Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ben Maas @masbenmaas.bsky.social · 21h

Great work from the folks ag EWG! From thr report...

"We found that adopting the four best conservation practices on just 1% of continuous corn acres each in the four states would reduce total greenhouse gas emissions at an amount that would be like taking over 850,000 cars off the road."

Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 21h

New @ewgofficial.bsky.social analysis released today from me and @albine14.bsky.social. We found that just under 15 million cropland acres across Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin are used for continuous corn, representing 20% of the total harvested cropland. 1/4 www.ewg.org/research/fer...

Fertilizing ‘continuous corn’ drives major source of farm greenhouse gases, but conservation can help

Millions of acres in four major Corn Belt states are used to grow "continuous corn” on the same fields year after year, requiring significant use of

www.ewg.org

1

Reposted by Ben Maas

Anne Schechinger @anneschech.bsky.social · 21h

New @ewgofficial.bsky.social analysis released today from me and @albine14.bsky.social. We found that just under 15 million cropland acres across Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin are used for continuous corn, representing 20% of the total harvested cropland. 1/4 www.ewg.org/research/fer...

Fertilizing ‘continuous corn’ drives major source of farm greenhouse gases, but conservation can help

Millions of acres in four major Corn Belt states are used to grow "continuous corn” on the same fields year after year, requiring significant use of

www.ewg.org

1 7 8

Ben Maas @masbenmaas.bsky.social · 21h

This was a well-done radio segment from @mprnews.org.

They highlighted how the Rapidan Dam failure negatively impacted the water quality of the Blue Earth River over the short term & long term.

Rivers have slowly improved as a result of regulations of ag pollution.

www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...

Rapidan Dam failure still harms the Blue Earth River while most other Minnesota waters improve

Minnesota’s rivers and lakes are slowly getting healthier, according to the latest water quality report by the state's Pollution Control Agency, but the pollution still threatens many of the state’s w...

www.mprnews.org

2

Reposted by Ben Maas

Climatologist49 @climatologist49.bsky.social · 1d

September climate warming stripes. It's as if something has changed. 🤔

7 45 130

Reposted by Ben Maas

Silvia Secchi @profsecchi.bsky.social · 1d

This story is absolutely bonkers.

“There is a “crazy hole in our food safety system” that prevents the FDA from entering Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) to sample for pathogens that have caused an outbreak in people”.
Let the stewards of the land poison us galore.

Julian A Nowogrodzki @plantnerd.bsky.social · 1d

Factory farm dust could be the missing link in a major food poisoning outbreak, thanks to a "crazy hole in our food safety system”

Natasha Gilbert reports: sentientmedia.org/factory-farm...

How Factory Farm Air Pollution Can Spread Dangerous Bacteria

Factory farm dust can spread E. coli and could have sparked a large food poisoning outbreak in 2018, a new study shows.

sentientmedia.org

1 33 71

Ben Maas @masbenmaas.bsky.social · 1d

If only there was a way to add filtration to, what is essentially, HVAC systems.

And usually is either the people or the equipment not being cleaned. Best of intentions and whatnot.

1 2

Ben Maas @masbenmaas.bsky.social · 1d

Not so bio secure locations...

1 3

Reposted by Ben Maas

Dr. Sandra Steingraber 🏳️‍🌈 @ssteingraber1.bsky.social · 4d

🧪 NEW STUDY: Pregnant women with higher levels of microplastics in their placenta are at increased risk of miscarriage.

Also: Microplastics were found in all placentas tested.

Also: Miscarriages are involuntary abortions.

1/5

www.ehn.org/miscarriage-...

Microplastics in the placenta linked to increased risk of miscarriage

In a recent study published by eBioMedicine, researchers found that women with higher levels of microplastics in their placenta were at an increased risk of experiencing spontaneous miscarriage in the...

www.ehn.org

1 38 58

Reposted by Ben Maas

PFAS Project Lab @pfasproject.bsky.social · 5d

What a new study reveals about 'forever chemicals,' lead, more in New Orleans-area tap water. Read the full article by Emily Woodruff (Nola.com) here: www.nola.com/news/environ...

What a new study reveals about 'forever chemicals,' lead, more in New Orleans-area tap water

A new report shows widespread PFAS, lead and other contaminants in tap water drawn from the Mississippi River for New Orleans and neighboring parishes.

www.nola.com

3 2

Ben Maas @masbenmaas.bsky.social · 6d

"Walk up the damn stairs!"

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 6d

Tim Walz: "My god, we've got the White House threatening investigations and jail time because an escalator stopped? Walk up the damn stairs!"

1 11

Reposted by Ben Maas

Ben Maas @masbenmaas.bsky.social · 7d

That’s because the lake is deceptively shallow... That keeps the lake warm, allowing aquatic plants & algae to flourish. It also makes Itasca more susceptible to increasing air temperatures [due to climate change]”

Smoke from forest fires provides the nutrients

www.startribune.com/lake-itasca-...

