Newswatch Environment State-by-State
Arkansas
$3.17M announced for 18 water quality improvement projects
June 18, 2026 07:04 PM EDT
WMC Action News 5
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture has been awarded $3,175,000 through the 2026 Clean Water Act to support statewide projects that reduce nonpoint source pollution in the state’s water bodies.
California
California sues Trump administration to preserve clean air rules
June 22, 2026 05:56 PM EDT
The Mercury News.
Regulations affecting cars, trucks, even lawn mowers and leaf blowers could be overturned.
California
California files lawsuit against Trump administration over Clean Air Act
June 22, 2026 02:52 PM EDT
NBC Bay Area
The waivers allow California to implement emissions standards that are stricter than federal requirements.
Colorado
Most free water tests near Colorado Superfund site bring relief, but 14 show water unsafe to drink
June 22, 2026 11:24 AM EDT
The Cool Down.
The testing also found elevated molybdenum, lead, and arsenic in certain samples.
Colorado
Fairview High grad earns Seal of Climate Literacy (Five Questions)
June 22, 2026 09:09 AM EDT
Daily Camera.
Abigail Shahar, who lives in Louisville and graduated from Boulder’s Fairview High in May, was one of 51 Boulder Valley graduating seniors to earn Colorado’s Seal of Climate Literacy this year.
Colorado
Colorado's mountain summers are getting warmer, exacerbating drought and wildfire risk
June 20, 2026 09:00 AM EDT
Post Independent.
Summer is off to a hot start in the Colorado mountains as soaring temperatures, a lack of precipitation and wind are worsening already severe drought conditions and exacerbating wildfire concerns. Across most of the mountain...
Connecticut
Serious drinking water safety concerns raised on CT athletic project. Thousands live downstream.
June 21, 2026 05:00 AM EDT
Hartford Courant.
The watershed advisory board said the project could harm a Connecticut river, a major contributor to a164-square-mile watershed, the largest in the state.
Delaware
Wind decision sparks reactions from all sides
June 19, 2026 03:00 PM EDT
Coastal Point.
Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings this week celebrated the dismissal of the Trump administration’s appeal of what she called a victory in a lawsuit challenging the federal government’s order to
Delaware
EPA's $10.1 million to Delaware for local PFAS cleanup may signal a new approach
June 19, 2026 07:28 AM EDT
Delaware Public Media
Earlier this year, the state of Delaware offered an updated plan to address so-called ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water, soil and air.But mitigating the presence of PFAS chemicals is complicated and costly effort. And under the Trump Administration, the federal government’s support for that effort is something of a mixed bag. While the EPA recently announced it will spend $1 billion nationwide and $10 million in Delaware to help, the agency is at the same time its rolling back Biden-era regulations to manage PFAS.This week, contributor Jon Hurdle takes a closer look at how the EPA’s actions affect the First State.
Florida
What comes after 'Alligator Alcatraz'? Uthmeier hopes for a protected environmental area
June 22, 2026 06:30 PM EDT
Orlando Weekly
Although Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, the mind behind the so-called “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration lockup, doesn’t know whether the facility
Hawaii
New documents filed in effort to block Hawaii climate lawsuit
June 17, 2026 03:12 PM EDT
Hawaii News Now
The Trump Administration filed a motion in May asking the court to reconsider its lawsuit against the State of Hawaii that attempted to stop the state from suing big oil companies.
Hawaii
U.S. claims 'misunderstanding,' requests Hawaii judge to alter fossil fuels dismissal ruling | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
June 17, 2026 06:05 AM EDT
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
The Trump administration has asked a federal judge to reconsider the dismissal of its case against Hawaii for suing private fossil fuel companies, claiming in a new motion that the United States was deprived of a fair opportunity to amend its complaint because it misunderstood a question from the judge.
Indiana
Feds Consider Closing Public Access to Indiana's Largest National Wildlife Refuge
June 18, 2026 12:32 PM EDT
Outdoor Life.
The Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge in Indiana is the state's biggest refuge, and federal officials are considering closing it.
Iowa
Pesticides 'shatter' leaves of Iowa's state tree
June 22, 2026 12:30 PM EDT
Iowa Public Radio
Over the last 20 years, a conservationist in LeClaire has been trying to raise awareness about pesticide damage to his oak trees. He points to herbicide drift from nearby agriculture fields as the source of the problem.
Louisiana
Louisiana Illuminator: Experts say time is the key element for Louisiana vanishing coast, culture
June 22, 2026 04:00 AM EDT
Magnolia Reporter.
An aerial photo of Wax Lake Delta, a living laboratory on Louisiana’s coast studied by scientists to inform coastal restoration projects along Louisiana’s sinking coast.
Maine
For the first time, Maine is reporting climate pollution without federal data
June 22, 2026 03:34 PM EDT
the Bangor Daily News
The EPA stopped publishing that data last year, when President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of international climate agreements.
Maine
As federal support evaporates, Maine says it's refocusing on achievable climate goals
June 22, 2026 03:22 PM EDT
North East Network.
The state's climate council is considering ways to progress on goals without federal support.
Maine
Trump Administration's Taxpayer-funded Pay-to-quit Scheme for Offshore Wind Projects Will Increase Energy Costs
June 17, 2026 01:50 PM EDT
nrcm
June 17, 2026 (Augusta, ME) — The Trump Administration’s payout of $765 million in taxpayer dollars to energy developer Invenergy to walk away from four offshore wind leases, including two in the Gulf of Maine, is a huge step backward for affordability and reliability, according to Maine’s leading
Massachusetts
Trump's DOJ pulls plug on offshore wind appeal as court losses mount
June 16, 2026 05:00 PM EDT
The Eagle Tribune.
BOSTON — Massachusetts and other Democratic-led states are declaring victory in a year-long court fight with the Trump administration over offshore wind, after a federal appeals court approved a request
Michigan
No maps, no insurance: Michigan floods expose lack of information, preparation in many rural areas
June 22, 2026 09:00 AM EDT
WJXT Channel 4
Many homeowners hit by devastating Michigan floods had no insurance and no idea they were at risk — underscoring vulnerabilities throughout rural America as climate change causes more extreme weather.
Minnesota
DNR wildlife manager details how nature was impacted by Bemidji storm
June 20, 2026 09:00 AM EDT
Duluth News Tribune.
One year after Bemidji's devastating June 2025 storm, Minnesota DNR's Blane Klemek looks back on the impact the storm had on the local wildlife and environment.
Minnesota
MN-funded nuke study: the devil is in the detail
June 17, 2026 11:53 AM EDT
americanexperiment
An end to Minnesota's ban on new nukes is starting to become more likely than not next year. This is in part due to this study.
Mississippi
DOJ Backs Elon Musk's xAI in Pollution Lawsuit, Says AI Facility Is Critical to National Security
June 17, 2026 03:17 AM EDT
International Business Times Singapore.
The DOJ is seeking to dismiss a lawsuit accusing Musk's xAI of air pollution violations, arguing the Mississippi AI data center is vital to national security.
Mississippi
Justice Department seeks to dismiss air pollution lawsuit against xAI data center
June 16, 2026 07:36 PM EDT
Mor Television.
The Trump administration is helping one of Elon Musk's companies fight a civil rights lawsuit that alleges it is illegally running dozens of natural gas turbines to power a $20 billion data center in Mississippi.
Mississippi
Justice Department Backs xAI in Southaven Air Pollution Lawsuit
June 16, 2026 06:58 PM EDT
the Mississippi Free Press
The Department of Justice has asked a Mississippi court to dismiss the case, arguing that xAI’s operations in Southaven support national security.
Missouri
Missouri cities fought a coal plant over illegal pollution, then watched their power bills soar 191%
June 20, 2026 10:00 PM EDT
Yahoo! Inc.
The outdated reliance on coal without enough of a backup plan made avoiding unhealthy pollution expensive.
Montana
Young Climate Plaintiffs Suing Trump Aren't Giving Up, Despite Setback
June 19, 2026 11:17 AM EDT
published by Truthdig, LLC
After winning a landmark climate lawsuit in Montana, student activists took the Trump administration to court. Their case was dismissed — but their fight is not over.
Montana
Governor touts Montana coal to Koreans amid a mixed energy landscape
June 18, 2026 09:10 PM EDT
The Michigan State University Exponent.
In a room filled with coal leaders and representatives from South Korea, Gov. Greg Gianforte welcomed them “to the home of beautiful, clean coal."
Montana
Trump Administration Reverses Rule Protecting Bison Grazing On Public Land
June 18, 2026 11:58 AM EDT
ZME Science.
A Trump administration rollback of public land conservation protections is putting hundreds of Montana bison—and broader Indigenous and ecological restoration efforts—at risk.
New Hampshire
Hotter summers are changing the way people spend time outdoors
June 22, 2026 10:48 AM EDT
The Laconia Daily Sun.
New Hampshire summers are getting hotter, and that is impacting the way people approach spending time outdoors, according to new research from the University of New Hampshire.
New Jersey
Feds agree to partial settlement with NJ offshore wind developer
June 18, 2026 05:23 AM EDT
domain, please provide more details
New Jersey's "Leading Light Wind" offshore power project was canceled June 17 as part of a settlement agreement with the U.S. Dept. of Interior.
New Mexico
After nearly two decades, this massive New Mexico wind project is now powering California
June 18, 2026 05:01 PM EDT
Los Angeles Times
One of the largest clean energy projects in United States history is now online, delivering electricity from a massive wind farm in New Mexico to Arizona and California.
New Mexico
New Mexico Tech helps develop new statewide energy dashboard
June 18, 2026 02:00 AM EDT
RDR News.
New Mexico recently launched a first-of-its kind energy information platform that gives researchers, policymakers, businesses and the public a single source for data on the state’s energy production, emissions and
New York
Trump Offshore Wind
June 17, 2026 11:07 AM EDT
McAlester News-Capital.
