Federal protection sought for Olympic Peninsula marmots Environmentalists are suing the Trump administration to protect an animal found only on Washington state’s Olympic Peninsula. John Ryan
Climate dollars eyed to backfill WA wildfire funding Washington’s lands commissioner, Dave Upthegrove, is on a mission to secure $60 million of additional wildfire funding in next year’s legislative session, despite a tightening budget outlook. Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard
Fly-swatting competition helps curb lanternfly populations in Virginia The spotted lanternfly has descended on fruit orchards and maple trees in much of the mid-Atlantic region. It’s an invasive species that can overtake and kill grape vines.
California euthanizes 4 gray wolves after 'unprecedented' surge in livestock kills California wildlife officials have been working to mitigate the impact of the state's rebounding wolf population on its ranchers. The Northern California wolves that were euthanized had become dependent on cattle for food. Nathan Rott
A Virginia vineyard finds a creative way to battle the spotted lanternfly invasion A vineyard in Virginia has turned pest control into a pastime, arming visitors with electric fly swatters to protect its vines from lanternflies. Randi B. Hagi with member station WMRA reports on its fly swatting competition. Randi Hagi
Furloughed feds pick up Seattle beach trash to keep serving the public Furloughed federal employees were out in the rain picking up cigarette butts, bottle caps, and other trash at Seattle’s Golden Gardens Park on Friday. John Ryan
Coffee-driven deforestation is making it harder to grow coffee, watchdog group says In Brazil's coffee-producing areas, more than 42,000 square miles of forest have disappeared over about two decades, says Coffee Watch. Deforestation leads to drought, which harms crop yields. James Doubek
Iceland is buzzing with news of first-ever mosquitoes Mosquitoes have been spotted in Iceland for the first time as the climate warms.
Trump administration finalizes plan to open pristine Alaska wildlife refuge to oil and gas drilling The Trump administration has finalized a plan to open the coastal plain of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling, renewing long-simmering debate over whether to drill in one of the nation's most sensitive wilderness areas. The Associated Press
Trump's plan to expand U.S. timber production puts national forest lands at risk President Trump is trying to reverse the Clinton-era rule that puts 59 million acres of National Forest lands off limits to timber harvest and other development.