EPA

Water utilities in at least seven states have reported cyberattacks to the FBI, where hackers remotely accessed internet-connected devices and changed settings or passwords. Cybersecurity experts warn these attacks weaken operational control over critical infrastructure like water systems. Some recent incidents have resulted in real-world impacts, such as loss of water pressure or shutting down well controls.

Senate Republicans are launching an effort using the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to limit California's authority over vehicle and equipment emissions standards beyond its borders. The package targets earlier EPA waivers granted under the Clean Air Act that critics argue give the state outsized regulatory control. These measures aim to nullify various federal exemptions, such as those affecting passenger vehicles and gas-powered lawn equipment.

Senate Republicans are launching an effort using the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to target EPA waivers they argue allow California to exercise outsized influence over emissions standards beyond its borders. The legislation aims to nullify earlier EPA decisions that gave California regulatory control over equipment and vehicles, such as gas-powered lawn equipment, cars, and buses. Republicans contend that these waivers function as de facto climate regulation for the entire nation.

The FBI and EPA issued a joint alert concerning cyberattacks against programmable logic controllers (PLCs) at water and wastewater utilities in multiple states. These attacks successfully exploited exposed, often outdated equipment, leading to operational degradations such as pressure loss and systems reverting to manual control. Experts note that preventative measures are cost-effective, requiring securing remote access through gateways and implementing strong passwords.

Wildfire smoke from Canada is degrading air quality in U.S. cities, prompting health experts to recommend precautions like N95 masks for sensitive groups. The EPA's Air Quality Index categorizes pollution levels, with readings above 150 deemed harmful for everyone. Tools like PurpleAir provide real-time air quality data, and indoor air monitors are suggested for assessing home air quality.

A federal judge upheld stricter air quality standards, requiring the EPA to enforce tighter limits on PM 2.5. PM 2.5 refers to fine particulate matter like dust, smoke, and soot, which poses health risks.

North Carolina leaders are urging a federal court to reject a proposed $450 million EPA settlement with Chemours over PFAS pollution from the Fayetteville plant, arguing it excludes North Carolina from negotiations and fails to address harm to residents. The settlement requires Chemours to fund water cleanup projects but allocates none of the funds to North Carolina, which claims 500,000 residents and 10,000 private wells were impacted by contamination.

The EPA proposes to redesignate Detroit's air quality as meeting national ozone standards, but residents and environmental advocates argue that pollution levels remain dangerously high, particularly in Southwest Detroit, citing health issues like asthma and cancer. A recent study by the American Lung Association graded Detroit's air an 'F' due to ozone and pollution levels.

Indiana, historically reliant on coal, has transitioned to clean energy with significant solar installations and coal plant closures. However, EPA proposals to sustain coal operations could threaten the state's drinking water.

The Trump administration announced that power plants serving only data centers and not connected to the broader grid are exempt from pollution limits aimed at preventing acid rain. These 'islanded' power plants are no longer required to comply with the Clean Air Act's regulations under the new guidance.

Mandi Young, a science teacher from Traverse City, participated in a week-long research trip on the EPA's Lake Guardian vessel to study Great Lakes invertebrates and their role in the ecosystem. The program, organized by the EPA and Sea Grant, aims to connect real-world science with classroom education.

The U.S. and Mexico agreed in June 2025 to address the Tijuana River Valley sewage crisis through wastewater infrastructure projects. Local lawmakers are seeking legislation to make the effort a permanent EPA program.

Mosaic Fertilizer and Tampa Port Services agreed to a $103,000 federal penalty for an ammonia release incident. Eli Lilly's experimental obesity drug retatrutide showed no increased heart risk in a safety study. U.S. jobless claims fell to 187,000, the lowest since 1969.

The state of Hawaiʻi and conservation groups have filed federal court challenges against the EPA after it rejected a plan to retire polluting fossil fuel power plants. The lawsuit contests the EPA's decision to oppose the retirement of coal plants as part of pollution cleanup efforts.

New York Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition of 19 other attorneys general sued the federal government to challenge the EPA's rollback of greenhouse gas limits on certain commercial equipment.

The 2026 Lexus ES and Mercedes-Benz CLA offer both gas and electric versions, with Edmunds comparing their space, range, charging, and performance. The ES excels in interior space and comfort, while the CLA leads in range, charging speed, and driving dynamics. Edmunds' testing highlights the CLA's 374–434 mile range and faster charging compared to the ES's 276–307 mile range.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a highly regulated process overseen by the EPA in Louisiana, requiring Class VI permits and extensive geological research to ensure CO₂ remains safely stored underground. Safety measures include deep underground storage in porous rock formations sealed by cap rock, along with continuous monitoring and emergency planning.

A human West Nile virus case has been confirmed in Boulder County. Officials recommend using EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or similar ingredients to reduce mosquito bite risks.

The Charles River has improved from a D to an A/B in EPA report cards since 1995 due to environmental efforts, but challenges like combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and climate change threaten progress. Public demand for swimming in the river is evident through events like City Splash, though infrastructure upgrades are needed to make it fully swimmable.

Nearly one month after a warehouse fire in Boyle Heights, millions of pounds of rotting food remain in an undamaged section of the 250,000-square-foot warehouse. Padilla has urged the EPA to monitor the clean-up process.

