With the holiday season underway, California retailers and shoppers have been horrified by continued acts of looting, theft and burglaries. Videos on social media depict lawlessness.
…
Years of policies that have undermined public safety have contributed to these acts of emboldened thefts. Within the last decade, numerous laws that protected the public were weakened under the disguise of financial savings but have only shifted costs to local communities.
It is the unfortunate consequence of policies like Proposition 47 that reduced penalties on property thefts less than $950 from a felony to a misdemeanor. This means no prison time. Charges for grand larceny (a felony) now require thefts of more than $950 – more than double the previous threshold of $400.
Now, not only will a thief steal more without facing a felony charge, they may steal again, and again, and again, without serious consequences. Each theft is counted as a single incident. The law allows for serial thefts. Thieves can repeat their criminal behavior as long as they don’t steal more than $950 in each larceny.
…
For every Nordstrom theft, there are thousands of mom-and-pop shops from pharmacies to jewelry stores to grocery stores that have been robbed without the dramatic videos. Small businesses are less able to afford such losses. Many are hanging on by a shoestring to stay open. California should not be known as a “shoplifter’s paradise.”
…
In the absence of meaningful changes in the law that prioritize public safety, more stores will face more criminal behavior during uncertain economic times, and everyday Californians will feel less safe in our communities.
TO READ THIS IN ITS ENTIRETY, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
Assemblyman Vince Fong has also written about the state’s proposed budget that doesn’t do justice to water shortage, and Assembly Bill 5 and its impact on California freelancers and independent contractors.
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On October 1, Newsom announced his student vaccine mandate. A press release oozing with self-satisfaction declared California the “first state in the nation." 

Two months later, we remain the only state. New York, Michigan, Illinois, and every other state – red or blue – has rejected his mandate. Newsom thought he'd be a hero. He’s now looking to save face.
Families are leaving public education in droves; school boards are passing resolutions of opposition by the dozen; parents are banding together and fighting back. Many Californians who accepted previous mandates are seeing with fresh eyes what’s been going on all along. 
There's a sense this is Newsom’s Waterloo: the moment where his corruption and publicity-seeking have caught up with him, where his disregard for personal freedom and the rule of law have finally gone too far.
Newsom is also maintaining his school mask mandate despite new scientific findings on the harm to kids. Incredibly, some districts are still requiring masks outdoors. At a hearing this week, I asked the San Diego Superintendent for evidence to justify this policy. He couldn’t provide any.
We now know the virus will be “endemic." What remains to be seen is whether the collapse of our form of government will be as well. This is the time to fight.
Support our fight for sanity in California
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Kevin Kiley
California Legislator

Crews conducted another smaller blasting operation Monday at the slide location on State Route 70 in the Feather River Canyon to continue to loosen fractured rock from the slope. Scaling operations from also took place last week prior to and after the first, larger blasting operation on November 23rd. Crews are currently constructing a bench to access loose material on the slope and have begun breaking down and removing debris from the area again. Debris removal will be ongoing at the slide location, pending further activity on the slide, worker safety, and weather.
 
Caltrans and contractors thank the traveling public and locals for their continued patience during this slide closure. 24/7 roadway conditions are available via QuickMap or by calling 1-800-427-7623. Please contact the Caltrans District 2 Public Information Office at 530-225-3426 or by email with questions.

CUT TO LENGTH "CTL" donated and delivered this beautiful White Pine Christmas Tree Wednesday morning. The Loyalton Fire Department Volunteers will string its lights on Saturday morning and Santa arrives that evening just before 5 p.m. by fire truck. Come enjoy the Community Christmas Tree Lighting and see Santa and enjoy hot chocolate courtesy of Rotary Club of Loyalton and cookies courtesy of Echo 4-H Club!  -  Photos courtesy of Bob Feeny of Timber Cafe

By Senator Brian Dahle (R-Bieber)

 
Driving is about to get more expensive – again.
 
Senate Bill 339, recently signed into law, authorizes the California Road Charge Technical Advisory Committee to strategize a pilot program, which will eventually charge California drivers a tax for every mile driven.
 
This legislation will make it remarkably more expensive for our rural communities and Californians’ pocketbooks can’t seem to catch a break. In the past year, consumer prices in the Western United States increased 5.3 percent. The cost of food has risen 4.7 percent, and energy prices jumped 25.1 percent, largely the result of an increase in the price of gasoline.[i] It all adds up, and it’s hard to believe the current gas taxes will really go away once this new per-mile tax is applied.
 
While the purpose of SB 339 is to replace the gas tax revenue as more drivers move to Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV), this bill takes the wrong approach by going after those who drive long distances to work, school, or the grocery store. It’s a regressive tax that will hit low and middle-income households the hardest, who can least afford an additional expense. Many residents who can’t afford to live in California’s dense urban centers end up compromising with long commutes to and from work. The average transaction price of an electric vehicle according to Kelley Blue Book is $51,532[ii], and the day-to-day realities of ZEV’s are unworkable for some given the unreliable electrical grid.
 
California's 1st Senate District is a striking mosaic of suburbia, rural living, and family ranches. When I think of Siskiyou County, home to the majestic Mt. Shasta, I see residents who enjoy the beautiful mountains, towering pines, snowfall, and seasonal outdoor recreation.  They shouldn’t be punished for choosing to live in a rural area.
 
