If climate change is behind the horrific brush fires in Australia, then North Americans should be concerned about climatic changes killing off their own forests.
"[Australia's] fires should be regarded as the face of climate change, and...we can expect similar events to happen [in the United States]. Victoria (in Southeastern Australia) has been facing a severe drought for years. There's also recently been a heat-wave, with the temperature briefly hitting 115 degrees F last week. Extraordinarily dry conditions and heat led to massive fires, which as of this writing have killed at least 135 people and possibly over 200.
[A]s Global Warming intensifies, the tropics expand. As the tropics expand...that dry area where all the world's deserts are located moves a bit closer to the poles. Lots of other changes in precipitation happen, too.
Our turn is coming. Across the American west, trees are dying due to climate change. A few weeks ago, a study found 'Old-growth forests once studded with pine, hemlock and fir trees are dying across the western U.S. and Canada at double the rate of a half-century ago in what scientists are blaming on climate change.'
Droughts, warming and dead trees- these are the necessary ingredients for massive fires. How many canaries do we need?"
FULL STORY: Hell Comes to Australia: The Face of Climate Change

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower
A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”
The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train
The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont