TK CLASS with teacher April Burns learned all about air on Tuesday.

 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Memorial Day weekend is quickly approaching, and many Californians are preparing to kick off the summer with a holiday gathering or road trip. Forty-five people were killed in crashes in California during last year’s Memorial Day weekend, nearly a 30 percent increase from the same period in 2021.  The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has a plan to help people arrive to their destinations safely, while reducing the number of deadly crashes on the state’s roads.
 
Beginning at 6:01 p.m. on Friday, May 26, the CHP will implement a statewide Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) in anticipation of the increased traffic that often accompanies a holiday weekend.  The MEP will continue through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 29.  
 
“The core mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security to the communities we serve,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee.  “This holiday, motorists can expect to see additional CHP officers patrolling California’s roadways.  All available uniformed members of this Department will be on patrol during this Memorial Day MEP.  Our primary focus will be to enhance public safety, deter unsafe driving behavior, and when necessary, take appropriate enforcement action.” 
 
In addition to assisting motorists and looking for traffic violations that often lead to serious injury or death, such as failure to wear a seat belt, speed, and distracted driving, CHP officers will be paying close attention to people who are suspected of driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs and/or alcohol. 

CHP officers made nearly 900 DUI arrests during the Memorial Day MEP in 2022. Keep yourself and others who are on the road safe by designating a sober driver or using a ride-share service. 
 
If you see or suspect an impaired driver, call 9-1-1 immediately.  Be prepared to provide the dispatcher a description of the vehicle, the license plate number, location, and direction of travel.  Your phone call may save someone’s life.
 
The CHP’s Memorial Day MEP coincides with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s ongoing Click It or Ticket campaign, which continues through
June 4. Seat belts save lives. Take two seconds to secure your safety and buckle up. 


The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.

If you are looking to start a vegetable garden, but are not sure how, why not start with a low-key effort: a few herb plants in your garden or on your balcony. Growing herbs is incredibly easy. And you will have a continuous supply!
 Which herb plants?Start with the herbs you use (almost) every day, like thyme (Thymus), rosemary (Rosmarinus) and chives (Allium schoenoprasum). These are all easygoing plants that you will be enjoying for months. Once you get the hang of it, you can expand your plant collection with slightly less common herbs, like tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus), sage (Salvia) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare). And don't forget herbs for tea, like mint (Mentha) and anise hyssop (Agastache).
 From border to herb gardenHerbs are easygoing and beautiful plants. You can simply plant them between your other plants in the border. They do like a sunny spot, though. If you prefer to have more of an overview, you can group the herb plants together in a part of the border or in a separate herb garden. Herbs also thrive in pots and containers. Put them near the kitchen door for easy access! For inspiration, please visit www.perennialpower.eu.
 A square meter gardenOnce you get the hang of growing herbs, it's only a small step to a vegetable garden. You could set up a square meter garden, for example, with a mix of herbs, vegetable plants and edible flowers. But if you prefer, feel free to just enjoy your herb garden and leave it at that!
 Tips & ideas

• Lots of lushly growing herbs will give your garden a natural atmosphere. If you pick with moderation, the plants will flower. The flowers will attract lots of butterflies and bees!
• You can pick rosemary, sage and thyme year-round (avoid picking the plant completely bare).

Lavender is perfect for drying, so you can enjoy its soothing scent in winter, too.

SACRAMENTO – Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) and Senate Minority Caucus Chair Janet Nguyen (R-Huntington Beach) have released the following statements in response to Governor Newsom’s announcement of sweeping changes to the problematic California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) today:

 
“California Senate Republicans have been advocating for CEQA reform for years. We are thrilled that Governor Newsom is finally taking action and we support his commitment to help build more housing and infrastructure projects. We remain eager to collaborate with the governor and our colleagues across the aisle in a bipartisan manner to fix California with solutions that address our state’s myriad issues ranging from homelessness to housing to water infrastructure,” said Leader Jones.


“California Senate Republicans have been at the forefront of the CEQA reform movement for years,” said Senate Minority Caucus Chair Nguyen. “As evidenced by our extensive legislative track record, we are eager to move California forward in this arena so we can build more housing, water storage, and sensible infrastructure projects in a reasonable timeframe and without costly settlements."


California Senate Republicans have led the charge on CEQA reforms for years and our legislative track record proves it. Click on this link to learn more about our bills on CEQA that we have introduced over the years.  

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Senator Brian W. Jones represents California’s 40th Senate District which includes the Cities of Escondido, Poway, San Marcos, Santee, San Diego City communities of Carmel Mountain Ranch, Mira Mesa, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Peñasquitos, Scripps Ranch, Sorrento Valley, and University City, along with the San Diego County unincorporated communities of 4S Ranch, Alpine, Bonsall, Fallbrook, Lakeside, Pine Valley, Rainbow, Ramona, and Valley Center.


Elected in 2022 overwhelmingly, Senator Janet Nguyen represents California Senate District 36, which covers Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar, Westminster, San Clemente, Capistrano Beach, Fountain Valley, Buena Park, Dana Point, Seal Beach, Surfside, Laguna Beach, Stanton, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Cerritos, Artesia and Hawaiian Gardens and unincorporated cities of Midway City and Rossmoor. Senator Janet Nguyen has previously served as a City Councilmember, Orange County Supervisor, State Senate in the 34th District, and State Assembly.
 
For press inquiries or questions, please contact Jacqui Nguyen, press secretary for the Senate Republican Caucus, at 858.999.7706.

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Portola, CA - May 21, 2023 - On Sunday, May 21st, at approximately 12:58 PM, the Plumas County Sheriff's Office received a call regarding a suspected improvised explosive device near the 500 block of East Sierra Avenue in Portola near the disc golf course. Immediate action was taken as PCSO personnel were dispatched to secure the area.
Upon arrival, the PCSO contacted the Butte County Inter-Agency Bomb Squad, who responded to the scene. The highly trained bomb squad members conducted a thorough assessment and ultimately executed a safe operation to neutralize the suspected improvised explosive device.
The collaborative efforts between the Plumas County Sheriff's Office and the Butte County Inter-Agency Bomb Squad were crucial in ensuring the safety of our community. Their swift response and expertise in handling such situations played a vital role in resolving the incident without harm to anyone.
The investigation into the origin and reasons behind the placement of the device is currently ongoing. The Plumas County Sheriff's Office is working diligently to gather all available evidence to ensure a complete investigation.
Residents are reminded to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity or objects to the Plumas County Sheriff's Office immediately. The prompt reporting of such incidents greatly assists law enforcement in ensuring public safety.
Anyone with information related to this incident is urged to contact the Plumas County Sheriff's Office at (530) 283-6300.
Visit us online at plumascounty.us and follow us on Facebook ### 

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Congressman Doug LaMalfa
This week, Congress passed several pieces of legislation that aimed to reinforce our support of this nation's law enforcement officers in honor of National Police Week. We recognize the sacrifices that law enforcement officers make and honor the memory of those who gave their lives to protect and defend their fellow citizens from criminals. Over 54 law enforcement officers of California's First Congressional District have given their lives to protect their fellow citizens, a number that is far too high.
First, we introduced and passed House Concurrent Resolution 40, a simple piece of legislation that expresses Congress's support for America's law enforcement officers and condemning recent efforts to defund and dismantle the police. We have had plenty of experience with the latter here in California, where city governments have demonized and defunded their police departments, and the State has reduced penalties for lawlessness.  These policies caused a surge in crime, drug abuse, and homelessness that has endangered the lives of millions of Californians. The past few years have proven, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that anti-law and order policy is destabilizing and leads to social collapse as well as chaos.
Our major piece of legislation for Police Week was the Protect Our Law enforcement with Immigration Control and Enforcement (POLICE) Act of 2023. The bill makes it an immediately deportable offense for an illegal immigrant to assault a police officer. Illegal immigrants have already broken our laws by entering our country, and to then go on to commit an assault against this nation's law enforcement further underscores the point that they should not be here and do not belong in American society.
Finally, Congress passed the Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act. This bill allows retiring law enforcement personnel to purchase their service weapons at market price from the government. Currently, when a law enforcement officer retires, their weapon is destroyed at cost to the taxpayer. Allowing them to purchase their weapon if they so choose is both fiscally sound and consistent with the Second Amendment. If an LEO wishes to keep his or her service weapon after being good stewards of it throughout their careers, then they should be allowed to do so in compliance with existing gun regulations. 
​House Republicans believe in the rule of law and social stability. These bills reinforce our nation's sovereignty and social cohesion and our appreciation for the courageous few who risk it all to preserve law and order. Painful experiences in California and cities across the United States have shown that soft-on-crime policies such as cashless bail, catch and release, and lenient sentencing do not work. Thinking like this must be brought to an end if stability and order are to return to our nation's streets.

Sincerely,

Doug LaMalfa
Member of Congress

Ed's note: Sierra County Board of Supervisors wrote its own letter of opposition during its last Board meeting.

Joins multistate coalition in filing amicus brief calling on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to uphold the 60-year-old federal law that prohibits firearms retailers from selling handguns and handgun ammunition to individuals under the age of 21
SACRAMENTO -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a multistate coalition of attorneys general encouraging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to affirm a district court decision upholding the federal law restricting sales of handguns and handgun ammunition to people under 21 years of age in Reese v. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives. The case addresses a Second Amendment challenge to the federal prohibition on sales of handguns and handgun ammunition to persons under 21 by federally licensed firearms dealers. The district court granted the government’s motion to dismiss, and plaintiffs have appealed. The multistate coalition argues that an opinion striking down the federal law could undermine efforts by states to protect their citizens through the application of similar age limitations laws.
 “Upholding the federal law is especially important because individuals under 21 commit a disproportionate share of violent crimes,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. "For almost sixty years, federal law has prohibited federally licensed firearms retailers from selling handguns and handgun ammunition to individuals under the age of 21. It has stood the test of time and should be upheld to protect people across the nation. I stand with other states dedicated to safeguarding yet another commonsense gun law.” 
Plaintiffs challenge this restriction on the ground that it unduly infringes upon the Second Amendment rights of young people. But the Fifth Circuit rejected that claim in 2012 based on a historical record that provides abundant evidence of a longstanding tradition of limiting young people’s access to arms, and the district court here correctly reasoned that the Court’s prior analysis remains sound after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n v. Bruen. The Second Amendment allows governments to enact sensible and varied regulations designed to protect the public as long as those regulations are consistent with the nation’s historical tradition. 
Exercising that authority, 19 states and the District of Columbia have established a minimum age requirement of 21 for individuals to purchase handguns — essentially mirroring the federal law at issue. A decision setting aside the longstanding federal prohibition on handgun sales to individuals under the age of 21 could call those statutes, and others, into question.
These efforts continue the ongoing work of Attorney General Bonta to protect the public from gun violence. Recently, the Attorney General launched a first-in-the-nation Office of Gun Violence Prevention, took legal action against ghost gun retailers, advocated for and defended commonsense gun laws, worked on the ground to keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals, and announced Senate Bill 2 (SB 2), to strengthen California's existing concealed carry weapon (CCW) laws. California’s Assembly Bill 1594 (AB 1594), which was sponsored by Attorney General Bonta and signed into law in July 2022, creates a pathway for Californians who have been harmed by gun violence to hold the appropriate parties — including gun manufacturers and distributors — accountable. AB 1594 goes into effect in California on July 1, 2023. 
Attorney General Bonta also provided grants to local law enforcement to support activities related to seizing weapons from individuals prohibited from possessing them, called on credit card companies to do their part to end illegal gun trafficking and mass shootings, and promoted the use of the state’s red flag laws to remove weapons from individuals who pose a danger to themselves or others.
Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin in filing this amicus brief. A copy of the brief can be found here. 

