Portions of three Washington rivers, the Cascade, Green and Napeequa, now have an extra layer of protection, thanks to a special designation from the Washington State Department of Ecology. The Outstanding Resource Waters designation under the Clean Water Act means the rivers will be protected from future pollution and degradation. Chris Korbulic, a professional kayaker and nature photographer, became the first kayaker ever to descend the remote Napeequa in 2019, but he had to carry his kayak seven miles over a 6,400-foot pass to get there. .
Despite extensive opposition, the Virginia Reliability Project is moving forward. This month, the state s Marine Resources Commission issued a wetlands permit for the project, although 175 Virginia residents submitted comments, all in opposition. The Virginia Reliability Project calls for constructing compressor stations and expanding a gas line which has been operating since the 1950s with a larger-diameter pipeline. .
The City of Cleveland wants new community air advisers to help expand air monitoring in historically redlined neighborhoods. Christina Yoka, chief of air pollution outreach for the Cleveland Department of Public Health, said children in the city s predominantly Black communities a "C"-shaped area known as the Cleveland Crescent have higher rates of asthma and other respiratory conditions. She emphasized the project s goal is to improve the accuracy of air pollution monitoring at the local level. .
A new report highlights what Tennessee could focus on to improve the health of its residents. The latest America s Health Rankings report ranks Tennessee 44th among states for overall health outcomes. The report found nationwide, diabetes prevalence has increased to 11.5%, affecting nearly 32 million adults. .
The American Federation of Teachers recently gave out grants in urban, suburban, and rural communities across America to increase literacy and improve nutrition in dozens of schools. In Louisiana, AFT s Powerful Partnerships Institute awarded a grant in Jefferson Parish that will fund a backpack program helping children in food-insecure families at four schools. The 38 grants create partnerships with community organizations and volunteer parent groups to address a number of needs in different school districts. .