An unusually large and hot fire has struck Alberta, Canada at an unusually early time of year. According to researchers, this is the new normal.

Melody Rowell reports the news that shocks with the scale of its destruction: "An enormous wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada, has displaced more than 80,000 people and destroyed an estimated 2,400 buildings, the majority of them homes."
While linking to many other examples of news coverage of the fire, the article for National Geographic is devoted to a series of photographs by Ian C. Bates.
Another recent article from the Associated Press puts the scale of the fire, which began on May 1, in historical context. According to that article, the fire in Alberta is just the latest example of larger and more extreme wildfires burning as a result climate change. The Associated Press also surveys the opinions and findings of researchers working on the subject.
FULL STORY: On the Ravaged Trail of Canada’s Monster Fire

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

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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