Wildfires threaten Altadena’s diverse communities and Black homeownership

California’s historic wildfires have devastated Altadena, raising fears that rising rebuilding costs and gentrification will displace long-standing Black and working-class families.

Terry Tang, Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, and Jae Hong report for The Associated Press.

In short:

Altadena, once a beacon of Black homeownership, suffered widespread losses, with many residents fearing they can't afford to rebuild.
The community's high rate of Black homeownership and multigenerational homes is at risk amid rising costs and outside development.
Local leaders call for fair federal assistance to ensure fire recovery doesn’t deepen inequality.

Key quote:

"Your $40 million home is no different than my $2 million home."

— Kenneth Snowden, longtime Altadena resident

Why this matters:

The destruction in Altadena highlights how climate disasters can accelerate displacement and economic inequality. Policies that address equitable recovery could help stop gentrification from erasing the community’s history of progress in racial and economic inclusion.

apnews.com

A two lane highway winding between dry hills

Credit: Christopher Boswell/Big Stock Photo

More than half of Northwest in severe, extreme drought, Oregon in historic dry period

Nearly 80% of the Northwest is experiencing drought this summer, with Oregon recording its fourth driest spring-to-summer period since 1895, raising concerns for farms, rivers, and wildfire risk. State officials have declared multiple county emergencies as streamflows hit record lows.

Read the Full Article on

oregoncapitalchronicle.com

Pair of rubber boots sitting in between rows of crops in a field

Credit: JSB Co./Unsplash+

As farm flooding increases, federal climate support evaporates

Federal staffing cuts, rescinded climate-focused conservation funds, and misaligned crop insurance are undermining farmers as extreme rainfall and flooding worsen across farm country. The shift is delaying on-the-ground help, sidelining resilience practices, and squeezing especially small, diversified operations.

Read the Full Article on

civileats.com

Wildfires threaten Altadena’s diverse communities and Black homeownership

More than half of Northwest in severe, extreme drought, Oregon in historic dry period

As farm flooding increases, federal climate support evaporates

First came the wildfire. Then came the scams

Post-Blob, California’s kelp crisis isn’t going away

US online disaster planning tool may go dark, agency website says

‘A colossal train wreck’: U.S. energy chief slams odds of net zero by 2050

How a group of students in the Pacific Islands reshaped global climate law

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.