Celebrating Earth Day: In-depth look at environmental, air quality issues across America

April 4, 2025

(InvestigateTV) — Over 50 years have passed since the first Earth Day in 1970.

Now, each year on April 22, many people worldwide continue to celebrate Earth Day while demonstrating their support for environmental protection.

In honor of Earth Day, InvestigateTV has gathered several recent environmental stories for you to read this month.

More Americans are breathing unclean air: Examining where & why pollution is getting worse for residents

As of April 2024, more than 130 million people lived in places with polluted air, an increase of roughly 10% from the same time the year before.

Wildfires are getting worse, both in numbers and intensity.

As we see an increase in extreme fires, more Americans are encountering a tragic reality.

Report: Wildfires expected to increase 50% by 2100, governments are not prepared

Wildfires are upending lives while inflicting billions of dollars in damage. InvestigateTV+ has an in-depth look at the new technology being used to combat it.

This InvestigateTV+ special report reveals how wildfires are upending lives while inflicting billions of dollars in damage and takes an in-depth look at the new technology being used to combat them.

Discovery of nesting sea turtles could make case for restoring Louisiana island chain

For the first time in 75 years, scientists documented endangered sea turtles nesting on a Louisiana beach

Barrier islands are critical to protecting coastal communities from extreme weather.

Louisiana’s Chandeleur Islands are no exception.

Researchers believe the islands are in danger of being submerged in just 20 years. While most people will never visit, this thin stretch of land is teeming with life.

Decades of work on an ‘Adapted Apple’ could help sow the seeds of future climate-resilient crops

As shifting weather patterns threaten harvests, scientists are searching for ways to help crops survive. Our team examines the future of climate-resilient crops

Farmers are often on the front lines of shifting weather patterns and extreme temperatures that threaten harvests.

It’s why scientists are searching for ways to help crops survive.

Extreme Heat On The Job: Are stronger protections needed for workers in high temperatures?

The dangers of extreme heat include dehydration, heat stroke, hospitalization and even death. Employees at work in extreme temperatures face these risks daily.

The dangers of extreme heat include dehydration, heat stroke, hospitalization and even death. Employees at work in extreme temperatures face these risks daily.

InvestigateTV+ found that more people have been dying in recent years from the effects of scorching temperatures.

Why Valley Fever could eventually impact more people across the Western US

InvestigateTV+ has an in-depth look at who’s at risk and how doctors are training to spot the disease. Reporter: Tisha Powell

What is Valley Fever? How do you catch it?

The CDC reports, that the most common way to get the disease is by breathing in a fungus found in desert-like soils.

InvestigateTV+ has an in-depth look at who’s at risk and how doctors are training to spot the disease. Watch the full story in the video at the top of the page.

Louisiana’s top coastal official wants to ‘rock the coast’ from Mississippi to Texas

The Chairman of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority is pushing for the use of segmented breakwater rocks to help fight land loss.

Since the 1930s, Louisiana has lost nearly 2,000 square miles of coastline.

For comparison, that’s about the size of Delaware.

Louisiana’s top coastal official says he’s found a solution to the state’s vanishing coastline.

Forgotten Twister: Tragedies continue despite improved warnings over last 100 years

InvestigateTV+ explores the tragedy of this forgotten twister that struck without warning and reveals why scientists say many regions remain at risk today.

Imagine a time with no tornado sirens signaling your family to seek shelter or any sort of network to help keep communities safe.

A century ago, the Weather Bureau had a policy not to use the word “tornado” in any forecast to avoid inciting panic. A lot has changed since then, but weather experts and lawmakers say there is still room for improvement.

In this InvestigateTV+ report, we explore America’s forgotten twister and reveal new potentially life-saving changes for forecasting.

Scientists: Rising seas threaten to swamp coastal restoration efforts

Critics of some solutions to save a sinking delta argue it could cost them their livelihoods.

Since 1932, for a variety of reasons, Louisiana has lost an estimated 2,000 square miles of land, roughly the size of Delaware.

To save its rapidly disappearing coast, the Bayou State is spending billions of dollars on, arguably, one of the world’s most ambitious environmental restoration efforts.

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(Gray Media)

 

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