Flu expert and vaccine composition team member reacts to new CDC report indicating ongoing flu activity; flu vaccinations 30-60 percent effective
Dr. Richard Webby of St. Jude still advocates for everyone to get the flu shot— it’s not too late
 
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its most recent Influenza Activity Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, indicating that flu activity increased in late December and has remained elevated through February.  Even with elevated levels of activity through the beginning of February, this year’s flu season has been categorized to date as a “low-severity influenza season.”
 
The CDC estimates influenza-associated infections have caused between13 and 15 million illnesses, between 6 million and 7.2 million medical visits, 155,000-186,000 hospitalizations, and 9,600 – 15,900 deaths during the 2018-2019 flu season. Twenty-eight pediatric influenza-related deaths have been reported to date. 
 
Richard Webby, Ph.D., a member of the Department of Infectious Diseases at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, again urged all Americans to get a flu shot and that is it not too late.
 
“Even with a currently reported ‘low-severity’ flu season, the virus is still very much active and levels of infection remain elevated throughout the United States, in particular in the Southeast region of the country,” said Dr. Webby of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and one of a select group of scientists responsible for making recommendations on the composition of flu vaccines each year.    
Webby continued, “The most effective public health tool available to protect individuals from the flu virus is taking the necessary steps to receive the vaccine.  It is not too late to get a flu shot and the vaccine remains fully effective even at this late date. The flu vaccine’s effectiveness rate is estimated between 30 to 60 percent.  The more of the public who receives the vaccine means a greater reduction in overall influenza illness.”
 
The report also determined that flu vaccinations have been effective in protecting many Americans from falling ill from the flu. The report said:
 
“With vaccine effectiveness in the range of 30%–60%, influenza vaccination prevents millions of infections and medical visits and tens of thousands of influenza-associated hospitalizations each year in the United States. During the 2017–18 season, vaccination averted an estimated 7.1 million illnesses, 3.7 million medical visits, 109,000 influenza-associated hospitalizations, and 8,000 influenza-associated deaths. In addition, influenza vaccination has been found to reduce deaths, intensive care unit admissions and length of stay, and overall duration of hospitalization among hospitalized influenza patients.
 
“The vaccine is not perfect, but it remains an extremely effective and life-saving public health tool. We all must do our part to protect ourselves and our neighbors, while looking out for the most vulnerable members of our society – and that begins by getting the flu shot,” concluded Dr. Webby.
 
Dr. Webby recently penned a guest column in Newsweek encouraging the public to get the flu vaccination – it’s not too late.
 
Many pediatric patients at St. Jude are at a greater risk of getting sick from influenza (flu) and other viral infections because of their diseases and treatments. Therefore, helping to disseminate lifesaving educational information about flu prevention techniques is of paramount importance to the St. Jude Infectious Diseases Department. November through February are peak flu months, and last year’s flu season was one of the deadliest in history.
 
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s Infectious Diseases Department has released a fact sheet with useful tips on prevention titled “Controlling the Spread of Colds and Flu.”  
In addition to receiving the flu vaccine, there are also additional simple and effective prevention tips to protect you and your family.
 
Some of these include:

• Cleaning your hands often with soap and water or with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Staying home if you’re sick.
• Covering your mouth and nose if you cough or sneeze. Also, washing your hands after coughing or sneezing.
• Avoiding touching your nose and mouth.

By Quint Studer, author of Building A Vibrant Community: How Citizen-Powered Change Is Reshaping America
Most of us love our community and want the best for it. It's our home. It's where we live, work, learn, play, and raise our families. And yet, it's easy to go about our daily lives without ever stopping to think, What can I do to make my community better?

I get it. We are all busy. And it's easy to assume that someone else will do what needs doing. But if there's one thing I've learned from my work with communities across the U.S., it's this: We are all owners. We don't need an official title. We don't have to be assigned a task. We don't have to be wealthy. We all have gifts to share and the ability to make a difference in the lives of others.

My dream is that, in honor of Valentine's Day, every citizen would do just one small thing to make their community better. We all know that random acts of kindness have positive ripple effects that reach far and wide, often unexpectedly so. Could you imagine the amazing results if everyone took part in a mass outpouring of love and positivity?

I'm not talking about big, complicated improvements. If you're a homeowner, you know something as simple as a fresh coat of paint can be a "quick fix" that makes a huge difference in how a room looks (and how you feel living in it). The same is true of a community.

