President Obama’s rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline has been making headlines, but Iowans still face having a crude oil pipeline run through the state. The Iowa Utilities Board will begin the Bakken pipeline hearing next week to determine if the pipeline serves the “convenience and necessity” of Iowans. Public comments will run 9 a.m. […]
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Category: Environment
How to make “seed bombs” event at Cornel
Our pollinators, particularly bees and monarch butterflies, need all the help they can get. An upcoming event at Cornell College in Mount Vernon will draw attention to their plight. Mike Bianco, a visiting artist at Cornell, is holding a workshop on how to make “seed bombs” to help encourage pollination. The event, in room 313 […]
Removing the “green” from Greene Square
CEDAR RAPIDS — Greene Square Park, residents of Cedar Rapids (hopefully) know, is named for one of the city’s founders, Judge George Greene, and isn’t a misspelling of the word “green.” Still, it was nice to have that pocket of green in the middle of the city, where warm days would bring out downtown workers […]
Emerald Ash Borer discovered in Cedar Ra...
Given the other infestations in Iowa, it was only a matter of time before the emerald ash borer was detected in Cedar Rapids. A member of Iowa’s emerald ash borer team discovered live larvae on an ash tree at an Interstate 380 rest area in southern Cedar Rapids, state officials announced this morning.
Finding retired Sen. Harkin out on the f...
On a freelance assignment this weekend on a farm in western Iowa, I bumped into former U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, looking rather refreshed after being retired since the end of his term in January. Harkin last month endorsed Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination for president and wasn’t back-tracking on his decision.
New Pioneer to eliminate plastic bags at...
New Pioneer Food Co-op will no longer offer handled plastic bags at the checkout counter, as of the end of August. The co-op will still offer paper bags at checkout and plans to give away reusable bags for several days in the coming weeks. Cities in California were among the first in the United States […]
Natural burials to be discussed at Prair...
UPDATE: (May 29, 2015) Prairiewoods will accept walk-ins to this June 2 session. Original post: Prairiewoods in Hiawatha has scheduled a speaker to address natural burials – those that further environmental aims, such as reducing carbon emissions, conserving natural resources and preserving habitat. It’s an intriguing topic, but you have to act fast to register, […]
Cedar Rapids continues string of tree re...
By Cindy Hadish/Homegrown Iowan CEDAR RAPIDS – The city is continuing its trend of clear-cutting trees for the sake of “parks” space. This week, 20 mature trees were removed from the riverfront along First Street SW, between First and Second avenues. Parks & Recreation spokeswoman Gail Loskill said the trees were removed because their roots […]
Pipeline opponent to speak at Prairiewoo...
Glad to hear that activist Ed Fallon bonded out of jail today, as he is scheduled to visit Prairiewoods in Hiawatha this Wednesday, May 20, to discuss his 400-mile walk across Iowa. Fallon, a former Iowa legislator, was arrested and charged with trespassing May 18, after refusing to leave Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad’s office, where […]
Photo gallery: EcoFest 2015 and opening ...
April can be so unpredictable: cold, wet and dreary one day, sunny and warm the next, and so it was this weekend. While the weather for Saturday’s EcoFest in New Bohemia wasn’t ideal for an outdoor festival, many activities were indoors so it was definitely not a wash-out. For me, it was a bird-brained day […]