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, two people sit in recliners in a medical infusion setting, conversing; on the right, an older man is embraced warmly from behind by another person.

DOGE Cuts Gut the VA Cancer Registry That Tracks and Treats Veteran Patients

DOGE-directed contract cuts have crippled the VA system that tracks cancer in veterans and connects them to clinical trials — and some patients are running out of time.

DOGE Cuts Gut the VA Cancer Registry That Tracks and Treats Veteran Patients

DOGE-directed contract cuts have crippled the VA system that tracks cancer in veterans and connects them to clinical trials — and some patients are running out of time.

On the left, teal and blue coral formations cluster densely underwater; on the right, pink and purple soft corals sway in a dimly lit aquarium tank.

Scientists Discovered That Playing Ocean Sounds Through Underwater Speakers Can Bring Dying Coral Reefs Back to Life

A coral reef in decline goes quiet — and that silence is a death sentence for the larvae trying to find their way home. Scientists have discovered that broadcasting the...

Scientists Discovered That Playing Ocean Sounds Through Underwater Speakers Can Bring Dying Coral Reefs Back to Life

A coral reef in decline goes quiet — and that silence is a death sentence for the larvae trying to find their way home. Scientists have discovered that broadcasting the...

On the left, a man with slicked-back hair wears a suit and tie; on the right, a tattooed man in a white t-shirt holds a microphone at Comic-Con.

Tom Hardy Reveals Autism Diagnosis To A Crowded Room Of Fans At Comic Con

Tom Hardy let the truth slip in a single half-sentence at a packed comic convention, and the crowd erupted. What he built from that moment — a charity-linked jiu-jitsu clothing...

Tom Hardy Reveals Autism Diagnosis To A Crowded Room Of Fans At Comic Con

Tom Hardy let the truth slip in a single half-sentence at a packed comic convention, and the crowd erupted. What he built from that moment — a charity-linked jiu-jitsu clothing...

On the left, white chickens are crowded in stacked metal transport cages; on the right, an aerial view shows large industrial poultry farm buildings surrounded by fields.

Factory Farms Are Exempt From Toxic Air Reporting Laws That Apply to Every Other Industry

A 2019 EPA rule exempts factory farms from federal air pollution reporting. Millions of Americans living nearby have no right to know what's in the air.

Factory Farms Are Exempt From Toxic Air Reporting Laws That Apply to Every Other Industry

A 2019 EPA rule exempts factory farms from federal air pollution reporting. Millions of Americans living nearby have no right to know what's in the air.

On the left, a walrus swims underwater in blue Arctic waters; on the right, a polar bear mother rests in snow with two small cubs.

Federal Rule Lets Oil Companies Kill Polar Bears and Walruses Through 2031

A finalized federal rule now legally permits oil and gas companies to harm, harass, and kill polar bears and Pacific walruses in Alaska's Beaufort Sea — through 2031.

Federal Rule Lets Oil Companies Kill Polar Bears and Walruses Through 2031

A finalized federal rule now legally permits oil and gas companies to harm, harass, and kill polar bears and Pacific walruses in Alaska's Beaufort Sea — through 2031.

On the left, a dark mule peers out of a blue horse trailer; on the right, donkeys look through the barred window of a teal transport vehicle.

Millions of Animals Travel Under a Law Written Before the Automobile

A federal law from 1873 is still the primary protection for livestock in transit. A 2026 GAO report found enforcement is essentially nonexistent and penalties are negligible.

Millions of Animals Travel Under a Law Written Before the Automobile

A federal law from 1873 is still the primary protection for livestock in transit. A 2026 GAO report found enforcement is essentially nonexistent and penalties are negligible.