I opposed SB 339, and will continue to object to this inequitable tax as it moves closer to implementation. Instead of more taxes, lawmakers should be doing all they can to make California affordable. These issues need to be addressed by the California Road Charge Technical Advisory Committee to ensure rural Californians don’t get the short-end of this regressive tax.
 [i] https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/news-release/consumerpriceindex_west.htm

[ii] https://mediaroom.kbb.com/2021-05-18-Average-New-Vehicle-Prices-Continue-to-Climb,-up-2-2-Year-Over-Year-for-April-2021,-According-to-Kelley-Blue-Book
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by Melinda Myers
The holidays have arrived and so has the Christmas cactus. Set this favorite holiday plant in a basket, decorative pot or foil wrap and it will be ready to give as a gift or add to your holiday décor. With proper care this holiday favorite can flower for four to eight weeks and grow for decades, becoming a family heirloom handed down from one generation to the next.
The plant sold as a Christmas cactus may actually be a Thanksgiving cactus. The true Christmas cactus blooms later and has small segments with rounded edges. The Thanksgiving cactus, though often sold as the Christmas cactus, has toothed or jagged segments and typically blooms prior to Christmas.
Fortunately, their growing requirements and care are basically the same so the plants will do fine no matter the name on the label. These, or hybrids of the two plants, flower with cool nights and long uninterrupted dark periods.  A third holiday plant, the Easter cactus, sets flowers in spring as the days start to lengthen.
Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti are epiphytes that naturally grow on trees in shaded and humid forests along the coast of Brazil. They all prefer bright indirect light, high humidity and a thorough watering when the top few inches of soil begins to dry. Don’t over water but don’t let the soil dry completely. Water a bit more often when the plant is in bloom.
Grow them in an organic well-drained potting mix for best results. Water thoroughly and pour off the excess that collects in the saucer to avoid root rot. Reduce maintenance and improve the growing conditions with the help of gravel trays. Place a layer of pebbles, decorative stones or marbles in the saucer or bottom of the foil wrap or basket. The pot will be elevated above any excess water that collects in the pebbles. As the water evaporates, it increases the humidity around the plant.
Keep your flowering cactus in a cool bright location to extend its bloom time. Avoid drafts of hot and cold air, moisture stress and other changes in the environment that can cause buds and flowers to drop.
Fertilize with a dilute solution of flowering houseplant fertilizer once it has finished blooming and throughout spring and summer as needed. Grow your cactus in a north-facing window or set back from an east- or west-facing window where it receives bright indirect light throughout the year. Too much sun turns the leaf segments dark red.
Don’t be anxious to move these plants to a bigger container. They prefer to be somewhat potbound and can remain in the same pot for years.
Encourage a new flush of flowers with cooler night temperatures around 55 to 60 degrees and slightly drier soil. An uninterrupted dark period will also help promote flowering. 
Start the dark treatment in early to mid October for holiday flowers. Cover the plants or move them to a location free of any artificial light, indoors or outside, each night and provide bright indirect light each day. Any interruption in the dark period from outdoor, street or reading lights can delay or prevent flowering. 
Many experts find providing the same dark treatment as poinsettias, 14 hours of dark each night, promotes flowering. Michigan State University recommends providing 16 hours of total darkness and eight hours of light for at least eight days to promote flowering. 
Add a Christmas cactus to your indoor plant collection and share a few with friends and family over the holidays. These easy-care flowering beauties are sure to brighten the recipient’s mood and holiday décor.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including The Midwest Gardener’s Handbook and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and the nationally-syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Her web site is www.melindamyers.com.
 

