The Allegheny Front

After a coal-fired power plant closed, people gathered at a public performance to memorialize what it meant to the community. And, we talk with The Incline about a seven-newsroom collaboration that examines air pollution and misinformation in southwestern Pennsylvania. Plus, researchers are looking at how drinking water from private wells might increase the risk of illness among children. News about federal proposals to curb pollution from power plants and leaks from pipelines.

Shell's ethane cracker in Beaver County has gotten off to a rocky start, with excessive emissions and reported odors. Now, some supporters are not questioning if Shell can be a good neighbor. And a new book looks at the opportunities and challenges of reducing our exposure to chemicals to reduce cancer risk. Plus, energy efficiency programs that are climate- and budget-friendly. The "Dirty Dozen" list of big climate polluters in Pennsylvania is out.

At dusk in fields in Pennsylvania and throughout the Great Lakes region in springtime, an odd-looking bird takes to the sky for an elaborate, acrobatic display. We take you there. We also look at how people in East Palestine are working through their anxiety with few mental health resources available. A developer pulls the plug on a Clinton County power plant. And invasive spotted lanternfly eggs are hatching. How to take care of these pests, even the young ones. 

EPA testing of soil around East Palestine shows no contamination from the derailment. But some residents say their own tests show they're still being exposed to toxins. We'll also hear from investors putting their money behind startups that help fight climate change. Plus, a new study is trying to find out if the aggressive, springtime behavior of a typically shy, forest-dwelling bird could be genetic. Also, why Pennsylvania may be seeing more displays of the northern lights in the coming years.

Thousands of tons of contaminated soil from the train derailment in East Palestine are going to an incinerator near the Pennsylvania border in East Liverpool, Ohio. Activists say it has a history of violating the Clean Air Act. We'll also hear why a conservation group named the Ohio River the second most endangered river in the country. Plus, Senator Casey touts federal investment for cleaning up waterways polluted by coal mining pollution. A new map highlights renewable energy projects in all 67 Pennsylvania counties.

A decade ago, a train derailed in New Jersey, releasing vinyl chloride – the same chemical from the East Palestine disaster. Residents still have questions about long-term health impacts. Meanwhile, lawmakers and unions are pushing for stronger railroad safety regulations. Plus, in Ohio, a new law was signed by the governor requiring state-owned land, like state parks, to be leased for gas drilling. Environmental groups are suing. We'll also hear from the new Democratic chair of the Pa. House energy committee on his priorities. 

We have the details about a tentative settlement between U.S.Steel and plaintiffs in a lawsuit over the 2018 fire at its coke works that knocked out pollution controls for three months. We also hear from the author of a new book about phosphorus, why humans have gone to great lengths to get it for farming, and how it is fueling harmful algal blooms in the Great Lakes. Plus, we meet critters that are using a new, springtime habitat in the Laurel Highlands. And the largest coal-fired power plant in Pennsylvania will be closed by July.

When the train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in East Palestine, students there were weeks away from the opening night of their school musical. They decided the show must go on. We're there for the dress rehearsal. We'll also hear from the author of a new book about the 1948 air pollution disaster that made Donora, Pennsylvania famous. Plus, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is holding meetings to get feedback about bringing back the American marten to the state's forests.

A former EPA administrator is calling the agency's response to the train derailment in East Palestine too weak. Questions are being asked about the cleanup and testing of the creeks polluted by the derailment. Some researchers say Ohio EPA isn't testing surface water for enough chemicals. Also, trout season is nearly here, with opening day on April 1. We catch up with officials stocking a local lake with some of the 3 million trout that will be released throughout Pennsylvania this year.   

Spring starts on March 20, but for many places, spring has been here for a while. How does that impact nature?  We have the story of one family in East Palestine who isn't sure if their home or water is safe. We talk with U.S. EPA's onsite coordinator there, who breaks down how the government is monitoring chemical pollution. We have news about U.S. Steel, Shell's ethane cracker, and proposed federal rules for PFAS in drinking water.