Environment
Multiple Southern California homes are ablaze in a fast-moving wildfire fueled by hot, windy weather
A fast-moving fire burned multiple homes in Southern California as hot, windy weather gripped the region Friday, prompting evacuations and power outages. TV footage on KTLA showed several homes burning in San Juan Capistrano in Orange County, flames engulfing them.
Trudy weakens to Category 1 hurricane as it moves towards Mexico’s Pacific coast
Trudy weakened Friday afternoon in its slow movement towards west-central areas of Mexico's Pacific coast, although some strengthening could occur through Saturday, forecasters said.
Fundraising to protect oceans, forests and other key nature sites falling short ahead of U.N. summit
Efforts to raise hundreds of billions of dollars to preserve the world's oceans, forests, rivers, lakes and other parts of the natural world have fallen short ahead of a key U.N. summit on biodiversity.
Brazil says Amazon deforestation fell to the lowest level since 1988
Brazil's government announced Friday that annual deforestation in the Amazon fell to its lowest level since records began in 1988. Official satellite data showed the rainforest lost 3,335 square kilometers (1,300 square miles) from Aug. 2025 through July 2026, the period used to calculate the annual rate.
El Nino rains flood South America, sending residents fleeing and cattle swimming
Rivers swollen by heavy rains linked to El Nino continued flooding swaths of Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay on Friday, forcing thousands of people from their homes and sending ranchers scrambling to move cattle to higher ground.
A rare family of barn owls moved into Manhattan’s Upper West Side. New Yorkers are captivated
Manhattan's Upper West Side has been reveling in the company of its latest celebrities: A family of barn owls nested in a water tower atop a building near Central Park.
Hot weather and winds raise California wildfire threat as power shutoffs start
Tens of thousands of people in California were without electricity Thursday as utilities tried to reduce the risks of hot, windy weather that could blow over power lines and spark wildfires.
U.S. winter is likely to be wetter and warmer, forecasters say. If you want more snow, look south
Winter in the United States looks like it will generally be wetter and warmer, but not necessarily snowier, according to the federal government's official seasonal outlook and other meteorologists' forecasts. You can thank or blame El Nino.
Bald eagle Jackie confirmed to have died from bird flu-caused sepsis
California wildlife officials announced Wednesday that bird flu led to the death of the famous livestreamed bald eagle Jackie.
Massachusetts governor shifts green-energy stance to face voters stuck with big gas, electric bills
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, facing a rising fury about the high cost of heat and electricity as she runs for a second term, took an extraordinary step. She asked the Department of Energy to expedite a natural gas pipeline.
Indonesia returns 20 green sea turtles to the ocean after Bali smuggling raid
Indonesian authorities on the tourist island of Bali released 20 protected green sea turtles back into the ocean Tuesday after they were found and seized on an empty boat seemingly abandoned by wildlife smugglers fleeing a police raid.
National Zoo welcomes 5 newborn cheetahs
The District's National Zoo announced the recent birth of five cheetahs, the 21st litter born in the Smithsonian population since 2007.
Unnerved Panamanians sleep in streets as aftershocks rattle quake-hit towns
Unnerved residents of rural Panama awoke Saturday on the streets as the aftershocks of two powerful earthquakes that roiled the country shook their communities for hours.
Woman calls Montgomery County police to oust snake after animal control MIA
A Montgomery County cop responded to a residence and helped remove a snake from under a bed. The homeowner had called police after being informed that animal control would be unavailable until the next day.
Two powerful earthquakes and multiple aftershocks rock Panama
Two powerful 7.7 and 6.6 magnitude earthquakes and a series of aftershocks struck Panama Friday afternoon, collapsing buildings near the epicenter and prompting evacuations across the country, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
