Deadly bird flu found in California elephant seals for the first time Researchers at UC Davis say news they've dreaded since 2023 has come to pass: California's elephant seals have been infected with H5N1 bird flu.

#H5N1 #BirdFlu detected in northern elephant seals on CA coast. Virus annihilated the funny-looking seals in South America between 2022 and 2024. From UC Davis and UC Santa Cruz research. www.latimes.com/science/stor...

Ha. Seems so archaic now... a blast from the past when news rooms were still alive, and the hierarchy was meaningful. Happy to chat although I don't think I have much to offer. But fun to rewatch and remember!! John Duncan is probably a better source for you. He stayed with it longer than I.

#H5N1 #Birdflu detected in northern Elephant Seals along CA coast. UC Davis and UC Santa Cruz found in 7 pups at Ano Nuevo. Story to come.

Bitter divorce fight is investigated as motive in killing of Imperial Valley farmer's wife The Navajo County Sheriff's office released details Monday on the arrest of powerful Imperial Valley farmer Michael Abatti on suspicion of murder.

Michael Abatti will plead not guilty as autopsy report is released and investigation details are presented to the media #navajocounty #imperialcounty w @phila_lex www.latimes.com/california/s...

Still waiting! We were supposed to get a press conference from sheriff’s office today… but no one opened remote link to let the press in… I’ll update as soon as I know more

Slain wife of Imperial Valley farmer was adored in her hometown; a violinist, friend and beauty queen Kerri Abatti was killed on Nov. 20 by gunshot. While the case is still under investigation, the people in Pinetop — her family's home — are reeling. She was the sixth generation of Mormon settlers. An...

Kerri Abatti was killed in her Arizona home after leaving her 31-year marriage to an influential farmer. She sought refuge in the mountain town where her ancestors settled in the 1880s. "She came back because this was the center of her universe." @susrust.bsky.social www.latimes.com/california/s...

Slain wife of Imperial Valley farmer was adored in her hometown; a violinist, friend and beauty queen Kerri Abatti was killed on Nov. 20 by gunshot. While the case is still under investigation, the people in Pinetop — her family's home — are reeling. She was the sixth generation of Mormon settlers. An...

Kerri Abatti, estranged wife of #ImperialCounty farming mogul, Mike Abatti, was shot and killed in her home in Pinetop, AZ on 11/20. Who was she? Why did she go to #Pinetop? photos:
@caitlin_oh www.latimes.com/california/s...

First person to get #H5N5 #birdflu has died from it. Story coming. doh.wa.gov/newsroom/gra...

How little plastic does it take to kill marine animals? Scientists have answers Ocean plastic kills sea creatures. For the first time, researchers set out to find out how much it takes. The answer: Surprisingly little.

How many pieces of #plastic does it take to kill a sea bird? Turtle? Marine Mammal? Sadly, not much. www.latimes.com/science/stor...

Another person in U.S. is hospitalized with bird flu. Officials don't know how they got it A person in Washington is presumed infected with bird flu virus. Health officials in the state do not know the source.

Human #BirdFlu case in WA. #H5N5 not #H5N1. Patient is severely ill. Update coming.
www.latimes.com/science/stor...

Marine mammals are dying in record numbers along the California coast It's been a doozy of a year for marine mammals, who have been dying in record numbers along the California coast. Volunteer rescue crews are traumatized and fatigued, but refuse to give up.

Historic number of marine mammals died along CA coast this year. Anomaly? Or a sign that our oceans are changing too fast to support these guys? Hats off to the exhausted and traumatized volunteers working tirelessly since spring #marinemammalcenter #strandingnetwork www.latimes.com/environment/...

And maybe a few in OR, too -- migration? (Also one in NJ)

No biggie, but noticing a few #H5N1 #BirdFlu wastewater "hits" in the SF Bay Area: Palo Alto, San Jose and Sunnyvale. 🤔

Chagas disease, long considered only a threat abroad, is established in California and the Southern U.S. Chagas disease is deadly, pervasive and more prevalent in the U.S. than you'd think. It's not just brought here by people from nations where the disease is endemic, but by bloodsucking kissing bugs na...

The parasite that causes Chagas disease, which kills more people in Latin America than malaria, is here in the U.S. The disease's symptoms generally don't show up for decades: heart attack, stroke, death. Have we been ignoring a potential source of #CVD ? www.latimes.com/science/stor...

Foie gras still on some store shelves in California, despite state ban California banned the sale of foie gras -- the French delicacy made from the livers of goose and duck. So why can it still be found on store shelves?

You can't sell or produce foie gras in Calfiornia. So what is the bird liver delicacy doing on store shelves? www.latimes.com/science/stor...

