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TOPIC   WEATHER & NATURAL DISASTERS

2012 DECEMBER
Dec. 27, 2012
Analysis
News Wrap: White House Urges Shippers, Dockworkers to Settle Contract Dispute
In other news Thursday, a White House spokesperson spoke in favor of reconciliation between shippers and union dockworkers to avoid a strike that would cripple ports on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Also, a severe winter storm that plowed through the South and Midwest reached the Northeast, bringing the death toll to 16.

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Dec. 26, 2012
Report
Post-Holiday Storm Unleashed Tornadoes, Blizzard and Caused at Least 6 Deaths
A massive winter storm that spawned tornadoes and record snow in some parts of the South and Midwest caused the death of at least six people, fouled flight schedules and ruined road conditions. Gwen Ifill reports on the huge weather system now beating a destructive trail into the Northeast.

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Dec. 21, 2012
Blog
2012's Wild Weather Passes 2011 Billion-Dollar Disaster Record
Aerial view of the damage from Superstorm Sandy over the Atlantic Coast in Seaside Heights, New Jersey October 31.


Dec. 21, 2012
Slide Show
Remembering a Year of Wild Weather
Wild winds, a searing drought, fires and a superstorm -- 2012 was a year of unusual and devastating natural disasters. These photos show what those erratic weather patterns meant for millions of Americans.


Dec. 10, 2012
Report
Industrial Residue From Receding Sandy Flood Waters Raise Concerns for Residents
New York's waterways, like the Gowanus Canal, are home to major industry and major pollution. For homes and businesses near the coast, flooding from Hurricane Sandy left greasy residue and worries about long term risks and effects. Special correspondent Rick Karr reports on how officials are testing to check for safety concerns.

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Dec. 6, 2012
Report
News Wrap: After Typhoon, Hundreds of Filipinos Still Missing as Floods Continue
In other news Thursday, rescue workers continued to search for nearly 400 people still missing after Typhoon Bopha hit the Southern Philippines. Flooding persisted in the Compostela Valley, one of the hardest hit areas in the country.

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Dec. 5, 2012
Report
News Wrap: Typhoon Hits Southern Philippines, Killing Nearly 300
In other news Wednesday, Typhoon Bopha battered much of the Southern Philippines, causing devastating floods, landslides, and many Filipinos without power or shelter. Disaster relief officials reported nearly 300 people dead, with hundreds more still missing.

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NOVEMBER
Nov. 23, 2012
Conversation
After Sandy, Poet Describes 'What It Means to Stand in the Rubble of Your Life'
Jennifer Fitzgerald's family and friends have been greatly impacted by superstorm Sandy, and though she immediately got involved in relief efforts in her Staten Island community, she felt that her poetry would be another way to reach a much larger audience and explain the physical and emotional impact Sandy had on New York.

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Nov. 21, 2012
Report
Climate Change Causes Insurers to Rethink Price of Risk After Hurricane Sandy
The insurance industry looks at historical data, old and new, in order to assess the risk for potential disasters and put a price on premiums. But when Sandy hit the Northeast, some insurance companies reconsidered if they priced insurance high enough for the greater risks brought on by climate change. Paul Solman reports.

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Nov. 19, 2012
Blog
Voices from Superstorm Sandy
Three weeks after superstorm Sandy made landfall on the East Coast, residents of New York's hardest hit boroughs are still sifting through the remains of their homes and helping their neighbors clear away debris. NewsHour spoke with residents in these communities.

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Nov. 15, 2012
Report
'Occupy Sandy' Movement Focuses on Offering Help to Storm Victims in New York
FEMA is still working hard to help get relief for storm victims in the Northeast -- not a small task considering the size and scope of that natural disaster. To help fill in the gap, volunteers from a movement called Occupy Sandy are trying to reach residents in need who live in New York City's boroughs. Ray Suarez reports.

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Nov. 15, 2012
Analysis
BP to Pay Largest Fine in U.S. History, Admit Guilt in Gulf Oil Spill Settlement
Two years after a rig operated by British Petroleum exploded, spilling oil into the Gulf of Mexico, the company agreed to plead guilty to felony charges and is expected to pay $4.5 billion in fines. Jeffrey Brown talks to ProPublica's Abrahm Lustgarten and John Young, president of Jefferson Parish, La., for their reactions.

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Nov. 12, 2012
Report
While Schools Are Closed, N.J. Teachers Provide Support for Young Storm Victims
The town of Belmar was among New Jersey's hardest hit communities in the wake of Hurricane Sandy and a fall nor'easter. With schools still closed, special correspondent John Tulenko tells the story of the teachers coming to the rescue of families by turning their efforts from education to storm relief.

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Nov. 9, 2012
Report
New Jersey Residents Suffer Cold and Dark as Many Still Lack Power After Storms
The homes of some New Jersey residents have been without power or heat more than 10 days after superstorm Sandy struck. And even with support from out-of-state utility workers untangling downed lines, erecting polls, and repairing the grid, many may remain in the dark for days to come. Special correspondent Rick Karr reports.

