KPCC: Stories by Molly Peterson

Song of the Week, for LA's bag ban: "Bags of Dirt," by the Spin Doctors

Fri, 25 May 2012 22:56:39 -0700

As we've blogged, LA didn't actually pass one. In fact, city councilmen collectively voted 13-1 to move toward a bag ban, probably in September, certainly later this year, and not to take effect before 2014. Nonetheless,...

Heal the Bay: LA County has 7 of California's 10 worst beaches

Thu, 24 May 2012 17:32:58 -0700

After twenty-two years, the spots that earn failing grades in Heal the Bay’s Beach Report Card are starting to sound familiar.

CPUC approval for net energy meeting boosts solar industry and its customers for a few more years

Thu, 24 May 2012 11:20:51 -0700

The California Public Utilities Commission continues to share the solar industry’s enthusiasm for net energy metering.

LA city council's vote on a bag ban: forward movement, yes. Historic? Not quite

Wed, 23 May 2012 22:30:07 -0700

The council has approved a project to look at banning plastic bags.

Mountain lion shot as habitat problem persists for the regional big cat population

Tue, 22 May 2012 15:08:31 -0700

Fish and Game officials shot a mountain lion trapped in Santa Monica. This is a somewhat sad turn of events if you're interested in the mountain lion population.

Pocahontas and Pig Iron: An L.A. actor connects to Brazilian forestry problems

Tue, 22 May 2012 14:00:05 -0700

Actor from Terrence Malick film “The Lost World” takes part in a protest in Brazil over the export of pig iron to U.S. companies.

An LA bag ban is the big whale for environmental groups, plastics industry

Tue, 22 May 2012 06:43:16 -0700

Since an effort to ban plastic bags at larger stores failed in Sacramento a couple of years ago, environmentalists have trained their sights on the state’s largest city.

What Farmers Field's environmental goals really are, and what they really mean

Mon, 21 May 2012 20:30:04 -0700

As of 4 o’clock, all the comments have been submitted concerning the draft environmental impact report for Farmers Field.

Dueling viewpoints on Malibu Lagoon reflected in dueling events for environmental groups

Thu, 17 May 2012 12:00:05 -0700

A protracted debate over Malibu Lagoon picks up steam. Who knew a restoration project would split Malibu's community of environmentalists & surfers down the middle?

Neighbors want more time to read up on Farmers Field, but officials say project must move forward

Thu, 17 May 2012 08:15:28 -0700

With the window closing for public comment on the proposed Farmers Field stadium, community activists crowded into a meeting at the Convention Center to push the window back open.

Farmers Field developers promise to add Metro station platform after environmental impact report

Wed, 16 May 2012 18:54:44 -0700

Stadium developer AEG promises to redevelop the Pico station and add another Metro platform as part of its efforts to keep the stadium "transit-oriented."

Public comment window for Farmers Field environmental impact sliding closed

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:55:59 -0700

The window’s closing to share views about the environmental impact of the stadium project proposed for downtown L.A. A final public meeting takes place Wednesday.

As window closes for Farmers Field public comment, some groups wonder why it can't stay open

Wed, 16 May 2012 06:00:16 -0700

This afternoon, the L.A. City Planning Department and AEG hold a final meeting at which the public can weigh in on Farmers Field’s anticipated environmental impacts.

EPA announces another $6.6 million in settlement money for San Gabriel Valley Superfund site

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:50:03 -0700

Southern California’s contributions to the Superfund list may be swelling, but so are the federal government’s coffers for cleanup of those old toxic sites. The Environmental Protection Agency says it&rsquo...

Thousands of people on 2 wheels for 7 days: Pasadena's Bike to Work Week underway

Tue, 15 May 2012 12:00:06 -0700

Pasadena's strong when it comes to designating biking corridors and planning new ones. It's a good place to be on a bicycle. Just stay off the sidewalk.

Aquarium of the Pacific celebrates and ponders the fate of Southern California's urban coast

Mon, 14 May 2012 22:33:24 -0700

The Aquarium of the Pacific is developing scenarios for what southern California’s coastline should look like within 40 years. It’s looking for help.

Song of the Week: "Desert Sun," for the California Assembly's Calico Solar action

Fri, 11 May 2012 23:12:10 -0700

Pacific Swell's song this week was inspired by the news about the Calico Solar facility proposed in San Bernardino county. Louis Sahagun of the Los Angeles Times reports that the California Assembly is putting a 663-acre...

Superfund list swells for two South Gate industrial sites

Wed, 09 May 2012 22:55:02 -0700

Environmental Protection Agency officials have added two properties contaminated with trichloroethylene to the Superfund National Priorities List.

EVS26 finds the electric car industry growing, but tentative, as it looks toward California expansion

Wed, 09 May 2012 17:45:03 -0700

The story a trade show EVS26 can tell the non-industry insider about electric cars is a complicated one. EVS26 is wrapping up today in LA’s Convention Center. I went by yesterday and today for a closer look at what...

LA's water use creeps upward: LADWP officials plea for conservation

Tue, 08 May 2012 17:15:02 -0700

L.A. officials have bragged mightily in the past few years about how much water we're not using. Last year, Angelenos used less water per person than any other big city (1 million or more) in the country. But it seems the...