Ian James
banner
ianjames.bsky.social
Ian James
@ianjames.bsky.social
Reporter focusing on water and climate change, Los Angeles Times. [email protected]
Signal: ianjames.77
Reposted by Ian James
During the Palisades fire, hydrants lost pressure and ran dry. A nearby reservoir was empty for repairs. After a review, state officials found that even if the reservoir had been full, the water system still would have been quickly overwhelmed and lost pressure. www.latimes.com/environment/...
Even a full reservoir wouldn't have ensured water in Palisades fire, California officials say
During the Palisades fire, a nearby reservoir was empty for repairs. State officials say even if it had been full, the water system would have been quickly overwhelmed.
www.latimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Reposted by Ian James
After a 10-month review, California officials have affirmed what @ianjames.bsky.social reported in January: Having water in the Santa Ynez Reservoir probably wouldn't have made much difference for fighting the Palisades fire. www.latimes.com/environment/...
Even a full reservoir wouldn't have ensured water in Palisades fire, California officials say
During the Palisades fire, a nearby reservoir was empty for repairs. State officials say even if it had been full, the water system would have been quickly overwhelmed.
www.latimes.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Reposted by Ian James
Remember that reservoir that sat empty near the Palisades fire, as hydrants ran dry?

A new state report found that even if the reservoir had been full, the water system still would have been quickly overwhelmed and lost pressure.

From @ianjames.bsky.social
www.latimes.com/environment/...
Even a full reservoir wouldn't have ensured water in Palisades fire, California officials say
During the Palisades fire, a nearby reservoir was empty for repairs. State officials say even if it had been full, the water system would have been quickly overwhelmed.
www.latimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Reposted by Ian James
As the one year anniversary of the LA fires approaches, the wildfire and water supply/infrastructure beat continues with a new peer-reviewed, open source paper our team wrote. It's a solutions oriented look at what is both feasible and relatively affordable iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
November 21, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Reposted by Ian James
During the shutdown, a fire in Joshua Tree National Park scorched hundreds of its namesake trees.

An inside source says staffing shortages are making it harder to salvage the trees, while park leaders maintain a major response isn't needed. My latest: bit.ly/49ySvuu
Hundreds of Joshua trees were scorched during the shutdown
A firefighter with the National Park Service says a fire wiped out more than a thousand Joshua trees amid the government shutdown. Restoration could be limited by a depleted staff, they said.
bit.ly
November 21, 2025 at 6:50 PM
The Eaton fire was advancing toward west Altadena even earlier than previously believed, a state-commissioned report found, raising further questions about why it took L.A. County officials so long to order evacuations in the neighborhood, where 18 people died. www.latimes.com/california/s...
Fire marched toward west Altadena hours before official accounts, new report shows
A new report describes flames approaching west Altadena even earlier than previously reported, raising more questions about why evacuations were ordered there so late.
www.latimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:40 PM
During the Palisades fire, hydrants lost pressure and ran dry. A nearby reservoir was empty for repairs. After a review, state officials found that even if the reservoir had been full, the water system still would have been quickly overwhelmed and lost pressure. www.latimes.com/environment/...
Even a full reservoir wouldn't have ensured water in Palisades fire, California officials say
During the Palisades fire, a nearby reservoir was empty for repairs. State officials say even if it had been full, the water system would have been quickly overwhelmed.
www.latimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:38 PM
The CDC has altered its website on autism and vaccines, removing unequivocal statements that immunizations don’t cause the neurodevelopmental disorder and replacing them with inaccurate and misleading information. @corinnepurtill.bsky.social @jennyagold.bsky.social www.latimes.com/science/stor...
CDC replaces website on vaccines and autism with false and misleading statements
The CDC removed its own research into the safety of vaccines and replaced it with inaccurate statements.
www.latimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:37 AM
The Trump administration announced plans to open the Pacific Ocean to new oil and gas leases for the first time in more than four decades. Environmental groups vowed to fight the proposal. "This draft plan is an oil spill nightmare." @hayleysmith.bsky.social www.latimes.com/environment/...
Trump administration plans to open Pacific Coast to oil drilling for first time in more than 4 decades
The plan would mark the first new oil and gas leases in federal waters of the Pacific Ocean in more than four decades.
www.latimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Reposted by Ian James
COP30 Blue Zone on fire with everyone standing around watching and taking video to post on social media.

If this isn't a metaphor for the planet, I don't know what is.
🚨If you are at #COP30, evacuate the Blue Zone immediately.

