Are Airports Polluting Our Local Waterways?

For most of us, the arrival of spring means good bye to snow and ice. But not at many of the nation’s airports. Frost on the ground and low temperatures mean planes must be sprayed with de-icing fluids for months to come. But there’s growing concern that these fluids are polluting the nation’s waterways. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Steve Frenkel reports:

Potato Plague Resurgence

The fungus responsible for the Irish Potato Famine that claimed more than one million lives in 1840 is back and stronger than ever. Scientists are warning American potato growers to beware. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Steve Frenkel has the story:

Computer Recycling

Personal computers are quickly becoming as common in American households as T.V.’s and telephones. But unlike those appliances, computers become obsolete at a much faster rate. And while many computer owners abandon their machines after just a few years of use, others think they still have a lot of value. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Steve Frenkel reports:

EPA to Regulate Livestock Farms

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced it would begin regulating large cattle, pork and poultry farms that produce huge amounts of animal waste. Manure spills from these farms have damaged ecosystems and water supplies in many states throughout the nation. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Steve Frenkel reports:

Cooking Methods Lower Exposure

For years, residents around the Great Lakes have been warned not to eat certain species of contaminated fish. But a new report to be published in the American Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that certain cooking techniques can minimize the risk of exposure to toxins like P-C-B’s. However, environmentalists say the report may missing the bigger picture. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Steve Frenkel has more:

Traveling Activists Build Support for Forests

Two environmentalists are crisscrossing the country to spread their message of stopping deforestation in America. While saving the forests is a national issue, their approach for building support has a local emphasis. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Jonathan Ahl reports:

Sprawl Slows Emergency Response

Suburban communities near American cities have been expanding for decades. And as they grow, more and more farmland is being paved over to make way for new roads and subdivisions. But a study being released today (Wednesday, March 4) finds that the desire for big homes on big lots may come at the expense of personal health and safety. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Steve Frenkel reports:

Napalm Disposal Plan Proceeds

Next week (week of 3/9), the U.S. Navy will begin a controversial program to ship napalm from San Diego, California to East Chicago, Indiana where it will be recycled. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Steve Frenkel reports:

Public Transportation Loses Constituency

Residents of large cities have relied on public transportation for decades. And in recent years, cities like New York, Los Angeles and Washington D.C. have all seen ridership on their transit systems grow. But Chicago is an exception. And while many cities have succeeded in making public transit a priority, Chicago is still looking for the answer to its transit woes. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Steve Frenkel reports:

National Bird Census Begins This Weekend

This weekend (Friday, February 20th-22nd), bird-watchers all across America will get a chance to help make history by joining in the world’s largest bird-watching experiment. Scientists are calling it "The Great Ninety-Eight Backyard Bird Count." The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Steve Frenkel has the story: