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A protesters kicks a teargas canister during scuffles following a demonstration against under-resourced schools, in Paris, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Teresa Suarez) Comprehensive coverage of the day’s news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice French Police Fire Tear Gas as More Than 250,000 Rally for School Funding Hegseth Pushes Autonomous Warfare and Billionaire Partnerships Amid Impeachment Effort WHO Says Suspected Plague Case in Russian Lab Worker Poses Very Low Risk Outside Russia California Lawmakers Call Trump’s Comments “Treasonous” After He Appears to Invite Iran to Destroy San Diego and Los Angeles Independent Senator Bernie Sanders And Democratic Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed Come To California To Speak In Solidarity With Bay Area Nurses. The post The Pacifica Evening News Weekdays – October 6, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

Ancient “Grandmother” Cottonwood Cut Down Along U.S.-Mexico Border After 70-Day Tree Sit Ancient “Grandmother” Cottonwood Cut Down Along U.S.-Mexico Border After 70-Day Tree Sit Masked federal agents moved into a protest encampment near Lochiel, Arizona, Monday morning, clearing demonstrators from an area where activists had spent 70 days trying to prevent an ancient cottonwood tree from being cut down for construction of a new border wall. Protesters say agents arrived with guns drawn and entered private property without showing a warrant. Video from the scene captured demonstrators repeatedly questioning agents as they moved into the encampment. “This is private property,” one protester can be heard shouting. “You crossed into private property. You are breaking the law.” Screenshot from @tierralibre_noborders By the end of the operation, the ancient cottonwood protesters called the “Grandmother” tree had been cut down. The tree had become a symbol of a months-long campaign against construction of two layers of border wall through the San Rafael Valley, one of the remaining unwalled stretches of the Arizona-Mexico border. For 70 days, a coalition of environmental and human rights activists, Indigenous leaders and forest defenders maintained an encampment around the tree. Protesters held sunrise ceremonies at its base, sharing prayers and songs as part of their effort to prevent its removal. Video published from Monday’s operation shows a protester being removed from the tree’s canopy shortly before it was cut. Two agents wearing camouflage, helmets and tactical gear can be seen in a raised metal basket among the tree’s branches. The protester appears stretched across the basket with their bare feet hanging over its edge. When the cottonwood finally fell, screams from protesters could be heard across the valley. Documentary filmmaker Cori Erin, who was on the ground Monday, described an atmosphere of heartbreak following the operation. “It’s really traumatic,” Erin told KPFA News. “There’s a lot of heartbreak, but there’s still a lot of camaraderie and people supporting each other.” Erin said activists had “been putting a lot on the line to be here and to defend our rights and defend really the land.” She also told KPFA that agents did not present a warrant when they moved from federal land onto the private property where protesters had been staying. “There was no warrant or anything provided to be able to actually come onto the private property that they did,” Erin said. Photo by Lauren Schmitt In response to KPFA News’ inquiry, an unnamed spokesperson with the Department of Homeland Security said U.S. Customs and Border Protection had identified four cottonwood trees on federal land for removal as part of planned border wall construction: KPFA News also asked DHS to respond to protesters’ allegations that federal agents entered private property without showing a warrant. The agency did not address those allegations in its response. A wildlife corridor divided by a wall The fight over the cottonwoods is about more than the trees themselves. The San Rafael Valley provides habitat and a migration corridor for endangered wildlife moving between northern Mexico and the American Southwest. Laiken Jordahl, the Southwest conservation advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity, told KPFA that the cottonwood was likely more than 200 years old, older than the border, and had become “a symbol for the importance of the greater border region.” Unlike the desert landscape many associate with the U.S.-Mexico border, the San Rafael Valley is a lush grassland that provides an important corridor for jaguar migration and includes one of the last unwalled stretches of the Arizona border.  “Habitat fragmentation like this is one of the leading causes of the extinction crisis,” Jordahl said. “And the wall is perhaps the most severe representation of habitat fragmentation on this continent.” Jaguars once had populations throughout parts of Arizona and New Mexico before being hunted out of the United States. Individual jaguars have since been documented returning to Arizona from Mexico.The border prevents animals from reaching food, water and potential mates. Jordahl said a jaguar is currently roaming mountains north of the area where the wall is being constructed, raising concerns that a continuous barrier could prevent it from traveling south to find a mate. Other species that depend on cross-border habitat include the ocelot and Sonoran pronghorn. Photo by Lauren Schmitt Arizona raid comes as judge blocks construction in Texas The operation in Lochiel came just days after opponents of border wall construction secured a sharply different outcome hundreds of miles to the east. A federal judge in Texas issued an injunction blocking border wall construction in the Big Bend region after a legal challenge to the Department of Homeland Security’s use of its authority to waive environmental and other laws for construction. Jordahl, who testified in the case, said the challenge questioned both the government’s characterization of Big Bend as an area of high illegal entry and the breadth of DHS’s authority to waive laws for border construction. He described the ruling as the most significant legal victory against border wall construction since Congress expanded the federal government’s waiver authority through the REAL ID Act two decades ago. The outcome also raises questions about whether similar legal arguments could eventually be brought against construction elsewhere along the border, Jordahl said. The Lochiel protest is part of broader opposition to border wall construction in environmentally and culturally sensitive areas. On the Tohono O’odham Nation, tribal officials have accused federal officials and contractors of entering tribal land without authorization as the Nation fights plans for new barriers across its homeland. “A lot is still left to be written here,” Jordahl told KPFA. “From Lochiel to Big Bend, awareness around everything happening on the border is building and building.” Photo by Lauren Schmitt Back in Lochiel, the “Grandmother” tree is gone, but organizers say their campaign is not over. Cori Erin said two additional ancient cottonwoods remain standing across the border in Mexico, and organizers were meeting following Monday’s raid to determine what comes next. Despite Monday’s crackdown on the protest, those who avoided arrest vowed to continue their efforts, posting on social media: “The fight continues! Come to Lochiel, AZ and join the resistance!” Screenshot from @rally.forthevalley For additional updates, you can follow @rally.forthevalley and @tierralibre_noborders https://kpfa.org/app/uploads/2026/09/VID_20260910_102413_926.mp4   The post The Pacifica Evening News Weekdays – October 5, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

