SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – California regulators said they are preparing for the possibility of mandatory water restrictions if the state faces yet another dry winter. Department of Water Resources Director Karla Nemeth said the agency is working with state water agencies for the possibility they won’t receive an allocation of water from the state next…… MORE
Gov. Newsom Inks Bills to Fight Homeless Crisis
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed seven new laws on Wednesday aimed at addressing the state’s homelessness crisis, pleading with a skeptical public to have patience as the nation’s wealthiest and most populous state struggles to keep people off the streets. Among California’s myriad problems — including wildfires, historic drought and a…… MORE
USDA Help with Climate & Agriculture
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says his department will offer a $3 billion comprehensive set of investments to address challenges facing farmers and ranchers. USDA says the investments will support drought resilience and response, animal disease prevention, market disruption relief, and purchase food for school nutrition programs. The support will be made available via the Commodity…… MORE
Poll: Vaccinated Older Adults More Worried Than The Unvaccinated
NEW YORK (AP) – A new survey finds that vaccinated older adults are far more worried about COVID-19 than the unvaccinated are. And those vaccinated older adults are far likelier to take precautions despite the protection afforded by their shots. The survey comes from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The survey also…… MORE
Governor Newsom Signs Legislation to Increase Affordable Housing Supply and Strengthen Accountability
Governor Newsom has signed 31 affordable housing bills focused on cutting red tape and holding cities accountable for providing their fair share of housingCalifornia Comeback Plan’s $22 billion housing and homelessness investment will lead to the creation of over 84,000 new housing units and exits from homelessness Governor announces new Housing Accountability Unit at HCD…… MORE
Top Utility Regulator Tasked With Overseeing PG&E Resigns
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California’s top utility regulator says she’ll step down from the job at the end of the year, five years before her term was set to end. Public Utilities Commission President Marybel Batjer announced her resignation Tuesday. It leaves Gov. Gavin Newsom searching for new leadership as the state grapples with devastating…… MORE
CA Treasurer Often Shared Hotel Rooms With Employees
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – California state Treasurer Fiona Ma repeatedly shared hotel rooms with employees and that’s a practice business experts say is problematic. The hotel room sharing was revealed in expense reports obtained by the Sacramento Bee and reported Tuesday. The news follows a lawsuit by a former employee who shared a hotel room…… MORE
Restaurant Challenges Continue
U.S. restaurants feeling supply chain issues for their food products are also contending with issues around upgrading kitchen equipment. Restaurant Business reports it can sometimes take months to get equipment in the door, thanks to a backlog of imports that has left two dozen or more container ships waiting outside of U.S. ports. Mark Rossi,…… MORE
Four Sentenced for Igniting 2017 Tulare County Wildfire
(KMJ) – Four Visalia residents learn their sentences for their role in sparking the 2017 Pier Fire near Springville in Tulare County. Here is the official statement from the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office: On August 19, 2021, the defendants pleaded to the following felonies: Isiac Renteria, age 23 – arson of a structure or…… MORE
CDC: US Has Enough COVID-19 Vaccines for Boosters, Kids’ Shots
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – With more than 40 million doses of coronavirus vaccines available, U.S. health authorities said they’re confident there will be enough for every American who qualifies. A spike in demand is expected after the Centers and Disease Control and Prevention endorsed boosters of the Pfizer vaccine for all Americans 65 and older.…… MORE
