Dr. Glenn Mollette 

The Forbes Avenue bridge over Fern Hollow Creek in Pittsburgh's Frick Park collapsed last Friday morning, January 28th with several vehicles, including a Port Authority bus, on the span at the time.  The bridge that collapsed is known as the Fern Hollow Bridge, used by an estimated 14,500 vehicles daily.  (From Pittsburgh Action 4) 

Ten people were injured. No one was killed when the bridge buckled at 6:39 a.m., officials said, though four people were hospitalized with injuries that were not life-threatening. President Biden who was ironically visiting the area warned that the country might not be so lucky next time. “We don't need headlines saying that someone was killed when the next bridge collapses,” Biden said.   (Washington Post) 

“The most recent report using 2021 data showed more than 43,500 of the country's roughly 615,000 bridges were rated poor. That number is about 4,000 less than those reported to be in poor condition nationally in 2017.”   (WHYY Public Broadcasting)

In the last fifty years America has seen horrific bridge collapses. 
The Hyatt Regency Walkway, Kansas City, Missouri, 114 deaths, July 17, 1981. 
Big Bayou Canot, Outside Mobile, Alabama, 47 deaths, September 22, 1993.
 Silver Bridge. Between Point Pleasant, West Virginia and Gallipolis, Ohio, 46 deaths, December 15, 1961.
Cypress Street Viaduct, Oakland California, 42 deaths, October 17, 1989.
Sunshine Skyway Bridge, St. Petersburg, Florida 35 deaths,  May 9, 1980.
I-40 Bridge, Webster Falls, Oklahoma, 14 deaths, May 26, 2002.
Cline Ave, East Chicago Indiana, 14 deaths, April 15, 1982.
I-35 West Bridge, Minneapolis, MN, 13 deaths, August 1, 2007. 
Schoharie Creek Bridge, Fort Hunter, New York, 10 deaths, 1987.
Sydney Lanier Bridge, Brunswick, Georgia, 10 deaths, November 7, 1972 . (CNN.Com)

The cost of repairing 45,000 structurally deficient bridges, which are on average 68 years old, is $41.8 billion, using data from the US Department of Transportation. 36% of all bridges need replacing, while 22% need structural work, 19% need rehabilitation work, 18% need widening or rehabilitation and 5% need deck work.(Global Construction Review)

As we consider rebuilding our bridges and other infrastructure, we have to face our current $29 trillion gross federal debt. This is held by the public as well as by federal trust funds and other government accounts.  We are our own biggest creditor with Japan being second and China third. $29 trillion is greater than the size of the economies of China, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom and India combined. This amounts to $87,000 per person in our country. 

Researchers at Brown University estimate that the U.S. has spent $5.8 trillion on the war in Afghanistan and other conflicts stemming from the September 11, 2001 attacks. That includes direct and indirect spending on everything from military equipment to homeland security to death gratuities for the families or slain American service members.” (Watson.Brown.Edu.)

Will Russia’s military maneuver on the Ukraine border cost America? Whenever there is a problem in the world we go regardless of the cost. The problem is we don’t have any money, our bridges and other infrastructure are crumbling. We are in debt and dependent on Taiwan and China to even completely build an automobile. We have become a poor nation because of our indebtedness and dependence on foreign countries. A friend of mine received his Covid-19 test in the mail last week and even it was made in China. 

If we don’t rebuild our infrastructure, including regaining energy and technology independence, and manage our debt, we won’t be able to help ourselves. ​

Supported by We Save Lives, a non-profit group organized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) founder Candance Lightner, and The National Road Safety Foundation, Assemblyman Vince Fong (R-Kern County) introduced Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) 124 to recognize the last week of January as National Passenger Safety Week.
“Reckless driving puts lives at risk and leads to tragedy,” Fong said. “Educating individuals about the risks of dangerous driving and empowering passengers to speak up in unsafe situations will help us to keep our roads and families safe.”
“Whether a driver is impaired by alcohol or drugs, is speeding or driving too aggressively, or can’t stay awake at the wheel, bad driving choices puts passengers at risk of serious injury or death,” said Candace Lightner, who has been a leading traffic safety advocate since founding MADD in 1980 after losing her 13-year-old daughter Cari to a multiple repeat offender drunk driver. “We hope this ongoing campaign will empower passengers to be safety advocates, to the point where it becomes acceptable – even expected – for passengers to speak up when confronted with an irresponsible driver.”
ACR 124 declares that passengers in motor vehicles should be educated and encouraged to advocate for their own safety and the safety of others.
According to the Auto Club of Southern California and AAA Northern California, Nevada, and Utah, growing research demonstrates how vehicle passengers are not just victims but also play a critical role in crash rate. A Virginia study found crash/near crash rates among novice teenagers were 75% lower in the presence of responsible adult passengers, and 96% higher among those with risky friends.
Having someone nearby to speak-up and discourage dangerous driving behavior has proven to be a highly effective traffic safety tool.
“Much of being a safe driver comes from education,” said Michelle Anderson, director of operations at The National Road Safety Foundation, a non-profit founded 60 years ago to promote safe driving behavior through education. “When people are knowledgeable about driving risks like impairment, speed, aggression and drowsiness, there’s a better chance they will avoid taking those risks.”
In recognizing the week of January 23 to 29, 2022 as the first-ever National Passenger Safety Week, Fong encourages passengers to speak up when they are in a vehicle with an impaired driver.
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by National Social Security Advisor at the AMAC Foundation,
the non-profit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens
______________________________________________________ 
Ask Rusty – Will I Have Any Social Security Benefits?

Dear Rusty: I’m 60 years of age and wonder if I will have any Social Security retirement benefits. After all, I did purchase them. Signed: Uncertain

Dear Uncertain: Your eligibility for Social Security benefits depends upon your lifetime earnings history from work, from which Social Security FICA taxes were withheld. If you have worked, contributed to SS while working, and have earned at least 40 "quarters" of credit, you will be entitled to Social Security benefits. You can earn up to four credits each year by earning a specific amount of money, which means you must have worked for about 10 years contributing to Social Security in order to be eligible for Social Security benefits. For 2022, you will get 4 credits if you earn at least $6040 (the amount needed per credit varies by year). The amount of benefit you will get depends upon your average monthly earnings (adjusted for inflation) over the highest-earning 35 years of your lifetime. The higher your annual earnings (from which FICA tax was withheld), the more your SS benefit will be. But you must have worked, earned and contributed to SS for at least 35 years to get your maximum benefit. SS always uses 35 years of earnings to compute your benefit and if you have fewer, they will put $0 earnings in some years to make it 35. They will use the monthly average of those 35 years to determine your primary benefit (known as your "Primary Insurance Amount" or "PIA" which is what you get at your full retirement age (FRA). 

You cannot collect your personal SS retirement benefit until you are at least 62 years old, but if you claim at that age your benefit will be permanently reduced by 30%. You can only get your full SS benefit by waiting until your full retirement age (age 67 for you) to claim your Social Security. Claiming any earlier means a smaller benefit, but you can also delay longer and earn Delayed Retirement Credits (DRCs) up to age 70, when your maximum benefit would be 24% more than it would be at your FRA. You have an 8 year window to claim your Social Security, and when you claim within that window determines how much of your primary SS benefit you will get. 

If you claim before your FRA and you continue to work, Social Security places a limit on how much you can earn before they take away some of your benefits. For example, someone who claims at age 63 in 2022 would have an annual earnings limit of $19,560, and if that were exceeded SS would take away benefits equal to $1 for every $2 over the limit (a monthly limit may be imposed if you claim mid-year). The earnings limit applies until FRA is reached, after which there is no longer a limit to how much can be earned. 