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Nov. 8, 2012
Slide Show
Nor'Easter Storm Hits Sandy-Battered East Coast
As Sandy victims try to recover from last week's superstorm, the U.S. Northeast is dealt an unfortunate hand of weather, with another storm. This time a nor'easter. The storm brought wind, rain and snow, with the potential for more flooding and power outages to an already weathered region.


Nov. 7, 2012
Report
News Wrap: Nor'easter Hits East Coast With Wind, Rain and Snow
In other news Wednesday, Sandy victims and Northeast residents braced for another storm scheduled to hit the already battered East Coast, bringing powerful wind, heavy rain, and even snow. Hundreds of scheduled flights have been cancelled. Also Wall Street saw one of its worst days of the year.

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Nov. 5, 2012
Report
Hundreds of Thousands in N.J. and N.Y. Lack Power in Slow Post-Sandy Recovery
In New York and New Jersey, access to basic supplies remain limited and hundreds of thousands of people went without power or heat as temperatures dropped into the 30s. Kwame Holman reports. Then, special correspondent Rick Karr examines how the Red Hook neighborhood in Brooklyn is coping with damage from superstorm Sandy.

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Nov. 5, 2012
Blog
Red Hook's Resilience Tested by Sandy
Red Hook is a remarkably close-knit and neighborly community. Sandy tested that social infrastructure but did not damage it, even though half the neighborhood lacks power and hundreds of residents have lost piles of personal possessions and family memorabilia.


Nov. 5, 2012
Blog
In Staten Island, a Rush to Return to Normalcy After Superstorm Sandy
In Staten Island, one of New York City's boroughs hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy, custodians worked quickly to clean up schools that had functioned as shelters in time for classes to restart on Monday. Centers for residents to pick up donated supplies and receive counseling also opened for business.

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Nov. 5, 2012
Slide Show
Staten Island Recovers from Sandy
In Photos: Staten Island works to emerge from the flooding and debris brought by Hurricane Sandy.


Nov. 2, 2012
Analysis
Northeast Storm Victims Begin to Lose Patience at Lack of Basic Needs
Extensive damage to infrastructure and buildings in the Northeast has limited access to critical supplies of gasoline, electricity and clean water up and down the Jersey coastline and in New York City. Ray Suarez talks to New York Times' Patrick McGeehan about the state of New York's five boroughs, where patience wears thin.

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Nov. 2, 2012
Blog
Health Care Workers Brace for New Cholera Outbreaks in Haiti
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Hurricane Sandy might have saved its fullest fury for America's mid-Atlantic coast, but its earlier blows in the Caribbean wreaked havoc in Haiti.


Nov. 2, 2012
Slide Show
Haiti Battles Hurricane Sandy and Cholera
More than 50 people have died in Haiti from Hurricane Sandy, which hit the Caribbean island in late October, washing away crops and threatening to worsen a cholera epidemic.


Nov. 1, 2012
Report
News Wrap: Cyclone Hits Southern India, Forcing 150,000 to Seek Shelter
In other news Thursday, 150,000 people were moved to shelters when a cyclone slammed into the southeastern coast of India. The storm brought heavy rains and a storm surge, and is responsible for the deaths of at least six people in India and neighboring Sri Lanka.

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Nov. 1, 2012
Analysis
Sandy Devastation Leaves N.J. Reeling as Normal Life Gets Slow Restart in N.Y.
Up and down the New Jersey coast, towns begin what is expected to be a long process of recovery and rebuilding in the wake of devastating destruction from Hurricane Sandy. Jeffrey Brown and Ray Suarez report on challenges for affected communities. Plus, Hari Sreenivasan reports from Manhattan on the storm's impact on businesses.

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Nov. 1, 2012
Slide Show
Hurricane Sandy Devastates New Jersey's Coastline
The U.S. Northeast began crawling back to normal on Wednesday, Oct. 31, after monster storm Sandy crippled transportation, knocked out power for millions and killed at least 45 people in nine states with a massive storm surge and rain that caused epic flooding. Here, images of Sandy's devastation in New Jersey.

OCTOBER
Oct. 31, 2012
Analysis
Is Sandy a 'Cassandra'? How Cities Should Prepare for Future Natural Disasters
Extreme storms of recent history have made local governments take notice both of their preparedness and the likelihood that climate change is making such disastrous events more and more common. Joseph Romm of Center for American Progress and American Enterprise Institute's Kenneth Green share their perspectives with Ray Suarez.

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Oct. 31, 2012
Analysis
Northeast Copes With Devastating Damage, Widespread Power Outages After Sandy
Though foul weather cleared in the Northeast, the death toll rose to at least 63, people faced property destruction and suspension of transportation and millions still had no power. Judy Woodruff reports on Sandy's aftermath and Gwen Ifill talks to Warren Levinson of The Associated Press for more on the situation in New York.