You might start by taking a slow drive around your city. What do you see that needs to be repaired or replaced? Is there a field that needs to be mowed? Does a city park need some shade trees? Do flowers need to be planted? Is there an empty lot that needs trash hauled away, or a dangerous road in need of a crosswalk?

Next, consider what resources you have at your disposal. Maybe you, personally, have the skills or the funding to fix something that's broken. If not, you may know someone who does. If you need proper permission, try to get it. There are always potential reasons why something "can't" be done, but it's often amazing what can happen when we just ask.

Maybe your way of showing your community some love is to serve on the school board, to head up a "housing for the homeless" committee, or to spend a day at your local food pantry or animal shelter. Not only will this single action serve a great practical need (everyone is desperate for volunteers!), it may inspire you to get involved on a deeper level.

This is a great opportunity for a group to work together on a project, but you don't have to join an organized effort. Individual acts of love and kindness are meaningful, too. You can offer to clean up a cluttered yard or place a bench under a tree at the park. Once you start looking, you'll find lots of simple things you can do to make things better.

And we can all express our gratitude for what's right in our community. We can write a letter to the editor that celebrates the bright spots in our community. (Every community has them!) We can send a heartfelt thank-you note to the hospital that took care of our loved one. We can thank a maintenance worker for keeping the streets clean. Positivity and gratitude are contagious. They make a difference. And it feels good to practice them.

Making the decision to love our community is a powerful first step. It's a mind shift that truly changes the conversation around what's possible. I've seen it over and over: When a community decides "we are worth it" and takes control of their future, huge transformations can follow.

Happy Valentine's Day.
# # #
About the Author:
Quint Studer is author of Building a Vibrant Community and founder of Pensacola's Studer Community Institute, a nonprofit organization focused on improving the community's quality of life and moving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties forward. He is a businessman, a visionary, an entrepreneur, and a mentor to many. He currently serves as the Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the University of West Florida. For more information, visit www.vibrantcommunityblueprint.com and www.studeri.org.

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Another Mid-Week Storm Will Blanket the Sierra Region with Snow
 
MARYSVILLE – Caltrans District 3 is alerting motorists to an incoming mid-week storm in Northern California that will impact mountain and valley highway travel Tuesday, February 12 through Thursday, February 14.
 
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a winter storm watch alerting the public to an incoming weather system that will bring rain to the valley and snow and wind gusts at higher elevations. While the brunt of the storm has been initially projected for Wednesday morning through Thursday afternoon, it is still too early to determine if the storm will linger later in the week.
 
Snow levels Tuesday evening will be around 1,500 to 3,000 feet, rising between 3,500 and 7,000 feet by Wednesday. In the Sierra region pass levels may see 2 to 4 feet of snow with gusty winds that may create poor visibility conditions. Valley rainfall is predicted to be around 0.5 to 2 inches with 1 to 3 inches in the foothills. Motorists should be alert for flooding caused by blocked drains from recent storms.
 
Delays and longer travel times are anticpated due to inclement weather conditions. Chain controls on Interstate 80 over Donner Summit, on U.S. Highway 50 over Echo Summit and on other Sierra mountain roadways should be anticipated Tuesday through Thursday. Highway closures due to safety concerns may also be a possibility in the region: Interstate 80, U.S. Highway 50 and State Routes 20, 28, 49, 89 and 267.

Motorists are advised that speed limits during chain controls are reduced to 30 mph on I-80 and 25 mph on U.S. 50. Caltrans crews will be working around the clock to keep roadways open and clear. Drivers are advised to watch for snow removal equipment and reduce speeds while in their vicinity.
 
Caltrans reminds drivers to check that tires are properly inflated and have a good tread, and to stock vehicles with water, blankets, snacks, a flashlight and a full tank of gas before mountain travel. Further tips for safe winter driving and information about chain controls can be found at http://www.dot.ca.gov/cttravel/winter.html.
 
Check out Caltrans' “QuickMap” for current road conditions and chain requirements at http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov. For real-time traffic, download the QuickMap app on iTunes or Google Play. Motorists also can use the California Highway Information Network automated phone service by calling 1-800-427-ROAD (7623).
 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) today announced final decisions for groundwater basin boundary modifications requested by local agencies as part of the implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Draft results were released in November 2018 and finalized after a public comment period, a public meeting, and a public presentation to the California Water Commission. The final basin boundaries incorporate comments received during this period and resulted in the revision of three of the original draft decisions.


