How Earth Day started and grew beyond its founder's dreams

Gaylord Nelson, the late U.S. senator and governor of Wisconsin, is considered the founder of Earth Day, which started in 1970.

• Apr 22

Minority communities much more likely to have sewage in waterways

A major issue facing U.S. rivers is contamination by sewage and other forms of pollution, but some communities are impacted more than others.

• Apr 15

Exclusive

See which U.S. rivers are considered the most endangered

The list of 10 most endangered rivers of 2025, according to the nonprofit American Rivers, includes the Mississippi River and the lower Rio Grande.

• Apr 15

Tornadoes and violent winds cause deadly damage in South and Midwest

Tornadoes and violent winds flattened homes and ripped apart buildings from Oklahoma to Indiana.

• Apr 3

U.S. infrastructure's "C" grade from engineers comes with a warning

A once-every-four-year report card on the upkeep of America's infrastructure gave it a "C" grade in 2025, up slightly from previous reports.

• Mar 25

Violent tornadoes hit parts of U.S. as severe storms kill at least 42

Violent tornadoes ripped through parts of the U.S., wiping out schools and toppling semitractor-trailers in several states.

• Mar 17

EPA to review landmark finding that greenhouse gases threaten public health

Environmental Protection Agency to review a key 2009 finding by the agency that greenhouse gases pose a risk to Americans.

• Mar 12

Multiple wildfires erupt in the Carolinas, force evacuations

Brush fires that erupted amid dry and windy conditions caused officials in both North and South Carolina to order evacuations Saturday.

• Mar 2

Hundreds of NOAA employees laid off

Some 880 employees of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration were laid off on Thursday, a congressional source told CBS News.

• Feb 28

Rat populations spike in cities due to warming temperatures, study says

Large rat populations can have a damaging effect on cities. Researchers found that living with rats " impacts people and their psyche."

• Feb 1

Polar vortex set to freeze the U.S. as far as the Deep South

A polar vortex dipping down from Siberia is bringing a cold front with frigid temperatures to millions Americans. See maps of the arctic blast.

• Jan 20

Southern California's winds weakening; at least 25 dead, 26 missing in fires

Fires across the Los Angeles area have killed at least 25 people. The Palisades and Eaton wildfires continue to burn.

• Jan 16

Fire crews in Los Angeles brace for more heavy winds; at least 24 killed

The Palisades and Eaton fires burning in Southern California have destroyed more than 12,000 structures.

• Jan 13

Millions in deep freeze as massive winter storm grips multiple states

Millions in the U.S. were hit by a major winter storm that created dangerous conditions from the Central Plains to the East Coast.

• Jan 6

Starbucks promotes recycling to customers but many plastic cups end up in the trash

A CBS News investigation tracked plastic cups from Starbucks recycling bins to landfills and incinerators across the country.

• Dec 2, 2024

Lee Zeldin chosen to be Trump's EPA administrator

Zeldin said it was an honor to join Trump's administration.

• Nov 11, 2024

Maps show drought and fire conditions in Northeast states

Parts of the East Coast are under drought conditions and red flag warnings, from Massachusetts to the northern edge of Virginia and West Virginia.

• Nov 9, 2024

Maps show NOAA's winter outlook

NOAA has released its seasonal outlook for the 2024-25 winter months, which predicts the U.S. will slowly transition into a La Niña pattern.

• Oct 18, 2024

Hurricane Milton leaves path of destruction across Florida, at least 24 dead

Millions of homes and businesses had no power in the days after Hurricane Milton hit Florida hard.

• Oct 14, 2024

Milton was fastest storm to grow into Category 5 hurricane in the Gulf

Hurricane Milton is the strongest storm to form since 2019's Hurricane Dorian.

• Oct 9, 2024