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Oct. 31, 2012
Blog
Judy's Notebook: An October Surprise May Help Put the Election in Focus
While voters weigh the two presidential candidates, their records and what they offer for the next four years, it's a good idea to watch them closely as they respond to the unexpected.


Oct. 30, 2012
Analysis
A Week Until Election Day, Campaigns Focus on Disaster Relief
As Hurricane Sandy blew in, President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney turned their focus to storm victims rather than swing voters. Gwen Ifill talks to Politico's Jonathan Allen about the delicate balance of remaining apolitical in the aftermath of a natural disaster while running the last leg of the race to the White House.

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Oct. 30, 2012
Report
News Wrap: Damages From Sandy Estimated at $20 Billion
In other news Tuesday, Hurricane Sandy ripped through the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions of the U.S., leaving behind $20 billion in damage so far. In addition, a forecasting firm has estimated $10 to 30 billion in lost business. Also, newly released Case-Shiller numbers show housing prices increased 2 percent in August.

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Oct. 30, 2012
Analysis
Sandy Aftermath Affects Millions in New York and Along New Jersey's Coast
The brunt of Hurricane Sandy's powerful winds, surf and rain hit the New Jersey coastline and the nation's most populous city. NewsHour examines the situation in New York and in the greater Northeast region, where schools and public transportation closed down, flights were canceled and an estimated 6.2 million people lost power.

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Oct. 30, 2012
Slide Show
The Aftermath of Post-Tropical Storm Sandy
Hurricane Sandy was downgraded to a post-tropical storm on Monday after it made landfall on the New Jersey coast. But the super storm packed a punch, leaving 8.1 million homes and businesses without power, closing transportation. The damage is currently estimated at $20 billion and rising. These photos show the aftermath.


Oct. 30, 2012
Blog
Sandy Shifts Attention to Local Leaders, Away From Presidential Race
As Hurricane Sandy barreled up the eastern United States, residents turned their attention from the presidential contest between Presdient Obama and Mitt Romney to state and local officials and the tensions brewing -- or lessening -- among them.


Oct. 30, 2012
Blog
The Daily Frame
A man walks through New York's mostly deserted Times Square on Monday night.


Oct. 29, 2012
Blog
Hurricane Sandy Barrels Toward Eastern Seaboard
Hurricane Sandy gained strength on Monday as it barreled north across the Atlantic and began an expected sharp turn west toward New York, New Jersey, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.


Oct. 29, 2012
Analysis
Hurricane Sandy Could Spell Trouble for Early Voting and Last Campaign Efforts
With nine states declaring states of emergency in preparation for a superstorm, Hurricane Sandy has derailed political campaigning and some early voting this week. Judy Woodruff talks to Dan Balz of the Washington Post and USA Today's Susan Page about the likely effects on the race during the last week before Election Day.

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Oct. 29, 2012
Analysis
Hurricane Sandy Hits East Coast, Expected to Affect 50 Million-Plus Americans
Over 50 million Americans brace for heavy flooding, blizzard conditions, wind gusts of up to 90 miles per hour and resulting power outages and evacuations, as Hurricane Sandy approaches the East Coast. NewsHour talks to National Hurricane Center's James Franklin and Newark Mayor Cory Booker.

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Oct. 29, 2012
Slide Show
Hurricane Sandy Hits Mid-Atlantic
Hurricane Sandy, which is being called a "superstorm", began bearing down on the East Coast of the United States on Monday. Cities in New York, Delware and New Jersey saw flooding before the hurricane made landfall. These photos follow Sandy's path to land through the northeaster United States.


Oct. 29, 2012
Blog
Watch President Obama's National Address on Hurricane Sandy
President Obama addressed the nation as Hurricane Sandy barreled toward the U.S. East Coast on Monday, urging Americans to listen to instructions from state and local officials. "This is a serious storm and could potentially have fatal consequences if people haven't acted," he said.

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Oct. 29, 2012
Blog
'Frankenstorm' Sandy Becomes Campaigns' October Surprise
All politics is local. Especially when swing states are in the path of Hurricane Sandy. President Obama began his day in Orlando, Fla., but will return to the White House to monitor what's been dubbed a monster storm.


Oct. 29, 2012
Blog
Hurricane Sandy Barrels Toward Northeast and Midatlantic States
Hurricane Sandy gained strength barreling north overnight and began an expected sharp turn west toward New York, New Jersey, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.


Oct. 26, 2012
Report
News Wrap: Hurricane Sandy Could Spawn Super Storm on East Coast Next Week
In other news Friday, Hurricane Sandy is heading towards the east coast of the U.S., as Florida is already facing strong winds and heavy surf along the coastline. From the Mid-Atlantic to New England, authorities and residents prepare for what could be a super storm expected to hit early next week.

