Articles by Grist staff

Investigators see more SUV arsons as economy sinks

Gas prices are high and the economy’s low — when the car loan payments are hard to meet, what’s an SUV driver to do? In too many cases, the answer seems to be: torch it. Investigators suspect that hundreds of vehicles have been burned in such a fashion in the Washington, D.C., area alone over […]

Environmental crimes rampant and under-investigated, report says

Environmental crimes such as illegal logging, trade in endangered species, illegal fishing, and trade in banned refrigerants are rampant and growing, according to a report from the nonprofit Environmental Investigation Agency. Organized-crime networks are raking in over $10 billion a year through commission of environmental crimes, and national and international police organizations are doing little […]

Snippets from the news

• Forest disappearance hurts economy more than banking crisis, says study. • Americans still driving less despite cheaper gas. • Bailout bill includes tax break for bikers. • Pollock declines could affect biggest North American fishery. • Papua being cleared for palm oil. • Climate change sends tropical species uphill. • Beijing will ban half […]

California prison system introduces conservation measures

Woe to California inmates whose lunches don’t agree with them: As part of a conservation program in the state-prison system, at least one prison has introduced a water-saving measure that makes toilets temporarily unflushable if they’re flushed three times in five minutes. As for what else the prisons are doo-ing: A partnership with the state’s […]