The “town awash in poop” is not a sought-after tourism slogan, but it’s how the New Republic describes the California surf town of Imperial Beach near San Diego. The problem for residents is that the description is an apt one. The poop in question comes from across the border in Tijuana, Mexico. The trouble began in 2017 when a sewage pipeline burst and sent feces and wastewater into the Tijuana River and eventually onto the shores of Imperial Beach. Since then, the town has had persistent sewage contamination with cascading effects on the local tourism economy. Sections of Imperial Beach have been closed to swimmers for more than 900 straight days, and bars and restaurants are struggling to survive.

It’s more than a matter of a one-off cleanup. The story explores the complicated cross-border factors at play, starting with Tijuana’s surging population (thanks in part to NAFTA) without the sewage infrastructure to handle it. Congress has provided $300 million to address US-Mexico pollution, but the sum is seen as nowhere near enough. In the meantime, Imperial Beach locals are getting sick. Local officials and organizations are working to address the crisis through various means, including legal action, community recycling programs, and collaboration with health departments. However, a comprehensive solution remains elusive. Read the full story. (Or check out other longforms.)

SALT LAKE CITY — The families of three Utahns are mourning after their loved ones drowned while canyoneering in California.

The three friends were hiking near the Seven Teacups area in Tulare County when the incident happened.

“He loved making moments special for people,” said Summerisa Bell Stevens, sister of one of the victims, David Bell.

Friendly to everybody

From spending time with his family to the outdoors with friends Stevens described her 48-year-old brother as a friend to everyone.

“I think that is where he thrived. There wasn’t anything that he wouldn’t do for anyone,” Stevens said.

That dedication extended to Bell’s community. Bell was co-founder of the Harrington Center for the Arts, a non-profit in America Fork, devoted to supporting creatives and the arts, and owner of Runtastic Events, the creative force behind several marathons held across Utah.

“He helped people achieve a goal and then feel the joy from that,” Valecia Green, Bell’s older sister said. “He loved being outside, (and) he felt like he connected with God outside.”

On Friday, David was in California with a group of 13 friends, They were canyoneering near the Seven Teacups area in Tulare County, about 80 miles northeast of Bakersfield.

“They had had a seamless beautiful day canyoneering together. They were actually at very the end of that experience,” Stevens said.

“The leader [of the group] had done this trip, I think she said 15 times, so it was just the very last four foot drop into a pool, a little pool,” Green said.

“From the top of the surface you wouldn’t have been able to tell that anything was wrong,” Stevens added.

Something went wrong

According to Stevens and Green, David’s dear friend Jeannine Skinner was the first to jump in. The group soon realized something was wrong.

“At first they didn’t understand what was going on,” Stevens said.

Skinner wasn’t surfacing and appeared to be caught in an undercurrent unable to get out. Their friend Peter On was nearby and dove in first help her. David, who was higher up, soon followed him in.

“There was a circular current that they think was caused by either a large log or a rock that was pushed into that area,” Stevens said. “Pete immediately jumped into the water to help Jeannine. At one point he got out and he was able to get away from the current and extended his hand and she couldn’t reach it so he went back in to try to get her.”

Unfortunately, all three were caught in the current.

“It sounds like it was circular, they would come under and then come back up,” Green said.

“[Then] Dave was able to get himself out of the cycle at the same time that Pete went unconscious, but Dave saw that Jeannine was still in the pattern, he went back and tried to get her out as well,” Stevens said.

All three lost consciousness. Their friends were able to pull them out within seven minutes and performed CPR for more than 20 minutes, doing everything they could, but it was too late.

“These are all really experienced people and one of them was a nurse practitioner,” Stevens said. “We’ve been able to get a little bit of closure by talking to the people there.”

Holding onto their faith

As loved ones process this tragedy, they’re clinging onto their faith.

“These are three amazing, amazing individuals that will be very missed by family, friends and the community at large,” Green said.

