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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

As WA Bans Seabed Mining, Advocates Call on CA to Follow Suit

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Thursday, May 6, 2021   

MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. -- Ocean advocates in California are calling for a preemptive ban on seabed mining, saying the Golden State is the weak link on the West Coast.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed a ban Monday on the destructive practice, which has been illegal in Oregon for 30 years.

Jennifer Savage, California policy manager for the Surfrider Foundation, said mining chews up pristine habitat for countless marine species.

"They vacuum up the sand, using dredging equipment," Savage explained. "It stirs up the sediment, it blocks the sunlight. The machinery also can create extraordinary underwater noise pollution."

Currently, no companies have applied to begin seafloor mining in state waters, but a boom in deep-sea mining is imminent, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature because of rising demand for minerals such as copper, nickel, aluminum, manganese, zinc, lithium, cobalt and iron, which are used in smartphones, solar panels and industrial batteries.

Savage suggested companies work harder to repurpose minerals in our existing devices.

"We have not pursued other available options as far as being able to use what we already have more efficiently and focus on recycling existing minerals," Savage contended.

The California State Lands Commission's strategic plan released in February outlined strong ocean-floor conservation policies.

Savage hopes the agency will issue a rule banning deep-sea mining by the end of the year.

Support for this reporting was provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts.


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Health and Wellness

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Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

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Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

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Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

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Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

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New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Social Issues

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Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

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Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

 

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