August 3, 2016 – The California Water Impact Network (C-WIN) has filed a lawsuit against San Luis Obispo County for issuing three well-drilling permits without requiring the reviews stipulated by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The suit addresses drilling permits granted in April and June to Justin Vineyards and Winery, Lapis Land Company LLC […]
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Whitehorn woman sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for environmental damage from marijuana grow on National Conservation Land
SAN FRANCISCO August 2, 2016 – Melinda Van Horne was sentenced today to 12 months and a day in prison for damaging national conservation land through her marijuana cultivation operation, announced United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch. Van Horne, 43, of Whitethorn, pleaded guilty on March 23, 2016, to depredation against the property of the […]
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Consumer Watchdog Files Suit To Require State Farm to Reduce Rates By Up To $100 Million To Prevent Homeowners Insurance Overcharges
SANTA MONICA, CA, Aug. 2, 2016 – Consumer Watchdog filed a petition challenging State Farm’s proposed rates for its dwelling insurance, charging that California’s largest homeowners insurer will be overcharging over 280,000 policyholders unless it cuts its rate by as much as 40%, or nearly $100 million. Consumer Watchdog’s analysis found that State Farm overestimated […]
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Statewide Water Conservation Declines to 21.5 Percent in June; Water supplier “Stress Tests” still under review
SACRAMENTO, Aug. 2, 2016 — With water conservation falling to 21.5 percent savings in June 2016—down from 27.5 percent a year ago—the State Water Resources Control Board today announced that it is closely monitoring conservation levels, will scrutinize actions by water suppliers where use has risen dramatically and is carefully reviewing the “stress tests” to […]
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Report: Work-Load Requirements Keep Students From Getting Food Assistance
August 2, 2016 – College students face significant barriers when it comes to accessing federal food assistance programs because of outdated state and federal requirements. Aligning the criteria can make it easier for students to get food assistance. These findings, along with recommendations to ease access to aid programs, are shared in SNAP and the […]
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AG Kamala Harris, 16 states, and D.C. Call for More Student Loan Debt Relief for Students Harmed by Predatory For-Profit Colleges
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 1, 2016 – Attorney General Kamala D. Harris, along Attorneys General from 16 states and the District of Columbia today submitted official comments to the United States Department of Education, urging the Department to do more to create and implement fair, streamlined, and efficient processes to enable students harmed by predatory for-profit […]
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Statewide Poll Shows Strong Support For Proposition 61, the CA Drug Price Relief Act
SACRAMENTO, CA, Aug. 1, 2016 – Yes on Prop 61/Californians for Lower Drug Prices today released the results of a statewide survey that demonstrates strong, across-the-board support for Proposition 61, The California Drug Price Relief Act, a measure to reduce drug prices paid by the State of California. “We’re pleased that California voters have expressed […]
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As of July 1st CA schoolchildren required to have vaccinations prior to enrolling in a public or private elementary school or childcare center
Aug. 1, 2016 – August marks National Immunization Awareness Month, a national effort to promote vaccinations to protect children and adults from serious, and sometimes deadly, preventable diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), immunizations are one of the top 10 public health accomplishments of the 20th century. Among children born […]
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New Report Reveals Illegal Admissions Polices at Charter Schools
LOS ANGELES August 1, 2016 – Over 20 percent of all charter schools in California have enrollment policies in place that violate state and federal law, according to a new report released today. Among the myriad violations cited in “Unequal Access: How Some California Charter Schools Illegally Restrict Enrollment ” are policies that establish admission requirements in violation […]
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Field Poll | Big Disparities Persist in Californians’ Access to Broadband Internet at Home, Even as More Are Going Online
August 1, 2016 – According to a new statewide Field Poll, 84% of California households now have access to highspeed Internet at home. This proportion is up nine points from 2014. Most of the increase in broadband Internet connectivity is due to the growing popularity of mobile, smart phone devices. There has been a near […]
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Sand Fire Local Assistance Center Set to Open
July 30, 2016 – A Local Assistance Center (LAC) is scheduled to open at the William S. Hart Park Hart Hall on Friday, August 5, 2016. The LAC is available to all residents impacted by the recent Sand Fire that burned over 37,000 acres, resulting in the evacuations of 10,000 homes and 20,000 people. The center […]
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Governor Brown Issues Statement on Death of San Diego Police Officer
SACRAMENTO July 29, 2016 – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued the following statement regarding the death of San Diego Police Department Officer Jonathan DeGuzman: “Anne and I were deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of Officer Jonathan DeGuzman, who was shot and killed in the line of duty. Each day officers […]
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Fire Restrictions Go into Effect on Lassen National Forest on August 1, 2016
Susanville, Calif., July 29, 2016 – Forest officials have announced that fire restrictions will go into effect on the Lassen National Forest beginning Monday, August 1, 2016 and continuing through the declared end of the 2016 fire season. The restrictions address campfire use, off-road driving, smoking, woodcutting, and other activities on the Forest. Such restrictions […]
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Central Valley Water Board Settles With East San Joaquin Valley Grower Over Failure to Acquire Water Quality Permit
July 29, 2016 – The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board has approved a settlement agreement with a Madera County landowner for failure to obtain the required permits for discharging waste from their irrigated croplands. The Central Valley Water Board approved a settlement agreement for Gurcharan and Balwinder Rakkar in the amount of $63,700 for […]
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Climate Change’s Fingerprints All Over California Wildfires
July 29, 2016 – Reports this week from the front lines of the Sand Fire in Southern California painted the scene as apocalyptic. The drought-fueled blaze was explosive, fast-moving and devastating, burning through 38,000 acres in the Santa Clarita Valley and forcing the evacuation of more than 10,000 homes. If the state’s wildfire season holds […]
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Doug Obegi: State Water Resources Control Board neglects to adequately track water usage, violators go unpunished
July 27, 2016 – “In the Criminal Justice System, the people are represented by two separate, yet equally important groups: the police, who investigate crime; and the District Attorneys, who prosecute the offenders. These are their stories.” Law & Order There is a certain satisfaction in watching the bad guys brought to justice in just […]