Brighten Someone’s Holiday Season with Christmas Cactus
by Melinda Myers
The holidays have arrived and so has the Christmas cactus. Set this favorite holiday plant in a basket, decorative pot or foil wrap and it will be ready to give as a gift or add to your holiday décor. With proper care this holiday favorite can flower for four to eight weeks and grow for decades, becoming a family heirloom handed down from one generation to the next.
The plant sold as a Christmas cactus may actually be a Thanksgiving cactus. The true Christmas cactus blooms later and has small segments with rounded edges. The Thanksgiving cactus, though often sold as the Christmas cactus, has toothed or jagged segments and typically blooms prior to Christmas.
Fortunately, their growing requirements and care are basically the same so the plants will do fine no matter the name on the label. These, or hybrids of the two plants, flower with cool nights and long uninterrupted dark periods.  A third holiday plant, the Easter cactus, sets flowers in spring as the days start to lengthen.
Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti are epiphytes that naturally grow on trees in shaded and humid forests along the coast of Brazil. They all prefer bright indirect light, high humidity and a thorough watering when the top few inches of soil begins to dry. Don’t over water but don’t let the soil dry completely. Water a bit more often when the plant is in bloom.
Grow them in an organic well-drained potting mix for best results. Water thoroughly and pour off the excess that collects in the saucer to avoid root rot. Reduce maintenance and improve the growing conditions with the help of gravel trays. Place a layer of pebbles, decorative stones or marbles in the saucer or bottom of the foil wrap or basket. The pot will be elevated above any excess water that collects in the pebbles. As the water evaporates, it increases the humidity around the plant.
Keep your flowering cactus in a cool bright location to extend its bloom time. Avoid drafts of hot and cold air, moisture stress and other changes in the environment that can cause buds and flowers to drop.
Fertilize with a dilute solution of flowering houseplant fertilizer once it has finished blooming and throughout spring and summer as needed. Grow your cactus in a north-facing window or set back from an east- or west-facing window where it receives bright indirect light throughout the year. Too much sun turns the leaf segments dark red.
Don’t be anxious to move these plants to a bigger container. They prefer to be somewhat potbound and can remain in the same pot for years.
Encourage a new flush of flowers with cooler night temperatures around 55 to 60 degrees and slightly drier soil. An uninterrupted dark period will also help promote flowering. 
Start the dark treatment in early to mid October for holiday flowers. Cover the plants or move them to a location free of any artificial light, indoors or outside, each night and provide bright indirect light each day. Any interruption in the dark period from outdoor, street or reading lights can delay or prevent flowering. 
Many experts find providing the same dark treatment as poinsettias, 14 hours of dark each night, promotes flowering. Michigan State University recommends providing 16 hours of total darkness and eight hours of light for at least eight days to promote flowering. 
Add a Christmas cactus to your indoor plant collection and share a few with friends and family over the holidays. These easy-care flowering beauties are sure to brighten the recipient’s mood and holiday décor.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including The Midwest Gardener’s Handbook and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and the nationally-syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Her web site is www.melindamyers.com.
Brighten Someone’s Holiday Season with Christmas Cactus
by Melinda Myers
The holidays have arrived and so has the Christmas cactus. Set this favorite holiday plant in a basket, decorative pot or foil wrap and it will be ready to give as a gift or add to your holiday décor. With proper care this holiday favorite can flower for four to eight weeks and grow for decades, becoming a family heirloom handed down from one generation to the next.
The plant sold as a Christmas cactus may actually be a Thanksgiving cactus. The true Christmas cactus blooms later and has small segments with rounded edges. The Thanksgiving cactus, though often sold as the Christmas cactus, has toothed or jagged segments and typically blooms prior to Christmas.
Fortunately, their growing requirements and care are basically the same so the plants will do fine no matter the name on the label. These, or hybrids of the two plants, flower with cool nights and long uninterrupted dark periods.  A third holiday plant, the Easter cactus, sets flowers in spring as the days start to lengthen.
Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti are epiphytes that naturally grow on trees in shaded and humid forests along the coast of Brazil. They all prefer bright indirect light, high humidity and a thorough watering when the top few inches of soil begins to dry. Don’t over water but don’t let the soil dry completely. Water a bit more often when the plant is in bloom.
Grow them in an organic well-drained potting mix for best results. Water thoroughly and pour off the excess that collects in the saucer to avoid root rot. Reduce maintenance and improve the growing conditions with the help of gravel trays. Place a layer of pebbles, decorative stones or marbles in the saucer or bottom of the foil wrap or basket. The pot will be elevated above any excess water that collects in the pebbles. As the water evaporates, it increases the humidity around the plant.
Keep your flowering cactus in a cool bright location to extend its bloom time. Avoid drafts of hot and cold air, moisture stress and other changes in the environment that can cause buds and flowers to drop.
Fertilize with a dilute solution of flowering houseplant fertilizer once it has finished blooming and throughout spring and summer as needed. Grow your cactus in a north-facing window or set back from an east- or west-facing window where it receives bright indirect light throughout the year. Too much sun turns the leaf segments dark red.
Don’t be anxious to move these plants to a bigger container. They prefer to be somewhat potbound and can remain in the same pot for years.
Encourage a new flush of flowers with cooler night temperatures around 55 to 60 degrees and slightly drier soil. An uninterrupted dark period will also help promote flowering. 
Start the dark treatment in early to mid October for holiday flowers. Cover the plants or move them to a location free of any artificial light, indoors or outside, each night and provide bright indirect light each day. Any interruption in the dark period from outdoor, street or reading lights can delay or prevent flowering. 
Many experts find providing the same dark treatment as poinsettias, 14 hours of dark each night, promotes flowering. Michigan State University recommends providing 16 hours of total darkness and eight hours of light for at least eight days to promote flowering. 
Add a Christmas cactus to your indoor plant collection and share a few with friends and family over the holidays. These easy-care flowering beauties are sure to brighten the recipient’s mood and holiday décor.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including The Midwest Gardener’s Handbook and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and the nationally-syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Her web site is www.melindamyers.com.

