Water reporter @CALmatters. Lapsed immunologist. B*sky: https://xitter.cf/t.co/V5JLJkqhEv Terrible food opinions mine, RTs & likes≠endorsements. (She/her)
California, USA
Joined September 2014
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Hi friends! I'm back and over at B*sky, come find me! bsky.app/profile/ra-becks.bs…
@RA_Becks retweeted
After the #PlaskettFire's explosive growth on 8/30, midday satellite imagery from 8/31/2026 showed surprisingly little heat across the fire. The fire is not out, by any means, but our current episode of much cooler and moister conditions is giving firefighters an opportunity to make progress on the fire. Here are IR satellite images showing the areas where there is still substantial heat on the fire.
Read more about the fire in our writeup on The Lookout - link in comments.
@RA_Becks retweeted
A new study found the Trump administration’s cuts to NIH grants disrupted more than 380 clinical trials, affecting over 74,000 participants.
The cuts disproportionately impacted trials on infectious diseases and minority communities. wapo.st/4obUQiI
@RA_Becks retweeted
Western states in the Colorado River basin are racing a federal deadline to hash out how to share the overtapped river. Two questions looms large: Just how real is this deadline, and what does it mean for California? bit.ly/43owE57
📝 @RA_Becks
📸 Caitlin Ochs, Reuters
ALT The All American Canal flows past the Imperial Sand Dunes near Felicity on Dec. 5, 2022. Photo by Caitlin Ochs, Reuters
@RA_Becks retweeted
After two years of negotiations amid dire projections for the Colorado River’s reservoirs, California and six other states that rely on the river’s water have yet again failed to reach a deal — despite a federal deadline. bit.ly/4p3jD98
📝 @RA_Becks
📸 Gregory Bull, AP
ALT Water flows along the All-American Canal near Winterhaven on Aug. 13, 2022. Hed: No deal on the Colorado River despite Trump administration deadline
Pitch to my editor for this story: but what even are deadlines, REALLY.
calmatters.org/environment/w…
Compared to the 'bedbugs' of the Delta, golden mussels encrust boats and piers and threaten water supplies for cities and farms. But one year since their discovery, there's no help for the Delta on the way.
calmatters.org/environment/w…
@RA_Becks retweeted
Outside an immigration courtroom in SF, ICE agents lay in wait. The people they will detain sit inside court, stunned at what's about to happen, afraid that they'll be lost in detention and deported. The Attorneys of the Day are their last hope.
My latest for the @sfstandard.
Just before the judge arrives at immigration court, attorney Diana Mariscal prepares the dozen migrants for their hearings. She explains in Spanish that there’s a chance ICE will detain them today. What comes next surprises them all.
📝: @JesseAlejandro sfstandard.com/2025/10/20/co…
@RA_Becks retweeted
In a blow to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ambitions to replumb the Delta, California lawmakers once again punted on his plan to fast-track a deeply controversial $20 billion tunnel project that would funnel more water to the south. cal.news/4nolVPt
📝 @ra_becks
@RA_Becks retweeted
The state’s farmers are divided over a bill that would loosen rules protecting agricultural land. The goal of a bill proposed by Assembly Democrat Buffy Wicks is to seed solar farms on fallowed fields. cal.news/48cIxOy
📝 @RA_Becks
As dozens of wildfires burn across California after a remarkable outbreak of dry lightning, a timely new study warns that a warming planet could bring more lightning-sparked wildfires to the West in the coming decades.
calmatters.org/environment/w…
Come for the mussel-sniffing dogs, stay for the major threat that invasive golden mussels pose to water supplies and lakes across the state. #cawater
calmatters.org/environment/w…
@RA_Becks retweeted
California lawmakers today approved one of the most substantial rollbacks of the state’s signature environmental review law in decades, including one controversial exemption... cal.news/44mf3Kx
📝 @alejandrolazo & @RA_Becks
📸 Justin Sullivan
ALT Semiconductors on a circuit board that powers a Samsung video camera at the Samsung MOBILE-ization media and analyst event in San Jose on March 23, 2011. Photo by Justin Sullivan, Getty Images Hed: CA lawmakers approve sweeping environmental law rollbacks One controversial exemption will allow high-tech manufacturing plants to be built in industrial zones with no environmental reviewCA lawmakers approve sweeping environmental law rollbacks One controversial exemption will allow high-tech manufacturing plants to be built in industrial zones with no environmental review
@RA_Becks retweeted
The Trump administration’s plan to repeal a rule prohibiting logging and road construction in undeveloped parts of national forests would strip protection from more than 4 million acres within California’s borders. cal.news/4eERNMR
📝 @RA_Becks
@RA_Becks retweeted
Congrats to @akoseff @YousefBaig @RA_Becks of @CalMatters and all the other honorees! sacpressclub.org/awards/5th-…
@RA_Becks retweeted
To escape the Tsunami Zone:
• Go east. Stay east of 7th St.
• If you become trapped, call 9-1-1.
Monitor for evacuation updates on these resources:
• Tsunami.gov
• AC Alert: Phone, email, and xitter.cf/alamedacoalert
• See Berkeley's Emergency Map for updates.
@RA_Becks retweeted
LEAVE NOW. DO NOT WAIT
• DO NOT stay on boats, docks
• Bring all people, pets w/you
• Bring only essentials and medications
• Lock doors when you leave
• TAKE ONE VEHICLE. This will help keep roadways open for responders
• BE READY TO WALK OUT in case roadways are blocked
I’ll be on leave for an exciting new project for the next six months, and @allybland will be covering the water beat. See you all in April!
@RA_Becks retweeted
Californians — particularly low-income immigrants from Asian countries and other people of color — rely on the San Francisco Bay and the rivers that feed it for food. But the vast watershed is in trouble... cal.news/3ZVoqAs
📝 @RA_Becks
@RA_Becks retweeted
Today’s @CalMatters newsletter by @lynnlaaa
— @akoseff on @ilike_mike gas price session
— Kristen Hwang on #Prop35
— @MarisaKendall on LA Measure A
— @JeanneKuang on #CalOSHA heat fine
— @RA_Becks on Delta fishers
calmatters.org/newsletter/sp…
