New data show annual rate of deforestation in Brazilian Amazon is up for first time in five years

By Amel Ahmed11 September 2014 (Al Jazeera) – The rate of destruction blighting the world’s largest rain forest spiked by nearly a third last year, according to new data released by the Brazilian government. Satellite data showed that 2,315 square miles of forest had been cleared from the Brazilian Amazon in the 12 months through […]

California breaks all-time heat record – Heat alerts declared; cooling centers to open

By Joseph Serna12 September 2014 (Los Angeles Times) – The first eight months of 2014 were the warmest on average in California’s history since record-keeping began in 1895, federal scientists announced this week. The average temperature was 62.6 degrees in California over the time period, coming in at 1.1 degrees hotter than the previous high […]

Graph of the Day: U.S. measles cases and outbreaks, 2001-2014

3 September 2014 (CDC) – This year the United States is experiencing a record number of measles cases. From January 1 to August 29, there have been 592 confirmed measles cases reported to CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD). This is the highest number of cases since measles elimination was documented in […]

Negligence ruling on Gulf oil spill could cost BP another $18 billion; stock slumps

By Jonathan Fahey, AP Energy Writer 4 September 2014 (Associated Press) – BP shares slumped 5 percent after a judge ruled that the oil giant’s reckless conduct led to the worst U.S. offshore oil spill, a decision that could cost BP an additional $17.6 billion. BP shares fell $2.72, or 5.7 percent, to $44.99 around […]

Obesity rates reach historic highs in more U.S. states

By Sharon Begley; Editing by Ken Wills4 September 2014 NEW YORK (Reuters) – Rates of adult obesity increased in six U.S. states and fell in none last year, and in more states than ever – 20 – at least 30 percent of adults are obese, according to an analysis released on Thursday. The conclusions were […]

TEPCO: More than 150 billion Bq per day of radioactive isotopes discharged to Pacific Ocean from Fukushima plant

26 August 2014 (SimplyInfo) – TEPCO made the startling admission today at a press conference that the plant is leaking 8 billion bequerels per day (8 gigabequerels). 5 billion bq of strontium-90 2 billion bq of cesium-137 1 billion bq of tritium (later corrected to 150 billion bq) This is the ongoing daily release to […]

Graph of the Day: Change in net worth of U.S. households from 2000 to 2011

By Robert Frank    21 Aug 2014 (CNBC) – The gap between the wealthiest and the poorest Americans widened over the past decade, according to a new report from the Census Bureau. It also grew between younger and older families. The report on household net worth showed that median net worth for the country as a […]

63 trillion gallons of groundwater lost in drought, study finds

By Rong-Gong Lin II21 August 2014 (Los Angeles Times) – The ongoing drought in the western United States has caused so much loss of groundwater that the Earth, on average, has lifted up about 0.16 inches over the last 18 months, according to a new study. The situation was even worse in the snow-starved mountains […]

Photo gallery: Building toward disaster – Aerial photographs from 1933 to 2014 show how development contributed to deadliest landslide event in U.S. history

Reporters: Ken Armstrong, Justin Mayo, Mike Baker and Jim BrunnerInteractive: Thomas WilburnGraphics: Mark NowlinEditor: Beth KaimanJuly 2014 (Seattle Times) – The decades preceding the deadly landslide near Oso reflect a shifting landscape with one human constant: Even as warnings mounted, people kept moving in. This interactive graphic tells that story, starting in 1887. Thirteen aerial […]

Police tell Detroiters to buy guns in city riven by race issues and crime

By Rose Hackman    17 August 2014 (theguardian.com) – Detroit police chief James Craig – nicknamed “Hollywood” for his years spent in the LAPD and his seeming love of being in front of the camera – has repeatedly called on “good” and “law-abiding” Detroiters to arm themselves against criminals in the city. His words have not […]

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