News brief

Biden establishes two national monuments. The White House said Jan. 7 President Joe Biden will establish two new national monuments in California that will honor Native American tribes. It’s part of his efforts to conserve at least 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030 through his “America the Beautiful” initiative. Proclamations set to be signed on Jan. 7 will create the Chuckwalla National Monument in Southern California near Joshua Tree National Park and the Sáttítla National Monument in Northern California. The declarations ban drilling, mining, and development in the two locations.