The Barbed Wire - May 19, 2023
On May 16th, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the availability of nearly $11 billion in grants and loan opportunities that will help rural energy and utility providers bring affordable, reliable clean energy to their communities across the country. Funding is available through two programs under the Inflation Reduction Act. Specifically, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be opening a Letter of Interest process for the Empowering Rural America (“New ERA”) program, which makes $9.7 billion available to eligible rural electric cooperatives to deploy renewable energy systems, zero-emission and carbon capture systems. In addition to New ERA, USDA will also be opening a Letter of Interest process for the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) program, which makes $1 billion available in partially forgivable loans to renewable-energy developers and electric service providers, including municipals, cooperatives, and investor-owned and Tribal utilities to help finance large-scale solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, hydropower projects and energy storage in support of renewable energy systems. 
More information on the New ERA program is available here. Rural electric cooperatives, including current and previous USDA borrowers, are eligible for funding. To apply, eligible entities must submit a Letter of Interest between July 31 and August 31, 2023. 
More information on the PACE program is available here. Loans through this program may be forgiven by 40% of the loan amount, and the maximum loan amount is $100 million.  For this program, USDA will begin accepting Letters of Interest starting on June 30, 2023, on a rolling basis until September 29, 2023.
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QUINCY, CA — Last night firefighters responded to a small fire on the Plumas National Forest Mount Hough Ranger District near Keddie.
The fire was reported at 7:55 p.m. and was quickly contained at midnight at less than a half acre.  The cause is under investigation, but it is believed to be human caused.
The response included six engines, one hotshot crew, one hand crew and fire leadership.  Firefighters are continuing to work on mop-up today.
California Highway 70 was closed between Quincy and the Greenville Wye for approximately an hour last night to provide room for firefighter response.  The road reopened to one-way traffic and was fully open after midnight.
Drivers on Highway 70 should watch for increased firefighting traffic in the area as work continues.
“We appreciate everyone’s patience while we responded and quickly suppressed the Keddie Fire last night,” said Mount Hough District Fire Management Officer Tommy Grubbs.  “The hard work and rapid response of our firefighters helped keep the Keddie Fire small.”
During the transition from spring into summer, conditions can be within prescription for prescribed burning, with the support of firefighters on engines, hand crews and other equipment to safely conduct operations. 
However, warmer temperatures, lower humidity and afternoon and evening winds can create conditions for wildfire.  In recent weeks, Plumas National Forest firefighters have responded to several small fires in the area, including the Keddie Fire, while also safely conducting prescribed burning work.
Area residents and visitors are asked to use caution with anything that can spark a wildfire. 
This includes ensuring campfires are built within a fire ring and in an area clear of debris, are never left unattended, and are dead-out and cold to the touch before leaving.  Trailer chains should be secured and tires properly inflated to avoid throwing a spark.  And spark arresters should be in good working condition on motorized equipment.
“As the summer recreation and fire seasons start, it is important for everyone to help us prevent human-caused wildfires,” Grubbs said.  “Our firefighters are committed this season to do everything we can on suppression efforts as we continue to work on critical fuel reduction to reduce the risk of devastating wildfires.”
For more information on the Plumas National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/plumas or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/USFSPlumas. 
 
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

SACRAMENTO — The California Transportation Commission (CTC) this week allocated more than $1.6 billion in state and federal funding that will continue transforming and improving transportation infrastructure throughout the state. The allocation includes nearly $500 million in funding from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) and more than $89 million in funding from Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
 
“The infrastructure projects funded with these state and federal dollars will benefit all Californians by reducing climate impacts, improving equity and access, and increasing traveler safety,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “These transformative investments are giving Caltrans the tools it needs to rebuild California.”
 
Projects the CTC approved include:

•  In Yuba City: $153,000 in SB 1 funds to extend the Sutter Bicycle Path from Hooper Road to Harter Parkway on the north side of Jefferson Avenue and on Harter Parkway from Butte House Road to Spirit Way. 
•   In Elk Grove: $980,000 in IIJA funds for the Kammerer Road extension, which includes modifying the Interstate 5-Hood Franklin Road interchange and constructing a railroad grade separation at the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.
•   In El Dorado County: $1.4 million for improvements to the Pony Express Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail, including the addition of 1.7 miles of bike lanes, reconstruction of pedestrian facilities and installation of flashing beacons.
• In Yuba County: $2.7 million for the Cedar Lane Elementary School Safe Routes to School program in West Linda. Improvements include new sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes and curb ramps.
• Sierra County Local Transportation Commission: $21,000 for project planning, programming, and monitoring.
•    State Route 70 in Yuba County: $14.6 million, including $12.9 million in IIJA funds, to build a new pump plant at the SR-70 Marysville railroad undercrossing and reconstruct an existing pump plant at the SR-70 Binney Junction railroad undercrossing.

The IIJA, also known as the “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” is a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation's infrastructure to improve the sustainability and resiliency of our energy, water, broadband and transportation systems. Since November 2021, California has received $20 billion in federal infrastructure funding. That includes more than $15 billion in federal transportation funding to upgrade the state’s roads, bridges, rail, public transit, airports, electric vehicle charging network, ports and waterways. These transportation investments alone have already created nearly 48,000 jobs. 

The influx of federal funding is on top of California’s multiyear infrastructure investments in transit and intercity rail projects, safe walking and biking options, and upgrades to the state’s economy-powering supply chain, in addition to SB 1, which provides $5 billion in transportation funding annually that is shared equally between state and local agencies. Road projects progress through construction phases more quickly based on the availability of SB 1 funds, including projects that are partially funded by SB 1.

To provide Californians with the latest news and information on state and federal infrastructure investments, Caltrans expanded RebuildingCA.ca.gov – the website tracking the progress of SB 1 – to contain data on the increased federal funding. Website visitors can learn more about the different federal infrastructure programs, track the amount of funding California is receiving and find projects on an updated interactive map.
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Mylar Balloon Caused Yesterday’s Vacaville Power Outage
 
CHICO, Calif.— With graduation season is in full swing and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is warning customers about the public safety risks associated with helium-filled metallic balloons. If your graduation celebration involves balloons, make sure they are secured with a weight. Otherwise they can float away and come into contact with overhead power lines, causing a public safety risk.
Just yesterday, a metallic balloon caused an 8-hour power outage in Vacaville impacting 2,700 customers after it damaged a power line.
In the first four months of 2023, metallic balloons striking electric lines have caused 91 power outages in PG&E's service area, disrupting service to more than 35,000 customers. These power outages can interrupt electric service to critical facilities such as hospitals, schools and traffic lights.
“Graduation season is a happy time for California students and families, filled with school commencements and celebrations. But the mass balloon releases we often see at graduation ceremonies can quickly put a damper on the fun. When metallic balloons make contact with power lines, they can cause widespread power outages. We urge everyone to celebrate responsibly and secure metallic balloons with a weight,” said Joe Wilson, Vice President for PG&E’s North Valley & Sierra Region.
Metallic balloons have a silvery coating, which is a conductor for electricity. If the balloons float away and make contact with power lines, they can short transformers, cause power outages and melt electrical wires, causing public safety risks. PG&E tends to see an increase in balloon-caused outages during graduation season.
To help ensure that graduation balloon celebrations are enjoyed responsibly, PG&E reminds customers to follow these important balloon safety tips:

• “Look Up and Live!" Use caution and avoid celebrating with metallic balloons near overhead electric lines.
• Make sure helium-filled metallic balloons are securely tied to a weight that is heavy enough to prevent them from floating away. Never remove the weight.
• When possible, keep metallic balloons indoors. Never permit metallic balloons to be released outside, for everyone's safety.
• Do not bundle metallic balloons together.
• Never attempt to retrieve any type of balloon, kite or toy that becomes caught in a power line. Leave it alone, and immediately call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 to report the problem.
• Never go near a power line that has fallen to the ground or is dangling in the air. Always assume downed electric lines are energized and extremely dangerous. Stay far away, keep others away and immediately call 911 to alert the police and fire departments. Other tips can be found at pge.com/beprepared

 
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.
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CHP SHIFTS INTO OVERDRIVE TO HALT RECKLESS DRIVING BEHAVIORS
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is accelerating its efforts to halt illegal street racing and sideshows plaguing the state’s roadways and destroying the lives of innocent victims. To increase awareness about the devastation and destruction caused by this illegal and dangerous driving behavior, the CHP unveiled a new multi-media campaign while standing amid a three-dimensional installation featuring an actual crashed vehicle along Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles.
 
The billboard, a striking visual reminder, is just one of the more than 50 displays being erected throughout the state reminding drivers about illegal street racing and sideshows, “Thrills That Kill.”  The public can expect to see the billboard campaign through the summer months in areas of California that have seen a high number of illegal street racing and side show activity. Among the locations:  Los Angeles, the Bay Area, and the Central San Joaquin Valley. 
 
Illegal sideshows have been occurring at an alarming rate in California, and they continue to get bigger and more dangerous.  In 2021, the CHP responded to more than 7,300 incidents statewide with nearly 123,000 participants. While the number of incidents decreased by approximately 50 percent last year, there is still a significant amount of work to be done to keep California’s communities, and those who use our roads, safe.
 
“Illegal street racing and sideshows put lives at risk, upset the quality of our neighborhoods, cause damage to private and public property, and in some cases, have resulted in the death of innocent people,” CHP Deputy Commissioner Troy Lukkes said. “Through our ongoing efforts we want to send the message throughout California that this dangerous and illegal activity will not be tolerated.” 
 
Over a 5-year period, illegal street racing and sideshow activities have resulted in 264 crashes. Of those incidents attributed to this reckless behavior, 30 crashes were fatal, and 124 others resulted injuries.
 
To combat this trend, the CHP has been working with its public safety partners and community-based organizations throughout the state. Together, we are engaging in a strong education and enforcement campaign with the goal of keeping all who use California’s roadways safe by encouraging others to make good choices behind the wheel.
 
Funding to support the CHP’s efforts were made possible by the Governor’s approval of a one-time state budget allocation of $5.5 million at the request of California Assemblymember Vince Fong and a former Assemblymember, Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper. The funds are being used to support state and local task forces to end dangerous sideshow activities that have become a major problem in communities throughout the state.
 
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
 



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Where can the location of your colony sweeten or sour your beekeeping journey?
To mark World Bee Day on May 20, Lawn Love ranked 2023’s Best States for Beekeeping.
We compared 39 of the 50 states (with available data) based on four categories. We looked at honey production, colony loss, and apiculture classes, among 15 total metrics.



Some of the nation’s most populous states — California (No. 1), New York (No. 2), and Texas (No. 4) — buzz to the top of our ranking among apicultural epicenters like North Dakota (No. 3). North Dakota produced 31,200 pounds of honey in 2022 — nearly three times the amount produced by California. 
Utah (No. 37) may be The Beehive State, but that nickname is irrelevant when it comes to discussing the state’s beekeeping industry. Utah disappoints with high total annual colony loss, low beekeeper salaries, and a lack of bee-friendly legislation, landing alongside Arizona (No. 38) and Wyoming in last place. These three states fall behind with low scores across the board. 
Standout stats

• California cultivation: The Golden State brings home the gold medal overall and in Distribution and Support. California offers the highest number of apiculture classes and establishments. California also boasts healthy bees with the lowest average annual colony loss in our ranking.

• Flickertail hives: Swarming to third place is North Dakota with the largest overall honey Output. The Flickertail State impresses with the biggest total honey production and the most honey-producing colonies, 520 — 215 more than the next state, California. 

• Sweet salaries: Beekeepers have the biggest opportunity to pollinate their savings accounts in Illinois (No. 10), which takes the top spot in Earning Potential. New York (No. 2) pays the highest average annual beekeeping salary, followed by Illinois and Colorado (No. 17). 

• Colony conservation: Neonics are commonly used across lawns, gardens, and farms and have devastating impacts on bee populations. To help save the bees, New York (No. 2), New Jersey (No. 22), Vermont (No. 23), and Maine (No. 30) have each passed legislation limiting the use of neonics.

• Buzzworthy sales: There are many opportunities to sell hone
• y in states like New York (No. 2) and Ohio (No. 5). New York leads the way in honey suppliers, while The Buckeye State takes second place. Ohio boasts the most farmers markets, followed by New York.
• Nectar network: It’s easy for beekeepers to connect in North Carolina (No. 8), thanks to the many beekeepers associations. Tennessee (No. 18) and Kentucky (No. 29) take second and third places, respectively. 
• Handling honeybees: For aspiring beekeepers, Ohio (No. 5) offers the second-largest number of apiculture classes, while Washington (No. 12), West Virginia (No. 33), and Mississippi (No. 27) all tie for third place.
• Behind the rankingFirst, we determined the factors (metrics) that are most relevant to rank the Best States for Beekeeping. We then assigned a weight to each factor based on its importance and grouped those factors into four categories: Output, Earning Potential, Distribution, and Support. The categories, factors, and their weights are listed in the table below.
  For each of the 50 states, we then gathered data on each factor from the sources listed below the table. We eliminated 11 states lacking sufficient data in a single category, resulting in a final sample size of 39 states.
  Finally, we calculated scores (out of 100 points) for each state to determine its rank in each factor, each category, and overall. A state’s Overall Score is the average of its scores across all factors and categories. The highest Overall Score ranked “Best” (No. 1) and the lowest “Worst” (No. 39).
  
  
  Final thoughts: What’s the buzz?Bees have been under attack from a swarm of issues, ranging from colony collapse disorder to parasitic bee mites to impaired navigation and communication due to pesticide consumption. 
  Honeybees are important, even if you don’t particularly like the taste of honey. Without pollinators, we wouldn’t have access to nearly a third of our nation’s food supply.
  Thankfully, homeowners can help bees out without donning a bee suit. 
  “Bee” a friendly neighbor by following these helpful tips:
  
• Replace your grass with clover.
• Plant native plants.
• Use organic pest control methods.
• ​Lawn Love operates in over 120 cities and 900 neighborhoods. Check out our locations or enter your ZIP code in the quote form to find your lawn care service provider.
  