The three victims’ bodies were recovered on Saturday. They will be brought back to Utah for funeral services.

According to NBC affiliate KGET, the Tulare County Fire Department initially reported that a fourth person injured but David’s family says there was some confusion and no one else was hurt.

There is a marathon in Payson on Sept. 7 that will be held in honor of David, Jeannine and Pete.

A *GoFundMe acccount has been set up for Bell.

The friends of David, Jeannine, and Pete are asked to share their memories and stories by clicking here.

*KSL TV does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.

California is often hailed as a leader amongst states on progressive issues, particularly those related to women’s rights. Yet California is now on the verge of passing a law that facilitates placing pregnant women in solitary confinement. As someone who experienced the dehumanizing and degrading effects of being placed in solitary confinement while pregnant, I feel compelled to speak up and speak out.

I was arrested when I was six months pregnant, and placed into solitary confinement. When I was taken to court my arms were shackled to my waist, despite the fact that I was pregnant. When I gave birth I was handcuffed to the hospital bed, and treated like I was less than human. Giving birth can be one of the most beautiful and sacred experiences a person can have, yet for me it became a dark and degrading experience because of how I was treated.

Across the world, in all different countries and cultures, pregnant women are viewed as a symbol of life, and are cared for, accommodated, honored and respected. Yet in California jails and prisons, placing them in isolation is somehow viewed as acceptable. California has no law on the books that prevent pregnant women from being placed in solitary confinement, a practice that most of the enlightened world views as a form of torture.

What is perhaps most shocking to learn, is that attempts to legislate protections for pregnant women have not only been undermined, but they have been transformed from a ban on placing pregnant women in solitary confinement, to legislation that facilitates this placement for up to five days, with no medical or third party oversight.

I am referring to AB 2527, a bill by Asm. Bauer-Kahan that started out as a blanket ban on the use of solitary confinement for pregnant women in jails and prisons. Speaking about the bill, Asm. Bauer-Kahan was quoted as saying: “To be pregnant, to remain healthy, I really, truly believe that restrictive housing shouldn’t be a part of the equation.”

Just days later, Bauer-Kahan accepted amendments by correctional authorities that fundamentally altered the bill from ending solitary confinement for pregnant women in jails and prisons, to empowering CDCR to place pregnant women in solitary for up to five days based on when there is a security concern.

To be clear, the legislature is proposing solitary confinement if a pregnant woman, and an unborn child, is facing a security concern. They are not providing a safe alternative to solitary, such as a trauma informed unit that can house a pregnant woman individually, but provide them with guaranteed time out of cell, and access to medical care and programming. Instead the proposed legislation places complete power in the hands of CDCR, without even requiring the development of a medical plan, or a cumulative limit to how many five day stretches of isolation can occur in a particular period.

The bill also completely eliminated all protection to pregnant women in county jails, so it would not have applied to me. Based on available information, instead the supposed “protections” of AB 2527 would apply to seven people in the entire state of California.

These amendments all took place during a period where the legislature quietly prevented the California Mandela Act from being sent to the desk of Governor Newsom. The Mandela Act twice received broad support in the legislature, and included a provision that would completely eliminate the use of solitary confinement for pregnant women in jails, prison and private detention facilities.

Now California appears to be moving backwards on this issue. Why? Apparently to send a bill that purports to care about pregnant women to Governor Newsom’s desk, in order for him to turn them into a tool to undermine real conversations for change.

This past week, I attended the military graduation of my son, who was born while I was in solitary confinement. Since my incarceration I have started a successful business, become an advocate, and am in the process of finishing my college degree. I am proud to reflect on my own resilience through the face of adversity, and honor my the strength that both my son and I have as survivors of solitary confinement. This reflection also includes a commitment to prevent what happened to me from ever happening to anyone else in California.

Cynthia Mendoza is a formerly incarcerated advocate and solitary survivor and is currently completing her education at California State University, Los Angeles