Shasta & Plumas Counties
 
REDDING – Beginning November 1, 2021, the following District 2 Safety Roadside Rest Areas will be closed for the winter season. The anticipated reopening date for these rest areas is May 1, 2022:
 

• Hillcrest Safety Roadside Rest Area (State Route 299, 4 miles east of Montgomery Creek, Shasta County)
• Massack Safety Roadside Rest Area (State Route 70, 6.5 miles east of Quincy, Plumas County)
• Lester T. Davis Safety Roadside Rest Area (State Route 70, 3 miles east of Portola, Plumas County)
• Shingletown Safety Roadside Rest Area (State Route 44, 3 miles east of Shingletown, Shasta County)
• Lake Almanor Safety Roadside Rest Area (State Route 36, 4.3 miles east of Chester, Plumas County)

 
These five facilities are closed seasonally as maintenance crews focus their time and efforts on the roadways over the winter months. Hazardous conditions from ice and snow are present in these areas during the winter season, which also can lend to plumbing issues at these facilities.
 
Please note that the Hillcrest and Shingletown Safety Roadside Rest Areas are currently closed due to a groundwater well pump replacement project. These rest areas will remain closed through the winter season.
 
For a list of Safety Roadside Rest Areas availability throughout the state, please visit QuickMap. If you have questions, please contact District 2 Public Information by email or by phone at 530-225-3426.
​

Assemblywoman Dahle successful in efforts to allow farmers and ranchers to access their property in an emergency to save their livestock and lands.

SACRAMENTO – On October 7, 2021, Assembly Bill 1103 (AB 1103) by Assemblywoman Megan Dahle (R-Bieber) was signed by Governor Newsom. Earlier this year, AB 1103 passed out of the California Assembly Agriculture Committee on a vote of 9-0 in support of the bill. The legislation creates a standardized training and framework for an agricultural pass program (Ag Pass).
When wildfires threaten commercial farming and ranching operations, road closures often prevent ranchers from doctoring their animals, providing them essential water and feed, or evacuating them.
While emergency responders and volunteer groups can assist in rescuing household pets and a few large animals, they lack the ranchers’ expertise necessary to handle large numbers of cattle or other livestock.
Counties such as Ventura and Santa Barbara have begun developing Ag Pass programs which train farmers and ranchers in emergency response and identify those trained agriculturalists to emergency personnel. Unfortunately, Ag Pass programs are not widespread in California, in part because of the significant effort required for a county to implement the program.
“AB 1103 is the solution, and will require the State Fire Marshal to establish a statewide framework and training for an Ag Pass Program covering fire behavior and emergency response,” said Dahle.
“The bill also requires emergency response and law enforcement to provide access to an Ag Pass holder, except in certain specified circumstances, much as press pass holders are currently able to access restricted areas during an emergency.”
Sponsored by the California Cattlemen’s Association, AB 1103 will go into effect January 1, 2022, with a deadline of January 1, 2023 for the program’s curriculum to be developed by the State Fire Marshal. If you are interested in following the progress of AB 1103’s implementation, sign up for email updates from our team at ad01.asmrc.org/.
Assemblywoman Megan Dahle represents the 1st Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes portions of Butte and Placer counties, along with Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, and Siskiyou counties.

​

PG&E Sending Two-Day Notices to Alert Customers in Small, Targeted Portions of 19 Counties Who Might Be Affected by Potential Public Safety Power Shutoff
 
PG&E Meteorologists Continue to Monitor Dynamic Weather Conditions to Determine Scope of Potential Second Event this Week After Monday’s PSPS
 
All Customers Affected by Monday PSPS Expected to be Restored by Late Tonight
 
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) meteorologists continue to monitor a potential weather system that could bring dry offshore winds to parts of Northern and Central California beginning in the early morning hours Thursday—the second such wind event this week.
 
Given this wind event, combined with extreme to exceptional drought and extremely dry vegetation, PG&E is sending two-day advance notifications to approximately 29,000 customers in small, targeted portions of 19 counties and four tribes where PG&E may need to implement a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) to reduce the risk of wildfire from energized power lines.
 
Customer notifications—via text, email and automated phone call—began today, two days prior to the potential shutoff. Customers can also look up their address online to find out if their location is being monitored for the potential safety shutoff at www.pge.com/pspsupdates.
 
Also today, PG&E continued patrolling lines de-energized during Monday’s PSPS event and restoring power. All of the approximately 24,000 customers by this first event are expected to be restored by late tonight.
 
During a PSPS, PG&E offers support to customers by opening Community Resource Centers with snacks, water, and other essential items; partnering with community-based organizations to assist customers with medical and independent living needs; and continuing to update our customers on power restoration status. Details about customer support programs are available at www.pge.com/pspsupdates.
 
Potentially Affected Counties
 
Potentially affected customers by county are as follows:

• Butte County: 2163 customers, 176 Medical Baseline customers
• Colusa County: 553 customers, 38 Medical Baseline customers
• Contra Costa County: 293 customers, 22 Medical Baseline customers
• Glenn County: 377 customers, 22 Medical Baseline customers
• Kern County: 651 customers, 34 Medical Baseline customers
• Lake County: 1774 customers, 116 Medical Baseline customers
• Napa County: 3750 customers, 157 Medical Baseline customers
• Plumas County: 646 customers, 22 Medical Baseline customers
• San Luis Obispo County: 1488 customers, 39 Medical Baseline customers
• Santa Barbara County: 209 customers, 7 Medical Baseline customers
• Shasta County: 7962 customers, 685 Medical Baseline customers
• Sierra County: 976 customers, 31 Medical Baseline customers
• Solano County: 1591 customers, 123 Medical Baseline customers
• Sonoma County: 1481 customers, 52 Medical Baseline customers
• Stanislaus County: 30 customers, 0 Medical Baseline customers
• Tehama County: 1986 customers, 161 Medical Baseline customers
• Trinity County: 59 customers, 0 Medical Baseline customers
• Yolo County: 405 customers, 13 Medical Baseline customers
• Yuba County: 2523 customers, 229 Medical Baseline customers

 
Approximately 70 total customers are potentially in scope in the tribal areas of Grindstone Rancheria, Mooretown Rancheria, Pitt River Tribes, and Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation.
 
If customers enrolled in the company’s Medical Baseline program do not verify that they have received these important safety communications, PG&E employees will attempt to make individual, in person visits when possible with a primary focus on customers who rely on electricity for critical life-sustaining equipment.
 
With the potential PSPS event two days away, conditions may change. PG&E’s in-house meteorologists, as well as its Wildfire Safety Operations Center and Emergency Operations Center, continue to closely monitor conditions. PG&E will share additional customer notifications as conditions evolve.
 
 
Public Safety Power Shutoffs: What PG&E Customers Should Know
 
Why PG&E Calls a PSPS Event
 
PG&E initiates PSPS when the weather forecast calls for such severe weather that people’s safety, lives, homes, and businesses may be in danger of wildfires.
 
As each weather situation is unique, PG&E carefully reviews a combination of factors when deciding if power must be turned off. These factors include:

• Low humidity levels, generally 30% and below.
• A forecast of high winds, particularly sustained winds above 20 miles per hour and wind gusts above 30-40 miles per hour.
• Condition of dry material on the ground and low moisture content of vegetation.
• A Red Flag Warning declared by the National Weather Service.
• Real-time ground observations from our Wildfire Safety Operations Center and from our crews working across the service territory.

 
This year, PG&E’s decision-making process is evolving to also account for the presence of trees tall enough to strike power lines when determining if a PSPS event is necessary. Every wildfire season is different, and the ongoing drought and the conditions will determine the number of times PG&E will need to shut off power, without compromising safety.
 
This set of criteria is a first step that may lead to further analysis from PG&E’s meteorology team to determine if a PSPS event is necessary.
 
Where to Learn More

• PG&E’s emergency website (www.pge.com/pspsupdates) is now available in 16 languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Russian, Vietnamese, Korean, Farsi, Arabic, Hmong, Khmer, Punjabi, Japanese, Thai, Portuguese, and Hindi. Customers will have the opportunity to choose their language of preference for viewing the information when visiting the website.
• Customers are encouraged to update their contact information and indicate their preferred language for notifications by visiting http://www.pge.com/mywildfirealerts or by calling 1-800-743-5000, where in-language support is available.
• Tenants and non-account holders can sign up to receive PSPS ZIP Code Alerts for any area where you do not have a PG&E account by visiting www.pge.com/pspszipcodealerts.

 
PG&E’s Commitment to Wildfire Safety
 
PG&E’s multi-faceted Community Wildfire Safety Program includes both immediate and long-term action plans to further reduce wildfire risk and keep its customers and communities safe.
 
Since 2018, PG&E’s wildfire safety work has resulted in:

• Multiple inspections of distribution, transmission, and substation equipment in high fire-threat areas
• Hardening more than 600 miles with stronger lines and poles to better withstand severe weather
• Conducting enhanced vegetation safety work on nearly 5,000-line miles in high fire threat areas (this is in addition to the more than 5 million trees that PG&E has trimmed or removed as part of its routine vegetation management and tree mortality efforts)
• Installing more than 1,000 sectionalizing devices and switches that limit the size of PSPS events that are necessary to mitigate the risk of wildfires
• Installing more than 1,150 advanced weather stations to help PG&E gather more data and information to better predict and respond to extreme weather threats
• Installing more than 400 high-definition cameras to monitor and respond to wildfires
• Reserving more than 65 helicopters to quickly restore power after severe weather during PSPS events
• Monitoring wildfire threats in real-time through a dedicated team at PG&E’s Wildfire Safety Operations Center, which is staffed 24 hours a day during wildfire season

 
Ongoing PG&E Wildfire Mitigation and Resiliency Efforts
 
PG&E’s ongoing safety work to enhance grid resilience and address the growing threat of severe weather and wildfires continues on a risk-based and data-driven basis, as outlined in its 2021 Wildfire Mitigation Plan.
 
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.

Paving and Utility Work Force Temporary Closures This Week
 
PLACER/NEVADA COUNTIES – Caltrans is alerting motorists to the temporary closure of Interstate 80 (I-80) rest areas in the Sierra this week for paving and utility work.
 
This Tuesday, October 12, the east- and westbound Donner Summit Rest Areas will be closed between 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. due to utility work. PG&E will be cutting power to the rest areas for electrical work, requiring temporary daytime closures.
 
Farther west, alternating Gold Run Rest Areas will be closed for paving work on I-80. Maintenance crews are repaving the #2 (right lane) of east- and westbound I-80, temporarily restricting off-ramp access to both rest areas. The Gold Run Rest Areas will be closed on alternating days, with one remaining open for public use during paving work.
 
·       The eastbound I-80 Gold Run Rest Area will be closed Tuesday, October 12 and Wednesday, October 13 from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 
·       The westbound I-80 Gold Run Rest Area will be closed Thursday, October 14 and Friday, October 15 from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 
Motorists are advised to plan ahead while traveling on I-80 in the Sierra during these temporary rest area closures. Weather or other unexpected events may delay or prolong the work.
 
Caltrans advises motorists to “Be Work Zone Alert.” The department will issue construction updates on Twitter@CaltransDist3 and on Facebook at CaltransDistrict3. For real-time traffic, click on Caltrans’ QuickMap quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ or download the QuickMap app from the App Store or Google Play.
 

​                                          
 
 
 
People v Jacquelin Dee Parkhurst (20CR0120)
 
On August 27, 2021, Jacquelin Dee Parkhurst, age 47, of Reno, Nevada, was convicted of violating Vehicle Code section 23152(b), driving under the influence. She was placed on 3 years probation, ordered to spend 2 days in jail, take and completed a DUI class, and pay a fine of $1,920.
 
People v. Jennifer Lynn Hood (CR03609X)
 
On August 27, 2021, Jennifer Lynn Hood, age 58 of Sparks, Nevada, was convicted of violating Penal Code section 424, embezzlement.  She was placed on 2 years probation and was ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined.
 
People v. Donald Lewis Quiring (21CR0034)
 
On September 7, 2021, Donald Lewis Quiring, of Loyalton, was convicted of violating Penal Code section 415(2), an infraction. He was ordered to pay a fine of $465.00.
 
People v. Todd Eric Edwards (21CR0006)
 
On September 7, 2021, Todd Eric Edwards, age 51, of Sierraville, was convicted of violating Penal Code section 415(3), a misdemeanor.  He was placed on one year probation, ordered to take an anger management class and pay a fine of $660.00.
 
People v. Clinton Steven Maffi-Bosco (20CR0060)
 
On September 10, 2021, Clinton Steven Maffi-Bosco, age 33, of Reno, was convicted of violating Vehicle Code section 23103, a misdemeanor.  He was ordered to spend one day in jail and to pay a fine of $270.00.
 
People v. William Jon Parker (20CR0075)
 
On September 10, 2021, William Jon Parker, age 52, of North San Juan, was convicted of violating Penal Code section 602(m), trespassing, a misdemeanor.  He was ordered to spend 25 days in jail, placed on 1 year probation and ordered to pay a $235.00 fine.
 
