Helicopter flying through wildfire smoke.

California boosts wildfire funding amid concerns over federal disaster aid

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has expanded a special legislative session to include $2.5 billion in wildfire aid as Los Angeles County faces devastating fires and potential federal relief delays under the incoming Trump administration.

Blake Jones reports for POLITICO.

In short:

Newsom’s wildfire package includes $1 billion in emergency aid and $1.5 billion for wildfire preparedness, with the potential for FEMA reimbursement.
Democrats criticized Trump’s threats to withhold federal disaster relief, while Republicans opposed tying wildfire aid to legal defenses against the White House.
The proposal also allocates $50 million to fund legal defenses for immigrants and support local legal services ahead of Trump’s inauguration.

Key quote:

“California is organizing a Marshall Plan to help Los Angeles rebuild faster and stronger.”

— Gavin Newsom, California governor

Why this matters:

Intense wildfires and political tensions over disaster aid could leave vulnerable communities in California without essential recovery funds. The situation also reflects broader conflicts over federal-state cooperation on climate-related disasters and immigration policies.

www.politico.com

A map of the Great Lakes and surrounding U.S. states and Canadian provinces.

Credit: Lesniewski/BigStock Photo ID: 202538167

The Great Lakes want to be the Silicon Valley of water

As climate extremes dry out the West and global tensions mount, the Great Lakes region is betting big on its most abundant resource: fresh water. The first in a series investigating the blue economy in the Great Lakes region.

Brett Walton reports for the Great Lakes News Collaborative: Bridge Michigan, Circle of Blue, Great Lakes Now, Michigan Public, and The Narwhal.

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