Something is wrong with Lake Itasca, the source of the Mississippi River

Warming water may have an outsized impact on the legendary lake, which has been protected for decades.

www.startribune.com

2 12

Ben Maas @masbenmaas.bsky.social · 7d

That’s because the lake is deceptively shallow... That keeps the lake warm, allowing aquatic plants & algae to flourish. It also makes Itasca more susceptible to increasing air temperatures [due to climate change]”

Smoke from forest fires provides the nutrients

www.startribune.com/lake-itasca-...

Something is wrong with Lake Itasca, the source of the Mississippi River

Warming water may have an outsized impact on the legendary lake, which has been protected for decades.

www.startribune.com

2 12

Ben Maas @masbenmaas.bsky.social · 8d

You were great as always!

Ben Maas @masbenmaas.bsky.social · 11d

It's spooky pumpkin season!

www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

Artistic pumpkins that go bump in the night

The Minnesota Zoo’s annual pumpkin art showcase opens Friday, displaying over 5,000 carved jack-o-lanterns on a spookily lit wooded trail.

www.mprnews.org

3

Ben Maas @masbenmaas.bsky.social · 11d

The problem with volunteer conservation is that you need to have volunteers.

There is little chance that Iowa, or any other Midwestern state for that matter, will meet it's Nutrient Reduction Strategy goals without real and meaningful regulations.

2

Ben Maas @masbenmaas.bsky.social · 11d

"...while the percentage who support adopting more conservation practices declined."

"...a 72% to 63% decrease in respondents saying they would like to improve conservation practices on the land they farm to help meet the Nutrient Reduction Strategy’s goals."
www.iowapublicradio.org/agriculture/...

Iowa Farm Poll reveals farmers’ shifting views about conservation and water quality over a decade

A new report examines Iowa farmers’ awareness and opinions related to the state’s strategy to cut nutrient runoff in waterways. The majority support more conservation, but their numbers have softened ...

www.iowapublicradio.org

2 2 6

Ben Maas @masbenmaas.bsky.social · 18d

"two data centers... in Ozaukee and Racine counties will consume enough energy to power 4.3 million homes... the Foxconn site in Mount Pleasant was already at the center of a controversial plan to divert 7 million gallons of water per day from Lake Michigan."

wisconsinexaminer.com/2025/09/16/e...

Environmental groups raise alarm on AI data center use of energy, water • Wisconsin Examiner

Environmental groups are warning about the energy and water usage of AI data centers in construction or planned across Wisconsin.

wisconsinexaminer.com

2 4

Ben Maas @masbenmaas.bsky.social · 21d

It will be really great to hear Clay on the radio during the afternoons during 'All Things Considered'.

Clay Masters @claymasters.bsky.social · 21d

Some professional news. www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

MPR News names Clay Masters as next All Things Considered host

Clay Masters has been covering state and national politics for MPR News since his arrival in January 2024. Before that, he worked for 12 years at Iowa Public Radio, 10 of them as a host of Morning Edi...

www.mprnews.org

2

Ben Maas @masbenmaas.bsky.social · 21d

Congratulations!! Hopefully I don't think that it is morning when I hear you on the radio...

1

Ben Maas @masbenmaas.bsky.social · 22d

Message in a bottle opportunity, missed.

1

Ben Maas @masbenmaas.bsky.social · 22d

Even though this email blast is intended to promote safe practices among those applying anhydrous ammonia, it is these throw away comments at the end "oh yeah the environment I suppose" that makes you realize how serious some are about the nutrient reduction strategy...

2

Ben Maas @masbenmaas.bsky.social · 22d

Way at the very bottom they mention "To reduce environmental impact and improve crop efficiency elsewhere, the MDA reminds farmers to apply NH3 only when soil temperatures average 50°F or cooler."

Nothing about not applying in the fall or limit application.

content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MNM...

MDA Urges Farmers: Put Safety First with Anhydrous Ammonia This Fall

content.govdelivery.com

1 1 2

Ben Maas @masbenmaas.bsky.social · 28d

Well, this is good news!

"After four straight months of testing raw milk samples from Minnesota cow dairy farms for the avian influenza A (H5N1) virus without any detections, the USDA has changed Minnesota’s status from Affected to Unaffected..."

content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MNM...

USDA Declares Minnesota Dairy Herds Unaffected by H5N1 Virus

content.govdelivery.com

1 7

Ben Maas @masbenmaas.bsky.social · 28d

This house is a proud heat pump supporter!

We are almost a year into owning a heat pump, & it has been great! It is much quieter than the old AC, & much more efficient). In the winter, we use it for all our heating needs until it gets really cold. Then it supplements the gas furnace.

A retro themed yard sign with the text "we love our heat pump" on it. A cartoon characterized heat pump is smiling and giving a hearty thumbs up.

1 7

Reposted by Ben Maas

Climate.us @climate.us · Sep 8

In the 1st half of 2025, @climate.noaa.gov 's staff were terminated, shutting down daily operations.

Now, former members have joined w/ nonprofit partners to launch Climate.us, where climate info can be safeguarded from politics.

Check out our website and join the effort today.

1 50 98