WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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When the 2021 legislative session began, more than 75 bills related to the environment had been filed in Indiana’s General Assembly. But as the session passes its halfway point, more than two-thirds of those bills are now dead.
—Norm Holy
Radio station WBIW reports a new project will focus on assessing, protecting and improving water quality for the Lower Salt Creek area. A virtual session will engage individuals interested in the Lower Salt Creek Drainage and develop a plan for it.
—Norm Holy
Inside Indiana Business announced that a North Carolina–based solar energy company is expanding its presence in Indiana. POWERHOME SOLAR says it will hire up to 100 employees and open a sales and installation office in northeast Indiana.
—Norm Holy
Wind turbines are providing significant power to Indiana, yet there are no turbines offshore in Lake Michigan. The only offshore windfarm in the U-S is located near Long Island. Would it be good to expand this concept?
—Linda Greene
The Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental advocacy organization, has sued the administration of California Governor Gavin Newsome for approving thousands of oil and gas drilling and fracking operations without the environmental review that state law requires.
—Linda Greene
Appalachia’s fracking boom has turned out to be a bust for local communities. A new study published by the Ohio River Valley Institute, a nonprofit think tank, showed that about 90% of the wealth created from shale gas extraction leaves local communities.
—Linda Greene
In a remarkable first, scientists have cloned a U.S. endangered species. The clone in question is a black-footed ferret named Elizabeth Ann, and her lineage could bring much needed genetic diversity to the imperiled species.
—Norm Holy
The Postal Service is updating its massive fleet of mail-carrying vehicles, heralding a significant step toward reducing carbon pollution from its massive fleet while also helping to protect its workforce from climate impacts.
—Norm Holy
The use of eminent domain for a large wind-energy power line cutting through Missouri would be banned under a bill passed by the state House last week. The GOP-led House voted 123 to 33 Tuesday in favor of the bill, which would prevent the use of property owners’ land for the Grain Belt Express power line without their permission.
—Norm Holy
General Motors plans to become carbon-neutral by 2040 and to drop gas and diesel engines in all new light-duty vehicles by 2035. Their decision reflects the newly-Democratic-controlled administration pivoting to an aggressive climate agenda.
—Norm Holy
For the third time in three years, the EPA has ordered Amazon to stop selling illegal pesticides.
—Norm Holy
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation Current helps move heat from the tropics to the Northern Hemisphere and is one of the reasons why Europe has relatively mild winters. However, the current has begun slowing down in recent years, and scientists want to know what it would take for the current to stop.
—Norm Holy
Canadian Gilbert Cardin worries about the future of the ice road he maintains every winter on a frozen river west of Montreal. But he says that at some point, it will no longer be able to open if the mild winters continue.
—Norm Holy
A United Nations’ Development Program survey found that 64 percent of people think climate change is a global emergency, and only 10 percent think world leaders are doing enough to address it. The number of people who considered climate change an emergency was even higher – 69 percent – among those ages 14 to 18.
—Norm Holy
CALENDAR
- The Indiana Audubon Society is offering a Virtual Birding Trip to Rancho Naturalista Live in Costa Rica on Friday, March 5th from 8 to 9 am. This is a wonderful live adventure for viewing the many birds of Costa Rica. You will see the many types of hummingbirds, live feeding stations and much more. You must pre-register for the Zoom invite link. To register, go to the IAS website.
- Spring Mill State Park is sponsoring a Scavenger Hunt with Prizes on Saturday, March 6th, from 10 am to 2 pm. If you are interested in participating, stop at the Main Gate to receive a self-guided scavenger hunt instruction sheet/map from the attendant. When you complete the hunt, stop by the Main Office for a small prize. This event is one day only.
- This upcoming event involves a drive to Shades State Park on Friday, March 12th, for a Woodcock Watch from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Watch the male woodcocks as they take off on their mating flights to impress the female woodcocks. Timberdoodling is what this springtime display is called. Meet at the Pine Shelter to learn all about Woodcocks. You can even have dinner on your way to Shades State Park.
- Spring Mill State Park is having an Invasive Plant ID Hike on Saturday, March 13th, from 1 to 1:30 pm. Meet at the Amphitheater at the Lakeview Activity Center for this moderate hike, and learn about invasive plants and how they threaten the health of our native natural resources.
- The new Monroe County Public Library Winter Hiking Club is planning their next Zoom meeting on Sunday, March 14th, from 2 to 3 pm. The Club offers people the experience of hiking area trails by sharing photos, sketches and recordings they took while outside walking the woods and fields in winter. The March 14th hike will be about the Beanblossom Nature Preserve. If you are interested in participating after hiking the trail, you can register at mcpl.info.