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Oct. 26, 2012
Slide Show
Hurricane Sandy Sweeps Along East Coast
Hurricane Sandy is moving along the East Coast of the United States. The category one storm has left the Bahamas and is traveling north, leaving a trail a destruction through the Caribbean and blowing into Florida.


Oct. 26, 2012
Blog
East Coast Braces for Hurricane Sandy
Hurricane Sandy, with its lashing winds and rains, could sweep the East Coast in an as-yet undetermined path this weekend and early next week, and preparations already are underway.


Oct. 25, 2012
Report
News Wrap: Hurricane Sandy Beats Path Through Cuba, Heads Toward Florida
In other news Thursday, Hurricane Sandy hit Cuba and the eastern Bahamas, bringing heavy rains and winds topping out at 105 miles per hour. Four deaths have been attributed to the storm so far. Tropical storm conditions are likely to hit southeast Florida, while the Northeast may get hit with a wintery superstorm.

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SEPTEMBER
Sept. 7, 2012
Video
Hurricane Winds Blast Solar Panels and Roof Tiles...On Purpose
At Florida International University, 12 giant fans mimic the intensity of a Category 5 hurricane, pummeling rooftops, building materials and solar panels with winds reaching 157 miles per hour.


Sept. 5, 2012
Report
News Wrap: Paul Ryan Attacks President Obama's Economic Record in Iowa
In other news Wednesday, Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan campaigned in Iowa, where he said that Bill Clinton's popularity wouldn't absolve President Obama's economic record. Also, Hurricane Isaac washed large amounts of oil remaining from the 2010 BP spill onto the shores of Louisiana, restricting fishing.

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Sept. 5, 2012
Blog
Thunderstorm Threat Moves Obama's Nomination Acceptance Speech Indoors
With the threat of thunderstorms holding at 40 percent, organizers for the Democratic National Convention have made the call to move Thursday's events, including President Obama's nomination acceptance speech, out of the open-air, 74,000-seat Bank of America Stadium into the closed-roof, 20,000-seat Time Warner Cable Arena.


Sept. 4, 2012
Blog
Democrats Eye Thunderstorms As Obama's Outdoor Speech Nears
With overcast skies and rainy weather this week in Charlotte, N.C., organizers for the Democratic National Convention are keeping a close eye on the weather forecast for Thursday, when President Obama is scheduled to deliver his party's acceptance speech in an open-air football stadium.


Sept. 4, 2012
Blog
'Enormous Strength' in Isaac-Hit Areas, President Obama Says
On Monday, President Obama surveyed the damage after Hurricane Isaac swept through Louisiana and Mississippi.

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Sept. 3, 2012
Report
News Wrap: Flooding, Evacuations, Electrical Outages Remain One Week After Isaac
In other news Monday, large parts of southeastern Louisiana remain underwater. Officials said for many, the damage from Hurricane Isaac ended up being worse than that from Hurricane Katrina. Also, President Assad's regime has pledged support for a new United Nations diplomatic envoy to Syria, Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi.

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AUGUST
Aug. 31, 2012
Report
Surveying the Aftermath of Tropical Storm Isaac
Louisiana Public Broadcasting reports on the "heart-wrenching" effects of Tropical Storm Isaac. Charlie Whinham reports in Baton Rouge, La., from a field hospital where hundreds of evacuees with special needs are being treated. Shauna Sanford goes to LaPlace where flood damage was worse after Isaac than Hurricane Katrina.

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Aug. 30, 2012
Report
News Wrap: As Storm Isaac Pours Down, Fear of Dam Failure Leads to Evacuations
In other news Thursday, Tropical Storm Isaac brought down heavy rain and has threatened the safety of Mississippi residents living near the Lake Tangipahoa Dam, 100 miles north of New Orleans. Fears that the dam will fail and break under stress have led to widespread evacuations.

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Aug. 29, 2012
Blog
Despite Downgrade to Tropical Storm, Isaac Brings Widespread Flooding
Downgraded back to a tropical storm Wednesday, the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center warned Isaac was still "producing life-threatening hazards from storm surge and inland flooding." Hundreds of thousands were without power and some were in need of rescue due to rising flood waters.


Aug. 29, 2012
Report
Downgraded to Tropical Storm, Isaac Batters Gulf with Wind and Downpours
Residents of the Gulf Coast hunkered down overnight as Tropical Storm Isaac hit the shores of Louisiana and Mississippi, causing surges of up to 15 feet of water. Ray Suarez talks to Rick Knabb, director of the National Hurricane Center, about how the slow-moving tropical storm may affect some areas worse than Hurricane Katrina.

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Aug. 28, 2012
Report
News Wrap: Nearing Louisiana Shore, Storm Isaac Reaches Hurricane Status
In other news Tuesday, President Obama urged Gulf residents not to underestimate the danger of Hurricane Isaac as it reaches land with 80 mile-per-hour winds and bringing up to 20 inches of rainfall. Kwame Holman speaks to National Hurricane Center's Ed Rappaport on what's in store for the Gulf region.

