Articles by Grist staff

The Vandals Took the Handles

Water privatization brings a flood of problems in U.S. cities As of 2003, some 1,100 U.S. municipalities had privatized their drinking-water systems, hoping that mismanaged public systems could be made higher-quality at relatively low cost. So much for that idea. Private firms in cities across the country have been investigated for illegally discharging sewage into […]

The Freak-Out Before the Storm

Officials try to scare Americans into preparing for hurricane season As hurricane season approaches, officials in storm-prone states are determined to scare residents into being ready to take care of themselves — because as we all saw last year, government sure ain’t up to the job. Florida officials are broadcasting public service announcements with recordings […]

An interview with foodie author Michael Pollan

Michael Pollan has built a reputation as a sleuthing agro-journalist. In his writing for The New York Times Magazine and a quartet of books, he’s trailed a steer from birth to dinner plate, traced America’s obesity epidemic to corn subsidies, and narrowly, fumblingly outwitted a small-town cop who came uncomfortably close to his marijuana patch. […]

Whose ‘Cide Are They On?

California regulating pesticide air pollution and fish farming California is trailblazing again: It aims to be the first state in the U.S. to tackle air pollution from pesticide use. State officials hope to eliminate tons (literally) of smog-forming gases that waft from pesticide-treated agricultural regions. California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation — long accused of doing […]