(from a source)
November 20, 2025 at 6:15 PM
@steadystatevets.bsky.social says the lawmakers’ message to U.S. military members was “only a restatement of what every officer and enlisted servicemember already knows: illegal orders can and should be refused. This is not a political opinion. It is doctrine." apnews.com/article/trum... @apnews.com
Trump says Democrats' video message to military is 'seditious behavior' punishable by death
President Donald Trump is accusing half a dozen Democratic lawmakers of sedition “punishable by DEATH” after the lawmakers called on U.S. military members to uphold the constitution and defy “illegal ...
apnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Reposted by Ian James
California’s child farmworkers: Exhausted, underpaid and toiling in toxic fields

Robert J Lopez

www.latimes.com/california/s...
California's child farmworkers: Exhausted, underpaid and toiling in toxic fields
State officials are failing to protect the health and safety of thousands of young field laborers, an investigation has found.
www.latimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Reposted by Ian James
In her 114 years, Saalumarada Thimmakka planted thousands of trees, loving them as if they were her children. She passed away yesterday. Here is my short account of her life and legacy. planetficus.substack.com/p/indias-mot... 🌏
India's Mother of Trees Leaves A Living Legacy
In her 114 years, Saalumarada Thimmakka planted thousands of trees, loving them as if they were her children
planetficus.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Reposted by Ian James
Patagonia report, a first, details company's efforts to save planet www.vcstar.com/story/news/l...
Patagonia report, a first, details company's efforts to save planet
Patagonia's annual sales are about $1.5 billion. Its parent nonprofit has spent $180 million since 2022 on conservation and climate change programs.
www.vcstar.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Reposted by Ian James
Reposted by Ian James
Thousands of delegates at the UN climate conference stayed on diesel-powered cruise ships, embodying a contradiction at the event.
Infrastructure reshaped parts of the Amazon, raising concerns about environmental trade-offs.

MelodyGutierrez in Brazil

www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
An Amazon climate summit built on contradiction, creating unease for California delegates
As COP30 brings cruise ships to the rainforest, the tensions between climate ideals and political realities echo far beyond Brazil.
www.latimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Reposted by Ian James
Powerful essay from a hospital bed from Samuel Braslow, who was in my final class last spring at Columbia. "I can’t diet, detox or exercise my way out of cancer." www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/o...
3m
Opinion | I Understand MAHA’s Appeal, but It Threatens My Life
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:17 PM
For sea creatures, plastic is often deadly. New research shows it takes just 6 pieces the size of a pencil eraser to kill sea birds. It’s the first time scientists have quantified how much plastic it takes to kill a bird, marine mammal or turtle. @susrust.bsky.social www.latimes.com/science/stor...
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.
www.latimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Reposted by Ian James
How many pieces of #plastic does it take to kill a sea bird? Turtle? Marine Mammal? Sadly, not much. www.latimes.com/science/stor...
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.
www.latimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Reposted by Ian James
EPA moves to limit scope of clean water law to reduce amount of wetlands it covers. New 'Waters of the US' rule responds to 2023 Supreme Court decision and is intended to help farmers, ranchers. Critics call it a giveaway to industry.

My @AP story

apnews.com/article/epa-...
EPA moves to limit scope of clean water law to reduce amount of wetlands it covers
The Environmental Protection Agency says it is redefining the scope of the nation’s bedrock clean water law to limit the amount of wetlands it covers.
apnews.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:58 PM
“If someone shifts from a long commute to a walk, their happiness increases.” www.fastcompany.com/3062989/50-r...
50 Reasons Why Everyone Should Want More Walkable Streets
From making you live longer to making cities more resilient: If you want a reason to make your city more walkable, it's in here.
www.fastcompany.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Reposted by Ian James
When former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers was pursuing a romantic relationship with a woman he described as a mentee, he turned to a longtime associate for guidance: Jeffrey E. Epstein.

Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
As Summers Sought Clandestine Relationship With Woman He Called a Mentee, Epstein Was His ‘Wing Man’ | News | The Harvard Crimson
When former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers was pursuing a romantic relationship with a woman he described as a mentee, he turned to a longtime associate for guidance: convicted sex offender…
www.thecrimson.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Reposted by Ian James
Melanie lived and breathed Los Angeles. She saw its potential, its beauty, and its need for healing. She taught us that the river isn't just infrastructure—it's our largest natural asset, a source of life and community connection.
November 14, 2025 at 4:38 PM