The Interior Department announced Monday it's investing $46 million to address the impacts of climate change in Indigenous communities.
Why it matters: Researchers have found that the near-total loss of historical lands leaves Indigenous people in the U.S. more vulnerable to climate change. Its disproportionate impact, including reduced access to traditional foods, decreased water quality and exposure to health hazards, severely exacerbates socioeconomic inequities.
California is entering the dry season with its water resources in a precarious position, having seen its driest start to the year on record. A heat wave last week sent temperatures soaring into the 90s and even triple-digits in some locations, as the paltry Sierra Nevada snowpack shrunk even further.
Why it matters: Water and wildfire woes lie ahead for the nation’s most populous state, as spring runoff into reservoirs slows to a trickle, and forests dry out unusually early in the year.
Power has been restored to most of Puerto Rico following an island-wide outage.
Driving the news: LUMA Energy, the company that manages electric power distribution and transmission in Puerto Rico, said Sunday power had been restored to 99.7% of its 1.5 million customers.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said the U.S. must return to a state of energy independence during an appearance on "Fox News Sunday," saying the Biden administration must "take the shackles off of domestic production."
Why it matters: During an interview with Axios’ Jonathan Swan earlier this week, McConnell highlighted domestic energy production as a key policy priority in 2023.