FILE - Turbines are visible at Sunrise Wind offshore wind farm that is under construction off the coast of Montauk Point, New York, April 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
North Carolina
Watch North Carolina's Drought Intensity Progress
June 19, 2026 12:37 PM EDT
wunc
Extreme heat and a lack of rain are pushing North Carolina further into drought with no relief in sight.
Oklahoma
EPA Announces $25.5 million to Address Wastewater Challenges in Rural, Small, and Tribal Communities - Oklahoma Farm Report
June 17, 2026 01:13 PM EDT
Oklahoma Farm Report.
Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of $25.5 million in grant funding for technical assistance providers to help small, rural, and Tribal communities address wastewater infrastructure challenges to protect human health and comply with the Clean Water Act. The work performed under this grant program will advance the Trump EPA’s Real Water
Oregon
Trump administration removal of ocean observatories is 'direct threat' to Oregon coast, state lawmakers say
June 18, 2026 09:33 AM EDT
Jefferson Public Radio.
A bipartisan group of state legislators is urging the federal government to put the buoys, which help assess ocean conditions for fishermen, mariners and scientists, back in the water.
Oregon
Trump administration to propose tripling logging in Blue Mountains forests
June 18, 2026 09:00 AM EDT
Oregon Public Broadcasting
The proposal could bring drastic changes to 5 million acres of forests and grasslands in northeastern Oregon and southeastern Washington.
South Carolina
SC judge rules that Trump's EPA unlawfully terminated environmental justice grant
June 18, 2026 05:00 AM EDT
The Post and Courier
The Sustainability Institute lost an $11.4M grant for housing work in Union Heights. A South Carolina judge has now ruled that termination unlawful. But the ruling stops short of restoring funds, so the community project remains in limbo.
Tennessee
Tennessee sewage case could reshape who polices polluters
June 16, 2026 01:34 PM EDT
E&E News.
The Pacific Legal Foundation is arguing that outside groups should be barred from suing over water pollution.
Texas
Increasingly fierce storms are coming for the upper Texas coast. Is the petrochemical industry ready? | Houston Public Media
June 22, 2026 05:41 PM EDT
Houston Public Media
Galveston County is home to 22 refineries and chemical plants. The level of emergency preparedness varies widely.
Texas
An old well next to a Texas church spewed toxic wastewater
June 18, 2026 06:00 AM EDT
The Texas Tribune
By the time the Texas Railroad Commission shut down nearby oilfield injection wells to control the leak, 1.5 million gallons of toxic wastewater had spilled to the surface.
Texas
USDA Officials Highlight Wildlife Threat as They Press to Curb New World Screwworm Cases
May 06, 2026 09:22 AM EDT
DTN Progressive Farmer.
USDA officials are increasingly worried wild animals could spread New World screwworm to livestock, as confirmed cases grew to 12 across Texas and New Mexico, prompting aggressive federal response efforts.
Utah
Fast-Moving Fires Forces Evacuations in Utah
June 22, 2026 10:57 AM EDT
WION (World Is One News)
Extreme heat, prolonged drought and strong winds are fueling wildfires across the western United States, heightening fire danger across the region. In Utah, a fast-growing wildfire has forced evacuations as firefighters battle to contain the blaze amid scorching temperatures and bone-dry conditions.
Utah
Trump administration reopens the door for cyanide bomb use on public lands in Utah, across nation
June 20, 2026 09:00 PM EDT
St. George News.
The Trump administration has opened the door for the Bureau of Land Management to reintroduce the use of previously banned M-44 cyanide bombs on BLM public lands across the United
Utah
Despite recommendations from wildlife managers, it's still open season on cougar trapping in Utah
June 18, 2026 09:40 PM EDT
Deseret News.
After 3 years of study, state wildlife managers proposed ending the use of indiscriminate traps on public lands
Virginia
Dominion Energy renews deal with Virginia Beach to buy land for more offshore wind
June 16, 2026 04:07 PM EDT
WHRO Public Media.
The utility would use onshore infrastructure at the site for a wind farm off the Outer Banks.
Washington
Federal order keeps Washington's only coal power plant open — again
June 17, 2026 08:21 PM EDT
KUOW Public Radio
For a third time, the Trump administration has ordered the TransAlta coal-burning power plant in Centralia, Washington, to stay open.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin resolves pollution, hazardous waste claims in $325K settlement
June 22, 2026 04:50 PM EDT
Channel 3000.
MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Department of Justice announced Monday that it reached two settlements with WRR Environmental Services Co. Inc. over alleged violations of air pollution control and hazardous
Wisconsin
Firm building renewable energy sites in Wisconsin has leases in other states bought out by federal government
June 17, 2026 01:12 PM EDT
The Gazette.
The Trump administration says it’s buying back another energy company’s U.S. offshore wind leases for four more wind projects, bringing the total amount spent on these agreements to nearly $2.6
Wyoming
Feds advance permit for controversial Seminoe pumped-water project in Wyoming - NewsBreak
June 20, 2026 12:15 AM EDT
News Break, Inc
The Seminoe pumped-water storage hydroelectric project in Carbon County advanced toward final approval this month, when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commi
