Jim Carlton

San Francisco

Wall Street Journal reporter, covering environment, economics and politics for the West. Like hiking, camping and other activities that get me off the couch.

Articles

Trump Wants to Turn Alcatraz Back Into a Prison. Here’s Why San Francisco Hates That Idea.

1 week ago | wsj.com | Jim Carlton |Sara Randazzo

Visitors to the notorious prison contemplated Trump’s idea from inside cramped, windowless cellsSAN FRANCISCO—To some in this city, turning Alcatraz back into a prison would be a crime. “The Rock” closed 62 years ago, and San Francisco has channeled the public’s macabre fascination with life inside the notorious prison to turn it into one of the city’s top tourist attractions. Copyright ©2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The Donkey Roundup Rocking a Southern California Community

1 week ago | wsj.com | Jim Carlton |Philip Cheung

By Jim Carlton | Photographs and video by Philip Cheung for WSJ
This Small Alaska Town Is Fighting to Preserve Canadian Relations

3 weeks ago | tovima.com | Jim Carlton

In a region dependent on cross-border trade, neighbors work to overcome an ugly international standoff. ‘It is one divorce you can’t have.’SKAGWAY, Alaska—Orion Hanson climbed into his Chevy Silverado pickup and donned an old Montréal Expos baseball cap. A local elected leader in Skagway, Hanson hoped the gesture of goodwill might smooth the waters as he prepared for an important meeting with Canadian officials across the border.
This Small Alaska Town Is Fighting to Preserve Canadian Relations

1 month ago | wsj.com | Jim Carlton

“I wanted to put a Canadian flag on my truck,” he said, as he accelerated up the Klondike Highway, on a diplomatic mission to Whitehorse, the capital of Canada’s Yukon Territory.
The Wild West Showdown Over Developing Moab, a Revered Utah Getaway

1 month ago | wsj.com | Jim Carlton

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The Wild West Showdown Over Developing Moab, a Revered Utah Getaway

1 month ago | wsj.com | Jim Carlton

A Wild West showdown in Moab has erupted into legal challenges, reports of death threats and raucous public hearings where opponents wave signs like “F— these rich dork$.” Kane Creek Preservation and Development wants to build up to 586 homes, many luxury but a minimum of 10% designated as affordable, as well as up to 72,000 square feet of commercial space. The hitch: its location on Colorado River banks outside town, against sandstone cliffs so breathtaking HBO’s “Westworld” filmed there.
John Pisano | Vintage Guitar® magazine

1 month ago | vintageguitar.com | Jim Carlton

A charter member of Herb Alpert’s Tijuana Brass, Pisano composed the group’s hit “So What’s New?” and was the go-to guy for the extraordinary Joe Pass. Their 1964 album, For Django, was a harbinger of several subsequent recordings and culminated with Duets in 1991.
The Latest Draw to Luxury Resorts: Watch Rocky the Hawk Eat a Bat

2 months ago | wsj.com | Jim Carlton

“Come on, buddy,” she cooed. Predator performances are becoming big business at swanky destinations that are looking to distinguish themselves with unusual perks. Rosewood started its raptor tours last June, including one featuring owls that costs $175 a person. It’s called “Hanging with the Hoots.” Occasionally, the predators will make a kill in front of guests. Rocky once nabbed a bat that flew out from someone’s umbrella at an event.
These Smart Cameras Spot Wildfires Before They Spread

2 months ago | wsj.com | Jim Carlton

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif.—Perched high above this seaside community, spotters scan for telltale puffs of smoke in all directions—night and day, without breaks. Meet the AI bots that now serve as digital fire-lookouts and crucial eyes against one of America’s fastest-growing threats: catastrophic wildfires like those that torched parts of Los Angeles in January.
These AI Cameras Detect Wildfires Before They Spread

2 months ago | flipboard.com | Jim Carlton

3 hours agoIn a rapidly evolving digital landscape, generative AI is revolutionizing the way businesses operate. To explore this transformation, I had the privilege of interviewing Professor Mohanbir Sawhney, Associate Dean for Digital Innovation at Northwestern Kellogg School of Management. As a leading …