Comprehensive coverage of the day’s news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice. The post The Pacifica Evening News Weekdays – October 4, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

Comprehensive coverage of the day’s news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice. The post The Pacifica Evening News Weekdays – October 3, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

“We Demand More Information on How Marin Cops Illegally Shared Flock ALPR Data” from the Electronic Frontier Foundation   Comprehensive coverage of the day’s news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice. UN observes International Day of Nonviolence as 60 wars worldwide take toll on civilians; CA joins states suing Trump over new fuel economy standards and electric vehicle rules; Newsom signs 1,000 bills including tax on private detention centers, AI workplace rules, vetoes other measures; Controversy over Flock license plate reader database roils amid charges of illegal use by law enforcement agencies; Judge temporarily blocks border wall construction in Texas’ Big Bend region The post UN observes International Day of Nonviolence; Controversy over Flock license plate reader roils amid claims of illegal use by some law enforcement agencies – October 2, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

“Get Flock Cameras Out of Your Community” from ACLU of Northern California Comprehensive coverage of the day’s news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice. Tompkins County District Attorney Admits He Didn’t Actually Read The Police Transcript In Cornell Rape Case Before Deciding To Drop The Case, Amid Growing Calls For Accountability Officer Misuse of Flock Camera Promotes New Bill in CA to Hold Rogue Police Criminally Accountable Cuba Blasts United States Blockade at UN General Assembly as Trump Jokes About Dropping Rubio off in Cuba California’s Two Gubernatorial Candidates Traded Barbs Last Night During Their Only Scheduled Debate, While Sparring Over Issues Including Gas Prices, Artificial Intelligence, And Immigration   The post The Pacifica Evening News Weekdays – October 1, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

Comprehensive coverage of the day’s news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice. UN Security Council discusses abolition of nuclear weapons, as nuclear powers battle across globe; OpenAI CEO Sam Altman skips Senate hearing on rogue AI, as Trump backs industry self-policing; Nurses in SF protest surveillance company Palantir, march to ICE office protesting Trump’s immigration agenda; FTC is investigating OpenAI and Anthropic over possible risks to consumers; September 30 is International Translation Day. The Guinness World Record for most translated document in the world goes to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights The post UN Security Council discusses abolition of nuclear weapons; OpenAI CEO Sam Altman skips Senate hearing on rogue AI – September 30, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

Comprehensive coverage of the day’s news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice. Image by TapTheForwardAssist licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license Former special counsel who indicted Trump twice defends his investigations in Sen. Judiciary hearing; Health secretary Kennedy attacks “ultra-processed foods” in MAHA summit with VP Vance; CHIRLA dismayed by  Supreme Court ruling allowing deportations to 3rd countries, calls it cruel and illegal; Dems push legislation to protect migrants with Temporary Protected Status from being deported to dangerous places; Gov. Newsom touts CA environmental wins, but ecological future remains up in the air; Nearly 8.3 million refugees and other forcibly displaced and stateless people on brink of losing access to vital assistance due to severe funding cuts to UN Refugee Agency; On Sept 29, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed act creating National Endowment for the Humanities and National Endowment for the Arts The post Former special counsel who twice indicted Trump defends his investigations; immigrant rights activists blast Supreme Court ruling on deportations to 3rd countries – September 29, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

Comprehensive coverage of the day’s news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice. UN official criticizes Israel’s West Bank settlement actions, Israeli peace activists blast ethnic cleansing and weaponization of pain; Oakland activists call on FedEx to end military cargo shipments from Oakland airport to Israel, saying it supports genocide; Trump announces new Iowa steel plant to be largest in US, hoping to boost Iowa GOP in midterm elections; New rules on public benefits could now count against migrants applying for permanent residency; Concord activists protest ICE actions at Home Depot, day laborers say they’re workers not criminals; Fresno Bee reporters hit by layoffs, similar to other McClatchy-owned newspapers across country; September 28 is International Day for Universal Access to Information. The UN says in a world overflowing with information and disinformation, access alone is not enough, and what matters is whether people can rely on what they find. The post Israeli peace activists blast ethnic cleansing and weaponization of pain; Oakland activists call on FedEx to end military cargo shipments from Oakland airport to Israel – September 28, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

