Matthew Russell

Matthew Russell

Matthew Russell is a West Michigan native and with a background in journalism, data analysis, cartography and design thinking. He likes to learn new things and solve old problems whenever possible, and enjoys bicycling, spending time with his daughters, and coffee.

Articles by Matthew Russell

On the left, palm trees silhouette against a vivid orange sunset over misty Florida wetlands; on the right, a blue-and-orange UTV sits on a sandy trail.

The Government Wants To Open A Protected Florida Wilderness to Off-Road Vehicles

A federal proposal would open 147,000 protected acres inside Big Cypress National Preserve to off-road vehicles for the first time since 1988 — putting Florida panther habitat at risk.

The Government Wants To Open A Protected Florida Wilderness to Off-Road Vehicles

A federal proposal would open 147,000 protected acres inside Big Cypress National Preserve to off-road vehicles for the first time since 1988 — putting Florida panther habitat at risk.

On the left, a barred owl perches beside a snowy tree trunk in winter; on the right, an adult barred owl feeds two fluffy owlets on a summer branch.

Hundreds Of Barred Owls Are About To Be Killed In This State

Inside an 83,000-acre Oregon forest, surveyors went looking for northern spotted owls and found only three. Hundreds of their larger, more aggressive rivals had already moved in.

Hundreds Of Barred Owls Are About To Be Killed In This State

Inside an 83,000-acre Oregon forest, surveyors went looking for northern spotted owls and found only three. Hundreds of their larger, more aggressive rivals had already moved in.

On the left, whale sharks swim beneath a fishing net in blue ocean water; on the right, a humpback whale lunges above the surface near a rocky coastline.

Whales Are Drowning in Fishing Rope While NOAA Loses the Crews That Save Them

Humpback whales entangled in fishing gear in the remote Northwestern Hawaiian Islands have little chance of rescue if NOAA lacks the vessels, staff, and equipment to reach them.

Whales Are Drowning in Fishing Rope While NOAA Loses the Crews That Save Them

Humpback whales entangled in fishing gear in the remote Northwestern Hawaiian Islands have little chance of rescue if NOAA lacks the vessels, staff, and equipment to reach them.

On the left, a masked dental professional examines a seated patient in a clinic; on the right, an older man with white hair grimaces while holding his jaw in pain.

Millions of Rural Veterans Are Denied Dental Care They Earned

Most veterans don't qualify for VA dental benefits, and those who do often live hours from the nearest clinic. A new bipartisan bill aims to change that for rural veterans.

Millions of Rural Veterans Are Denied Dental Care They Earned

Most veterans don't qualify for VA dental benefits, and those who do often live hours from the nearest clinic. A new bipartisan bill aims to change that for rural veterans.

On the left, an elderly woman with glasses drinks from a glass of water; on the right, a brass spray nozzle mists liquid onto green garden foliage.

Hidden Safety Data Shows Paraquat Maker Withheld Key Records From EPA

Paraquat is banned in over 50 countries, yet it remains in widespread use on American farms. Now, litigation has forced internal safety records into the open that were never shared...

Hidden Safety Data Shows Paraquat Maker Withheld Key Records From EPA

Paraquat is banned in over 50 countries, yet it remains in widespread use on American farms. Now, litigation has forced internal safety records into the open that were never shared...

On the left, a hand holds a teal Nespresso coffee pod in front of an orange machine; on the right, a disposable coffee cup sits on a rocky beach.

Your Morning Coffee Contributes More Waste To The Environment Than You Think

Your morning coffee lasts a few minutes. Its packaging can linger much longer. An often-cited estimate puts as many as 29,000 coffee pods in landfills worldwide every minute, though the...

Your Morning Coffee Contributes More Waste To The Environment Than You Think

Your morning coffee lasts a few minutes. Its packaging can linger much longer. An often-cited estimate puts as many as 29,000 coffee pods in landfills worldwide every minute, though the...