California dairy farmers got millions to cover bird flu losses. Critics say that's part of the problem Dairies say the USDA relief money helped them sustain operations as bird flu decimated milk production, but critics say the aid perpetuates industrial farming practices that make herds vulnerable to d...

I talked to @susrust.bsky.social @latimes.com about the USDA compensation program for dairies with H5N1-infected herds.

There has never been enough of an investment in containment. Compensation without support to change practices will not end the outbreak of moo flu.
www.latimes.com/science/stor...

Immigration crackdown could stymie efforts to fight bird flu outbreak, experts fear Farm workers facing possible arrest would likely resist getting tested for bird flu should there be a resurgence this fall, as many anticipate

It's not just the #H5N1 #birdflu cuts across the federal government, but the Trump admin's targeting of immigrants that could trigger a pandemic. They're our front-line livestock workers -- and when the birds start flying south in the fall... www.latimes.com/science/stor...

#GroundSquirrelInvasion? At least 14 in my back yard. I’ve never seen it like this.

Gray whale washes up in Richmond, the 17th spotted in the Bay Area this year The gray whale was up against rocks along Point Isabel in Richmond.

Dead gray whale washes up in Richmond. Marine Mammal Center says ship strike is probable cause. Gray whale numbers are on the decline -- never recovering from the steep drop off that started in 2019. abc7news.com/post/gray-wh...

CalRecycle now has a portal for people to report illegal sales of expanded polystyrene food ware and packaging in stores and restaurants -- 6+months after the products were banned: calrecycle.ca.gov/packaging/pa...

Like Texas, California faces major dangers when extreme floods come The flood disaster in Texas claimed dozens of lives. Extreme floods also bring dangers in parts of California, although experts say there are differences.

What happened in TX was tragic; it could happen here, too. @ianjames.bsky.social www.latimes.com/environment/...

Newsom calls on Trump to boost wildfire preparedness and 'make America rake again' Gov. Newsom challenged the Trump administration to match the state's investments in wildfire preparedness. In response, the administration criticized Newsom's own funding cuts.

Make America Rake Again -- Trump and Newsom battle over wildfire funding @nohaggerty.bsky.social www.latimes.com/environment/...

EPA Workers Face Retaliation Over Dissent Declaration On Monday, hundreds of EPA workers published a Declaration of Dissent criticizing their leadership. Now, they’re getting placed on leave pending review.

EPA Workers Face Retaliation Over Dissent Declaration
www.importantcontext.news/p/epa-worker...

Commentary: Republican budget bill would slaughter America's cleanest, cheapest energy It's hard to find reasons for optimism. But we're not doomed.

And read @sammyroth.bsky.social 's latest on the Trump bill. It's a disaster for the planet. www.latimes.com/environment/...

'Chaotic and deeply frightening': Once a global gold standard, U.S. government health guidance is falling apart Government-provided health information now comes with disclaimers that the government can't be trusted.

This story by @corinnepurtill.bsky.social makes me want to simultaneously cry and scream www.latimes.com/science/stor...

Federal contractors improperly dumped wildfire-related asbestos waste at L.A. area landfills Cleanup crews contracted by the Army Corp of Engineers dumped asbestos-tainted wildfire debris in landfills that they shouldn't have, according to government records.

Asbestos-laden fire debris hauled by fed contractors to non-hazardous waste landfills. What could be the problem?? @tonybrisco
www.latimes.com/environment/...

Measles outbreak strikes New Mexico jail as US total climbs

#NewMexico with #measles outbreak in a prison

“measles outbreak at a correctional facility in Deming, after five detainees tested positive

“Health officials are sending personal protective equipment, test kits, and measles vaccine to the prison, which houses 400 inmates and employs 100 staff”

Wow! The pediatric death toll for the 2024-25 flu season keeps climbing. #CDC was informed of +3 deaths last week; they occurred between early Feb & mid April.
The total is now 253 pediatric deaths (& more reports could still come). 90% of these kids weren't vaxed.
www.cdc.gov/fluview/surv...

Here's a screenshot of the video clip Newsom's comms shop sent me -- the one they threatened to send to my editor if I proceeded with this story. They searched for a video/photo of me with a water bottle, found one, then circled it in red. They never provided a response to my questions.

Newsom's podcast sidekick: a single-use plastic water bottle Newsom has called for a future free of plastic waste, yet a single-use plastic bottle is usually by his side during his podcasts.

Strange thing about this story: Newsom's comms team's response to my questions about his ever-present-plastic-water-bottle was to: 1) not answer any q's; but 2) instead threaten to send my editor a video of me near a plastic water bottle. www.latimes.com/environment/...