Newsom declares emergency, waives environmental rules for California fire season prep
(World News Science)

By KATHLEEN RONAYNE SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California Gov. Gavin Newsom moved Friday to bypass environmental regulations to prepare for the next wildfire season, a move he said was necessary to prevent further loss of life even as it frustrated activists in a state viewed as a national environmental leader. `The increasing wildfire risks we face as a state mean we simply can´t wait until a fire starts in order to start deploying emergency resources,` Newsom said in a statement ahead of declaring a state of emergency. California experienced two of its most destructive and deadly wildfire seasons in 2017 and 2018 and experts say climate change increases the risks. Newsom said clearing...