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Tahoe National Forest implements Stage 1 fire restrictions starting August 1

7/31/2023

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NEVADA CITY, CALIF. (July 31, 2023) — Tahoe National Forest is implementing Stage 1 fire restrictions starting Aug. 1 due to high fire danger from persistent hot and dry weather conditions. Under these restrictions, the public can still maintain a campfire in established fire rings within designated developed campgrounds and day-use sites, but not outside of those areas. 

 
“Implementing fire restrictions is a proactive measure to ensure we as fire managers are doing our part to prioritize the safety of those that choose to live and recreate on the Tahoe National Forest,” said Fire Management Officer Kyle Jacobson. “Restricting fires in undeveloped areas helps protect our forest and surrounding communities during these overly dry and hot periods each year.” 
 
The decision to go into fire restrictions is based on a variety of factors. Forest managers use several criteria to determine when to implement restrictions, including current and predicted weather, fuel moisture, fire activity levels and available firefighting resources. 
 
Under Stage 1 restrictions, the following are prohibited Aug. 1 through Nov. 1, 2023: 
  • Building or maintaining a fire, campfire, or charcoal briquette fire outside of established fire rings within designated developed campgrounds and picnic areas as listed in Exhibit A. 
  • Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a designated campground or recreation area, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material. 
  • Operating an internal combustion engine off paved, gravel or dirt National Forest System roads and trails, except within the Prosser Pits Developed Off-Highway Vehicle Area and boats on a water surface.


Regardless of conditions and time of year, we must remain vigilant at all times to avoid human-caused wildfires. Help protect our forests, firefighters, and communities by following these principals when out on forested lands: 
  • Campfires: Attend your campfire at all times. Ensure your fire is completely extinguished—drown with water (NOT dirt), stir with your shovel, drown again, and feel for any heat using the back of your hand. Continue this process until no heat remains. 
  • Stoves: If using pressurized or bottled liquid fuel stoves, lanterns, or heating devices, use in barren areas with at least 3 feet of clearance from grasses and other debris that may catch fire. Prevent stoves from tipping. 
  • Vehicles: When traveling, ensure your chains are properly connected. The hot underside of the vehicle and dragging chains can start a fire. Stick to driving on designated roads and trails and be careful to not park your car or OHV in tall, dry, vegetation, including grass. The Tahoe National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Map can be found here. 
  • Spark Arrestors: Ensure that all internal or external combustion engines have a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order. 
  • Flammable Items: Fireworks are prohibited on all national forests year-round, leave them and all other pyrotechnic devices at home. Always use caution with smoking. Extinguish all smoking materials dead out on bare soil. Pack out all cigarette butts and filters. 


The full Forest Order and list of designated developed recreation sites can be found here. 

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Seek medical truth, enjoy your life

7/31/2023

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Dr. Glenn Mollette 


Does your doctor make you feel good? Does he or she tell you what you want to hear just to make you happy? If so, you probably should look for another doctor. 


No one enjoys leaving the doctor’s office feeling bad. We don’t want to hear, “You need to change your lifestyle.” We don’t want to hear, “You need to cut way back on your sugar intake.” We enjoy our habits. Habits are hard to break. My wife’s grandfather loved smoking. He wouldn’t give it up even after numerous cancer surgeries. He died at age 65. 


A friend died recently. She died from what is often called fatty liver disease. Six months before she died, she told me she was terminal. She said, “I guess I drank too much alcohol throughout my lifetime.” She went on to tell me that her family doctor two years prior had said her issue wasn’t severe and that she didn’t have to worry.” She was very displeased with her doctor’s passive attitude about her condition that would soon take her life. 


Another friend of mine was diagnosed with prostate cancer. His doctor’s approach to his condition was that, “They would watch it. When it became worse, they would do something about the cancer.” They watched it and they watched it kill my friend. Within a year it was out of control and had spread outside his prostate. The doctor’s relaxed attitude about a serious situation did not go well for my friend. 


Many doctors want to make you to feel good. Of course, we don’t want a doctor whose goal is to make us feel bad. Typically, they don’t want to lose you as a patient. Still, they should diplomatically tell you what you may not want to hear. 


Keep in mind the doctor ordinarily knows more than we do. However, you do know how you feel. Be aware of your family history. In this information age you have to do some self-study. There is a lot of information on-line about most conditions you are facing. You have to research thoroughly though because often you can find whatever response you want on the Internet. Ask your doctor questions about your research. Tell him or her that you want to make good choices. Be willing to travel to another town if your doctor refers you or seek out someone who might be able to provide the care you need. 


The bottom line is we have to rake personal responsibility for our health and do the best we can do. Even when we do everything, we can think of to do, these bodies are subject to disease and death. 


Richard Thousand is with the Taussig Cancer Center at Cleveland Clinic. He was recently talking to me about the many medical advances made in recent years and noted more are on the way. He then said something I had only heard my dad say many times, “Glenn, we aren’t going to get out of this world alive. From the moment we are born, there is something that is trying to kill us. Eventually, it’s going to happen.” 


The bottom line is do the best we can with the information we have. Be diligent. Be thorough. Seek the truth from your doctor.  Finally, enjoy your life, we all only get one. 








UncommSense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states. 

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India is Playing Games with Global Food Security, But There Is No Rice Shortage Here

7/31/2023

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U.S. rice farmers beginning harvest on largest crop in years
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – On the news that market manipulator and largest exporter of rice in the world, India, has slapped an export ban on all non-basmati rice, people in the U.S. began panic buying of rice. They can rest assured – there’s enough U.S. rice to go around.


This is not toilet paper in the Spring of 2020. This is rice, and U.S. rice farmers in seven states grow rice sustainably on three million acres with more than enough supply to fill rice cookers and pots in every corner of the country.


“This year, rice acreage in the U.S. is up in six of the seven rice producing states,” said Kirk Satterfield, Mississippi rice farmer and chair of USA Rice. “We export half our crop, but even still the vast majority of the rice we eat here is grown here on family farms. If we need more rice for U.S. consumers, we have plenty to meet demand. There’s no shortage.”


Satterfield said U.S. farmers grow all the rice types India is throttling, and even basmati as well.


“We continue to have the safest, most sustainable food supply in the world,’’ he said from his farm in Bolivar County, Mississippi where harvest will begin in just a few weeks. “Consumers can buy long-, medium-, or short grain, basmati, jasmine, whatever they want and it’s from right here in the U.S. where we have fair and responsible labor and environmental practices.” 


The Indian export ban is seen as a cynical ploy to strengthen their domestic market after years of massive over-subsidization that has led to tens of millions of metric tons of rice in government-held stocks.


“This is another example of India playing games with global food security,” said Bobby Hanks, Louisiana rice miller and chair of the USA Rice International Trade Policy Committee. “Countries that depend on India for low priced rice are suffering, and in the end, India is growing their already massive stocks, which they will eventually start dumping back on the world market at dirt cheap prices, again wreaking havoc on global markets and food insecure nations.”


Hanks and Satterfield agreed that consumers can insulate themselves from these bad actors by looking for rice grown in the USA.


“Check the package,” Satterfield said. “Look for the Grown in the USA mark or another indication that you’re supporting U.S. farmers and saying no to this crass attempt at market manipulation.”
LOGO: The Grown in the USA label
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CHP ARRESTS MAN ON SUSPICION OF POSSESSING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

7/29/2023

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ELK GROVE, Calif. – An Elk Grove man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of possessing child sexual abuse material after a three-month investigation by the California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) Computer Crimes Investigation Unit (CCIU).
 
Michael Anthony Garcia, 66, is facing felony charges for violation of PC 311.11(C) 1.  He was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on a $50,000 arrest warrant. 
 
“The CHP’s commitment to public safety extends beyond the highway,” said CHP Deputy Commissioner Troy Lukkes.  “Protecting the public from crimes of victimization and investigating those who engage in child exploitation is a top priority for members of our Computer Crimes Investigation Unit.”
 
The investigation by the CHP began in April when an investigator in CCIU identified an Internet Protocol address (IP address) in Elk Grove that was suspected of downloading and distributing a significant quantity of child sexual abuse material. 
 
