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Stockton University Interns Aid Wetlands Institute in Marsh-Nesting Shorebird Study

Stockton University Interns Aid Wetlands Institute in Marsh-Nesting Shorebird Study

Stockton University interns are collaborating with The Wetlands Institute on a pilot study to understand how American oystercatchers utilize saltmarsh habitats in New Jersey. This research is supported by a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative. While beach-nesting oystercatchers have been studied extensively since 2003, climate change and coastal development are pushing these birds into saltmarsh areas. The interns, including junior Environmental Science major Alyssa Schlauberg, are involved in various tasks such as scouring public records for oystercatcher, whimbrel, and red knot sightings using eBird and Motus tower data. They also participate in boat surveys to locate oystercatchers in the marshes of Barnegat Bay and are processing data to map how these birds are adapting to changing habitats. Samantha Collins, a research scientist for The Wetlands Institute, noted that an estimated 75% of New Jersey's oystercatcher population might be nesting in ma...

The Augusta Chronicle

Hotter weather puts Georgia bat populations at greater risk | Exclusive

Hotter weather puts Georgia bat populations at greater risk | Exclusive

Climate change threatens Georgia's 16 bat species. Here is how you can help them thrive in your own backyard.

National Forest Foundation and U.S. Forest Service Partner to Reduce Wildfire Risk in Southwest Idaho

National Forest Foundation and U.S. Forest Service Partner to Reduce Wildfire Risk in Southwest Idaho

The National Forest Foundation, in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, is implementing forest-thinning projects across the Boise and Payette National Forests in Southwest Idaho. This initiative aims to mitigate wildfire risk by removing dense vegetation, which can accelerate fire spread and intensity. Josh Rodriguez, Intermountain Program Manager with the National Forest Foundation, emphasized that proactive forest management is a more cost-effective approach than post-wildfire suppression and community rebuilding. A 2022 U.S. Forest Service analysis identified Southwest Idaho as one of the top ten most fire-prone regions within the National Forest System. Over the next decade, crews will focus on reducing fuel loads across approximately 150,000 acres of high-priority forestland. The work involves removing smaller trees and 'ladder fuels' that allow flames to climb into the crowns of larger trees, thereby keeping fires closer to the ground and making them easier to control. After thinning, the trea...

American Forest Management Crew Aids Sawtooth National Forest in Post-Fire Recovery Efforts

American Forest Management Crew Aids Sawtooth National Forest in Post-Fire Recovery Efforts

An American Forest Management forestry crew has significantly contributed to post-fire recovery and forest health initiatives within the Sawtooth National Forest. Their work included identifying approximately 100 lodgepole pine seed trees, conducting natural regeneration surveys across 17,000 acres, and laying out over 300 acres for tree-planting units. These efforts are part of broader forest management activities aimed at restoring areas affected by wildfires and enhancing the forest's resilience. The Sawtooth National Forest also engaged other groups, such as the Idaho Conservation Corps and volunteers, in timber sale preparation and other conservation tasks. These activities are crucial for maintaining the ecological balance and infrastructure of the national forest, especially in the wake of fire events.

On This Day in 1968, Redwood National Park Was Created in California

On This Day in 1968, Redwood National Park Was Created in California

The Redwood National and State Parks, located on the coast of northern California, represent a significant achievement in conservation, protecting ...

N.J. Ends Emergency After Nor'Easter Damage

N.J. Ends Emergency After Nor'Easter Damage

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has officially ended the state of emergency declared during the recent weekend nor'easter, which caused significant damage across the state, particularly along the coastline. The storm led to severe beach erosion, damaged oceanfront promenades, and disrupted infrastructure in several shore towns. Crews are currently inspecting affected areas to assess the extent of the damage, with results pending. Efforts are underway to address the destruction before winter storms exacerbate the situation. U.S. Representative Jeff Van Drew is scheduled to tour storm-damaged areas, including Long Beach Township, Brigantine, Atlantic City, Sea Isle City, and North Wildwood, alongside federal, state, and local officials. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is also being consulted for potential emergency beach replenishment projects to mitigate further damage.

New Jersey Nonprofits Sue Trump Administration Over HUD Housing Counseling Cuts

New Jersey Nonprofits Sue Trump Administration Over HUD Housing Counseling Cuts

Two New Jersey nonprofits, New Jersey Citizen Action and the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, have joined a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's decision to cancel $56.1 million in funding for HUD’s Comprehensive Housing Counseling program. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, alleges that the administration unlawfully withheld congressionally approved money and targeted recipients based on their advocacy and political views. The complaint specifically challenges the administration's use of a 'pocket rescission,' where a proposal to cancel appropriated funds was sent to Congress just five days before the September 30, 2026, deadline to commit the money, effectively canceling it without congressional action. The White House defended the cuts by claiming the counseling program had not demonstrated reduced mortgage delinquencies and accused recipients of pursuing 'discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion agendas.'

