The war in Ukraine escalated on Wednesday as Russian forces captured Kherson, a strategically important city and the first to be overcome since the invasion began last week.
It probably goes without saying that this is just the latest in a series of developments deserving our attention. So, today I’m bringing you our latest coverage of the crisis, as well as its impact on California and beyond.
For starters, today’s front-page The New York Times features stories about thousands of Ukrainians taking refuge in the Kiev subway and anxiety spreading across Eastern Europe as Russia attempts to regain a sphere of influence it lost at the end of the Cold War.
Our correspondents working in Russia also wrote that the citizens of this country are aware of the reality of the war.
You can keep up to date with Ukraine’s latest news here or sign up for The Times’ nightly email about the conflict.
And now a few stories that are especially relevant to Californian readers:
Californian Russian investments: This week, a bipartisan group of California lawmakers said they plan to introduce legislation to get rid of the state’s Russian investments. The state has more than $1 billion in Russian investments, mostly in its pension fund, according to the Associated Press.
Climate change and gas prices: I recommend this article in the Times on how war is making efforts to slow global warming more difficult, just as scientists warn of increased dangers.
President Biden made little mention of his climate goals in his State of the Union speech Tuesday night. And gas prices are skyrocketing all over the world – on Wednesday, the average cost of a gallon of fuel in California reached a record high of $4.87.
As my colleagues explain, rising oil and gas prices are a boon to those who extract and sell the very products that cause deadly heat, wildfires and rising sea levels.
Escape from Ukraine with a newborn: The Los Angeles Times reported on a Costa Mesa couple who traveled to Ukraine to pick up their newborn daughter when the war broke out. Read how they ran.
Resources: CapRadio in Sacramento compiled a list of California organizations supporting Ukraine, as did The Los Angeles Times. NBC Los Angeles also covered a group in Agoura Hills helping disabled people escape the war-torn country.
what do we eat
How to cook salmon.
Where are we going
Today’s tip comes from Caroline Zutler, who recommends the Mercy Hot Springs, east of Salinas:
“I had no idea this place—less than 70 miles from my home in Fresno—existed until anxiety about a possible recurrence of breast cancer led me to look for hot springs near me. Tucked away in the eastern foothills of the Coast Range, this tiny village harbor was inviting. Driving past flowering almond trees and then driving into incredibly beautiful foothills, the trip turned into an adventure.
The midday silence, apart from the wind in the trees and a bath in the healing water, was the respite I needed. Campsites and tiny houses were available for longer visits.”
Tell us about your favorite places to visit in California. Send your suggestions to [email protected]. We will report more in future editions of the newsletter.
tell us
Join The Times for a free online event on Wednesday with two of the country’s most renowned experts on Covid-19.
Dr. Bob Wachter and Dr. Monica Gandy of UC San Francisco have been working throughout the pandemic to explain the risks of Covid-19. And often they disagree.
See details of the event here.
And before you leave, good news
The day after she was born, she was 5’10” tall and weighed 143 pounds.
This is the new baby giraffe at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert. The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers giraffes “endangered”.
The calf, whose name the zoo has yet to name, stood up and began walking within an hour of being born, the zoo said. Check out some of her adorable photos.
Thanks for reading. I’ll be back tomorrow. — Soumya
PS Here’s today’s mini-crossword puzzle and clue: Like sharks compared to trees, in Earth’s biological history (5 letters).
Briana Scalia and Marielle Wamsley contributed to California Today. You can contact the team at [email protected].
Subscribe here to receive this newsletter in your inbox.