Biden tackles environmental justice

Plus, Russia accidentally bombs its own city.   Biden signs an executive order prioritizing environmental justice; a Russian warplane accidentally bombs a Russian city. Tonight's Sentences was written by Jariel Arvin.   TOP NEWS Executive action for polluted communities Drew Angerer/Getty Images - President Joe Biden on Friday signed an executive order establishing a White House office of environmental justice to help tackle pollution impacts. [[CNN / Ella Nilsen](] - The order directs federal agencies to work with overburdened communities and fill gaps in scientific data to understand how pollution is harming people’s health. [[NBC News](] - Communities of color face higher levels of pollution because of discriminatory housing policies; Black Americans are three times as likely to die from exposure to harmful air than their white counterparts. [[CNBC / Emma Newberger](] - As part of the announcement, Vice President Kamala Harris pledged $562 million to help communities prepare for climate change impacts. [[Reuters / Steve Holland](] - Friday’s order follows the creation of the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights, which will deliver $60 billion in grants to polluted communities. [[Associated Press / Josh Boak and Drew Costley](] 📍 If you read just one story Vox staff explains why the Colorado River is drying up at an alarming rate and what can be done to avert disaster. [[Vox](]  [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( A Russian city's accidental bombing - Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry said one of its warplanes accidentally dropped a bomb on a Russian city, injuring three people. [[New York Times / Ivan Nechepurenko and Jeffrey Gettleman](] - The powerful explosion left a 65-foot wide crater in a residential street in Belgorod, a city of more than 400,000 people located 25 miles from the Ukraine border. [[CNN](] - It’s unclear exactly how the weapon deployed, but experts say it was likely a 1,000-pound bomb capable of striking underground facilities. [[AP](] - Russian jets fly over Belgorod to get to Ukraine, increasing the risk of accidents. A Russian warplane crashed in another Russian city last October, killing at least 13 people.[[BBC / Steve Rosenberg]](   MISCELLANEOUS The race between three House Democrats to replace California Sen. Dianne Feinstein will be competitive and expensive. [[Vox / Christian Paz](] - Canadian police are investigating the disappearance of an aircraft container carrying $14.8 million in gold and other valuables from the Toronto Pearson Airport. [[NBC News / Chantal Da Silva](] - Friday, the US Supreme Court is expected to rule on a case that could limit abortion pill access nationwide. [[New York Times / Abbie VanSickle and Pam Belluck](] - This week’s tragic shootings come as US mass killings are happening at a record pace in 2023. [[Vox / Nicole Narea](]   CROSSWORD OF THE DAY NYC club famed for punk rock (abbr.) [Solve today's new Vox crossword puzzle]([,]( and stay tuned for more puzzles coming out Monday through Saturday. Want more crosswords? [Sign up for our crossword newsletter here]( and get a dedicated crossword reminder each weekend.   Support our work Having your timely, accessible, and well-cited articles for teaching students research skills on issues facing their communities has been a godsend. —Chris [Give today!](   VERBATIM “These communities experience inequitable living conditions tied to chronic disinvestment and systemic racism that increase vulnerability to climate change." [[Cathleen Kelly, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, on Biden’s executive order / Reuters](]   WATCH THIS Hint: Water scarcity in the Western US has more to do with our diets than our lawns.[[YouTube](]   Read more from Vox [Florida is slimming down its plan to take on “woke” colleges — but not by much]( [When did mass layoffs become so normal?]( [Why so many top Republicans want to go to war in Mexico]( [The bizarre true story of the last time America raised its retirement age]( [7 big Earth Day wins for the planet](  [Learn more about RevenueStripe...](   [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Manage your [email preferences]( [unsubscribe](param=sentences). If you value Vox’s unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring [contribution](. View our [Privacy Notice]( and our [Terms of Service](. Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Floor 12, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2023. All rights reserved.