Episode for January 31, 2024: Two years after the East Palestine disaster
The Allegheny Front
This week on The Allegheny Front, a special report. It's been two years since the the Norfolk Southern train derailed near the Pennsylvania-Ohio border. Researchers have been looking at how the toxic chemicals released in the disaster could impact people's health, and many who lived nearby still have health questions. A Western Pennsylvania Congressman is calling on leaders in Washington to pass rail safety legislation. Also, Gov. Josh Shapiro touts an agreement to prevent spike in electricity bills. Fifteen environmental justice communities in Allegheny County are now eligible to receive...
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Episode for January 24, 2025: Green manufacturing, jobs and President Trump
The Allegheny Front
Manufacturing is cleaner and more automated than when it peaked in the Pittsburgh area in the 1950s. Federal dollars and clean energy have revolutionized manufacturing, but what happens now that President Trump is back in office? Jobs in clean energy are expanding faster in Pennsylvania than the state’s overall economy, according to a new report. A climate journalist looks at the potential consequences of President Trump's first executive orders dealing with energy development. In its last days, the Biden Administration awarded Pennsylvania money to launch rebate programs for electric...
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Episode for January 17, 2025: Challenges of community solar
The Allegheny Front
As cities try to reduce emissions, getting more people to adopt solar energy is key. Community-owned solar projects could be a solution. Some operators want to extend the lives of coal plants because of increased energy demand. President-elect Trump has endorsed relaxing regulations that could help do this. Farmers are doing everything they can to prevent a bird flu outbreak in Pennsylvania. Plus, could climate polluters face criminal charges in Pennsylvania for causing or risking a catastrophe? Suicide prevention in rural areas is a focus at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, and how ice jams cause...
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Episode for January 10, 2025: How could the ownership of US Steel impact air quality?
The Allegheny Front
A well pad explosion in Ohio has caused some local communities to worry about the safety of oil and gas. What does the Farm Bill have to do with climate change? A bid to sell U.S. Steel to a Japanese company gets shot down by President Biden. What does it mean for air quality in the region? A new state program that aims to save schools money through solar energy is open for applications. States have begun rolling out new federally funded rebates to help households pay for energy efficiency upgrades and electric appliances. However, the programs are in limbo in Pennsylvania and surrounding...
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Episode for January 3, 2025: Favorite stories of 2024
The Allegheny Front
Happy New Year from everyone here at The Allegheny Front! Thank you to all who donated during our end-of-the-year campaign. While we didn’t quite meet our goal of $15,000, it’s never too late to donate. And when you do, you become a member of The Allegheny Front - you’ll get invites to chats with our reporters and members-only updates from our team. Best of all, you’ll be supporting independent journalism that's reporting on environmental issues impacting our communities across the region. We appreciate the support! Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square,...
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Episode for December 27, 2024: Ohio River, deer, art & kayaking
The Allegheny Front
Hi podcast listeners! We only have just a few days left to raise $15,000. Every dollar matters. Take action today to keep your community informed in 2025. Give now and your donation will be doubled for double the impact. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203. And thanks! This week's episode: Twenty-five million people live in the Ohio River watershed, and some don't have clean water to drink. A report out earlier this year is one step in the effort to get federal funding to restore the Ohio and its communities. A kayak tour this...
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Episode for December 20, 2024: Safe drinking water is still a work in progress
The Allegheny Front
We only have 1 more week to raise $15,000. Right now, we’re not quite half way through! Every dollar matters. It helps us pay our journalists to travel the region to produce the stories on pressing environmental issues that you come to expect. It helps us pay for the technology to edit and mix our stories and podcast, host our podcast and keep our website updated. Take action today to keep your community informed in 2025. Give now and your donation will be doubled for double the impact. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203. And...
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Episode for December 13, 2024: The future of green steel in the U.S.
The Allegheny Front
We’re more than halfway through our end-of-the-year fundraiser. Between now and December 31st, we hope to raise $15,000 to help fund our work in the year ahead. We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t get money from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. All donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar to double your impact. Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203. And thanks! This week's episode: ...
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Episode for December 6, 2024: Sweden is cleaning up steel
The Allegheny Front
We’re more than halfway through our end-of-the-year fundraiser. Between now and December 31st, we hope to raise $15,000 to help fund our work in the year ahead. We’re independent and non-profit, and we don’t get money from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed. All donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar to double your impact. And thanks! This week's show: Steel is a major contributor to climate change. Companies in Sweden are starting to solve this problem by...
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Episode for November 29, 2024: Saving the trees
The Allegheny Front
Our end-of-the-year campaign is in full swing and with your help, we can raise important funding to keep our independent, nonprofit newsroom strong. Through Dec. 31st, your monthly donation will be matched 12 times, or your one-time donation will be doubled! Democracy needs news. News needs you. Will you answer the call? And thanks! Pennsylvania's trees are facing a multitude of threats including fungus, insects, and worms, like the ones that cause beech leaf disease. American chestnut trees once thrived in our region, but 150 years ago a fungus wiped them out. Researchers and...
info_outlineSome residents of East Palestine want the EPA to test for contamination in their homes, but the EPA says it won’t. We ask why not. Our reporters discuss what they learned in our investigation into the public health and environmental response to the disaster and what they will keep their eyes on in the coming months. Plus, how worried should we be about the health impacts of toxic PFAS chemicals in our bodies?
News about EPA's new air pollution rule, DEP's request that frackers disclose their chemicals, and proposed money for an energy efficiency program.