OVER 100 parents, students, community members, and teachers attended the special meeting for the Governing Board of the Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District held Thursday, November 18th at the Loyalton Elementary School to discuss the mask and vaccine mandates. Parents put shoes out in front of the school to signify kids who would be taken out of the District if they go forward with the mask and vaccine mandates. Four Board members were present at the public meeting with Board member Allan Wright attending by Zoom due to health reasons.  
Board Chair Lee Adams for the Board of Supervisors made a comment via Zoom in lieu of the Health Department, stating the County had “no roll in the daily operations of public schools”, to which the audience applauded.  
Public comment was held for items not on the posted agenda. Candy Corcoran said a lot of people from the community had asked President Mike Moore to resign and wanted a formal answer. Moore stated it was improper communication. The board passed a motion to have a Zoom meeting in October and one in November and stated as the board president, he couldn’t do that on his own. The board voted 5-0 to have a Zoom meeting, and he had no control over changing that meeting. Moore said there was a premise out there that he lied, adding he made a mistake and believed the Health Department advised them on a Zoom meeting because of the pandemic rising so much. He stated he hadn’t made a decision on whether he would resign but decided not to run again, adding he has been serving this school district for close to 50 years. From the audience, Kelly Champion told Moore he represented Loyalton and felt he was not backing the people he was representing. Moore replied Board members represent Sierra County.  
Discussion followed regarding vaccine and mask mandates. Board member Nicole Stannard told the audience this was a discussion and wanted to hear from the public. The board decided not to have either of the topics as action items until the next board meeting on December 13th. She stated they wanted to have an educated decision before voting. Comments were opened and many took the microphone during the 2-½ hour meeting. Mask comments talked about the amount of strep kids are getting. One parent stated her child already had strep three times  this year and asked how many in the audience have had kids with strep. Many raised their hands. Board member and Nurse Practitioner for EPHC Christina Potter was asked about strep cases. She said in 2019 during a three-month period she saw six strep cases. In 2020 during the same time frame she treated 100 cases and stated there were probably more this year, adding the numbers don’t lie. It was stated over and over how very difficult it is to talk, teach or do anything wearing masks and many felt it was detrimental to children’s learning. Many students spoke out against wearing masks and had been protesting that week at Loyalton High School. Parents had been called, students were sent home, and Superintendent James Berardi spoke to a group of them impressed with fighting for their rights. Berardi was happy to report they found out the day before that athletes could play basketball without wearing masks.
7th grader Bennett Stahl spoke and stated he had been kicked out of math four times because he won’t wear a mask. He asked the Board to come to the school and wear a mask seven hours, five days a week, and run a mile in the gym. Annie Siqueido reported from Zoom the favorite part of her 5 -year-old’s day was recess and lunch because they get to take off their masks.
One parent stated masks teach kids to live in fear and felt the board was living in fear of being sued, adding not a single lawsuit against COVID has won. She understood liability insurance and stated they still have monkey bars and many schools don’t based on liability. It was asked if parents sign a release of liability. Berardi said they couldn’t write away liability. He told the audience if they wanted to do something as a community to get together and write letters or call their legislators as those are the people they want to stop.  
Many speakers wanted the Board to recommend masks but not enforce it, stating other schools were doing it and it was working.  
Jane Roberti asked the consequences to the District if the mask mandate goes away. Berardi stated legally it’s not law and the Board could enforce it the way they want, but can’t opt out of it. He said there was no language on what would happen if they say no masks, adding it could be loss of money or ramifications but didn’t know.  
Champion handed out resolutions from other school boards. She stated these school boards were working in unison with their parents, adding they needed their school board to do the same.
Many also spoke out against the vaccine mandate and asked what the District was doing to research this mandate.  One parent mentioned data on long-term effects of this vaccine on children is non-existent and questioned how this was even a discussion.
Samantha Ingle felt they needed to be proactive so parents can make an informed decision and stated it
adds additional stress when it’s handled in the 11th hour. She asked if the District was accepting exemptions for religious, medical and personal beliefs. Berardi explained because it’s an executive order from the Governor there would be exemptions. He talked to Senator Dahle who is also against it and he stated coming in January they expect something to happen legislatively. Berardi said you don’t need exemptions right now because there is no vaccine mandate now and thought there would be a big push back. He stated if it goes forward they will have exemptions available to the public.
Stannard stated she struggled with wearing a mask and stated some counties were asking what  benchmarks needed to end the mask mandate and she concurred. She felt in moving forward the board needed to send surveys and piece what parents and constituents want to fight these mandates that are not constitutional. She will be investigating to see if they can have another special meeting to vote on these items before the 13th. Stannard said they’d also been getting letters from those who are on the other side of the fence and have staff members who have “flat out said if they do not enforce the mask mandates they will leave their job.”
Potter stated as a parent, board member and medical professional COVID is real but didn’t support the mandates. She wants her kids to have a choice not because someone told them to do it.  
Moore stated they have a collective bargaining agreement with the teachers association that states they will follow the State and Health Department and will take the most restrictive ruling. He added that he wasn’t saying they couldn’t change it, but they would have to work with the teacher’s association to get rid of this agreement.  
Moore said his personal opinion didn’t matter. It was what he has to do as a board member that mattered. Initially he was in favor of keeping the masks and now he was leaning in the other direction.
Board member Patti Hall thanked everyone for coming and appreciated everyone who spoke. She hated wearing masks as much as they did but had all these other pieces and wanted to “cross the t’s and dot the i’s” and make sure they know what they are voting on. Hall felt the vaccine mandate would go to the Supreme Court and thought they’d be in for a long fight.  
Loyalton Elementary Principal Andrea Ceresola told the Board the longer it took to make a decision the longer they had to deal with issues, adding they are the kicking post and makes their job harder and puts them in difficult positions.
Loyalton High School Principal Megan Meschery reported the kids protesting had been respectful and have amazing students here, but masks are “super hard.” She said they are suffering the masks and been experiencing chaos. Meschery needed the Board to make a decision as fast as “humanly possible,” adding they are on the front lines.  ​

Area charities are working hard to make the holiday season brighter by collecting money, toys, bikes, new clothing and canned goods and non-perishables.
The following food banks, charities and local businesses are receiving items. Especially desirable are items for older children and teenagers. Please remember: all toys, bikes and clothing items must be unwrapped. All items donated are considered tax deductible.
Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative is assisting local charities with toy, food and clothing drives for the upcoming holidays.
Our Mitten Tree will be available to decorate with “warm” ornaments from employees and the public. Mittens, hats, coats, snow boots, socks and scarves are welcome.
Join us in our “Co-op Coats-4-Kids” coat drive by dropping off new coats for children 0 to 15 years old. Help spread the warmth by dropping items at PSREC’s office, 73233 State Route 70, Portola.
Eastern Plumas Angel ProgramVisit angel trees at Leonard’s Market, Plumas Bank in Portola, Graeagle Store and Goodwin’s Country Market to pick up angel tags for children starting November 19. Drop off new, unwrapped gifts and NEW coats (with tags) for children by December 7 at locations below. For more information, call (530) 832-1827.
Drop off locations:
Plumas-Sierra REC
73233 State Route 70, Portola
Plumas Bank
120 N. Pine, Portola
Goodwin’s General Store
94139 State Route 70, Chilcoot
Mohawk Community Resource Center
8989 Highway 89, Blairsden
Plumas Eureka Fire Hall
200 Lundy Ln., Blairsden
Eastern Plumas Community Assistance Network Food BankEastern Plumas Community Assistance Network Food Bank is welcoming donations of non-perishable food items. Monetary donations can be mailed to 120 Nevada St., Portola, CA 96122 throughout the year.
For more information, call (530) 832-4570.
Portola drop off locations:
Plumas Bank
120 N. Pine, Portola
Portola City Hall
35 Third Ave, Portola
Plumas-Sierra REC
73233 State Route 70, Portola
Angel Tree, Sierra County Holiday Planners and Terry’s Toys for TotsProvide food baskets, new clothing and toys. They also accept gently used clothing and toys. They especially need teen items. Visit angel trees at various Loyalton businesses. For more information, call (530) 993-4228.
Loyalton drop off location:
Sierra Co. Health & Human Services
202 Front St., Loyalton
Lassen County Toys for TotsItems for older children and teens are in great demand. For more information, call (530) 260-4800.
Susanville drop-off location:
Lassen County Sheriff’s Office
1415 Sheriff Cady Ln., Susanville
Plumas County Sheriff’s Holiday Helping HandsWelcomes donations of new, unwrapped toys and clothing. For monetary donations, checks can be made payable to “Holiday Helping Hands.” For more information, call (530) 283-6375.
Main Sheriff’s Office
1400 E. Main St., Quincy
County Courthouse Clerks Office
520 Main St., Quincy
Portola Substation
Quincy Rite Aid
Plumas-Sierra REC
73233 State Route 70, Portola
Plumas Eureka Fire Department
200 Lundy Ln., Blairsden
Portola City Hall
35 3rd Ave., Portola
Plumas Bank (monetary donations and angel gifts)
120 N. Pine, Portola

