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KPCC Local News - Science/Technology (News)

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Santa Barbara family describes preparations for Jesusita fire's assault

Mon, Nov 30 Listen
The Jesusita fire in Santa Barbara destroyed dozens of homes in May. But not the one at the very top of Mission Canyon. The Lindemann family stayed behind during the fire. KPCC’s Molly Peterson has the story of the way the Lindemanns prepared to help defend their home.

In May's Jesusita fire, one Santa Barbara family who stayed behind

Tue, Nov 24 Listen
Six months ago, the Jesusita fire destroyed 80 houses in Santa Barbara. Dozens of homeowners in an area called Mission Canyon are still rebuilding. Not Albert Lindemann. The retired history professor and his family helped to defend their home during the fire – but they say staying behind isn’t for everyone. KPCC’s Molly Peterson visited the family at the top of Santa Barbara’s Tunnel Road.

Salmon 'life cycle assessment' finds fish with varied global warming impact

Mon, Nov 23 Listen
“Going local” has been a mantra for people who want to make environmentally responsible choices about what they eat. But where food’s from might matter the most when calculating its carbon footprint. Researchers from Sweden, Canada, and the U.S. have looked at a new way to measure the climate impact of one food. They ended up with some surprising results.

Biologists use birth control to manage Catalina bison population

Fri, Nov 20 Listen
Biologists undertook an unusual operation today to control the bison population on Catalina Island. They injected female bison with a vaccine called PZP (Porcine Zona Pellucida) that prevents pregnancy. (Audio: KPCC's Alex Cohen spoke with Dr. Ann Muscat, president and CEO of the Catalina Island Conservancy, about the contraception program.)

1 clean truck program, 2 ports, and now 2 strategies

Thu, Nov 19 Listen
A year after the Clean Trucks program began at the harbor complex, the two ports in San Pedro Harbor are headed in divergent directions. The port of Los Angeles continues to fight challenges to pollution controls in court. In Long Beach, harbor commissioners are trying to end the same lawsuit.

Empty debris basins wait for Station Fire's winter impact

Mon, Nov 16 Listen
Three months after the Station Fire ignited in dry brush in the Angeles National Forest, fire officials still consider it active. But cold weather and the possibility of rain have Los Angeles county public works crews ready for the fire’s winter flood fallout.

Southland legislators will sell their constituents and themselves on $11 bi

Fri, Nov 13 Listen
Around the state, the governor has been signing into law the bills that constitute a $40 billion water management package. That’s ended most legislative water politics for a while. But a year of public politicking awaits the bond measure that's a key part of the water plan.

State panel recommends coastal water areas designed to protect marine life

Wed, Nov 11 Listen
A state panel has recommended a patchwork of areas in coastal waters designed to protect marine life. If state fish and game commissioners approve them, new rules would limit commercial and recreational fishing in some key spots between Santa Barbara and the Mexican border. (Audio: KPCC’s environment reporter Molly Peterson spoke to Steve Julian about what this all means, and why the state is doing this.)

Angeles Forest officials use Station Fire to fine tune Twitter policy

Tue, Nov 10 Listen
The Station Fire burned nearly 250 square miles in the Angeles National Forest, destroyed homes and buildings, and sent people and animals running for their lives. But there was a silver lining in those giant pyrocumulus clouds. The fire helped officials fine tune how they’ll use social media during future fires and disasters.

Water officials hope to deodorize stinky Orange County reservoir

Mon, Nov 9 Listen
If all goes well, residents of South Orange County will be able to get some fresh air this week. Since before Halloween, they’ve endured a putrid smell coming from a local reservoir.

Shell Oil and its gas stations to pay millions for violating hazardous wast

Fri, Nov 6 Listen
A California court has ordered Shell Oil to shell out millions of dollars in penalties for violating the state’s hazardous waste and fuel storage laws.

Compromise plan at water board brings sewers to some of Malibu

Fri, Nov 6 Listen
Regional water officials have approved a partial ban on septic systems in Malibu after city leaders worked out a compromise.

California lawmakers pass water plan to improve supply

Thu, Nov 5 Listen
After months of negotiation and a couple of all-night voting sessions, state lawmakers passed a cluster of bills Wednesday morning designed to improve California’s water supply. They’ve called the $11 billion package “historic” – and it is. The plan alters the way California manages water.

