Blocking Californians' beach access will soon carry a hefty fine

Frustrated beachgoers this summer will finally have a remedy against anyone who blocks public access to California's shoreline.. Under a new law that takes effect Tuesday, the California Coastal Commission will for the first time have the authority to impose fines on violators http://www.latimes.com/science/la-me-coastal-penalties-20140630-story.html# Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Tony Barboza

Democratic bill would slow California's effort to curb climate change

A group of business-friendly Democratic lawmakers worries that requiring refineries to buy credits under "cap and trade" could add at least 15 cents to the price of a gallon of unleaded gasoline. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-capitol-business-beat-20140714-story.html# Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Marc Lifsher

How many sheets of paper does one tree produce?

Since a typical 500-sheet packet of the paper weighs 5 pounds, that’s 10,000 to 20,000 sheets per tree The United States produced about 20,700,000 tons of this paper last year, which by my reckoning (see below) takes 55 to 110 million trees, but we only recycle about 11,000,000 tons, or 53 percent. http://sierraclub.org/sierra/2014-4-july-august/green-life/how-much-paper-does-one-tree-produce?src=1pt&utm_source=greenlife&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter Article courtesy of Sierra Magazine/Ask Mr. Green by Bob Shildgen

Senior Citizens Comprise Significant Portion of Bike Riders

While biking might be seen as a young person's pursuit, new data show that Americans aged 60-79 represent a sizeable chunk of new riders. The National Household Travel Survey reports that between 1995 and 2009, the rise in biking among people ages 60-79 accounted for 37 percent of the total nationwide increase in bike trips. To learn more: http://usa.streetsblog.org/2014/06/20/surprise-people-aged-60-79-are-behind-more-than-a-third-of-the-biking-boom/ Article Courtesy of Smart Growth Online Newsletter

Bike Path to Connect Long Beach to Los Angeles

The Los Angeles City Council asked city engineers to explore a proposal that would close an 8.5-mile gap in a bike path that runs inside the Los Angeles River channel, connecting Long Beach to Downtown Los Angeles. The bike path would be built right on the river bed, completing a 31-mile bike route from Griffith Park to Long Beach, and then working its way through downtown Los Angeles. To learn more: www.planetizen.com/node/70043?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=06302014 Article courtesy of Smart Growth Online Newsletter

MIT finger device reads to the blind in real time

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are developing an audio reading device to be worn on the index finger of people whose vision is impaired, giving them affordable and immediate access to printed words. http://bostonherald.com/business/technology/technology_news/2014/07/mit_finger_device_reads_to_the_blind_in_real_time ARticle courtesy of The Boston Herald by The Associated Press

Archer Daniels Midland buying Wild Flavors

ACQUISITIONS Sweet deal for natural flavors Archer Daniels Midland already makes sweeteners, fibers, emulsifiers and an array of other ingredients used in packaged foods and drinks. Now it's getting in the business of natural flavors. The agribusiness giant said Monday it will acquire the privately held Swiss company Wild Flavors in an all-cash deal that will total $3.13 billion, counting debt. Founded in 1931, Wild Flavors makes natural flavors and "flavor systems" that help give products their distinct tastes. http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Archer-Daniels-Midland-buying-Wild-Flavors-5605426.php Article courtesy of SF Gate by Chronicle News Services

State moves to improve safety in transporting oil by rail

A year after rail tanker cars carrying crude oil in Canada exploded and killed 47 people, California is stepping up efforts to prevent a similar disaster on tracks crisscrossing the state.. In recent weeks, the state began pumping more money into a new rail safety program, the Legislature approved new fees on oil being carried by train, and the state's Fish and Wildlife Department started planning how to better protect inland waterways from oil spills. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-oil-train-safety-20140708-story.html# Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Marc Lifsher

Trove of ancient marine fossils surprises Bay Area dam builders

Crews had no clue when work started on a Bay Area dam in 2011 that they would stumble onto a trove of marine fossils many millions of years old. Hundreds of specimens have been found at the Calaveras Dam site nearMilpitas,Calif. http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/# Article Courtesy of the Los Angeles Times/Science Now