By McKenzie Green What?!?! I exclaim in amazement. ChatGPT isn’t an all knowing omnipotent being that can just reach into the internet at will? No. Well, yes– on the internet part– no, on the “omnipotent” bit. Artificial intelligence (AI), like ChatGPT is not an intangible being, it’s a computer; stored in buildings called data centers […]
Category: ENVIRONMENT
Posted inENVIRONMENT
NAACP, environmental group notify Elon Musk’s xAI company of intent to sue over facility pollution
The NAACP and environmental advocates plan to sue xAI over pollution from its Memphis data center, citing concerns about air quality and the impact on the predominantly Black communities surrounding the facility.
Posted inENVIRONMENT
Virginia Environmental Action Network tackles toxic contaminants in local waterways
Lewis Ross Brown and Shamira A. Brown founded Virginia Environmental Action Network to address the growing environmental challenges in local communities, focusing on water pollution from toxic chemicals like PFAS and PCBs. Their efforts aim to hold government officials accountable and raise awareness about the dangers these contaminants pose to both human health and the environment.
Posted inClimate Change
Chesapeake Bay health grade dips after hottest year on record and extreme rainfall patterns
The Chesapeake Bay’s health declined from a C-plus to a C in the latest annual report, with scientists attributing the drop to extreme weather patterns during the hottest year on record. Despite the setback, long-term trends show improvement in key areas like dissolved oxygen, aquatic grasses, and nutrient levels, though challenges from climate change and declining water clarity remain.
Posted inBaltimore News
Harbor East diesel spill sparks concern as impact to wildlife examined
Baltimore officials have confirmed that a diesel spill in Harbor East released 5,000 gallons of fuel—more than double the original estimate. Cleanup efforts are underway to contain the spill near the South Central Avenue Bridge, with officials closely monitoring potential impacts on local wildlife and the environment.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
D.C. gets ‘F’ for air quality in 2025 State of the Air Report
Washington, D.C., received an “F” in the 2025 State of the Air Report, reflecting a recent decline in air quality and an uptick in unhealthy air days. While city officials noted that rare events like the 2023 Canadian wildfires impacted the results, health experts continue to express concern about the long-term effects of air pollution, particularly on vulnerable communities.
Posted inClimate Change
D.C. lawmakers push for youth-led climate change advisory council
The D.C. Council is considering a youth advisory council on climate change to involve young people in policy decisions. Advocates stress the importance of acting on youth recommendations and ensuring representation from impacted communities.
Posted inMaryland News
Maryland celebrates Earth Day with youth art on zero-emission buses
By the Maryland Department of Transportation The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration, in partnership with the Maryland Department of the Environment and Maryland State Department of Education, announced on April 22 the winners of the second annual Earth Day Art Competition. Specially designed zero-emission buses have been wrapped with original artwork from six […]
Posted inClimate Change
South and Midwest hit by potentially catastrophic rains and floods while reeling from tornadoes
Torrential rains and deadly flash flooding swept across the Midwest and South, killing a child in Kentucky and submerging communities already devastated by earlier tornadoes that left at least seven dead. With more severe storms and flash floods forecast through April 5, officials warn of continued threats to lives, infrastructure, and supply chains across a broad swath of the central U.S.
Posted inTransportation
Major U.S. bridges at high risk of collisions with ships
Preliminary findings of an urgent assessment of the nation’s bridge vulnerability following the 2024 Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore have revealed that major bridges across the United States are highly likely to be hit by ships, with some bridges expecting a major ship collision once every 20 to 50 years.
Posted inClimate Change
Is the US becoming uninsurable? How climate change affects insurance costs
By Andrea Vale As Southern California still reels from January’s catastrophic wildfires, the economic damage has surged to $250 billion, far exceeding initial estimates. But that figure doesn’t account for damage incurred by residents whose homes and businesses were reduced to rubble and ash. The Palisades and Eaton fires alone will result in up to […]
Posted inENVIRONMENT
Monster storm across the US sparks scores of tornadoes and fire, killing at least 17
By Bruce Shipkowski, Julie Walker and Rebecca Reynolds The Associated Press Violent tornadoes that ripped through parts of the U.S. proved deadly as well as destructive March 15 as whipping winds moved east into the Mississippi Valley and Deep South, with at least 17 people killed and scores of homes decimated. Missouri recorded more fatalities than […]