In today’s feature report, we hear from Rachael Himsel of GUTSY Productions and Protect Our Woods about a recent timber sale in the Hoosier National Forest and Governor Braun’s letter to the Forest Service weighing in against logging in the Lake Monroe watershed.

And now for your environmental reports:

  • Ohio finally ends subsidies for two scandal-linked coal plants. Under the state’s infamous HB6 law, customers had to pay over half a billion dollars to keep the two 1950s-era plants running. A new law ends the subsidies this month.
  • Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who announced last month that he’s running for a third term in 2026, has been outspoken in challenging the Democratic Party to do as he does: loudly criticize the Trump administration on its reversal of some long-held policies and values.
  • Southern Europe is battling the worst wildfires in decades amid huge blazes. France has been suffering its largest wildfire in at least 50 years, according to disaster officials.
  • Warning: Be Wary of Imported Farmed Shrimp Shrimp may be one of the most popular seafood choices in the U.S., but imported farmed shrimp often come with a cocktail of health concerns.
  • Republican excitement for Wyoming Rare Earth mining contradicts the party’s disdain for renewables. Ramaco Resources’ Brook Mine could become the second rare earth extraction operation in the U.S., but the minerals face an uncertain domestic market under President Trump.
  • Manatee deaths in Florida, particularly in the Indian River Lagoon (near Melbourne), are once again raising concerns. While the state’s wildlife officials have declared an end to a previous
  • “Unusual Mortality Event” related to starvation, the lagoon’s health remains a worry, with continued reports of manatee deaths and ongoing environmental issues. So far this year, there are 477 deaths, already exceeding the total for 2024.
  • Ocean creatures, from blue crabs to blue whales, are primarily affected by plastic pollution in one of two ways: ingestion or entanglement. An animal might mistake plastic waste for food, and either chokes on it or the plastic clogs their digestive system. Sometimes, the plastic might trick the animal into believing it is full, and the animal starves.

Feature Report:

And now, we turn to Zero Roze for his interview with Rachael Himsel of Protect Our Woods, a regional forest protection organization working to organize Hoosiers to impact government policy. Andy Mahler video on Saving the Hoosier National Forest: https://youtu.be/48r_ud-Z8sA?si=wPnlA1aZr4om65y1

And now for some upcoming events:

  • Attend a presentation on From Valley to Reservoir at the Paynetown State Recreation Area at Monroe Lake on Saturday, August 16th, from 2 to 3:30 pm. Meet at the Activity Center on the Patio to learn about the difference between a natural lake and a reservoir and discover what was here before the water.
  • A Nature Booth on Geology will be set up at the Abe Martin Lodge at Brown County State Park on Sunday, August 17th, from 10 am to Noon. Look at fossils, geodes and other interesting rocks while you learn about the geologic processes found in Indiana’s bedrock.
  • The Citizen’s Climate Lobby will be meeting on Tuesday, August 19th, from 6 to 7:15 pm at the Meitus Strohm Office, which is located above the CVS at 121 E. Kirkwood.
  • An Old Woods Hike is planned for Spring Mill State Park on Friday, August 22nd, beginning at 10 am. Hike through the Donaldson Woods Nature Preserve to learn about old growth forests, history and the life of George Donaldson. Meet at the Twin Caves parking lot.
  • A Flying Bats presentation is scheduled for Saturday, August 23rd, from 7 to 8:30 pm at the Paynetown State Recreation Area at Monroe Lake. Learn about the only flying mammal in the world. Discover their special adaptations to fly while making a “flying bat” toy.

Credits:
This week’s headlines were written by Norm Holy, the Environmental Defense Fund and the Ocean Conservancy.
Today’s news feature was produced by Zero Roze
Julianna Dailey assembled the script which was edited by the EcoReport team and produced the upcoming events.
Kade Young is our engineer.

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