Vivian La
@vivianla.bsky.social
environmental reporting fellow @wbur.org • she/her • work in @science.org @chicagotribune.com • email: vla@bu.edu or @vla.05 on Signal
“ 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:
Read about the challenges of managed retreat for one Mass. city as the state considers starting its own program, for @wbur.org:
Massachusetts officials are laying groundwork for a plan to offer coastal residents money for their homes as threats like flooding and erosion increase due to climate change. But it can be hard to convince people to leave or get enough money to buy expensive homes.
Mass. wants to buy flood-prone homes. Not everyone is ready to sell
Massachusetts officials are laying groundwork for a plan to offer coastal residents money for their homes as threats like flooding and erosion increase due to climate change. But it can be hard to con...
www.wbur.org
December 4, 2025 at 4:30 PM
“ 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:
Read about the challenges of managed retreat for one Mass. city as the state considers starting its own program, for @wbur.org:
Reposted by Vivian La
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...
A sobering story from @vivianla.bsky.social www.wbur.org/news/2025/11...
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.
www.wbur.org
November 24, 2025 at 4:22 PM
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...
A sobering story from @vivianla.bsky.social www.wbur.org/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Vivian La
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...
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...
www.wbur.org
October 6, 2025 at 12:33 PM
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...
Reposted by Vivian La
"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."
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...
www.wbur.org
October 6, 2025 at 10:00 AM
"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."
Reposted by Vivian La
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
www.wbur.org/news/2025/10... @wbur.org
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.
www.wbur.org
October 1, 2025 at 7:42 PM
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
www.wbur.org/news/2025/10... @wbur.org
Reposted by Vivian La
dogged reporting by my colleague @vivianla.bsky.social www.wbur.org/news/2025/09...
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...
www.wbur.org
September 15, 2025 at 1:12 PM
dogged reporting by my colleague @vivianla.bsky.social www.wbur.org/news/2025/09...
Reposted by Vivian La
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.
'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...
www.wbur.org
August 14, 2025 at 3:52 PM
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.
"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...
www.wbur.org/news/2025/08...
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.
www.wbur.org
August 6, 2025 at 7:13 PM
"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...
www.wbur.org/news/2025/08...
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...
www.wbur.org/news/2025/07...
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 ...
www.wbur.org
August 1, 2025 at 4:50 PM
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...
www.wbur.org/news/2025/07...
Reposted by Vivian La
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 ...
www.wbur.org
July 23, 2025 at 10:32 AM
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.
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...
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 ...
www.wbur.org
July 23, 2025 at 2:53 PM
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...
www.wbur.org/news/2025/07...
Reposted by Vivian La
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...
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...
www.wbur.org
May 13, 2025 at 12:05 PM
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:
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.
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...
www.wbur.org
May 13, 2025 at 1:57 PM
“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:
Reposted by Vivian La
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!
“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...
www.wbur.org
May 8, 2025 at 2:46 PM
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!
Reposted by Vivian La
“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...
www.wbur.org
May 8, 2025 at 11:05 AM
“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.
Reposted by Vivian La
“ 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...
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...
www.wbur.org
May 8, 2025 at 1:19 PM
“ 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...
Reposted by Vivian La
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.
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...
www.wbur.org
April 29, 2025 at 7:02 PM
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.
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...
www.wbur.org/news/2025/04...
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 ...
www.wbur.org
April 22, 2025 at 6:43 PM
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...
www.wbur.org/news/2025/04...
Reposted by Vivian La
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
The big question is, will any of this last?
www.wbur.org/news/2025/04... @wbur.org #climatesky #energysky
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.
www.wbur.org
April 22, 2025 at 1:34 PM
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
The big question is, will any of this last?
www.wbur.org/news/2025/04... @wbur.org #climatesky #energysky
Reposted by Vivian La
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...
www.wbur.org/news/2025/04...
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 ...
www.wbur.org
April 22, 2025 at 2:25 PM
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...
www.wbur.org/news/2025/04...
Reposted by Vivian La
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.
www.wbur.org
March 31, 2025 at 4:30 PM
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...
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...
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.
www.wbur.org
March 31, 2025 at 7:05 PM
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...
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.
And recent employee cuts at NOAA combined with changes to fishery management might make that even tougher for the start of the groundfish season.
The start of this year's commercial fishing season could be a bust for fishermen who catch groundfish species like cod, haddock and flounder.
NOAA slowdowns and new science delay the usual 'scramble' to set fishing catch limits
" People's livelihoods and businesses depend on it," said fisherman Frank Mirarchi.
www.wbur.org
March 25, 2025 at 8:30 PM
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.
And recent employee cuts at NOAA combined with changes to fishery management might make that even tougher for the start of the groundfish season.
Reposted by Vivian La
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
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
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.
www.wbur.org
March 21, 2025 at 2:45 PM
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
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
Reposted by Vivian La
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...
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...
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.
www.wbur.org
March 18, 2025 at 12:49 PM
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...
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...