Our Daily Planet: Southern California State of Emergency and Polar Bear Lawsuit

Each weekday morning, OurAmazingPlanet takes the pulse of the Earth, reporting on natural phenomena and exploration news from around the globe.

State of Emergency: As another strong storm blows in from the Pacific, half a dozen Southern California counties are in a state of emergency.

Flesh-Eating Fungus: As tens of thousands of bats fly into caves and mines to hibernate, many won't fly back out because of a flesh-eating fungus that is decimating bat populations.

Peak La Nina: This year's unusually strong La Nina weather phenomenon may have hit its peak.

Polar Bear Suit: Alaskan officials will sue the federal government over the designation of a critical Arctic habitat for polar bears faced with the effects of climate change.

Previously on Our Daily Planet: Los Angeles Storms and Iran's Earthquake

Reach OurAmazingPlanet staff writer Brett Israel at bisrael@techmedianetwork.com. Follow him on Twitter @btisrael.

Brett Israel was a staff writer for Live Science with a focus on environmental issues. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from The University of Georgia, a master’s degree in journalism from New York University, and has studied doctorate-level biochemistry at Emory University.