HIV remains a major public health issue that affects millions of people worldwide.
Although the world has made significant progress in recent decades,  important global targets for 2020 were not met.
Division, disparity and disregard for human rights are among the failures that allowed HIV to become and remain a global health crisis. Now, COVID-19 is exacerbating inequities and disruptions to services,  making the lives of many people living with HIV more challenging.
The theme of World AIDS Day 2021 is “End inequalities. End AIDS”.  With a special focus on reaching people left behind, WHO and its partners are highlighting the growing inequalities in access to essential HIV services. 
On 1 December 2021, WHO is calling on global leaders and citizens to rally to confront the inequalities that drive AIDS and to reach people who are currently not receiving essential HIV services.
​

 
SACRAMENTO – As the deadline for survivors of the California wildfire survivors to enroll in the state's Consolidated Debris Removal Program approaches, state contractors continue to make progress removing eligible debris from properties whose owners already have enrolled in the program.
To date, crews have removed burned metal, concrete, ash and contaminated soil from 458 properties.  The 458 cleared properties represent 30 percent of the 1,477 properties in 10 counties participating in the full debris removal program.  Another 212 properties are participating in the hazardous trees only element of the program.
Under the program, administered by the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), in collaboration with county officials, participating property owners incur no direct costs.
Property owners opt into the program by submitting a Right-of-Entry form (ROE) to their county, which allows the state to begin work on their property and incur no direct costs for the removal of burned metal, concrete, ash and contaminated soil from their properties.
 
Interested homeowners in Alpine, El Dorado, Lake, Lassen, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Siskiyou, Tehama and Trinity counties can still sign up for the Program by November 30, 2021. Find more information about the state’s Consolidated Debris Removal Program, including contacts and county-specific ROE forms here.
 
The Program is also now available to property owners with losses from the Hopkins Fire in Mendocino County, the Washington Fire in Tuolumne County, the Windy Fire in Tulare County, and the French Fire in Kern County.  The deadline for submitting of ROEs for these counties will be announced shortly.  Property owners should speak with their county government to learn more about the program.
 
 

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Intro: Whether you’re planning to travel by car or plane this upcoming holiday season, the last thing you need is added stress. In this edition of Ask the DMV, learn how you can expedite your travels with DMV online services, DMV kiosks and our Business Partner Automation (BPA) program, while also knowing what documentation is required for air travel.
 
Q1: I am planning to fly from my home state to another state this holiday season. Do I need a REAL ID to board domestic flights? What about to enter a federal facility, such as a military base?
A1: While you will not need a REAL ID to board domestic flights or to enter federal facilities this holiday season, there is no reason to wait. The enforcement date has been moved to May 3, 2023, but we highly encourage all Californians to get a REAL ID as soon as possible because of high demand. REAL ID appointments are available and you can also check DMV Office wait times online if you do not have an appointment. Even better – you can complete your REAL ID application online and simply finish the transaction in person at a DMV Office. 
To apply for a REAL ID, you will need to provide the following documents: ONE identity document that includes your date of birth and your full name – such as an original or certified birth certificate, or a valid U.S. passport. You’ll also need to provide TWO documents that show your name and address to prove you’re a California resident. You can use cell phone and utility bills, a mortgage statement, bank statement, or even your vehicle registration. Finally, you will need to provide your FULL social security number.
It's as easy as 1-2-3 to get your REAL ID. View a full list of acceptable documents and start your application online today at CaliforniaREALID.org.
 
Q2: My car registration is out of date and I don’t have time to visit the DMV before the holidays. Can I renew my registration online?
A2: Yes! Skip the line this holiday season and renew your vehicle registration online. The DMV offers a variety of online services that make completing your DMV business easy and efficient, from renewing vehicle registration to changing your address, or driver’s license renewal – and much more! You can find a list of online services at dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv-online/.
In addition to online services, the DMV offers other methods for completing select transactions to help reduce your trips to the DMV and save you time this holiday season, including DMV kiosks and Business Partner Automation (BPA) locations:
 
DMV kiosks are freestanding self-service touchscreen devices that guide you through various DMV transactions, from registration renewal and payment to submitting proof of insurance. You can find a list of DMV kiosk locations at https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/locations/kiosks/.
 
Our Business Partner Automation (BPA) program authorizes qualified partners to process vehicle related transactions, including vehicle registration and titling, from their remote locations. Learn more about our BPA program and what transactions can be processed at https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-industry-services/business-partner-automation-program/.
 
For more information or answers to questions not listed here, please visit www.dmv.ca.gov.
 
 
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On Nov. 10, OR93 was found dead near Interstate 5 near the town of Lebec, Calif. Following a full investigation and necropsy, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has determined that the wolf died from trauma consistent with vehicular strike and does not suspect foul play.
 
