MyEnvironment

Looking for a quick way to find some basic information about the quality of the air and water in your area?  Maybe you're interested in toxic pollution of the land instead?  Whatever the case may be, the MyEnvironment page from the Environmental Protection Agency may lead you to the information you need:

http://www.epa.gov/myenvironment/

In fact, it might provide a lead that will lead you to information about lead (or other heavy metals).

PubMed Central

Looking for information about mass shootings and mental health?  Maybe you're trying to find out why bees are mysteriously dying? If the topic you're researching is related to biology, medicine, or other life sciences, you may want to start with PubMed Central (PMC):

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/

This archive of full-text journal literature is provided by the National Institutes of Health's National Library of Medicine.  It currently includes about 3.5 million articles from a variety of sources.  It even offers a special "PubReader" view to make use of the archive easier on tablets and other small screen devices.  An overview and a Users' Guide are available on the site.

Cuba

This week the U.S. re-established diplomatic relations with Cuba.  Among other things, this means that a U.S. embassy has been officially located in Havana.  If you have questions about how U.S. relations with Cuba are progressing, the Embassy's site might be a good place to look for answers:
 
http://havana.usembassy.gov/

For instance, one fact sheet on the site makes clear that, "The embargo on Cuba is still in place and legislative action is required to lift it."  So, if you were hoping that low-cost Cuban cigars would soon be flooding the shelves of your local retailers, you may be out of luck for now.

Avian Influenza

If you enjoy watching the poultry judging at your state fair, you may be out of luck this year.  At least one state (Michigan) has cancelled the judging of poultry and water fowl due to concerns about the spread of Avian Influenza (AKA bird flu).  To read more about this disease and where cases have been confirmed, see this page from the U.S. Department of Agriculture:

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=avian_influenza.html

And, if you really need to see some poultry, perhaps you can find an old Foghorn Leghorn cartoon on TV or online.

Tornadoes

In recent months, it seems the national news has reported on severe weather and tornadoes almost every night.  Are there really more tornadoes now than there were a few years ago?  How about a few decades ago?  This page from the National Climatic Data Center may tell you everything you'd like to know:
 
https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/climate-information/extreme-events/us-tornado-climatology/trends

It certainly does provide a whirlwind of information.  ;-)

PTSD

Independence Day is just around the corner and most Americans are looking forward to family, friends, food, and fireworks. However, those who've recently returned from active duty in the military may get less enjoyment from the "rockets' red glare" and "bombs bursting in air."  They may, in fact, be suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  To read more about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of PTSD, see this site from the VA's National Center for PTSD: 

http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/PTSD-overview/basics/symptoms_of_ptsd.asp

If you're aware that one of your neighbors has recently returned home from active duty, maybe you could think about going to the community fireworks display this year rather than setting off your own.  Our heroes may need a little peace and quiet.

State & County QuickFacts

Need to know how many people live in your state or home town?  Need some basic facts about the businesses in your area?  The Census Bureau's State & County QuickFacts site may fulfill your needs: 

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/index.html

After you select a geographic area, the site provides a quick statistical overview of the population, housing, and businesses in that area, along with the number of square miles occupied and the persons per square mile.  It also provides totals for the U.S. as a whole, and for the younger information seeker, there's a link to "Student State Facts." 

In case of zombie apocalypse, it might be very helpful to know that Georgia has 168.4 people per square mile, but Washington, DC has 9,856.5.  (Wyoming, with 5.8 people per square mile, is the place you'd want to be.)