Features

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, the small town of Chimney Rock was devastated as Hurricane Helene tore through, leaving dozens of homes in ruins near the popular tourist destination of Lake Lure. In the following months, churches driven by their faith came together to support the town, providing food and aiding […]

The road into Chimney Rock, a charming village nestled in the mountains of North Carolina known for breathtaking natural scenery and proximity to the iconic Chimney Rock State Park, was blocked by devastation. When a team of student journalists approached the entrance, a man guarding the road said nobody could enter without Mayor Peter O’Leary’s […]

It was a rainy Thursday morning when three curious journalism students set out to explore the wilderness with Asheville native Callie Warner. A born environmentalist with mud on her boots and mountains in her soul, Callie carried a quiet reverence for the land, the kind of understanding that reshapes how outsiders see the world. Her […]

Hidden in the Blue Ridge Mountains along a winding road leading to Lake Lure lies the Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach. A food pantry that has been up and operating since 2004. Only now accessible through one main road that takes you through deep Appalachian country. The Outreach has been ramping up, especially after Hurricane Helene. […]

Between the tourist destinations of Asheville and Black Mountain, lies a rural town called Swannanoa. During Hurricane Helene this small town suffered devastating flooding, washing away homes, businesses and infrastructure. The storm knocked out power and cell services, leaving the town’s citizens stranded with no way to contact the outside world. Six months later, the […]

When driving through the streets of Pacific Palisades, Latino workers are seen sifting through debris in search of anything salvageable. Trying to clear the properties to prepare for the demolition and rebuilding process for their employers, people are seen at work throughout the neighborhood. In the distance, the crashing of the waves, the whistling of […]

Santa Monica resident Susan Suntree stood on the beach in Santa Monica. Five miles from the burn zone, the environmental impact could still be seen and felt. The once picturesque beach was covered in a thick layer of ash and debris, turning the golden sand black. “I wanted to take my dog but they’re saying […]

Environmental journalist Ray Ford is based in Santa Barbara, California, and has been there his whole life. When he first got on the phone, Ford wanted the reporter to have a mental picture of the area in which they were traveling. He described the geology of the land, the ways the mountains don’t only move […]

Elvis Santiago moved to Los Angeles from Mexico in 2001 when he was 21 and after two years was able to start his landscaping business. He was able to branch out his business to Pacific Palisades where he has worked ever since. Unfortunately, due to the impacts caused by the fires, work for Santiago has […]

Malibu’s Reel Inn was more than a seafood restaurant. No one knows that better than Teddy Leonard, the Inn’s co-owner. “It seemed to be appreciated by many,” said Leonard. “I mean, we would have surfers in line with actors, in line with homeless people, in line with movie executives. You had families, you had everybody. […]

On a day that started like any other, Peter Lamden, owner of “Peter Lamden Salon” in the Pacific Palisades, noticed smoke billowing on the horizon just minutes after receiving emergency alerts. Having grown up in the area, he instantly recognized the danger. He reached out to his childhood best friend, whose home became the first […]

Business and community leaders in Pacific Palisades and Malibu have a deep love for their small towns. It’s inspired them to lead the charge for recovery after the Palisades Fire. This story is part of a semester-long investigative reporting project into the 2025 California wildfires. It was created by an advanced reporting class in the […]