Stories by
Lauren Sommer
Correspondent, Climate Desk
California passes the toughest wildfire rules in the U.S. for home landscaping
Lauren Sommer | Aug 19, 2026, 11:19 PM UTC
California has adopted the toughest new rules in the country that require homeowners to manage the plants around their houses. Fire experts say it helps protect houses from burning, but public pushback has been strong.
As wildfires get worse, some states are struggling to pass fire protection rulesLauren Sommer | Aug 17, 2026, 9:00 AM UTC
Whales are showing up in San Francisco Bay. New ship alerts could help protect themLauren Sommer | Jun 8, 2026, 9:00 AM UTC
A Trump council recommends overhauling FEMA. Here are 3 key changesLauren Sommer, Rebecca Hersher | May 7, 2026, 7:32 PM UTC
Trump administration falls behind on wildfire prevention with risky fire season aheadLauren Sommer | May 4, 2026, 9:30 AM UTC
Communities are waiting on billions in disaster funding from the Trump administration
States say disaster funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency has slowed to a trickle under the Trump administration. That's delaying projects to protect communities from wildfires and hurricanes.
Lauren Sommer | Apr 10, 2026, 9:15 AM UTC