Your Environment Update Archives

Two men using poles with grabbers on the ends pick up trash in the brush near the beach

Tiny plastic pieces top the list of trash on Great Lakes beaches

Julie GrantApril 17, 2024

The nonprofit Alliance for the Great Lakes analyzed 20 years of data from volunteer beach cleanups.

PollutionWaterYour Environment Update

A Tick Researcher’s Tips for Staying Safe Outdoors

Kara HolsoppleApril 12, 2024

One tip: walk in the center of the trail. Ticks like to attach themselves to long grasses. No need to use DEET.

HealthRecreationYour Environment Update

A young girl in a yellow sweatshirt holds a museum specimen of a great horned owl in the pal of her hand.

A school day built around birds gives students many ways into their world

Kara HolsoppleApril 5, 2024

The Campus Laboratory School at Carlow University taught students about birds through art, music, poetry, machine learning and even sports.

ConservationWild PennsylvaniaWildlifeYour Environment Update

A woman stands in front of a house holding a sign that reads, "Stop SOBE."

Paused Ohio chemical recycling plant puts spotlight on Appalachia as ‘prime target’ for the controversial practice

Kristina MarusicMarch 27, 2024

Chemical recycling uses heat, chemicals or both to break down plastic waste into component parts for reuse as plastic feedstocks or as fuel.

Environmental JusticeHealthPollutionYour Environment Update

A map of the continental US showing bands of colors across the country.

Wondering when to plant? There’s a map for that

Kara HolsoppleMarch 15, 2024

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map was updated last fall to give gardeners and growers more accurate information about what to plant and when.

Food and AgricultureYour Environment Update

A man and a woman on a couch, embracing.

Hollowed out: How EQT’s expansion in West Virginia set 4 families reeling, while regulators trusted the company to answer their complaints

PublicSourceMarch 5, 2024

Pittsburgh gas giant EQT pledges to tackle climate change and flexes political muscle. Communities in its frack path face stark realities.

EnergyHealthYour Environment Update

A green book jacket with the name "Erika Howsare" at the top in yellow, black lettering reading "The Age of Deer" and an illustrated red deer jumping through the letters of the title.

New book about deer invites us to take a closer look at ourselves, too

Kara HolsoppleMarch 1, 2024

Erika Howsare's "The Age of Deer" investigates the relationship between deer and people throughout history.

ConservationCultureWild PennsylvaniaWildlifeYour Environment Update

People are seated at tables, some with their hands raised.

New report gathers priorities from Ohio River communities for restoring the watershed

Julie GrantFebruary 23, 2024

The report is a step in the effort to create a restoration plan for the 14-state Ohio River watershed that can attract federal funding.

ConservationWaterWild PennsylvaniaYour Environment Update

What you need to know about soot, U.S. Steel and Pittsburgh’s air

Reid FrazierFebruary 16, 2024

How the latest news about a new soot standard, a settlement with U.S. Steel and EPA's rejection of the company's air permit could impact Pittsburgh's air.

HealthPollutionYour Environment Update

A young woman in a black sriped sweater stands in front of a river in a park.

A Pennsylvania resident impacted by the Norfolk Southern derailment pushes for answers

Kara HolsoppleFebruary 1, 2024

Hilary Flint of Enon Valley says she's can't live in her home full-time because of chemical contamination. She turned her situation into action.

HealthPollutionYour Environment Update

Full Episodes

Episode for October 11, 2024

Episode for October 4, 2024

Episode for September 27, 2024

Your Environment Update