People v. Arin Diane Wharff (20CR0002) and (20CR0022)
 
On September 21, 2021, Arin Diane Wharff, age 30, of Good Years Bar, was convicted of violating Penal Code section 470, forgery and Penal Code 134, preparing false evidence.  She was placed on 2 years probation and ordered to pay $870.00 in fines.
 
People v. Vincent Wayne Beatty (21CR0037)
 
On September 21, 2021, Vincent Wayne Beatty, age 28, of Foresthill, was convicted of violating Vehicle Code section 23152(b), driving under the influence, with a prior.  He was sentenced to 10 days jail, ordered to take a DUI class, placed on 48 months probation and required to pay a fine of $1,885.00.

 
Ragweed

• Ragweed is the most comment fall allergen. 
• Its pollen is very small and highly concentrated.  It begins to release in late August, peaks in September, and may last until the first freeze kills the plant.  
• Pollen counts are highest around the plants near dawn, but they can travel hundreds of miles and releases in most other areas between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. 
• About 75 percent of people allergic to spring plants also have reactions to ragweed.

 
Outdoor Mold

• Mold spore counts tend to rise dramatically in the autumn season with falling leaves and dying plants. 
• Mold thrives in moist conditions like piles of damp leaves.  Counts often jump in early autumn as leaves fall from trees but before the drier humidity conditions of winter set in.  Rainy autumn and winter seasons may lead to very high outdoor mold counts that can last several days after each rainfall. 
• Gardening in mulch or dirt, farming or hiking in the woods can also increase exposure to mold spores this time of year.

 
Many times, people unknowingly bring these allergens into their homes, making the effects worse for everyone else in the family.  The indoor air quality experts with AdvantaClean in your market can discuss these fall allergens and share tips on how your viewers can keep their homes safe this year.
 
We can set up an interview for you with an air quality expert at a local home or via Zoom.
 
Top 5 Tips to Keep Your Home Allergy-Free This Fall
 
The First Heat - Dust mites, mold and other allergens in a home’s vents can be activated when people turn on the heat the first time in the fall.  Before running the heat, get your air ducts cleaned and change the filter.  The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) suggests cleaning air ducts every 3-5 years.  It is recommended to use filters with a MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating between 8 and 10 and a thickness of one inch.
 
Keep the Outdoors Out – When coming inside, it is important to remove shoes and wipe down pets to avoid tracking in allergens.  Wear a mask when raking leaves to avoid breathing mold spores and change clothes after doing yard work to prevent the spread of pollen around the house.  Limit your pets’ time outside and wipe them down to remove pollen when they come indoors.
 
Purify the Air – Most air purifiers have HEPA filters that remove up to 99 percent of airborne allergens, including pollen, dust and pet dander and mold spores.  A mid-priced model can cost $50-125, for a room-sized system.  Place it in your bedroom, where you spend most of your time and can result in better sleep as well.
 
Close the windows – Although it may be tempting to open the window to let in some cool, “fresh” fall air, you are also inviting allergens into your home.  Pollen counts are typically the highest in the mid-morning through late afternoon.
 
Halt the Humidity – Growth of mold indoors comes in damp areas such as basements and bathrooms.  Use a dehumidifier in to keep these areas dry and the humidity levels between 30 and 50 percent.  Mold grows best at humidity levels of 60 percent or higher.
 
This is a timely, informative, and highly visual story which will resonate with your audience.  I will be happy to set up an interview with an indoor air quality expert in your area. Just let me know what date and time works best for you.
 
Kevin Behan

 
SACRAMENTO, Calif. –To help save lives and reduce the risk associated with riding a motorcycle, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) will implement a new, federally funded grant campaign promoting motorcycle safety in California from October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022.
 
The goal of the Get Educated and Ride Safe (GEARS) IV grant is to decrease the number of motorcycle-involved crashes and victims through education and enforcement campaigns.  In federal fiscal year (FFY) 2018-19, there was an approximate 10 percent decrease in motorcycle-involved crashes in California, followed by a 20 percent drop the following year based on provisional data.  Even with the decline, there were 6,849 motorcycle-involved crashes resulting in 306 deaths and 6,118 injuries within CHP jurisdiction in FFY 2019-20.
 
“While the decrease in the number of crashes is encouraging, there is still work to be done,” said CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray.  “The GEARS IV grant will support the Department’s efforts to increase motorcycle safety through education and enforcement.”
 
During this grant period, the CHP will participate in traffic safety education campaigns, such as “May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.”  These campaigns will promote the use of U.S. Department of Transportation-compliant helmets for all riders and raise motorists’ awareness of sharing the road with motorcyclists.  The CHP will also increase enforcement efforts in areas with a high number of motorcycle-involved crashes, which were a result of speed, improper turning, and driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
 
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
 
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
 

 
REDDING – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans District 2), in conjunction with Robert J. Frank Construction, Inc., is preparing to begin work on a highway lighting project on State Route 70 in Plumas County. The $230k project will install highway lighting at the Beckwourth chain on/off area near Beckwourth Calpine Road.
 
Construction activities are anticipated to begin on October 12th. Motorists may encounter one-way traffic control with up to 15-minute delays at times, Mondays-Fridays during daytime hours. Motorists are urged to slow down and drive carefully in and around construction areas, follow speed limit reductions in place, and allot extra time for delays. The project is currently anticipated to be completed by the early November.
 
Construction projects are subject to changes without prior notice.  Caltrans and its contractors do our best to keep the public informed.  To stay up to date on highway projects, please follow us on Facebook and Twitter.  Project information can also be found on the District 2 webpage. The public can also call (530) 225-3426 during working hours or send an email to D2PIO@dot.ca.gov. Updated highway conditions for California can be found on QuickMap and on One-Stop-Shop for the Western U.S.
​

California is struggling to recover from new unemployment claims, with last week’s claims higher than at the start of 2020, according to WalletHub’s updated rankings for the States Whose Unemployment Claims Are Recovering the Quickest, along with accompanying videos and audio files. 

Key Stats:

• Weekly unemployment claims in California increased by 104.67% compared to the same week in 2019. This was the 5th biggest increase in the U.S.
  
  
• Weekly unemployment claims in California increased by 85.75% compared to the start of 2020. This was the 3rd biggest increase in the U.S.
  
  
• Weekly unemployment claims in California decreased by 69.84% compared to the same week last year. This was the 22nd biggest decrease in the U.S.

To view the full report and your state’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/states-unemployment-claims/72730  
​

