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

Side-by-side images of smokestacks emitting a white plume into a blue sky and a woman holding a child while overlooking a hazy town with an industrial plant.

EPA Rules Leave Neighborhoods Near Trash Incinerators Exposed To Toxic Air

Trash incinerators burn waste and release pollution into the air nearby families breathe. EPA finalized new rules, but advocates say the standards are far weaker than the law and modern...

EPA Rules Leave Neighborhoods Near Trash Incinerators Exposed To Toxic Air

Trash incinerators burn waste and release pollution into the air nearby families breathe. EPA finalized new rules, but advocates say the standards are far weaker than the law and modern...

Side-by-side images of oil-covered hands holding pooled crude and workers in protective suits cleaning an oil-soaked shoreline.

Communities Face Water Risks As Tar Sands Pipeline Plan Moves Ahead Before Full Review

A massive new oil pipeline could carry Canadian crude through Montana and Wyoming, but federal approval moved ahead before full environmental review was complete. Advocates warn that water, land, climate,...

Communities Face Water Risks As Tar Sands Pipeline Plan Moves Ahead Before Full Review

A massive new oil pipeline could carry Canadian crude through Montana and Wyoming, but federal approval moved ahead before full environmental review was complete. Advocates warn that water, land, climate,...

Split image of two rabbits: a close-up brown rabbit with upright ears on the left, and a brown lop-eared rabbit chewing a leaf in green grass on the right.

The World’s Smallest Rabbit Is Waiting For Protection

Pygmy rabbits are small enough to fit in a human hand, but their problem is enormous. They depend on sagebrush habitat that is being lost to fire, invasive grasses, grazing,...

The World’s Smallest Rabbit Is Waiting For Protection

Pygmy rabbits are small enough to fit in a human hand, but their problem is enormous. They depend on sagebrush habitat that is being lost to fire, invasive grasses, grazing,...

Split image showing a heavily damaged naval ship in dry dock on the left and a vivid red carnation placed against engraved names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall on the right.

The Pentagon Is Keeping 74 Fallen Navy Sailors Off The Vietnam Wall

When families visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, they expected to find the names of the sailors they had lost. Instead, 74 names were missing. The USS Frank E. Evans...

The Pentagon Is Keeping 74 Fallen Navy Sailors Off The Vietnam Wall

When families visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, they expected to find the names of the sailors they had lost. Instead, 74 names were missing. The USS Frank E. Evans...

Split image showing fish entangled in ghost net and an abandoned net underwater over reef.

Deadly Seafood Imports Put Marine Mammals At Risk

Whales, dolphins, seals, and other marine mammals can drown or suffer for days after becoming trapped in fishing gear. U.S. law can block seafood imports from foreign fisheries that fail...

Deadly Seafood Imports Put Marine Mammals At Risk

Whales, dolphins, seals, and other marine mammals can drown or suffer for days after becoming trapped in fishing gear. U.S. law can block seafood imports from foreign fisheries that fail...

Split image of traffic emitting heavy exhaust on one side and a masked woman covering her face outdoors on the other.

Many Communities Could Pay For EPA’s Climate Rollback

EPA has repealed the finding that supports major federal climate pollution rules and eliminated vehicle greenhouse gas standards. Young Americans and public health groups are now fighting the rollback in...

Many Communities Could Pay For EPA’s Climate Rollback

EPA has repealed the finding that supports major federal climate pollution rules and eliminated vehicle greenhouse gas standards. Young Americans and public health groups are now fighting the rollback in...