PICKS are stories from many sources, selected by our editors or recommended by our readers because they are important, surprising, troubling, enlightening, inspiring, or amusing. They appear on our site and in our daily newsletter. Please send suggested articles, videos, podcasts, etc. to picks@whowhatwhy.org.
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Room to Roam: New California Law Aims to Protect Mountain Lions and Other Wildlife (Maria)
The author writes, “Cities and counties must soon consider the impact of development on wildlife connectivity in their land-use plans following the passage of a law intended to promote safe travel across habitat fragmented by urban sprawl and freeways. Gov. Gavin Newsom last week signed AB 1889, which directs local leaders to identify connectivity areas and then ‘avoid, minimize or mitigate’ impacts to them so animals can rove unimpeded to find food, shelter and mates. … The law, dubbed the Room to Roam Act, ‘helps local officials plan for safer development so that California’s resilient wildlife has a chance to survive and thrive,’ said J.P. Rose, urban wildlands policy director at the Center for Biological Diversity, which sponsored the bill.”
Russia Deploys ‘Largest Non-Nuclear Bomb’ in Ukraine: Reports (Sean)
The author writes, “Newly released footage shows Russian forces striking a Ukrainian town, using what pro-Kremlin sources have claimed is one of the most potent non-nuclear weapons in the world. On Tuesday morning, videos began circulating on Russian and Ukrainian media of a ‘vacuum bomb’ being dropped on the town of Vovchansk in the country’s northeastern Kharkiv Oblast. Ukrainian news agency InsiderUA posted the video to its Telegram channel, citing Russian military bloggers who said that the bomb was the ODAB-9000, a three-ton glide bomb sometimes referred to as ‘the father of all bombs.’”
The Secretive Alliance Between the New York Post and Eric Adams (Dana)
From Intelligencer: “The [New York Post], which boasts hundreds of thousands of print readers and millions more online, functionally programs much of local television news coverage and sets the agenda for New York’s chattering classes. So its impact in a 2021 primary election decided by less than 7,000 votes cannot be overstated. ‘They became the ultimate secret weapon for Eric Adams,’ says Chris Coffey, the veteran political operative who ran Andrew Yang’s mayoral campaign.”
Why Some Christians Don’t Want to Bring the Bible Into Public Schools (Al)
From The New York Times: “As the idea of incorporating the Bible into classrooms gains traction, concerns about the mission of public schools — and differences across the faith — have led even some conservative Christians to push back.”
Revealed: The Us Government-Funded ‘Private Social Network’ Attacking Pesticide Critics (Reader Jim)
The author writes, “In 2017, two United Nations experts called for a treaty to strictly regulate dangerous pesticides, which they said were a ‘global human rights concern,’ citing scientific research showing pesticides can cause cancers, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and other health problems. Publicly, the pesticide industry’s lead trade association dubbed the recommendations ‘unfounded and sensational assertions.’ In private, industry advocates have gone further.”
Reporter Who Revealed Deforestation in Cambodia Now Charged With Deforestation (Laura)
From Mongabay: “It was late in the afternoon of Sept. 16 when Ouk Mao finally answered his phone. The environmental journalist had spent much of that Monday making preparations in case he was jailed the next day. Mao was accused of illegal logging in the northeastern province of Stung Treng. Mao is known in his community for having played a key role in exposing a land grab perpetrated by mining company Lin Vatey, which has ties to senior figures within the Cambodian military. … ‘It is just a pretext to arrest me,’ Mao told Mongabay. ‘They are angry at me because I covered the news in the community forest of Phnom Chum Rok Sat that affects the high-ranking officials, so the court accused me of clearing forest because I have talked a lot about deforestation.’”
‘Alaska Native Resilience’ Documents the Power of Sovereignty During WWII (Reader Steve)
The author writes, “At Alaska’s North Slope, a place where whales migrate at summertime, and where Iñuit have lived for more than 10,000 years, World War II reached the Arctic. Along this northernmost coast, Irene Itta, a young Iñupiaq mother, carried a loaded pistol and extra bullets as she guarded her town of Utqiaġvik (English name: Barrow). From 8 in the morning until 8 in the evening, she stood on top of a tower while holding and breastfeeding her baby. … In doing so, women such as Itta served key roles in defense, allowing Iñupiat to retain their tradition of whaling and maintaining the subsistence lifestyle that keeps their nation alive.”
