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Judge clears path for Catalina Island cull of 2,000 mule deer

Illustration accompanying article: Judge clears path for Catalina Island cull of 2,000 mule deer
  • A Los Angeles County judge tentatively denied a preliminary injunction Tuesday that would have blocked the Catalina Island Conservancy from killing nearly all of the island's 2,000 mule deer.
  • The conservancy, which controls 88% of Santa Catalina Island, says the cull is needed because non-native deer eat native shrubs and accelerate the spread of invasive grasses that ignite and spread fire more easily.
  • Conservancy communications director Pepe Barton called the decision "never our first choice" and described it as a "necessary step" to protect the island's native species.
  • Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn asked California Governor Gavin Newsom to intervene; an online petition against the cull had gathered more than 32,000 signatures.
  • The five-year plan calls for about 200 deer to be hunted with rifles over the next two months, with island residents allowed one hunting season from late October to mid-December.
 2026-09-03 · 5 MIN READ

US-Saudi nuclear pact sets up potential 20% uranium enrichment pathway

Illustration accompanying article: US-Saudi nuclear pact sets up potential 20% uranium enrichment pathway
  • The text of the U.S.-Saudi nuclear cooperation accord, reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, could permit uranium enrichment up to 5% initially and potentially approaching 20% after a two-year joint study.
  • Scott Roecker of the Nuclear Threat Initiative said enrichment near 20% would place Saudi Arabia "most of the way toward producing weapons grade material" absent stringent controls.
  • The agreement requires a Joint Enrichment and Conversion Study to be completed within two years before any uranium enrichment proceeds on Saudi soil.
  • Congress would need to pass a joint resolution of disapproval by a two-thirds veto-proof majority to block the accord before it takes effect after 90 legislative days.
  • Trump posted on social media on July 23 that "there will be no enrichment of material!" under the accord, while a July memo to top aides endorsed a potential enrichment pathway.
 2026-09-02 · 5 MIN READ
Illustration accompanying article: Flash flood at Grand Canyon's Phantom Ranch kills two, leaves 15 missing