James Bruggers
Reporter, Southeast
James Bruggers covers the U.S. Southeast, part of Inside Climate News’ National Environment Reporting Network. He previously covered energy and the environment for Louisville’s Courier Journal, where he worked as a correspondent for USA Today and was a member of the USA Today Network environment team. Before moving to Kentucky in 1999, Bruggers worked as a journalist in Montana, Alaska, Washington and California. Bruggers’ work has won numerous recognitions, including best beat reporting, Society of Environmental Journalists, and the National Press Foundation’s Thomas Stokes Award for energy reporting. He served on the board of directors of the SEJ for 13 years, including two years as president. He lives in Louisville with his wife, Christine Bruggers.
Louisville Finally Takes Stock of Abandoned Waste Dump Inside a Preserved Forest
By James Bruggers
Declaring an Epidemic of ‘Toxic Litter,’ Baltimore Targets Plastic Makers and Packaging in the Latest Example of Plastics Litigation
By James Bruggers
In West Virginia, the Senate Race Outcome May Shift Limits of US Climate Ambitions
By James Bruggers, Marianne Lavelle
Foes of New York Packaging Bill Used Threats of Empty Grocery Shelves to Defeat Plastics Bill
By James Bruggers
Louisville, Kentucky, Moves Toward Cleaning Up Its ‘Gully of the Drums’ After More Than Four Decades
By James Bruggers
Lawsuits Targeting Plastic Pollution Pile Up as Frustrated Citizens and States Seek Accountability
By James Bruggers
Alabama Coal Company Sued for a Home Explosion That Killed a Man Is Delinquent on Dozens of Penalties, Records Show
By Lee Hedgepeth, James Bruggers
Headed Toward the Finish Line, Plastics Treaty Delegates ‘Work is Far From Over’
By James Bruggers
A Giant Plastics Chemical Recycling Plant Planned for Pennsylvania Died After Two Years. What Happened?
By James Bruggers
Alabama Coal Mine Keeps Digging Under A Rural Community After Hundreds of Fines and a Fatal Explosion. Residents Are Rattled
By Lee Hedgepeth, James Bruggers
As Plastic Treaty Delegates Head to Canada, A Plea From the Arctic: Don’t Forget Vulnerable Indigenous Peoples
By James Bruggers
The EPA Cleaned Up the ‘Valley of the Drums’ Outside Louisville 45 Years Ago. Why Did it Leave the ‘Gully of the Drums’ Behind?
By James Bruggers
Kraft Heinz Faces Shareholder Vote On Its ‘Deceptive’ Recycling Labels
By James Bruggers
A ‘Gassy’ Alabama Coal Mine Was Expanding Under a Family’s Home. After an Explosion, Two Were Left Critically Injured
By Lee Hedgepeth, James Bruggers
How Clean Energy Tax Breaks Could Fuel a US Wood Burning Boom
By James Bruggers
Alabama Supreme Court IVF Ruling Renews Focus on Plastics, Chemical Exposure and Infertility
By James Bruggers, Lee Hedgepeth