Shasta & Plumas Counties



REDDING – Beginning Tuesday, October 31, 2023, 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, 2024:

• 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 plan accordingly for travel stops along these routes during these seasonal closures. For a list of Safety Roadside Rest Areas availability throughout the state, please visit QuickMap.
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It's open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Shop local!

Work Continues at Various Locations in Placer and Nevada Counties

PLACER/NEVADA COUNTIES – Caltrans is reminding motorists of lane closures and delays along Interstate 80 (I-80) as emergency repair work continues in various locations in both Placer and Nevada Counties. Here is the breakdown for next week:
Eastbound I-80

• Location 1 – No work this week.
• Location 2 – No work this week.
• Location 3, between the I-80 junction with State Route 20 and Rainbow, lane closures will be in place 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, October 1 through Thursday, October 5.
• Location 4
• Between Kingvale and Soda Springs, lane closures will be in place around the clock starting 7 p.m. Sunday, October 1 through noon Friday, October 6.
• Between, Donner Summit and Donner Pass Road; lane and closures will be in place around the clock starting 7 p.m. Sunday October 1 through noon Friday, October 6.
• The Donner Lake Interchange off-ramp and on-ramp will be closed Tuesday, October 3 through noon on Friday, October 6.
• Highway 89 North exit will be closed 4 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 3.
• Location 5, between the I-80 junction with State Route 267 and Boca, lane closures will be in place around the clock starting 7 p.m. Sunday, October 1 through noon Friday, October 6.

Westbound I-80

• Location 5 – The Floriston off-ramp and on-ramp will be closed 4 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, October 6.
• Location 4
• Highway 89 North exit will be closed 4 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4.
• Between Vista Point and Donner Rest Area; lane closures will be in place around the clock starting 7 p.m. Sunday, October 1 through noon Friday, October 6.
• The Donner Lake Interchange off-ramp and on-ramps will be closed Tuesday, October 3 through noon on Friday, October 6.
• Location 3, between Rainbow and Big Bend, lane closures will be in place around the clock starting 7 p.m. Sunday, October 1 through noon Friday, October 6.
• Location 2 – No work this week.
• Location 1, between Alta and Gold Run, lane closures will be in place 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday, October 1 through Thursday, October 5.

Caltrans will monitor all delays to ensure the maximum delay will not exceed more than two hours. So far average delays are around 5 to 10 minutes for each location. The schedule is subject to change or be delayed due to weather, availability of materials or other unexpected events.

Caltrans performed an extensive field review of the I-80 corridor earlier this year and found an unprecedented amount of damage. Several areas exhibit moderate to high levels of rutting due to chain wear and need immediate repair. Five emergency contracts were executed for the repairs, totaling $84.4 million. The primary contractors are Teichert, Vanguard Construction, Dees Burke Engineering Constructors, Granite Construction, and Q&D Construction.
The extended lane closures will help to minimize the duration of the project, speeding completion and improve workers’ safety. The climate in the area also provides a limited temperature window to perform the needed repairs.
 
Caltrans District 3 is responsible for maintaining and operating 4,385 lane miles in 11 Sacramento Valley and Northern Sierra counties. Caltrans reminds motorists to “Be Work Zone Alert” and slow in construction zones for the safety of travelers and crews performing these improvements.
 
The department will issue construction updates on X @CaltransDist3 and on Facebook CaltransDistrict3. For real-time traffic, click on Caltrans’ QuickMap or download the QuickMap app from the App Store or Google Play.
 
| CleanCA.com | CleanWaterCA.com | #BeWorkZoneAlert | X | Facebook | YouTube |

PROPOSITION 13: When it was passed, Proposition 13 cut property taxes in half. And since 1978, the legitimate “above the line” property tax on your home has never increased by more than 2% a year, the maximum allowed by Prop. 13
Proposition 13 limits property taxes to 1% of your home’s purchase price and prohibits tax increases of more than 2% per year unless the property is sold.
Proposition 13 requires a two-thirds vote to impose new taxes, including parcel taxes and bond debt.
Constitutional Amendments are advancing in Sacramento that would create exceptions to Proposition 13’s two-thirds rule. If even one is passed, it will lead to new tax hikes that could cost each individual homeowner thousands of dollars each year. 
We need Proposition 13. Everyone votes on these taxes, but only homeowners pay them - the very reason for the two-thirds rule.
Defeat the Democrat’s two Prop 13 repeal bills (ACA 1 and ACA 13) while passing the California Taxpayer Protection Initiative to permanently strengthen and protect Prop 13.
For more information, please check out Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association at www.hjta.org

* * * * *

OUR FAMILY has been here nearly 75 years, having come to Sierra County in 1949. That makes us newcomers compared to the Sierra County Historical Society Board of Directors. 
Suzi Schoensee comes from a pioneer family who homesteaded at Charcoal flat, Sattley and Beckwourth in the 1850s, ‘60s and ‘70s. She worked 32 years as the first Speech and Language Therapist, creating the program for Sierra County Office of Education. Her Sattley home sits across Highway 49 from where her great-great grandfather had a hotel in the 1800s.
Jan Hamilton comes from an Italian pioneer family who settled near Downieville in 1859. During her 35-year career in the Sierra County Superior Court, she worked with records from 1852 forward which ignited her drive to preserve local history. Jan is a lifetime member of the Sierra County Historical Society and served as board president the past 3-1/2 years.
Mary Nourse is a retired Downieville School teacher who has lived in Sierra City 50 years. She trained students in oral history interviewing and research and supervised creation of murals, drama productions and museum exhibits.
Scott Mathieson is a geologist who visited Sierra County 48 years until he and his wife made the good decision of buying a home in Sierra City five years ago. They love the rich history and geology and particularly appreciate the contrasts between the two sides of the county. Scott joined the board 4 years ago.
James Connolly’s dedication to Sierra County began as a boy when he stayed at a U.S. Forest Service cabin with his family and is now an owner of historical properties. He has an extensive knowledge of local history and a passion to preserve it. He currently serves on the board.

​ONE MORE Sierra County Historical Society member is Tom Butt who recently acquired the 1883 Sierra City School. 
He is a historic architect and former mayor of Richmond, CA., recognized by California Preservation Foundation as “Legislator of the Year,” and recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from California Chapter of the American Institute of Architects for work in historic preservation, He was a founder and serves on the nonprofit boards of East Brother Light Station, Inc. and Rosie the Riveter Trust, the nonprofit partner of Rosie the Riveter WWII Homefront National Historical Park. He is owner of multiple historic properties.

 
(Washington, D.C.) – Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) and Executive Vice Chair Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) released the following statements in response to recommendations by the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission in their report released yesterday.
“This report highlights what we already know, we must take a proactive approach in combatting catastrophic wildfires,” said Chairman Newhouse. “It’s time for Congress to take immediate action by empowering local officials with the tools and resources they need to prevent and combat wildfires plaguing their communities.”
“Our fires are getting bigger, hotter, and more aggressive than ever before,” said Executive Vice Chair LaMalfa. “Today, fire seasons routinely destroy more than 8 million acres annually, and in the last 10 years three fire seasons have consumed over 10 million acres. Our forests are so overgrown and dry that they’ve turned into a tinderbox, one spark away from erupting in flames. Residents in my district, Western Caucus, and the Wildland Fire Commission know what needs to be done. We must remove the barriers that bar active forest management to minimize the risk of wildfire.”
 
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.
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Dr. Glenn Mollette


Do you worry about going to hell? Will you burn there in hell’s fire? Will you be in the hands of the Devil? 


Hell may be a place where people are locked into a room with endless Presidential candidates hollering and speaking over each other to the point that nothing makes much sense and everybody ends up sounding crazier and crazier. 


I accept what Jesus taught about heaven and hell. He actually talked more about hell than he did heaven. Hell is described as a very sad place of pain and suffering. I certainly do not want to leave my body and go somewhere worse. I have chosen to go to the better of the two places and I am trusting in Jesus to get me there. 


As you know there is plenty of hell on earth. Why would we want to leave the hell of earth and go to more hell? 


A dear friend told me recently about his sweet wife being in Intensive Care in Alabama. She has battled multiple sclerosis for 20 years. All the medication she takes has impacted her heart. She recently had a heart attack and is now intubated. “MS sucks,” my friend said. 


Most of us have watched loved ones die from lung cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, dementia, diabetes, and various neurological diseases. It’s hell for the person and hell for the loved ones. Most likely if we live long enough, we will all go through some form of severe suffering. You might die suddenly and escape the long valley of suffering or you may not. Being intubated, struggling to breath, walk, talk, and eat is not a way any of us want to spend our days. 


So where is hell? There’s plenty of it on planet earth.  Almost 2 billion people live in poverty. Many of these people have to walk somewhere every day for just a bucket of water.  Every day, millions are desperate for medical care but have access to none.  Millions of Americans are homeless.  Six million more immigrants have entered our country over the last three years. So, there is more homelessness, poverty, misery, and hell in the streets of America than ever before.


Life and planet earth are great if you are relatively healthy, have a place to sleep, food to eat, and a little money to spend. However, health can change fast and often does.  The point is there are lots of suffering people and suffering caregivers. Do everything you can to be kind to people. Give them a smile. A good word. A good deed. Be helpful when you can. You will appreciate it when it’s your turn to suffer. 


Many people are suffering in hell every day. Treat others the way you want to be treated. 
 

​

    
Sierra County District Attorney



Sandra A. Groven
District Attorney
Sandy Marshall
Administrative Assistant
Victim Witness

 
           
 
                                                                  
CRIMINAL CASE UPDATE JULY-SEPTEMBER 2023
 
 
People v. Ben Christopher Beeler (23CR0041)
 
On July 25, 2023, Ben Christopher Beeler was convicted of violating Penal Code section 25850(a), possession of a loaded firearm in a public place.  He was placed on one year probation, forfeited his gun, and ordered to pay fines of $1,015.00. 
 
People v. Joel Randolph Miner (22CR0085)
 
On July 27, 2023, Joel Randolph Miner was convicted of violating Penal Code section 594, vandalism.  He was ordered to serve 38 days in jail, placed on one year probation, and ordered to pay a fine of $625.00.
 
People v. Glenda Rae Garcia  (22CR0058)
           
On August 8, 2023, Glenda Rae Garcia was convicted of violating Vehicle Code section 23110(a), throwing an object at a moving vehicle.  She was placed on one year probation, ordered to pay restitution of $667.94, and a pay a fine of $315.00. 
 
People v. Kayla Marie Seeland (23CR0039)
 
On August 8, 2023, Kayla Marie Seeland was convicted of violating Vehicle Code section 23103/23103.5, reckless driving, alcohol related  She was placed on one year probation, ordered to take a DUI class and pay a fine of $948.00.
 
People v. Danielle Lin Browning (22CR0080)
 
On August 10, 2023, Danielle Lin Browning was convicted of violating Penal Code section 496, receiving stolen property.   She was ordered to spend 9 days in jail, placed on two years probation, ordered to pay a fine of $400.00. 
 
People v. Robert Lee Wilson Boone (23CR0056)
 
On August 24, 2023, Robert Lee Wilson Boone was convicted of violating Penal Code section 25400, carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle, and Health and Safety Code section 11550, under the influence of methamphetamine.  He was placed on one year probation
 
People v. Joseph William Sawyer (23CR0062)
 
On August 24, 2023, Joseph William Sawyer was convicted of violating Penal Code section 496, receiving stolen property and Health and Safety Code section 11550, under the influence of methamphetamine.  He was ordered to spend 85 days in jail, placed on 2 years formal probation, fine payments were suspended.
 
People v. Raymond Patrick Preckwinkle (23CR0003 and 23CR0050)
 
On September 5, 2023, Raymond Patrick Preckwinkle was convicted of violating Vehicle Code section 23152, driving under the influence and Vehicle Code section 14601.1, driving on a suspended license.  He was ordered to spend 2 days in jail, placed on three years probation, ordered to complete a DUI class.  He was ordered to pay fines totalling $3,261.00.
 
People v. Mikkel Joseph Schwiesow (23CR0053)
 
On September 5, 2023, Mikkel Joseph Schwiesow was convicted of violating Health and Safety Code section 11550, under the influence of methamphetamine.  He was ordered to spend 2 days in jail,  placed on one year probation and ordered to pay a fine of $1,015.00.
 
People v. Victoria Elaine Trenerry (22CR0017)
 
On September 5, 2023, Victoria Elaine Trenerry was convicted of violating Vehicle Code section 23152, driving under the influence.  She was ordered to serve 2 days in jail, placed on 3 years probation, ordered to complete a DUI class, and pay a fine of $1,856.

People v.  Zachariah Thomaslytle Wright (22CR0074)
 
On September 19, 2023, Zachariah Thomaslytle Wright was convicted of violating Vehicle Code section 14601.1, driving on a suspended license and failing to appear as ordered.  He was ordered to spend 14 days in jail, placed on one year probation, and ordered to pay a fine of $1,405.00.
 
People v. Gary Tyson Haren (23CR0006)
 
On September 21, 2023, Gary Tyson Haren was convicted of violating Penal Code section 29800, felon in possession of a firearm, Penal Code section 30305, felon in possession of ammunition, Penal Code section 21810, possession of metal knuckles and Penal Code section 21510, possession of a switchblade knife.  He was sentenced to 3 years 4 months in State Prison. 
 
People v. Nathan Paul Bowman (22CR0111)
 
On September 21, 2023, Nathan Paul Bowman, was found in violation of his probation.  He was ordered to serve 90 days in jail.
 
People v. Stuart Cunvin Boesch (22CR0066)
 
On September 21, 2023 Stuart Cunvin Boesch was found in violation of his probation.  He was ordered to serve 6 months in jail.
 
People v. Jason Michael Moore (21CR0053)
 
On September 21, 2023, Jason Michael Moore was found in violation of his probation.  He was ordered to serve 120 days in jail.

Wildlife officers with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) spearheaded several enforcement investigations in August and September.

From Sept. 4-8, MET officers targeted several illegal cannabis operations on rural private lands in Shasta, Tehama and Sutter counties. Officers received a tip from a hunter who stumbled on one of the trespass grow sites and reported it. As a result, MET officers eradicated more than 5,500 illegal plants, arrested four suspects, seized several firearms including one stolen handgun, dismantled several water diversions and removed thousands of pounds of trash. Support was provided from CDFW’s Air Services and K9 Units, as well as the California Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Eradication and Prevention of Illicit Cannabis (EPIC) task force.

“Many recreationists who venture into California’s backcountry are our best eyes and ears for reporting poaching, pollution and illegal cannabis cultivation on public land,” said Nathaniel Arnold, Acting Chief of Enforcement for CDFW. “These enforcement actions not only provide public and consumer safety, but they also combat the illegal cannabis supply chain. I could not be more proud of these dedicated officers.”

With information received through CDFW’s confidential CALTIP program, MET officers conducted an operation on CDFW property at the Putah Creek Wildlife Area in Solano County on Aug. 24. With assistance from CDFW’s Air Services Unit and Unpiloted Aircraft System (drones), officers eradicated 809 illegal cannabis plants, airlifted 1,140 pounds of trash from the area, dismantled an illegal water diversion, seized one loaded assault rifle, and removed an assortment of chemicals and fertilizers found near a tributary. Support was provided by the Solano County Sheriff’s Office.

On Aug. 9-11, MET officers conducted operations on U.S. Forest Service land in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. During the week, officers dismantled multiple illegal water diversions, seized multiple containers of restricted pesticides and documented dozens of environmental crimes. Officers also eradicated 5,967 cannabis plants, destroyed over 157 pounds of processed cannabis, and removed 1,970 pounds of trash, 300 pounds of fertilizer and 1,780 feet of irrigation pipe. Five suspects were arrested, one was armed with a handgun and one was armed with an assault rifle. Assistance was provided by the DOJ’s EPIC task force.

Developed in 2013, MET was CDFW’s first statewide special operations law enforcement team with the primary duty to protect public safety and California’s natural resources, particularly those threatened by environmental crimes associated with illegal cannabis cultivation on public lands.

CALTIP is a confidential secret witness program that encourages the public to provide CDFW with information leading to the arrest of poachers and polluters. If you have information about such a violation, call 888 334-CALTIP (888 334-2258), 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Learn more about illegal cannabis grows on public land.
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Persons with disabilities needing reasonable accommodation to participate in public meetings or other CDFW activities are invited to contact CDFW's Accessibility Coordinator in the EEO Office at (916) 902-9097, or send an email to EEO@wildlife.ca.gov. Reasonable Accommodation requests for facility and/or meeting accessibility should be received at least 21 days prior to the event. Requests for American Sign Language Interpreters should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event, and requests for Real-Time Captioning at least four weeks prior to the event. These timeframes are to help ensure that the requested accommodation is met. If a request for an accommodation has been submitted but due to circumstances is no longer needed, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator immediately.

Governor should reject bills that weaken Medicare, raise costs and threaten public safety.



SACRAMENTO – Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (Yuba City) is calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom to veto four pieces of legislation sent to him by Democratic lawmakers. The four bills, SB 81, SB 553, SB 770 and SB 799 would make life harder for already-struggling Californians by weakening Medicare, raising costs on employers and threatening public safety. 


“With crime and the cost of living continuing to soar, life in California is hard enough,” said Gallagher. “The last thing people need is a set of radical bills from out-of-touch politicians in Sacramento making things even harder.” 


In four letters to Newsom urging him to reject the bills, Gallagher highlighted the problems with each proposal and offered alternative solutions: 

• Senate Bill 81 will create a presumption that prison inmates should be granted parole as early as possible unless they present a “current, unreasonable risk of danger to others,” regardless of their behavior in prison, their future risk of reoffending or the impact of granting parole on victims. 
  
  
  
• Senate Bill 553 will impose a costly mandate that shifts the burden of preventing workplace violence onto employers, even as Democrats’ soft-on-crime policies have led to a wave of lawlessness in many retail businesses. 
  
  
  
• Senate Bill 770 will seek permission from the federal government to divert funds from Medicare and other federal health programs to partially bankroll an untested system of government run health care at a cost of $500 billion per year. 
  
  
  
• Senate Bill 799 will increase costs on businesses and further destabilize California’s unemployment insurance system by making workers eligible for benefits if they voluntarily stop working to go on strike. 
  

Newsom has until October 14 to sign or veto the legislation. The letters to Newsom are available here: 

• SB 81 Veto Letter
  
• SB 553 Veto Letter
  
• SB 770 Veto Letter
  
• SB 799 Veto Letter
  

Motorists Should Use State Routes 49 and 174 as Detours

Correction: Large trucks are directed to only use SR-49 as an alternate route.
NEVADA COUNTY – Caltrans is reminding motorists that State Route 20 (SR-20) is now closed 17 miles east of Nevada City in Nevada County, as construction work continues on the Omega Curves Project.
 
The Lowell Hill segment is scheduled to be closed, between the Omega Overlook and Bear Valley through Sunday, October 1 at 7 p.m. Motorists traveling between Nevada City and Interstate 80 will use State Route-49 (SR-49) and State Route -174 as alternate routes. Large trucks are directed to only use SR-49.
 
Construction crews are grading and paving the road, constructing tie-in locations to divert the traveling public from the current roadway to the new alignment. So far there has been no signification delays and work is currently on schedule.
 
During the closure the California Highway Patrol will be on site, with access for emergency vehicles only. In the event of an emergency CHP will communicate with crews on sight and take appropriate action.
Once work is complete the closure will move 6 miles west to the White Cloud segment, between the White Cloud U.S. Forest Service and Campground and Washington Road, Sunday, October 1 at 7 p.m. to Friday, October 6 at noon.
 
The schedule is subject to change or be delayed due to weather, availability of materials or other unexpected events.
The work is part of the $54.6 million Omega Curves Project, which will improve safety and reduce collisions on SR-20 by realigning curves on two non-continuous segments near White Cloud and Lowell Hill, widening shoulders, improving the highway’s sight distance, and adding designated left-turn lanes near Conservation Road and Washington Road. In addition, three turnouts will be added where slow-moving vehicles can allow motorists to safely pass, while also serving as traffic-enforcement locations for the CHP.
 
Granite Construction, Inc. of Sacramento is the prime contractor for the Omega Curves safety project, which is expected to be completed this fall. For project updates, please visit www.OmegaCurves20.com.
 
Caltrans District 3 is responsible for maintaining and operating 4,385 lane miles in 11 Sacramento Valley and Northern Sierra counties. Caltrans reminds motorists to “Be Work Zone Alert” and slow in construction zones for the safety of travelers and crews performing these improvements. 
 
The department will issue construction updates on X @CaltransDist3 and on Facebook at CaltransDistrict3. For real-time traffic, click on Caltrans’ QuickMap or download the QuickMap app from the App Store or Google Play.
 

FAIRFAX, Va. - The National Rifle Association released the following statement on California Gov. Newsom's signing of gun control:
"The NRA condemns the legislation enacted by Gov. Newsom. It is a blatant and egregious attack on the rights of law-abiding Californians and a calculated maneuver to dismantle the Second Amendment. Newsom’s consistent attacks on the constitutional rights of the citizens while ignoring criminals are converting California into a beacon for violence and lawlessness.
During his press conference today, Newsom likened the excise tax to a 'sin tax,' exposing his prejudice on legal firearm ownership. It is an attempt to penalize citizens for exercising their constitutional rights. The NRA vows to fight these oppressive laws, standing firm with the majority of Americans in opposition to Newsom’s draconian initiatives."
–NRA Western Regional Director Dan Reid
 
SB 2 creates subjective criteria for the issuance of carry permits, allowing authorities to arbitrarily deny applicants, increases “gun-free zones”, and imposes restrictions on permit holders.
SB 452 insists on implementing microstamping technology already struck down by a federal court, targeting non-microstamped semi-automatic pistols and prohibiting the replacement of a microstamping component unless it is replaced with another “valid” one.
Lastly, AB 28 imposes an 11% excise tax on the sales price of all firearms, firearm precursor parts, and ammunition, unjustly burdening law-abiding gun owners with special taxes and discouraging them from practicing to be safe and proficient with their firearms for self-defense, competition, and hunting.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
NRA Public Affairs
media@nrahq.org
(703) 267 3820
Incorporated in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America's longest-standing civil rights organization. Together with our millions of members, we're proud defenders of history's patriots and diligent protectors of the Second Amendment.
Follow the NRA on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

SACRAMENTO — Today, Attorney General Bonta’s legislation, Senate Bill 2, which was cosponsored by Governor Gavin Newsom, and authored by Senator Anthony Portantino, was signed into law. The bill strengthens California’s concealed carry weapons (CCW) law in a manner consistent with the U.S. Supreme Court decision in New York Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen. The law, which goes into effect on January 1, 2024, will further protect the public safety of Californians by providing objective criteria governing who may obtain a CCW license, limiting the possession of firearms in certain sensitive locations, and advancing safety through stronger training requirements on the safe handling and storage of firearms for those who seek CCW licenses. Gun violence remains a growing threat to public safety throughout the nation. In 2020, gunshot wounds became the leading cause of death for children aged 1-17 nationwide and in 2021, more Americans died from firearm-related injuries than any other year on record. In 2021 and 2022, there were over 48,000 firearm-related deaths nationwide each year, more than 130 per day on average. SB 2 strengthens communities’ ability to respond to these threats by requiring stronger vetting and safety training to carry weapons in public and by designating vital community spaces like parks and playgrounds as off-limits to weapons throughout the state.
“Addressing gun violence is critical to protecting public safety; we cannot pretend that they are distinct problems,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “In California, we won’t settle for inaction when it comes to saving lives. Senate Bill 2 will help prevent violence by ensuring that dangerous individuals may not carry concealed guns in public and prohibiting the carry of dangerous weapons in sensitive places where our children gather. With this law, we are boldly advancing California’s successful, data-driven strategy to prevent gun violence and save lives. I sponsored Senate Bill 2 to provide stronger protections for our communities, and am grateful for the partnership demonstrated by author Senator Portantino and our Governor as together we enact this law to better protect California residents.”
“I am grateful for Governor Newsom’s bold leadership on gun safety and thank him for signing SB 2,” said Senator Portantino. “I was proud to partner with the Governor, Attorney General Bonta and amazing grassroots activists across California on this needed effort to strengthen our existing concealed permit laws and to ensure that Californians are made safer from gun violence. SB 2 is constitutional and consistent with the Supreme Court’s guidance in the Bruen decision. When SB 2 is implemented, it will certainly increase public safety and I believe save lives.”
Already in 2023, the United States has suffered over 500 mass shootings, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Although the United States is an outlier when compared to gun violence in other wealthy nations, states with strong gun violence protections in place suffer fewer gun-related deaths. Despite having one of the lowest rates of gun-related deaths in the nation, California is not immune to this uniquely American problem, and has a strong interest in maintaining laws that protect the safety of its citizens. 
Research shows that strong firearm licensing laws are effective. States that have weakened these laws have experienced an up to 15% increase in violent crime rates a decade after implementation. 
While the United States Supreme Court has concluded that the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution imposes some restrictions on states’ ability to regulate firearms, it has also recognized that the Second Amendment allows states to adopt a variety of gun regulations. For example, the Supreme Court has repeatedly recognized that states may restrict the carrying of firearms in “sensitive places” and that states may prohibit individuals who are not law-abiding, responsible citizens from carrying firearms in public. 
SB 2 builds on those principles and improves California’s existing CCW license law by:

• Enhancing the existing comprehensive licensing regime that helps ensure those permitted to carry firearms in public are responsible and law-abiding individuals who do not pose a danger to themselves or others.
• Protecting children and young adults from gun violence by setting a minimum age requirement of 21 years of age to obtain a CCW license.
• Advancing safety through stronger training requirements about the proper handling, loading, unloading, and storage of firearms.
• Safeguarding the public by identifying certain sensitive public places where guns may not be carried.

SB 2 adds to California’s successful strategies to prevent gun violence. On August 15, 2023, Attorney General Bonta’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention released its first report outlining California’s success and highlighting important statistics and data including:

• Over the last 30 years, California has reduced its gun violence rate compared to the rest of the United States; once 50% above average, California’s firearm homicide rate is now 33% below the rest of the United States. 
• If the firearm mortality rate in the rest of the United States had matched California’s between 2013-2022, there would have been nearly 140,000 fewer firearm-related deaths nationwide in that decade alone. 
• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2022, California’s gun death rate was the 7th lowest in the nation, with 8.7 gun deaths per 100,000 people.
• California’s gun death rate for children is substantially lower than most other states, and is 60% lower than the average for the rest of the U.S.
• California’s overall gun death rate is lower than that of every state that does not require permits to carry guns in public, including Mississippi with 29.7 firearm deaths per 100,000 people; 25.9 in Alabama, 24.5 in Montana, 24.4 in Missouri, 22.7 in Alaska, 22.1 in Arkansas, 20.9 in Tennessee, 20.6 in Wyoming, 20.5 in Arizona, 20.1 in Oklahoma; 20.0 in Georgia, 18.9 in Kentucky, 17.6 in Indiana, 17.5 in Idaho, 16.9 in Kansas, 16.5 in North Dakota, 16.3 in West Virginia, 16.1 in South Dakota, 15.7 in Texas; 15.7 in Ohio, 14.0 in Utah; 12.2 in Vermont, 12.0 in Maine, 11.3 in Iowa, and 10.3 in New Hampshire. 

The legislation may be found here. 

 
SACRAMENTO – Senator Brian Dahle (R-Bieber) is pleased to announce approximately $45 million has been awarded to improve sustainable groundwater use and storage through the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program. The following grantees received funding: 
 

• Modoc County Groundwater Sustainability Agency - $2.6 million
• Siskiyou County Flood Control and Water Conservation District - $10.5 million
• Sierra Valley Groundwater Management District - $5.4 million
• Enterprise Anderson Groundwater Sustainability Agency - $2.4 million
• Tehama County Public Works - $14.8 million
• Vina Groundwater Sustainability Agency - $5.5 million
• Wyandotte Creek Groundwater Sustainability Agency - $5.5 million

 

“It’s important for the state to help newly formed local groundwater agencies understand and carefully manage their aquifers without burying local landowners and ratepayers in expensive new mandated costs,” stated Dahle.
 
DWR is awarding $187 million in grants to improve sustainable groundwater use and storage. The funding will support 103 individual projects in 32 groundwater sub-basins overall, including those areas that affect Tribes and underrepresented communities.
 
Click here for more information on funding.
 
 
Learn more about Senator Dahle’s legislative priorities on his website.
 
 
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Senator Brian Dahle represents California's 1st Senate District, which contains all or portions of 11 counties, including Alpine, El Dorado, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Sierra, Siskiyou, and Shasta. Also serving deferred areas of Tehama, Butte, Colusa, and Glenn counties.

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Stop California Politicians from Imposing a New Mileage Tax.
<63b49b79e77820df3359377b_Stop the Mileage Tax 1920x1080.jpg>“California’s greedy politicians have already imposed the highest GAS TAX and CAR TAX in the nation on drivers, and now they want to impose a new MILEAGE TAX to charge us PER MILE we drive to get more of our money!” warns Carl DeMaio, Chairman of Reform California.
The California Mileage Tax proposal would require tracking every driver’s mileage and charging them four cents per mile they drive. That is the equivalent of an 80-cent-per-gallon hike in the gas tax!
The typical California driver will be forced to pay $600-800 a year in higher taxes just to drive on poorly maintained freeways they already paid for with the original gas and sales taxes! When you add the new MILEAGE TAX to the existing GAS TAX and CAR TAX, the typical two-car family will end up paying more than $3000 in taxes a year for just the privilege of driving in California – not including the cost of the car itself!
The Mileage Tax is also an invasion of our privacy – as it would include a tracking requirement that is still being determined by government bureaucrats. Proposed tracking methods include using transponders installed on every car to use of tracking Apps to be installed on cell phones of every driver to simply requiring individuals get their odometer readings inspected annually.
Join the Fight: Stop the Mileage Tax
Carl DeMaio and Reform California are leading the fight to BLOCK the California Mileage Tax.
Our first battle in blocking the tax statewide is to oppose the pilot phase of the Mileage Tax that is being conducted in San Diego County. Our goal is to generate a massive rebellion of taxpayers and drivers to punish any politician that backs the imposition of the Mileage Tax – even as a pilot project. If we create a public uproar during the pilot phase, California politicians will likely back down from imposing the tax statewide.
At the same time as we are fighting the pilot phase, we are organizing a grassroots rebellion statewide to oppose the Mileage Tax. We plan to make the Mileage Tax a key issue in every close race for local and state office in the upcoming election!

MUSIC!  The drum corps and music students marched under direction of music teacher, Owen McIntosh

ENJOYING THE HOMECOMING PARADE - Residents of Loyalton's Skilled Nursing Facility got in on the action.

SACRAMENTO – After repeated efforts by Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) and California Senate Republicans to address the homeowners’ insurance crisis in this state, Governor Gavin Newsom and Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara finally announced some actions today to mitigate the crisis.
 
“I am encouraged to see the governor and Insurance Commissioner taking the insurance crisis seriously,” said Leader Jones. “While Californians needed them(Newsom and Lara) to act on this crisis years ago, I’m glad that Commissioner Lara has now heeded the Republican Caucus’ advice to act on his existing authority rather than just waiting for a legislative deal to emerge."


In August, California Senate Republicans sent a letter on behalf of their constituents demanding that both the governor and insurance commissioner take immediate action to fix the state’s broken homeowners’ insurance crisis.
 
“The people of California need a stable insurance market and today’s executive order, along with the commissioner’s plan of action, is a step towards stabilizing the market,” LeaderJones continued. “I renew our invitation to partner with him moving forward and again invite him to come speak to our caucus about any progress being made. Californians need to have affordable access to protect their homes from natural elements of earth, wind, and fire – and those who are facing increased costs today sure will remember this promise made on the 21st day of September.”
 
In addition to the effort by all Senate Republicans, Senator Brian Dahle (R-Bieber), who represents many constituents who have been financially impacted by this crisis, last week blasted the state’s top insurance official for delaying action.
 
“I’ve fought for better protections for homeowners for years,” Dahle said at the time. “Californians are suffering unjustly, and deserve strong and empathetic leadership right now.”
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Senator Brian W. Jones represents the 40th Senate District which includes the Cities of Escondido, Poway, San Marcos, Santee, San Diego City communities of Carmel Mountain Ranch, Mira Mesa, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Peñasquitos, Scripps Ranch, Sorrento Valley, and University City, along with the San Diego County unincorporated communities of 4S Ranch, Alpine, Bonsall, Fallbrook, Lakeside, Pine Valley, Rainbow, Ramona, and Valley Center.


Senator Brian Dahle represents California's 1st Senate District, which contains all or portions of 11 counties, including Alpine, El Dorado, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Sierra, Siskiyou, and Shasta. Also serving deferred areas of Tehama, Butte, Colusa, and Glenn Counties.