Environment

A fire crowning two hills, with black trees silhouetted against the orange glow.

California Wildfires

Worried about wildfires, Californians ready to spend, vote to fight climate change

Californians want the state to lead the world in fighting climate change, according to a new poll — and many are ready to tackle the problem on the road, at the ballot box, and even with their pocketbooks.

By

Rachel Becker

• July 29, 2019

Sleeping driver in autonomous car. Photo by metamorworks, istockphoto.com

Environment

California steers toward a future of self-driving cars

Self-driving cars will be part of ridesharing fleets, reducing the number of personal vehicles on the road and helping wean motorists off gasoline.

By

Julie Cart

• July 26, 2019

Environment

California’s emissions deal with automakers dodges Trump EPA plan to gut rules

California made its own tailpipe emissions deal with four major carmakers, officials said Thursday, ignoring Trump administration threats to roll back Obama-era vehicle standards.

By

Rachel Becker

• July 25, 2019

Water

Earthquakes can dry water supply. Californians must prepare

Charles Wilson, Southern California Water Coalition: Living in earthquake country makes planning and emergency preparedness critical. Taking steps to prepare for the worst is important. Understanding where our water comes from, and just how important all of our supplies are, is a good start.

By

Guest Commentary

• July 25, 2019

The deadly 2018 Camp Fire burns around PG&E transmission towers east of Pulga, near the source of the first report of the fire.

California Wildfires

California’s new wildfire plan: 5 things to know

Is this a utilities bailout? Will it help prevent future fires? How will all this work? Here's a breakdown of the new plan California lawmakers are putting in place.

By

Julie Cart

• July 12, 2019

Climate Change

California’s pollution enforcers would like to save tropical forests. But at what cost?

California’s climate change enforcers are grappling with the thorniest of controversies: how to prevent the planet’s tropical forests from disappearing. The question they aren’t ready to answer—at least not yet—is what focusing on far-away forests could mean for pollution at home.

By

Rachel Becker

• July 8, 2019

Power poles and equipment. California utilities are undertaking extensive upgrades to their equipment in an effort to prevent sparking wildfires. Photo via Pixabayare undergoing extensive upgrades as California utilities seek to prevent wildfires.

California Wildfires

Scant details: Are California utilities doing enough to fireproof their equipment?

The state-approved plans utilities have submitted outlining how they will prevent their equipment from sparking wildfires provide few details—and little evidence to support the companies’ claims that indiscriminately clear-cutting millions of trees and replacing hundreds of thousands of wooden utility poles with steel ones will actually reduce the risk of wildfires.

By

Julie Cart

• June 27, 2019

Capitol

Why a California lawmaker wants to ban cigarette filters and disposable vapes

California Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson's bill to curb litter from cigarette butts and electronic cigarettes cleared the Senate but approaches its next hurdle in the Assembly. The bill aims to tackle hundreds of thousands of cigarette butts that litter the state's coasts and hold the tobacco and e-cigarette industry accountable for the mess that its products make.

By

Rachel Becker

• June 25, 2019

Photo by Naveen Nkadalaveni, Wikimedia Commons

California Wildfires

Newsom’s new proposals on wildfire costs walk a political tightrope

Officials had to slap utilities for starting blazes—but not inflict undue financial damage or bail them out—and avoid punishing fire victims or further burdening electricity customers.

By

Julie Cart

• June 21, 2019

Capitol

Why fighting for clean water with climate change money worries some California lawmakers

Combat climate change, or clean up the water? Legislators chose to dip into a greenhouse gas fund to fight California’s drinking water problem. The move alarmed environmentalists and legislators on both sides of the aisle — but it could soon become the norm.

By

Rachel Becker

• June 17, 2019