West Virginia environmental groups have sued the Forest Service for failing to protect streams in the Cherry River watershed from the impacts of coal hauling in the Monongahela National Forest. The watershed is home to the critically endangered candy darter, a freshwater fish striped in bright green and orange. But environmentalists say trucks brimming with coal are spilling harmful sediment and pollutants into its waters. .
Tennessee s "State of the Child" 2023 report shows some progress, but also highlights ongoing areas of concern. From the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, the report examines kids health and mental health, education, family economics, child care and the state s child-welfare and youth-justice data. Kylie Graves, director of policy and legislative affairs for the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, said a key finding is that, among children of all age groups, those younger than five are most likely to live in poverty. .
Braving the week s icy conditions, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and several members of the Legislature highlighted the state s housing crisis at the Northern Michigan Policy Conference. Friday s conference came on the coattails of the USDA s December announcement that four counties in Northeastern Michigan are getting nearly $500,000 in federal funds to repair some dwellings in Crawford, Alcona, Ogemaw and Alpena counties to help repair more than 70 homes in the state. .
Lawmakers in New Hampshire are considering legislation to better protect election workers from harassment and intimidation. The Justice Department reports a significant increase in the threat of violence against these workers after former President Donald Trump and his allies began spreading false claims about voter fraud. Rep. .
January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and the FBI says financially motivated sextortion often targeting teen boys went up 20% from October 2022 to March 2023 compared to the same period the year before. Scammers will pose as an attractive girl on social media or gaming sites, ask the boy to send nude photos or videos, then threaten to post them online if the victim doesn t pay up. FBI Special Agent Curtis Cox said the threats often cause extreme mental anguish. .