The Latest Breaking News from Shawn LaTourette

New Jersey says 3 chemical makers agree to 'forever chemical' settlement worth up to $2 billion

DuPont and two other companies will pay New Jersey up to $2 billion to settle environmental claims stemming from PFAS, commonly referred to as “forever chemicals.”

The Independent UK · Aug 4, 2025

NJ Wildfire Burns 13,500 Acres—State of Emergency Declared, Gov. Murphy Criticized For Absence

The Jones Road Wildfire in New Jersey has ravaged 13,500 acres and is 50% contained, but residents are frustrated over Gov. Phil Murphy's absence and the alleged late declaration of a state of emergency in the affected county.

International Business Times · Apr 24, 2025

New Jersey faces biggest wildfire in 20 years as more than 11,000 acres burn. Here’s what we know

In an average year, approximately 7,000 acres of New Jersey's forests are consumed by fire. The Jones Road Wildfire blew past the yearly average in a day.

The Independent UK · Apr 23, 2025

Belgium-based Solvay to pay $393M to clean up and compensate for PFAS contamination in New Jersey

A Belgium-based chemical company will spend nearly $393 million under a settlement to clean up contamination from its so-called forever chemicals in New Jersey’s drinking water and soil and to compensate for the environmental damage they caused

The Independent UK · Jun 28, 2023

Town where kids cancer rose blasts deal over polluted site

A proposed settlement between New Jersey and the current owner of a notoriously polluted industrial site is drawing fire from residents of Toms River, where memories of children getting cancer at elevated rates are still a fresh source of pain

The Independent UK · Jan 26, 2023

Will post-Sandy repairs be enough for the next big storm?

After Superstorm Sandy struck the northeast U.S. in 2012, an unprecedented effort began to fortify the densely populated coastline against the next big storm

The Independent UK · Oct 28, 2022

Ford sued for allegedly dumping ‘toxic sludge’ on Ramapough Lenape land

New Jersey accuses automobile company of contaminating water, soil, groundwater, vegetation, and air for decades

The Guardian - US · Jun 17, 2022

NJ’s tough new environmental justice law rule says half the state lives in ‘overburdened’ neighborhoods — some surprising

New Jersey proposed a new environmental justice rule Monday that officials believe will be the toughest in the nation by carving out nearly half the state’s population as living in “overburdened communities” and limiting the types of polluting businesses that can be built there.

The Philadelphia Inquirer · Jun 6, 2022