Paris Climate Talks/ Earth Day

Missoulian: More than 170 states set to sign landmark climate agreement
'We are in a race against time,' says Ban, as leaders sign landmark Paris climate accord
“As world leaders gathered at United Nations Headquarters in New York this morning to officially sign the Paris Agreement on climate change – the landmark accord that sets outs a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous global warming –Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Member States to move quickly to join the accord at the national level so that it can enter into force as early as possible.”

Earth Day

• Earth Day '70: What It Meant
• More history of Earth Day
• President's 2015 Earth Day proclamation

• Food Recovery is our theme for Earth Day 2016. Find out more aboutreducing food loss and waste and what you can do.
• Share your thoughts: Make Wasted Food a Thing of the Past

• General lesson ideas for teachers
• Homework resources for students
• Community service ideas
• Project "toolkits" from Serve.gov
• Environmental quotations

• Watch Earth Day videos and share what's important to you.
• Logos and labels to help you save money, reduce pollution, and protect your family.

Air Pollution/ Solar Eclipse

Missoulian:  Report: Missoula was 10th most soot-polluted city in nation between 2012-2014
State of the Air (American Lung Association)
Air Data (EPA)

Missoulian: Great American Eclipsedraws tourists to path of totality

NASA Eclipse Website

Tubman on the $20/ Montana Unemployment/ Overfishing/ Nuclear Power in the Everglades

Missoulian: Hamilton stays on $10 bill; Tubman goes on $20

INTRODUCING THE NEW $20, $10, AND $5!
“Our modern money honors our history and celebrates our values. Building on tremendous feedback from Americans across our country about the theme of democracy, the Treasury Department will create new design concepts for the $20, $10, and $5 dollar notes.”

Missoulian: Montana's unemployment rate up to 4.3 percent in March
Montana’s Unemployment Rate at 4.3 Percent in March

Missoulian: Populations of salmon, flounder added to overfishing list

Status of Stocks 2015

Missoulian:  Massive nuclear plant plan near Everglades delayed by court
Miami-Dade County, et al.,  vs. In Re: Florida Power & Light Co., etc., et al.,

Amtrak Wreck Report/ Houston Flooding/ Public Land Conservation

Missoulian: Backhoe in Amtrak wreck had periodic right to be on tracks

Preliminary Report: Railroad DCA16FR007
“On Sunday, April 3, 2016, at 7:50 a.m., National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) passenger train 89 struck a roadway maintenance machine (backhoe) at milepost 15.7 on the Amtrak Northeast Corridor near Chester, Pennsylvania.[1] The train consisted of one locomotive, eight passenger cars, one café car, and one baggage car. Amtrak train 89was operating on main track 3 at 106 mph, within the maximum authorized speed of 110 mph. The locomotive struck the backhoe, and the debris struck and damaged the passenger cars.”

Missoulian: Houston recovering from yet another deadly flood
Flood Warning
“A river flood warning remains in effect for the Caney Creek...Cypress Creek...East Fork San Jacinto...Peach Creek...San Jacinto River...Spring Creek...West Fork San Jacinto. Dangerous flooding will continue along Cypress Creek and Spring Creek.”

Missoulian: Jewell: Oregon takeover among several threats to West
Secretary Jewell to Deliver Major Address on Conservation During National Park Week

“On Tuesday, April 19, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell will deliver a major speech on the Obama Administration’s approach to conservation and the need for a course correction in order to ensure healthy lands, water and wildlife for the next century of American conservation.”
Watch live at 2 pm ET today at DOI.gov/live as I share my vision for our conservation future, and please tweet your thoughts using #parksforall.

Quakes in Ecuador and Japan

Missoulian: The Latest: US citizen among Ecuador quake victims

Magnitude 7.8 Earthquake in Ecuador

Magnitude 7.0 Earthquake in Japan

North Korean Plutonium

Missoulian: US researchers see more signs NKorea is producing plutonium

North Korea’s Nuclear Weapons: Technical Issues
“This report summarizes what is known from open sources about the North Korean nuclear weapons program—including weapons-usable fissile material and warhead estimates—and assesses current developments in achieving denuclearization. Little detailed open-source information is available about the DPRK’s nuclear weapons production capabilities, warhead sophistication, the scope and success of its uranium enrichment program, or extent of its proliferation activities.”

Oilfield Contamination of Water

Missoulian: Feds: EPA fails to protect water from oilfield contamination

EPA Needs to Collect Information and Consistently Conduct Activities to Protect Underground Sources of Drinking Water

”Since the early 2000s, increased oil and gas production has resulted in an increase in wastewater that must be managed properly. The majority of wastewater from oil and gas production is injected into underground wells known as class II wells. These wells are regulated to protect drinking water sources under EPA's UIC class II well program and approved state class II programs. EPA oversees state programs, and EPA regions manage programs in states without approval.”