf ‘dead zone’ larger than average, larger than expected for 2024, scientists announce

Arkansas State

Exploring the state’s rugged terrain offers a unique opportunity to discover petrified wood, a fossilized treasure from ancient forests. With the right tips, you’ll be ready to embark on your own adventure and uncover these fascinating remnants of prehistoric life. Knowing where to look and what to expect...

The Top Places To Find Arkansas Petrified Wood in 2024

USA TODAY

Fires in the Canadian Rockies burned through the popular tourist town of Jasper and damaged parts of Jasper National Park.

'Nightmare': Wildfires burn one of most beautiful places in the world

California State

The Center Square

(The Center Square) - The plastic bag industry warns California’s proposed updates to its ban on single-use plastic bags — which led to use of thicker “reusable” plastic bags at checkout — could sweep up other commonly used items such as purses and sandwich bags.
                This wouldn't be the first time the legislature misfired on a plastic bag ban. The author of the updated ban notes California’s 2016 ban actually increased overall plastic waste nearly 50% as stores switched to thicker “reusable” bags, and responded...

California advances expansion of plastic shopping bag ban

Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville Today

A historic marker could be erected to honor the victims of the racist mass shooting at the Dollar General store in Jacksonville’s New Town neighborhood nearly a year ago. If approved by the Jacksonville City Council, a marker would be installed at Kings Road and Canal Street on Aug. 25, a day before the first anniversary of the shooting, when a white gunman took the lives of three Black people.

Memorial considered to honor Dollar General victims

WyoFile

The woman who shot a video of a hydrothermal explosion in Yellowstone National Park on Tuesday morning told WyoFile she and her family were terrified as the blast sent boiling water and rocks skyward, destroying parts of a boardwalk, its guardrail and a nearby bench.

Yellowstone hydrothermal explosion: ‘We were terrified’

Los Angeles County, CA

Herbie J Pilato

It's been 33 years since the handsome actor and Emmy award-winning TV game show host Bert Convy died of a brain tumor at 57 in 1991. This is his story. Bert Convy was born July 23, 1933, in St. Louis, Missouri. His father was in the shoe business, while his parents separated when he was just seven years old. His mother moved the family to California in the San Fernando Valley, where Convy attended North Hollywood High and was named the "class clown."

In Memory of Actor/Game Show Host Bert Convy: 33 Years After His Tragic Death From Brain Cancer

Montana State

The Hill

The Biden administration will pay farmers in the Western U.S. to save water as the region contends with historic drought. The Department of Agriculture announced Thursday that it will invest up to $400 million in paying farmers in 11 states to reduce their water consumption while continuing to produce commodities.

Biden administration to pay Western farmers to conserve water

NewsBreak

Florida is building the world's largest environmental restoration project

Florida is embarking on an ambitious ecological restoration project in the Everglades: building a reservoir large enough to secure the state's water supply. I — In...

Florida is building the world's largest environmental restoration project

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