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Aug. 27, 2012
Report
Tropical Storm Isaac Moves Towards New Orleans Exactly Seven Years After Katrina
Though storm warnings have been lifted for Tampa, Fla., the site for this week's Republican National Convention, four Gulf states, including Florida, have declared states of emergencies. With memories of Hurricane Katrina, those in Louisiana are not taking any chances as they brace for Isaac's arrival. Gwen Ifill reports.

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Aug. 16, 2012
Report
Shifting Seasons Lead to Sour Year for Michigan Cherry Farmers
An early spring followed by 19 frost events killed Michigan's cherry crop and farmers' livelihoods this year. Climatologists say that these shifting seasons could mean more hard years for cherry farmers in the future. Hari Sreenevasan reports as part of our Coping with Climate Change series.

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Aug. 10, 2012
Analysis
Half of U.S. Plagued by Drought, Bleak Expectations for Corn and Soybean Crops
The Department of Agriculture predicts that corn and soybeans will be among the hardest hit crops in the worst U.S. drought in 65 years. Margaret Warner talks to New York Times' Ron Nixon on how the drought will likely will impact global food prices and what it means for U.S. exports.

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Aug. 9, 2012
Report
News Wrap: Worsening Drought in Farm States Drives Up Food Prices
In other news Thursday, lack of rainfall and high temperatures have contributed to worsening drought conditions in key farm states in the U.S. As corn and soybean producers have been especially hit, world commodity prices are rising. Also, the U.S. Postal Service nears bankruptcy, losing $5.2 billion from April to June.

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Aug. 6, 2012
Analysis
NASA Study Links Extreme Summer Heat to Climate Change
A new statistical analysis from NASA reveals that the extreme summer heat felt by many Americans this year is the result of global warming. Hari Sreenivasan talks to Columbia University's James Hansen who says the greatest barrier to public recognition of human-made climate change is the natural variability of local climate.

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JULY
July 26, 2012
Report
News Wrap: U.S. Drought Expected to Hike Up Food Prices
In other news Thursday, the Department of Agriculture announced it expects food prices will rise this year and next because of extreme drought conditions affecting large portions of the U.S. Also, the wife of an ousted official in China's ruling Communist party was charged with murdering a British businessman.

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July 26, 2012
Blog
USDA: Severe Drought Will Drive Up Cost of Food
The drought gripping the Midwest is affecting 88 percent of the country's corn crop and will send food prices up next year, according to a report released Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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July 17, 2012
Analysis
Facing Drought, Farmers' Crops Taking Heat
More than half of the country suffered drought in June, and farmers and their crops are taking a hard hit. David Beckmann of Bread for the World and Brian Fuchs of the National Drought Mitigation Center discuss how disappointing corn yields have larger economic consequences for the world's hungriest people.

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July 17, 2012
Blog
Measuring Significant Drought Years
More than half of the continental United States was in moderate to extreme drought in June -- including corn- and soybean-producing states -- damaging crops and impacting prices at the grocery store.


July 10, 2012
Report
Extreme Weather Records 'Like a Baseball Player on Steroids'
As temperatures soared past 110 degrees in some states and thunderstorms pummeled the deep South, raising fears of flooding, a new report says climate change has likely influenced the odds of extreme weather. Judy interviews Thomas Karl, director of NOAA's National Climatic Data Center.

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July 6, 2012
Report
News Wrap: Deadly Storms Strike As Heat Wave Continues
In other news Friday, the National Weather Service says it has logged more than 4,000 record-high temperatures in the past month. The current heat wave has produced deadly storms and knocked out power for thousands. Also, a senior member of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's military has defected to France.

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July 6, 2012
Blog
Were more than 3,000 Heat Records Actually Set in June?
A widely-reported headline this week announced that 3,215 high temperature records were matched or broken across the U.S. in June. But the PBS NewsHour's record temperature heat widget only reported 743 broken heat records--quite a discrepancy.


July 5, 2012
Report
Power Outages Linger in Storms' Aftermath
Six days after fierce storms hit numerous mid-Atlantic states, more than 500,000 people still remained without power. Also, Pakistan reopened routes to Afghanistan after having closed them for seven months, and the first trucks rumbled through Thursday.

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July 4, 2012
Blog
Before and After Satellite Images Show Storm Effects
NASA Earth Observatory released satellite images that show the power outages in the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area that occurred as a result of a rare, fast-moving "derecho" thunderstorm system on Friday, June 29th.


July 4, 2012
Map
Washington-Baltimore Area Power Outages
These before and after images from NASA show the power outages in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore area that occurred as a result of a rare, fast-moving thunderstorm system on Friday, June 29th.


