JULIE WATSON

Wood pellets production boomed to feed EU demand. It’s come at a cost for Black people in the South

Wood pellet production has skyrocketed across the U.S. South to feed the European Union’s push for renewable energy to replace fossil fuels. But many people who live near manufacturing plants believe they make air dustier and residents sicker.

Judge dismisses felony convictions of 5 retired military officers in US Navy bribery case

A federal judge has dismissed the felony convictions of five retired military officers who had admitted to accepting bribes from a Malaysian contractor nicknamed “Fat Leonard” in one of the Navy’s biggest corruption cases.

Botanists are scouring the US-Mexico border to document a forgotten ecosystem split by a giant wall

Botanists and citizen scientists armed with the iNaturalist app on their smartphones are recording the biodiversity along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Major agricultural firm sues California over farmworker unionization law

One of California’s most influential agricultural companies has filed a lawsuit against the state to stop a contentious law that was meant to make it easier for farmworkers to unionize.

More than 2,100 people have been arrested during pro-Palestinian protests on US college campuses

Police have arrested more than 2,100 people during pro-Palestinian protests at college campuses across the United States in recent weeks.

Class of 2024 reflects on college years marked by COVID-19, protests and life’s lost milestones

For many in the graduating class of 2024, the unrest at campuses across the country over the Israel-Hamas war has marked an emotional end to their college experiences that started amid a pandemic.

Citing safety, USC makes rare cancellation of speech by valedictorian who supported Palestinians

The University of Southern California has canceled a commencement speech by its 2024 valedictorian, a Muslim student who has expressed support for Palestinians.

California tribe that lost 90% of land during Gold Rush to get site to serve as gateway to redwoods

The Yurok Tribe will be getting back a slice of its ancestral land dotted with majestic redwoods and a key creek for salmon spawning.

California ski resort workers tunnel their way into the office after getting 10 feet of snow

A powerful blizzard has dumped more than 10 feet of snow on at least one California ski resort, where the marketing team had to dig a tunnel to get to their office door. The storm closed highways and most lifts at ski resorts over the weekend.

Atlanta is the only place in US to see pandas for now. But dozens of spots abroad have them

Only four pandas remain in the United States. But many zoos around the globe still have the iconic black-and-white bears on loan from China. On Thursday, China announced it will be sending a pair of pandas to the San Diego Zoo.

Black and white and adored all over. China pledges pair of pandas for San Diego Zoo

China is again sending pandas to the United States to the delight of the San Diego Zoo, which is preparing to get a new pair by the end of summer.

A 4.6-magnitude earthquake shakes greater Los Angeles. No reports of significant damage

An magnitude 4.6 earthquake has struck the Southern California coast near Malibu. But there have been no reports of damage or injuries. The U.S. Geological Survey says it hit at 1:47 p.m. Friday at a depth of about 8 miles.

Marine Corps confirms the worst: All 5 troops killed in helicopter crash in California mountains

The military says efforts are underway to recover the remains of five U.S. Marines who were killed when their helicopter went down during stormy weather in the mountains outside of San Diego. The military confirmed the five deaths Thursday.

Rescue of Marine helicopter with 5 aboard is challenged by snowy California mountains

Rescuers were battling heavy snow to reach a Marine Corps helicopter carrying five troops that went down in a mountainous area outside San Diego.

Los Angeles records 475 mudslides during historic storm that has drenched Southern California

Los Angeles officials says crews had responded to at least 475 mudslides and that seven buildings had been deemed uninhabitable since an atmospheric river-fueled storm moved into the region over the weekend.

Record-setting storm that killed 3 dumps rain on Los Angeles; flash flood alerts still in effect

A storm of historic proportions has unleashed record levels of rain over parts of Los Angeles. The weather is sending mud and boulders down hillsides dotted with multimillion-dollar homes, endangering the city’s large homeless population and knocking out power for about 830,000 people in California.

‘Pineapple Expresses’ and rising seas are battering California’s piers, threatening iconic landmarks

Rising seas and frequent storms are taking their toll on California’s iconic public piers and raising questions about the future of the landmarks.

San Diegans cry, hug outside damaged homes after stunning flash floods in normally balmy city

Flash floods that raged through parts of San Diego were spawned by a torrential storm that produced the city’s fourth-wettest day on record, in stark contrast to its image as a balmy seaside playground.

US Navy sailor sentenced to over 2 years in prison for accepting bribes from Chinese officer

A U.S. Navy sailor has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for transmitting sensitive U.S. military information to a Chinese government’s intelligence officer.

Guards hired by California keep eye on sites deemed risky under Los Angeles freeway damaged by fire

Since an arson fire damaged a key Los Angeles freeway, the state has hired security guards to watch out for smoke and other trouble at three other sites deemed equally risky under Interstate 10.

‘Fat Leonard’ seeks new attorneys ahead of sentencing in Navy bribery case, causing another delay

Convicted Malaysian defense contractor Leonard Francis who led a daring escape weeks before he was scheduled to be sentenced in 2022 is seeking new defense attorneys now that he is back in U.S. custody after the Venezuelan prisoner swap last month.

‘Fat Leonard,’ a fugitive now returning to the US, was behind one of the military’s biggest scandals

Convicted defense contractor Leonard “Fat Leonard” Francis is being returned to U.S. custody as part of the Venezuelan prisoner swap. It’s the latest twist in a decade-long salacious saga and bribery scheme that swept up dozens of Navy officers.

From urchin crushing to lab-grown kelp, efforts to save California’s kelp forests show promise

After purple urchins helped nearly wipe out 96% of California’s iconic underwater bull kelp forests over a six-year span, biologists say they are seeing promising signs that efforts to save them may be helping.

Canned seafood moves beyond tuna sandwiches in a pandemic trend that stuck

It looks like the U.S. canned seafood industry is moving well beyond tuna sandwiches thanks to a culinary trends that emerged from the coronavirus pandemic.

Professor’s lawyer says video footage will clear his client charged in death of pro-Israel protester

A California prosecutor says evidence supports involuntary manslaughter and battery charges against a college professor accused in the death of a Jewish protester after an altercation at a demonstration over the Israel-Hamas war.

California professor charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Jewish demonstrator

California authorities have charged a college professor with involuntary manslaughter and battery in the death of a Jewish protester during demonstrations over the Israel-Hamas war.

California program to lease land under freeways faces scrutiny after major Los Angeles fire

The state of California operates a little-known program to lease land under freeways that is now under scrutiny after an arson fire under Interstate 10 in Los Angeles.

Fire-damaged Los Angeles freeway repairs will take three to five weeks, California governor says

California Gov. Gavin Newsom says a stretch of Interstate 10 in Los Angeles that was burned in an act of arson does not need to be demolished, and that repairs will take an estimated three to five weeks.

Arson likely caused fire that damaged vital artery of Los Angeles freeway, governor says

California Gov. Gavin Newsom says arson caused a massive fire that has indefinitely closed a vital section of a freeway in Los Angeles. Engineers have been assessing the situation Monday.

Man involved in confrontation with Jewish protester who died called 911, cooperated with police

California authorities are seeking help as they investigate the death of a 69-year-old Jewish man after a confrontation at a pro-Palestinian demonstration.