WASHINGTON, D.C. November 28, 2023 —The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced results of the most comprehensive analysis to date quantifying the domestic lithium resources in California’s Salton Sea region. Conducted by DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the analysis found that with expected technology advances, the Salton Sea region’s total resources could produce more […]
California
Ventura County man sentenced to 18 months for phoning in death threats to nonprofit and Planned Parenthood clinics
LOS ANGELES, November 27, 2023 – A Ventura County man was sentenced today to 18 months in federal prison for making threatening telephone calls last year, including to a Planned Parenthood office on the day the United States Supreme Court overturned its Roe v. Wade decision. Nishith Tharaka Vandebona, 34, of Oxnard, but who […]
Caltrans Reopens All Lanes of I-10, Weeks Ahead of Schedule
LOS ANGELES — Following Sunday morning’s reopening announcement by Governor Newsom, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) reopened Interstate 10 at 6:30 p.m. tonight, weeks earlier than the original estimate for repairs. Traffic is now flowing on five lanes in each direction between Alameda Street and the East Los Angeles interchange, ahead of tomorrow morning’s […]
Natural Resources Agency Launch Historic Plan to Increase Outdoor Access in California
LOS ANGELES November 15, 2023 – Overlooking the central city from the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, state and local leaders gathered Wednesday to celebrate a new plan that will increase access to the outdoors for all Californians, regardless of who they are or where they live. Called the “Outdoors for All Strategy,” the plan serves […]
Low-intensity Fires Reduce Wildfire Risk by 60 Percent, Study Finds
November 13, 2023 – There is no longer any question of how to prevent high-intensity, often catastrophic, wildfires that have become increasingly frequent across the Western U.S., according to a new study by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Stanford University. The analysis reveals that low-intensity burning, such as controlled or prescribed fires, […]
Record 7.49 million Californians Expected to Travel for Thanksgiving by AAA
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (Nov. 13, 2023) – This Thanksgiving will mark a milestone in travel, with a surge projected to create one of the busiest travel periods on record. Nationwide, 55.4 million people are expected to travel over the upcoming holiday weekend. That’s 2.3 percent more than last year and the third-largest Thanksgiving travel volume since […]
CA Secretary of State Confirms USPS Intercepted Suspicious Packages Headed to Elections Facilities
SACRAMENTO, CA November 9, 2023 – California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., has confirmed that the United States Postal Service has intercepted two suspicious envelopes headed to election facilities in Los Angeles and Sacramento. “Federal and state authorities are investigating the incident, but there has been no confirmation that these envelopes contained any […]
Fish and Wildlife Director Closes Razor Clam Fishery in Del Norte County
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director has closed the recreational razor clam fishery in Del Norte County following a recommendation from state health agencies that the consumption of razor clams in the area poses a significant threat for domoic acid exposure. Domoic acid is a neurotoxin produced by Pseudo-nitzschia, a naturally occurring […]
NOAA: New Funding and Coordinated Action to Help Bring California Salmon Back from the Brink
November 6, 2023 – The Office of Habitat Conservation’s Restoration Center has awarded an unprecedented $27.8 million to its partners through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act to bring Central California Coast coho salmon back to California rivers. NOAA designated CCC coho as a Species in the Spotlight due to its high risk of extinction. Trout Unlimited, the San Mateo and Gold Ridge Resource Conservation Districts, […]
City and Highway Lights Threaten Mountain Lion Habitats
November 6, 2023 – City lights shine all night amid the bustling traffic, businesses and neighborhoods of Southern California, one of the most populated areas that mountain lions call home. A study from the University of California, Davis, found that mountain lions avoid places with artificial light, even during the day. The finding adds to the […]
CAL FIRE announces funding to help Californians prevent, mitigate & prepare for the threat of wildfire
Sacramento November 1, 2023 – As part of the Governor’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Strategy, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is announcing the availability of up to $117 million in funding for local projects that address the risk of wildfire and reduce wildfire potential to communities, through the department’s Wildfire […]
Equality California Endorses Equality California Endorses 36 Pro-Equality Members of Congress for Re-Election
LOS ANGELES, October 30, 2023 —Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, announced endorsements for 36 incumbent members of Congress running for re-election in 2024 on Monday. Equality California extends pro forma endorsements to incumbent members of Congress in California running for re-election who have earned a 100% pro-equality rating on the […]
CARB removes fee for refrigerant canisters used to fix vehicle air conditioning systems, reducing auto-repair costs for Californians
SACRAMENTO – The California Air Resources Board approved an update to its regulation that controls emissions from refrigerant used for the repair of automotive air conditioning systems by removing a canister consumer fee and phasing in a transition toward recycled refrigerant. Prior to the update, consumers paid a $10 deposit for a canister with a […]
California State Parks and Partners Launch ‘Arts in California Parks’ Program
SACRAMENTO, Calif.— California State Parks today announced the launch of a new program, Arts in California Parks, to help make California’s parks more inclusive and welcoming. Through this new program, artists, culture bearers, and California Native American tribes will be eligible to receive funding to create artwork throughout state and local parks. The public is invited […]
ALERTCalifornia and CAL FIRE’s fire detection AI program named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2023
October 24, 2023 – TIME selected the University of California ALERTCalifornia program, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), and industry partner Digital Path’s AI fire detection tool as one of the best inventions of 2023. The annual list features 200 extraordinary inventions that change lives. ALERTCalifornia and CAL FIRE created the […]
AG Bonta Files Lawsuit Against Meta Over Harms to Youth Mental Health
SAN FRANCISCO — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today co-led a bipartisan coalition of 33 attorneys general in filing a federal lawsuit against Meta Platforms, Inc. and affiliates (Meta). Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the lawsuit alleges that Meta, among other things, designed and deployed harmful features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children and teens to their mental and physical detriment. The attorneys general are […]
Homeless people are 16 times more likely to die suddenly
October 23, 2023 – A study led by UC San Francisco has found that people who are experiencing homelessness have a 16-fold higher rate of sudden death from heart attacks, as well as other causes. The study focused on San Francisco County, which has one of the nation’s highest concentrations of homeless people. It found […]
AG Bonta Leads Coalition of 16 Attorneys General in Open Letter Supporting Yelp’s Efforts to Provide Consumers Accurate Information about Crisis Pregnancy Centers
OAKLAND, October 23, 2023 – California Attorney General Bonta today led a coalition of 16 attorneys general in an open letter supporting Yelp’s efforts to ensure that consumers are provided with clear and accurate information about the limitations of services and staffing offered by Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs). Yelp has provided notices on CPCs’ Yelp pages notifying consumers […]
State, Federal, and Local Representatives Mark California Flood Preparedness Week to Highlight the Importance of Flood Readiness
SACRAMENTO, Calif.October 23, 2023 – Extreme weather events in California in 2023 highlight the need for more awareness of flood risks in California and now is the time for all Californians to prepare for possible flooding. That was the message from state and federal agencies gathered today to show how they are joining forces to […]
Hiker Fatality on Mt. Whitney in Sequoia National Park
SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS – Tom Gerbier, a French National of Fontenay-sous-Bois, France, and pilot for Air France, was reported missing when he didn’t show up for his return flight. He started his hike from Whitney Portal early Tuesday morning, October 17, via the Mountaineering Route and was due back on a flight on […]