July 3, 2012
Report
Danger Rises with Prolonged Searing Heat, Maryland Governor Says
In the Midwest and the East, crews have been working for several days to return power to residents, where 24 people have died in extreme heat conditions. And in Colorado, the recovery from the devastating wildfires continues. Jeffrey Brown reports on efforts to tame fires and restore utilities.

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July 2, 2012
Analysis
What's Causing Unusually Hot Temperatures in U.S.?
Lack of water, "the great air conditioner", is causing unusually high temperatures and extreme weather events in the United States, Kevin Trenberth with the National Center for Atmospheric Research tells Judy Woodruff.

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July 2, 2012
Report
From Wildfires to Heat Wave, Extreme Weather Batters U.S.
The continuing U.S. heat wave has killed at least 22 people, while states try to grapple with storm-driven power outages on the East Coast and wildfires in the West. Tom Bearden reports on the experiences of families in Fort Collins, Colo., who returned to their homes after the wildfires to see what treasures had survived.

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JUNE
June 29, 2012
Report
Obama Visits Colorado's Wildfire Sites
President Obama traveled to Colorado to assess the damages wreaked by record-breaking wildfires. One person has died in the fires and more than 300 homes were destroyed.

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June 29, 2012
Slide Show
Flames Encroach on Colorado Springs
Some of our viewers in Colorado Springs sent us their pictures of the fire in Colorado Springs as they saw it unfold.


June 29, 2012
Slide Show
Views of the Colorado Wildfire
The Denver Post has been covering the fires since they first began. Here are some of their shots of the flames and the Coloradans who have been affected.


June 29, 2012
Blog
Through Smoke and Flame: Views of the Colorado Wildfire
Here are some facts about the wildfires in Colorado: They've gutted 347 homes, damaged 125,000 acres and forced the evacuation of 35,000 people and the closure of part of Zion National Park.


June 28, 2012
Report
News Wrap: Attorney General Holder Held in Contempt by Congress
In other news Thursday, Attorney General Eric Holder was held in criminal contempt by the U.S. House of Representatives, stemming from his refusal to turn over additional documents related to Operation Fast and Furious. Also, several bombings in Iraq killed more than 20 people, and wildfires continued to burn though Colorado.

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June 27, 2012
Report
News Wrap: Tropical Storm Debby Heads to Atlantic Ocean
After causing widespread flooding along the coast, Tropical Storm Debby moved across northern Florida on Wednesday, heading into the Atlantic Ocean. And late Tuesday, two long-time fixtures of Congress, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., won their primary elections.

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June 27, 2012
Report
Thousands Flee After Colorado Fire Doubles in Size
A fire near Colorado Springs has consumed more than 24 square miles as record heat and drought continue. Gwen Ifill gets an update from Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper on the challenge of containing the blaze.

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June 27, 2012
Slide Show
Tsunami Dock Carries Invaders to Oregon
Remnants of the 2011 Japan tsunami have started to arrive on the western shores of North America, posing new challenges to beach clean up, like a 165-ton industrial pier that made its way to Agate Beach in Oregon.


June 27, 2012
Blog
Invaders Hitch a Ride on Tsunami Debris
A year after Japan's devastating tsunami, much of the debris is washing up along the western coast of the United States, carrying unwanted organisms with it.


June 26, 2012
Report
Tropical Storm Debby Saturates Florida, Extreme Heat Fans Fires in Colorado
Tropical storm "Debby" has been unrelenting, flooding thoroughfares and neighborhoods and spawning tornadoes. Meanwhile, wildfires are burning in more than 25 locations. Seven of those fires are in Colorado, which is currently in the grip of a record drought.

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June 25, 2012
Report
News Wrap: Europe Concerns Drive Down Markets
In other news Monday, Wall Street stocks fell due to concerns about Europe's debt crisis and the instability of Greece's financial leadership. Also, wildfires continued to displace residents in Colorado, and Florida's governor declared a state of emergency from Tropical Storm Debby.

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June 22, 2012
Blog
Families Struggle to Recover Long After Wildfires Are Out
Every few years massive fires sweep through America's western forests, turning green mountainsides black. A common thread running through all of the stories we've reported is the hardship faced by the people who are displaced.

MAY
May 23, 2012
Slide Show
'Dear World, From Joplin With Love'
Marking the one year anniversary of the devastating tornado that hit Joplin, Mo., a new exhibit, "Dear World, From Joplin With Love," opened Saturday at the Spiva Center for the Arts. The collection of portraits by Robert X. Fogarty focuses on storm-affected residents, first responders, volunteers and city officials.


May 22, 2012
Analysis
A Year After Joplin's Tornado, Disaster's 'Immensity' Still a Challenge
One year ago, a tornado packing 200 mph winds tore through the city of Joplin, Mo., killing 161 people and destroying 8,000 buildings -- including many homes. Gwen Ifill and businesswoman Jane Cage, who leads the Citizens Advisory Recovery Team, discuss life in Joplin now and down the road.