Sacramento, Calif. –  DWR today announced the official launch of the new Be Well Prepared program that provides information and resources to help well owners, well users, and local agencies be ready for impacts of climate-driven weather extremes on groundwater supplies and drinking water wells. Groundwater is a critical component of California’s water supply and is heavily relied upon by communities, agriculture and the environment, especially during dry and drought years.
While California’s surface water conditions have greatly improved thanks to recent storms, many communities across the state that rely on groundwater basins are still experiencing drinking water impacts from three years of extreme drought. Being well prepared empowers well owners, as well as state and local agencies, to understand local groundwater conditions, identify areas where drinking water supplies may be at risk and know how to access and allocate assistance when and where it is needed.
“Eighty-five percent of Californians depend on groundwater for some portion of their drinking water supply, yet most people have little understanding of this vital resource,” said DWR’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Office Deputy Director Paul Gosselin. “The Be Well Prepared program will bring increased awareness to groundwater as an important drinking water supply. It is of critical importance that well owners understand their water supply and that the state and local drought response agencies provide consistent and coordinated assistance.”
Groundwater basins across the state are heavily relied upon during drought – accounting for up to 60 percent of the state’s total water supply during dry years - and still have a long way to go to recover from decades of overuse. California continues to face water variability, with extreme swings between flood and drought, and the state is proactively planning for dry conditions that will eventually return, including anticipating potential impacts to groundwater supplies and drinking water wells.
Through the Be Well Prepared program DWR is providing information and resources that will be shared and coordinated with well owners, other state agencies and local agencies that serve in a drought response capacity. These resources will help well owners:

• Understand the groundwater system
• Understand their water supply
• Understand their household well – how it is constructed, how it works, and how to maintain it
• Know water levels and water quality at their household well and in their neighborhood and region, including current conditions and long-term trends
• Understand effects of drought on groundwater and the importance of conservation
• Know who to contact for help if a household well issue occurs
• Understand the importance of managing groundwater sustainably for long-term water resiliency

Extended periods of drought driven by a changing climate have placed a high demand on California’s groundwater resources, leading to declining groundwater levels in many areas of the State and an increase in reported impacts to drinking water wells. The State is working to expand groundwater recharge by at least 500,000 acre-feet in potential capacity as part of our Water Supply Strategy, and is taking many actions to capture and store runoff from the historic winter storms.
While groundwater recharge efforts have accelerated significantly this year, replenishment of groundwater basins is a slow process that will take some time to be realized. The State anticipates a slow rise in groundwater levels from this year’s storms, which will continue through the melting of the Sierra snowpack, but recovery from recent drought years will take much more than one good water year. With summer on the way, well owners are encouraged to use these resources now to Be Well Prepared for the weather whiplash ahead and keep household water supplies flowing.
For more information, visit:

• Be Well Prepared (ca.gov)
• DWR Encourages Counties, Communities to be ‘Well Prepared’ to Support Dry Drinking Water Wells (ca.gov)
• Statewide Groundwater Management (ca.gov)
• California’s Groundwater Live
• Dry Well Reporting System (ca.gov)

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A good tool for evaluating a major strategic shift for any large scale resource management philosophy is to put the process to a clear set of analytic questions:

1. Is there a problem to be solved?
2. Is the proponent of change the right party to solve the problem?
3. Would it be irresponsible if the proponent did not solve the problem?

I maintain that the proposal by Friends of Plumas Wilderness to create a National Monument out of the upper Feather River Watershed does not meet any of these logical tests.
Problem to be solved:     
Friends of Plumas argue that a very small share (between 4 and 7% depending on what list they use at a specific presentation) of the Upper Feather River watershed is “Protected.” That includes Wilderness, Wild/Scenic River, National Park, and Research Natural Areas. They do not account for other categories of protection.  For example:  State Parks, Fish and Wildlife preserves, lands with conservation easements, lands under Williamson Act, wildlife preserves, timber production zones and other local, state, or federal classifications.
Similarly, they do not include the National Forest Lands of the Plumas, Tahoe, and Lassen National Forests that are managed under the Multiple Use/ Sustained Yield Act and National Forest Management Act with supporting protection of a long list of protective legislation (passed by both houses of Congress and signed into law by the President) including: 

• National Environmental Policy Act
• Threatened and Endangered Species Act
• Migratory Bird Act
• Historic Preservation Act
• Antiquities Act
• Clean Air Act
• Clean Water Act
• Treaties and Tribal Relations agreements
• National Trails Act
• Wilderness Act (And California Wilderness Act of 1984)
• Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
• And a host of Civil Rights and Labor Laws that are less relevant to this discussion.

Add to this list is the requirement that the Forest Service is mandated to assure that they don’t take actions that will prevent a state or local agency from accomplishing its mission, so we add oversight by: Cal Fish and Wildlife, CARB and Air Quality Management Districts, State Historic Preservation Office, Department of Water Resources and the Regional Water Quality Control Board and perhaps others.
Congress and the President mandated in the National Forest Management Act of 1976 that the Forest Service develop management plans for each National Forest. That process took years for each Forest to assemble the data for resource management strategies with extensive public involvement. The planning teams used that public, cooperating agency, and tribal input to develop alternatives and to evaluate those alternatives. The product of that work was put under intense scrutiny. Those who had issues with the outcomes were afforded an opportunity to appeal the decision to the Regional Forester.   The Plumas completed that process in 1988 and underwent significant amendments including the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment 1998 (including adoption of the Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group Act).  The most recent amendment process (2010) was done to evaluate and develop and implement Public Motorized Vehicle Use Plan and ongoing Over the Snow Vehicle Plan.  The 1988 plan and its amendments a adopt a series of Standards and Guidelines for the protection of each acre of National Forest land.
The question of there being an outdated plan might really be a lack of implementation of that plan in part stagnated by persistent appeals at the project level.  
The only real question about what is “protected” VS “not protected” is the potential for land managers of the future to choose to relax protections in future forest plan updates.  The reality is that future managers will likely adopt stronger protections unless science surfaces more clear direction. 
 
