Tom Gjelten reports on religion, faith, and belief for NPR News, a beat that encompasses such areas as the changing religious landscape in America, the formation of personal identity, the role of religion in politics, and conflict arising from religious differences. His reporting draws on his many years covering national and international news from posts in Washington and around the world.
This week Puerto Rico declared a health emergency due to an increase of Dengue Fever cases. Health officials are worried because the mosquito-borne illness is showing up unusually early.
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.