On the afternoon of Nov. 10, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife received a phone call from a truck driver who witnessed the deceased wolf along a dirt trail near a frontage road running parallel to I-5. A CDFW warden responded to the scene to collect the carcass which was quickly identified as OR93 because of its collar.
 
The carcass was transported to the Wildlife Health Laboratory in Rancho Cordova, Calif. where a complete necropsy was performed. The wolf had significant tissue trauma to the left rear leg and a dislocated knee as well as soft tissue trauma to the abdomen. The injuries were deemed to be caused by a vehicle strike.
 
Young gray wolves can disperse very long distances from their natal area and OR93 is no exception. Before his demise, he was documented traveling the farthest south in California since wolves returned to the state, which is historically wolf habitat. The last documented wolf that far south was captured in San Bernardino County in 1922.
 
OR93 was a male wolf born in 2019. He dispersed from the White River pack in northern Oregon. When his collar was providing information, he was tracked entering Modoc County on January 30, 2021. After briefly returning to Oregon, he reentered Modoc County on February 4. On February 24, he entered Alpine County after passing through portions of Lassen, Plumas, Sierra, Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, Amador and Calaveras counties. On February 25, he entered Mono County. In mid-March, he was in western Tuolumne County. By late March he was in Fresno County, and then entered San Benito County after crossing Highway 99 and Interstate 5. He was in Monterey County on April 1 and his last collar transmission was from San Luis Obispo County on April 5. Through April 5 he had traveled at least 935 air miles in California, a minimum average of 16 air miles per day.
 
CDFW strongly encourages the public to be aware that the wolf population continues to grow in California and to know the difference between wolves and coyotes. Though gray wolves are generally much bigger than coyotes, they can sometimes be misidentified. We encourage the public to review this page that provides tips for differentiating between wolves, coyotes and dogs.
 
Gray wolves are listed as endangered pursuant to California’s Endangered Species Act (CESA). It is unlawful to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap or capture gray wolves. Anyone who believes they have seen a wolf in California can report it to CDFW at wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Mammals/Gray-Wolf/Sighting-Report.
 
Gray wolves pose very little safety risk to humans. CDFW is working to monitor and conserve California’s small wolf population and is collaborating with livestock producers and diverse stakeholders to minimize wolf-livestock conflicts.
 
Gray wolf management in California is guided by CESA as well as CDFW’s Conservation Plan for Gray Wolves in California, finalized in 2016. More information is available on CDFW’s wolf webpage at: wildlife.ca.gov/conservation/mammals/gray-wolf.
 
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Caltrans District 2 and contractors conducted blasting operations at the slide location on State Route 70 in the Feather River Canyon near the Butte/Plumas County Line just before noon yesterday. The blasting was able to loosen fractured rock from the slope and near the roadway. Minor blasting operations are currently anticipated upcoming to remove and bring more debris closer to the roadway.  Scaling operations from above took place on Monday and are ongoing today. Following scaling and blasting operations, the site will be further assessed for safety prior to crews and equipment being placed underneath for continued debris removal.

There remains no current estimated time of reopening State Route 70 to one lane under 24/7 traffic control. Motorists should continue to use alternate routes. A better timeline for reopening will be provided following upcoming operations, pending safety, weather, and any future activity at the slide location.

Caltrans and contractor thank the traveling public and locals for their continued patience during this slide closure. 24/7 roadway conditions are available via QuickMap or by calling 1-800-427-7623. Please contact the Caltrans District 2 Public Information Office at 530-225-3426 or by email with questions.

Video of blasting operations from November 23rd

Enjoying Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends is a priority for many Americans, but paying attention to how the meal will impact the budget is also important. Farm Bureau’s 36th annual survey indicates the average cost of this year’s classic Thanksgiving feast for 10 is $53.31 or less than $6.00 per person. This is a $6.41 or 14% increase from last year’s average of $46.90.
The centerpiece on most Thanksgiving tables – the turkey – costs more than last year, at $23.99 for a 16-pound bird. That’s roughly $1.50 per pound, up 24% from last year, but there are several mitigating factors.

Farm Bureau “volunteer shoppers” checked prices Oct. 26 to Nov. 8, about two weeks before most grocery store chains began featuring whole frozen turkeys at sharply lower prices. Although the survey timeline is consistent with past AFBF Thanksgiving surveys, 2021 brought some unique differences. According to USDA Agricultural Marketing Service data, grocery stores began advertising lower feature prices later than usual this year. Also, the average per-pound feature price for whole frozen turkeys was $1.07 the week of Nov. 5-11 and 88 cents the week of Nov. 12-18, a decline of 18% in just one week. This means consumers who have not yet purchased a turkey should be able to find one at a lower cost than the Farm Bureau average.
“Several factors contributed to the increase in average cost of this year’s Thanksgiving dinner,” said AFBF Senior Economist Veronica Nigh. “These include dramatic disruptions to the U.S. economy and supply chains over the last 20 months; inflationary pressure throughout the economy; difficulty in predicting demand during the COVID-19 pandemic and high global demand for food, particularly meat,” she explained. Further, “The trend of consumers cooking and eating at home more often due to the pandemic led to increased supermarket demand and higher retail food prices in 2020 and 2021, compared to pre-pandemic prices in 2019.”

Expand ImageThe shopping list for Farm Bureau’s informal survey includes turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a veggie tray, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and coffee and milk, all in quantities sufficient to serve a family of 10 with plenty for leftovers.
“Taking turkey out of the basket of foods reveals a 6.6% price increase compared to last year, which tracks closely with the Consumer Price Index for food and general inflation across the economy,” said Nigh.


View a comparison of prices from the 2020 and 2021 AFBF Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Surveys here.







