Friday Blog Roundup

Itâs been a particularly busy week in global warming news:

• Andrew Schneider at Secret Ingredients reports that unions representing EPA staff have cut off future discussion with EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson. Although the unions cite numerous problems with Johnson ignoring scientific and legal staffsâ advice, the release of Johnsonâs ridiculous rationale for denying Californiaâs waiver request seemed to be the last straw. (Frank OâDonnell at Gristmill has more on that ridiculousness.)
• DeSmog Blogâs Kevin Grandia and Richard Littlemore report on the Heartland Instituteâs International Conference on Climate Change, a.k.a Denial-a-palooza.
• JLowe at Impact Analysis investigates whether weâre trending away from coal-fired power plants, as some optimists have suggested.
• Ana Campoy at Environmental Capital looks at whatâs keeping the U.S. from shifting more passengers from cars to mass transit.
• Andrew Wetzler at Switchboard explains how global-warming-induced changes to the Arctic food web may be causing mercury contamination in marine mammals.

Elsewhere:

Sarah Dine at Health Affairs reminds us that healthcare system reform needs to address health disparities â and that one year after Deamonte Driverâs death stemming from an untreated cavity, the gap in dental health care is one of many that needs closing.

Watermon at OSHA Underground predicts that next weekâs hearing on the Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Prevention Act of 2008 will have an us-against-them flavor reminiscent of MINER Act hearings.

Writing with a Marlboro Light in his hand, Michael Stebbins, PhD at Science Progress argues that the FDA should be able to regulate the tobacco industry.

The Reveres of Effect Measure point to recent happenings at CDC to explain why theyâre remaining anonymous, at least for the next 318 days.

Roy M. Poses MD at Health Care Renewal reports on a lawsuit that could have a chilling effect on clinical research.

Ruth Messinger at RH Reality Check warns that the PEPFAR bill about to reach the House floor for a final vote falls far short in eliminating onerous program restrictions and in reflecting lessons learned in working to end the AIDS pandemic.

Janet Stenwedel at Adventures in Ethics and Science responds to an essay about sharing cancer research data.