​Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is alerting customers to be aware of ongoing scam phone calls with criminals threatening to shut off power if a payment is not made. There have been double the number of scam attempts, in some areas, compared to this time last year.
 
PG&E’s Corporate Security department has received several reports in the past few weeks regarding scammers requesting payment on past due utility bills immediately using a Green Dot card, Money Pack or gift card. These most recent reports have come from across PG&E service area.
 
Another new trend that PG&E is seeing is that the scam is becoming more detailed. Scammers include specific names of customers, and in some cases, guessing general dollar amounts owed. They are also disguising their true phone numbers with a caller ID that says “PG&E” or “Pacific Gas & Electric.”
 
Other scam phone call tactics include:
 

• Notifying residents that they are eligible for a federal tax refund related to their utility bill;
• Trying to sell services related to solar evaluation; and
• Claiming to represent a PG&E initiative to sell a product in order to gain access to their home.

 
PG&E offers the following tips to help protect customers from all types of potential scams:
 

• PG&E will not ask for personal information or a credit card number over the phone. Anyone who has received such a phone call and provided credit card or checking account information should report it immediately to the credit card company or bank and law enforcement.

 

• Customers with concerns about the legitimacy of a call about a past due bill, service request or request for personal information are encouraged to call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.

 

• Customers should always ask to see identification before allowing anyone claiming to be a PG&E representative inside their home. PG&E employees always carry their identification and are willing to show it to you.

 

• If a person claiming to be a PG&E employee has identification and you still feel uncomfortable, call PG&E’s customer service line at 1-800-743-5000 to verify an appointment and/or PG&E’s presence in the community.  If you feel threatened in any way, notify local law enforcement immediately.

 

• Customers who have an appointment with PG&E will receive an automated call back within 48 hours prior to a scheduled visit, or a personal call from a PG&E gas service representative prior to a scheduled visit.

 

• If you feel threatened in any way, notify local law enforcement immediately.

 
PG&E takes security seriously and will actively work with law enforcement to help stop any scam victimizing customers. Anyone who has received such a call can report it immediately by calling PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 or visit www.pge.com/scams.
 
 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today conducted the second manual snow survey of 2020 at Phillips Station. The manual survey recorded 40.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent (SWE) of 14.5 inches, which is 79 percent of average for this location. The SWE measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack, which provides a more accurate forecast of spring runoff.
“After a good start in December, January saw dry conditions that added little to the Sierra snowpack,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “As climate change continues to impact California’s snowpack, we look to actions described in the recently released California Water Resilience Portfolio to meet the challenges brought by weather variability to California’s water supply.”
In addition to the manual surveys, DWR collects readings from 130 electronic snow sensors scattered throughout the state. Measurements indicate that statewide, the snowpack’s water equivalent is 12 inches, or 72 percent of the January 30 average.
“The foundation of California’s water supply forecasting system remains the manual snow surveys,” said Sean de Guzman, chief of DWR’s Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Section. “The data gathered from these surveys are used to create seasonal runoff forecasts and define how wet or dry a year is based on the total precipitation, including both rain and snow, and runoff.”
This critical snow survey data and forecasts are used by:

• Operators of flood control projects to determine how much water can safely be stored in a reservoir while reserving space for predicted inflows. This includes the State Water Project, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for the Central Valley Project, and local reservoir operators.
• Other state agencies, including the Office of Emergency Services and the State Water Resources Control Board, to develop responses to drought or flood emergencies.
• Public and private utilities to determine what percentage of their electric energy generation will be hydropower.
• Water districts to manage surface and groundwater storage, allocate the available supply, plan water deliveries, and coordinate conjunctive use operations.
• Agricultural interests to determine crop planting patterns, groundwater pumping needs, and irrigation schedules.
• Researchers to improve snow melt runoff forecasting methods and perform climate change analyses.

DWR conducts five media-oriented snow surveys at Phillips Station each winter in January, February, March, April and, if necessary, May. On average, the snowpack supplies about 30 percent of California’s water needs as it melts in the spring and early summer.
Additional Resources
NEW – California Cooperative Snow Surveys Program Story Map https://arcg.is/1fiCbG
Video of today’s Phillips survey (Expected between 2-3 p.m.)
Digital photos of today’s Phillips survey (Expected between 2-3 p.m.)
Snowpack readings (View readings for current regional snowpack and historical snowpack comparison)
CDEC precipitation data (View current charts for the Northern Sierra 8-station index for updated rainfall readings in the critical northern portion of the state, as well as the San Joaquin 5-station index and Tulare Basin 6-station index.)
 

 
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – With excitement and expectations running high for the Super Bowl on February 2, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) reminds everyone their game plan for the day should include getting home safely.   
 
Whether people are attending parties or hanging out in a bar, planning for a safe ride home will be their best defensive move.  Option plays include calling a cab or ride-sharing service, using public transportation, or lining up a designated driver in advance.  Those who host parties should take care of the most valuable player, the designated driver, with plenty of non-alcoholic beverages.
 
“Driving impaired is completely preventable,” CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley said.  “Lives are on the line.  Not only are innocent people at risk, impaired drivers stand to lose money, their freedom, their license, and their vehicle.” 
 
Alcohol is not the only substance that can lead to an arrest for driving under the influence (DUI).  Cannabis, prescription drugs, and illegal drugs all can impair driving.  Driving is a complex task, and any drug can slow reaction time.
 
The CHP will have a full team of officers ready to intercept dangerous drivers.  In addition to stopping impaired drivers, they will be watching for seat belt usage, speeding, and distracted driving.  
 
Three people died in alcohol-involved collisions in California on Super Bowl Sunday in 2019.  Another 140 people were injured, preliminary CHP data shows.  The CHP made 187 DUI arrests that day.
 
The public can help keep California roadways safe by calling 9-1-1 if they suspect an impaired driver.  Callers should be prepared to give the vehicle’s description, location, license plate number, and direction of travel.
 
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
 
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January 29, 2020 – The U.S. Census Bureau wants the community’s help to get a complete and accurate count this spring and summer. Thousands of census taker jobs are still available in Sacramento county and in every Northern California county. The jobs offer flexible hours on nights and weekends, weekly pay, mileage reimbursement and higher than average hourly wages.
 
The pay rate in Sacramento County begins at $21 per hour, even more for supervisors. Anyone who is 18 years old, a citizen and has an email address can apply online at 2020census.gov/jobs.
 
Beginning in mid-April, census takers will work in an operation that counts all people who have not self-responded to the census questionnaire. They will visit those households in person and help residents respond to the census. We want to recruit people who live in the communities they’re working. People who know their communities are best positioned to explain how important it is to respond to the Census when they knock on the door.
 
The decennial count influences how hundreds of billions of dollars  are distributed each year for schools, roads, bridges, homeless and senior services, emergency response and other critical services and programs.  


For more information about 2020 Census jobs, call 1-855-JOB-2020.


Recruiting event details:


Carmichael Library
5605 Marconi Avenue
Carmichael, CA 95608


Friday, January 31, 10 am - 4 pm
Saturday, February 1, 10-am - 4pm

​

SACRAMENTO, Calif. –  Today, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced an increase in 2020 State Water Project (SWP) allocations to 15 percent of requested supplies, up from the year’s initial 10 percent allocation announced on December 2.
Allocations are reviewed monthly based on snowpack and runoff information and are typically finalized by May.
 
“California gets most of its annual precipitation from a handful of major and infrequent winter storms,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “After some significant storms in December, January has been relatively quiet and is currently below average. We continue to hope for wetter conditions and must always work to eliminate waste and use water more wisely.”
 
Precipitation in the Northern Sierra is at 63 percent of average to date. Statewide snowpack is 76 percent of normal for this date. The state gets about 30 percent of its annual water supply from snowpack. Snow water content is one factor in determining allocation amounts along with reservoir storage and releases necessary to meet water supply and environmental demands.
 
Lake Oroville, the SWP’s largest reservoir, is currently at 61 percent of capacity and 94 percent of average for this time of year. Shasta Lake, the Central Valley Project’s (CVP) largest reservoir, is at 74 percent of capacity and 112 percent of average. San Luis Reservoir, the largest off-stream reservoir in the United States where water is stored for the SWP and CVP, is at 72 percent of capacity and 95 percent of average. In Southern California, SWP’s Castaic Lake is at 72 percent of capacity and 87 percent of average.
 
Today’s 15 percent allocation amounts to 635,434 acre-feet of water. The SWP provides water to 29 SWP contractors who supply water to more than 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland.
 
For information on current water conditions at the state’s largest reservoirs and weather stations, visit the California Data Exchange Center (CDEC).

​

It’s not too late to take precautions against the flu; the threat
of infection can last several additional months, says AMAC

WASHINGTON, DC, Jan 24 - The flu can be uncomfortable, at best, but it can also be deadly. According to the Centers for Disease Control [CDC] so far this season more than 13 million people have been sick with the flu, at least 5,900,000 people have been to the doctor because of the flu, more than 120,000  people have been hospitalized and more than 6,600 have died.


Dan Weber, president of the senior advocacy organization, the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC], is advising its membership and older Americans, at large, to get a flu shot if you haven’t already done so. 

“It’s not too late. The flu season is not over yet and the CDC says it can last for several more months,” Weber warns. He points out that 53% of flu victims are 65 years old or older, noting that Medicare covers 100% of the cost.. 

“Even if your physician does not take Medicare, there are alternatives. Most drug stores, particularly the major pharmacy chains, including CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid, offer Medicare-covered flu shots. And, free or low-cost shots are available at local clinics and public health facilities.” 

Weber adds, if you or someone in your family does come down with the flu, take precautions by following guidelines recommended by the CDC:

In addition to vaccination and appropriate use of antiviral drugs, CDC recommends everyday preventive actions to help stop the spread of germs. 

·     If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities.

·     Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and wash your hands often with soap and water.

·     Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth as germs spread this way.

·     Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like flu.


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www.tfhd.com


 (Tahoe/Truckee, Calif.) –  February is Heart Health Month, and Tahoe Forest Health System is focusing on helping our community understand the threat of heart disease and the importance of maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle.

Heart disease remains as the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States.The good news is that a heart-healthy lifestyle can help prevent cardiovascular disease and improve heart health, even if a person has been diagnosed with a heart or vascular condition. Through a balanced diet and regular exercise, many forms of this disease can be prevented.

Tahoe Forest Health System is offering free Workshop Wednesdays during the month of February, from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, held in the Eskridge Conference Room at Tahoe Forest Hospital.
Heart health workshop topics include:
Feb 5: Latest in Heart Health, with cardiologist, Dr. Tim Lombard, MD  
Feb 12: Seasoning with Herbs and Spices, with dietitian, Lisa Fligor, MS, RDN
Feb 19: Strength Training for a Healthy Heart, with exercise physiologist, Anna Aldridge
Feb 26: Breathing  and Mindfulness for Heart Health, with social worker, Sheryl Schultz, and health coach, Liz Schenk

The Cardiac Rehab Open House will immediately follow each workshop from 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm. Meet our disciplinary staff, enjoy healthy snacks, and tour the Cardiac Rehab facility. Everyone is welcome!
 
Tahoe Forest Health System offers the Pritikin Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation ICR program, a Medicare-approved, comprehensive lifestyle program designed specifically for patients recovering from a cardiovascular disease-related event, such as a heart attack or surgery. The program includes healthy cooking classes, nutrition workshops, healthy mindset workshops and medically-supervised exercise. Tahoe Forest Health System is the first Pritikin ICR location in California. Learn more about the Pritikin ICR program by clicking here.
 
For more information about our heart health events or the Pritikin ICR program, call (530) 582-3285.


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About Tahoe Forest Health System


Tahoe Forest Health System, which includes Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee, CA, and Incline Village Community Hospital in Incline Village, NV, offers 24-hour emergency care, primary and specialty health care clinics including Tahoe Forest Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, CoC-accredited cancer center, the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center, the Joseph Family Center for Women and Newborn Care and the Tahoe Forest Primary Care Clinic with same-day appointments. With a strong focus on high quality patient care, community collaboration, clinical excellence and innovation, Tahoe Forest Health System is a UC Davis Rural Center of Excellence. For a complete list of physician specialties and services, visit www.tfhd.com.
 
 

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email, including attachments, may contain confidential and privileged material for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). If the reader of this e-mail is not the intended recipient or his/her authorized agent, the reader is hereby notified that any use, disclosure, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this e-mail, including attachments, is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please IMMEDIATELY (1) Forward the email and all file attachments to compliance@tfhd.com to notify the Tahoe Forest Hospital District Compliance office AND (2) permanently delete the message and any file attachments. Questions may be directed to the Tahoe Forest Hospital District Compliance Hotline at 1(530)582-6655.

 
By Dr. Glenn Mollette 
 
 
Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil is coming out soon to see or not see his shadow on his big day, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.  If old' furry Phil wants to fly first class or even coach anywhere, he had better do it this year. The chances are he will be walking or riding with a friend in a car next Groundhog's day. 
 
A new rule proposed by the U.S. Department of Transportation would permit airlines to stop accepting emotional support animals on planes allowing only service dogs that are professionally trained to perform tasks or assist passengers with disabilities, including psychiatric disorders.
 
I'm all for this as airplanes have started looking like Noah's Ark or flying zoos.  Who wants to ride on an airplane with birds, cats, pigs and whatever anyone imagines to be their emotional support creature? Maybe you do. A lot of us do not. 
 
 This has developed into a lot malarkey over the years. Carole and I were traveling back from Maine several years ago. We had bought tickets well in advance so we could have the two front bulkhead seats. This was a small plane and our seats weren't considered first class, but we had thee or four more inches of leg room. Before boarding our flight, we heard our names called on the airport public address system. We went to the check-in counter and were almost told that we needed to give up our seats for a man with a disability and his wife who had service animals. We were young, naïve and gullible so being tenderhearted people we said okay. 
 
The agent assigned us to the two seats directly behind our old seats which meant no extra leg room that we had planned for months in advance. The guy gets on the plane and he and his wife appear healthier than we are. He was wearing a hearing aid, but he was seeing and getting around fine as was his wife. With these people were "three" dogs. Yes, three dogs! The only thing I could tell that these dogs could do was stink up the area where we were sitting. To add insult to injury we had to ride now behind our original seats with these dogs occasionally starring at us. 
 
I'm not doing it again. Many years ago, I developed a blood clot from extended travel and I'm not giving up my seat for some person who needs to sit and pet their dog. I'm not an animal hater. I love animals. I had a dog in my house for sixteen years. For people who truly are disabled and need a documented trained service dog then that's okay but plan and buy your ticket in advance instead of bumping someone else out of their seat for your "dogs." 
 
 Most real trained service dogs are better behaved than some passengers. It's just finally time that our airlines can get some control over the zoos flying through the sky. 
​

                                          
Tax on commercial properties for education and Local Government funding (2020) is actually Phase 1 of Prop 13 Repeal. VOTE NO on AB-48 at the California Primary March 3, 2020. This is hidden as an Education Measure to bring down Prop 13. VOTE NO ON AB-48
California’s Proposition 13, a ballot initiative in 1978, required all properties to be taxed at no more than 1 percent of the purchase price and increased at the rate of inflation or 2 percent, whichever is lower. A ballot measure proposed for the 2020 election that would change Proposition 13’s tax protections for commercial properties. The proposed ballot measure would create a split-roll for property taxes; residential properties would keep their tax protections, while commercial properties would have their tax protections limited or removed. Residential properties would continue to be taxed at the property’s purchase price, while commercial and industrial properties would be taxed based on their market value, instead of the purchase price, and the revenue generated from this change would go to local government and school districts.
 
In 1978, California voters passed Proposition 13, which set property taxes for residential and commercial properties at 1 percent of the purchase price. Proposition 13 also limited property taxes’ annual increases to 2 percent per year. This prevents owners from being pushed out of their homes and businesses because of an inability to pay property taxes because of property value increasing rapidly.
 
Proposition 13 also established that any measure proposed for increasing state revenues be approved by a two-thirds vote from each house of the legislature. Since Prop 13 passed in 1978, property tax revenues have grown for $5 billion to $66 billion in 2017-18, which is an average of 6.9 percent annually. Prop 13’s tax limits and protections, on average saved homeowners an estimated $13,700 and renters $4,400 in 2017.
 
The proposed ballot initiative that would change the tax protections for commercial and industrial properties while keeping the protections for residential properties, this is known as a split roll. The proposal would require those commercial and industrial properties, except for properties zoned as commercial agriculture, to be taxed based on the market value. This property tax split-roll would also increase property taxes for businesses by requiring that property taxes be reassessed every three years. Residential properties would continue to be taxed based on the purchase price, with annual adjustments made at the rate of inflation or 2 percent, whichever is less.
 
The initiative would offer tax exemptions for industrial and commercial properties that are businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees, for the first $500,000 in a business’s personal property, for businesses that are valued at less than 2 million dollars, with adjustments for inflation starting in 2023.
 
Continually, the ballot initiative is estimated to bring in $11 billion dollars in additional revenue, which would be distributed to local governments and school districts. 11 Percent of the funds would be allocated for community colleges, and 89% would go to public schools, charter schools, and county education offices, according to the state distribution formulas.
 
Support:
Schools and Community First
California Teachers Association
SEIU California State Council
California Democratic Party
 
Opposition:
Californians to Stop Higher Property Taxes
California Business Roundtable
California Chamber of Commerce
California Taxpayers Association
 
I

​STEVE FRISCH, President of the Sierra Business Council (SBC) gave a presentation of white paper on Biomass Utilization in the Sierra Nevada to the Sierra County Board of Supervisors at its regular meeting held Tuesday, January 21st in Loyalton.
Frisch began by stating over the last several years California has had a variety of impacts from wildfire. The 8-½ million acres burned across the state last year  is really changing the forest composition. Fires over the last two years are starting to bring substantive changes in State policy regarding forest management. Frisch admitted that getting to a solution on this problem is probably the most difficult in California policy. He stated there was so much to go back and fix, undo or redo to get to a solution. Frisch said one of the key things we need to be thinking about in the long run is fire playing a more productive role. When it burns at a very low intensity it plays a role in thinning the understory and reduces future crown fires. Native Americans used to set fires to manage the landscape. He stated there is hundreds of millions of tons of material we need to find uses for. Frisch said there were three choices of what we could do with this biomass: leave in the forest, pile burn or use industrial processing. A study was done on the high hazard zones in California and there are 248 million BDT (bone dry tons) on 13.2 million acres.  He gave an example that the Loyalton facility, if operating at full capacity, would use about 150,000 tons a year. Concerning carbon emissions, Frisch stated using a biomass facility has the least carbon emission levels than pile burning or leaving it in the forest. Other benefits in using the biomass reduces wildfire risk, improves watershed quality, increases fire resilience, reduces particulate emissions during a fire, high paying year 'round jobs in natural resource communities, baseload power generation, and improves air quality. Frisch stated some of SBC’s goals are to educate decision makers, and shift public policy to support biomass.
He added, this is SBC’s top public policy objective, with more than half of its staff working on this effort. Frisch said this is probably the single most important issue that we are facing in the Sierra Nevada and requires an all-hands-on-deck approach.
They have been coordinating with state and industry groups and talked about some of the work they have been doing with American Renewable Power in Loyalton. Fuel supply problems have to do with pricing in the contracting. Bio RAM 1 facilities pay a higher price for fuel because they get paid more for power. ARP did not have the opportunity to be a Bio RAM 1 facility and is a Bio RAM 2 facility, which gets paid less. Frisch talked of the need for transportation subsidies to help get the fuel out of the biomass, but can’t count on them so that’s why it’s so important for the long term fix on the Bio RAM identification. Frisch stated SBC was meeting with ARP the following day to ask for the Governor’s direct intervention on this issue. He continued and said that SBC has been supporting the study process of the Tahoe Central Sierra Initiative. Frisch stated the objective was to identity the fuel in that area and have a portion of that fuel come to Loyalton which would create a permanent supply of fuel to the facility. ARP is also in the process of trying to negotiate the salvage material from the Camp Fire to come here. Frisch said if that is successful it would be a two to two-and-a-half year supply, adding SBC’s large-scale goal is to get a permanent supply of fuel to ARP. Frisch talked about climate research grants and they are proposing to do a feasibility assessment for locating a biomass refinery in this area, which would fit perfect in Loyalton. Should that occur, wood biomass to biofuel is significantly less carbon intense and there is a payment system, which would help pay to operate the refinery. SBC is in the process of writing this grant and asked Sierra County to become a collaborator. Supervisor Sharon Dryden was happy they were making this a priority and Sierra County Planning Director Tim Beals wanted to get this issue on the next agenda to become a collaborator and asked what the county could do to help. Frisch stated the most valuable thing is to be in close communication.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jan. 21, 2020
 



 
New exhibit underscores Chinese Californians’ often overlooked but significant role in shaping history, revealing parallels to immigration, race & civil rights issues today
 
SACRAMENTO, CALIF. — Jan. 22, 2020: Today, the California Museum announced the long-term installation "Gold Mountain: Chinese Californian Stories" will open Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. The new exhibit details the history of Chinese Americans in California from the 1840s to the present through a display of historic artifacts and photographs, accompanied by interactive video stations, games and activities. Underscoring Chinese Californians' often overlooked but significant role in history, the exhibit reveals parallels to immigration, race and civil rights issues impacting the state and nation today.
 
"We're thrilled to present the new exhibit 'Gold Mountain,'" said Executive Director Amanda Meeker. "Although the role of  Chinese Californians  in building the transcontinental railroad is well-known, their other contributions to shaping our state over the last 175 years are often overlooked. This exhibit highlights their unsung role in the state's past and present while revealing connections to current issues of race, nationalism and civil rights.”
 
"Gold Mountain: Chinese Californian Stories" explores the Chinese American experience in California from the Gold Rush to the present in six themed sections. Highlights of Chinese immigrants' early achievements include their critical contributions to the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 as well as to building other infrastructure and contributing to the state’s agriculture, fishing and manufacturing. Later in the 19th century, the exhibit explores how Chinese Californians fought racist laws including the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, a federal law pushed by California that prohibited immigration by Chinese laborers, and its enforcement through the incarceration of Chinese immigrants at the Angel Island Immigration Station from 1910 to 1940.
 
The exhibit also showcases achievements by Chinese Californians who have broken barriers in a wide array of pursuits. Among featured stories are those of Wong Kim Ark (circa 1873-1946), a native San Franciscan whose triumph in the landmark Supreme Court case United States v. Wong Kim Ark established birthright citizenship in 1898; and Anna May Wong (1905-1961), a Los Angeles native who became the first Chinese American movie star in the 1922 film The Toll of the Sea. The exhibit also presents the successes of local Chinese Americans. Examples include Frank Fat (1904-1997), an immigrant who started the popular restaurant Frank Fat's in 1939, and Lisa Ling, a Sacramento native who is the only female Chinese American journalist on national news today.
 
On Sunday, Jan. 26, the California Museum will host the "Gold Mountain" Grand Opening“ celebrating the exhibit launch and the start of the Lunar New Year. The event offers free admission to all current exhibits with advance registration, plus an afternoon of related activities from 12 to 5 p.m. Festivities feature a discussion with exhibit subject Lisa Ling, host of CNN’s “This is Life with Lisa Ling,” and a lion dance performance by Leung’s White Crane Association of San Francisco.
 
ABOUT CALIFORNIA MUSEUM: The California Museum educates visitors on California's diverse history, arts, culture and unique influence on the world. Through interactive exhibits and engaging programs, the Museum inspires visitors to make their mark on history. Learn more at https://www.californiamuseum.org.
 
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In an election year, “small business” and “entrepreneurship” become popular buzzwords. Nearly every candidate will have a plan to support America’s businesses, but the small business community now has a plan of its own. With more than 140 members and dozens of ideas for all levels of government, the Start Us Up Coalition calls for a simple, common-sense approach to supporting entrepreneurship.
The Start Us Up Coalition represents organizations from across the country that are committed to eliminating barriers to entry for small businesses and entrepreneurs. These members include national organizations like the Center for American Entrepreneurship and the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, as well as local and regional groups like the Illinois-based Peoria Innovation Alliance and the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center in Tennessee. By and large, these members hail from the small business and entrepreneurship community, bringing experience-based ideas to the table for policymakers.
Together, the Start Us Up Coalition members promote what they call America’s New Business Plan. It’s a bipartisan plan for policymakers that seeks to create new jobs and level the playing field for startups and small businesses. The plan is broken down into four main pillars:

• Opportunity: The Start Us Up Coalition supports policies that give Americans the bona fide opportunity to start new businesses by leveling the playing field for competition with big, existing businesses and cutting red tape that increases barriers to entry.
• Funding: Capital is easy to come by if you’re a business owner with a proven track record of success and you live near a coast. The Start Us Up Coalition calls for new funding models that can support new entrepreneurs in underrepresented communities, such as rural areas and minority populations.
• Knowledge: According to the coalition, entrepreneurs need training and educational opportunities that equip them with the proper know-how to start a business. This education should focus on important skills like communication, problem-solving, judgment and decision-making.
• Support: Recognizing the significant risks that entrepreneurs and small business owners take in the name of innovation, the coalition calls for financial reforms that support the next generation of entrepreneurs, many of whom can’t afford the risk of leaving a steady job while living paycheck to paycheck.

In addition to these overarching goals, the Start Us Up Coalition has ideas and action items for policymakers at all levels of government. For instance, the coalition calls on the federal government to create a permanent “director for entrepreneurship” position in the White House and asks state leaders to use their State of the State addresses to highlight entrepreneurship activity in their states. At the local level, the coalition advises city governments to support incubator programs for small businesses and conduct town hall meetings to better understand the barriers to entry for local entrepreneurs.
During this year’s election cycle, voters have an opportunity to show policymakers what they want. With America’s New Business Plan, the Start Us Up Coalition shows policymakers what America’s small businesses and entrepreneurs need. Learn more about the coalition and its ideas at www.startusupnow.org.
Read more about small business advice.

 
SACRAMENTO – A California Lottery player who purchased a SuperLotto Plus® ticket in South Lake Tahoe (El Dorado County) has won the $14 million jackpot! The winning ticket matched all six numbers (6-7-20-27-42 and Mega number 12) from Saturday night’s draw.
 
         That winning ticket was purchased at Raley’s, located at 1040 Emerald Bay Road in South Lake Tahoe. We will not know who the winner is until he or she submits a claim and that claim is verified by the California Lottery’s Security and Law Enforcement Division (SLED). If the lucky ticket holder chooses the lump-sum cash value amount, they will receive an estimated $9.5 million (before federal taxes).
 
Raley’s will also collect a retailer bonus of $70,000 just for selling the winning ticket. (The retailer bonus is not subtracted from the winner’s prize.)
 
All winners are strongly encouraged to sign the back of their lucky tickets in ink, keep them in a safe place where they’ll remember, and familiarize themselves with the Lottery’s Winner’s Handbook, which can be found on the California Lottery’s website, www.calottery.com, or by clicking here. The SuperLotto Plus jackpot winner has 180 days from the date of the draw to claim the prize. For a list of California Lottery District Office locations, please also check the California Lottery website.
 
         SuperLotto Plus is California’s own in-state jackpot game. The draw takes place at Lottery Headquarters in Sacramento on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 7:57 p.m. PT. The draw closes at 7:45 p.m., so players must buy their tickets by then to qualify for that draw. Tickets cost $1 and can be purchased from any of the more than 23,000 California Lottery retailers or one of the more than 4,000 Lottery Lucky retailers. Please visit the California Lottery website at www.calottery.com for more information on how to play. 
 
The California Lottery’s mission is to provide supplemental funding to California public schools, including kindergarten and grades 1-12, community colleges, the California State University, the University of California, and other California public educational entities. The funds the Lottery transfers to public education total approximately $1.8 billion for fiscal year 2018-19, which amounts to a modest percentage of education’s overall budget. However, this funding is largely non-discretionary, meaning schools can use this for important, yet unfunded instructional programs they would otherwise not afford. During the same period the Lottery generated almost $7 billion in sales, more than 95% of which goes back to the community in the form of prize payments, retailer commissions and bonuses, and contributions to education.  The California Lottery urges its customers to play responsibly.  Problem gambling resources are available to anyone at 1-800-GAMBLER.


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SACRAMENTO – The Clean Water Team, which is “leaping” into 2020, is celebrating its 20th season and 10th year producing the Citizen Monitoring Calendar, a digital planning tool for those interested in protecting water quality and aquatic wildlife, eager to learn more, and willing to help safeguard the state’s waterways.
 
Compiled by the State Water Resources Control Board, this year’s calendar offers a wealth of games, charts, activities and events directed at our youngest volunteers, as well as citizens looking for a deeper dive into the world of water.
 
Let’s start with an introductory quiz: Did you know only one percent of the earth’s water is useable, 99 percent of which is groundwater? That California’s historic drought lasted 376 weeks, extending from Dec. 27, 2011 to March 5, 2019? That trash, packaging and improperly disposed waste on land accounts for 80 percent of the debris found on beaches during cleanups and surveys? Or that the Gregorian calendar adds a “leap day” on February 29 every four years – this year included – to align with earth’s revolution around the sun?
 
These are just a few of the items that can be downloaded for free on the State Water Board’s website. Since not everyone enjoys taking quizzes, the calendar adhered to the “something for everyone” approach.
 
For those curious about the marriage of politics and water, the California legislature’s full schedule of events is included. Those motivated by a compelling movie and a fresh bag of popcorn can attend the Wild & Scenic film festival, which offers segments  about Sequoia & Kings Canyon, climate impact on wildlife in the Andorran Pyrenees, wildfire strategy in the aftermath of the recent damaging conflagrations  within the state, and the impact of trash pollution on the Tabernas Desert in Spain – Europe’s only desert.
 
Those who want to learn more about the health of the state’s streams, rivers and lakes can experiment with maps and links on Love Your River, Lakes Month and the Secchi Dip-In.
 
Additionally, this year’s calendar includes photos from the veteran monitoring groups Heal the Bay, San Diego River Park Foundation and Orange County Coast Keepers, as well as a profile of prominent marine biologist Kristy Finstad, who was among the 34 victims who perished in the dive boat fire off the coast of Santa Barbara on Labor Day Weekend.
 
Finstad, who studied aquatic biology at UC Santa Barbara, worked extensively on water issues during career stops for the Australian Institute of Marine Science, the California Coastal Commission and the City of Santa Cruz Water District, where she oversaw watershed health and protection.
 
The State Water Board and its nine regional boards are dedicated to a single vision: Abundant clean water for beneficial uses and environmental protections that sustain California’s future.
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State Water Resources Control Board, P.O. Box 100, Sacramento, CA 95812-0100 United States

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) are hosting four free commercial cannabis permitting workshops in northern California.
The free workshops are ideal for new and existing cultivators and formatted to help cultivators navigate the state's licensing process. Participants will be able to ask specific project questions, obtain permitting materials, learn about compliance and meet staff.
"We and our state partners are here to assist cultivators that are pursuing a state cultivator license and to explain regulatory compliance associated with commercial cannabis cultivation," said Ryan Mathis, CDFW Environmental Program Manager for the Cannabis Environmental Compliance Program.
CDFA's CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing Division will provide an overview of the state's cannabis cultivation licensing program and review the requirements for cannabis farming. CDFW will cover Lake and Streambed Alteration agreements and how to limit environmental impacts. The State Water Board will review its cannabis policy, the permitting process and other important information.
California's cannabis regulations require commercial cultivators to obtain the necessary state licenses and local permits, as well as implement best management practices to reduce environmental impacts.
Workshops are scheduled on the following dates and times.
Jan. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Trinity County Fairgrounds
6000 CA-3
Hayfork
*presentations start at 10:30 a.m.
Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Harwood Hall
44400 Willis Avenue
Laytonville
*presentations start at 10:30 a.m.
Feb. 12 will have two sessions: 9 a.m. to noon and 3 to 7 p.m.
River Lodge Conference Center
1800 Riverwalk Drive
Fortuna
*presentations will start 30 minutes after the doors open for each session
To learn more about CDFW's cannabis program, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/cannabis or email askcannabis@wildlife.ca.gov. To report environmental crimes, such as pollution, water diversions and poaching, please call the CalTIP hotline at (888) 334-2258 or text information to "TIP411" (847411).
For more information about becoming a licensed commercial cannabis farmer and for an overview of the California Cannabis Track-and-Trace Metrc System, please visit the CDFA CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing Division's website at calcannabis.cdfa.ca.gov, call 1-833-CALGROW (1-833-225-4769) or send an email to calcannabis@cdfa.ca.gov. To report suspected illegal cannabis cultivation or related complaints, please call the CalCannabis toll-free hotline: 1-833-WEED-TIP (1-833-933-3847).
For assistance with the State Water Board's role in cannabis cultivation permitting, please email dwq.cannabis@waterboards.ca.gov or call (916) 341-5580 (Cannabis Cultivation General Order); or email cannabisreg@waterboards.ca.gov or call (916) 319-9427 (cannabis cultivation water rights).
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SACRAMENTO - Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) issued the following statement upon the announcement that the U.S. Senate ratified the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA):

"The Golden State is the top agriculture state in the nation and our farmers are the sole producers of many foods, including almonds, artichokes, grapes, and walnuts. This trade deal is a 21st century agreement that will strengthen our economy and help these California farmers in their admirable goal to feed the world.
"I want to thank the President for his hard-work to help the United States and our workers with the USMCA," said Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove. 

In December 2019, Senator Grove was one of 26 state leaders from across the United States who signed on to a letter urging Congressional leaders to pass the USMCA. 
In 2019, Senator Grove introduced Senate Joint Resolution 12 which requested the California State Legislature to support and urge Congress to approve the USMCA. SJR 12 passed out of the California State Senate with bipartisan support.
In an op-Ed published in The Fresno Bee, Senator Grove outlined the importance of the USMCA. Click here to read the op-Ed.
 
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Senator Shannon Grove represents California's 16th Senate District which encompasses large portions of Kern, Tulare and San Bernardino counties and including the cities of Bakersfield, Barstow, California City, Exeter, Frazier Mountain, Joshua Tree, Mojave, Needles, Ridgecrest, Rosamond, Taft, Tehachapi, Twentynine Palms, Tulare, Visalia, Yucca Valley and portions of the Kern River Valley. She is the Senate Republican Leader. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.


For press inquiries for questions, please contact Jacqui Nguyen, press secretary for the Senate Republican Caucus, at (858) 999-7706.

 
By Dr. Glenn Mollette
 
We usually don't want to just give up, or conclude we don't have what it takes to go on. I've thought about that some lately in trying to learn a difficult fiddle tune. 
 
What have you thought about quitting? Smoking? Alcohol? Drugs? A toxic relationship? There are so many good things in life that require so much work to make them happen.  Yet, when we stay with it there is eventual satisfaction. And, even if we don't finish, we aren't doing a bad thing for trying to do the good things.  
 
There is a process of finishing a course and then retiring from the course. We all retire, quit or are terminated. Kenny Rogers sang, "You have to know when to hold them and know when to fold them." We all do. My dad worked over 30 years in underground coal mining and at the age of 55 he retired. He also quit. He never had any interest in going back to work in the coal mine. 
 
Quitting gives you an opportunity to do something else. If you hang on, then how do you ever have the opportunity to experience the next phase of life? Maybe you don't want to. You like the road you are traveling and you're going to ride it till it ends. There's nothing wrong with that because familiarity and what we know can be very comfortable. It will end though. Life changes. 
 
A man in the Bible said one time, "I've fought a good fight, I've finished the course and I've kept the faith." There are internal and other rewards for hanging in there and not quitting. An old friend used to say often, "The person who loves God most is at his post when all the others have walked away." Have you ever walked away? Maybe you have or that's what you are contemplating today. It doesn't mean life is over, but it will change.  Whatever happens next will require a lot of the same stuff - tenacity, working hard, and staying at your post. You can walk away from a lot of things in life, but you can't always walk away or quit everything because then you'll never accomplish anything. 
 
Can you imagine how all our soldiers have felt on the battle fields? They miss their families and home. They go through the agony of war and they can't escape but fight and hang on until their tour of duty is over.  Because of their tour of service and not quitting we still have our freedom in America. 
 
You may be on your tour of duty right now and it may not be the military. Anything ever accomplished takes a lot of time, concentration and downright survival of the fittest. It's up to you. You have to ask yourself, "Is it worth it to hang on and not quit?" Only you can answer that question. 

Potential Outages Are Possible Due to Approaching Weather
 
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.—With unsettled weather expected to return to its service area this week, PG&E is asking customers to have a plan for inclement weather and be prepared for unexpected power outages.
 
PG&E meteorologists are forecasting a change in the weather pattern over Northern and Central California later this week. The most impactful storm of this pattern will start on Wednesday afternoon with wind, rain and mountain snow and last into Thursday. Unsettled weather may continue over the weekend and into the following week.
 
“An impactful winter storm is on the way and we’re asking customers to have a plan to keep themselves and their families safe. Our team of meteorologists is closely tracking the weather system and working with our employees in the field to stage resources and ensure we’re prepared to restore power safely and quickly,” said PG&E senior meteorologist Evan Duffey.
 
PG&E is closely tracking the weather system and will be mobilizing crews and materials into areas expected to feel the brunt of the storm, so they can get to work and restore service to impacted customers more quickly.
PG&E’s meteorology team has developed a Storm Outage Prediction Model that incorporates real-time weather forecasts, historical data and system knowledge to accurately show where and when storm impacts will be most severe. This model enables the company to pre-stage crews and equipment as storms approach to enable rapid response to outages.
Storm Safety Tips:

• Never touch downed wires: If you see a downed power line, assume it is energized and extremely dangerous. Do not touch or try to move it—and keep children and animals away. Report downed power lines immediately by calling 911 and by calling PG&E at 1-800-743-5002.
• Use flashlights, not candles: During a power outage, use battery-operated flashlights, and not candles, due to the risk of fire. If you must use candles, please keep them away from drapes, lampshades, pets and small children. Do not leave candles unattended.
• Have a backup phone: If you have a telephone system that requires electricity to work, such as a cordless phone or answering machine, plan to have a standard telephone or cellular phone ready as a backup.
• Have fresh drinking water, ice: Freeze plastic containers filled with water to make blocks of ice that can be placed in your refrigerator/freezer during an outage to prevent foods from spoiling. Blue Ice from your picnic cooler also works well in the freezer.
• Secure outdoor furniture: Deck furniture, lightweight yard structures and decorative lawn items should be secured as they can be blown by high winds and damage overhead power lines or property.
• Use generators safely: Customers with standby electric generators should make sure they are properly installed by a licensed electrician in a well-ventilated area. Improperly installed generators pose a significant danger to customers, as well as crews working on power lines. If using portable generators, be sure they are in a well-ventilated area.
• Turn off appliances: If you experience an outage, unplug or turn off all electrical appliances to avoid overloading circuits and to prevent fire hazards when power is restored. Simply leave a single lamp on to alert you when power returns. Turn your appliances back on one at a time when conditions return to normal.
• Safely clean up: After the storm has passed, be sure to safely clean up. Never touch downed wires and always call 811 or visit 811express.com at least two full business days before digging to have all underground utilities safely marked.

 
Other tips and more information can be found at www.pge.com/weather.
 
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 24,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.
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SACRAMENTO – Today, Assemblymember Tyler Diep (R-Huntington Beach), Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) and Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) announced they have introduced legislation to address the rising number of car break-ins throughout California. Assembly Bill 1921 will make it easier to prosecute auto-burglary by eliminating the need to prove that a vehicle’s doors were locked when the theft occurred.
 
“Car break-ins have become so common and lucrative that thieves are traveling from the Bay Area to Los Angeles to commit these crimes. AB 1921 is a common sense bill to reduce one of the most common types of property crimes in the state,” said Assemblyman Diep. “It is unacceptable that current law puts the burden of proof on the victim and allows burglars to escape the consequences of their actions. It is time to pass this bill and stop the break-ins.”
 
“Auto break-ins are at epidemic levels. These crimes harm neighborhoods and badly hurt people who can’t afford to keep fixing their car windows and who rely on their cars to survive. People who break into cars must be held accountable. We need to close this ridiculous loophole that allows people who break into cars to avoid consequences,” said Senator Scott Wiener, a co-author of AB 1921, who authored SB 23 and SB 916, which were previous versions of the bill introduced in the past two years.
 
Since 2013, there has been a steady increase of auto burglaries in California. There have been numerous reports, from all over the state, showcasing the problem of auto break-ins. A neighborhood in Fairfield was hit with 28 car break-ins in one night. In the Los Angeles area, perpetrators are targeting unsuspecting tourists in broad daylight. In San Francisco, people are putting signs in their cars claiming there isn’t anything of value inside.
 
AB 1921 will specify that “auto-burglary” is the forcible entry of a vehicle with intent to commit theft. Forcible entry of a vehicle will be defined as damaging the exterior of a vehicle or the use of a tool or device to manipulate the locks. The bill is co-authored by a bipartisan coalition of Senators and Assemblymembers from around the California.
 
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Assemblyman Tyler Diep represents the 72nd Assembly District, which includes Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, Midway City, Rossmoor, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Sunset Beach, and Westminster.
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