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May 4, 2012
Blog
Japan Flips the 'Off' Switch on Its Last Nuclear Reactor
More than a year after an earthquake and tsunami battered Japan's northeastern coast and damaged its nuclear power stations, the country plans to shut down its last civilian reactor this weekend.

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APRIL
April 11, 2012
Blog
Citizen Scientists Track Rain Drop by Drop
The volunteer members of the Community Collaborative Rain Hail and Snow Network or CoCoRaHS track precipitation around the country. They are "measuring like crazy" to get the National Weather Service and others the most accurate and up-to-date information, down to the last drop.

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April 3, 2012
Report
News Wrap: Republicans Vote in Wisconsin, Maryland and Washington D.C.
In other news Tuesday, Republicans held presidential primaries in Wisconsin, Maryland and Washington, D.C. While Mitt Romney hoped victories would force Rick Santorum to step aside, Santorum insists he'll stay in the race. Also, the National Weather Service confirmed at least two "extremely dangerous" tornadoes in North Texas.

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MARCH
March 29, 2012
Blog
Colo. Nonprofit Helps Quake Victims Rebuild With Better Techniques
When a major earthquake strikes, workers with the American non-profit Build Change arrive in the affected area about two months later, once the emergency relief phase is over, to investigate damaged and destroyed buildings.


March 29, 2012
Slide Show
The Dos and Don'ts of Earthquake-Resistant Construction
Here are some tips on building a home that could withstand an earthquake.


March 20, 2012
Slide Show
Coping With Climate Change: Texas Water Woes
The drought in Texas has put an unprecedented strain on the state's already tenuous water supply. In the face of continued climate uncertainty and a growing population, Texas communities face the stark reality of a future without enough water.


March 14, 2012
Blog
Will Your City Be Underwater? There's a Map for That
Will your city or county be flooded by 2020? By 2050? Now there's a map for that. As many as 3.7 million U.S. residents in 2,150 coastal areas could be battered by damaging floods caused by global warming-induced storm surges, according to a new report published Wednesday in the journal Environment Research Letters.


March 14, 2012
Blog
Tell Us Your Climate Change Stories
A call to submit us your climate observations. Whether it's changes in plants, wildlife, garden insects, weather patterns, or something else entirely, we want to know what you've observed and how these changes have affected your life, regardless of what might be causing them.


March 12, 2012
Report
After 500 Years in Family, Rice Farmers Forced Off Land by Fukushima
One year after an earthquake and tsunami struck Japan, the country is still trying to recover and decontaminate land and buildings from partial meltdowns of three Fukushima nuclear reactors. In his second report from the region, science correspondent Miles O'Brien explores the challenges and possibilities of radiation cleanup.

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March 12, 2012
Video
In Japan, Nuclear Cleanup May Be Mission:Impossible
In the second installment of a three-part series on Japan's recovery, Miles O'Brien reports on Japanese residents who are struggling to clean up contaminated farms, roads and school yards after the massive earthquake, tsunami and resulting nuclear disaster struck Japan one year ago.

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March 9, 2012
Blog
Fukushima Survivor: I Want 'To Breathe Freely Again'
Nuclear technician Carl Pillitteri was one of 38 Americans at the Fukushima nuclear power plant when an earthquake and tsunami struck Japan's eastern coast and triggered a radiation leak at the reactor. It's taken Pillitteri a full year to be able to talk publicly about what he saw at Fukushima.

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March 9, 2012
Conversation
Fukushima Survivor: 'I've Hardly Smiled This Whole Year'
Carl Pillitteri was one of 38 Americans at the Fukushima plant when the earthquake hit. Describing the "demonic" sounds he heard and the pit of fear he felt inside the turbine building that day, Pillteri recently spoke with Alex Chadwick, the host of the new American Public Media series "BURN: An Energy Journal."

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March 9, 2012
Report
Near Fukushima, a Big 'Guessing Game' Over Radiation's Long-Term Risks
Sunday marks a year since a massive earthquake and tsunami struck Japan, causing a partial meltdown of nuclear reactors at the Fukushima plants. In the first report in a series on Japan's recovery, Miles O'Brien documents the country's cleanup attempts as scientists decide whether residual radiation could be potentially harmful.

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March 9, 2012
Blog
After Tornado, Indiana Town Focuses on Recovery and Restoring Power
On Thursday, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels requested federal aid for six southern Indiana counties hard hit by last week's tornadoes. Thirteen people died and hundreds of homes and businesses were severely damaged or destroyed in the area's worst tornado outbreak in 40 years.

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March 9, 2012
Blog
Tracking Japan's Tsunami Debris
Although a year has passed since Japan's tsunami sucked tons of debris into the Pacific Ocean, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration continues to track the rubble and urges others to do so to help focus cleanup efforts.


March 5, 2012
Report
Snow, Cold Hinder Midwest's Recovery Efforts After Tornadoes
The National Weather Service confirmed 51 tornadoes across 11 states from Friday into early Saturday, from the Great Lakes spreading south of the Gulf Coast and as far east as Georgia and the Carolinas. Hari Sreenivasan reports on cleanup efforts in Indiana that have been slowed by Monday's snow and low temperatures.