The easiest way to determine your eligibility for Social Security benefits and how much that benefit would be at different ages is to obtain a Statement of Estimated Benefits from the Social Security Administration. You can request that by calling SS at 1.800.772.1213, but you can also get it yourself by creating your personal "my Social Security" online account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. Once you have created your personal online account you can see your lifetime record of earnings and download your Statement of Estimated Benefits to understand whether you are entitled to Social Security benefits and, if so, how much your benefit will be if claimed at various ages.

This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (amacfoundation.org/programs/social-security-advisory) or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.

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About AMAC 
The 2.4 million member Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC] www.amac.us is a vibrant, vital senior advocacy organization that takes its marching orders from its members. AMAC Action is a non-profit, non-partisan organization representing the membership in our nation’s capital and in local Congressional Districts throughout the country. And the AMAC Foundation (www.AmacFoundation.org) is the Association’s non-profit organization, dedicated to supporting and educating America’s Seniors. Together, we act and speak on the Association members’ behalf, protecting their interests and offering a practical insight on how to best solve the problems they face today. Live long and make a difference by joining us today at www.amac.us/join-amac.

 
Intro: Did you know that most things you need to accomplish at the DMV can be done online? The DMV is encouraging Californians to access its expanded online services portal amid the surge of the omicron variant of COVID-19.
 
In addition to providing more services online, the DMV has accommodated customers in many ways during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, the DMV announced the extension of commercial driver’s licenses, learner’s permits, endorsements and special certificates expiring between March 2020 and February 2022, through February 28, 2022.
 
Q1: I have a commercial driver’s license that is about to expire; how can I get it renewed?
A1: Renewing a commercial driver’s license previously required a visit to a DMV office. However, the DMV is now offering most commercial driver’s license renewals online. Those who are eligible can simply renew their license atwww.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv-virtual-office/commercial-driver-license-renewal.
 
Eligible commercial drivers can upload the necessary documents, pay the required fee by credit or debit card, and then receive their new card within a few weeks. While most commercial drivers can renew their driver’s license online, some exemptions may require an appointment at a local field office.
 
Q2: I would prefer to visit the DMV in-person, is that an option for me?
A2: California DMV offices are still open for business. To protect the health and safety of DMV employees and customers, the DMV requires everyone in its offices to wear face coverings, keep their distance, wash hands frequently, and stay home if they are sick. Customers are also asked to limit the number of family members who accompany them to an office to those who are necessary to complete a transaction, and to be patient while waiting to be served.
 
Additionally, Californians can use a DMV kiosk, with locations throughout the state that often offer extended hours. At a kiosk they can complete their vehicle registration renewal and print tags on the spot, submit proof of insurance, receive a driver or vehicle record, and much more.  Customers can also visit DMV business partners to complete selected transactions in-person. To find out more about your options, visit www.dmv.ca.gov and use the service advisor tool.
 
For more information or answers to questions not listed here, please visit www.dmv.ca.gov.
 
 

Sacramento, CA – (January 26, 2022) – The American Lung Association’s 20th annual “State of Tobacco Control” report, released today, reveals significant progress in the work to end tobacco use, but products like e-cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, create concern for losing another generation to nicotine addiction. The report finds that California has made progress on passing policies to reduce and prevent tobacco use, including e-cigarettes.


The “State of Tobacco Control” report evaluates state and federal policymakers on actions taken to eliminate tobacco use, the nation’s leading cause of preventable death. The report recommends proven-effective tobacco control laws and policies to save lives. The 2022 “State of Tobacco Control” reveals that the country has made substantial progress in advancing tobacco control policies over the past 20 years, including comprehensive smokefree laws in more states, increased tobacco taxes across the nation and more Americans with access to treatments to help them quit smoking through state Medicaid programs.


In addition to the federal report, the “State of Tobacco Control California Local Grades” report highlights localities across the state—all cities and counties—and how their tobacco control policies rank. While some jurisdictions have shown great progress, there is still room for others to improve. The report largely focuses on the sale of flavored tobacco products—a vital undertaking given the SB 793 referendum of 2020, which would prohibit the sale of all flavored tobacco products across the state.


Here in California over the last 20 years, lawmakers have made significant strides to reduce tobacco use, like increased tobacco and e-cigarette taxes, increased funding for cessation programs, and the passage of SB 793 which would have prohibited the sale of flavored tobacco products across the state. However, there is more work to be done. The smoking rate is still 8.9%, and the high school tobacco use rate is 12.7%. In addition, flavored tobacco products still remain on the shelves in many California jurisdictions. The opportunity to remove these dangerous products off the shelves is critical.


“While we have seen considerable progress in California, tobacco use remains our leading cause of preventable death and disease, taking an estimated 39,950 lives each year,” said Erica Costa, Advocacy Director at the American Lung Association in California. “And our progress on tobacco control policy has not been equal. We continue to see the unequal burden of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke in communities experiencing health disparities.”


California’s Grades
“State of Tobacco Control” 2022 grades states and the District of Columbia in five areas that have been proven to prevent and reduce tobacco use and save lives. California received the following grades:

1. Funding for State Tobacco Prevention Programs – Grade B
2. Strength of Smokefree Workplace Laws – Grade A
3. Level of State Tobacco Taxes – Grade B
4. Coverage and Access to Services to Quit Tobacco – Grade B
5. Ending the Sale of All Flavored Tobacco Products – Grade I (Incomplete due to referendum petition filed against SB 793 law to restrict sale of flavored tobacco product)

This year’s report noted the need for California policymakers to focus on…ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes. According to the 2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey, more than two million high school and middle school students use e-cigarettes, and over 80% of those kids use flavored e-cigarettes. In addition, menthol cigarettes continue to be the major cause of tobacco-related death and disease in Black communities, with nearly 81% of Black Americans who smoke using them. Ending the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol, will not only help end youth vaping, but will also help address the disproportionate impact of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars have on many communities, including Black Americans, LGBTQ+ Americans and youth. 
“Kids follow the flavors, so ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products in California is key to ending youth tobacco use. We call on legislators in Sacramento to prohibit the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol, across California,” said Costa.

Federal Grades Overview
“State of Tobacco Control” 2022 also grades the federal government in five areas:

• Federal Government Regulation of Tobacco Products (2022 grade – D)
• Federal Coverage of Quit Smoking Treatments (2022 grade – D)
• Level of Federal Tobacco Taxes (2022 grade – F)
• Federal Mass Media Campaigns to Prevent and Reduce Tobacco Use (2022 grade – A)
• Federal Minimum Age of Sale for Tobacco Products to 21 (2022 grade – I*)

* The Incomplete grade is for the FDA being more than 18 months overdue in publishing the final Tobacco 21 regulations as required by statute.


“In 2022, California needs to redouble its efforts to pass the proven policies called for in ‘State of Tobacco Control’ to help end tobacco use. We cannot afford to wait 20 more years and allow another generation to suffer from tobacco-caused addiction, disease and death. This is why it is so critical to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco in California,” said Costa.


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About the American Lung Association
The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Gold-Level GuideStar Member, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.

