Asian pest threatens California’s citrus industry
The Asian Citrus Psyllid is smaller than a chocolate sprinkle but its impact is large: the insects are the agent that spreads an infection that kills citrus trees.
Environment
New program bundles solar panels, electric cars and hope for a greener grid
Three seemingly unassociated organizations have announced a partnership they say will help consumers save money and cut back on carbon emissions, while also supporting an environmental advocacy group.
For California farmers, relentless drought spells financial disaster
Farms don’t survive for generations in California without backup plans. That’s why, in the midst of an exceptional drought, some farmers have prepared for the worst.
Climate change and severe drought raise questions about food security
The world has enough food today. But if climate change and population growth continue the way experts think they will, our food supply may not last beyond the next couple of decades.
Drought leads to pressure on Palo Alto to halt dumping water for basements
California’s drought has led some Palo Alto residents to press for a ban on the dumping of millions of gallons of groundwater into storm drains, a result of some basement construction.
Massive oak tree in Redwood City loses branches, births an activist
Gwen Minor climbed a Redwood City tree about to be cut down — and refused to come down for the next eleven hours — back in September. Are Americans’ attitudes toward trees changing? Hear from Minor.
Ambiguity around Proposition 1 remains as Election Day approaches
In the midst of one of the worst droughts in memory, key details about Proposition 1 — the California Water Bond — still remain unclear as Election Day nears.
SPECIAL REPORT – Leaded gas: A toxic tale
An adaptation of an award-winning print article that tells the story of how major corporate interests turned a blind eye to health risks from leaded gasoline from the 1920s through the 1980s.
SPECIAL REPORT: Climate change comes home
Climate change is already happening, and though local governments in the Bay Area have begun to recognize extreme weather events, sea level rise, prolonged heat waves and drought, are they doing enough?
SPECIAL REPORT: On Silicon Valley’s coast, cows unite ranchers and open space groups
In an expensive region, farmers and ranchers are looking to partnerships to keep their operations alive, and old grievances are slowly fading as new pressures bring together those who work the land and those who would seek to protect it.