Explore

Forest Service Chief Faces Scrutiny Amidst Trump Administration's Plan to Rescind Roadless Rule

Forest Service Chief Faces Scrutiny Amidst Trump Administration's Plan to Rescind Roadless Rule

The Trump administration has announced plans to rescind the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, commonly known as the 'roadless rule,' which has protected approximately 45 million acres of national forest for 25 years. This move is expected to benefit timber companies, particularly those with ties to Tom Schultz, the current chief of the U.S. Forest Service. Public Citizen's research indicates that Schultz, who previously served as president of the Federal Forest Resource Coalition and vice-president at Idaho Forest Group, has long been critical of the rule. The American Forest Resource Council (AFRC), a timber industry trade association, has actively advocated for the rule's rescission, arguing it hinders 'active forest management' necessary for wildfire mitigation. Since Schultz's appointment in February 2025, the AFRC has spent over $210,000 lobbying to expand harvesting in national forests. Critics, however, argue that expanding road access could increase wildfire risk and imperil 400 threatened and endan...

President Trump Administration Rolls Back Key Toxic Chemical Plant Pollution Rule

President Trump Administration Rolls Back Key Toxic Chemical Plant Pollution Rule

The administration of President Trump has begun to dismantle the Hazardous Organic National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (HON) rule, a regulation designed to significantly reduce toxic pollution from petrochemical plants. This rule, signed by EPA chief Michael Regan in April 2024, aimed to cut emissions of ethylene oxide and chloroprene by almost 80 percent and reduce cancer risks by 96 percent in communities near affected plants. However, shortly after President Trump began his second term, his administration granted two-year exemptions from the HON rule to over 70 petrochemical facilities. The EPA also announced plans to propose a rewrite of the regulation, which is expected to substantially weaken its protections. This move has drawn criticism from environmental justice groups and former EPA officials, who argue it prioritizes industry interests over public health, particularly in areas like Louisiana's 'Cancer Alley' where pollution disproportionately affects Black communities.

UN spotlights nuclear weapon states' refusal to ratify test ban treaty at divisive time

UN spotlights nuclear weapon states' refusal to ratify test ban treaty at divisive time

The United Nations is warning that any new nuclear test could trigger an arms race

Tyson disputes claim by USDA's Rollins, says shuttered beef plants can go to any buyer

Tyson disputes claim by USDA's Rollins, says shuttered beef plants can go to any buyer

By Karl Plume and Tom Polansek BOONE, Iowa, Sept 1 (Reuters) - U.S. meatpacker Tyson Foods has disputed a claim by U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins that it would sell its recently shuttered beef plants only to American-owned companies or producers, including cooperatives.

Palm Springs Desert Sun

California lawmakers oppose Trump's Yosemite land swap with developer

California lawmakers oppose Trump's Yosemite land swap with developer

A Coachella Valley Republican and other state lawmakers are urging the Trump administration to halt a plan to give away Yosemite National Park land.

U.S. Government Secures Major Oil Deal with Venezuela, Raising Questions on Fuel Prices and Long-Term Impact

U.S. Government Secures Major Oil Deal with Venezuela, Raising Questions on Fuel Prices and Long-Term Impact

President Trump has announced an agreement with Venezuela, which he described as the 'biggest oil deal in world history.' This deal involves Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, granting 100-year concessions to develop 17 oil fields to a joint venture between the U.S. government and North American Blue Energy Partners. These fields are estimated to hold 65 billion barrels of oil. The Pentagon’s Office of Strategic Capital will take a 35% equity stake in North American Blue Energy Partners. Under the agreement, the U.S. government is guaranteed 20% of oil off-take at cost and has the right of first refusal to purchase the remaining 80%. Additionally, a majority of North American Blue Energy Partners’ board members must be U.S. citizens, and the U.S. government holds veto power over the board of directors. The Trump administration claims this agreement will double U.S. oil reserves and reduce fuel prices for American consumers, a move partly aimed at addressing voter concerns about affordability a...

DHS Imposes $1.8 Million Fine on Undocumented Immigrant Who Self-Deported

DHS Imposes $1.8 Million Fine on Undocumented Immigrant Who Self-Deported

Hector “Alessandro” Negrete, an undocumented immigrant who voluntarily moved to Guadalajara, Mexico, in September 2025, has been issued a $1.8 million civil penalty by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The fine, citing a 2009 deportation order, amounts to $998 per day for his failure to depart the U.S. for over five years. Negrete, who had lived in the U.S. since he was three months old, decided to leave due to increasing immigration enforcement fears and declining work opportunities during the second Trump administration. He is one of over 100,000 undocumented immigrants who have received such fines, totaling more than $84 billion, since the beginning of the second Trump administration. DHS states that these fines can be forgiven if individuals use the CBP One app to leave the country, offering a free flight home and a $2,600 'exit bonus.' Negrete's lawyers have appealed the fine twice, providing evidence of his departure, but DHS has deemed it insufficient, partly because he drove across the bor...

Asheville Citizen-Times

G20 in Asheville ignores climate's role in Helene

G20 in Asheville ignores climate's role in Helene

The agenda for the G20 summit in Asheville, set by US leaders, did not discuss climate change or its contribution to intensifying Hurricane Helene.

California Attorney General and Energy Commission Challenge Trump Administration's Offshore Wind Lease Buyout

California Attorney General and Energy Commission Challenge Trump Administration's Offshore Wind Lease Buyout

California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the California Energy Commission (CEC) have issued a Notice of Intent to Sue the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and RWE U.S. Offshore. This action challenges an agreement where the DOI would reallocate $1.22 billion in federal taxpayer dollars to RWE to cancel three offshore wind energy leases off the coasts of California, Louisiana, and New York. In exchange, RWE would be required to invest the same amount in out-of-state fossil-fuel projects. Attorney General Bonta and CEC Chair David Hochschild assert that this agreement is an unlawful attempt by the Trump administration to undermine California's offshore wind energy development and divert public funds to fossil fuel projects, some reportedly linked to President Trump's donors. California has invested over $100 million in its offshore wind infrastructure and aims to develop 25 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2045.

U.S. Treasury Department Blocks Journalists from G20 Meeting in North Carolina

U.S. Treasury Department Blocks Journalists from G20 Meeting in North Carolina

The U.S. Treasury Department denied credentials to several journalists from major news organizations, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Bloomberg News, preventing them from covering a G20 finance ministers' meeting in Asheville, North Carolina. This decision marks another instance of President Trump's administration restricting media access. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the decision was not related to the journalists' viewpoints. Alan Rappeport of The New York Times, who has covered such meetings since 2017, was among those denied access, although another Times reporter was permitted to attend. The New York Times condemned the action as a disturbing effort to undermine independent journalism and evade public scrutiny, especially given the critical topics on the G20 agenda, such as the war in Iran, sanctions, bond markets, and inflation. Bloomberg News also reported that numerous journalists, including those based in Europe and Asia, had their accreditation requests ...

US to announce sharply lower vehicle fuel economy requirements

US to announce sharply lower vehicle fuel economy requirements

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Aug 31 (Reuters) - The Trump administration will soon announce sharply lower vehicle fuel-economy standards, reversing a push by the prior administration to force automakers to build more fuel-efficient vehicles, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday.

A mom's website shows who profits from ICE. Why Feds call it a 'threat'

A mom's website shows who profits from ICE. Why Feds call it a 'threat'

A Texas stay-at-home mom created a website showing companies profiting from ICE. It led to hundreds of protests. Feds called the site a "national threat."