Joan Meiners, PhD

Today we published the 2nd in my extreme heat series, looking at Arizona's progress since its statewide plan.

This time, it's all about whether Arizona's Chief Heat Officer has made a difference, or just made busy work for experts already leading heat responses: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...

Check back tomorrow for the second in the series

@azcentral.com @sejorg.bsky.social @ejtodaynews.bsky.social @coveringclimatenow.org @asuhealthsolutions.bsky.social @uarizona.bsky.social @willhumble.bsky.social

Big story out today launching a 3-part series I’ve been working on most of the year — looking at where Arizona’s extreme heat responses have improved since Gov. Hobbs’ plan…and where they have not.

First up: Is Arizona doing enough with heat-related hospital data?👇🏼
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...

From the energy community on Reddit: Big oil’s shadow network pumped millions into Charlie Kirk’s culture war machine Explore this post and more from the energy community

An article from a site called "Clean Tech Times" about Charlie Kirk and Big Oil money is trending in r/energy on Reddit

It's a completely plagiarized, unauthorized, unlinked version of an article I published the day before

I have no idea what to do about it except complain. It's so fucked up.

Love when my climate stories feature propane ads...

Note: If you were at the @sejorg.bsky.social conference in Tempe in April...this is what was going on when my lunch plenary with Crow got cancelled last minute. I couldn't disclose then, but a delay of this announcement forced us to pivot to a panel on challenges for journalists in the Trump era.

🚨BREAKING: Arizona State Univ. just announced a $115 million donation, its largest ever, from former Walmart chairman Rob Walton. They're launching a new School of Conservation Futures.

My story, publ. as ASU Pres. Crow shares news at #ClimateWeekNYC, has details: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...

📽️ WATCH: Epidemiologist Erin McCanlies spent much of the past 20 years studying how parents’ exposure to toxic chemicals affects the chances that they will have an autistic child.

RFK Jr. cut her entire division — yet promises to identify the causes of autism by September: https://propub.li/4nhXQua

Yeah it went well! Some of the trail is moderately technical and it handled fine, maybe partly bc the handlebars are crazy wide. That’s nice when you have a tent on them though. I hit my panniers on a few rocks squeezing thru techy spots, but that’ll get better once I get used to my new proportions.

Thank you, I’m so glad I got to work with you on this!

💕

Thank you @coveringclimatenow.org for the "#Climate in every beat" award! I'm happy to see this collab btw @azcentral.com & @19thnews.org on the intersection of climate concerns + abortion access get recognized.

Award: coveringclimatenow.org/projects/the...
Story: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...

If you're an early-career journalist, consider applying for @theopennotebook.bsky.social's paid, mentored fellowship and follow in the footsteps of @katherinejwu.com, @janehu.bsky.social, @sciwriabdul.bsky.social, @1juliarosen.bsky.social, @celiaford.bsky.social and many more! Deadline: 10/31.

I have a custom frame bag on order, but this is the basic setup on my Salsa Timberjack, @davidho.bsky.social. :)

"I started working on [climate] 60 years ago. And I will be working on it until my last breath, whenever that is," former Moms Arizona organizer Hazel Chandler tells @azcentral.com from hospice.

Read about Hazel's life in a feature by @joanmeiners.bsky.social: www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...

Under Trump administration, ICE scraps paperwork officers once had to do before immigration arrests For years, officers were required to fill out "homework” before operations. But, one source noted, “it’s hard to fill out a worksheet that just says, ‘Meet in the Home Depot parking lot.’”

This isn’t at all surprising, given that it’s essentially been publicly reported that Stephen Miller ordered ICE to arrest first and ask questions later, but it’s still worth noting. www.nbcnews.com/politics/nat...

They are not even pretending that they know anything about someone before arrest.

A student told her professor “President Trump’s laws state that there are two genders,” and that the lesson was “illegal” for contradicting that. It’s not. Executive orders are not laws.

Compliance with authoritarianism will not protect universities. Either we stand up for our missions or we fall.

In a single email, the EPA ended her research into how climate change endangers children Jane Clougherty spent years studying how extreme weather affects kids’ health, but as climate threats continue to rise, the Trump administration cancelled her work.

Jane Clougherty spent years studying how extreme weather affects kids’ health. Trump’s EPA cancelled her work as climate threats continue to rise.

I’m doing a test overnight this weekend! Will grab some pics and report back.

Can utilities replace power lines with solar and batteries in remote… Expanding the grid to reach far-flung customers can be a costly fire hazard. So utilities like PG&E are testing out microgrids using solar, batteries, and…

PG&E's 'remote grid' program is using solar, batteries, and generators to replace long power lines crossing fire-prone territory for handfuls of far-flung customers— a niche case for utility-owned microgrids that could expand as grid costs rise:
www.canarymedia.com/articles/sol...
#energysky

It is tempting. But I think journalists are pretty sensitive to the harms of doxxing people... :)

What a beautiful tribute to Hazel Chandler and her lifetime of climate advocacy, even now as our progress is set backwards. So sad to hear she is in hospice now.

Thank you, Hazel, for everything you've done to help Arizonans breathe easier.

Today in "Hate mail chronicles of a #climate reporter"

Just heard from a reader who's repeatedly told me it's HILARIOUS that I think climate change is a real problem.

Not only did this man spell his own first name wrong...but it seems he's currently on trial in Tucson for fraud.

Good job Gerajd!

Heyo climate + outdoorsy folks!

I’m about to embark on a big reporting project & I’d love for you to follow along.

I’ll be riding my mtn bike across the entire state on the 850-mile Arizona Trail.

I’ll try to post here too but more updates & info can be found on IG @joan_bikes_arizona

Thank you!

@sejorg.bsky.social @ejtodaynews.bsky.social @momscleanairforce.org @ucs.org @mayorgallego.bsky.social @eldersclimate.bsky.social @gallego.senate.gov

Today, as part of my series on local climate leaders, I have a profile of Phoenix’s Hazel Chandler, who — even at the age of 79 & while fighting terminal cancer — is making time to stand up against the Trump administration’s rollbacks of climate work and policy.

—> www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...

Heyo climate + outdoorsy folks!

I’m about to embark on a big reporting project & I’d love for you to follow along.

I’ll be riding my mtn bike across the entire state on the 850-mile Arizona Trail.

I’ll try to post here too but more updates & info can be found on IG @joan_bikes_arizona

Thank you!

In Trump’s Federal Work Force Cuts, Black Women Are Among the Hardest Hit

Black women have every right to be furious. The irresponsible choices of white voters has for many of us, taken our livelihood with consequences for our homes, the education of our children, our ability to care for parents.

It’s unconscionable.

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/31/u...

I’m trying a big-tent approach to climate - @dwallacewells.bsky.social & @mattyglesias.bsky.social both blurbed my book. But Matt is so right about the lefty approach to enemy-choosing. He doesn’t mention climate but Al Gore (!) called this Ivory Soap environmentalism: 99.44% pure ain’t enough.