Crooked Bough News Round-up

— Podcast: An American West with no snow?

 

at 1/19/22 6:00am

California had one of the snowiest Decembers on record. Better enjoy the winter wonderland while you can.

— Mother bears and cubs battle for survival as wildfire, drought and traffic take heavy toll

 

at 1/16/22 6:00am

Nearly a century after the California grizzly was hunted to extinction, black bears are being killed by motorists in record numbers.

— Ecuador expands protected area around Galapagos Islands, providing safe passage for marine life

 

at 1/14/22 11:00am

Ecuador will expand protection around the Galapagos Island, safeguarding a critical migration route for sharks, fish and other marine life.

— L.A. County files suit over warehouse fire that led to sickening odor in Dominguez Channel

 

at 1/13/22 11:20pm

The lawsuit accuses the warehouse's owners and tenants of negligence in connection with the storage of hazardous and flammable materials.

— Earth experienced 6th hottest year on record in 2021, but 4th hottest for United States

 

at 1/13/22 2:53pm

Last year wasn't quite as hot as 2020, due in part to a cooling La Niña pattern that persisted through much of 2021.

— Gov. Newsom announces plan to deal with extreme heat

 

at 1/12/22 6:00am

The governor has released guidelines following a Los Angeles Times investigation into California's failure to address heat-related deaths.

— 7 simple and eco-friendly things you can do to help protect our planet

 

at 1/11/22 7:00am

If we make mindful decisions about our personal habitat, we can take big steps toward protecting our planet in 2022.

— Rising heat and hardships could hit San Joaquin Valley within three decades, study predicts

 

at 1/10/22 6:00am

In a worst-case emissions scenario, half of the valley's eight counties will have average annual maximum temperatures over 80 degrees by 2100.

— Study predicts rising heat and hardship for San Joaquin Valley farming communities

 

at 1/10/22 6:00am

In a worst-case emissions scenario, half of the valley's eight counties will have average annual maximum temperatures over 80 degrees by 2100.

— Podcast: Goodbye, gas stoves? The fight heats up

 

at 1/10/22 6:00am

To fight climate change, cities are banning gas hookups in new buildings. (Adios, gas stoves. Hello, induction burners.) But the gas industry is fighting back.

— Judge pauses California luxury development over wildfire evacuation concerns

 

at 1/10/22 6:00am

A court has ruled that Lake County failed to properly analyze how a Guenoc Valley development would affect evacuation routes in times of wildfire.

— California's recent rains won't end our stubborn drought. These charts show why

 

at 1/8/22 10:08am

As wet as December was, California's drought continues to hang on.

— Podcast: The next pandemic is already lurking

 

at 1/5/22 6:00am

The virus that will cause the next pandemic is probably already out there. Here's how humanity is raising — and working to lower — the risk of someone catching it.

— California is suddenly snow-capped and very wet. But how long will the water rush last?

 

at 1/5/22 6:00am

The recent rains did not completely eliminate the drought, but they certainly helped improve drought conditions, water experts say.

— California adopts drought rules outlawing water wasting, with fines of up to $500

 

at 1/4/22 1:31pm

California's latest drought rules prohibit running sprinklers after rain or overwatering that sends runoff coursing into city streets.

— Is wildfire arson getting worse in California? Climate change doesn't help

 

at 12/31/21 6:00am

A confounding collection of Californians have been accused of arson this year. Experts weigh in on the causes and consequences of the complex crime.

— California's new composting law starts Jan. 1. How to recycle your food scraps

 

at 12/30/21 5:46pm

A new California law requires residents to separate organic materials from other trash. Here's what you need to know.

— Airlines have a recipe to reach zero emissions by 2050. The key ingredient: cooking oil

 

at 12/30/21 6:00am

Airlines say they must go carbon-neutral to satisfy consumers and avoid harsh regulations. Biofuels can get the industry partway there, but it will also require technological breakthroughs.

— Officials declare O.C. oil spill cleanup complete

 

at 12/29/21 4:58pm

Affected shoreline segments have been returned to their "original condition," authorities announced this week.

— Photos: Record snowfall blankets Sierra Nevada

 

at 12/27/21 3:58pm

Historically low snowpack levels in the Sierra have taken a turn for the better. The snowpack is now between 145% and 161% of normal across the range.

— Paper records and steel vaults: Can California water rights enter the digital age?

 

at 12/27/21 6:00am

California's reliance on an antiquated system of recording water rights is hampering the state's ability to respond to drought, experts say.

— Conservationists create a vast home on the eco-range for wildlife north of L.A.

 

at 12/24/21 6:00am

Bear Mountain, a refuge for cougars, mule deer and bobcats, has been added to the Nature Conservancy's new Frank and Joan Randall Tehachapi Preserve.

As of 1/19/22 9:53am. Last new 1/19/22 6:47am.