For residents of Yarnell, an anxious wait to return home

Those who fled a wall of flame in Yarnell nearly a week ago want to return to their homes, or what is left of them. But authorities have yet to give the OK.



WICKENBURG, Ariz. — Not long after he and his wife fled the fire that would burn through the town of Yarnell, Walt Adams got word that his home had survived. A couple of days passed, then he heard it had burned. Then, maybe not.



via L.A. Times - Science http://feeds.latimes.com/~r/latimes/news/science/~3/U8nd0_Burks/la-na-arizona-fire-20130706,0,5045134.story

UC retreats from broad graduate school tuition hikes

After proposing increases for about 14,000 graduate and professional school students, university officials now plan to hike fees for about 800 students, mainly in nursing.



After previously proposing widespread and hefty tuition increases for graduate and professional degree programs, UC's top administrators have retreated and will seek fee hikes affecting only a small group of graduate students, mainly in nursing, and at much reduced levels.



via L.A. Times - Science http://feeds.latimes.com/~r/latimes/news/science/~3/VKeSsEXuivE/la-me-uc-graduate-fees-20130705,0,1733893.story

Storm cell spelled doom for Arizona firefighters

The 19 were working to save homes when enveloped by swirling smoke and flames.



PRESCOTT, Ariz. — The 19 firefighters killed this week in a rapidly advancing wildfire were battling to save a small housing subdivision and suddenly were encircled by a dense cloud of smoke and flame, according to officials familiar with the investigation.



via L.A. Times - Science http://feeds.latimes.com/~r/latimes/news/science/~3/mz6kugdc9ZI/la-na-yarnell-firefighters-20130705,0,2357115.story

As Arizona fire rages, scientists warn of more unpredictable blazes

Natural and man-made factors have led to larger, more perilous wildfires. Arizona's Yarnell Hill blaze may be Exhibit No. 1.



BOISE, Idaho — Early morning is a frenetic time at a wildfire command post. Biologists, meteorologists, foresters and firefighters hustle into tents and grab laptops to review overnight reports, prepping for the day's assault. Fire behavior analysts run computer models that spit out information crucial to putting out the blaze: how many acres a fire will probably burn, in which direction and with what intensity.



via L.A. Times - Science http://feeds.latimes.com/~r/latimes/news/science/~3/7wAuTAANCe4/la-na-fire-behavior-20130704,0,7706838.story

At one Army base, a vision for a new shade of green

Maj. Gen. Dana J.H. Pittard, as commander at Ft. Bliss, moves to cut energy use, increase recycling, conserve water and more. To him, it's a matter of security.



EL PASO — The endless desert that makes up Ft. Bliss looks a lot like places where the United States fought its recent wars or where it might fight its next one. Tanks are manned by soldiers whose faces are wrapped against the blowing sand. Dust devils rise, stagger and fall to the desert floor.



via L.A. Times - Science http://feeds.latimes.com/~r/latimes/news/science/~3/vCui-KxhSDQ/la-na-green-army-20130701,0,6644382.story

Port Hueneme to spend $2 million to fight beach erosion

Port Hueneme officials plan to put boulders to protect the coastline while appealing to U.S. for money to restore the eroded sand.



Port Hueneme has asked the federal government for emergency help to replenish beaches with sand before the rapidly eroding shoreline undermines roads and floods property, including harbor facilities.



via L.A. Times - Science http://feeds.latimes.com/~r/latimes/news/science/~3/_qpkV05RVPw/la-me-0626-hueneme-erosion-20130701,0,4009150.story

Sierra pot-growing sites may be lethal for rare forest animal

Pesticides and poisons commonly used by illegal marijuana growers in the Sierra Nevada are found in dead fishers, a study says.



The illegal marijuana-growing operations that have proliferated in remote areas of the Sierra Nevada appear to be taking a toll on the fisher, a forest animal whose numbers are dangerously low.



via L.A. Times - Science http://feeds.latimes.com/~r/latimes/news/science/~3/uuftjl7R2Ts/la-me-0701-poison-pot-20130701,0,6801880.story