Matthew Russell

Matthew Russell

Matthew Russell is a West Michigan native and with a background in journalism, data analysis, cartography and design thinking. He likes to learn new things and solve old problems whenever possible, and enjoys bicycling, spending time with his daughters, and coffee.

Articles by Matthew Russell

On the left, a bison and two bull elk stand on a snow-dusted field; on the right, a close-up of a bison's dark, woolly head with one horn.

A Fatal Incurable Disease Has Arrived at the Nations Largest Elk Refuge

A fatal, incurable disease has been confirmed at Wyoming's National Elk Refuge, where thousands of elk are crowded together each winter. Federal managers are now weighing what comes next.

A Fatal Incurable Disease Has Arrived at the Nations Largest Elk Refuge

A fatal, incurable disease has been confirmed at Wyoming's National Elk Refuge, where thousands of elk are crowded together each winter. Federal managers are now weighing what comes next.

On the left, tourists on an orange boat watch humpback whales breach nearby; on the right, a humpback whale surfaces beside a large dark ship in snowfall.

Fewer Than 370 Right Whales Remain and Ships Keep Killing Them

Fewer than 370 North Atlantic right whales survive today, and ship strikes remain one of the most preventable threats they face. A real-time warning system already exists — but it...

Fewer Than 370 Right Whales Remain and Ships Keep Killing Them

Fewer than 370 North Atlantic right whales survive today, and ship strikes remain one of the most preventable threats they face. A real-time warning system already exists — but it...

Secret Government Memos Reveal Officials Knew Toxic Air Was Poisoning New Yorkers On 9/11

Secret Government Memos Reveal Officials Knew Toxic Air Was Poisoning New Yorkers On 9/11

Secret government memos show city officials knew within weeks of the September 11, 2001, attacks that the air around Ground Zero was dangerously toxic — even as they publicly assured...

Secret Government Memos Reveal Officials Knew Toxic Air Was Poisoning New Yorkers On 9/11

Secret government memos show city officials knew within weeks of the September 11, 2001, attacks that the air around Ground Zero was dangerously toxic — even as they publicly assured...

On the left, rescue workers in gear carry equipment through debris-strewn streets near fire trucks and damaged buildings; on the right, a masked officer stands amid rubble near emergency vehicles.

9/11 Responders Are Getting Dementia Early and the Federal Health Program Doesn't Cover It

More than two decades after 9/11, responders are developing dementia at alarming rates — and the federal health program built to treat them doesn't cover it.

9/11 Responders Are Getting Dementia Early and the Federal Health Program Doesn't Cover It

More than two decades after 9/11, responders are developing dementia at alarming rates — and the federal health program built to treat them doesn't cover it.

On the left, an older bearded man in a blue shirt cradles a black-and-white cat indoors; on the right, a gray-haired woman pets a white dog on a leash in.

Many Seniors Forced to Choose Between Feeding Themselves and Feeding Their Pets

For millions of homebound and low-income seniors, a pet is the difference between isolation and connection — between decline and stability.

Many Seniors Forced to Choose Between Feeding Themselves and Feeding Their Pets

For millions of homebound and low-income seniors, a pet is the difference between isolation and connection — between decline and stability.

On the left, a dust-covered woman stands in a thick yellow haze; on the right, a woman rests her chin on her hand thoughtfully.

She Survived the Twin Towers But the Dust She Breathed Followed Her All the Way to the End

She stepped out of the North Tower into a street full of wounded strangers and walked straight into history. The photograph taken in that lobby would define her public identity...

She Survived the Twin Towers But the Dust She Breathed Followed Her All the Way to the End

She stepped out of the North Tower into a street full of wounded strangers and walked straight into history. The photograph taken in that lobby would define her public identity...