News Archive

Wildfires are burning year-after-year in wine country and the Sierra. These megafires are creating a new baseline for climate scientists to include in modeling and point to a greater need: a shift in mood from fire suppression to prevention.

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PolitiFact California

Solar Industry, Tax Experts Reject Claim Prop. 15 Imposes ‘Massive Tax Increase’ On Solar In California

September 25, 2020 | Chris Nichols

The solar industry says a recently-signed California law prevents tax hikes on commercial solar through 2024 even if Proposition 15 passes.

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Environment

All New California Cars, Trucks Must Be Zero-Emission By 2035, Newsom Announces In Executive Order

September 23, 2020 | Ezra David Romero | Nicole Nixon

California’s governor announced an executive order Wednesday that will phase out gasoline-powered cars by requiring that all new cars sold to be zero-emission vehicles by 2035. It also put forward actions to transition away from fossil fuels.

Environment

California’s Coastal Range Fires Are Getting Significantly Worse Every Decade, Experts Say

September 22, 2020 | Ezra David Romero

It might seem like there’s been more fire recently in the coastal range. There has been. That’s because high-severity wildfires in the California Coastal Range have been increasing by about 10% per decade since 1984, according to UC Davis researchers

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PolitiFact California

Can You Handle The Truth?: PolitiFact California On Trump's California Visit, And A Postcard Confusing Voters

September 17, 2020 | Steve Milne | Chris Nichols

Every Thursday CapRadio’s PolitiFact California reporter Chris Nichols discussed his latest fact checks and reporting on misinformation. This week we look at a confusing Postal Service postcard, wildfires and President Trump’s visit to California.

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Environment

The Racist Removal Of Native Americans In California Is Often Missing From Wildfire Discussions, Experts Say

September 16, 2020 | Ezra David Romero

While climate change and a history of fire suppression are among the top reasons why experts say wildfires have grown so big so fast, experts say removing Indigenous people from the landscape is a huge reason behind today’s explosion of fires.

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Paul Kitagaki Jr./The Sacramento Bee via AP, Pool

State Government

Watch Live: Gov. Gavin Newsom Update On Wildfires, COVID-19 For Sept. 16

September 16, 2020

Watch live at 12 p.m. as California Gov. Gavin Newsom gives an update on the state's wildfires and the response to COVID-19.

PolitiFact California

Climate Scientists Reject Trump’s Prediction “It’ll Start Getting Cooler” In California

September 14, 2020 | Chris Nichols

Scientists expect a warmer climate and greater fire risk in California, saying there is zero evidence of a cooling trend on the horizon.

Environment

Fire Suppression — And Climate Change — Is To Blame For California’s Megafires. Experts Unpack The Term.

September 12, 2020 | Ezra David Romero

With more than three million acres burned so far this year in California, wildfires are at top of mind. And the term “wildfire suppression” is often cited as a main reason for blazes getting so big. But what does the term actually mean?

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State Government

‘Debate Is Over,’ California’s Governor Says. ‘This Is A Climate Damn Emergency.’

September 11, 2020

As more than two dozen fires still rage, Newsom stands amid charred parkland, vowing to ratchet up the state’s ‘inadequate’ plan to cut carbon emissions.

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