“SGMA is a central feature of the sustainable water future of California and the department is working with locals to successfully implement this landmark legislation,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “These final decisions on basin boundaries move local water agencies forward as they work to bring their basins into balance.”


Under SGMA, basin boundaries define the geographical area included in each groundwater basin. Once basin boundaries are finalized, the basins are then prioritized to determine which will be required to develop groundwater sustainability plans.


Of the 517 groundwater basins and subbasins in California, local agencies submitted 43 requests for basin modifications for either scientific or jurisdictional reasons. Scientific modifications are based on geologic or hydrologic conditions, while jurisdictional modifications change boundaries to promote sustainable groundwater management.


DWR staff reviewed all information provided with the requests and approved modifications that met the requirements of the Basin Boundary Regulations. In the draft decision, DWR approved 33, denied seven, and partially approved three modification requests. In the final decision, 35 requests were approved, four were denied, and four were partially approved. Partially approved means some portions of the modification requests were adequately supported by the information provided and were approved, while other portions were not and were denied.
Supporting documents available for review include a modified basins map and decision summary.

 
Nevada City, Calif. – The U.S. Forest Service is preparing an annual application to the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division, to request funding for trail maintenance, restoration, law enforcement, education and safety, and potentially development of facilities, and planning for off-highway vehicle (OHV) access.
 
On Wednesday, February 13, 2019, the Forest Service will host an open house from 3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. for individuals and organizations to provide input and review proposals for the application.
 
“I encourage anyone interested in the OHV program to drop by this informal open house to discuss their ideas on these proposals. Written comments are most helpful if sent by February 22,” stated Joe Chavez, Tahoe National Forest Trails Program Coordinator.
 
These annual grants provide important funds for the Forest Service to develop and maintain trails and trailheads, repair winter storm damage and restore trailside environments, as well as patrolling and monitoring these areas. When finalized, the grants will be available for public review and comment on the State of California’s website (http://ohv.parks.ca.gov) from March 5 – May 6, 2019.
 
What:                     Open House to discuss off highway vehicle grant proposals
               
Where:  Tahoe National Forest Headquarters
                                631 Coyote St., Nevada City, CA  95959
                                Upstairs conference room (enter from upper parking lot in back of building)
 
When:                    Wednesday – February 13
                                3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
 
Questions, comments or letters can be directed to:
                                Joe Chavez, Forest Trails Program Coordinator
                                Tahoe National Forest, 631 Coyote St., Nevada City, CA 95959
                                Email: joetchavez@fs.fed.us
                                (530) 478-6158
 
 

 
On February 8, 2019, the Tahoe National Forest released the Draft Over-Snow Vehicle Use Designation Record of Decision (Draft Decision) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS). The Draft Decision and Final EIS were originally scheduled to be released on January 4, 2019, but were delayed due to the recent lapse in government funding.
The Draft Decision designates areas on the Tahoe National Forest for cross-country, over-snow vehicle travel and specific snow trails for over-snow vehicle use, some of which are available for grooming. Specifically, the designation allows for:

• Cross-country, over-snow vehicle* travel on 410,703 acres of Tahoe National Forest managed lands when there is adequate snow depth to avoid damage to natural and cultural resources. Over-snow vehicle enthusiasts can continue to recreate in popular wintertime areas including Sierra Buttes/Lake Basin, Robinson Flat, Donner Summit, Yuba Pass, Carpenter Ridge, White Rock Lake, and other locations.
• Up to 34 over-snow vehicle crossings of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail.
• Continued grooming on over 247 miles of over-snow vehicle trails where there is 12-18 inches of snow. This includes popular trails such as the Sierra Buttes, Yuba Pass, China Wall, and Little Truckee Summit trail networks.
• 135 additional miles of non-groomed, over-snow vehicle trails located outside of cross-country, designated areas. This includes 53 miles of easements crossing private property. These trails will be subject to the same snow-depth requirement as cross-county, designated areas or, where there is an underlying Tahoe National Forest System road, a 6 inch snow depth requirement.

 
Formal opportunities for public comment regarding the Over-Snow Vehicle Use Designation have passed.
For more information please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), attached. Additional details, including the entire Draft Decision, the Final EIS, the Legal Notice, and project maps can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=45914.
* For Class-1 OSVs including snowmobiles, tracked motorcycles, snow-cats, tracked all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and tracked utility terrain vehicles (UTVs).
 
