Matt Blois

Journalist

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Stories

Middle Tennessee companies see an opportunity for artificial intelligence in the wake of COVID-19 

Middle Tennessee companies see an opportunity for artificial intelligence in the wake of COVID-19

Therapists in Middle Tennessee are moving their practices online en masse, but regulatory confusion is making it harder 

Therapists in Middle Tennessee are moving their practices online en masse, but regulatory confusion is making it harder

Middle Tennessee nonprofits have to find new ways to fundraise during the coronavirus pandemic

Middle Tennessee nonprofits have to find new ways to fundraise during the coronavirus pandemic

Coronavirus is devastating for the wedding industry, but couples and companies are adapting

Coronavirus is devastating for the wedding industry, but couples and companies are adapting

Construction companies are giving prisoners a second chance — and a job 

In 2017, the Tennessee Department of Correction, The Tennessee Department of Transportation and several construction companies from Middle Tennessee started a construction training program for prisoners.

Climate change is threatening Williamson County businesses, but few are monitoring the risks 

About a third of the Brentwood based senior living company Brookdale’s California communities were affected by wildfires in 2017.

Williamson County business leaders are tackling issues of diversity to attract talent and corporate headquarters

Many of the companies that have recently relocated to Middle Tennessee—and many of the workers they are hiring—come from places that are much more diverse than Williamson County.

Local tech companies hope middle schoolers will solve the industry’s labor shortage 

Over the summer, a tech industry advocacy group calculated that the U.S. tech industry had a 1.3% unemployment rate.

A Brentwood health care company wants to expand access to medication for addiction treatment in jail 

The Brentwood health care company Corizon hopes to make medication assisted treatment more easily available for people addicted to opioids in jails and prisons.

Spring Hill investigates using treated wastewater to supplement drinking water supply

Spring Hill has started investigating how to turn the water coming out of its wastewater treatment plant into drinking water.

Big Biology

I created a nonprofit science podcast called Big Biology with biologists Art Woods from the University of Montana and Marty Martin from the University of South Florida. I write and produce most of the episodes.

Can a Chinese Mega-Retailer Make a Killing off Montana Beef?

JD.com wants to buy more of its beef from Montana, but many of the state’s residents are preparing for a fight over a proposed slaughterhouse. Read the story on Civil Eats.

Birders get a First Look at how 2017 California Wildfires Affected Wildlife

The Thomas Fire burned through Ventura in December 2017, but that didn’t stop birders from conducting their annual Christmas Bird Count there. Read the story on the Earth Island Journal.

The search and recovery of condor chick 871, wildfire survivor

When the Thomas Fire approached a California Condor nest last month, the chick’s radio signal went dark. Biologists recently returned to the burn area to find her. Read the story on Audubon. Photo by Stephanie Cruz Herrera.

Despite warnings from the DEQ diners at the Frosty Freeze aren't afraid to drink Big Timber's water.

Big Timber Locals Say DEQ Water Worries Overblown

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality says there might be disease causing bugs in Big Timber’s water. The people living there say they’d rather roll the dice than pay for a treatment plant. Listen to the story on Montana Public Radio. Here is a longer version of that story with extra reporting from Wilsall, MT.

A prescribed fire burns through Mexican spotted owl habitat south of Flagstaff, Arizona. Photo: Shaula Hedwall

Will forest thinning and burning save Mexican spotted owls, or harm them?

Excessive logging landed the Mexican spotted owl on the list of threatened species under the endangered species act, but now government agencies are cutting trees down to save it from wildfire. Read the story on Treesource.

Photographs document habitat changes in western forests

George Gruell re-took photos of western forests to document the effects of fire suppression. Read the story on Treesource. Photo taken by Alfred Shultz in 1906.

Wilderness areas are a laboratory for fire scientists

For decades, the U.S. Forest Service has used wilderness areas as a laboratory to learn more about wildfire behavior and effects. Read the story on Treesource. Photo by Bob Mutch.

Money might not be enough to stop the lionfish invasion

Can a tax on dive tourists stop the lionfish invasion? Read the story from Hakai. I wrote a longer version of this story for my master’s portfolio at the University of Montana. You can read that here. The first lionfish in Cozumel, an island off Mexico’s southern coast, appeared in 2009, but according to dive…

ERs emerge as the frontline in the meth war

In Montana too many people end up in the ER because of meth. Listen to the story on The Meth Effect.

Is Mexico’s Underwater Museum Diverting Attention from Bigger Environmental Issues? 

Cancún’s underwater museum looked like a conservation success story, but some conservationists were skeptical. Read the story in the Earth Island Journal.

How to stop brain cancer-with rabies 

How to stop cancer-with rabies. Scientists are using rabies-inspired nanoparticles to attack brain tumors. Published in Science.


About

A biologist by training, Matt chased jaguars in Mexico and condors in California before pursuing a master’s degree in journalism at the University of Montana. In another life he would have been the lead singer of a rock ‘n’ roll band. He still sings for fun. Lover of radio. Easily distracted by colorful birds.


Contact

Email: mattblois@gmail.com
Tel: (805) 233-1686

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