Climate & Environment

Meet the investigators hunting oil well pollution in LA neighborhoods

In the absence of consistent monitoring by regulators, a group of public health advocates is working to document methane leaks from oil drilling sites in L.A.

A young man with light brown skin and and curly dark short hair and black rimmed glasses holds a FLIR camera in a neighborhood on a cloudy day.

LA's fire hazard has grown. What does that mean for insurance?

California released new maps that will dictate building requirements in fire-prone areas. State officials say the updates aren’t supposed to influence insurance rates. Really?

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractors in protective gear remove hazardous materials from a home which was destroyed in the Eaton Fire, near a burned car marked "Not EV", on March 26, 2025 in Altadena, California.

Inside the tricky, complicated process of debris removal after LA's fires

As FEMA extends deadline to sign up for free debris removal, we explain different steps of the process.

Aerial photo show numerous streets filled with burned out homes

What's soil blocking? This seeding method helps gardeners use less plastic and peat

Soil blocking is an environmentally friendly method to prep seedlings. The technique has captured the attention of serious gardeners who'd like to make their growing more sustainable.

California snowpack below average — what does this mean for water supplies?

At 90% of the state historical average, the Sierra Nevada snowpack is far better than last year. But it’s nothing like the record-smashing 2023.

Three people wearing blue jackets and black pants stand in a field covered in snow. A man in the foreground is bending over, looking at a blue metal rod that is used to measure the depth of snow.

Fire debris removal deadline extended for LA County

Residents now have until April 15 to sign up for the government's free debris removal program. The program now includes condos, not just single-family homes.

The charred remains of what used to be the interior of a home, with a stone fireplace sticking out from the rubble.

Patchy drizzle then sunny conditions for SoCal

More patchy drizzle in store this morning followed by mostly sunny skies all afternoon.

Gray clouds above a street with store fronts on both sides

How to talk to children about Jackie and Shadow’s chick dying and other losses in life

When the chick died in a snowstorm, teachers suddenly had to get real with their students. Here’s how some of them handled it.

Three kids drawings of bald eagles are sitting on top of a black and white background.

After LA's wildfires, firefighters show high levels of toxic metals in their blood

Preliminary data shows that firefighters who battled urban wildfires in L.A. had more mercury and lead in their blood than firefighters who'd responded to forest fires.