Michael Copley

It's harder to get home insurance. That's changing communities across the U.S. Home insurance is getting less affordable, and less available, as insurers raise prices and pull back from areas with extreme weather. That's forcing families across the country to make tough choices.

We looked at three communities across the U.S. who are struggling with insurance costs and cancellations as climate-driven disasters get worse. The effects are rippling through communities 2/ - with @rhersher.bsky.social @michaelcopley1.bsky.social www.npr.org/2025/11/12/n...

Disaster and insurance costs are rising. The middle class is struggling to hang on Middle-class families are struggling to afford insurance in southwest Florida. Realtors say a wave of foreclosures could be coming.

"That gentrification is a real thing, the change in the cost is a real thing," says Rob Fowler, a builder in southwest Florida. “And it all adds up to the fact that only well-heeled players can play now." www.npr.org/2025/11/17/n...

Why home insurance is unaffordable, even in places without wildfires or hurricanes Some of the country's highest home insurance prices are in the central U.S., a region generally considered to be protected from climate-driven disasters such as wildfires and hurricanes.

Some of the country's highest home insurance prices are in the central U.S., a region generally considered to be protected from climate-driven disasters such as wildfires and hurricanes. n.pr/49PWIKc

Why home insurance is unaffordable, even in places without wildfires or hurricanes Some of the country's highest home insurance prices are in the central U.S., a region generally considered to be protected from climate-driven disasters such as wildfires and hurricanes.

"It's to a point of unsustainability," says Robert Dyer, CEO of the Cozad Community Health System. "If we got hit by another storm right now, it would drain all our cash." From @rhersher.bsky.social www.npr.org/2025/11/13/n...

Public media stations in rural America say emergency-alert funding is in jeopardy Without Congressionally-approved funding, public media stations say communities will be left with aging infrastructure amid growing risks from extreme weather.

Without Congressionally-approved funding, public media stations say communities will be left with aging infrastructure amid growing risks from extreme weather.

Businesses face 'chaos' as EPA aims to repeal its authority over climate pollution A lot of companies want the EPA in charge of setting national climate regulations because it helps shield them from lawsuits and creates a predictable environment in which to make investments.

A lot of companies want the EPA in charge of setting national climate regulations because it helps shield them from lawsuits and creates a predictable environment in which to make investments. n.pr/47HiEWK

The Trump administration seeks to eliminate or privatize the Energy Star program The Energy Star program has saved Americans more than a half-trillion dollars in energy costs and has reduced climate pollution. Now the Trump administration wants to eliminate or privatize it.

The federal government's Energy Star efficiency program is in jeopardy. The Trump administration wants to eliminate or privatize it. Here's my @npr.org story: www.npr.org/2025/08/13/n...

Trump's EPA wants to eliminate regulation for greenhouse gases The Trump administration proposes eliminating a 2009 finding that greenhouse gases endanger people. That would undermine the EPA's climate change regulations for power plants and cars.

The Trump administration announced its plan today to overturn a key 2009 Environmental Protection Agency finding that underpins much of the federal government's actions to rein in climate change. My @npr story: www.npr.org/2025/07/29/n...

"It's not a question of whether or not the country is going to install solar if these provisions are removed or phased out too quickly. It's just a matter of where [project developers] are going to get the product from."

Solar manufacturing is booming. Advocates say it could go bust without incentives Abruptly ending tax incentives that encourage solar developers to buy American could upend a booming manufacturing sector.

Abruptly ending tax incentives that encourage solar developers to buy American could upend a booming manufacturing sector.

Protecting your home from disaster might not help you get insurance Insurance costs are soaring, and coverage is hard to find in some parts of the United States. Communities say insurers are ignoring their efforts to confront the problem.

Investments that help communities endure more extreme weather are "a path to keep insurance available," says Dave Jones, director of the Climate Risk Initiative at UC Berkeley Law. “But the insurers need to account for it in their modeling. They're not."

Exclusive from my NPR Climate Desk colleague @rhersher.bsky.social:

You count on the NPR Network. Today, supporters like you are donating and sharing what #PublicMediaGives to their communities that no other news service can.

Your support connects small towns, big cities and the millions who call them home. Every dollar makes a difference. Donate now: n.pr/4lFTPPD

Rural communities were promised millions in disaster funds. Trump is ending it Rural communities are scrambling after the Trump administration canceled billions in disaster grants. Many were counting on the funds for infrastructure fixes meant to withstand future disasters.

“In DePue, Ill., sewage will keep backing up into people's basements when there's heavy rain. In Rising Sun, Md., a mobile home park that has already flooded six times will remain in harm's way. And in Kamiah, Idaho, houses won't get upgrades that would protect them from wildfires.”

Federal judge orders release of Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi A federal judge in Vermont ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian student at Columbia University who was arrested at his US citizenship interview and ordered deported.

JUST IN: A federal judge in Vermont ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian student at Columbia University who was arrested at his US citizenship interview and ordered deported.

