CALIFORNIA — In September, even before the October wildfires began to ravage parts of northern and southern California, governor Gavin Newsom announced two contracts totaling nearly $2 million for developing technology to facilitate wildfire detection and emergency decision-making.
As fires rage, California takes steps to integrate technology into wildfire management Read More »
SONOMA COUNTY — When the Kincade Fire swept through Sonoma County last week, one thought crossed the minds of homeowners and builders alike: Will we have to rebuild again?
2017 Tubbs Fire provides playbook for rebuilding After Kincade Fire Read More »
PALO ALTO – During PG&E’s latest round of power shutoffs to reduce fire risk, the utility worked with local independent living centers to provide back-up power and hotel vouchers for people with disabilities.
PG&E provides batteries and hotel vouchers for some Californians with disabilities Read More »
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — Autumn brought PG&E unprecedented power outages, wildfires, and massive forced evacuations, problems that would strain any utility. But for PG&E there was an additional challenge: it had to do so while undergoing the largest bankruptcy of a public utility in history.
A Hot Mess: PG&E fights fires in the wild and creditors in court Read More »
BAY AREA — As climate change becomes ever more dire, many local governments are declaring a climate emergency to signal their commitment to environmental action. The resolutions vary, however, in how much action they actually promise.
Bay Area leaders declaring emergencies in new tactic to fight climate change Read More »
UK artist and conservationist Mandy Barker has spent years gathering plastic items from beaches all around the world, arranging and photographing them in evocative ways. With colorful items popping against a dark background, many of her collections give a feel of outer space — a galaxy of garbage. Barker’s work is featured in Our Plastic Ocean, a touring exhibition through Impressions Gallery in the UK. The exhibition includes a virtual reality experience of Barker’s photographs produced by Stanford University students that is viewable through rippleplastic.com.
Ripple plastic: The unintended life of plastic at sea Read More »
The loss of the red abalone is not just a blow to the kelp forest ecosystem, but also to the sense of California’s coastal identity. Scientists, fishermen, divers and long-time residents recognize the abalone’s cultural significance and are working to ensure their survival.
Californians grapple with the loss of red abalone Read More »
Honey Run Road and its historic covered bridge connected the two municipalities of Chico and Paradise. The bridge was a place where residents from both areas learned to swim, spent lazy summer afternoons with their families, attended pancake breakfasts or got married. Last year’s Camp Fire took the lives of more than 80 people, decimated
Remembering and rebuilding the Honey Run Covered Bridge after the Camp Fire Read More »
Once home to millions of migrating monarch butterflies, the coast of California has recently seen significant drops in monarch butterfly populations.
Disappearing act: California’s monarch butterflies Read More »
When 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.
Santa Clara County builds coalition to tackle climate change Read More »
The 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.
CHICO — 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.
As Camp Fire evacuees streamed into Chico, Calif. so did mountains of donations Read More »
