SUMMARY: As climate change intensifies, California faces increasingly severe wildfires, now marked by terms like “firenado” and “gigafire.” The state has 78 more annual “fire days” compared to 50 years ago, with fires occurring year-round. Recent blazes in Los Angeles County, including the destructive Palisades and Eaton Fires, have left thousands evacuated and resulted in over 1,000 destroyed homes and fatalities. The role of arson and downed power lines persists, while extreme weather adds pressure. Firefighting costs have escalated from $800 million in 2005 to $3.7 billion in 2022. California must adapt to this new reality—ushering in the “Pyrocene” era.

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SUMMARY: Mike Kernels has joined Carolina Public Press (CPP) as Managing Editor, overseeing statewide investigative reporting. A Virginia Beach native with over 30 years in journalism, he previously worked at the Greensboro News & Record and the Virginian-Pilot. Kernels replaces Frank Taylor, who became executive director after serving as CPP’s editor-in-chief. CPP has also relocated its headquarters from Durham to Raleigh to better serve its reporters, though it remains committed to statewide coverage, including Durham and Asheville. CPP continues to welcome news tips via email, as its physical address does not accommodate unscheduled visitors.

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SUMMARY: Raleigh, North Carolina, is set to receive over $2.4 million from the Biden administration’s recent $635 million grant for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, part of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This funding will install 56 EV charging ports, focusing on serving multifamily residents and local governments, with two-thirds allocated to disadvantaged communities. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized these investments aim to ease EV charging access nationwide. North Carolina currently has around 120,000 zero-emission vehicle registrations, with a goal of reaching 1.25 million by 2030, requiring an accelerated pace of adoption.

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