City of Malibu seeks septic tank solutions

Wed, Nov 4 Listen
Septic tanks helped give birth to the city of Malibu just 18 years ago. People along 21 miles of scenic coastline wanted local control over how Malibu would treat wastewater. Now regional water officials will vote on whether to prohibit septic systems. Regulators blame septic tanks for poor water quality along the coast, at surf spots and in Malibu Lagoon.

Historic legislation to improve California’s water supply stalled in Legisl

Tue, Nov 3 Listen
A vote on bills to improve California’s water supply stalled in the state legislature Tuesday. The Senate has passed several of the bills that comprise a comprehensive overhaul of the way the state manages and monitors water. One of the more controversial bills has hit a snag.

LADWP sponsoring drought-friendly landscaping workshops

Tue, Nov 3 Listen
Water use restrictions and occasional brushfires are constant reminders that the Southland is enduring another year of drought. Here’s a partial remedy: drought-tolerant landscaping workshops begin this Saturday, Nov. 7.

Green buildings grow on Skid Row

Tue, Nov 3 Listen
Near the Los Angeles Convention Center, a curved white building rises along the 10 freeway. The New Carver apartments will fill with disabled and recently homeless residents. The building's one of several green projects for people who live in and around downtown L.A.’s Skid Row. KPCC's Molly Peterson checked it out before the new tenants move in.

California's lawmakers to vote on comprehensive water policy change

Mon, Nov 2 Listen
California lawmakers could vote as early as today on bills intended to improve the state’s water supply. Some thought they’d be able to agree on a plan last week, but negotiations stalled. Despite the setbacks, one veteran of California’s water wars says there’s still reason to hope legislators will finally improve the state's water supply.

Facebook wins anti-spam case

Fri, Oct 30 Listen
Social networking site Facebook says it has won a multi-million dollar award in an anti-spam case.

UC Irvine study suggests bad driving sometimes genetic

Wed, Oct 28 Listen
A new study suggests bad driving may be in your genes.

CA stem cell institute gives $200M in research grants

Wed, Oct 28 Listen
California’s Institute for Regeneratiave Medicine Wednesday awarded more than $200 million in research grants. Officials with the agency targeted research projects that could yield potential treatments for chronic and deadly diseases within the next four years.

Predecessor to the Internet turns 40

Wed, Oct 28 Listen
If you’re listening online, or checking there for messages, the sequence of events that made it possible reached a milestone 40 years ago. UCLA’s scheduled a daylong event to mark the anniversary.

California lawmakers propose to spend $9 billion to improve water supply

Wed, Oct 28 Listen
State lawmakers haven’t agreed on how to improve California's water supply. But Wednesday they agreed on how much that effort will cost. They say a little more than $9 billion ought to do it.

Something else to worry about in a pandemic - Internet overload

Tue, Oct 27 Listen
Doctors advise people who suspect they have the flu to stay home. But a congressional subcommittee wondered whether that advice could lead to an unintended online crisis.

Senate climate change hearings begin

Mon, Oct 26 Listen
The secretaries of Energy, Transportation, and Interior will testify Tuesday before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. They all want to be heard during the committee’s debate on a sweeping climate change bill.

Unique dinosaur fossils on display at LA County Natural History Museum

Fri, Oct 23 Listen
Fossils of what is believed to be North America's smallest dinosaur are on display now at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. The Fruitadens Haagarorum was no more than two pounds and slightly over a couple feet long. The juveniles were even smaller. Scientists say the Fruitadens Haagarorum was primarily a plant-eating dinosuar, but they believe it supplemented its diet by eating non-plant items, like bugs or small animals. The dinosaur was named in honor of Paul Haaga, the...

San Onofre nuclear power plant to test sirens

Wed, Oct 21 Listen
If you live or work in South Orange County, you'll hear a familiar sound Wednesday morning. The San Onofre Nuclear Station will do an annual test of its sirens between 10 and noon today.

Boxer climate change bill depends on state, not party interests

Tue, Oct 20 Listen
Next week, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee begins hearings on a climate change bill that's co-authored by Barbara Boxer of California. The battle lines over the bill may be drawn along state, and not party, interests.

LA Council members say DWP customers need advocate

Thu, Oct 15 Listen
Several Los Angeles City Council members are calling for a new independent watchdog at the Department of Water and Power.

Millions participate in California earthquake drill

Thu, Oct 15 Listen
Alarms rang throughout California at 10:15 Thursday morning for a statewide earthquake safety drill, the Great California ShakeOut.

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