Diesel locomotive

The Bush administration wants to cut pollution from off-road diesel engines found in farm and construction equipment. Environment and public health groups support the idea, but they’re wary of the administration’s motives. From Washington, Anna Solomon-Greenbaum briefs host Steve Curwood.

Some school districts in California are switching from diesel buses to those powered by cleaner-burning natural gas. Many of the oldest and most polluting diesel engines are in school bus fleets. And health experts say that diesel exhaust contributes to lung cancer, asthma and other respiratory problems, putting school children at an especially high risk. […]