2024: A momentous year in the fight to end Tijuana River Valley sewage pollution
The year was marked by record-breaking weather events, lawsuits, a visit from the CDC and...
Environment
Orphaned kitten rescue dubbed Christmas miracle by animal center staff
Evergreen, a kitten whose mother and siblings were killed, was hiding in a Christmas tree...
More than 130 guinea pigs up for adoption at San Diego Humane Society
Dozens of the guinea pigs were found by the organization's officers during a rescue operation...
Barriers being installed at Sunset Cliff due to unsafe bluff area
The small barricade is being erected in between Adair Street and Osprey Street, replacing a...
Drought, fires and deforestation battered Amazon rainforest in 2024
The Amazon rainforest staggered through another difficult year in 2024.
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Manchester/Edgemoor project for 70-acre NAVWAR property takes shape
The development team selected to remake Midway District military campus is proposing replacement Navy facilities,...
Biden signs stopgap bill with $250M for South Bay sewage treatment plant
The federal funding will cover a $200 million shortfall to repair and expand the South...
Giant sloths and mastodons lived with humans for millennia in the Americas, new discoveries suggest
New discoveries suggest ancient people first arrived in the New World much earlier than scientists...
San Diego congressional leaders secure $250M for South Bay treatment plant, but passage by Congress uncertain
The spending bill hit a snag after President-elect Donald Trump said he opposed the bipartisan...
Biden pledges to cut US greenhouse gases by more than 60% as he exits the world stage
Donald Trump is expected to withdraw U.S. from the Paris climate accord
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San Diego is relaxing its no-gas rule for new city buildings. To environmentalists, it’s ‘a giant loophole.’
A 2-year-old policy required all new and significantly renovated city buildings to rely entirely on...
New trash boom sweeps up tires, plastics and debris flowing into Tijuana River Valley
The trash boom is the third, and largest, in the Tijuana River area at 450...
Monarch butterflies to be listed as a threatened species in US
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to add the butterfly to the threatened species...
Wind-driven wildfire prompts evacuations as it burns near Malibu’s Pepperdine University
It was not immediately known how the blaze started.
Nearly a year after San Diego floods, these neighbors still aren’t back home. Now a new cliff may be looming.
Some spent Thanksgiving separated from their families, with no place to gather. Others used the...
Newsom sticks to his refusal to declare sewage crisis an emergency. ‘It would have meant nothing.’
Imperial Beach mayor says declaration would have meant a great deal to families and businesses...
EPA hails ‘revitalized’ enforcement efforts as Biden administration heads to exit
The efforts resulted in more than 225 million pounds of pollution reductions in overburdened communities.
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How San Diego plans to make its iconic beaches less vulnerable to climate change
To fight sea-level rise, the city is proposing a variety of nature-based projects at La...
Padilla bill would allow SANDAG to earmark border crossing toll revenue for sewage crisis
Senate Bill 10 would permit the regional planning agency to set aside money for wastewater...
San Diego Humane Society helps injured female mountain lion return to wild
The cougar was found hungry and injured in the Yucca Valley on May 30 and...
Air district issues odor advisory weeks after developing air quality system
Air monitoring equipment detected levels of hydrogen sulfide above state thresholds near the Tijuana River...
Chuck Bieler, former San Diego Zoo director, dies at 89
Bieler was remembered as an "extraordinary leader" during his 55 years of work with the...
Biden appeals to world leaders to stay in the climate fight as Trump shadows his efforts
Biden announced on Tuesday a $325 million contribution to help developing countries move away from...
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Family landowners want battery storage site in rural San Diego County. Some neighbors do not.
A local family who owns the land in Valley Center says the project is safe,...
NYC issues first drought warning in 22 years, pauses aqueduct repairs to bring in more water
Dry conditions across the Northeast have been blamed for hundreds of brush fires.
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King tides have returned to the San Diego coast. But are they really as royal as their name implies?
One Scripps oceanographer is throwing down the gauntlet on the term 'king tides.' Here’s why...
Here’s what to do if you smell those Tijuana River odors
The San Diego County Air Pollution Control District launched an online dashboard to track sewer...
