Arizonans stranded by blizzard cope with cabin fever

WASHINGTON – Jen Pitera hoped that when she brought a group of students from Phoenix-area Catholic schools to Washington last week they would learn more about what goes on in the nation’s capital.
What she didn’t expect was a lesson in cabin fever.  http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2016/01/26/arizonans-stranded-blizzard-cope-cabin-fever/79349284/
Article courtesy of The Arizona Republic by Jessica Swarner, Cronkite News

4.1-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Ludlow

A 4.1-magnitude quake struck five miles west southwest of Ludlow in San Bernardino County Sunday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The temblor struck about 47 miles southeast of Barstow around 7:32 a.m., USGS said.  http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Preliminary-40-Magnitude-Earthquake-Strikes-Ludlow-366347771.html

Article courtesy of NBC4 News by Jessica Perez

Calif.'s Massive Methane Leak Highlights Crisis Across U.S.

As the massive natural gas leak in Aliso Canyon continues to pump methane into the air above Los Angeles, environmental activists are warning about a much bigger and more widespread crisis that is not drawing nearly as much attention: leaks throughout the nation's oil and gas supply chain.  http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/California-Methane-Leak-Aliso-Canyon-Porter-Ranch-Environmentalists-Other-Leaks-365804391.html
Article courtesy of NBC4 News by Noreen O'Donnell

Commuter rail operator to move North American HQ to Boston

Keolis, the French company contracted to operate the MBTA’s commuter rail service, is moving its North American headquarters to Boston.  http://www.boston.com/news/2016/01/20/commuter-rail-operator-move-north-american-boston/mFxdH0bqyjqo5DTRTNGDKP/story.html?p1=takeover
Article courtesy of boston.com by Adam Vaccaro

Red Line speeds back to normal on Longfellow Bridge

The MBTA has lifted all speed restrictions for inbound Red Line trains crossing the Charles River over the Longfellow Bridge.

MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo confirmed to Boston.com Wednesday morning that the speed restrictions—which had trains running at 10 mph for part of this week—have been lifted.  http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2016/01/27/red-line-speeds-back-normal-longfellow-bridge/Zt9qh0EpB3LJjG0YsVBSWI/story.html?p1=stream_news

Article courtesy of Boston.com by Jack Pickell

Cutting late-night T service could impact minority, low-income riders

Eliminating late-night weekend T service might have a disproportionate effect on low-income and minority riders, a transit official said Tuesday.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is required by the federal law to run an “equity analysis” to see whether any planned service changes would have a greater impact on low-income or minority riders than other parts of the population.  http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2016/01/19/cutting-late-night-service-could-impact-minority-low-income-riders/OjAggLZ9Z5rSgGexZMfO4J/story.html?p1=well_ICYMI_main_hp

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Adam Vaccaro

Explosion risk stalls plan to capture and burn gas from Porter Ranch leak

The possibility of a catastrophic explosion prompted state regulators Saturday to delay plans to capture and burn leaking natural gas that has sickened and displaced thousands of residents of Porter Ranch
Mohsen Nazemi, deputy executive officer of the South Coast Air Quality Management District, whose hearing board was expected to approve the plan at a public meeting in Granada Hills, acknowledged the proposal was “very unusual” and that the idea is now on hold until local fire officials and state and federal regulators, have signed off on it.  http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-gas-leak-continues-as-regulators-argue-over-safest-way-to-stop-it-20160116-story.html
Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Tony Barboza, Garrett Therolf and Jack Dolan

California braces for series of El Nino storms

As much as 15 inches of rain could fall in the next 16 days in Northern California, with about 2 feet of snow expected in the highest points of the Sierra Nevada, said Johnny Powell, a forecaster with the National Weather Service.  http://www.aol.com/article/2016/01/04/california-braces-for-series-of-el-nino-storms/21291562/
Article courtesy of AOL.com from Associated Press by Kristin Bender

Here are the MBTA’s proposed fare hikes

What will your commute cost when MBTA fares go up in July?

We won’t know for sure until the T’s control board votes later this year, but possible new prices are starting to get more clear. The board voted Monday to advance two fare-increase options to a public comment period. One option is pricier than the other, but each would boost fare prices across most of the system.  http://www.boston.com/news/2016/01/04/here-are-the-mbta-proposed-fare-hikes/i5pVgi9KNSJuSahU4rseSN/story.html?p1=stream_news

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Adam Vaccaro

Hundreds of endangered sea turtles continue to wash up on Cape Cod shores

Endangered sea turtles continue to be found stranded along Cape Cod late in the season. After first reporting in mid-December that Massachusetts Audubon Society volunteers had rescued 120 “cold-stunned” turtles, The Boston Globe now reports that the number of sea turtle washed up on the shores has reached about 500. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2016/01/05/hundreds-endangered-sea-turtles-continue-wash-cape-cod-shores/efvApORrIw8wHaJPAnoi3L/story.html?p1=stream_news
Article courtesy of boston.com by Kristin Troussaint