The Trump Administration Asks the Supreme Court to Block a Youth Climate Lawsuit
The Trump administration is asking the United States Supreme Court to block a lawsuit filed by young Americans seeking to force more federal action on climate change.
Kate Wheeling
Kate Wheeling is a staff writer at Pacific Standard, where she specializes in criminal justice and the environment. She was previously an associate editor and editorial fellow at Pacific Standard. Wheeling has a bachelor's degree in behavioral neuroscience and a master's in science journalism. She has also written for Outside, Science, and Discover magazine.
How Will Hurricane Michael Affect Oil Operations in the Gulf?
Though this hurricane will likely only hit the oil industry with a glancing blow, the industry won't always be able to weather the storm.
Climate Change Is Bad for Your Mental Health
As temperatures rise, mental health often declines, but researchers still don't know why.
Brett Kavanaugh's Confirmation Is a Blow to the #MeToo Movement
The conservative judge's confirmation was nearly derailed by allegations of sexual misconduct and partisanship. His confirmation highlights the limits of the #MeToo movement.
What to Expect From the U.N.'s Big New Climate Report
The United Nations' highly anticipated climate science report is due out Monday, and it's unlikely to bring good news.
For Ford, Could the Senate Hearings Open Up Old Wounds?
Research shows that the trauma of sexual assault lingers for victims, and ruminating over the memory of an assault could re-traumatize survivors.
Waste From Central California's Oil Fields Is Spreading Underground, Threatening Water Supplies
In California's Central Valley, the oil industry has been dumping wastewater into unlined—and under-regulated—ponds, threatening the state's limited groundwater and the humans who rely on it.
'We Have to Bring Our Democracy Back to Life': A Conversation With Al Gore
Pacific Standard sat down with the former vice president at the Climate Reality Project leadership training summit in Los Angeles this week.
Americans Want Businesses—Not Local Governments—to Reduce Straw Pollution
In a new poll, nearly 80 percent of respondents supported companies switching to biodegradable straws.
The Arctic's Oldest, Thickest Sea Ice Is Breaking Up
Arctic ice north of Greenland that normally remains frozen even during the summer has opened up.
Nebraska Becomes the First State to Use Fentanyl for a Lethal Injection
Officials in Nebraska used fentanyl to execute a death row inmate on Tuesday, marking the first time the powerful opioid has been used to carry out the death penalty in the United States.
Dispatches: Finding Climate Change Clues in Ancient Ice
News and notes from Pacific Standard staff and contributors.
A Voting-Machine Manufacturer Installed Remote-Access Software
Election Systems and Software admitted to installing remote-access software on election management systems sold between 2000 and 2006.
A Dozen Russian Military Officers Have Been Indicted for Hacking During the 2016 Presidential Campaign
The hackers used spearfishing messages and installed malicious software to spy on users and steal data.
Climate Scientists Call on Jerry Brown to End Oil Extraction in California
There is no way to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement if California continues extracting oil and gas unabated.
California Meets Its 2020 Emissions Goal Early
California reached a critical emissions reduction milestone four years earlier than expected, data released Wednesday shows.
Republicans Want to Delay the Confirmation of Scott Pruitt's Replacement
Given their narrow majority, Senate Republicans prefer to let Andrew Wheeler continue as acting administrator rather than squeeze in another confirmation fight before the November mid-terms.
RAICES Offers to Cover Bail for Mothers Detained at the Border
The Texas-based legal non-profit will offer the Trump administration $20 million to cover the bail bonds of detained migrant mothers separated from their children at the border.
Trump Announces Brett Kavanaugh as His Supreme Court Nominee
Kavanaugh's confirmation could solidify the Supreme Court's conservative majority for decades.
The First Hurricane of the 2018 Season Is Headed for the Caribbean
Hurricane Beryl, currently a Category 1 storm with top wind speeds of 80 miles per hour, is expected to make landfall by late Sunday night.
Here's Why Environmental Groups Aren't Celebrating Pruitt's Departure
Conservationists believe Andrew Wheeler, the acting administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, may be even more dangerous than his predecessor.
Who Is Andrew Wheeler, the EPA's New Acting Administrator?
The former coal lobbyist is likely to continue with the Trump administration's efforts to roll back environmental oversight, but with far fewer scandals than his predecessor.
A Temporary Housing Program for Displaced Puerto Ricans Is Granted an Extension
A federal judge ruled Tuesday to extend a Federal Emergency Management Agency program providing temporary housing to Puerto Ricans lacking shelter in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
Utah Senator Mike Lee Is Among the Candidates Being Interviewed for a Supreme Court Seat
President Donald Trump interviewed Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) on Monday to replace Justice Anthony M. Kennedy on the Supreme Court.
