OPINION: Murky days ahead (The New Straits Times) WHILE the Department of Environment faithfully monitors the skies and updates its air pollution index, clinics and hospitals are beginning to see a steady rise in patients with respiratory complaints. Their medical condition has been exacerbated by the haze, which has been particularly pronounced in three areas in the Klang Valley, where the Air Pollutant Index reading reached unhealthy levels. ... [News Source]

Locations of high-risk coal ash sites kept secret. The Obama administration has decided to keep secret the locations of nearly four dozen coal ash storage sites that pose a threat to people living nearby. [News Source]

Smog fines would hit big industries, swell agency’s coffers. Texas’ environmental agency rolled out plans today to penalize some of Houston’s biggest industries for smog-forming pollution despite their protests that the fines are unfair. [News Source]

Marathon Man. Henry Waxman’s climate change bill won’t make it into law this year. That’s why he’s the right guy for the job. [News Source]

Comanche Peak hearing includes debate on future role of nuclear power. The subject at hand this week was new nuclear reactors – the safety and security of a proposed major expansion of North Texas' only nuclear power plant. The undercurrent, however, was how to craft a whole new energy future for the nation. [News Source]

Volunteers come forward for study of mineral. State health officials say enough volunteers have signed up to study the health effects of an asbestos-like mineral used widely on roads in western North Dakota. [News Source]

Climate change and America’s poor. A new study from the University of California, Berkeley has found that low-income communities and people of color in the United States will suffer the most from the health and economic consequences of rising global temperatures. [News Source]

Locations of high-risk coal ash sites kept secret. The Obama administration has decided to keep secret the locations of nearly four dozen coal ash storage sites that pose a threat to people living nearby. [News Source]

Smog fines would hit big industries, swell agency’s coffers. Texas’ environmental agency rolled out plans today to penalize some of Houston’s biggest industries for smog-forming pollution despite their protests that the fines are unfair. [News Source]

Marathon Man. Henry Waxman’s climate change bill won’t make it into law this year. That’s why he’s the right guy for the job. [News Source]

Comanche Peak hearing includes debate on future role of nuclear power. The subject at hand this week was new nuclear reactors – the safety and security of a proposed major expansion of North Texas' only nuclear power plant. The undercurrent, however, was how to craft a whole new energy future for the nation. [News Source]