skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Trump claims 'powerful mandate' after Fox News projects he has won the US presidency; experts express caution over post-election AI deepfakes; Colorado's housing crisis linked to billionaire investors; Election Day is over; now it's a waiting game.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Trump wins the White House. Republicans will take over the Senate after flipping several seats, and seem to be on track to hold the House. In spite of bomb threats and charges of fraud, a very high-turnout election mostly went smoothly.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

A Cambodian poultry farmer who lost his livelihood could be a hero for others, rural Montanans are anxiously awaiting a court ruling over a climate lawsuit brought by young people, and Northeast states say more housing for working families could boost jobs.

Researchers study fecal matter numbers on TX beaches

play audio
Play

Wednesday, August 14, 2024   

Researchers in the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University are studying ways to determine levels of fecal contamination on Texas beaches. Exposure to fecal matter can cause nausea, diarrhea, ear infections, and rashes. A 2022 study showed 55 beaches across the state were potentially unsafe for swimming on at least one testing day a year.

Luke Metzger, executive director with Environment Texas, said researchers will develop a pilot project that will monitor bacteria levels.

"Their grant is to help use Artificial Intelligence to create a early warning system to help the public know when the beach that they want to swim in, whether it's safe to do so or not," he said.

The Meadows Center received a $500,000 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The six-month pilot program will start September first, the study will take place on recreational beaches in Harris, Matagorda and Nueces counties.

During the summer, Texas beaches are tested weekly for fecal contamination. Signs are posted on the beach if bacteria are found. The information is also posted at Texasbeachwatch.com. There are several ways beaches become contaminated.

"Rainfall can also lead to sewage overflows where our sewers get overwhelmed by the flood waters and then poop will flow out of it into our waterways. Factory farms of big feed lots of cattle can generate a huge amount of manure which in turn can get into our waterways," Metzger explained.

Houston and Corpus Christi are under federal consent decrees for having too many sewage overflows. Tyler, Houston and Corpus Christi have been ordered by the federal government to upgrade their wastewater infrastructure system.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
Political scientists said even in elections where the youth vote surges in certain areas, it is still heavily outnumbered by older voting populations. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

As results continue to come into focus post-Election Day, factors like the youth vote are expected to be scrutinized. Experts said it is important …


Social Issues

play sound

Although Florida was not considered a swing state this year's election, its diverse demographics reflect national trends, and political observers are …

Social Issues

play sound

The brisk pace of voting continued on Election Day, and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson expects the battleground state to shatter a 64-…


The City of Dearborn has partnered with others in Wayne County to apply for and implement several federal programs funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. (Branden/Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

The mayor of Dearborn has adopted a "health-in-all-policies" approach, a pledge to prioritize health, environmental justice and climate action in …

Social Issues

play sound

pro-Palestinian groups are hosting a demonstration today starting at Red Arrow Park in downtown Milwaukee. The groups Students for a Democratic …

The addition of more than 750 megawatts of renewable energy for rural portions of Kentucky significantly reduces the amount of greenhouse gases developed by natural gas and coal-fired generators. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

New funding from the federal Empowering Rural America program will allow the East Kentucky Power Cooperative to add more than 750 megawatts of solar e…

Social Issues

play sound

A new report quantifies the contribution of Wyoming's arts and culture sector to the state's economy and shows it is significant. Wyoming in 2022 …

Social Issues

play sound

In Minnesota and across the U.S., poll workers are being praised for stepping up during another big election. Administrators hope the goodwill …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021