The Trump Administration Axes Obama-Era Guidelines on Affirmative Action
The Trump administration is reversing Obama-era guidelines urging colleges to consider race in admissions practices.
Extreme Fire Conditions Grip California
The 2018 fire season in California is already shaping up to be worst than last year's, which cost the state a record $10 billion in damages.
Ben Goldfarb Explains How Beavers Can Save Humanity
The author discusses his new book about the original architect of the North American landscape: the beaver.
How to Prepare a Society for Natural Disaster
A conversation with Garrett Bradley about her new documentary, and what America can learn from Japan.
Poor Care Played a Role in the Deaths of Immigrants in ICE Custody
A new report highlights troubling patterns in medical care in immigration detention facilities.
The Trump Administration Will Withdraw From the United Nations Human Rights Council
The announcement is expected to come one day after the U.N.'s high commissioner for human rights railed against Trump's immigration policies.
A Federal Appeals Court Sides With Trump Administration on Coal Program
A three-judge panel ruled that the Trump administration does not have to account for the climate change impacts of its federal coal program.
American Medical Association Endorses Proposals to Curb Gun Violence
The American Medical Association came out in support of a slew of progressive proposals to curb gun violence on Tuesday.
A New Immigration Office Will Crack Down on 'Citizenship Cheaters'
The federal agency that processes immigration applications is planning to open a Los Angeles-based office to identify Americans accused of "cheating" their way to citizenship.
A Pacific Standard Reading List for World Environment Day
Without action, there will be more plastic than fish in the world's ocean by mid-century.
Jury Appears Deadlocked on Fate of Trump Inauguration Protesters
A Washington, D.C., jury appears deadlocked in the cases of three people facing felony charges for destruction of property during protests on President Donald Trump's inauguration day.
ICE Agents Arrest More Than 100 Employees at an Ohio Landscaping Company
The raid was one of the largest stings in recent years.
The Atlantic Hurricane Season Starts Today
And many of the regions hit hardest by last year's historic hurricane season haven't fully recovered yet.
California Governor Signs New Water Restrictions Into Law
California Governor Jerry Brown signed two bills into law Thursday aimed at reducing water consumption in the state, even in non-drought conditions.
Are Prison Commissaries Fair?
Prisons and jails charge inmates substantial portions of their annual wages for basic necessities.
Canadian Government Keeps Controversial Pipeline Project Alive
The Canadian government announced plans Tuesday to buy a controversial pipeline that would carry oil from Alberta's tar sands to a port in Vancouver, the New York Times reports.
Families Sue European Union to Take More Action on Climate Change
A group of 10 families is taking the European Union to court in an attempt to get its member states to take more drastic action on climate change.
Federal Court Upholds Students' Right to Use Bathroom Matching Gender Identity
A federal court sided Tuesday with Gavin Grimm, a transgender student who sued the Gloucester County, Virginia, school board after it banned him from the men's restroom.
New York State Lawmakers Appoint First Woman to Serve as Attorney General
The New York state legislature voted nearly unanimously Tuesday to appoint Barbara Underwood to serve as the state's attorney general, making her the first woman to hold the position.
Amazon Markets Surveillance Technology to Law Enforcement
Amazon, one of many tech companies that have called for reform of government surveillance, is selling facial recognition services to cops.
The Great, Chaotic Biochar Experiment
Australian plant ecologist Brenton Ladd wants to reengineer the notoriously nutrient-poor soils in the Amazon, and, in the process, save the world's trees. But first, he has to convince Peruvian farmers and non-profits—and occasionally, his own research team—that he's not just another gringo with a strange idea.
How California Undercuts Its Efforts to Combat Climate Change
A new report details how California's bold plans to reduce oil consumption and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement could be canceled out by the state's own oil production.
Former Oil Spokesman Is Appointed to Lead Critical EPA Office
The Trump administration has officially named Mike Stoker, an attorney and former Santa Barbara County supervisor, to lead the regional Environmental Protection Agency office overseeing California, Arizona, Hawaii, and Nevada.
Big Dams Have Big Drawbacks
While cleaner than fossil fuels, large-scale hydropower dams come with steep social and environmental costs of their own.
How Much Energy Does Bitcoin Actually Use?
The secretive industry is notoriously hard to track, but an economics-based model could help researchers and policymakers estimate just how much electricity the cryptocurrency requires.
Federal Judge Sides Against Oakland's Ban on Coal Shipments
A federal judge in California blocked the city of Oakland's attempt to prevent the shipment of coal through a proposed cargo terminal.