 
Over-Snow Vehicle Use Designation Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
 
Q: For cross-country use designation, what is “adequate snow depth to avoid damage to natural and cultural resources?”
A: As a guideline to avoid damaging resources, a minimum of 12 inches of moderate to heavy density, uncompacted snow is generally needed. Sierra storms typically have a moderate to high water content. Snow water equivalency (SWE) is also an indicator for avoiding damage to resources. An SWE of 4 inches can be a reasonable baseline for avoiding resource damage.
On designated OSV trails with underlying roads (non-groomed), a minimum of 6 inches of uncompacted snow is typically needed to avoid damage to the underlying road surface.
 
Q: What is the basis for the 12-18 inch snow-depth requirement for trails designated available for grooming?
A: The California State Parks’ Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division snow depth standards for grooming is currently 12 to 18 inches of snow. Much of the grooming of over-snow vehicle trails on the Tahoe National Forest is accomplished through grants from California State Parks. Thus, adherence to the state snow-depth standard is mandatory to accomplish grooming activities.
 
Q: I commented on the Draft EIS in 2018.  Where can I see the response to my comments?
A: The Tahoe National Forest received over 2,200 comment letters in response to the Draft EIS. The content of all comments was read, considered in the development of the Draft Decision, and entered into the project record. Responses to public comments were categorized and organized by seven general topics and seventy-four subtopics and are documented in Appendix H (FEIS Volume III). Each comment was assigned a unique identifier number. Appendix H contains an alphabetical list of commenters and the identifier number assigned to each comment. To find your unique identifier number, your comment, and the response, view Appendix H (Volume III of the Final EIS) located at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=45914.
 
Q: Can I object to the Draft Record of Decision?
A: The draft decision is subject to two different objection processes because it includes both a project-level decision as well as a Forest Plan amendment decision.
Individuals or entities who have submitted timely, specific written comments about the proposed project during any designated opportunity for public comment are eligible to file an objection on the project.
Individuals or entities who have submitted substantive formal comments related to the plan amendment during the opportunities for public comment are eligible to file an objection on the forest plan amendment portion of the Project.
For complete instructions on objection eligibility and how to object, please see the Tahoe NF OSV Project Opportunity to Object Legal Notice athttps://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=45914.
 
Q: Were there changes made to the Selected Alternative between the Draft EIS and the Final EIS?
A: In response to comments and public involvement, there were a number of changes made to the selected Alternative between the Draft EIS (April, 2018) and the Draft Decision/Final EIS (February, 2019). For details regarding changes to the Selected Alternative please see the Final EIS, Volume I, pp. 24 -25 at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=45914. A few of the key changes include:

• Expanding areas designated for cross-county, over-snow vehicle use in the
  • Donner Lake Interchange area
  • Granite Flat area (west of HWY 89).

 

• Not designating over-snow vehicle use in
  • Fisher Lake and its watershed
  • A 300-500 foot zone near the ridgeline adjacent to Tinkers knob.
  • Tahoe National Forest parcels adjacent to Frog Lake

 

• Adding designated snow trails (not available for grooming) outside of designated cross-county, over-snow vehicle use areas.
  • Several OSV trails across private lands where the Tahoe National Forest holds easements.
  • Sawtooth Snow Trail
  • Cabin Creek access
  • Carpenter Ridge access

 

• Changing OSV Class from width basis to ground pressure basis (pounds per square inch -psi), which will be indirectly determined by vehicle type
  • Class 1 OSVs: These are vehicles that typically exert 1.5 psi or less. This includes snowmobiles, tracked motorcycles, snow-cats, tracked ATVs, and tracked UTVs.

 

• Class 2 OSVs: These are OSVs that typically exert over 1.5 psi. This includes tracked 4WD SUVs and tracked 4WD trucks.
• Changing the amount, and type, of Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) crossings. More PCT crossings were added based on public comment.

 
Q: Why are there designated crossings of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT)?
A: Approximately 99 miles of the PCT traverse the Tahoe National Forest. Of that, 76 miles of the PCT are on National Forest System lands. OSV use on the PCT is prohibited by the National Scenic Trails Act, P.L 90-543, Section 7(c). To provide a legal opportunity to cross the PCT, the Draft Decision provides 34 designated OSV crossings of varying crossing widths. The purpose of these crossings is to allow OSV users to get across the PCT in situations where OSV use is designated in areas located on either side of the trail.
 
