Vivian La

“ Would it be this storm that will claim my home? The next storm will claim my home?” one Plum Island homeowner found herself thinking. “It was exhausting.”

Read about the challenges of managed retreat for one Mass. city as the state considers starting its own program, for @wbur.org:

More than 400 hazardous sites in New England at risk for coastal flooding, new study finds In New England, the majority of sites are located in Massachusetts, followed by Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine and New Hampshire. More than half of the sites at risk are industrial facilities.

Massachusetts has 209 (!!) potentially toxic sites along the coast that are vulnerable to coastal flooding.

A sobering story from @vivianla.bsky.social www.wbur.org/news/2025/11...

Hi Tom, there was not. The study was more of a census count of facilities and the demographics of neighborhoods around them than probing Boston-specific factors for development.

City living isn't good for a tree's microbiome, study shows. Here's what that means A new study from Boston University researchers found that the city's oak trees have more pathogens and plant decomposers. With fewer "good" microbes, experts worry about how that might impact ecosyste...

I feel for these street trees! City living gets me stressed out, too. Fascinating piece by @vivianla.bsky.social www.wbur.org/news/2025/10...

Jo Nanajian interrogates memory's durability through natural forms Using materials like plaster, glass and wire, the artist creates abstract, textured wall sculptures inspired by forms found in nature. Nanajian tries to represent all the ways that human memory can be...

"I recreate abstract dried flowers because dried flowers themselves are a form of preservation," artist Jo Nanajian said. "I question what it means to hold onto something that is always slipping away."

What's up with offshore wind in New England? Here's a map The Trump administration is bringing big changes to the U.S. offshore wind industry. Use this map to help keep track of where projects in New England stand.

Oh hey, we made a cool tool to help you track where various offshore wind projects in New England stand and understand which actions from the Trump administration have affected their progress.

www.wbur.org/news/2025/10... @wbur.org

Fear and low morale at New England EPA office as it loses a quarter of its staff under Trump The regional branch of the EPA has lost more than 150 employees since the start of the Trump administration's efforts to reduce the agency’s workforce, according to union leaders. Current and former e...

dogged reporting by my colleague @vivianla.bsky.social www.wbur.org/news/2025/09...

'We’re willfully blinding ourselves': Mass. researchers worry as federal environmental data disappears Researchers and nonprofit leaders warn the pullback of federal data collection and reporting could harm efforts to help areas exposed to the greatest risks from pollution and climate change, and addre...

Researchers and nonprofit leaders warn the pullback of federal data collection and reporting could harm efforts to help areas exposed to the greatest risks from pollution and climate change, and address historical inequities in environmental conditions.

Scientists launch 'Shorebird Blitz' as migration passes through Mass. Researchers and volunteers are surveying thousands of shorebirds as they migrate south, hoping the data -- on one of the most imperiled groups of birds in the country -- aids conservation efforts.

"Chilling on the beach, quite the life,” said one shorebird expert on the thousands making a pitstop at Mass. beaches while on their way south for the winter. Experts hope surveying migrating shorebirds will help with conservation efforts. @wbur.org
www.wbur.org/news/2025/08...

Mass. environmentalists condemn EPA move to undo landmark climate regulation Environmental lawyers and advocates are sounding the alarm on the EPA's plans to rollback a key finding that underlies its ability to combat climate change. "This is just a stake through the heart of ...

Environmental lawyers and advocates are sounding the alarm on the EPA's plans to roll back a key finding that underlies its ability to combat climate change. "This is just a stake through the heart of decades of hard work," said one environmental law expert. @wbur.org
www.wbur.org/news/2025/07...

What Springfield lost when the feds clawed back a $20 million grant Federal moves to eliminate "environmental justice" grant programs threaten progress in a city with high rates of asthma and childhood lead poisoning. Now, officials are suing the Trump administration ...

Federal moves to eliminate "environmental justice" grant programs threaten progress in a city with high rates of asthma and childhood lead poisoning. Now, officials are suing the Trump administration to get their $20 million grant back.

What Springfield lost when the feds clawed back a $20 million grant Federal moves to eliminate "environmental justice" grant programs threaten progress in a city with high rates of asthma and childhood lead poisoning. Now, officials are suing the Trump administration ...

Among some of the projects stalled in Springfield, MA after a $20M EPA grant was canceled by the Trump admin: cleaning up lead paint in homes, improving a dangerous road intersection, and upgrading an extreme weather shelter to clean energy. For @wbur.org
www.wbur.org/news/2025/07...

Local scientists, fisheries and weather forecasters feeling impact of NOAA cuts Staff and budget cuts at local offices of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), are degrading weather forecasts and adding chaos to New England's commercial fisheries. Proposed a...

I spoke to a bunch of local NOAA scientists for this story and the word I heard most was "chaos." Which is not what we want to hear from scientists in charge of weather forecasting, buoys, and fisheries management. www.wbur.org/news/2025/05...

“There’s no rhyme or reason to any of it," said one NOAA employee on deep budget and staffing cuts to the federal agency. From me and @moranwriter.bsky.social:

Ever since I started my graduate school career, I've known I want to work in science policy for the federal government, but right now that possibility is looking less and less likely each day. Thanks so much to @vivianla.bsky.social for doing such a wonderful job telling this story!

Under Trump, job prospects look 'bleak' for Mass. grads in environmental science In recent months, the Trump administration has clawed back funding for research, slashed scientific agencies and reshaped climate policy. The moves are complicating opportunities for environmental sci...

“I've trained for 10 years to get to this point, and all of a sudden this election has entirely derailed everything that I've ever wanted to do,” a Boston University student said.

