Lonesome Town, Population 0: "Lonesome George," the last surviving member of a species of giant tortoise, has died in his pen in Galapagos National Park, where previous attempts to breed him with a close sub-species failed. Long a symbol of conservation in Galapagos, George lived to 100 years, although others of his species -- which was first discovered by Darwin -- have been thought to reach 200 (less lonely) birthdays. Reuters
Keystone controversy: As of today, a permit to construct the southern leg of the contentious Keystone XL pipeline may take effect. Environmental groups and concerned landowners say the Army Corps of Engineers is pushing the project through without public review or environmental analysis. The southern segment of the development was renamed the Gulf Coast Pipeline Project after the Obama administration denied the original Keystone permit in February. Los Angeles Times
Toxic growth: Unfettered growth in the Great Lakes Basin is draining aquifers dry and fouling drinking water. In the suburbs of Milwaukee, housing construction and industrial expansion are fast depleting the water table and exposing cancer-causing radium buried in the bedrock. Baltimore Post Examiner
"Jane, Me Tarzan Thirsty": Florida, a state thought to be inundated with freshwater, is facing drought. The state's brightest, cleanest, and best known artisanal spring has been reduced to scarcely a gurgle, choked with toxic nitrates and algae. Silver Springs, the site of six Tarzan movies, is one of many of Florida’s freshwater treasures now threatened by a population boom that for decades has led to more people and development sucking down groundwater resources. The New York Times
Rising tides: Seawater on the California coast is climbing higher and faster than anywhere else on the planet, according to a new study. Water levels in Humboldt County, in the northern part of the state, stand to increase by one foot by 2020. As soaring greenhouse gas emissions steadily nudge global temperatures upward, low-lying areas like San Francisco will face severe threats in the near future. Mercury News
Well done?: The first servings of lab-grown meat may be coming right up. Convinced that hamburgers made in Petri dishes will help reduce humanity’s giant ecological footprint, scientists in both California and the Netherlands claim to be on the verge of a protein breakthrough. The Guardian
Image: David Cook Wildlife Photography