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March 2, 2012
Analysis
Deadly Tornadoes Symptomatic of Strong 'Transition Season' Weather
Two Indiana towns were heavily damaged Friday as another round of deadly tornadoes raked the Midwest. Jeffrey Brown discusses the violent weather with Maj. Chuck Adams of the Clark County Sheriff's Department in Southern Indiana and meteorologist Greg Carbin of the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center.

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FEBRUARY
Feb. 29, 2012
Report
News Wrap: At Least 9 Dead After Tornadoes Sweep Midwest
In other news Wednesday, at least nine people were killed in the Midwest as an outbreak of tornadoes ripped across the region. More than 30 others were hurt, and a series of small towns suffered heavy damage. In Syria, government troops and tanks pushed into a rebel-held area in the battered city of Homs.

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Feb. 13, 2012
Blog
Animated Map Plots One Year of Quakes
We recently stumbled on this animated map that plots all of 2011's earthquakes that registered above magnitude 6. Each circle represents an earthquake -- the bigger the circle, the greater the magnitude.

JANUARY
Jan. 31, 2012
Report
News Wrap: Sub-Zero Cold Wave Crosses Central, Eastern Europe
In other news Tuesday, the death toll neared 60 in a sub-zero cold wave across Central and Eastern Europe as temperatures dropped to -17 degrees Fahrenheit in some places. Also, the Food and Drug Administration approved a drug called Kalydeco for use by 1,200 patients with a rare form of cystic fibrosis.

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Jan. 16, 2012
Analysis
Amid Robust Recovery Efforts, Haiti Still Has Vast Needs
Two years after Haiti's devastating earthquake, politicians are still promising change and rebirth. For an assessment of the progress, delays and remaining challenges in Haiti's recovery, Jeffrey Brown talks with Nan Buzard of the American Red Cross and Dominique Toussaint of Mobilize for Haiti.

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Jan. 16, 2012
Report
Two Years After Quake, Most Haitians Still Living in Disaster Zone
Two years after a magnitude-7 earthquake shattered Port-au-Prince, 500,000 Haitians are still living in what were supposed to be temporary settlement camps. That's despite ambitious plans for millions of dollars in homes, schools and public works projects. Ray Suarez looks at the ongoing recovery efforts.

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Jan. 13, 2012
Blog
After Haiti's Earthquake, Where Does All the Rubble Go?
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti | Artist Jean Herard Celeur found a way to reuse rubble from Haiti's 2010 earthquake: totem pole-like creations and one-of-a-kind wall art. For more practical purposes, Haitians are participating in a program to remove the tons of crumbled concrete and other debris left by the earthquake.


Jan. 13, 2012
Slide Show
New Life Out of Haiti's Litter
Haitian artist Jean Herard Celeur uses debris left by the 2010 earthquake to make works of art.


Jan. 12, 2012
Blog
Remembering Haiti's 2010 Earthquake: 'I Was Close to Death'
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti | Mario Heriveaux, 47, recalls the day the earthquake struck two years ago. He and his family were watching TV when the house started to shake and everyone dashed for the door.


Jan. 12, 2012
Blog
On Second Anniversary of Earthquake, Cholera Continues to Cripple Haiti
With more than 7,000 dead and half a million people sickened, a U.N. health agency is calling the cholera outbreak in Haiti "one of the largest epidemics of the disease in modern history to affect a single country."


Jan. 11, 2012
Blog
Two Years Later, Haitian Amputees Still Have a Long Way to Go
Two years ago, a devastating earthquake in Haiti killed more than 200,000 people and caused injuries that required amputations for another 4,000 people.


Jan. 11, 2012
Blog
Survivor Tells Her Story of Rape in a Haitian Tent Camp
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti | The lack of security and lighting in Haiti's tent camps, and the flimsy structures themselves, make them ripe for violence, including rape. One woman told us her story about what happened to her one night.


Jan. 10, 2012
Blog
In Haiti's Tent Camps, 'We're Just Waiting' to Start Life Again
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti | The door to Billy Forge's home displays a Biblical verse from Isaiah 22:22: "I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open."


Jan. 9, 2012
Blog
Haiti Dispatch: 2 Years After Earthquake, Many Signs of Rebuilding
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti | On Jan. 12, 2010, a magnitude-7 earthquake rocked Haiti, killing some 223,000 people and leaving 1.5 million homeless. On a visit last week to the capital, signs of rebuilding are everywhere.


Jan. 9, 2012
Slide Show
Haiti Earthquake: Two Years Later
Two years after the Jan. 12, 2010 earthquake devastated much of Haiti, signs of recovery abound in Port-au-Prince -- from people busily removing debris to bustling marketplaces and blaring music.

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