By Marc Ang

When Cynthia Rivera’s 17 year old son, a junior at El Dorado High School in Placentia got a call to the principal’s office during his football practice, suspension was the last thing he expected. The urgency in the call sounded like there could have been a car accident, and maybe one of his friends was hurt. Different scenarios raced through his mind, but instead he was greeted by a panicked headmaster requiring that he not participate in football for 14 days because he had been exposed to COVID in one of his classes.
Cynthia and her son were shocked. He had just tested negative earlier that week and was displaying no symptoms of COVID.  Taking these two facts to the principal was not enough. He was operating under strict rules from above and it did not matter that Cynthia’s son was healthy and did not actually have COVID. It was enough that he was in a classroom where a kid contracted COVID and he was less than 6 feet away from his classmate.  That is the rule, and Cynthia would have accepted that rule. However, the enforcement of this COVID rule is arbitrary. In the “offending” classroom, Cynthia and her son measured the distance between her son’s seat and the seat of the classmate with COVID and found it was just under 6 feet. Upon measurements in other days and classrooms, it was virtually impossible to keep that 6 feet distancing and there were repeated violations ranging from 1 to 5 feet. Why should her son be penalized for the negligence of the school staff from proper spacing? Cynthia took this fact to the superintendent.
After repeated requests, this was the response Cynthia received: “Dear Mr. and Mrs. Rivera, Thank you for the follow up communication. I’m glad to hear your son tested negative and hope his second test has the same result. I did connect with the school team regarding your case. After review, it was determined that your son was a close contact to a Covid-19 positive student and the Health Services staff correctly followed the guidance from the Orange County Health Care Agency. As a result, the quarantine from extra curricular activities stands for the 14 day period.
While I realize this is not the response you were hoping for, please understand that we make every effort to apply the guidance consistently regardless of whether a student is 2, 4, or 5 ½ feet from an infected individual. Thank you for understanding our position as we work to keep our schools safe. Thank you again. - Assistant Superintendent, Executive Services, Placenta-Yorba Linda Unified”
In the name of “safety”, there is a real life impact.  Since he was 5 years old, Cynthia, her son and the entire family have dedicated their lives and time to her son’s football practices and games. Before this suspension due to COVID exposure, the family had never missed a practice or game. Her son is a rising star, a starter and wants to play in college, and maybe take this professionally if the opportunity arises. But odds are decreasing, as he happened to be coming of age in high school in 2020 and 2021, when kids were locked up at home for over a year.  
The Rivera family had to seek therapy for their son, who was getting depressed. Thinking that things were back to normal, he returned to school and football practice, but in the middle of the season, is now being yanked out. Cynthia feels for her teary-eyed son, who now has to be suspended for 14 days. She says, “The consequences are very severe for not being sure if there is even a threat. Missing two games for a junior is huge”.
Cynthia and her family represent a normal family that is being adversely affected by a societal paranoia that is out of control. But she is not the only one.
Another local California mother from another district had to deal with her son being sent homie for a stomach ache from constipation.  This stomach ache is actually a COVID symptom and while the child and parents may be insistent he does not have COVID, the availability of tests is limited and doctors will not test kids for COVID who have just a stomach ache. Simply exhibiting a symptom is now cause to send a child home for 2 weeks.
Similarly, other children have allergies and this paranoia over germs (George Carlin is rolling over in his grave), fueled by myopic government mandates, is causing people to overreact to seasonal allergies. One family in North Carolina complained that their son had pollen allergies and was also sent home.
It is now a trend for overly paranoid school officials to bar students from going to school or attending extracurricular activities because “better safe than sorry” even if it completely disrupts a child’s learning and trajectory or building a skill or craft, like Cynthia’s son’s football. Even worse, this standard is arbitrary based on what some bureaucrat feels is safe.
Have we stopped to assess the balance of resuming our activities and employing overly harsh restrictions that are based on irrational paranoia, and not by data, actual results and science?  Maybe some training is due for superintendents and teachers, to remember their job is to teach and grow knowledge and young minds, and balance that with COVID safety? Common sense is not so common anymore and it’s once again, the kids that end up suffering as they are treated like lepers for simply being in the same room as someone who had COVID.  No wonder, mental health is on the decline for our teenagers and young adults. This is just unacceptable and the idiocy must stop if we really care about our children, who are the most resilient from COVID.
Marc Ang (marc@aib2b.org) is the President of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance in Orange County, co-chair of “Recall Gascon Now”, was the Director of Outreach for the “No on 16” campaign, a community organizer in Southern California and the founder of Asian Industry B2B who specializes in race relations and the minority conservative experience. His book “Minority Retort” will be released in late 2021




​

SACRAMENTO – Senate Bill 303, authored by Senator Andreas Borgeas (R-Fresno), was signed into law today by Governor Gavin Newsom. Senate Bill 303 was approved unanimously by both houses of the California Legislature in September. Senator Borgeas’ efforts mark a massive legislative win for qualifying California homeowners seeking to rebuild after a wildfire.
 
Senate Bill 303 extends the time period by two years for a taxpayer to transfer their base year value to a comparable property in the same county if their home was destroyed by a disaster. Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) co-authored the bill.
 
“California has witnessed – and is currently experiencing - an unprecedented number of wildfires in recent years that have decimated countless homes throughout the state,” said Senator Borgeas. “Once a home is destroyed, residents are faced with a maelstrom of barriers and costs as they race against the clock to rebuild or repair their home. The state of California should be doing everything in its power to help wildfire victims get back on their feet.”
 
“In Calaveras County, the Butte Fire damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes in September 2015,” said Leslie K. Davis, Calaveras County Assessor. “Almost immediately, displaced residents were renting or buying available property and what little supply that had existed was completely exhausted by the demand. With the five-year deadline to replace their home passed, those who have not been able to complete construction were also reeling from the effects of the COVID Shut Down. These property owners have been doubly hit by disaster; first a wildfire, then a pandemic. This proposal will help many regain a sense of normalcy."
 
Read the full text of the legislation here.
###
Senator Borgeas represents the 8th Senate District, which encompasses all or portions of Amador, Calaveras, Fresno, Inyo, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Sacramento, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Tuolumne Counties. For additional information about Senator Borgeas, please visit his website at www.senate.ca.gov/borgeas or sign up for his monthly newsletter here.
FOLLOW SENATOR BORGEAS
‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

 
 
Eastern Plumas Health Care (EPHC) will be opening a new COVID clinic offering both COVID tests and COVID vaccinations to the community in Loyalton starting Friday, October 8 and then every other Friday thereafter from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Patients will have the option of calling ahead at 993-6100 or arriving the day of by 12:30 p.m. to be vaccinated or tested with a nasal swab.
 

 
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – To help fund the California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) yearlong effort to promote safety for bicyclists and pedestrians, the Department has been awarded the California Pedestrian and Bicyclist Enforcement and Education Project IXgrant.  Beginning October 1, 2021, this grant enables officers to conduct enhanced enforcement patrols and public awareness campaigns throughout the state.
 
“It is important for motorists to scan each intersection for foot and bicycle traffic before entering, and it is especially important during hours of darkness,” CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray said. “Pedestrian and bicycle fatalities account for nearly one-third of all traffic-related deaths annually in California with the vast majority occurring at night.” 

In 2019 and 2020 combined, 7,594 people were killed in crashes throughout California, with pedestrians and bicyclists accounting for 2,354 of those deaths. 
 
October is National Pedestrian Safety Month, and on National Walk to School Day, October 6, 2021, the CHP will focus its education and enforcement efforts in locations with high numbers of pedestrian and bicyclist crashes.  Officers in plain clothes will work with uniformed officers to monitor crosswalks and areas surrounding schools for motorists who fail to yield the right-of-way or who drive unsafe and illegally.

The educational component of the grant funds traffic safety skills and training courses and informative presentations related to safe traffic behavior for high-risk populations, including older community members and youth.  The grant also supports the distribution of safety equipment such as bicycle helmets and reflective gear.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
 
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
 
# # #    
 
 
 



 
GRANT PROVIDES VITAL FUNDING FOR THE CHP TO ENFORCE SAFETY FOR BICYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS
 
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – To help fund the California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) yearlong effort to promote safety for bicyclists and pedestrians, the Department has been awarded the California Pedestrian and Bicyclist Enforcement and Education Project IXgrant.  Beginning October 1, 2021, this grant enables officers to conduct enhanced enforcement patrols and public awareness campaigns throughout the state.
 
“It is important for motorists to scan each intersection for foot and bicycle traffic before entering, and it is especially important during hours of darkness,” CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray said. “Pedestrian and bicycle fatalities account for nearly one-third of all traffic-related deaths annually in California with the vast majority occurring at night.” 

In 2019 and 2020 combined, 7,594 people were killed in crashes throughout California, with pedestrians and bicyclists accounting for 2,354 of those deaths. 
 
October is National Pedestrian Safety Month, and on National Walk to School Day, October 6, 2021, the CHP will focus its education and enforcement efforts in locations with high numbers of pedestrian and bicyclist crashes.  Officers in plain clothes will work with uniformed officers to monitor crosswalks and areas surrounding schools for motorists who fail to yield the right-of-way or who drive unsafe and illegally.

The educational component of the grant funds traffic safety skills and training courses and informative presentations related to safe traffic behavior for high-risk populations, including older community members and youth.  The grant also supports the distribution of safety equipment such as bicycle helmets and reflective gear.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
 
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
 
GRANT PROVIDES VITAL FUNDING FOR THE CHP TO ENFORCE SAFETY FOR BICYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS
 
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – To help fund the California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) yearlong effort to promote safety for bicyclists and pedestrians, the Department has been awarded the California Pedestrian and Bicyclist Enforcement and Education Project IXgrant.  Beginning October 1, 2021, this grant enables officers to conduct enhanced enforcement patrols and public awareness campaigns throughout the state.
 
“It is important for motorists to scan each intersection for foot and bicycle traffic before entering, and it is especially important during hours of darkness,” CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray said. “Pedestrian and bicycle fatalities account for nearly one-third of all traffic-related deaths annually in California with the vast majority occurring at night.” 

In 2019 and 2020 combined, 7,594 people were killed in crashes throughout California, with pedestrians and bicyclists accounting for 2,354 of those deaths. 
 
October is National Pedestrian Safety Month, and on National Walk to School Day, October 6, 2021, the CHP will focus its education and enforcement efforts in locations with high numbers of pedestrian and bicyclist crashes.  Officers in plain clothes will work with uniformed officers to monitor crosswalks and areas surrounding schools for motorists who fail to yield the right-of-way or who drive unsafe and illegally.

