Crooked Bough News Round-up

— California's largest wildfire explodes in size and destroys scores of buildings

 

at 7/26/24 7:31am

The growth of the Park fire over two days amid steady winds and hot temperatures has been dramatic, with its remote location making it difficult to fight.

— California's largest wildfire doubles in size and destroys scores of buildings

 

at 7/26/24 7:31am

The growth of the Park fire over two days amid steady winds and hot temperatures has been dramatic, with its remote location making it difficult to fight.

— Is this the solution to California's soaring insurance prices due to wildfire risk?

 

at 7/26/24 4:00am

The insurance industry will soon have the ability to use wildfire models when setting rates. Homeowners in high risk areas already know how these models have made policies hard to get and hard to afford.

— Is this the solution to California's soaring insurance price due to wildfire risk?

 

at 7/26/24 4:00am

The insurance industry will soon have the ability to use wildfire models when setting rates. Homeowners in high risk areas already know how these models have made policies hard to get and hard to afford.

— California and Hawaii lead charge against deep-sea mining of critical metals

 

at 7/25/24 4:00am

As the International Seabed Authority considers the future of deep-sea mining for battery metals, California and other states are seeking bans against mining.

— California will host a billion-dollar 'hydrogen hub.' What it means for our energy future

 

at 7/25/24 4:00am

In the race to decarbonize energy and fuel, the federal government is spending billions to create hydrogen economies. California will be one of several hydrogen hubs — here's what that will mean.

— Death Valley heat melts skin off a man's feet after he lost his flip-flops in the dunes

 

at 7/24/24 1:38pm

A 42-year-old Belgian tourist was taking a short walk Saturday in the sand dunes in 123-degree heat when he either broke or lost his flip-flops, putting his feet into direct contact with the broiling desert ground.

— Patt Morrison: As the world arrives in Paris for the Olympics, Paris food goes local. How can L.A. compete?

 

at 7/24/24 1:16pm

When Olympians and journalists dine on the bounty of France in the coming weeks, some of what's on their plates will have been grown, gardened and harvested from Parisian garages, road medians and rooftops.

— The spinning of Earth's inner core is slowing down. Is this how it all ends?

 

at 7/24/24 4:00am

A USC professor has confirmed what many scientists already believed: Rotation of the solid iron ball at Earth's center is slowing.

— An infestation of 'aggressive' red fire ants hits Santa Barbara County

 

at 7/23/24 7:19pm

Santa Barbara County has spent a total of $15,000 eradicating local populations of red imported fire ants to prevent the invasive species from spreading.

— 'Hydrothermal' explosion sends visitors fleeing at Yellowstone National Park

 

at 7/23/24 3:43pm

An unusually large eruption of a geyser at Yellowstone National Park's Biscuit Basin occurred Tuesday, sending parkgoers running for cover.

— Entangled humpback whale is finally freed off Dana Point

 

at 7/23/24 6:00am

A juvenile humpback whale is freed from entanglement — fishing equipment had been tightly wrapped around its tail — off the coast of Dana Point.

— A casino project sparks conflict over tribal sovereignty and control of sacred lands

 

at 7/23/24 4:00am

A dispute over a California mega casino has divided two tribes and raised questions over U.S. government attempts to make amends for the theft of sacred lands.

— Environmental groups 'ecstatic' over Kamala Harris' candidacy and California climate record

 

at 7/23/24 4:00am

Harris, a Californian who calls climate change an 'existential threat,' has prioritized investments in clean energy jobs and environmental justice.

— 15,000-gallon sewage leak triggers closures at two L.A. County beaches

 

at 7/22/24 6:14pm

A leak Saturday afternoon pumped 15,000 gallons of sewage in the Pacific Ocean, causing closures at Venice Beach and Dockweiler State Beach.

— Silicon Valley billionaires put plans for new California city on hold

 

at 7/22/24 6:05pm

The investors proposing a new city in rural Solano County will pull their measure off the ballot for at least two years while they fund a full environmental review.

— Southern California gets $500 million from the EPA to fight pollution

 

at 7/22/24 2:15pm

Meanwhile, Southern California air regulators are reevaluating the region's plans to reduce pollution in an attempt to avoid severe economic sanctions.

— 'Long-duration' heat wave again cooking California, raising health and wildfire concerns

 

at 7/22/24 1:22pm

Another bout of prolonged heat has kicked off across the West, which could cap the hottest July on record.

— Could AI robots with lasers make herbicides — and farm workers — obsolete?

 

at 7/22/24 4:00am

A shift from harmful herbicides to intelligent robots would have far-reaching consequences for California's $50-billion agriculture industry.

— Californians' water usage is down 9% and other takeaways from The Times' updated water tracker

 

at 7/22/24 4:00am

Thanks to two consecutive wet winters, urban water use in the state is lower than it was during the drought emergency.

— Opinion: California's bears are thriving. Here's the case for letting hunters kill more of them

 

at 7/21/24 4:15am

The state's latest plan to manage the black bear population shows a much larger population than its last estimate. More hunting would fund more conservation and research.

— Millions of Californians live near oil and gas wells that are in the path of wildfires

 

at 7/21/24 4:00am

In the Western U.S., the vast majority of oil wells in high wildfire risk areas are in California, and 2.6 million people live in close proximity.

As of 7/26/24 11:57pm. Last new 7/26/24 10:56pm.