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Dolly B Chapman

The FIREWISE USA® program is a framework that a community can use to become more
resilient to wildfire. The Calpine Firewise Committee is writing up a 3 year plan so we can apply for FIREWISE USA® recognition. Calpine residents can fill out a survey at the post office to help develop the plan.
We all suffered the loss last summer as wildfires raged through our neighboring communities and forests. A pall of doom, heavy as the smoke, settled on our minds as we contemplated the helplessness of facing week after week of red flag fire weather in our little town of historic houses and pine trees. But Calpine's unelected Mayor, Cheri Sposito, said "I don't do helpless!" and she showed that she was busy coordinating help. One of the things she did was pull together a group of us to learn about the FIREWISE USA® program.
This program builds on the beautiful ethic that rural people hold: to do one's best and to help your neighbors.
The idea is for a community to set goals for homeowner education, home improvements, defensible space, and emergency preparedness. Once those goals are set, we mark our progress toward meeting them. The program makes us safer and confirms to everyone that we are working together to be safer. We acknowledge that every bit of Firewise work we do will help all of us, because we are all in this together. Participation is fun when you are meeting goals to help your community. And if you don't participate? The program is good for you, too, but you miss out on the fun.
We have seen in the last few years that wildfire can be devastating, even to those who have done their best to prepare for it. We know that old Mother Nature calls the shots no matter how hard we work. The town of Paradise had earned Firewise recognition and look what happened there. A person might say that our work is hopeless. But we aren't that person. I'm remembering another time I learned from the words of a wise woman: I was with Mary on her snowmobile pioneering a ski tour route for the fire department when we plunged through deep powder into a hole in a thicket of silver-tips on a steep sidehill. We radioed for help, then Mary summoned me to start digging. I made a funny face and she said, "We may be stuck but they aren't going to find us sitting on our butts." We dug and stomped and hacked and tugged and implausibly got the sled up onto a solid platform of snow. Our 'help' found us exhausted and laughing and proud that we had saved ourselves. Even if we hadn't saved ourselves, we would have known we were living our best lives and enjoying the process.
The National Fire Protection Association's website (NFPA.org) has a FIREWISE page and tells all about the Firewise program. There is a lot of good information on wildfire and lots of links to resources for learning more. The information is well organized and interesting. Pull yourself and your family up to a screen and look through it!
Check out our Facebook page Calpine Firewise Committee. Contact CalpineFirewise@yahoo.com . 

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Sacramento – Caltrans announced today it is approving the use of low-carbon cement to help reduce the carbon footprint of California’s transportation system. By advancing the use of portland limestone cement (PLC), Caltrans’ road construction and maintenance projects can generate less carbon dioxide – the primary greenhouse gas contributing to global warming and climate change – with the same high performance standards at a slightly lower cost.


“Using low-carbon cement can cut Caltrans’ concrete-related carbon dioxide emissions annually by up to 10 percent,” said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. “This is a big step in supporting California’s efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045.”

Cement is typically produced by mining, grinding, and heating limestone in industrial kilns to temperatures as high as 2,820 degrees Fahrenheit (1,550 degrees Celsius). The process alters the rock’s chemistry and creates “clinker” – the basic component in nearly all types of cement – but also generates large quantities of carbon dioxide. PLC contains less clinker.

In 2017 alone, Caltrans used 325,000 tons of cement to upgrade the state highway system. Switching to low-carbon cement has the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 28,000 tons a year – the equivalent of removing more than 6,000 cars off the road.

Caltrans expects that the reduced energy needs associated with PLC production will make the cost similar or slightly less when compared to regular cement.

The new low-carbon cement standards are based on Caltrans-funded research conducted at Oregon State University, which concluded that PLC is equally suitable for Caltrans’ construction projects as ordinary cement with a reduced carbon footprint. Throughout the review process, Caltrans worked closely with its partners at the California Air Resources Board and industry experts and stakeholders, such as the California Construction and Industrial Materials Association and the California Nevada Cement Association, to draft the new standard specifications.

In 2010, Caltrans changed its concrete standard specifications to increase the use of sustainable alternatives in transportation projects, an initiative that helped spur a shift in concrete production throughout the state. Caltrans will continue to work with the California Air Resources Board to reach the state’s goal and achieve net-zero emissions from the cement sector by 2045.
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Sacramento – Today, the Assembly Committee on Appropriations advanced Assembly Bill 1400, a measure that creates a government-run single payer healthcare system. To implement this measure, an estimated $163 billion in new taxes will have to be imposed each year. Vice Chair of the Assembly Committee on Budget, Vince Fong (R-Kern County) issued the following statement:
 
“Disregarding the estimated $391 billion price tag, Sacramento Democrats pushed a government-run health care system to the next step.
 
“With so many unanswered questions remaining, this proposal remains fiscally irresponsible and poor public policy.
 
“The jaw-dropping price tag of this singular program is more than the entire budget proposal of $286 billion proposed by the Governor.
 
“The only way Sacramento Democrats attempt to pay for this government-run health system is with a $163 billion in new taxes on every Californian – an estimated $12,250 per household.”
 
Assembly Bill 1400 now moves to the Assembly Floor for its consideration.
 
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SACRAMENTO – In response to rampant railroad theft in California, Senate Republican Leader Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) highlights the failures of Democrats and urges real action to protect California communities.
 
“First there were porch pirates, then smash-and-grab robberies, and now we have looters and thieves ransacking cargo trains; all of this happened under one-party rule in the state,” said Wilk. “Criminals know how to exploit California’s policies for their gain.
 
“Fancy press conferences by the governor are not going to discourage one single crime. Californians deserve safer communities, and Republicans look forward to fighting for every neighbor, retailer, and employer who is fed up with the Democrats' ‘Criminals First’ public safety agenda. When Democrat policies fail, Republicans are there with good solutions,” said Wilk.
 
In a letter to Los Angeles County District Attorney, Union Pacific officials expressed their displeasure with the state’s soft-on-crime policies. Specifically, the letter reads, “These individuals are generally caught and released back onto the streets in less than twenty-four hours. Criminals boast to our officers that charges will be pled down to simple trespassing – which bears no serious consequence.”
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Senator Wilk represents the 21st Senate District, which includes the Antelope, Santa Clarita and Victor valleys. Learn more about Scott by visiting his website and be sure to connect with him on social media.
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Agriculture Career and Internship Fair to Showcase Opportunities in Agriculture 


  
A vast array of internship and career opportunities will be on display at the Agriculture Career and Internship Fair at the University Farm Pavilion on Feb. 23, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hosted by the Chico State College of Agriculture, the event is geared toward students studying agriculture but is open to students and alumni of all majors.  
This event is a great opportunity to network and become acquainted with more than 30 leading agricultural companies, including Colusa-Glenn Farm Credit, Crain Walnut Shelling, Grow West, Land IQ, Rumiano Cheese Company, and Tanimura & Antle.  
“Agriculture represents one of the most diverse and multidisciplinary job sectors on the planet, and these recruiters are looking for everything from production and natural resources to science, business, marketing, IT and management. They are excited to build awareness of their brands on campus, while also promoting job opportunities for college students and alumni known for their hands-on experience, dedication, hard work and proven leadership in the field of agriculture,” said event coordinator Sarah DeForest.  
  
Students and alumni from all majors are invited to attend. Those who attend are advised to dress professionally and bring copies of their resume. Prior registration is not required of job seekers.  
 
Business and organizations can still register at www.csuchico.edu/ag.  
  
For questions regarding the College of Agriculture Career and Internship Fair, please contact Sarah DeForest at sdeforest@csuchico.edu or 530-898-3737.   
 
 
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About the College of Agriculture at California State University, Chico 
Since 1953, the College of Agriculture at California State University, Chico has impacted the quality of life in California and across the nation by educating and equipping agricultural leaders who have the theoretical knowledge, practical experience, and decision-making ability that allows them to excel in their chosen career. The close, friendly nature of our college, combined with an integrated agricultural curriculum and remarkable access to hands-on education, creates a fertile learning environment for our students and the agriculture industry we serve. 

