Madelyn Beck

There have been big fights over water in the western U.S. Water scarcity and climate change may bring similar battles to the Midwest and Great Plains.

Cockfighting, the practice of fighting roosters, is illegal in all 50 states and is a federal crime. There's a push in Oklahoma to lower the penalties for cockfighting there.

Biosolids (a byproduct of wastewater treatment) are often used as fertilizer. But toxic "forever chemicals", or PFAS, could be contaminating that fertilizer, along with millions of acres of farmland.

Nebraska and Maine long ago discarded the Electoral College's winner-take-all approach to allow split ballots if a candidate wins the popular vote in a congressional district.

Is the dollar store expansion coming to an end? About a thousand Family Dollar and Dollar Tree stores are expected to close this year. Dollar General said it's planning to open 800 stores this year.

As the number of wind and solar farms grow, officials in some Midwest states are taking steps to counter local opposition to the projects.

As the number of wind and solar farms grow, officials in some Midwest states are taking steps to counter local opposition to the projects,

Talking about climate change can be a tough job, especially in places where audiences may be less likely to accept the science. Strong resistance has pushed some meteorologists out of the field.

Explaining climate change can be a challenging job, particularly in areas where the public is more wary of the science. Some climate experts in the Midwest and Great Plains have faced death threats.

Entomologists say insect species are declining at alarming rates. Scientists are determining how to save these tiny creatures that prop up life on Earth. (Story aired on ATC on Nov. 21, 2023.)