In recognition of changes in Thanksgiving dinner traditions, the Farm Bureau price survey also includes ham, Russet potatoes and frozen green beans, in an expanded holiday menu. Adding these foods to the classic Thanksgiving menu increased the overall cost by $15.41, to $68.72. This updated basket of foods also increased in price (up 14%) compared to 2020.
This year’s national average cost was calculated using 218 surveys completed with pricing data from all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Farm Bureau volunteer shoppers checked prices in person and online using grocery store apps and websites. They looked for the best possible prices without taking advantage of special promotional coupons or purchase deals.
Cost in Selected States
State-specific data on the average cost of Thanksgiving dinner is available from select Farm Bureaus, including Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.
The AFBF Thanksgiving dinner survey was first conducted in 1986. The informal survey provides a record of comparative holiday meal costs over the years. Farm Bureau’s classic survey menu has remained unchanged since 1986 to allow for consistent price comparisons.

Credit: Getty Images    Individual Prices

• 16-pound turkey: $23.99 or approximately $1.50 per pound (up 24%)
• 2 frozen pie crusts: $2.91 (up 20%)
• 30-ounce can of pumpkin pie mix: $3.64 (up 7%)
• Half pint of whipping cream: $1.78 (up 2%)
• 1 dozen dinner rolls: $3.05 (up 15%)
• 12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries: $2.98 (up 11%)
• 1 gallon of whole milk: $3.30 (up 7%)
• 1 pound of frozen peas: $1.54 (up 6%)
• 3 pounds of sweet potatoes: $3.56 (up 4%)
• 1-pound veggie tray (carrots & celery): 82 cents (up 12%)
• Misc. ingredients to prepare the meal: $3.45 (up 12%)
• 14-ounce bag of cubed stuffing mix: $2.29 (down 19%)

Follow AFBF on social media: Twitter, @FarmBureau; Facebook, @AmericanFarmBureau; and Instagram, @AmericanFarmBureau.

With California in the throes of a “State of Emergency,” Gavin Newsom is vacationing in Mexico for a week. You can see why he’d want to get away.

This last weekend, mobs of “smash and grab” looters wreaked havoc across the Bay Area. The new policy, apparently, is that either a vaccine card or a hammer is required to enter retail establishments.
Newsom’s bold response to the anarchy: “We cannot allow this to continue. Period. Full stop.” He then lamented his PlumpJack winery has been robbed four times. But Newsom has only himself to blame: he helped pass Prop. 47, the so-called “Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act."
This was the measure that all but legalized retail theft. As a prosecutor, I saw the disastrous consequences. When I ran for the Legislature, I designed a “Prop. 47 Simulator” allowing voters to see those consequences by stepping into the shoes of a police officer. (Try it out here)
As crime predictably rose, our efforts to fix the law were snuffed out by Newsom’s allies at the Capitol. But Californians have had enough. When the Legislature returns, I am introducing a Constitutional Amendment to fully repeal Prop. 47.
Help me fight for sanity
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Kevin Kiley
California Legislator

 
MONO COUNTY – The winter travel season is nearly upon us. But before you head to the mountains this year, make sure you and your vehicle are ready for the road conditions heavy snowfall brings. In this Caltrans News Flash, Public Information Officer Christopher Andriessen shares the items every driver should consider packing before traveling to higher elevations, as well as the one item that is required by law.
 
View the News Flash video “Caltrans Reminds Drivers to Prepare Their Vehicles for Winter Weather Travel” on the CaltransVideo YouTube Channel.
 
This News Flash is the 234th in a series of videos highlighting Caltrans’ activities that present the wide-ranging and critical work that Caltrans does to enhance California’s economy and livability. To see more of these and other videos, search for #CaltransNewsFlash on Twitter or visit the Caltrans News Flash page.
 

By Marc Ang 

There is a societal epidemic: pro-vaccine or anti-vaccine zealots who virtue signal by telling others what to do with their own bodies. Both sides are happy to shame those who either take or don’t take the vaccine. 
One anti-vaccine zealot tried to shame me for supposedly getting the vaccine, calling me a “coward”.  When I politely asked for clarification, she said “you took the jab to keep your job. My son is losing his job for standing up to medical tyranny”. Martyr, much? Also, very unresearched as I keep certain things private, especially my medical status. 
But her behavior did provoke some thought. Becoming an independent has truly been freeing as I reject political parties and by extension, blind tribes. Truth and intelligent debate matter to me more than partisan cheerleading so it is important I call out both sides of the vaccine debate.  But many times, both sides aren’t even talking about the right angles on an issue. 
The jab itself and whether or not someone is getting it or not getting it is what the media wants us to focus on while neglecting the elephant in the room: it’s not about the jab, it’s the mandates and the assault on our right to privacy. The latter is even more overlooked than the mandates. 
“The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal law that required the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient's consent or knowledge.” (Per the CDC website)
Though created in the early days of the HIV and AIDS epidemic in the 1990s, nothing has changed as far as the importance of privacy goes. It is simply not right to compromise the privacy of anyone’s medical information and especially of any disease that has stigma attached to it. One can argue that COVID with all the airplay it’s gotten, has even more of a stigma today than HIV. You can barely cough in public without people reacting around you these days. 
There are stigmas not only around COVID or HIV but also cancer, diabetes, Hepatitis or even people with food allergies. In this society which is constantly giving lip service to compassion, why can we not practice the same compassion around COVID to allow that same privacy?
“None of your business” comes to mind when it comes to vaccine passports, especially retail establishments trying to ask sensitive questions of their patrons.  And it certainly is poor form for private citizens to snitch on others for not getting vaccinated or conversely, to shame them if they took the vaccine.
Forgetting our rights to privacy in the name of safety is what allowed the PATRIOT Act to happen under Bush’s Republican administration.  Allowing wiretapping of private phone calls among other privacy-invading mechanisms was apparently acceptable in the name of safety. And here we are again, now with the fear surrounding COVID, privacy loses again. 
It is because we have become a complacent society that has taken for granted our rights? Yes, that’s bad enough but we also have become one of tribal blindness, never questioning our side, and then fighting over the wrong things while barely discussing the right things. 
Is it also a race to become the most extreme? Both expect blind allegiance to their tribe. And that is what’s destroying American society. Privacy and allowing people to make choices no matter how dumb you think it is... are sacred. 
Thankfully, many spoke up in defense of privacy on that thread. I’m heartened by these reasonable people and would like to think that most people don’t subscribe to this antisocial behavior. However, it is the extremes that are taking over politics and regular people need to get civically involved before it’s too late, especially on issues of privacy. 
Marc Ang (marc@aib2b.org) is a community organizer in Southern California and the founder of Asian Industry B2B. He is a community organizer who has thrown many events educating the community on health and wellness issues. Marc’s book “Minority Retort” will be released in late 2021.




