Every year, about 90% of Central Oregon’s Deschutes River vanishes into irrigation systems, impacting around 7,500 landowners, while the Central Oregon Irrigation District (COID) controls over half of the river’s volume. During a recent drought, COID diverted water four times more than its landowners’ crop needs, forcing downstream farmers to fallow their land, as highlighted by an Oregon Public Broadcasting and ProPublica analysis. Proposed solutions to water inefficiency include a $360 million project to replace open canals, which waste nearly half of the water through evaporation and seepage, with pressurized pipes.
Child malnutrition rates in Nepal have surged to alarming levels, with a survey revealing a wasting rate of 12.3% in the province of Madhesh and overall rates of 7.8% suffering from wasting and 17.4% underweight. This crisis follows the cessation of USAID funding for child nutrition programs in 2025, which has significantly impacted community outreach and support for malnourished children. Despite Nepal’s historical success in reducing under-five mortality by 72% from 1996 to 2022, experts warn that without immediate intervention and regained funding, these gains may be reversed.
After earthquakes on June 25, 2026, that killed at least 188 people and injured 1,520 in Venezuela, U.S. President Donald Trump offered assistance, stating, “The U.S.A. stands ready, willing, and able to help!” However, U.S. officials criticized this response, arguing that the U.S. has a unique obligation to provide significant humanitarian aid due to the economic damage caused by U.S. sanctions, which have left Venezuela's infrastructure in a state of disrepair. An analyst indicated the costs of the military operation to overthrow Nicolás Maduro exceeded $206 million, while Trump claimed the U.S. has recovered its war costs through oil extraction, amounting to approximately $5.7 billion.
An investigation by ProPublica and Drilled reveals that fossil fuel companies have funded climate research at U.S. universities for over 30 years, influencing scientists to advocate for solutions that do not require relinquishing reliance on oil, gas, and coal. This funding has shaped global climate models and policies, creating a misconception that the climate crisis can be resolved without significantly cutting fossil fuel use, which has delayed necessary emissions reductions for decades. Companies have sponsored entire research centers and maintained control over projects, leading to criticism of this influence as the "colonization of academia," despite universities asserting that safeguards exist to maintain academic independence.
For over 40 years, the fossil fuel industry has funded climate change research promoting carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a solution, despite significant evidence of its limitations and the enormous resources required for effective implementation. Current projections indicate that by 2050, countries will need to inject 6 billion tons of CO2 underground annually, which would necessitate converting about 768,000 square miles of land and constructing over 68,000 miles of new pipelines in the U.S. alone, yet deployment of CCS currently lags far behind these ambitions, with global efforts capturing less CO2 than a single large power plant emits in a year.
BP funded a $15 million Carbon Mitigation Initiative at Princeton to promote research on climate solutions that would not require a shift away from fossil fuels, leveraging the influential "Wedges" paper to present a more optimistic view on addressing climate change. The paper, which became widely cited and incorporated into major climate policies and education, was significantly shaped by BP executives who were involved in its drafts and content. Despite portraying technological advancements like carbon capture and storage as proven solutions, the portrayal was criticized for overselling their readiness and impact in combating climate change.
Arizona's largest sheriff's department, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, is falling behind on court-mandated reforms related to a racial profiling lawsuit, as revealed by a monitor's report highlighting a "disturbing pattern" of violations. Investigations suggest that internal pressure was applied to manipulate misconduct inquiries and protect officers, while a response from the sheriff's office denied any wrongdoing, labeling the findings as speculative. U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow, overseeing the case since the settlement was established, noted the organization has regressed in compliance, echoing issues from a decade earlier during Joe Arpaio's administration, where violations began in 2007.
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe is promoting Amendment 4, which aims to make it more difficult for citizens to amend the state constitution, citing concerns over out-of-state special interests influencing policy changes like legalizing recreational marijuana and abortion rights. Simultaneously, he is pushing for Amendment 5, which plans to phase out the state income tax, despite facing criticism that it could burden working-class families with new sales taxes and elevate Missouri’s existing tax rates. Support for Amendment 5 includes $1.9 million from the Delaware-based nonprofit Missouri Promise Inc., which does not disclose its donors, raising questions about transparency in campaign financing amidst a significant push for both amendments.
Chadwick Banken, a home seller and financier in Minnesota, has been found liable for violating state laws by deceiving East African Muslims through deceptive "sharia compliant" real estate deals that employed a contract-for-deed scheme, resulting in significant financial losses for buyers. A seven-person jury ruled that Banken violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act, the Consumer Financial Protection Act on two counts, the Prevention of Consumer Fraud Act, and the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act, potentially leading to fines of up to $25,000 per violation and restitution for victims. Banken sold 160 homes using this predatory scheme, which included inflated prices and confusing paperwork, leaving many customers financially ruined and violating their religious principles, with some suffering extreme hardship such as homelessness.
EBT theft is a significant issue affecting hundreds of thousands of SNAP recipients annually, as it involves unauthorized access to EBT card information leading to the theft of benefits. Many victims may only notice the theft when their account balances are lower than expected. The article encourages individuals who suspect they have been affected to share their experiences via a survey, highlighting the necessity of understanding the impact of this crime on communities.
ProPublica is investigating the issues impacting millions who rely on safety net programs like SNAP and Medicaid, focusing on electronic benefit theft and changes in federal policies. They are seeking insights from current or former workers in eligibility, intake, or human services to understand how recent shifts affect local communities, particularly in relation to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and new work requirements. Citizens are encouraged to share their experiences and concerns, as ProPublica emphasizes that individual narratives will inform their reporting on these critical topics.