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, USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) aircraft carrier sits anchored at sea with aircraft on deck; on the right, three people stand on an empty carrier flight deck overlooking.

USS Abraham Lincoln Sailors Are Trying to Jump Overboard as Their Nine-Month Deployment Drags On with No End in Sight

A sailor with 13 years of service now sits on medical hold, terrified that a moment of desperate exhaustion will cost him the career he spent over a decade building....

USS Abraham Lincoln Sailors Are Trying to Jump Overboard as Their Nine-Month Deployment Drags On with No End in Sight

A sailor with 13 years of service now sits on medical hold, terrified that a moment of desperate exhaustion will cost him the career he spent over a decade building....

On the left, a swarm of Eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies gathers and takes flight from a mossy log in a sunlit forest; on the right, excavators clear fallen pine trees.

A New Federal Rule Lets Developers Destroy Endangered Species Habitat Without Penalty

For decades, destroying the habitat of a threatened or endangered species was considered harm under federal law. A rule finalized in July 2026 changed that — and now economic value...

A New Federal Rule Lets Developers Destroy Endangered Species Habitat Without Penalty

For decades, destroying the habitat of a threatened or endangered species was considered harm under federal law. A rule finalized in July 2026 changed that — and now economic value...

On the left, a gloved scientist holds an Erlenmeyer flask containing water and colorful microplastic fragments; on the right, a fish swims beneath a ocean surface littered with floating plastic.

Billions of Plastic Pellets Are Poisoning Our Waterways

They're smaller than a pea, but nurdles — the raw plastic pellets used to make nearly every plastic product — are now among the most common forms of pollution on...

Billions of Plastic Pellets Are Poisoning Our Waterways

They're smaller than a pea, but nurdles — the raw plastic pellets used to make nearly every plastic product — are now among the most common forms of pollution on...

On the left, a gloved hand leads a dapple-grey horse by a black rope halter against a blue sky; on the right, a chestnut horse's injured lower leg and hoof.

Horses Have Waited 55 Years for Protection From This Cruel Practice

Horse soring — deliberately burning and wounding horses' legs to produce an exaggerated show gait — has been a federal crime since 1970. A rule to actually stop it was...

Horses Have Waited 55 Years for Protection From This Cruel Practice

Horse soring — deliberately burning and wounding horses' legs to produce an exaggerated show gait — has been a federal crime since 1970. A rule to actually stop it was...

On the left, a young girl in a green plastic raincoat hugs a brown and white dog during a flood; on the right, a bearded worker in a red hard.

Millions of Americans Risk Their Lives to Stay With Pets During Disasters

When a disaster evacuation order comes, pet owners across America face a choice no family should have to make: leave their animal behind or stay in harm's way. It's a...

Millions of Americans Risk Their Lives to Stay With Pets During Disasters

When a disaster evacuation order comes, pet owners across America face a choice no family should have to make: leave their animal behind or stay in harm's way. It's a...

On the left, a bearded older veteran in a wheelchair wipes tears while reading a letter in a kitchen; on the right, a uniformed soldier sits pensively before a laptop.

Nearly $1 Million in Veterans' Benefits Stolen by the People Appointed to Guard It

Veterans with severe disabilities rely on VA-appointed fiduciaries to manage their benefits — people legally trusted to handle money these veterans cannot manage themselves. But documented cases show some of...

Nearly $1 Million in Veterans' Benefits Stolen by the People Appointed to Guard It

Veterans with severe disabilities rely on VA-appointed fiduciaries to manage their benefits — people legally trusted to handle money these veterans cannot manage themselves. But documented cases show some of...