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After years fighting leaded fuel, airport neighbors just notched ‘a little win’ — but feel they ‘mostly lost’
The city just made unleaded fuel available to planes at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. But the...
The last actions the Biden administration will take before Trump takes over the White House
Here's a look at the projects Joe Biden and his team will work on until...
Sewage pollution affecting Chula Vista, not just border communities. So, city leaders declare local emergency.
The resolution is largely symbolic, calling on the White House and other top government officials...
Earth’s biggest polluters aren’t sending leaders to UN climate talks in a year of weather extremes
The top leaders of the 13 largest carbon dioxide-polluting countries will not appear.
US top climate negotiator: ‘We won’t revert back’ as Trump prepares to take over
John Podesta said the transition to clean energy would continue, regardless of what Trump did.
Trump has vowed to kill offshore wind in the US. Will he succeed?
There is almost 65 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity under development in the U.S., enough...
Climate talks open with calls for a path away from the ‘road to ruin.’ But the real focus is money
The COP29, got right to the major focus of striking a new deal on how...
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What oxygen levels in the Tijuana River estuary tell us about the impacts of the sewage crisis
The estuary is one of the few intact salt marshes remaining in Southern California
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California regulator OKs stricter clean air standards. What will it mean for gas prices?
The Air Resources Board updates the state's Low Carbon Fuel Standard for the first time...
Trump 2.0 will alter global climate fighting efforts. Will others step up?
Experts worry a second Trump term will be more damaging, with the U.S. withdrawing even...
European climate agency says this will likely be the hottest year on record — again
Scientists say this milestone in global temperature records should inspire ambition from countries at the...
In new term, Trump set to go after measures that are doing the most to fight climate change
These rollbacks will come as more lives are being lost in heat waves and record...
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California is about to change fuel standards. That means higher gas prices. But how high?
Members of the California Air Resources Board are scheduled to update the Low Carbon Fuel...
Feds say sewage treatment plant fixes are in play. But it will be years before benefits are felt.
South County resident urges action: 'Just know that there’s people behind this'
Port of San Diego to get $58.6M from feds for zero-emission infrastructure
California ports receive one-third of the $3 billion in grants issued distributed by the U.S....
Newsom makes first visit to ailing sewage treatment plants along U.S.-Mexico border
Monday's tour of the plants in San Diego and Baja California comes amid an escalating...
EPA reviewing petition to evaluate Tijuana River Valley’s eligibility as a Superfund site
County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer sent the request on behalf of several hundred San Diego County...
Mexico’s new president tours sewage treatment project in first Tijuana visit
Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first woman president, toured the project to overhaul the San Antonio de...
San Diego’s General Atomics passes a milestone. Can nuclear fusion energy become a reality?
The DIII-D facility is a cornerstone of research seeking to develop a virtually limitless, carbon-free...
San Diego County will explore taking legal action in fight to resolve sewage crisis
The board directed staff to report on potential litigation options every 90 days
Sea turtles thrive in warm waters. So what was this one doing near death off Canada?
Moira was found Feb. 4 in chilly Canadian waters. After rehab, she was flown south...
If you weren’t selected for the CDC’s Tijuana River sewage survey, here’s another one you can take
Officials said they want to hear from people who have done anything from surfing to...
Supervisor wants county to flex its legal muscles to fight sewage crisis
Residents and environmental groups have already filed numerous lawsuits
One of the largest solar projects in the US opens in Texas, backed by Google
SB Energy built three solar farms side by side, the “Orion Solar Belt,” in Buckholts,...
Distressed about climate change, a ‘supermajority’ of young Americans across the political spectrum want bolder action
In the largest survey of its kind, 85% of nearly 16,000 respondents 16 to 25...
Overwhelmed by election incivility? Check out a rare comet or the year’s brightest moon this week
If you missed the Northern Lights, you can still see a comet visible in the...
Must-see viewing returns with San Diego Zoo’s live Panda Cam
Fans of giant pandas now have a way to watch the antics of Yun Chuan...
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Dad duty: Same-sex flamingo couple hatches egg, cares for chick at Safari Park
The foster dads at first were given a fake egg to care for after wildlife...
Biden sets 10-year deadline for US cities to replace lead pipes nationwide
President Joe Biden is setting a 10-year deadline for U.S. cities to replace lead pipes...
New state legislation aims to help cities like San Diego better prepare for extreme flooding
Assembly bills 2501 and 3227 address expediting storm channel maintenance and removing project delays imposed...
Should the Tijuana River Valley be the next Superfund site in Southern California?
San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday is expected to consider whether to petition...
Looking up at the stars and seeing ourselves, San Diego artist wants to share astronomy with his community
Dawud Hasan is one of five artists whose work is featured in the “Art for...
San Diego Zoo welcomes baby meerkats for the first time in six years
The meerkat population at the zoo doubled with the recent birth of four babies
First phase of CDC survey on health impacts of sewage crisis launching
The CDC will conduct 210 door-to-door surveys with randomly selected households from 2-7 p.m. Oct....
Alaska resource projects and landscapes are again in the crosshairs of a presidential election
For years, Alaska's big projects and land battles have been subject to shifting politics, depending...
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New California law requires fashion industry to take old clothes back for free
The goal of Senate Bill 707, authored by Josh Newman, is to reduce the millions...
San Diego man pleads guilty in first ever prosecution for smuggling greenhouse gases
Michael Hart admitted illegally importing hydrofluorocarbons, used for cooling and refrigeration, from Mexico to be...
Levin introduces bill aimed at moving nuclear waste out of San Onofre — and other sites across the country
A piece of bipartisan legislation wants to establish a new agency to manage spent fuel
California sues ExxonMobil and says it lied about plastics recycling
Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said that even with recycling programs, less than 5% of...
Newsom signs law banning all plastic shopping bags at California grocery stores
A new law signed Sunday by Gov. Gavin Newsom bans all plastic shopping bags
![Even when they didn’t realize the work they were doing would have an environmental impact, community organizations in San Diego were so focused on improving living conditions for people decades ago, that their work rippled out into these different areas. “I credit the work of activists and advocates, environmentalists (even those who didn’t know they […]](https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SUT-L-SOCIAL-0922-2.jpg?w=132 "Even when they didn’t realize the work they were doing would have an environmental impact, community organizations in San Diego were so focused on improving living conditions for people decades ago, that their work rippled out into these different areas. “I credit the work of activists and advocates, environmentalists (even those who didn’t know they […]")
From gray to green, local community groups working to replace highways with parks
Even when they didn’t realize the work they were doing would have an environmental impact,...
The week that changed the conversation about the crossborder sewage crisis
Researchers and government agencies are working to collaborate on data sharing and keeping the public...
Health Secretary Becerra touts extreme heat protections. Farmworkers want more
Five states have heat safety protections for workers in outdoor or indoor settings.
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How to help injured and orphaned animals stay wild? Hint: Fur coats and raccoon masks.
San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center uses unique methods — including frozen cow's blood...
What to do if you find a wild animal in distress
In most situations, animal experts tell people who find wildlife who appear injured, sick or...
‘Doomsday’ glacier set to melt faster, swell seas as world heats up
The massive glacier — which is roughly the size of Florida — is of particular interest to...
Red and blue states have big climate plans. The election could upend them
Former President Donald Trump, who has called climate change measures a “scam” and vowed to...
Big battery storage project in Poway gets the final OK
Some residents, worried about fire risk, wanted the Poway City Council to rescind approval of...
Citrus quarantine declared in Fallbrook
The quarantine for Huanglongbing, which has already been found in Oceanside, Valley Center and Rancho...
All-electric cranes lifting cargo at the Port of San Diego
A pair of 262-foot harbor cranes are the first to be installed in North America
‘Biggest environmental victory’: After more than a decade in limbo, San Diego County has a new climate plan
'It's passed, we think it's strong, and now we’ve got a watchdog,' one local environmental...
A microgrid project at Viejas gets a macro boost
The US Department of Energy OKs a $72.8 million loan for a microgrid project at...
San Diego County air pollution officers to develop alert system for noxious sewage odors
The air district's governing board also agreed to deploy air purifiers to impacted households in...
Imperial Beach residents file class-action lawsuit against company co-running treatment plant
The lawsuit claims that Veolia Water North America has failed “to remedy or at least...
