Good things are happening! Environmental regulators overturn decades of precedent to keep water safe, legislation against dark money could have a chance nationwide, blood-poisoning and climate-threatening chemicals get the boot, and Google has a big, bad week.
But first, our chart-topping investigative audio series Master Plan has been nominated as a finalist for two major podcast awards — Best News & Politics Series and Best Writing — in the prestigious Signal Awards. You can help us win by voting for our project.
A Lead Pipe Dream Comes True
What was once a pipe dream is now a reality. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final lead pipe rule requiring drinking water systems across the country to identify and replace lead pipes within 10 years, mandating more rigorous testing, and setting the strictest limits on the matter since federal lead standards were first created decades ago to help prevent exposure to the dangerous neurotoxin.
Mainers will vote this year on a citizen Initiative: "Do you want to set a $5000 limit for giving to PAC's that spend money independently to support or defeat candidates for office?"