Under Trump, job prospects look 'bleak' for Mass. grads in environmental science In recent months, the Trump administration has clawed back funding for research, slashed scientific agencies and reshaped climate policy. The moves are complicating opportunities for environmental sci...

“ It's been bittersweet — like peak achievement in my life, tainted with the job market for my field collapsing in front of me.” Great reporting by @vivianla.bsky.social on tough times for environmental grad students www.wbur.org/news/2025/05...

In Mass., volunteers pack thousands of abortion pills destined for states with bans Huddled around a small conference table in Greater Boston, volunteers form an ad hoc assembly line to slip hundreds of pills into padded envelopes. It's not an illegal drug operation, at least not her...

The Mass. Medication Abortion Access Project, or The MAP, runs a website offering medication by mail to people living in states that restrict abortion. In their view, they are fulfilling a basic health care need amid a fierce national debate and legal uncertainty.

As New England waters warm, invasive sea squirts move in Researchers say they're seeing more of these colorful blobs growing on docks, but they're not the only invasive marine species that could be spreading along New England coasts. And climate change may ...

Happy Earth Day! 🌎 And to celebrate, learn about how invasive sea squirts are mucking up New England's docks -- and becoming more of a problem thanks to warmer ocean temps. For @wbur.org
www.wbur.org/news/2025/04...

Massachusetts communities that bet big on offshore wind face uncertainty Three communities in Massachusetts have a lot to lose if the Trump administration succeeds in halting all offshore wind.

On this Earth Day, take a sound-rich audio tour of 3 Massachusetts communities where offshore wind has made -- or is slated to make -- a big economic impact. 🎧

The big question is, will any of this last?

www.wbur.org/news/2025/04... @wbur.org #climatesky #energysky

As New England waters warm, invasive sea squirts move in Researchers say they're seeing more of these colorful blobs growing on docks, but they're not the only invasive marine species that could be spreading along New England coasts. And climate change may ...

Happy Earth Day folks! 🌍 For your listening and viewing pleasure, we have this story about super-gross-looking invasive sea squirts. Who knew they looked like pancake batter? Ew! Thanks, @vivianla.bsky.social
www.wbur.org/news/2025/04...

To protect wildlife, advocates look to reduce rat poison use in Mass. Predators like hawks and eagles are getting sick and dying from consuming poisoned rodents. Advocates say there are alternatives that don't put animal health at risk.

I'm not sure exactly how this happened, but my colleagues and I at @wbur.org have done a lot of reporting on rats recently. 🐀 Here's today's story how rat poison can sicken and kill birds, and what can be done about it, by @vivianla.bsky.social. ( With great photos!! ) www.wbur.org/news/2025/03...

To protect wildlife, advocates look to reduce rat poison use in Mass. Predators like hawks and eagles are getting sick and dying from consuming poisoned rodents. Advocates say there are alternatives that don't put animal health at risk.

Where there are humans, there are rats! Here's how a common type of rat poison harms wildlife and what some advocates want to do about it:
www.wbur.org/news/2025/03...

As someone from the Midwest, this was my first look at how tough of an industry commercial fishing can be.

And recent employee cuts at NOAA combined with changes to fishery management might make that even tougher for the start of the groundfish season.

Nantucket group asks feds to reconsider key permits for fully approved proposed offshore wind farms Wind advocates worry that if the federal government takes up this new challenge, it could create an opening for the Trump administration to stop other fully permitted projects as well.

So far, the Trump administration's offshore wind policies haven't really impacted fully-permitted projects.

But a new petition from a Nantucket group could change that, legal experts tell me.

www.wbur.org/news/2025/03... @wbur.org #energysky #climatesky #offshorewind

We want to hear from current and former federal workers from New England Are you a current or former federal worker in New England affected by the changes being made by the Trump administration? If you're willing to share your experience, we want to listen.

Are you a current or former federal worker from New England affected by the changes being made by the Trump administration?

We want to hear from you! (My DMs are open too)

We have given some people anonymity in past stories, so please know that's an option. www.wbur.org/news/2025/03...

Boston Lyric Opera's 'The Seasons' blends emotional and climate turmoil The world premiere opera takes place in the near future where Earth's seasons are out of order. A group of artists retreats to nature hoping to find inspiration for their work, but they realize they'l...

Catch a twist on Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" at the Emerson Paramount Center this week! The opera connects our emotions to the turmoil of extreme weather under climate change. My foray into arts reporting for @wbur.org:
www.wbur.org/news/2025/03...

In a warming world, allergy season is getting longer A new analysis released Wednesday from the nonprofit Climate Central shows that recent "freeze-free" seasons in Boston have 15 extra days on average when compared to the 1970s.

Why yes, New Englanders, your allergies are getting worse and allergy season is getting longer. And, of course, climate change is to blame. @vivianla.bsky.social has the news from @wbur.org and good luck not getting the sniffles or water eyes while reading this.

www.wbur.org/news/2025/03...

For Mass. environmental groups, federal funding is now 'a gamble' “We're navigating a lawlessness,” said Tim Johnson, CEO of the Native Plant Trust. Some nonprofits can access federal grant funds, but others still can't. Some Massachusetts environmental nonprofits a...

Judges keep telling the Trump to un-freeze federal funds, but in many cases the money is still stuck. Mass. nonprofits are trying to figure out how to work in this new, weird world where the feds are unreliable partners. The latest from me and @vivianla.bsky.social

www.wbur.org/news/2025/02...

How bird flu 'upended' a Weymouth wildlife hospital Day-to-day operations require more resources like protective gear, space in the hospital to isolate birds and money to conduct testing, said New England Wildlife Center CEO Zak Mertz.

Nice snapshot from @vivianla.bsky.social of how bird flu is "upending" protocols at the New England Wildlife Center

www.wbur.org/news/2025/02...