County votes to support state lawsuit against oil companies
California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed litigation last month, seeking billions of dollars.
County sends hazmat team to investigate report of new toxic gas in Tijuana River Valley
South Bay schools ban outdoor activities as air board issues rare public advisory
Researchers studying sewage crisis pull out of South County amid reported high levels of sewer gas
Expert says she "cannot in good conscience continue to put my own people at this...
Otay Mesa East border crossing to make billions in toll revenue. Should some of it go to fix sewage crisis?
A resolution approved by Imperial Beach officials urges that one percent of toll revenues be...
CDC to lead investigation into health impacts of sewage crisis on community
In conjunction with the county, state and SDSU, the CDC's investigation will assess how exposure...
A troubling milestone for U.S.-Mexico border region: 1,000 days without clean ocean water
California’s southernmost region hit an unsettling milestone Tuesday of 1,000 consecutive days without access to...
Legislature unanimously approves resolution urging federal government to declare sewage crisis an emergency
Officials announced passage of the resolution Tuesday, the 1,000th consecutive day that shorelines from the...
‘Nowhere is safe’: Imperial Beach rallies to demand quicker fix to sewage crisis
Organizers encouraged hundreds of residents to log complaints and urge government agencies to resolve cross...
Federal agency says sewage odors aren’t its fault. Local air pollution officers disagree.
The San Diego Air Pollution Control District said it could seek an order of abatement...
San Diego Congress members want the State Dept. to do more to stop record-breaking Tijuana pollution
Officials ask the State Dept. why it has not considered giving Mexico an official diplomatic...
Nine rescued coyote pups released into wild near Julian
The San Diego Humane Society's Ramona Wildlife Center bottle-fed the orphaned pups and taught them...
Nonprofit hosts beach cleanup where protecting wild animals is the focus
Wildlife Jewels, a nonprofit, hosted a beach cleanup in Solana Beach on Sunday.
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Pollutants were found in the warehouse that could be a giant homeless shelter. Is that a deal breaker?
Tests revealed three problems that experts say are fixable, but the potential presence of asbestos...
As Tijuana sewage keeps spilling over border, federal agency OKs repair and expansion contract for aging plant
The contract is for $42 million, but the full project cost — including design, construction,...
Snorkelers found a rare deep-sea fish off La Jolla. It took ‘a community effort’ to haul it to shore to study.
The roughly 12-foot-long oarfish — a serpent-like fish commonly found at sea depths of more...
Federal agency hit with notice of violation due to foul odors following sewage spill
The San Diego County Air Pollution Control District said it received 150 complaints about noxious...
‘Your Herculean efforts fall short:’ State scolds IBWC for not fixing sewage treatment plant
Head of binational agency says sedimentation from Mexico has compromised repair efforts
Turning California’s oil fields into energy storage sites
The big conversion: Turning California's depleted oil fields into geothermal power and storage sites
![On a summer afternoon joggers, bicyclists and several people with big-brimmed hats, a few looking through binoculars, focused their attention on the squawking and seemingly chaotic swarm of white birds flying over a crescent-shaped island in Mission Bay. The social frenzy was thousands of elegant terns teaching their fledglings how to fly and forage at a man-made piece of land known as West Ski Island that lies less than a quarter-mile from Crown Point Park. A few women stopped to ask Andrew Meyer, the director of conservation at San Diego Audubon Society, and Cristina Santa Maria, conservation manager for the […]](https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/SUT-L-westski-terns-1.jpg?w=132 "On a summer afternoon joggers, bicyclists and several people with big-brimmed hats, a few looking through binoculars, focused their attention on the squawking and seemingly chaotic swarm of white birds flying over a crescent-shaped island in Mission Bay. The social frenzy was thousands of elegant terns teaching their fledglings how to fly and forage at a man-made piece of land known as West Ski Island that lies less than a quarter-mile from Crown Point Park. A few women stopped to ask Andrew Meyer, the director of conservation at San Diego Audubon Society, and Cristina Santa Maria, conservation manager for the […]")
Elegant terns make their home at small Mission Bay island
On a summer afternoon joggers, bicyclists and several people with big-brimmed hats, a few looking...