Author: Reporter

Hundreds of bicycle advocates were at an annual summit in Washington DC, when their cellphones lit up over breakfast with an urgent email warning that President Donald Trump’s transportation department had just halted federal grant funding for bike lanes. As the administration targets green energy projects championed by former President Joe Biden that boosted transit, recreational trails and bicycle infrastructure, several states are banding together to advance those priorities on their own. California, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York and Pennsylvania joined forces for a national organizing effort dubbed the Clean Rides Network. The group gained momentum in various...

When severe weather hits the United States, there are ways people across the country can prepare for the potential impact of hail, rain, damaging wind, and more. Tornadoes can take down power for thousands of people, cause catastrophic property damage and kill. The U.S. sees about 1,200 tornadoes each year. Experts say watching forecasts and knowing the meaning of different stages of warnings are key to safety. Here is what to know about the causes for these storms, and the alerts for watches, warnings and emergencies. WHAT CAN CAUSE A TORNADO? The large areas of low atmospheric pressure that...

Scientists are homing in on the nature of a mysterious force called dark energy, and nothing short of the fate of the universe hangs in the balance. The force is enormous — it makes up nearly 70% of the universe. And it is powerful — it is pushing all the stars and galaxies away from each other at an ever faster rate. And now scientists are getting a little closer to understanding how it behaves. The big question is whether this dark energy is a constant force, which scientists have long thought, or whether the force is weakening, a...

Most adults catching a flight in the U.S. starting May 7 will be required to present a passport or an upgraded state-issued identification card that meets federal REAL ID standards. The requirement is 20 years in the making, but not everyone is ready for it. Officials in at least one state have requested another extension before enforcement begins. Here is what you need to know: WHAT IS REAL ID? It is a driver’s license or other state-issued ID that meets security requirements mandated in a 2005 law passed in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Obtaining...