Blamed in part on climate change, the threat of water ponding in your yard or your basement is growing, a Sun-Times/WBEZ investigation has found, putting health, homes at risk.
Climate Change
A bacteria that commonly causes gastrointestinal illness was previously no problem for Alaska seafood eaters. Now cases happen every year and the state has a control program.
Climate change is projected to make such events more common, but in the so-called "air-conditioned city," those without access to cooled air are most vulnerable to heat-related illnesses.
Arizona Democrats are again proposing bills focused on heat safety in workplaces, but face GOP resistance.
Phoenix strengthened its heat ordinance, adding anti-retaliation protections, enforcement authority, and penalties for contractors violating worker safety rules.
Nitrogen pollution from agricultural fertilizer contaminates the water for over 14,000 people in the Salinas Valley.
An investigation exposes “medical deportations”: hospitals are transferring seriously ill migrant patients outside the U.S. to avoid costs, violating rights and putting lives at risk.
Across hundreds of Alaskan communities, public schools are often the safest buildings where people can take shelter during disasters. After decades of state neglect, however, some have become emergencies themselves.
More frequent, intense and destructive fires fueled by climate change cause far more death and illness than official tallies capture.
Thousands lost their homes in the January 2025 Los Angeles fires, among the deadliest and most destructive wildfires in California History.
Losing one's home, belongings, and community, along with the threat to personal safety and the safety of loved ones, can have a major impact on survivors' mental health. Studies show higher rates of PTSD, depression, and anxiety, which can last for years.