Environment130 million Americans routinely breathe unhealthy air, report findsApril 25, 2024Climate change is making it harder to meet clean air goals, says the 25th annual State of the Air report from the American Lung Association.
EnvironmentStartups want to cool Earth by reflecting sunlight. There are few rules and big risksApril 23, 2024In a parking lot and on San Francisco Bay, NPR witnesses two different tests for solar geoengineering to tackle climate change. With much science unsettled, experts say regulations aren't keeping up.
EnvironmentWildfire smoke contributes to thousands of deaths each year in the U.S.April 18, 2024Two new studies show the unseen toll smoke is taking on people across the country. Climate change is likely to make the problem even bigger.
State GovernmentThe most detailed look yet at the 'exodus' of local voting officialsApril 9, 2024A new report finds more election officials are leaving their jobs now than at any point in the past two decades. But the report also adds new context to the phenomenon.
State GovernmentBlack market cannabis thrives in California despite legalizationApril 8, 2024Marijuana legalization was expected to bring the industry out of the shadows. But in some states, the black market is alive and well.
EnvironmentWatching a solar eclipse without the right filters can cause eye damage. Here's whyApril 4, 2024When the April 8 solar eclipse draws eyes upward, having proper solar filters and solar eclipse glasses is essential to avoid potentially permanent eye damage, doctors say.
State GovernmentHalf a million California workers will get $20 minimum wage, starting this weekApril 2, 2024It's a big win for cooks, cashiers and other fast-food employees, among the least paid in the workforce. Restaurant owners and franchisees warn of higher prices and cuts to workers' hours.
EnvironmentChevron owns this Northern California city's news site. Many stories aren't toldMarch 28, 2024Chevron operates a major refinery in Richmond, Calif. It also owns the city's dominant news site, putting its own spin on events, and runs similar sites in Texas and Ecuador.
Health CareSupreme Court seems doubtful of challenge to abortion pillMarch 27, 2024At issue in the case is more than abortion rights. It's the entire structure of the FDA's regulatory power to approve drugs and continually evaluate their safety.
EnvironmentOn eclipse day, hundreds of students will send up balloons for scienceMarch 26, 2024The NASA-backed Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project puts students in charge of a bold scientific endeavor to study the April 8 total solar eclipse.
