Welcome back to our weekly behind-the-scenes glimpse at what’s getting our team talking. Let us know what you think at [email protected].
Bee friendly
A Colorado law recently took effect that bans retail stores from selling neonics — insecticides known to harm bees and other pollinators. According to a story Executive Editor Will Doig shared from Environment Colorado, this is a major milestone in the protection of vitally important insects and the ecosystems they support.
Will says:
Neonics have been identified as a major contributor to the decline of bees and other pollinators. At least eight other states have restrictions in place, as does the European Union.
Knock knock
In rural parts of the US, access to health care can be scarce, so people often end up calling 911 for even basic medical needs. One solution that’s gaining traction: bringing back the old-fashioned house call. Through community paramedicine programs, paramedics make regular visits to those with health issues in order to provide care before emergencies arise. One place where a small community paramedicine crew is making a big difference, as Marketplace reports in a story that caught Editorial Director Rebecca Worby’s attention: the remote West Texas town of Terlingua and the surrounding desert.
Becca says:
I’ve spent some time in Terlingua and can attest to how out there it is — it’s part of what makes it such a special place, but it’s also of course a challenge for emergency responders, especially during the hot, hot summers.
What else we’re reading
🚲 What does a city that has spurned cars look like? Olympics visitors to Paris will get a look — shared by Contributing Editor Michaela Haas from NBC News
👕 Need a new outfit? Try the library. — shared by Rebecca Worby from Grist
🏡 Los Angeles Homeless Count Drops for the First Time in Seven Years — shared by Michaela Haas from the New York Times
In other news…
Holiday fireworks are a tradition with a long history. Would we be better off leaving that tradition in the past? RTBC Contributing Editor Michaela Haas posed that question in a Viewpoint a few days ahead of the Fourth of July — and explored some spectacular alternatives.
That big question is still reverberating in our minds along with last week’s clangs and booms. And as it turns out, great minds think alike: The New York Times and Outside Magazine both weighed in on this issue.
Did you miss Michaela’s Viewpoint? Check it out here.
