Articles by Grist staff

One in three schools too close to highways for clean air, study says

One third of American public schools are in an “air pollution danger zone,” researchers at the University of Cincinnati found in a new study to be published in the Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. They defined danger zones as areas within a quarter-mile of heavily trafficked highways. Diesel particles and other pollutants from highways […]

Snippets from the news

• One-third of U.S. schools are in “air pollution danger zone.” • Forever 21 to be built on site of L.A. community garden. • Beehives harbor 70 different pesticides. • Chinese media guidelines: don’t mention carcinogenic water. • Happy World Water Week!

T. Boone Pickens gets face time with both prez candidates

T. Boone Pickens, the former Texas oilman who has turned his focus — and substantial funding — to renewable energy, breakfasted with both of the presidential candidates in past days. (But is he still a slim Pickens?) The billionaire met with John McCain on Friday; Pickens has said that he supports the Republican candidate, but […]

Advocates push for return to 55-mph speed limit

Platform shoes and high-waisted pants came back into fashion — could the 55-mile-per-hour speed limit be the next ’70s trend to reemerge? Advocates point to potential money and fuel savings, noting that fuel efficiency drops significantly above 60 mph. The Drive 55 campaign calculates that taking a daily 30-mile trip at 55 mph instead of […]