Against the guidance of scientific advisory panels, the EPA is relying on industry-backed tests to relax regulations on acephate.
The Big Story
Wed. Apr 24, 2024
10 Times as Much of This Toxic Pesticide Could End Up on Your Tomatoes and Celery Under a New EPA Proposal
Against the guidance of scientific advisory panels, the EPA is relying on industry-backed tests to relax regulations on acephate, which has been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders. “It’s exactly what we recommended against,” one panelist said.
by Sharon Lerner
VIEW STORY
That Stat

7%

That’s the portion of ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, owned by billionaire GOP megadonor Jeff Yass. In 2022, we wrote about how Yass avoided more than $1 billion in taxes while largely escaping public scrutiny. Susquehanna International Group, the global company he co-founded, is back in the news as lawmakers in the House recently passed a foreign aid package that included a provision that would require TikTok to divest from ByteDance or face an effective ban in the U.S. If you’re interested in the intersection of money, political influence, technology and legislation, the story is a must-read.

We’re trying something new with this newsletter. Tell us what you think in this short survey.
More From Our Newsroom
New Legislation Would Expand Access to Disaster Relief, Provide Help With Titles for Large Number of Black Landowners
The bills come after ProPublica’s reporting on land passed down informally within families, known as heirs’ property. Representing about one-third of Black-owned land in the South, it can be ineligible for aid and vulnerable to forced sales.
by Lizzie Presser
The Family Photographs That Helped Us Investigate How a University Displaced a Black Community
A longtime resident of the Shoe Lane area in Virginia chronicled the life of his community as it was demolished by Christopher Newport University. His photographs helped a reporter seek accountability.
by Logan Jaffe
Senate Veterans’ Affairs Chair Calls for More Mental Health Care Providers in Rural Areas
Citing ProPublica’s reporting on the barriers faced by veterans in crisis, Sen. Jon Tester asked VA Secretary Denis McDonough to increase the number of providers and ensure they are “in locations where veterans need them most.”
by ProPublica
Oil Companies Must Set Aside More Money to Plug Wells, a New Rule Says. But It Won’t Be Enough.
The new Bureau of Land Management regulation, which applies to nearly 90,000 wells on federal public land, is hampered by math errors and overly optimistic cost projections.
by Mark Olalde, ProPublica, and Nick Bowlin, Capital & Main
Netanyahu Resists U.S. Plan to Cut Off Aid to Israeli Military Unit
After months of inaction, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is poised to bar U.S. aid to an Israeli unit accused of human rights abuses.
by Brett Murphy
A Powerful Atlanta Movie Executive Praised for His Diversity Efforts Shared Racist, Antisemitic Sentiments in Texts
Ryan Millsap has built important relationships with Black leaders and Jewish colleagues. But his private communications, copies of which were filed in court, exhibit derogatory views toward those communities.
by Nicole Carr, ProPublica, and Mike Jordan, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Blinken Is Sitting on Staff Recommendations to Sanction Israeli Military Units Linked to Killings or Rapes
A special State Department panel told Secretary of State Antony Blinken that the U.S. should restrict arms sales to Israeli military units that have been credibly accused of human rights abuses. He has not taken any action.
by Brett Murphy
Tennessee Is Ramping Up Penalties for Student Threats. Research Shows That’s Not the Best Way to Keep Schools Safe.
Zero-tolerance measures can counteract what some experts consider a crucial tool for protecting students and the larger community.
by Aliyya Swaby
EPA Finalizes New Standards for Cancer-Causing Chemicals
The regulation specifically targets ethylene oxide, which a ProPublica analysis found was the single biggest contributor to excess industrial cancer risk from air pollutants nationwide.
by Ava Kofman
The EPA Has Done Nearly Everything It Can to Clean Up This Town. It Hasn’t Worked.
Despite years of air monitoring, inspections and millions in penalties for petrochemical plants, the air in Calvert City, Kentucky, remains polluted. The EPA’s inability to fix it is an indictment of the laws governing clean air, experts say.
by Lisa Song
How satisfied are you with today’s newsletter?

1
Not satisfied
2
3
4
5
Very satisfied
Was this email forwarded to you from a friend? Subscribe.
Want less email? Click here if you only want to receive one ProPublica newsletter each week.
This email was sent to [email protected]. Update your email preferences or unsubscribe to stop receiving this newsletter. Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.
ProPublica • 155 Ave of the Americas, 13th Floor • New York, NY 10013