Q: How are over-snow vehicle users supposed to cross the PCT?
A: Of the 34 designated PCT crossings, fourteen crossings will utilize underlying roads identified on the Tahoe National Forest’s Motor Vehicle Use Map and will be the width of the underlying road (approximately 14 feet).
Twenty OSV crossings of the PCT will not utilize underlying roads and will range in width up to a 1/4 mile. These wider crossings are located where snow conditions are highly variable such as areas prone to wind loading of snow and the formation of cornices. These wider crossings give OSV users options to select a safe crossing of the PCT.
In all cases, OSV users would be required to cross the PCT at 90 degrees, or as close to 90 degrees as is safe to cross, to minimize the time and distance needed to cross the trail. Additionally, OSV users would be required to cross the PCT at the designated location, or as close to the designated location as is safe. These situational variance allowances for the PCT designated crossings were added to the Draft Decision/Final EIS based on comments to the Draft EIS, and are designed for the safety of OSV users in highly variable snow conditions.
 
Q: How many acres were previously designated for over-snow vehicle use before this process? Why has this amount changed?
A: Before this Over-Snow Vehicle Use Designation process, 636,000 acres were available for over snow vehicle use according to the Tahoe National Forest Land and Resource management Plan.
The largest factor that accounts for decreases in OSV designated use acreage is elevation and adherence to the Travel Management Rule’s Subpart C Regulations.
Subpart C regulations state – “Over-snow vehicle use on National Forest System roads, on National Forest System trails, and in areas on National Forest System lands shall be designated…where snowfall is adequate for that use to occur, and, if appropriate, shall be designated by class of vehicle and time of year…”
Based on decades of managing and monitoring OSV use on the Tahoe NF, it is rare that there is consistent snow coverage to provide OSV opportunities under 5,000 foot elevation. Therefore, areas under 5,000 feet in elevation were generally not considered “adequate” for managed OSV use and were generally not included in the selected Alternative –which accounts for over 145,000 acres previously designated as available for over-snow vehicle use.
 
 
 

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SACRAMENTO – The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) fine-tuned its pioneering cannabis cultivation policy Tuesday to clarify implementation issues while ensuring growers continue to be environmentally responsible in an industry that has rapidly expanded with urban and rural grow sites throughout much of California.
The updates, focusing on four key issues – onstream reservoirs, tribal buffers, requirements for indoor cultivation sites, and winterization requirements -- were incorporated into the policy to increase and simplify compliance. The policy revisions were finalized after months of feedback from stakeholders.
“The updates improve the rules that commercial cannabis growers must follow, while adhering to sound environment protection practices intended to keep waterways and lands from being contaminated, and water resources protected when there is more demand than supply,” said Eileen Sobeck, executive director at the State Water Boards.
The initial policy was approved in October of 2017 in response to Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act, establishing the medical cannabis industry, and Proposition 64, which legalized recreational marijuana use for adults 21 and older.
During the public comment period for the updated policy, individual and grower coalitions pointed out that certain requirements in the initial policy, especially those dealing with how grow sites were maintained or prepared during the largely dormant winter months, did not reflect the new realities of an industry that has pushed well beyond its origins along the rugged and rainy North Coast into more established farmlands of the Central Valley and Central Coast.
With the changes in place after a vote of the State Water Board at today’s meeting, the main tenets of the Cannabis Cultivation Policy remain unchanged – to protect water flows and water quality in the state’s rivers and streams. To achieve that, the policy uses a two-pronged approach – statewide requirements detailed in a water quality permit known as the Cannabis General Order, and cannabis-related water rights referred to as Cannabis Small Irrigation Use Registrations (SIUR).
Since voters approved Prop. 64 in November of 2016, the State Water Board anticipated the rapid growth of the recreational cannabis market and made good on its commitment to protect California’s waters from cannabis-related discharges, establish safeguards for riparian areas and wetlands, and protect stream flows.
Here is a summary of the four key updates:

• Onstream reservoirs: This update provides a path for cultivators with pre-existing onstream reservoirs to obtain a Cannabis SIUR water right if the reservoir meets specific conditions – it existed prior to Oct. 1, 2016, and it is determined that the removal of the reservoir and installation of off-stream storage would cause more environmental harm than continuing the use of the existing reservoir.
• Tribal buffers: Provides certain options for Native American tribes to implement cannabis cultivation activities within 600 feet of tribal lands and a 45-day period for tribes to accept, reject, or remain silent regarding a cannabis cultivation request.
• Winterization requirements: Addresses the shift of cannabis cultivation sites from remote locations in rugged terrain that pose a high threat of stormwater runoff towards flatter areas that don’t pose as serious of a runoff threat. The update allows for the Executive Officer or other designee from a Regional Water Board to authorize the use of heavy equipment for routine cannabis cultivation preparation and planting through approval of a site management plan.
• Indoor cultivation site exemptions: For indoor cultivation sites that have a building permit and certificate of occupancy for cannabis cultivation, and that discharge waste to a permitted wastewater collection system, cultivators are exempt from the riparian setback and tribal buffer requirements.

Since 2013, the State Water Board’s Office of Enforcement has worked with the North Coast and Central Valley Regional Water Boards, along with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, to address the potentially harmful environmental impacts of cannabis cultivation. With the revised and updated Cannabis Policy, the State Water Board will continue its enforcement efforts while engaging with new cultivators to understand the regulations and help them navigate the permitting process and become compliant.
To read more about the Water Boards rules for commercial cannabis cultivation in California, visit the cannabis cultivation website and follow us on Facebook (Water Boards Cultivation Programs) and Twitter @CAWaterBoards

Funds to states and territories for damage from a variety of events

 
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today announced more than $705.7 million in Emergency Relief (ER) funds to help 34 states, as well as American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, make repairs to roads and bridges damaged by storms, floods, and other unexpected events.


“The Department is pleased to reimburse states and territories that have made critical repairs to their transportation infrastructure following natural disasters such as wildfires, storms, and floods,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao.


FHWA’s ER program reimburses states, territories, and federal land management agencies for eligible expenses associated with damage from natural disasters or other emergency situations.  The funds help to pay for the reconstruction or replacement of damaged highways and bridges along with the arrangement of detours and replacement of guardrails or other damaged safety devices.


More than a fifth of the total amount provided today – about $153 million – will be used to pay for repairs to damage caused by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. There are also funds directed towards other severe weather recovery efforts, including the wildfires in California.


This Emergency Relief funding includes awards of:

• More than $12.5 million to repair damage to roads and bridges from wildfires in California in 2018.
• $1.2 million to repair US Highway 550 Red Mountain Pass in southwest Colorado, after it sustained damaged from a rock slide.
• $19.5 million to repair damage caused by Hurricane Michael’s heavy winds and significant storm surge flooding roadways throughout the Panhandle area.

“These funds will help keep our country’s roads and bridges safe and well-maintained in the aftermath of the hurricanes and other severe storms seen in recent years,” said Deputy Federal Highway Administrator Brandye L. Hendrickson.


The video of FHWA’s announcement can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTfs0B_fyko&feature=youtu.be

Today we join the California Police Chiefs Association in announcing the introduction of Senate Bill XXX, authored by Senator Anna Caballero, which presents a comprehensive package of changes to California’s use-of-force statutes, law enforcement agency policies, and training.


In 2017, it was reported that there were 172 law enforcement related deaths in California.  In 2018, the incidents in which officers had to use deadly force dropped to 114, a 34% reduction in one year. However, even one death is too many.  That is why law enforcement throughout the state has been working for the past six months to develop this series of comprehensive changes designed to reduce the incidents where officers are responding to serious threats to citizens or are in danger themselves.  


“Our goal through SB XXX is to reduce the tragic loss of life in our communities through a policy that protects the public and our peace officers,” states Senator Caballero.


Current California law is based on parameters set in 1872 for using force against a fleeing felon. As such, this statute is outdated and does not reflect the decisions of the U.S. and California Supreme Courts on use-of-force matters. Moreover, California has not enacted any statutes mandating standardized use of force training, or requirements for agencies internal use of force guidelines. SB XXX addresses each of these issues while better protecting private individuals and law enforcement alike.


This legislation will set first-in-the-nation requirements for departments to adopt use-of-force policies and participate in trainings that include comprehensive and clear guidance related to: de-escalation tactics, reasonable alternatives to deadly force, proportionality, rendering medical aid, an officer’s duty to intercede and prevent excessive use of force, interactions with vulnerable population, reporting requirements, and more.


“We are listening to community concerns, and will work collaboratively to increase safeguards that are beneficial for everyone,” says Brian Marvel, President of the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), which represents more than 70,000 peace officers in California.