The Trump administration is moving to approve Alabama's coal ash disposal program, which could permit toxic coal ash to remain in groundwater near rivers. This proposal affects Alabama Power and other utilities, allowing their ash ponds to stay saturated indefinitely.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin argues climate projections represent a range of outcomes, not certainties, and advises against labeling dissenters as 'science deniers.' The Trump administration is re-evaluating climate regulations, including the 2009 Endangerment Finding.

The article discusses the contradiction between public health warnings about children's vulnerability to extreme heat and epidemiological data showing lower heat-related illness rates in children. It highlights CDC and federal agency advisories cautioning about children's risks, while studies indicate children aged 5-14 have the lowest rates of heat-related deaths and hospitalizations.

The Trump administration repealed a key provision of the Endangered Species Act that protected habitats of endangered species from development, logging, and mining. The rule change removes a 50-year-old definition of 'harm' that included habitat protection, which had been upheld by the Supreme Court in 1995 to safeguard old-growth forests for spotted owls.

EPA administrator Lee Zeldin pledged to release a formal agenda for the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative after activists petitioned for his removal. However, the agenda has not yet been implemented, leading to frustration among activists.

The EPA is proposing to weaken heavy-duty truck pollution rules, citing that Biden-era regulations are unworkable. Trucking groups support the changes, while environmental groups oppose them.

President Trump granted pardons to six individuals he claims were persecuted by the Biden administration for vehicle repair activities, citing 'common sense' governance. The pardons are linked to a federal case involving Elite Diesel Service Inc., which was convicted for disabling emissions systems on commercial trucks, violating the Clean Air Act.

President Donald Trump granted full pardons to six individuals he claims were persecuted by the Biden administration for repairing vehicles, aligning with his advocacy for the 'right to repair.' The pardons include Troy Lake Sr., owner of Elite Diesel Service Inc., who was convicted for disabling emissions systems on commercial trucks as part of a federal environmental case.

Revitalize Community Development Corporation, which provides home remediations to manage asthma triggers for low-income families in Massachusetts, had its $1 million EPA grant terminated in 2025. The funding cut halted environmental justice programs addressing air pollution, asthma, and extreme heat in vulnerable communities, disrupting ongoing initiatives and leaving organizations scrambling for alternatives.

The EPA has stopped testing for microplastics in U.S. drinking water despite earlier commitments by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to prioritize such contaminants. The decision comes after Zeldin announced microplastics and pharmaceuticals as priority contaminants for testing earlier this year.

Jazmin Castellón of GreenRoots works in Chelsea, Massachusetts, to combat extreme heat through urban tree planting. The TreeKeeper program, funded by an EPA grant rescinded after President Trump took office in 2025, has scaled back operations. A smaller state grant now supports the program, but its future remains uncertain.

A Silver Spring, Maryland business is releasing 600,000 Wolbachia-infected male mosquitoes in the DC area to control the Asian Tiger Mosquito population, which can transmit diseases like Dengue and Zika. The males, which do not bite, render female mosquitoes infertile after mating. The program, using EPA-approved technology, is the first of its kind in the DMV region.

The Supreme Court blocked a Roundup cancer lawsuit in a 7-2 decision, ruling federal law prevents state failure-to-warn claims against Monsanto. The ruling overturned a $1.25 million jury award to John Durnell and is expected to dismiss thousands of similar lawsuits, though a $7.25 billion class-action settlement remains intact. Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Neil Gorsuch dissented, arguing the decision relies on a non-existent labeling requirement.

The Supreme Court blocked a lawsuit alleging Roundup weed killer causes cancer, ruling 7-2 that federal law prevents state failure-to-warn claims against Monsanto. The decision overturned a $1.25 million award to plaintiff John Durnell, while a $7.25 billion class-action settlement remains pending. Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Neil Gorsuch dissented, arguing the ruling was based on a non-existent labeling requirement.

The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that federal law blocks 'failure to warn' lawsuits against pesticide companies for health harms not formally recognized by the EPA. The decision limits Americans' ability to sue pesticide makers over alleged health risks from their products.

The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that federal law protects Monsanto from Roundup cancer lawsuits, as the EPA's approval of the product's label without a cancer warning preempts state failure-to-warn claims.

The Trump administration reached a $450 million settlement with Chemours Co. over illegal discharges of PFAS 'forever chemicals' in West Virginia, North Carolina, and New Jersey. The agreement includes penalties, pollution controls, and clean water provisions for affected communities, allowing Chemours to continue manufacturing PFAS while mitigating future contamination.

The EPA is tracking air quality as dangerous pollution levels spiked overnight near a cold storage facility fire in Boyle Heights. A temporary air sensor placed near the fire recorded a dramatic increase in pollution.

The Supreme Court declined to hear several significant cases, including those related to voting rights enforcement, environmental regulations, and a trademark dispute involving a company co-founded by LeBron James. The court also requested the federal government’s views on challenges to a state bar association’s leadership allocation and an Oregon prescription drug reporting requirement.

The Trump administration has rolled back environmental protections, including rescinding the EPA's greenhouse gas endangerment finding and weakening vehicle emissions standards, while Illinois under Gov. JB Pritzker and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director James Jennings has strengthened protections, particularly addressing PFAS chemicals.