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PG&E Offers Tips to Stay Safe and Reduce Energy Use this Holiday Season
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — As we take time to feast and give thanks, the 25,000 coworkers of Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) want to express sincere appreciation for our customers. Our community only works when we support one another. We are honored to be a part of it and privileged to provide energy service to millions across Northern and Central California. 

This Thanksgiving, PG&E shares ways to gobble up energy savings to help reduce higher holiday energy bills.

“We feel fortunate to be able to serve the same communities where we live and raise our families. With this in mind, we encourage customers to put safety first at holiday gatherings and look for ways to reduce energy use this season,” said Aaron August, PG&E’s Vice President of Business Development & Customer Engagement.

Here are some simple tips for customers enjoying the holidays:
 

• Start with a Clean Oven and Stovetop to reduce the risk of a grease fire.

 

• Keep the Oven Door Closed when in use. Cut down your oven's energy consumption by using the oven light to check on food instead of opening the door. It will help maintain the correct temperature and minimize the oven having to reheat itself.

 

• Use the Stove Instead of the Oven as range-top cooking uses less energy. Also plan side dishes that can cook simultaneously in the oven to reduce the amount of time it is running. Use the microwave to reheat or cook small portions.

 

• Install a Dimmer Light Switch for dining room light fixture(s). Dimming a bulb’s brightness by 10% can double the bulb’s lifespan. Keep the lights off when not in use.
• Use a Dishwasher and scrape plates instead of rinsing with hot water to save energy and money. Wait until there is a full load before starting the dishwasher. And be sure to stop the appliance before the heated dry cycle; open the door and let your dishes air-dry.

 
Fire safety is critical on Thanksgiving as it is the peak day for home cooking fires especially when frying foods. Turkey fryers can easily tip over spilling hot oil across a large area. Customers should only use turkey fryers outdoors on a sturdy, level surface away from things that can burn.
For more ways to stay safe this holiday season, visit www.pge.com/safety. For customers shopping for energy-saving appliances and electronics, visit PG&E’s Marketplace.
 
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.

 
Give the Gift of Zero Waste This Holiday Season With TerraCycle
 
TRENTON, N.J., NOVEMBER 22, 2021 – Households everywhere have seen the pile-up of packaging accumulate over the past two years -- add discarded holiday gift wrap to the waste pile and, yes, household stress will begin to accumulate too. Industry data suggests that 4.6 million pounds of wrapping paper is used in the United States each year. Once the holiday festivities start to wind down, nearly half of the used gift wrap will end its life in the landfill. 

Traditional wrapping paper is difficult to recycle because it is often dyed, laminated or made up of small, non-paper additives such as glitter or plastics. To address the environmental cost of the holiday season, TerraCycle’s Zero Waste Box™ program offers convenient, turn-key recycling solutions for holiday gift waste not recyclable through conventional recycling facilities.
 

• After opening presents, families can recycle wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, tissue paper and other decorative gift packaging with the Wrapping Paper and Gift Waste Zero Waste Box.
• For any online purchases, the Shipping Materials Zero Waste Box can be used to recycle e-commerce packaging such as stretch and bubble wrap, packing peanuts, air cushions, and tape dispensers.
• The Plastic Packaging Zero Waste Box can be used to collect all other flexible and rigid plastic packaging components including plastic clamshells, plastic windows and more.

When full, the boxes can be returned to TerraCycle for processing and the collected waste will be cleaned, melted and remolded to make new products.

“Every year, the holiday season brings joy, cheer, and unfortunately, an excess of waste into our homes,” said Tom Szaky, Founder and CEO of TerraCycle. “With help from our Zero Waste Boxes, consumers can tackle this problem head-on in their households and outsmart holiday waste.”

TerraCycle, the world’s leader in the collection and repurposing of complex waste streams, created the Zero Waste Box program to provide solutions for difficult-to-recycle waste that cannot be recycled through TerraCycle’s brand-sponsored, national recycling programs or via standard municipal recycling. To learn more about TerraCycle and its innovative recycling solutions, visit www.terracycle.com.


About TerraCycle
TerraCycle is an innovative waste management company with a mission to eliminate the idea of waste. Operating nationally across 21 countries, TerraCycle partners with leading consumer product companies, retailers and cities to recycle products and packages, from dirty diapers to cigarette butts, that would otherwise end up being landfilled or incinerated. In addition, TerraCycle works with leading consumer product companies to integrate hard to recycle waste streams, such as ocean plastic, into their products and packaging. Its new division, Loop, is the first shopping system that gives consumers a way to shop for their favorite brands in durable, reusable packaging. TerraCycle has won over 200 awards for sustainability and has donated over $44 million to schools and charities since its founding more than 15 years ago and was named #10 in Fortune magazine’s list of 52 companies Changing the World. To learn more about TerraCycle or get involved in its recycling programs, please visit www.terracycle.com.