Just days after Donald Trump’s UN speech calling for the downfall of the Cuban government, news reports say the US is planning a military invasion Trump rejects Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume talks on its nuclear program in seven days if the US lifts its blockade of Iranian ports, waives sanctions on Iranian oil sales and observed a ceasefire UN delegates walk out of Netanyahu’s speech, and a new documentary exposing systematic Israeli war crimes in Gaza premiers in NYC, as Israeli co-director Yuval Abraham speaks out The campaign to release Palestinian activist Marwan Barghouti got a boost this weekend with an endorsement from US representative Ro Khanna Republican officials say they’re going to remove 760,000 Affordable Care Act or “Obamacare” enrollees from public healthcare exchanges, as 25 Democratic-led states sue over cuts to Medicaid. The post Reported plans for Cuba invasion | Trump rejects Iranian ceasefire proposal | Film on Israeli war crimes makes US debut | GOP slashes Obamacare enrollment appeared first on KPFA.

Comprehensive coverage of the day’s news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice. The post The Pacifica Evening News Weekdays – September 26, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

Comprehensive coverage of the day’s news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice. Data from UNHCR with major processing by Our World in Data 117 million people forcibly displaced globally, UN Refugee chief says the durable solution is peace; China President Xi visits Trump in first state visit to US in a decade with few tangible agreements; Supreme Court rejects a Trump-backed Missouri congressional map for the third time; Iran proposes deal to open Hormuz in 7 days if US meets conditions; Saturday Sept 25 is International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, marked this year by what Secretary-General Guterres calls an immediate and growing threat of nuclear catastrophe.  Palestinians and Iranians Respond to Trump and Netanyahu’s U.N. Speeches, Which Called for Annihilation and Decried Accusations of Genocide as False The post UN Refugee chief says the durable solution to forcible displacements is peace; China President Xi ends 3-day visit to Trump with few tangible agreements – September 25, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

Delegations walk out as Benjamin Netanyahu (at podium), Prime Minister of the State of Israel, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s eighty-first session. (UN Photo/Loey Felipe) Comprehensive coverage of the day’s news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice.  FDA Nominee Faces Senate Questions on Vaccine Claims, Drug Prices and Abortion Medication Woman Wrongly Jailed After Flock Camera Misidentified Her Vehicle in Fatal Crash Investigation Israeli and Palestinian Leaders Address U.N. General Assembly as Protesters Denounce Netanyahu’s Speech; More Than 100 Arrested Navy Reports Eight Suicide Attempts During USS Abraham Lincoln’s Nine-Month Deployment Supporting War in Iran California Supreme Court Rules Sheriff’s Seizure of Hundreds of Thousands of Ballots Unlawful The post The Pacifica Evening News Weekdays – September 24, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

Comprehensive coverage of the day’s news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice. UN General Assembly Hall (image by Basil D Soufi under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license Iran president tells UN General Assembly his people “victims of terrorism” by US, day after Trump threats at GA; Trump-backed Board of Peace proposes plan for reconstruction of Gaza, as Israeli attacks continue; UN Security Council debates Artificial Intelligence, as Senate Dems propose legislation to rein in AI; Israeli PM Netanyahu blasts NYC Mayor Mamdani, who had called Netanyahu “war criminal”, as activists plan Netanyahu protest; “Public charge” rule change threatens immigrant eligibility for permanent residency; CA Atty Gen Bonta, other state AGs prepare for Trump interference in midterm elections as Trump grows more desperate In his UN speech, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces had captured Russian soldiers from 47 countries, many of whom he said were recruited through “deception and tricks.” says Russia used “deception and tricks” to recruit prisoners of war from 47 countries The post Iran president tells UN General Assembly his people “victims of terrorism” by US; Trump-backed Board of Peace proposes plan for reconstruction of Gaza – September 23, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

Donald Trump, President of the United States of America, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly’s eighty-first session. Comprehensive coverage of the day’s news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice. WHILE OTHERS PREACH PEACE AND COOPERATION AT THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, PRESIDENT TRUMP THREATENS ANNIHILATION VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE ANNOUNCES THE EJECTION OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AFFORDABLE CARE ACT RECIPIENTS OVER FRAUD ALLEGATIONS. THE FAMILY OF A BLACK TEENAGER WHO DIED UNDER UNEXPLAINED CIRCUMSTANCES REJECTS A GRAND JURY DECISION NOT TO INVESTIGATE THE DEATH. TRUMP HAILS NEW GREENLAND SECURITY DEAL AT UN AFTER STANDOFF WITH DENMARK. BERNIE SANDERS WARNS AT UN: AI AND OLIGARCHS THREATEN US ALL The post The Pacifica Evening News Weekdays – September 22, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.