The Gulf Coast is facing the environmental threat of algae blooms that cause rashes, stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.
"A blue-green Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) along the coast of Mississippi has forced the closure of more than 20 beaches," reports Danny Hermosillo. Ron Brackett reported in a separate article that the algae bloom had shut down all of the state's beaches.
As the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) shut down Pascagoula, Gulfport and Biloxi areas, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) officials told the public they didn't expect the bloom to spread to Texas.
For more on the causes of algae blooms, and potential mitigation measures, see an article by Michele Burford of the Australian Rivers Institute, written in January 2019.
FULL STORY: Algae bloom forces closures of Mississippi beaches; could it spread to the Texas coast?
NOAA Great Lakes Lab Loses Key Funding
Cuts at a lab that monitors water quality in the Great Lakes region could harm efforts to prevent dangerous algal blooms.
Predicting Toxic Algae Blooms with AI Modeling
Scientists hope to use AI and machine learning models to forecast water quality issues caused by toxic blue-green algae blooms.
California’s Largest Natural Lake Turns Green With … Algae
A potentially toxic algal bloom has turned Clear Lake in Northern California bright green, fed by increased runoff from human activity.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie