In conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, three school districts in the Raccoon Valley Radio-listening area are receiving funds to replace older diesel buses.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded a total of $300,000 in rebates to 10 Iowa districts to replace 15 buses. The Coon Rapids-Bayard and Guthrie Center districts each received $20,000 to replace one bus, and Dallas Center-Grimes received $40,000 to replace two. The new buses will reduce pollutants that are linked to health problems like asthma and lung damage.