The educational component of the grant funds traffic safety skills and training courses and informative presentations related to safe traffic behavior for high-risk populations, including older community members and youth.  The grant also supports the distribution of safety equipment such as bicycle helmets and reflective gear.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
 
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today announced a statewide effort to secure donations with the goal of providing one million books for students and their families. This book drive happens in conjunction with a statewide literacy campaign launched last month that includes a task force working toward the goal of helping all California students reach the goal of literacy by third grade, by the year 2026. Superintendent Thurmond and the California Department of Education (CDE) are working closely with First 5 California and are seeking further partnerships to reach the goal of providing one million books to students and families.
“Our literacy effort is multifaceted, with legislation that will be introduced in 2022 for providing resources and advancing literacy and biliteracy goals through professional learning and family engagement—as well as this effort of to get a million books into the hands of California students and their families,” Thurmond said. “Students who can’t read by the third grade are at greater risk to drop out and end up in the criminal justice system, so this effort is more than just reaching a literacy milestone—it’s also about equity, justice, and putting students on a path that can create a lifetime of success.”
Cash donations are welcome, and the CDE and First 5 California are seeking partners that can collect and distribute in-kind donations of books. Please send checks to First 5 California, 2389 Gateway Oaks Drive, Suite 260, Sacramento, CA 95833. Checks can be made out to “California Children and Families Commission” with a memo line that says “books.”
Superintendent Thurmond has also been visiting schools around the state to promote literacy and biliteracy. Last week, he joined Pasadena Unified School District officials and school and community leaders to tour a sixth-grade dual language class and a biliteracy class for newcomers at Blair High School in Pasadena. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, he donated a book on United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
Those interested in participating in the literacy effort, helping with logistics (including collection and distribution of books), and wishing to learn more should email statewideliteracycampaign@cde.ca.gov. Additional details about the statewide book drive and an online portal for donations are forthcoming.
#####
The California Department of Education is a state agency led by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. For more information, please visit the California Department of Education’s website. You may also follow Superintendent Thurmond on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

---

 
Today Congress passed the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act, a continuing resolution to fund the government through Dec. 3. The act also includes supplemental aid to farmers and ranchers, who have endured one disaster after another.
 
California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson today hailed the passage of the continuing resolution, which also reauthorizes the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus program. The WHIP+ program provides aid to agricultural communities across the U.S. that faced unprecedented hardships in 2020 and 2021 from drought, wildfires, hurricanes and other natural disasters that caused vast crop damage and devastation to farming operations.
 
“California’s farmers and ranchers have experienced substantial crop damage due to wildfire and drought over the past two years,” Johansson said. “In addition to crops being fallowed by drought conditions, our producers have seen their productive acreage burned or damaged by wildfire and smoke taint.
 
“This disaster assistance will provide California’s family farms with needed additional support, providing both stability for our farmers and a safeguard for America’s domestic food supply.”
 
Johansson thanked Reps. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) and Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) and Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California) and expressed his appreciation for the support from many other members of the California congressional delegation.
 
The California Farm Bureau works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of nearly 32,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of nearly 5.6 million Farm Bureau members. 




# # #
‌ ‌ ‌

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond applauded Governor Newsom’s action that would add the COVID-19 vaccine to other vaccinations required for in-person school attendance—such as measles, mumps, and rubella—as stated by the Health and Safety Code. It’s anticipated the COVID-19 vaccine mandate would be fully implemented to grades seven through twelve on July 1, 2022. A vaccine mandate for kindergarten through sixth grades would follow at a later date. A vaccine mandate for all kindergarten through grade twelve staff is scheduled to be implemented at the same time as students in grades seven through twelve.
“I have no doubt that today’s announcement by the Governor will lead to safer schools and safer communities,” stated Thurmond. “I look forward to working with the Governor, his administration, school districts, and school communities across the state to implement this important change.”
Superintendent Thurmond has traveled up and down the state visiting with school and state leaders as well as community partners to promote vaccines for all eligible individuals, especially those in the hardest-hit communities. This includes reaching to close to 500,000 Californians via virtual town hall.
“In the coming weeks, I will be launching a public service campaign to expand vaccination rates across the state,” said Thurmond. “California is already leading the way in combatting this virus, with one of the lowest COVID-19 test positivity rates in the country; the safety measures we take collectively now in our schools will be pivotal to how our communities emerge from the pandemic, and this is especially true for our most vulnerable communities. COVID-19 vaccines provide the best protection possible that will allow students to get back to enjoying what they love most, including school sports, clubs, and social events. We look forward to working with the California Department of Public Health to support this effort that will keep schools safely open. Thanks to public health measures, our communities have opened up, we have been able to hug loved ones, and can now gather again. Let’s not lose that progress. The Governor’s action comes at the right time.”
#####
The California Department of Education is a state agency led by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. For more