Disappearing act: California’s monarch butterflies
byOnce home to millions of migrating monarch butterflies, the coast of California has recently seen significant drops in monarch butterfly populations.
Environment
Santa Clara County builds coalition to tackle climate change
byWhen President Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, backpedaling on a commitment to join 195 other nations in taking on climate change, Santa Clara County launched a campaign to rebuild that commitment — one local government at a time.
Family members working as private contractors for Cal Fire recount a close call with Camp Fire
byThe Wurlitzer family’s company is one of 18 bulldozer vendors contracted by Butte County Cal Fire for extra assistance in combatting an increasing number of wildfires that have strapped the state’s resources. The Camp Fire was the worst that any of them had ever seen.
As Camp Fire evacuees streamed into Chico, Calif. so did mountains of donations
byCHICO — Since the Nov. 8 Camp Fire, donation sites with supplies like clothes and other necessities have sprung up in Chico, Calif. to help evacuees. More than a month after the fire, officials say monetary donations are the best way to help victims.
A couple ventures into a canyon in Paradise to discover if their home survived
byPARADISE — Rick and Kimberly Scott got married 14 years ago in a field on their property in Paradise, Calif. They had goats, a yurt, a barn and two dogs who chased after mountain lions.
After undergoing chemo treatment, one Paradise woman had to run for her life during the Camp Fire
byPARADISE — April Mouton and her husband Shane fled the Camp Fire in Paradise on foot and by jumping into the back of people’s trucks. She ran just a day after undergoing chemo treatment for her lupus.
Resources stretched thin in Chico as thousands more people now live in the city
byPARADISE — In the aftermath of the most destructive wildfire in California’s recorded history, the small city of Chico has become a refuge for thousands of people who had to evacuate. It’s a challenge for the city, but officials say the communities will move forward together.
One family’s story of a harrowing flight from the flames, two evacuations, a lost home and a small miracle
byPARADISE — The Happ Family fled from the Camp Fire flames to a friend’s house, only to evacuate again a few hours later. They lost their home, but amongst the rubble, they discovered a small miracle.
When Camp Fire smoke clears, where will 2,500 Paradise students go?
byPARADISE — For nearly 80 years, Paradise Elementary School occupied a plot on Pearson Road. Students could walk to Paradise Intermediate, the local middle school, and the Golden Nugget Museum, where they went on field trips. But on Nov. 8, the Camp Fire reduced Paradise Elementary to rubble.
Couple loses home in Paradise fire, but find reasons to hope
byCHICO — Their Facebook profiles still read “lives in Paradise”, but Tamara and Seth Roberts know that their house had been destroyed in the Camp Fire, which has burned 130,000 acres in Butte County.
Plastics are forever: Pacifica beachcombers still finding landfill fallout
byPACIFICA — Plastic trifles from bygone days can be found along the coast at Mussel Rock near a defunct landfill, testifying to the persistent problem of plastics in the world’s waterways and oceans.
How is Palo Alto preparing for mass emergencies? By training residents to become resources during disasters
byPALO ALTO — During large scale crises, Palo Alto would be hard-pressed if all its residents solely relied on the government’s first responders. If a major disaster strikes, officials say the city will also turn to a network of trained volunteers.