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Santa Cruz County Drinking Water Takes A Hit After Wildfire

After a traumatic month, now some Northern Santa Cruz County residents are dealing with the anxiety that their water could be contaminated. KAZU, September 20, 2020. 

Firefighters Continue Attack On CZU Lightning Complex Even After Flames Recede

Firefighters are inching towards containment on the CZU Lightning Complex Fire. I spent a day with a 24-hr Cal Fire Strike Team in Fall Creek State Park and documented what this continuing work looks like on the ground. KAZU, September 10, 2020. 

‘Most Beautiful Place on Earth’: The Citizens Who Stayed Behind to Save Their Santa Cruz Mountain Paradise

Bonny Doon residents who defied Cal Fire evacuation orders, say they've seen their neighborhood change as tech money has come in and housing prices have skyrocketed. Staying, they say, wasn't just about saving homes — it was to keep their community spirit alive. KQED, August 29, 2020. 

Coronavirus Fears Prompt Suspensions Of Bans On Single-Use Plastic Bags

In the last decade, bans and taxes on single-use plastic bags have been enacted in a number of states including California, Hawaii and Massachusetts as shoppers switched to reusable bags. Now, some major grocery chains are not allowing shoppers to bring reused bags and lawmakers in a number of jurisdictions are rescinding the bans temporarily, citing health concerns prompted by the the coronavirus pandemic. NPR, April 13, 2020. 

Commercial Fishermen Struggle To Survive In The Face Of Coronavirus

Commercial fishermen are fighting to stay afloat while restaurants and global markets are shutting down to contain the spread of the virus. NPR, March 25, 2020.

One Way to Help Strapped Hospitals? Print PPE Using 3D Printers

Amid reports of PPE shortages, a patchwork army of 3D printer-users has emerged across the U.S.: Researchers, doctors and lone producers have gone to work, creating protective gear in labs, basements and home offices for health workers. NPR, March 28, 2020. 

Budding Hemp Farmers Struggle To Find Success In The 'Green Rush'

CBD products are found everywhere from gas stations to drug stores. A record number of farmers are growing hemp for CBD this year, but making money has proved challenging. NPR, November 16, 2019.

Metal polluted air puts Los Angeles residents at risk

In southeast Los Angeles, metal processing facilities emit toxic steam next to homes, schools and parks. And low-income residents are paying the price. UC Santa Cruz Science Notes, October 2019.

California Bill on PFAS Chemicals Advances, But in Watered Down Form

AB-756 will require water providers to report if up to 18 different types of PFAS chemicals are present in drinking water supplies. But the original bill would have forced suppliers to test and report for the entire class of PFAS. KQED, June 21, 2019.

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One Increasingly Popular Way to Control Floods: Let the Water Come

California is looking to floodplains as a way to avoid flood damage and store water. Advocates say floodplains refill aquifers, reduce risk from flood damage, re-create wildlife habitat and filter pollutants. But others aren't so convinced. KQED, March 19, 2019.​

As Moss Landing reinvents itself, fishing fades into the background

​As Moss Landing gains international status for marine research, its iconic fishing industry wanes. The Mercury News, the EastBay Times, The Monterey Herald, and The Santa Cruz Sentinel, December 30, 2018.

Can sustainably caught swordfish make waves on the Central Coast?

With new clean-fishing gear technology on the horizon, some think swordfish in California could appear on dinner plates once more. Published in the EastBay Times, The Mercury News, The Monterey Herald and The Santa Cruz Sentinel.

Gas Station Converts To Electric Charging Station And Speeds Ahead Of Curve

As the electric car industry ramps up, one gas station in Takoma Park, Md., has already changed lanes. The owner hopes to motivate other stations to make the shift. NPR, October 26, 2019.

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