Robert Lewis

Feb 2, 2024 | kpbs.org | Robert Lewis |Wendy Fry

Tesla has been ordered to pay $1.5 million as part of a settlement reached with about two dozen California prosecutorial offices, including San Diego's, which accused the electric vehicle giant of mishandling hazardous waste, it was announced Friday. Following an investigation initiated in 2018 by the San Francisco District Attorney's Office, prosecutors said it was discovered that Tesla illegally disposed of hazardous waste that was generated through its servicing and manufacturing of vehicles.

Dec 21, 2023 | kpbs.org | Robert Lewis |Wendy Fry |Robert Lewis

The fumes that wandered into Martha Beatriz León’s preschool on the outskirts of Tecate, Mexico smelled way worse than usual, like rotting garbage. Or maybe it was ammonia. One woman compared it to spent gunpowder. Whatever it was, León said it gave her a headache. Later that day in March 2022 her teachers began feeling sick, she said. Children throughout the neighborhood of San Pablo started vomiting. “It was a hard day,” León said.