Rural Utilities Service Offers Grants for Solid Waste Management Programs

Rural Utilities Service Offers Grants for Solid Waste Management Programs

The Solid Waste Management (SWM) Grant Program, administered by the Rural Utilities Service, is providing funding to assist communities in rural areas with improving their solid waste management practices. This program aims to reduce pollution of water resources and enhance the planning and management of solid waste sites. Qualified organizations can receive grant funds to offer technical assistance and training. The permissible uses of these funds include providing technical assistance and training to reduce the solid waste stream through reduction, recycling, and reuse. Additionally, funds can be used to train operators in maintaining and operating active landfills, as well as to assist with closure plans, future land use plans, safety, and maintenance planning for landfills that are closed or nearing closure. The program also allows for the evaluation of current landfill conditions to determine threats to water resources and covers expenses associated with providing this technical assistance and trainin...

Mykhailo Farmiga, Father of Actresses Vera and Taissa Farmiga, Known for Ukrainian-American Upbringing and Career Outside Entertainment

Mykhailo Farmiga, Father of Actresses Vera and Taissa Farmiga, Known for Ukrainian-American Upbringing and Career Outside Entertainment

Mykhailo Farmiga is recognized as the father of American actresses Vera Farmiga and Taissa Farmiga. He is a Ukrainian immigrant who built a career as a computer systems analyst and later as a landscaper, largely remaining outside the entertainment industry. Together with his wife, Lubomyra “Luba” Farmiga, a former schoolteacher, he raised seven children in New Jersey. The family maintained strong Ukrainian roots, with Ukrainian being Vera Farmiga's first language. Public information about Mykhailo Farmiga primarily comes from interviews and biographies of his daughters, highlighting his role in their upbringing and the family's cultural heritage. While some online sources provide a birth date, this information is not consistently confirmed by established sources, and details about his early life, education, and specific employers are limited. His public recognition is mainly linked to his daughters' successful acting careers, rather than his own professional endeavors.

AI Initiative Launched to Track Amazon Wildlife in Real-Time

AI Initiative Launched to Track Amazon Wildlife in Real-Time

A new initiative, dubbed Amazon.ia, is being launched with a $100 million investment to track wildlife across the vast Amazon rainforest in real-time using artificial intelligence technology. This project aims to overcome the current limitations in monitoring biodiversity, where scientists can track deforestation with satellite imagery but have little insight into the state of wildlife beneath the canopy. The plan involves establishing a network of 10 to 30 core sites across the Amazon, equipped with advanced wildlife-tracking instruments such as camera and audio recorders, and insect traps. The data collected from these sites will be fed into computer models capable of identifying individual species, discerning patterns, and providing a continuous, high-resolution picture of biodiversity trends across the region. Several South American research groups are already involved, with initial sites in Peru, Ecuador, and Brazil. The project has secured approximately $20 million in funding so far, with a significa...

Smart Choice Inspections Offers Free Underground Oil Tank Sweep for New Jersey Home Buyers

Smart Choice Inspections Offers Free Underground Oil Tank Sweep for New Jersey Home Buyers

Smart Choice Inspections Offers Free Underground Oil Tank Sweep for New Jersey Home Buyers

PennEnvironment Report Reveals Widespread Microplastic Contamination in Delaware River Watershed

PennEnvironment Report Reveals Widespread Microplastic Contamination in Delaware River Watershed

A new report by the PennEnvironment Research and Policy Center, in collaboration with researchers from the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, has found microplastics in every water sample taken from 22 waterways within the Delaware River watershed. This includes significant bodies of water such as the Delaware River, the Schuylkill River, and the Brandywine Creek. The study highlights that microplastics are persistent across the entire watershed, affecting areas from the Poconos to the Jersey Shore and the Delaware Bay. The report emphasizes that plastics, which do not biodegrade, break down into smaller microplastic fragments that persist in the environment and accumulate in living organisms. These particles are discharged from industrial facilities and wastewater treatment plants, and also enter waterways through biosolids application on land, stormwater runoff, and improper waste disposal. People can also be exposed to microplastics through plastic bottles, cosmetics, and synthetic clothi...