​Whether it’s the cold, the snow, or COVID, most everyone is trying to shake off a bit of the blues this time of year. The experts at the Plumas Sierra County Fairgrounds would like to prescribe an evening with the Northern Nevada String Serenade performing the “Carnival of Animals” by Saint-Saens, along with some other uplifting pieces. On Saturday, January 22 at 7pm, Serpilio Hall will be filled with this beloved composition and Schubert’s “Trout” Quintet, the Flight of the Bumblebee, Telemann Trumpet Concerto and several Leroy Anderson favorites.
Conducted by Jane Brown, this is the third visit to Quincy by the Northern Nevada String Serenade. It is also another performance that has made up the Popsapalooza Concert Series sponsored by the PSCF Foundation which is the non-profit organization that supports the Plumas Sierra County Fairgrounds. Several performances have been postponed by COVID and fire camp, but the Foundation is pleased that this will be the third un-interrupted performance in a row! Next month, on February 5, the enchanting harp of Marina Roznitovsky-Oster will be accompanied by her accomplished sister Nataly Roznitovsky on piano. Tickets for both performances, and another four make up concerts can be purchased on line at www.plumas-sierracountyfair.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the Fair Office, but call first to make sure someone is in. Admission is available at the door; $20 each, and students for $10 with a student ID. Lift your spirits in January by attending the “Carnival of Animals” at the fairgrounds!

Government-run health care would mean high taxes and poor service. Democrats keep voting for it anyway. 
In an op-ed published today in CalMatters, Assembly Republican Leader Marie Waldron condemned Democrats’ attempt to take over California’s health care system and impose more than $160 billion in new taxes.

Waldron’s op-ed highlighted a number of devastating impacts the proposal would have, including tax increases on small businesses and the middle class, a raid on seniors’ Medicare funds, workers being kicked off their existing health plans, long wait times, rationed care and incompetent bureaucrats placed in charge of the state’s health care system. 

“Californians depend on their health care, and if there’s one thing we all agree on it’s that the current system needs to be fixed,” said Waldron. “But Democrats’ plan to eliminate competition and put government in charge isn’t the answer. Especially in the middle of a pandemic and affordability crisis, we can’t afford a costly experiment in government control.”

As Assembly Democrats charge forward with their radical plan without even analyzing its cost or economic impacts, Republicans will stand against this trainwreck of a proposal. 

The real question is whether self-proclaimed “moderate” Democrats will continue to go along with the extreme fringe of their party and keep voting for this state takeover of health care.
 
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You are receiving this email as part of an ongoing effort to deliver accurate and factual information about the activities of your local representatives in Sacramento, and how their votes either improve or negatively impact the lives of Californians. For more information, please contact Jim Stanley at (916) 319-2075 or Jim.Stanley@asm.ca.gov.

-Project application period extended-

QUINCY, Calif. – September 28, 2021 – The project application period for Butte & Plumas Resource Advisory Committee projects has been extended from September 30, 2021 until February 15, 2022.
Projects are available for funding consideration by the Butte and Plumas Resource Advisory Committees (RAC) and the Plumas National Forest Supervisor, per the provisions of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self- Determination Act of 2000.
Projects must have broad-based support with objectives that may include, but are not limited to: road, trail, and infrastructure maintenance or obliteration; soil productivity improvements; improvements in forest ecosystem health; watershed restoration and maintenance; wildlife and fish habitat improvements; control of noxious and exotic weeds; reintroduction of native species, and hazardous fuels reduction.
The updated project application & critical, related instructions may be found at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/plumas. Look for the “Related Links” menu on the right-hand side of the home page. Links to other information about the Secure Rural Schools legislation and county RACs can be found in the same location.
Approximately $80,000 (Butte RAC) / $400,000 (Plumas RAC) is available for projects starting in mid-2022. A hard copy application package must be received no later than 4:00 pm February 15, 2022, addressed to: Butte RAC, c/o Plumas National Forest – Feather River Ranger District, 875 Mitchell Ave, Oroville, CA 95965-4699, Attn. District Ranger Dave Brillenz (530-534-6500) or the Plumas RAC c/o Plumas National Forest - Beckwourth Ranger District, 23 Mohawk Hwy, Blairsden, CA 96103, Attn: RAC - Designated Federal Official (530-836-2575).
The RACs will review applications in the spring of 2022 and provide their recommendations to the Plumas National Forest Supervisor for funding decisions. All RAC project proposals must be closely coordinated early in the process with appropriate Ranger District representatives and other key partners during the application process. Projects that don’t include a coordination letter with support from the applicable District Ranger will not be considered.
For information about the Plumas National Forest visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/plumas and www.Facebook.com/usfsplumas.
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. 

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Governor Newsom released his proposed budget this week, promising a massive surplus that special-interest groups can't wait to spend. The problem is there is no actual surplus. California’s state & local governments are shouldering a staggering $1.5 trillion in debt – 50 times the $31 billion surplus claimed by the Legislative Analyst's Office.
 
What’s worse is that the state doesn’t actually know how much it owes – to retired workers, to Wall Street and banks, to healthcare providers. This year’s financial report – for 2020 – is already nine months late, with rumors that it won’t be complete until this summer. And that’s just at the state level. California’s spare cash and rainy-day funds are dwarfed by the mountain of long-term liabilities California governments have accumulated at all levels, from cities and counties to school districts.
 
Of course, if the stock market drops, or the tax base continues to shrink from the mass exodus of taxpayers and businesses to other states, California’s revenue will decline precipitously, wiping out any mythical "surplus." 
 
Beyond fiscal shell games, Newsom’s budget fails to effectively address any of the five-alarm crises facing the state. For starters, California public schools are in shambles after school boards across the state caved to the demands of teachers unions throughout the pandemic. One of the governor’s solutions is predictable: simply raise per-student spending. The other is a remarkable step backward — decoupling state spending from students altogether. 
 
As the number of school-age children in California continues its seven-year slide — and as more and more parents find alternatives to union-run public schools — Newsom’s proposed budget would, the Los Angeles Times reports, “allow districts to base funding on attendance in the current year, prior year, or the average of that from three prior years — whichever is greater. The proposal gives school districts ‘more running room to plan against really shocking declines,’ said Keely Martin Bosler, director of Newsom’s Department of Finance.”
 
In almost any other business, a shocking decline in market share would lead to service innovation and/or massive cuts in spending — or bankruptcy. But this is government, and this is California. The financial bailout won’t change the terrifying trajectory of student learning. 
 
Newsom’s “blueprint” for addressing the state’s ongoing drought, recurring wildfires, a smash-and-grab crime wave, and a homeless population now exceeding 160,000 is more of the same: throw a lot of good money after bad. He has no realistic plan to save the Golden State from falling further into decline or shielding the coming generation from the impending financial day of reckoning.
 
Nurses’ union push for single-payer healthcare would double California taxes 
 
California lawmakers advanced legislation this week to create the nation’s first single-payer healthcare system. On January 6, state Assemblyman Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) unveiled Assembly Bill 1400, crafted by the California Nurses Association (CNA). If approved by the governor, it would create CalCare, a state takeover of California medicine by politicians to whom you wouldn’t – or shouldn’t – entrust a hair dryer. 
 
The CNA and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) have been making life worse for nurses for years. In 2019, the CNA was the prime mover of legislation to expand state-funded healthcare to undocumented people under 26. That added costs for everybody – and a flood of new patients without the capacity — the financial and staffing resources – to handle them. This year, CNA came back for more, persuading Governor Newsom to include in his budget free healthcare to undocumented people of any age. That will increase demand on every government service provider. 
 
But there’s more. Through its control of a low-profile agency called the California Board of Registered Nursing, the CNA has worked aggressively to cap student enrollment in California’s private nursing programs. Stomping on successful private nursing schools may satisfy the union’s lust for class war, but it has also created a years-long nursing shortage in California.
 
CNA predicts that running CalCare each year will cost Californians two times the state’s current entire budget. The costs will be paid for by a doubling of state taxes – the largest increase in state history, in what’s already the nation’s most-taxed and most-expensive state. Constantly “underfunded” and micromanaged by Sacramento politicians, CalCare will certainly cost more and deliver less than CNA projects. 
 
The California Nurses Association has a solution for that coming financial crisis: it helped draft ACA 11, a companion bill to make it easier for state lawmakers to raise taxes. On the table: a tsunami of new taxes that would wipe out California businesses and increase taxes by $12,250 per household.
 
At present, two-thirds of the legislature must approve a tax hike; under ACA 11, tax hikes to support CalCare will be approved on a simple majority vote. And so the California Exodus – the departure of working Californians, the middle class and, yes, inevitably millionaires and billionaires for other states – will explode. 
 
That decline will accelerate with dire consequences. As tax revenue falls, the financial burden will shift to those left behind. And then those left behind will drop their burdens and leave, too – on and on until the crisis is so severe that the system fails completely. 
 
To paraphrase the late, great presidential candidate and businessman Ross Perot, that giant sucking sound you’ll hear is the vacuum created by the exit of tens of thousands fleeing California. 
 
Quote of the Week
“[O]ur governor uses every wildfire catastrophe as a Hollywood backlot for the emission of noxious claims about climate warming and capitalism.” – CPC president Will Swaim in National Review
 
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Governor Newsom released his proposed budget this week, promising a massive surplus that special-interest groups can't wait to spend. The problem is there is no actual surplus. California’s state & local governments are shouldering a staggering $1.5 trillion in debt – 50 times the $31 billion surplus claimed by the Legislative Analyst's Office.
 
What’s worse is that the state doesn’t actually know how much it owes – to retired workers, to Wall Street and banks, to healthcare providers. This year’s financial report – for 2020 – is already nine months late, with rumors that it won’t be complete until this summer. And that’s just at the state level. California’s spare cash and rainy-day funds are dwarfed by the mountain of long-term liabilities California governments have accumulated at all levels, from cities and counties to school districts.
 
Of course, if the stock market drops, or the tax base continues to shrink from the mass exodus of taxpayers and businesses to other states, California’s revenue will decline precipitously, wiping out any mythical "surplus." 
 
Support the California Policy Center. Donate Today.Beyond fiscal shell games, Newsom’s budget fails to effectively address any of the five-alarm crises facing the state. For starters, California public schools are in shambles after school boards across the state caved to the demands of teachers unions throughout the pandemic. One of the governor’s solutions is predictable: simply raise per-student spending. The other is a remarkable step backward — decoupling state spending from students altogether. 
 
As the number of school-age children in California continues its seven-year slide — and as more and more parents find alternatives to union-run public schools — Newsom’s proposed budget would, the Los Angeles Times reports, “allow districts to base funding on attendance in the current year, prior year, or the average of that from three prior years — whichever is greater. The proposal gives school districts ‘more running room to plan against really shocking declines,’ said Keely Martin Bosler, director of Newsom’s Department of Finance.”
 
In almost any other business, a shocking decline in market share would lead to service innovation and/or massive cuts in spending — or bankruptcy. But this is government, and this is California. The financial bailout won’t change the terrifying trajectory of student learning. 
 
Newsom’s “blueprint” for addressing the state’s ongoing drought, recurring wildfires, a smash-and-grab crime wave, and a homeless population now exceeding 160,000 is more of the same: throw a lot of good money after bad. He has no realistic plan to save the Golden State from falling further into decline or shielding the coming generation from the impending financial day of reckoning.
 
Nurses’ union push for single-payer healthcare would double California taxes 
 
California lawmakers advanced legislation this week to create the nation’s first single-payer healthcare system. On January 6, state Assemblyman Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) unveiled Assembly Bill 1400, crafted by the California Nurses Association (CNA). If approved by the governor, it would create CalCare, a state takeover of California medicine by politicians to whom you wouldn’t – or shouldn’t – entrust a hair dryer. 
 
The CNA and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) have been making life worse for nurses for years. In 2019, the CNA was the prime mover of legislation to expand state-funded healthcare to undocumented people under 26. That added costs for everybody – and a flood of new patients without the capacity — the financial and staffing resources – to handle them. This year, CNA came back for more, persuading Governor Newsom to include in his budget free healthcare to undocumented people of any age. That will increase demand on every government service provider. 
 
But there’s more. Through its control of a low-profile agency called the California Board of Registered Nursing, the CNA has worked aggressively to cap student enrollment in California’s private nursing programs. Stomping on successful private nursing schools may satisfy the union’s lust for class war, but it has also created a years-long nursing shortage in California.
 
CNA predicts that running CalCare each year will cost Californians two times the state’s current entire budget. The costs will be paid for by a doubling of state taxes – the largest increase in state history, in what’s already the nation’s most-taxed and most-expensive state. Constantly “underfunded” and micromanaged by Sacramento politicians, CalCare will certainly cost more and deliver less than CNA projects. 
 
The California Nurses Association has a solution for that coming financial crisis: it helped draft ACA 11, a companion bill to make it easier for state lawmakers to raise taxes. On the table: a tsunami of new taxes that would wipe out California businesses and increase taxes by $12,250 per household.
 
At present, two-thirds of the legislature must approve a tax hike; under ACA 11, tax hikes to support CalCare will be approved on a simple majority vote. And so the California Exodus – the departure of working Californians, the middle class and, yes, inevitably millionaires and billionaires for other states – will explode. 
 
That decline will accelerate with dire consequences. As tax revenue falls, the financial burden will shift to those left behind. And then those left behind will drop their burdens and leave, too – on and on until the crisis is so severe that the system fails completely. 
 
To paraphrase the late, great presidential candidate and businessman Ross Perot, that giant sucking sound you’ll hear is the vacuum created by the exit of tens of thousands fleeing California. 
 
Support the California Policy Center. Donate Today.Quote of the Week
“[O]ur governor uses every wildfire catastrophe as a Hollywood backlot for the emission of noxious claims about climate warming and capitalism.” – CPC president Will Swaim in National Review

Governor Newsom released his proposed budget this week, promising a massive surplus that special-interest groups can't wait to spend. The problem is there is no actual surplus. California’s state & local governments are shouldering a staggering $1.5 trillion in debt – 50 times the $31 billion surplus claimed by the Legislative Analyst's Office.
 
What’s worse is that the state doesn’t actually know how much it owes – to retired workers, to Wall Street and banks, to healthcare providers. This year’s financial report – for 2020 – is already nine months late, with rumors that it won’t be complete until this summer. And that’s just at the state level. California’s spare cash and rainy-day funds are dwarfed by the mountain of long-term liabilities California governments have accumulated at all levels, from cities and counties to school districts.
 
Of course, if the stock market drops, or the tax base continues to shrink from the mass exodus of taxpayers and businesses to other states, California’s revenue will decline precipitously, wiping out any mythical "surplus." 
 
Support the California Policy Center. Donate Today.Beyond fiscal shell games, Newsom’s budget fails to effectively address any of the five-alarm crises facing the state. For starters, California public schools are in shambles after school boards across the state caved to the demands of teachers unions throughout the pandemic. One of the governor’s solutions is predictable: simply raise per-student spending. The other is a remarkable step backward — decoupling state spending from students altogether. 
 
As the number of school-age children in California continues its seven-year slide — and as more and more parents find alternatives to union-run public schools — Newsom’s proposed budget would, the Los Angeles Times reports, “allow districts to base funding on attendance in the current year, prior year, or the average of that from three prior years — whichever is greater. The proposal gives school districts ‘more running room to plan against really shocking declines,’ said Keely Martin Bosler, director of Newsom’s Department of Finance.”
 
In almost any other business, a shocking decline in market share would lead to service innovation and/or massive cuts in spending — or bankruptcy. But this is government, and this is California. The financial bailout won’t change the terrifying trajectory of student learning. 
 
Newsom’s “blueprint” for addressing the state’s ongoing drought, recurring wildfires, a smash-and-grab crime wave, and a homeless population now exceeding 160,000 is more of the same: throw a lot of good money after bad. He has no realistic plan to save the Golden State from falling further into decline or shielding the coming generation from the impending financial day of reckoning.
 
Nurses’ union push for single-payer healthcare would double California taxes 
 
California lawmakers advanced legislation this week to create the nation’s first single-payer healthcare system. On January 6, state Assemblyman Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) unveiled Assembly Bill 1400, crafted by the California Nurses Association (CNA). If approved by the governor, it would create CalCare, a state takeover of California medicine by politicians to whom you wouldn’t – or shouldn’t – entrust a hair dryer. 
 
The CNA and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) have been making life worse for nurses for years. In 2019, the CNA was the prime mover of legislation to expand state-funded healthcare to undocumented people under 26. That added costs for everybody – and a flood of new patients without the capacity — the financial and staffing resources – to handle them. This year, CNA came back for more, persuading Governor Newsom to include in his budget free healthcare to undocumented people of any age. That will increase demand on every government service provider. 
 
But there’s more. Through its control of a low-profile agency called the California Board of Registered Nursing, the CNA has worked aggressively to cap student enrollment in California’s private nursing programs. Stomping on successful private nursing schools may satisfy the union’s lust for class war, but it has also created a years-long nursing shortage in California.
 
CNA predicts that running CalCare each year will cost Californians two times the state’s current entire budget. The costs will be paid for by a doubling of state taxes – the largest increase in state history, in what’s already the nation’s most-taxed and most-expensive state. Constantly “underfunded” and micromanaged by Sacramento politicians, CalCare will certainly cost more and deliver less than CNA projects. 
 
The California Nurses Association has a solution for that coming financial crisis: it helped draft ACA 11, a companion bill to make it easier for state lawmakers to raise taxes. On the table: a tsunami of new taxes that would wipe out California businesses and increase taxes by $12,250 per household.
 
At present, two-thirds of the legislature must approve a tax hike; under ACA 11, tax hikes to support CalCare will be approved on a simple majority vote. And so the California Exodus – the departure of working Californians, the middle class and, yes, inevitably millionaires and billionaires for other states – will explode. 
 
That decline will accelerate with dire consequences. As tax revenue falls, the financial burden will shift to those left behind. And then those left behind will drop their burdens and leave, too – on and on until the crisis is so severe that the system fails completely. 
 
To paraphrase the late, great presidential candidate and businessman Ross Perot, that giant sucking sound you’ll hear is the vacuum created by the exit of tens of thousands fleeing California. 
 
Support the California Policy Center. Donate Today.Quote of the Week
“[O]ur governor uses every wildfire catastrophe as a Hollywood backlot for the emission of noxious claims about climate warming and capitalism.” – CPC president Will Swaim in National Review

SACRAMENTO – Senate Republican Leader Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) issued the following statement in response to Governor Newsom’s 2022-23 budget proposal:  
 
“The governor likes to thank his fellow Democrats for ideas that originated within the Republican Caucus – but Californians see through that political gamesmanship. This budget includes many commonsense Republican requests such as a gas tax holiday, wildfire prevention and forest management, reversing tax increases on businesses, and helping keep business doors open, but so much more needs to be done.
 
“Senate Republicans worked effectively with former Governor Jerry Brown on bi-partisan solutions and we stand ready to work with Governor Newsom when he chooses to govern collaboratively to the benefit of all Californians.”
 
Senate Republicans called on the governor to prioritize several areas in the budget. View the letter here. Successful Republican requests include:

• √ Gas tax holiday                             
• √ Investment in wildfire prevention 
• √ Helping local government combat retail theft                
• √ Tax relief for job creators

 
“Since Newsom is so focused on ‘reimaging the future,’ he should take a better look at building water storage, improving the quality of life for everyday Californians, and analyzing why his spending on homelessness has failed,” said Wilk. “I look forward to working with my colleagues in the legislature to ensure good ideas remain in this budget and the challenges are addressed.”
###
Senator Wilk represents the 21st Senate District, which includes the Antelope, Santa Clarita and Victor valleys. Learn more about Scott by visiting his website and be sure to connect with him on social media.

Sacramento – Today, the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources passed Assembly Bill 522, a measure by Assemblyman Vince Fong (R-Kern County), to promote forest management and build wildfire resilience.
“Catastrophic wildfires have devastated homes and entire communities, and sadly, lives have been lost,” said Assemblyman Fong. “Properly managing forests by reducing fuels is a proven method of preventing wildfires.”
“This measure allows private landowners to continue their efforts to reduce wildfire risk by removing dead and dying trees from their land.”
This program allows private landowners to proceed with critical vegetation management on private land with a streamlined process. Specifically, AB 522 removes barriers for landowners to use the state’s Forest Fire Prevention Pilot Project Exemption and extend this successful program into 2026.
This measure, if passed and signed into law, will help the state achieve its goal to treat 500,000 acres per year by 2025. AB 522 is supported by the California Forestry Association, Association of California Water Agencies, California Association of Realtors, Forest Landowners of California and the Personal Insurance Federation of California.
AB 522 now moves to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for its consideration.
# # #

Girl Scouts in the Sierra Nevada are now selling the new brownie-inspired AdventurefulsTM cookie alongside other favorites, and each purchase powers amazing adventures for them.
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
January 11, 2022
 
RENO, NV—On Saturday, January 8, Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada kicked off the 2022 Girl Scout Cookie Seasonwith cookie rallies in Reno, Elko, Bishop, and Carson Valley. At these rallies, sponsored by U.S. Bank, Girl Scouts participated in interactive activity booths where they learned the five essential financial literacy skills: Money Management, Goal Setting, Decision Making, Business Ethics, and People Skills.
 
Girl Scouts are now selling the new Adventurefuls, an indulgent brownie-inspired cookie with caramel-flavored crème and a hint of sea salt, and an incredible taste of adventure in every bite. Adventurefuls joins the whole portfolio of iconic Girl Scout Cookies including favorites like Thin Mints®, Caramel deLites®, and Peanut Butter Patties®.
 
This season, Girl Scouts are again selling cookies in creative, socially distant, and contact-free ways to keep themselves and their customers safe during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Many Girl Scouts will run outdoor cookie booths that follow local, state, and CDC guidelines while still getting everyone’s favorite cookies to their customers. If you know a Girl Scout, ask how she’s selling cookies via the Smart Cookie online platform for direct shipment or local delivery. And beginning February 18, consumers can enter their zip code to purchase cookies online from a local troop for direct shipment or donation to local causes.
 
Every Girl Scout Cookie purchase fuels local Girl Scouts’ adventures throughout the year: exploring what interests them, discovering their passions, and taking action on issues they care about. Whether they’re using their STEM skills to solve a problem, changing a law to help their community, having a courageous outdoor experience, or starting an innovative nonprofit, Girl Scouts build a better future for themselves and the world. And through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, including by earning new Cookie Business badges, girls get a taste of being entrepreneurs and learn important online and offline business skills that set them up for success in life.
 
Ashlee Tang, a Washoe County high school senior in her final season of selling Girl Scout Cookies, said, “Through the cookie program, I’ve learned to be more outspoken and more confident, as well as learning most of the money management and goal setting skills that I now have.”

To purchase Girl Scout Cookies this season:

• If you know a registered Girl Scout, reach out to her to find out how she’s selling cookies in ways that meet local, state, and CDC safety protocols, including via the Smart Cookie online platform.
• If you don’t know a Girl Scout, visit www.girlscoutcookies.org, text COOKIES to 59618*, or use the official Girl Scout Cookie Finder app for free on iOS or Android devices to find socially distant or contact-free cookie booths if they are available in your area.
• Beginning February 18, enter your zip code into the Girl Scout Cookie Finder at www.girlscoutcookies.org to purchase from a local Girl Scout troop online for shipment to your door or to donate cookies to local causes.
• Contact the Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada office at 775.322.0642 or girlscoutshelp@gssn.org.

 
###
About Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada
Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada supports girls through programs that develop a strong sense of self, positive values, and healthy relationships. In a territory that includes northern Nevada and northeastern California, girls discover their strengths, connect with their communities, and rise to meet new challenges. Girl Scouting brings their dreams to life as they work together to build a better world. Join us at Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada by visiting www.gssn.org.
 

California Farm Bureau President Comments on Gov. Newsom’s Budget Plan
 
California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson offered the following comments today on the $286.4 billion budget plan announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom:

“California’s farmers are facing unprecedented challenges beyond their control. The Farm Bureau represents over 30,000 of these farmers in every corner of the state–including over 20,000 small farms. We need water, inputs and markets to feed people and provide the jobs that are the backbone of the California economy. 

“Governor Newsom’s budget is a good framework for this year’s budget discussions in that it proposes to fund more water storage and conveyance, opportunity for California-grown products in schools, funds for both implementation of and research on climate smart ag practices and begins to relieve the massive burden on employers on costs associated with COVID-19.

“At a time when food prices are soaring and inflation and shortages are no longer speculative, it is critical that we shore up the farm economy. As they say though, the devil is the details, and we need to ensure that the famers who are supposed to benefit from these programs have a voice in the enactment of them.

“Despite many years of programs and slogans to ‘save the farm,’ we continue to see less and less every year – and almost all those lost are small farms. As the one California group that has more small, diverse, family-owned farms than anybody else, we look forward to partnering on solutions that can help reverse these trends.”
 
The California Farm Bureau works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of nearly 31,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of nearly 6 million Farm Bureau members.

###
​Senator Grove Responds to Newsom’s State Budget Proposal
 
SACRAMENTO - Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) responds to Governor Newsom’s 2022-23 state budget proposal:
  
"Governor Newsom’s budget over taxes and over-regulates Californians while continuing to push the same policies that have resulted in the highest cost of living, the highest poverty, historically high crime rates and worsening homeless crisis, despite record high spending. In December, Senator McGuire and I called on the governor to increase the number of state firefighters to meet the increasing demands of wildfire management, and I am pleased he has set aside $400 million for this proposal. I appreciate the governor’s focus on the drought’s impact on food producers and funding for water conveyance, but with no additional money for water storage, the budget is still not serious about addressing California’s food and water security. I hope the governor understands we can’t import 100% of the food the Central Valley grows. I am also strongly opposed to the governor’s continued war on the state’s oil and gas industry, which provides good jobs for thousands of families and energy security for all Californians. The governor and the majority party must prioritize the immediate needs of Californians, instead of focusing on their utopian Government controlled state."
###

Senators Dahle Reacts to the Governor’s Budget Proposal
 
SACRAMENTO –Senator Brian Dahle (R-Bieber) reacted to the release of the Governor’s January Budget Proposal. Senator Dahle is a member of the Senate Committee on Budget, andSubcommittee 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection, Energy and Transportation.
 
“I am encouraged that the state budget has another substantial surplus, and is not operating in a deficit like so many years past. However, this reinforces my view that we are being overtaxed, and we should be rebating those dollars directly back to the taxpayers.
 
As I stated in a letter with my colleagues, California must focus on some core priorities with this upcoming budget.
 
Over the last two years, California has experienced some of the largest wildfires in our history. I was heartened to see funding in this budget that I asked for to address our ability to prevent and fight wildfires.
 
This state continues to suffer from boom and bust cycles, especially when we talk about water. Building water storage is an absolute necessity, but California hasn’t invested in this infrastructure for decades despite our population growth and the voters’ will.
 
Over the next several months, I hope that my legislative colleagues will debate in good faith how we can serve the true needs of Californians.”
 

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, Shasta, Sierra, and Siskiyou.
 
# # #
​
Legislative Proposal to Promote Healthy Forest and Reduce Wildfires Passes Committee
Sacramento – Today, the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources passed Assembly Bill 522, a measure by Assemblyman Vince Fong (R-Kern County), to promote forest management and build wildfire resilience.
“Catastrophic wildfires have devastated homes and entire communities, and sadly, lives have been lost,” said Assemblyman Fong. “Properly managing forests by reducing fuels is a proven method of preventing wildfires.”
“This measure allows private landowners to continue their efforts to reduce wildfire risk by removing dead and dying trees from their land.”
This program allows private landowners to proceed with critical vegetation management on private land with a streamlined process. Specifically, AB 522 removes barriers for landowners to use the state’s Forest Fire Prevention Pilot Project Exemption and extend this successful program into 2026.
This measure, if passed and signed into law, will help the state achieve its goal to treat 500,000 acres per year by 2025. AB 522 is supported by the California Forestry Association, Association of California Water Agencies, California Association of Realtors, Forest Landowners of California and the Personal Insurance Federation of California.
AB 522 now moves to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for its consideration.

Graphic with loosely accurate map of the Lost Sierra Route, connecting mountain communities
Courtesy of SBTS

Ken Etzel
Think you've climbed every mountain? Searched high and low? Followed every byway and every path you know? Well, The Connected Communities Project is hoping to remedy that problem by bringing the hiking community a new 600-mile path to enjoy.
The Connected Communities Project, a partnership between the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship (SBTS), the U.S. Forest Service, and other community partners, is on a mission to create a 600-mile network of multiuse trails that will one day connect 15 northern California mountain towns to Reno, Nevada. And it will be known as the Lost Sierra Route.
​
"It will create a vision for a recreation-focused lifestyle through community investment, shared stewardship, economic opportunity, and important new local jobs, all benefiting economically disadvantaged communities in California's Plumas, Sierra, Butte, and Lassen Counties," SBTS explains on its website about the project. "Our work will include planning, environmental review, trail creation, and maintenance of trails. It is the intent of this project to diversify recreation throughout the region, provide economic stability, as well as support fire recovery and prevention efforts."

Additionally, SBTS noted, the trail will create a learning landscape and pay homage to the region and the historic Gold Rush-era mail delivery route as it makes its way over "jagged peaks and high alpine meadows similar to the Pacific Crest Trail and the John Muir Trail."
But unlike those trails, this one will allow for all "dirt trail travelers," which not only includes hikers, but also mountain bikers, motorcycle riders, equestrians, trail runners, hunters, and fishermen to create what it calls "A Trail for Everyone."
Along the way, the trail will highlight 15 mountain communities to help support local economies that have been devastated by everything from the loss of the mining industry to more recent events like wildfires and COVID-19.
"Each mountain town has something unique to offer in terms of terrain, nature, adventure, food, camping — and all have a rich history to experience," SBTS shared. "Through our Planning Phase, we've captured input from community locals on what they'd like to highlight about their town, where they want trails to be located, and the outdoor experience the neighborhood topography and landscape has to offer."
The first section of the trail is expected to open in 2023, while the entire route is slated to debut by 2030. Want to help the project finish a little sooner? See all the ways you can get involved, and keep track of the progress on the SBTS website.

Borrowers who were able to pause their federal student loan repayment will see their repayments postponed until May 1, according to KHEAA.
The federal government had intended to have borrowers resume payments in February but decided to wait until May because of the spread of the omicron coronavirus variant.
KHEAA advises borrowers to make sure their loan servicer has their current contact information. If you don’t know who your loan servicer is, you can find it by logging into your account at studentaid.gov. The information will be under the “My Loan Servicers” section.
Your loan servicer can also help if you expect to have trouble restarting repayment of your loans. In that case, contact your loan servicer as soon as possible. They can help you find the repayment plan that best fits your finances and could reduce your monthly payment.
KHEAA is a public, non-profit agency established in 1966 to improve students’ access to college. It provides information about financial aid and financial literacy at no cost to students and parents.
KHEAA also helps colleges manage their student loan default rates and verify information submitted on the FAFSA. For more information about those services, visit www.kheaa.com.
In addition, KHEAA disburses private Advantage Education Loans on behalf of its sister agency, KHESLC. For more information, visit www.advantageeducationloan.com.

Dr. Glenn Mollette 

A young adult lady in Johnson county, Kentucky was recently faithfully working her convenient store register job. She had a line of patrons buying drinks and paying for gasoline. Someone asked her how much money she made? “Nine dollars an hour,” she said. “I’ve worked here over two years and the pay has been $9 an hour. I’ve asked for a raise. I work hard. I’m here almost all the time. A manager from the chain of stores always says, “We are looking into it.” She said, “I have to find another job because I can’t take care of myself and my children on $9 an hour.” 

A patron in line who was only buying a cup of coffee with a $20 bill took the cash she had just handed him in change and said to her, “Please take this and buy some lunch today.” The lady said, “Uh, no, I don’t want that,” but the man insisted and she accepted it with tears coming from her eyes. “Thank you, thank you so much she said to the man. I’ve never had anybody to do anything like this for me in my life.”

It was good to see a random act of kindness but the episode was a real case scenario of how hard life is for many Americans just like this lady, working for low hourly wages. 

On January 5th, the US Department of Labor released its Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary (JOLTS), revealing that the number of resignations reached 4.5 million in November. The number increased by 370,000, matching September's quit rate record high of 3% — indicating that the Great Resignation isn't showing signs of stopping.

Will the Johnson County lady quit her Job? She will, if she can find a better paying one. Unfortunately, in this area of the country that’s not easy to do. She may have to move in order to make more money. Many employers across the country have had to raise what they are offering in order to find and keep good employees. Thus, many of the Americans who did quit their jobs in November did so because of the lure of better pay in other places.

In Kentucky the federal minimum wage is $7.25. It’s the same wage for many other states but some are doing much better.  However, you can’t go by the state minimum. You have to find the right employer who is paying what will make you happy and determine what it will require of you to be an employee. 

If you are looking at state guidelines in hopes of better pay, simply go this site PeopleReady.com or https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state and Good luck!

Here is the complete breakdown from this website. 


Alabama No state minimum wage law.*
Alaska: $10.34
Arizona: $12.80 ($12.15 in 2021)
Arkansas: $11.00 (applicable to employers of 4 or more employees)
California: $14.00 (applicable to employers with 25 employees or less); $15.00 (applicable to employers with 26 employees or more) ($13.00; $14.00 in 2021)
Colorado: $12.32
Connecticut: $13.00
Delaware: $9.25
Florida: $10.00
Georgia: $5.15 (applicable to employers of 6 or more employees)
Hawaii: $10.10
Idaho: $7.25
Illinois: $11.00
Indiana: $7.25 (applicable to employers of 2 or more employees)
Iowa: $7.25
Kansas: $7.25
Kentucky: $7.25
Louisiana: No state minimum wage law.*
Massachusetts: $14.25 ($13.50 in 2021)
Maine: $12.75 ($12.15 in 2021)
Maryland: $12.50 ($11.75 in 2021)
Michigan: $9.87 ($9.65 in 2021) (applicable to employers of 2 or more employees)
Minnesota: Large employer (enterprise with annual revenues of $500,000 or more): $10.33 ($10.08 in 2021)
Small employer (enterprise with annual revenues of less than $500,000): $8.42 ($8.21 in 2021)
Missouri: $11.15 ($10.30 in 2021)
Mississippi: No state minimum wage law.*
Montana: $9.20 ($8.75 in 2021) (business with gross annual sales of more than $110,000); $4.00 (business not covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act with gross annual sales of $110,000 or less)
North Carolina: $7.25
North Dakota: $7.25
Nebraska: $9.00 (applicable to employers of 4 or more employees)
New Hampshire: $7.25
New Jersey: $13.00 ($12.00 in 2021)
New Mexico: $10.50
Nevada: $10.50 with no health ins. benefits provided by employer ($9.75 in 2021); $8.75 with health ins. benefits provided by employer and received by employee)
New York: $12.50; $14.00 (Long Island & Westchester); $15.00 (NYC)
Ohio: $9.30 (employers with annual gross receipts of $305,000 or more; $7.25 (employers with annual gross receipts under $305,000) ($8.80; $7.25 in 2021)  
Oklahoma: $7.25 (employers of ten or more full-time employees at any one location and employers with annual gross sales over $100,000 irrespective of number of full-time employees); $2.00 (all other employers)
Oregon: $12.75
Pennsylvania: $7.25
Rhode Island: $11.50
South Carolina: No state minimum wage law.*
South Dakota: $9.45
Tennessee: No state minimum wage law.*
Texas: $7.25
Utah: $7.25
Virginia: $11.00 ($9.50 in 2021) (applicable to employers of 4 or more employees)
Vermont: $12.55 ($11.75 in 2021)
Washington: $14.49
Wisconsin: $7.25
West Virginia: $8.75
Wyoming: $5.15
District of Columbia: $15.20
Puerto Rico: $8.50 ($7.25 in 2021)
*This state does have not established state-level minimum wage policies, effectively defaulting to the national federal minimum of $7.25. PeopleReady.com or https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state



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www.tfhd.com
 (Tahoe/Truckee, Calif.) – Tahoe Forest Health System announced the arrival of the first baby of the New Year born on January 1, 2022, at 4:50 a.m. The first baby was delivered by OB-GYN Sarah Fletcher, MD. Dr. Fletcher is a part of the team of physicians at Tahoe Forest Health System: www.tfhd.com/our-providers.
Baby Sigrid Ulf Dee weighed in at 7 pounds 9 ounces, and measured 17 inches long. Baby Sigrid is the first child of proud parents Seth Dee and Kerstin Ulf, who reside in Truckee, CA.
Parents Seth and Kerstin expressed gratitude and appreciation to their entire care team at the Joseph Family Center for Women and Newborn Care. “It was pretty incredible,” mother Kerstin describes their experience during their stay. 
Tahoe Forest Hospital’s Joseph Family Center for Women and Newborn Care is a state-of-the-art facility designed with the needs, safety and comfort of new moms and families in mind. The facility features private birthing suites, each with a JacuzziTM tub and private postpartum suites.
Tahoe Forest Hospital has been nationally certified as a Baby Friendly hospital since 2010.  The Baby Friendly certification recognizes hospitals that have made a dedicated commitment to help mothers with breast feeding, including training and educational programs for hospital staff and parents. 
Tahoe Forest Hospital is also a Safe Haven Baby Drop-Off location, which allows mothers to surrender their newborns without any questions asked.  Babies are given medical attention if needed, and confidentiality for the mother is assured. 
In honor of the first baby of the year, the Dee family was presented with a gift basket donated by the Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation. The gift basket included baby items from The Gift Tree gift shop, located inside the main lobby at Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee, CA.