Mar 18
2014
The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota is moving towards legalizing marijuana. Morgan Pehme of City and State NY wonders aloud if tribes here might follow suit. “Growing and selling marijuana on Indian reservations could provide a massive windfall for New York’s economically depressed tribes,” he writes.
Mar 18
2014
Mar 17
2014
The Associated Press confirms what many working reporters already know: the federal government is using the pretext of national security to deny a growing number of requests made under the Freedom of Information Act. Secrecy at the federal level is part of a trend throughout government to thwart the public’s right to know.
Mar 12
2014
Asian carp found breeding in the Upper Mississippi. That means they are spreading much faster than any scientist had originally thought. The biggest fear is when these voracious eaters with no known predators will reach the Great Lakes. A story from National Geographic.
Mar 10
2014
Mar 5
2014
Projects that keep billions of gallons of raw sewage out of Western New York waterways are at risk if Congress approves a budget that slashes aid for states burdened with antiquated sewer infrastructure. Cities and suburbs with outdated sewer systems require billions of dollars in improvements to combat the pollution from sewer overflows usually caused by heavy rain or snowmelt. In Buffalo, anywhere from 1.7 billion to 4 billion gallons of raw sewage polluted local waterways each of the past three years. In comparison, the bankrupt city of Detroit dumped 7 billion gallons of raw sewage into waterways in 2011. Cleveland[...]
Mar 4
2014
Residents breathing air by Tonawanda Coke were put at risk for years because the company released dangerous amounts of toxic chemicals. Preliminary residential soil tests also turned up contamination. The company and an employee were convicted last year. Residents, some with cancer, want a portion of the fines for comprehensive studies. A story from WGRZ.
Mar 2
2014