THE RIGHT DECSION MAKER:
 
Friends of the Plumas Wilderness have offered themselves as the planner for new direction.  Although this organization has said at public meetings that they don’t have a plan for the specifics of a land classification in a proposed “National Monument”, their web site says something different.  They propose an additional 400,000 acres of classified “protection” and 100 miles of wild and scenic rivers.
 
They also propose a process that:  One US Congress Representative (or one US Senator) must submit legislation to adopt the Upper Feather River National Monument.  Once that has been submitted, the President can then proclaim National Monument Status.   
 
The first problem here is that the Friends of the Plumas Wilderness is a special interest group with an obvious bias for resource management priorities built into their name and with a history of using the appeal process to force decisions to go their way and stall implementation of projects.
 
The second problem is the lack of transparency about what they are truly proposing and who is funding this effort and what conditions do these “anonymous donors” have for funding this effort.   No doubt those deep pockets have been using “monkey wrench” tools to appeal and litigate their biased views of how the Forest should be managed and stall implementation projects.    
 
The third issue is one of damage being done to our democracy.  The National Forest Management Act, with the full debate in committee and on the floors of both houses, was adopted into law.   That will of the people, in the most visible presentation of our constitutional design, will be bypassed by a Special Interest Group supported by one elected congressional representative and a President with a 42% approval rating. The environmental consequences (and determination of what uses will be allowed in the future) will be disclosed only after the evolution of a management plan designed to implement the priorities assembled by the special interest group.   An astute observer referred to this process as the introduction of a Trojan Horse.  
 
The Friends of the Plumas expound the value of bringing the knowledge of Native Americans to play in the active management of the resources, particularly by re-introduction of low intensity fire to promote forest health.  Presuming that Native American representatives have that knowledge, it could be a simple matter of having the Plumas, Tahoe, and Lassen National Forest host a workshop where the knowledge could be transferred to the line officers, managers, and fuels specialist responsible for those actions. The workshops should include those responsible for the involved National and State parks.  To maximize training value, representatives of Carb and the Air Resource’s Boards should be a part of the training.
 
RESPONSIBLE DECISION MAKING:
 
The final test of a good policy transition is to assure that the new direction is based on quality analysis of the problem at hand and the options for resolving the problem.   
 
As outlined above, the Friends of the Plumas Wilderness has not defined a significant problem other than what they want to clandestinely change. The Friends of the Plumas Wilderness (a special interest group) is not the appropriate authority to propose a broad scale change in how the public lands are to be managed. Further, the executive order process is not an appropriate tool to change those classifications over the will of people as expressed by congress and the president who adopted the National Forest Management Act.  Nor is it appropriate for these changes to be made behind the back of those that participated in the 1988 Land and Resource Management Plan and the subsequent amendments.
 
It would be appropriate for Friends of the Plumas Wilderness to lobby for an update to amend Plumas National Forest Plan (to address the circumstances leading to the major wildland fires of the last decade).   It would also be appropriate for this group to work with the Forest Service to host a workshop with Native Americans with knowledge of how to use fire to restore forest health and to reduce the risk of stand replacing wildfire.
 
It would be appropriate for our elected representative and Senators to appropriately fund the Plumas, Tahoe, and Lassen National Forest to address the watershed restoration needs of the Dixie, North Complex, and Beckwourth Complex fire scars and fund fuels treatments on areas that haven’t recently burned.
 
It would be appropriate for a Native American who has knowledge about how to re-introduce fire as a forest health tool, to bring that knowledge to the authorized land managers.
 
As a society, it would be appropriate for us to do a detailed analysis about what went wrong with the management of the northern Sierra National Forest that led up to tragedies like the North Complex, Dixie Fire, Beckwourth Complex and the other catastrophic fires of the last decade. 
 
FOREST HEALTH ISSUES:
 
Very large portions of the Upper Feather River watershed have been severely damaged by wildland fire.   The list of major fires in the last 30 years is long and covers much of the watershed. There are many variables that influenced how and why these fires burned as severely they did. There is no simple answer to this question.  Each of the following factors (and probably more) come into play:

• Persistent droughts and a warming climate
• Fire Exclusion and Fire Suppression Success
• Fuels accumulation and Limited Funding for Fuels Treatments
• Lack of salvage of fire and insect killed trees
• Unmaintained fuel treatments
• Depletion of logging and milling capacities
• Priority on single species needs (e.g. CA Spotted Owl)
• Lack of available suppression resources for these large stand replacing fires
• Fire Suppression contracting issues
• Issues funding co-generation facilities
• Smoke management issues (including public resistance to long periods of smoke in the air)
• Concerns for releasing carbon into the atmosphere

