News
Crystal Lake Recreation Area temporarily closed due to use of pesticides.
Crystal Lake Recreation Area, a popular camping spot nestled in the serene San Gabriel Mountains, will undergo a temporary closure from April 9-14. The closure is necessary as forest officials have scheduled a pesticide spray operation to protect the trees within the area from the destructive Western pine beetle, as announced on Sunday.
The dedicated crews at the recreation area have planned to meticulously spray ponderosa, Jeffrey/ponderosa hybrids, and Coulter pines with bifenthrin, ensuring that the trees are safeguarded from potential infestations. The targeted spraying will cover the trees from their base up to a height of 45 feet, providing comprehensive protection, as stated by the officials.
With the ever-evolving climate conditions, pine beetle infestations have seen a significant upsurge. These voracious insects thrive in warm weather, leading to a heightened risk of tree devastation. A single infestation event can mercilessly wipe out up to 200 trees at a time, posing a severe threat to the ecological balance of the area. To learn more about pine beetle infestations, you can visit the official website of the U.S. Forest Service.
News
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Protesters reach an agreement to dismantle encampment
Protesters at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee have agreed to end their pro-Palestinian encampment following an agreement reached with the school, university officials announced on Sunday. The encampment, which had been in place for two weeks, will be dismantled by Tuesday, marking the end of what was believed to be the last standing encampment at a Wisconsin college.
University officials had allowed the encampment to remain on a patch of lawn between Mitchell Hall and a busy thoroughfare on the campus’s southern boundary, opting not to involve law enforcement. This approach differed from the response at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where police were called in to remove tents after negotiations fell through. Despite initial efforts to disband the encampment, Wisconsin-Madison eventually reached an agreement with protesters to voluntarily dismantle the camp prior to commencement ceremonies.
Chancellor Mark Mone of Wisconsin-Milwaukee stated last Wednesday that the university had exhibited “the widest possible amount of patience and restraint.” However, he also cautioned that patience was wearing thin and hinted at potential action by the school. Following discussions with the UWM Popular University for Palestine Coalition, the university agreed to advocate for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, condemn the destruction of schools and universities in Gaza by Israeli forces, and hold meetings with protest leaders regarding university investments.
Additionally, the university pledged to urge the Water Council, a Milwaukee organization of water technology companies, to sever connections with two Israeli government-owned entities, Mekorot and the Israel Innovation Authority. Chancellor Mone serves as the treasurer on the Water Council’s board of directors.
In return for these commitments, the protesters agreed to dismantle the encampment beginning on Sunday and completing the process by Tuesday. They also agreed not to disrupt the university’s commencement ceremonies scheduled for Sunday. In a statement, the protesters expressed their satisfaction with the agreement, stating, “After hard fought edits and careful consideration by the coalition, we determined we had obtained all possible benefits from the encampment.”
The resolution of the encampment at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee represents a successful outcome of negotiations between university officials and protesters. By reaching a compromise that addresses the concerns of both parties, a peaceful resolution has been achieved, allowing for the encampment to be taken down without incident.