Episode for August 21, 2026: The problem with fertilizer

Help us raise $35,000 by August 31 to keep this podcast going! We're independent and non-profit, and we don't receive funds from WESA, WPSU or any other radio station. So we must turn to you, our listeners, for support. Take action today so we can continue to keep you informed.  Donate today.  Or send us a check to: The Allegheny Front, 67 Bedford Square, Pittsburgh, 15203.  On this week's show: Sludge from municipal sewage is often spread on farm fields as fertilizer. But it can contain PFAS forever chemicals. Regulators want to limit the amount of these chemicals, but monitoring could be expensive. Data centers have become a hot button issue across Pennsylvania, including in a small town where six projects have been proposed. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signs an executive order placing restrictions on data center development. A new survey shows fears of the impact of artificial intelligence and opposition to data center construction are bipartisan issues. State regulators have agreed to review the environmental impact of a coal mine in western Pennsylvania. A dragonboat team from Philly is headed to Taiwan for a global competition.   Never miss a story: Sign up for our newsletter!