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Environment

Black Snow

Big Sugar’s Burning Problem

Investigating how regulators have allowed the sugar industry to burn crops at the expense of poor communities of color in Florida’s heartland.

Impact of Our Reporting
Caret

Black Snow

Representatives Introduce $500 Million Air Quality Bill, Citing ProPublica’s Investigations

Lawmakers introduced a House bill to fund air monitoring after ProPublica highlighted pollution in its “Black Snow” and “Sacrifice Zones” investigations. The bill is nearly identical to one introduced in the Senate last summer.

Black Snow

After Years of Complaints, Florida Improves Pollution Monitoring Near Burning Sugar Cane Fields

Regulators updated air-monitoring equipment following a ProPublica/Palm Beach Post investigation that found shortcomings in the way authorities police air quality during the cane burning season in Florida’s heartland.

Local Reporting Network

Black Snow

We Reported on Pollution From Sugar Cane Burning. Now Federal Lawmakers Want the EPA to Take Action.

Leading members of Congress have called for the EPA to investigate air monitoring in Florida and to change national pollution standards.

Local Reporting Network

“Black Snow” Recognized for Distinguished Science Reporting

ProPublica and Partners Win Award for Science Writing

How the Sugar Industry Makes Political Friends and Influences Elections

Burning Sugar Cane Pollutes Communities of Color in Florida. Brazil Shows There’s Another Way.

“They Deserve to Be Safe”: Candidates Call on Florida to Investigate the Health Effects of Sugar Cane Burning

“A Complete Failure of the State”: Authorities Didn’t Heed Researchers’ Calls to Study Health Effects of Burning Sugar Cane

Hay humo todos los años. Las compañías azucareras dicen que el aire es saludable.

Testing the Air to Tell a Story: How We Investigated Air Pollution Near Florida’s Sugar Fields

Sugar Companies Said Our Investigation Is Flawed and Biased. Let’s Dive Into Why That’s Not the Case.

“They’re Trying to Make It So We Walk Away”: It’s About to Get Harder to File Lawsuits Saying Sugar Harvesters Poisoned the Air