West News

Wildfire Smoke May Be Worse for Your Brain Than Other Air Pollution, Study Says

Wildfire smoke may be worse for brain health than other types of air pollution, according to new research linking it to an increased risk of dementia. The findings, reported Monday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Philadelphia, come as …

Firefighters Increase Containment on California Wildfire Now at 599 Square Miles

Containment has increased on a fire that exploded in size and in a few days became California’s sixth largest wildfire, destroying hundreds of structures. The Park Fire near Chico, California, has burned 383,619 acres, and as of Tuesday morning it …

Fires in The West Are Becoming Ever Bigger, Consuming. Why and What Can Be Done?

Decades of snuffing out fires at the first sign of smoke combined with climate change have laid the groundwork for a massive wildfire in northern California and scores of smaller ones across the western U.S. and Canada, experts say. These …

California Workers’ Comp Report Shows ‘Relatively Stable’ System Post-Pandemic

The California workers’ compensation system has been relatively stable in the post-pandemic era, as premium levels rose by 1% in 2023 and are forecast to increase modestly in 2024—while decreases in average insurer charged rates are moderating, a new report …

California Wildfire Grows to 575 Square Miles, Destroying at Least 100 Structures

At least 100 structures have been destroyed and roughly 4,200 more are being threatened by the Park Fire, near Chico, California, which has burned 368,256 acres and now touches four counties. Containment on the Park Fire, which has 4,742 fighting …

Amazon Says Washington State Injury Case Has Been Dismissed

A case alleging that Amazon.com Inc. exposed warehouse workers to injuries has been dismissed for lack of evidence, the company said in a statement Thursday. The Washington state Department of Labor and Industries cited the e-commerce giant for setting rapid …

Bayer’s Monsanto to Pay $160M to Resolve Seattle’s PCB Contamination Lawsuit

Monsanto will pay $160 million to settle a lawsuit by the city of Seattle that accused the unit of Germany’s Bayer of polluting the city’s drainage system and the local Lower Duwamish River with toxic chemicals known as PCBs. City …

California Commissioner Announces FAIR Plan Modernization Deal

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said on Friday that he and the California Fair Plan have agreed to establishing a new high value commercial coverage option with limits up to $20 million per building and other steps that he said …

California Wildfire Continues to Spread Rapidly to 164K Acres

A massive wildfire in Northern California has destroyed an undetermined number of buildings and is threatening thousands or properties, prompting thousands of evacuations orders, as it continued to rage on Friday morning. The Park fire, which became the state’s largest …

California Indoor Worker Heat Protections OK’d and in Effect

California’s indoor heat protections were approved and went into effect this week. The rules apply to most indoor workplaces. Employers are required to adopt safety measures that go into effect in most cases when indoor temperatures reach 82°F to prevent …

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