For an @npr.org story I'm researching: have you cooked with an electric grill before? What do you think of the experience, compared to a gas or charcoal grill? Any suggestions if someone is thinking about switching to an electric grill this summer?

Private eye accused of hacking American climate activists loses U.K. extradition fight The Justice Department has charged Amit Forlit with conspiracy to commit computer hacking, among other crimes.

The attacks on climate activists represent a broad assault on US civil society, says Lee Wasserman, director of the Rockefeller Family Fund and a target of the hacking.

“It’s a very big issue that transcends, really, the most basic aspects of freedom,” Wasserman told NPR

EPA cancels $900K to address asthma in western Mass., includes city once dubbed U.S. 'asthma capital' Most of a multi-year, $1 million federal grant to address asthma in western Massachusetts was terminated on Friday, effective immediately, according to the Healey administration.

EPA cancels $900K to address asthma in western Mass., includes city once dubbed U.S. 'asthma capital' www.nhpr.org/2025-04-28/e...

Some Los Angeles fires victims are rebuilding their homes without gas appliances As Los Angeles rebuilds from the Eaton and Palisades fires, climate activists want to retire the gas utility pipelines and and hope to persuade people to rebuild homes as all-electric.

Some Los Angeles fires victims are rebuilding their homes without gas appliances. Climate advocates want all homeowners to choose electric, but it's hard to require that of people who've had their lives upended. My @npr.org story with Ryan Kellman's photos: www.npr.org/2025/04/23/n...

Pope Francis focused on climate change as the planet continued to get hotter Pope Francis called on the world and 1.4 billion Catholics to confront climate change. He brought attention to the issue but it's not clear he changed many minds.

Pope Francis pushed for action on climate change -- not surprising for a pontiff who was the first to take the name of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology. My @npr.org story: www.npr.org/2025/04/21/n...

Exclusive reporting from my @npr.org Climate Desk colleague @michaelcopley1.bsky.social:

Major budget cuts proposed for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The agency forecasts weather, manages fisheries, and researches the world's oceans, atmosphere, and climate. The proposed budget cuts would slash the climate work entirely.

The agency forecasts weather, manages fisheries, and researches the world's oceans, atmosphere, and climate. The proposed budget cuts would slash the climate work entirely.

"The developer of Maine’s first offshore wind array has paused the project amid the Trump administration’s backlash against the industry."

West Virginia Coal Association just issued an action alert... It says a policy issued by USTR under the Trump administration, "would cripple American coal exports and threaten thousands of jobs."

Alert attached, see my story below for details.

America's clean-energy industry is growing despite Trump's attacks. At least for now Clean energy is crucial to meet rising U.S. electricity demand, according to industry analysts and executives. But the Trump administration's actions could slow development.

"America's clean-energy industry is growing despite Trump's attacks. At least for now" www.npr.org/2025/03/12/n... via @michaelcopley1.bsky.social @npr.org

DOGE’s Millions: As Musk and Trump Gut Government, Their Ax-Cutting Agency Gets Cash Infusion The Department of Government Efficiency is funded — and acts — like a federal agency. But the White House has shielded DOGE from the rules that govern such agencies, ProPublica found as it examines th...

“If DOGE is a federal agency, it can’t shield its records from the public. If it’s not an agency, then DOGE’s tens of millions of dollars in funding weren’t legally allocated and should be returned, some [legal experts] contend.” www.propublica.org/article/doge...

The Big Government Money Pipe Freeze : Planet Money There has been chaotic uncertainty around billions of dollars allocated by Congress. The Trump administration ordered a pause on — and review of — certain types of federal assistance. A judge blocked ...

Did you know? Right now you can look at every single payment coming out of the federal government, like a Venmo feed for federal loans, subsidies, and grants. Why does the government make this available, and how can it illuminate some questions everyone seems to be asking right now.
buff.ly/4jX8t4i

Trump Executive Order Takes Back Funds to Help Low-Income Alabama Residents Pay Electric Bills - Inside Climate News Many of the 2,000 Alabama households impacted had already seen the funds credited to their accounts and will have to pay the money back on their next bill.

insideclimatenews.org/news/1402202...

Trump officials signal potential changes at NOAA, the weather and climate agency Federal workers at the home agency for the National Weather Service are concerned about a potential overhaul by Trump officials focused on cutting government costs.

A list of terms NOAA received that could run afoul of Trump orders: "climate change," "pollution" "natural resources" and terms associated with diversity, equity and inclusion - @npr.org's @alejandrabee.bsky.social @michaelcopley1.bsky.social @hansilowang.bsky.social
www.npr.org/2025/02/15/n...

Trump officials signal potential changes at NOAA, the weather and climate agency Federal workers at the home agency for the National Weather Service are concerned about a potential overhaul by Trump officials focused on cutting government costs.

My latest @npr.org story with @alejandrabee.bsky.social & @michaelcopley1.bsky.social: Federal workers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are on high alert as they monitor signs of a potential Trump administration overhaul of one of the government's main scientific agencies