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Indigenous practices reshape wildfire strategy in Brazil's Cerrado

Illustration accompanying article: Indigenous practices reshape wildfire strategy in Brazil's Cerrado
  • The Xerente Indigenous people, living in Brazil's Cerrado savanna, are conducting controlled burns coordinated with federal environmental officials to prevent large-scale wildfires before the peak dry months of August and September.
  • The practice represents a reversal from decades of prejudice, with Indigenous leaders now collaborating with government agencies rather than facing exclusion from fire management decisions.
  • This year's El Niño phenomenon is expected to prolong drought and push regional temperatures higher, increasing wildfire danger across the biome.
 3 MIN READ

Appeals court hears Trump White House ballroom case as construction continues

Illustration accompanying article: Appeals court hears Trump White House ballroom case as construction continues
  • The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit is scheduled to hear arguments June 5 on whether the Trump administration has the legal authority to build a White House ballroom without congressional approval.
  • The D.C. Circuit previously allowed construction to continue while it considers the case, permitting the project to proceed during the appeals process.
  • The Justice Department has argued the ballroom is a security necessity, calling it a "safe haven" from attackers.
  • A lawsuit by the National Trust for Historic Preservation led to a March ruling by Federal Judge Richard Leon that blocked the project, with Leon writing that the president "is not, however, the owner" of the White House.
 3 MIN READ
Illustration accompanying article: Trump administration moves to rescind Roadless Rule protecting 58 million