California

"Ranchers Agreed To Leave A National Park. Then RFK Jr. Got Involved."

"POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE, California — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a wellness influencer and a pioneering dairy farmer joined forces earlier this year to upend a landmark deal that stopped most cattle operations at this park north of San Francisco."

Source: E&E News, 10/28/2025

L.A. Pumps Owens Valley Groundwater, But Tribes Want It Back

"In the Owens Valley, Los Angeles not only siphons water from streams, but also pumps groundwater from wells. Leaders of Native tribes are calling for the city to take less water and are pushing for negotiations on water rights. They say pumping from wells has dried up springs and meadows."

Source: LA Times, 10/22/2025

Targets on Their Backs … and Ours? Reporting on Immigrant Farmworkers

For years, state-sponsored programs have helped California farmworkers get much-needed access to clean water. But many immigrants now shun these services, afraid of exposure to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. As Circle of Blue intern Anahita Banerjee dug into this story, she discovered that their fear extended to speaking with journalists — and that ICE activities threatened her own safety.

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SEJ Mourns Passing of Member/Volunteer Parimal Rohit

Members of the Society of Environmental Journalists were saddened to learn of the passing on Oct. 7, 2025, of veteran journalist and podcaster Parimal Rohit, a long-time member and volunteer. Parimal joined SEJ in 2017 and served on the Awards Committee, the Editorial Advisory Board, and as co-editor of SEJournal's Inside Story column.

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"Calif.'s Incarcerated Firefighters Just Got A Nearly 700% Raise"

"More than 1,100 incarcerated firefighters were sent to Southern California in January to fight four different wildfires. As the Palisades Fire ran up a hillside, one strike team saved the life of a resident who was still at his home."

Source: SFGate, 10/16/2025

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