These are the major challenges facing the land managers of the three National Forests.   Tagged onto these factors are the personal management challenges they also face:

• Challenges filling vacancies (cumbersome personnel processes, housing cost, large numbers of vacancies)
• Pay discrepancies between federal firefighters and their counterparts in State and urban fire departments.
• Employee burnout and unfair and undeserved criticism

We can agree that it is time for taking a good look at the threats to the Upper Feather River watershed’s unique values.  Those problems are not in “protection classification percentages” but rather a much bigger set of complex questions that will challenge managers, environmentalists, Tribal representatives, industry representatives, regulators in a host of cooperating agencies (especially CARB and the Air Resources Management Board), and elected officials.  The Future of the Upper Feather River watershed and it’s threatened resource values are too important to be left to a single Special Interest Group, one congressional representative, and a President (any president) especially when the will of the people has already been documented in the Multiple Use/Sustained Yield Act, NFMA, and the 1984 California Wilderness Act that created 3 million acres of new Wilderness areas and released all inventoried roadless areas to other uses.
 
Rick Maddalena, Resident, Sierraville, CA (Upper Middle Fork Feather River)

Feather River Action Calls for Plan to be Withdrawn

More info: https://featherriveraction.org/hat-creek-at-it-again-plans-delleker-asphalt-plant-directly-next-to-feather-river/
According to a public notice published May 10th, 2023, Hat Creek Construction Company, contractor for Caltrans, is planning to construct a "temporary" asphalt plant directly adjacent to the Feather River in Delleker, 2000 feet south (and upwind) of the Delleker residential area, and only 500 feet from homes in the Iron Horse community across the river. The operation would run from April to November, from 6am to 6pm, up to 24 hours/ day for 3 years (but probably longer) mainly to supply Caltrans with asphalt for its Highway 70 repaving project.
The project would generate at least 150 round trip truck trips per day, all crossing the railroad at an uncontrolled crossing, risking accidents and derailments, including possible oil spills directly into to the river. Even in the best case scenario, the plant would pollute the land and the river, which provides drinking water to more than 27 million Californians. If Plumas County is serious about protecting the river and the watershed, as is stated on the Feather River Tourism Association website, this plant cannot be permitted to proceed.
The Humbug Valley (including Portola) is already in federal non-attainment status for the air pollutant PM 2.5, which is increasingly being linked to asthma, respiratory diseases, even cancer and brain damage including cardiovascular damage, stroke, and dementia. With dense smoke from wood burning in the winter, and wildfire smoke in the summer and fall months already burdening the health of the population, an asphalt plant would only add to the health and environmental challenges the area faces. Portola residents report that odors from the sewage treatment plant are routinely carried into town by prevailing westerly winds. Asphalt fumes would likely travel directly into Iron Horse, Delleker and Portola for much of the year, making it impossible for residents to cool their homes by opening windows at night. Only those who can afford air conditioning would be able to keep cool during heatwaves. The noise of the operations would reverberate around the entire valley. In addition to being irritating, noise pollution is associated with heart disease, and other serious diseases. Sadly this is another case of environmental classism, forcing lower income people to bear the brunt of pollution.
The impacts of asphalt plants are well known, and Caltrans and Hat Creek should not be so irresponsible or out of touch to locate one near a residential community and directly next to the Feather River.
The site was historically Feather River floodplain land, and will one day likely revert to being a part of the river again. Given forecast higher river flows in the future, that day may come sooner that we think. All the asphalt byproducts would wash into the river, down to Lake Oroville where they would pollute agricultural water and drinking water.
Several years ago, Hat Creek purchased a 713 acre plot of land in North Portola and planned to construct a sand mine and asphalt plant but were stopped by strong community opposition including from Feather River Action! (FRA!) in 2021, and the land was purchased by local resident Linda Judge and Plumas Sierra Partners to preserve the open space and prevent the mine.
Now Hat Creek is back with an equally ill conceived plan that would harm the entire Portola area. In order to stop this plan, the public needs to get involved now to learn more about the plan and take action. See below.
What you can do:
1. Read the environmental documents and learn more about the project and its impact on the community. Go to this website, and click on "download all attachments" at the bottom of the page to download the environmental documents. Hat Creek and Caltrans are trying to get away with a "mitigated negative declaration" but this project, given its location to the protected Feather River, should be required to do a full environmental impact report (EIR) or be withdrawn.
2. Submit a comment opposing the plant to the Plumas County Planning Department, deadline June 10th, 2023.Send to [email protected] or mail to Tracey Ferguson 555 Main Street, Quincy, CA 95971
3. Volunteer to help FRA! alert and mobilize the public in the area. We could use donations, volunteers, etc. as soon as possible Contact us for more info.

 On 05/11/2023, at approximately 1430 hours, Jesse Ackley (44 yrs old out of Meadow Valley) was driving his 2003 Harley Davidson motorcycle northbound on State Route 89, just north of Dawn Institute Road.  Ackley made an unsafe turning movement and allowed the Harley Davidson motorcycle to drive onto the east gravel shoulder.  The Harley Davidson motorcycle continued to drive across the east shoulder then overturned. The Harley Davidson motorcycle and Ackley came to rest down the east shoulder embankment.  Ackley was care flighted to Enloe medical center for his injuries, according to California Highway Patrol, Quincy area