In The News / Dec 29

• More toxics found in Greenwich, Connecticut, soil.

  The discovery of PCBs and other contaminants at Greenwich High School two years ago is only part of a mosaic of cancer-causing toxics that have cropped up at various sites around one of the nation's wealthiest, most exclusive communities. Stamford Advocate, Connecticut

• Mae Keane, the last 'radium girl,' dies at 107.

  In the 1920s, a young working-class woman could land a job working with radium wristwatches. They became known as the radium girls. All Things Considered, NPR

• California's drought having pronounced effect on wildlife.

  Many animals are fleeing their homes and risking their lives to search for food sources that have been diminished by California's prolonged drought. Los Angeles Times

• Texas pushing back as feds move to reduce coal-fired plants.

  Texas says it shouldn't be forced to make deeper emissions cuts than Kentucky and West Virginia. The reason: It's already moving toward more climate-friendly electricity through the use of natural gas and wind, while the other two states remain devoted to coal. Houston Chronicle, Texas

• Moab's red rock country is under pressure from fracking.

  Oil and gas wells have been drilled piecemeal around the iconic red rock vistas of Moab, Utah for decades. But today's wells represent a kind of backcountry industrialization that this area hasn't dealt with before. Denver Post, Colorado

• Ukraine turns off reactor at nuclear plant after 'accident.'

  Ukraine shut down one of the six reactors in its most powerful nuclear power plant yesterday - for the second time in a month - because of an apparent electrical malfunction. The Independent, United Kingdom

• At least 24 killed in Malaysia, Thailand floods as 200,000 evacuated.

  Severe flooding in Malaysia and Thailand has killed at least 24 people and forced the evacuation of more than 200,000, according to official data reported Sunday. Al Jazeera America

• Malaria killing thousands more than Ebola in West Africa.

  West Africa's fight to contain Ebola has hampered the campaign against malaria, a preventable and treatable disease that is claiming many thousands more lives than the dreaded virus. Associated Press

• In Haiti, battling disease with open-air clinics.

  The pictures of medical dysfunction were devastating: broken hospitals in Africa struggling, and largely failing, to contain the Ebola epidemic. As deaths mounted, the problems seemed intractable: no money, no infrastructure, no hope. But Haiti now has two new clinics designed to tackle diseases that can be as insidious and deadly. New York Times

• Technique for turning manure into drinkable water could help lakes.

  One Wisconsin county is setting aside about $1.3 million for new technology officials say could turn lake-fouling dairy cow manure into crystal clear water. Wisconsin State Journal, Wisconsin

• Los Angeles panel backs away from GMO ban it previously supported.

  Three days before Los Angeles lawmakers voted on a proposal to ban genetically modified crops, the world's largest biotechnology trade group hired three top City Hall lobbyists to stop it. Los Angeles Times

• Pennsylvania family's American dream ruined as water wells fail.

  For about two years, Steve and Patricia Borushko had a slice of the American Dream. But since their well stopped in 2005, they have had water problems — no water, contaminated water, orange water. They blamed Eighty-Four Mining Co., which owned adjacent property. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pennsylvania

• Ten things learned living off-grid in Canada.

  For two years we travelled the country to find off-gridders, and studied their ways of life. (Part of series). Vancouver Tyee, British Columbia