Fire season is back, and it's not safe to breathe in huge swaths of the world.

The Ferguson Fire burning new Yosemite National Park has burned more than 40,000 acres and forced the evacuation of the park.
The Ferguson Fire inspired Patrick May to map smoke events around the world, including smoky conditions from wildfires in Colorado and Montana. Fort Smith, Arkansas makes the map for having the highest smoking rate in the entire nation. Around the globe, the tragic fires in Greece are on the map, as do air pollution meters in cities like Cairo, Egypt (as an example of pollution run amok) and Zabol, Iran (as an example of improvement).
Despite broadening the map's scope to include other forms of smoke, it out some smoke events that should worry any one occupying the planet. Earlier this week, for instance, Southern Oregon, a region of natural splendor and home to public lands like Crater Lake National Park, reported the worst air quality in the country due to smoke from wildfires.
The Carr Fire in Shasta County in Northern California was sending ash the size of dimes falling onto the city of Redding, forcing evacuations of historic Old Shasta and neighborhoods in Redding.
FULL STORY: Don’t inhale: a map of smoke events around the world

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Research Shows More Roads = More Driving
A national study shows, once again, that increasing road supply induces additional vehicle travel, particularly over the long run.

Judge Halts Enforcement of Anti-Homeless Laws in Grants Pass
The Oregon city will be barred from enforcing two ordinances that prosecute unhoused residents until it increases capacity and accessibility at designated camping sites.

Advancing Sustainability in Los Angeles County Schools
The Los Angeles County Office of Education’s Green Schools Symposium brings together educators, students, and experts to advance sustainability in schools through innovative design, climate resilience strategies, and collaborative learning.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
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