Kirk Siegler

The Oath Keepers group that's making headlines for its presence in Ferguson, Mo., is best known for mobilizing its self-described "security forces" to standoffs with federal land managers in the West.

GOP presidential hopeful Jeb Bush outlined his strategy to combat the self-proclaimed Islamic State, also known as ISIS, in a speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California on Tuesday.

The California fire is unusually intense and unpredictable. But between climate change and the impact of decades of poor management, such wildfires may be the new normal.

Thousands of people are under evacuation orders as firefighters battle the Rocky Fire in Northern California, but getting those evacuees to shelters has been difficult.

The Rocky Fire continues to grow as crews struggle to protect homes and businesses.

Thousands have been evacuated in California, as crews continue to battle the Rocky Fire, about 100 miles north of San Francisco. Cooler temperatures and higher humidity could help fir...

There is much hype around a potential El Nino that could help ease the drought on the West Coast. But there are concerns that a deluge of rain could do more harm than good for the long term drought outlook.

The state is grappling with the growing phenomenon of the "urban wildfire." That's when blazes that ignite in forests spread rapidly into recently built subdivisions and whole towns.

Exceptionally dry conditions are fueling major blazes across the Pacific Northwest. A drought and rapid development in Washington mean the state may not be prepared to deal with a long, hot summer.

Progress is being made toward bringing water to thousands of Central Valley residents in underserved communities where wells have run dry. The question is how long this solution will last.

#NPRreads is a weekly feature on Twitter and on The Two-Way. The premise is simple: Correspondents, editors and producers throughout our newsroom share pieces that have kept them reading. They share tidbits using the #NPRreads hashtag — and on Fridays, we highlight some of the best stories.

This week, ...

The Los Angeles City Council is set to give final approval to 2 ordinances that would make it easier for police to clear homeless encampments. At the same time, homelessness is increasing.

Due to warm ocean temperatures, tens of thousands of red crabs are invading beaches in Southern California.

Lawmakers in hard-hit Western states are pushing for suspensions to the Endangered Species Act to free up stored water. But an entrenched partisan divide over the law continues to be a hang-up.

Federal officials are warning of another long and costly wildfire season in the parched West. They're also renewing calls on Congress to change how the federal government pays for fighting fires.

Last month's oil spill along the coast near Santa Barbara could be more far reaching than originally thought. The number of dead wildlife being recovered continues to grow by the day.

Drought-stricken Central Valley farmers are pointing fingers at the Sacramento Delta, where water still flows reliably. There's more pressure than ever to change a long-standing water rights system.

Texas-based Plains All American Pipeline is reported to have a number of previous infractions. One of the company's pipelines also spilled an estimated 10,000 gallons near Los Angeles a year ago.

An estimated 105,000 gallons of crude oil spilled from a pipeline along the California coast near Santa Barbara. Crews are working to contain a 9 mile wide sheen in the Pacific Ocean.

Two former top officers in the Los Angeles County Sheriff's department face federal charges that they obstructed a probe into inmate abuse and corruption inside the nation's largest jail system.