- Pinnacles National Monument, south of Gilroy, on verge of becoming newest national park. [Associated Press]
- SF proceeds with enviro review of shipping trash by rail to Yuba County after groups sue. [San Francisco Chronicle]
- After one year, Marin residents say plastic bag ban is working out well and people have changed their habits. [Marin Independent Journal]
- Mt. Diablo state park director retires, doesn’t regret leaving banking to work outdoors and care for cash-strapped park. [Contra Costa Times]
- Sixteen whales spotted off Point Reyes, and first elephant seal pups have been born. [Santa Rosa Press Democrat]
- Hottest recorded temperature on Earth revised: It’s Death Valley, California (not Libyan town) at 134-degrees. [New York Times]
- FDA says GMO salmon would not harm the environment. [Los Angeles Times]
- Chips, the friendly bobcat kitten found at Sierra wildfire in August, too sweet to live in wild and needs toughening up. [Sacramento Bee]
- Feds narrow shipping lanes into SF Bay to avoid whale collisions. [Santa Rosa Press Democrat]