University of Rochester researchers warn air pollution may harm brain health
Air pollution may pose risks far beyond the lungs and heart, potentially affecting brain development in children and increasing the risk of dementia and other neurological disorders in adults, according to researchers at the University ... more
Data center moratorium nears vote
New York lawmakers could vote this week on a proposal that would pause new data center construction for one year, according to Spectrum News 1. The measure would give the state time to study environmental ... more
New York reactivates harmful algae reporting system
As harmful algal bloom season approaches in the Finger Lakes, New York has reopened its public reporting system, according to the Finger Lakes Times. Residents can now submit bloom sightings directly to state officials through ... more
Waterloo Container alleges major landfill odor incident
Workers at a Seneca Falls manufacturer reported headaches, nausea and breathing problems during what company officials describe as their worst landfill odor event yet, according to the Finger Lakes Times. Waterloo Container plans to present ... more
State, FL Land Trust protect 33 acres tied to Ithaca water supply
Two newly protected properties in the Ithaca area will help safeguard drinking water sources serving nearly 60,000 people, state environmental officials announced Monday. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Finger Lakes ... more
AquaDiary: A closer look at municipal water (podcast)
The latest episode of the AquaDiary Podcast follows host Ally Berry as she investigates drinking water issues in Rochester and Saratoga Springs, beginning with a request from Rochester water officials for a deeper examination of ... more
Naples warns full electric bus fleet remains impractical
Electric school buses now carry students in two Ontario County districts, but a tough winter raised new questions about their long-term viability, according to the Finger Lakes Times. Canandaigua recently put two electric buses into ... more
DEC urges New Yorkers to leave young wildlife alone this spring
As fawns, baby birds and other young animals begin appearing across New York this spring, state wildlife officials are reminding residents that what looks like an abandoned animal is often exactly where it is supposed ... more
Memorial Day HABs: Why blooms are starting before summer
Memorial Day is supposed to be the unofficial start of summer fun on the lake. Boats go in, families head to the shoreline, and children and pets drift toward the water. But what happens when ... more
Climate groups blast Hochul budget deal while praising $100 million renewable investment
New York climate advocates are sharply criticizing the newly approved state budget, arguing Governor Kathy Hochul weakened the state’s landmark climate law while steering the state toward a more expensive energy future built around natural ... more
Budget weakens New York climate law
New York lawmakers agreed to major rollbacks of the state’s landmark climate law after pressure from Gov. Kathy Hochul during budget negotiations, according to New York Focus. The final budget delays key emissions regulations until ... more
Gillibrand urges EPA to crack down on microplastics pollution
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and several Senate colleagues are pressing the Environmental Protection Agency to take broader action against microplastics pollution, warning that growing exposure could pose serious health risks to Americans. In a letter ... more
Finger Lakes Land Trust launches campaign to protect 127-acre forest on Irish Hill
A heavily wooded stretch of land in the hills south of Ithaca could soon become the Finger Lakes region’s newest nature preserve if a major conservation fundraising campaign reaches its goal this summer. The Finger ... more
New York delays electric school bus mandate by five years amid rural cost concerns
New York lawmakers officially pushed back the state’s electric school bus mandate this week, handing rural districts and transportation providers a five-year reprieve after mounting concerns over cost, infrastructure, and operational reliability. The change, included ... more
EPA rollback sparks grocery debate
Federal regulators are easing refrigeration rules tied to greenhouse gases, according to Spectrum News 1, and supporters say the move could eventually lower grocery costs across New York. The Trump administration’s rollback targets part of ... more
AQUA DIARY: A closer look at Onondaga Lake (podcast)
On this week's episode of the AquaDiary Podcast, host Ally Berry examined the long and complicated environmental legacy of Onondaga Lake, where an estimated 165,000 pounds of mercury were discharged into the water between 1946 ... more
New York deer harvest rises slightly as crossbow use surges statewide
New York hunters harvested more than 227,000 deer during the 2025 hunting seasons, with state officials pointing to a major surge in crossbow use and a historic shift in the age of bucks being taken ... more
Inside the proposal to postpone electric school bus rollout
New York state’s electric school bus mandate faces a likely delay under a state budget proposal that would push back the original July 2027 transition start to 2032, the year it was initially supposed to ... more
Steuben pauses new sludge permits
Steuben County lawmakers unanimously approved a temporary halt on new sewage sludge spreading permits after years of complaints about PFAS contamination near farmland and private wells, according to Spectrum News. The six-month moratorium blocks new ... more