After determining the exact location of the residence, a residential search warrant for the address was served in May.  Garcia was identified as the sole occupant of the residence.  Over the next several weeks, CCIU investigators forensically analyzed multiple computers and storage media seized from the residence.  The analysis revealed more than 44,000 pictures and videos of children ranging in age from 3 to 13, totaling almost 200 gigabytes.
 
On Wednesday, CCIU investigators, along with the CHP Valley Division Warrant Service Team, served an arrest warrant in the 8900 block of Vista Campo Way, where Garcia was taken into custody without incident. 
 
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
 
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AMERICAN PICKERS TO FILM IN CALIFORNIA

7/29/2023

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​Traffic Collision Information: SR-89/ Calpine Summit

7/28/2023

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On 7/28/23 at 2:18 PM, James Sweeney, 80, of Los Gatos failed to maintain the proper position in the northbound lane. He crossed completely into the southbound lane and collided head on with a Ford F-350 occupied by Ian Baxter, 55 and Mark O’Camb, 51, of Sacramento. All 3 were transported to Renown.
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CHRISTIAN ENCOUNTER MINISTRIES' AGONY RIDE

7/28/2023

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The ride started today at Loyalton City Park and participants will ride 24-hours around Sierra Valley. 102-+ riders participated. Volunteers swept the park roadway in anticipation and the riders were off at 1 p.m. Residents are warned for bike traffic.
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Congressman LaMalfa Commends New Sites Reservoir Funding

7/28/2023

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(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) commended the announcement of a $30 million award to the Sites Reservoir Project:
 
“This winter's rain and snow gave California plenty of water and a record snowpack. Increasing water storage, like the Sites Reservoir Project, must be a priority going forward or the next drought will be just as painful as the last. Sites has been a priority for California for many years and has been successfully obtaining Federal funding. Sites Reservoir Project has the funding and the public support, now it needs the necessary water right permit,” said Congressman LaMalfa.
 
This announcement brings the total direct funding from Congressionally authorized grants up to $244 million, more than double where it was at this time last year. Congressman LaMalfa has been an adamant supporter of the Sites project for years and delivered federal authorization for the project and millions of dollars to get it ready for construction. In 2018 President Trump announced a $449 million USDA Rural Development grant to support the Sites Reservoir Project - the single largest award in the program’s history – at Congressman LaMalfa’s recommendation. In 2019, Congressman LaMalfa and Garamendi introduced the bipartisan Sites Reservoir Project Act to direct the Bureau of Reclamation to complete a necessary feasibility study for the project and, if deemed feasible, authorize additional funding and technical support. In 2021, he led a bipartisan letter to the EPA asking them to allow the Sites Joint Project Authority to apply for a WIFIA loan, and because of this the EPA formally invited Sites to apply for a Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program loan. Sites (under the Bureau of Reclamation) was originally not eligible to apply. This loan may account for up to 49% of the project’s costs: $2.2 billion.
 
 
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.
 
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Helping Eastern Plumas Healthcare Lower Their Energy Costs

7/24/2023

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As an electric utility, Liberty’s mission is to sustain energy and water for life. Liberty works to build pathways to a greener, cleaner future for its customers now and for generations to come. To uphold this sustainability commitment and assist customers with their own sustainability goals, Liberty offers a variety of energy efficiency programs.
With Liberty’s Commercial Incentive Program, businesses may be able to save more money and energy by switching to energy-efficient equipment. When businesses upgrade to energy-efficient equipment, Liberty’s program may provide rebates or incentives to help offset the costs of the upgrades.
Eastern Plumas Healthcare is a non-profit district hospital system that serves the Graegle, Loyalton, and Portola areas. With the help of Liberty’s Commercial Incentive Program, Eastern Plumas Healthcare replaced their existing fluorescent tube lighting with new Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) throughout their facility. A total of 601 fixtures were upgraded to LEDs, equating to approximately 55,171.8 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy savings. “Liberty provided an incentive to help offset their install and lighting purchase costs to upgrade to LEDs. This project will also help provide long-term energy savings,” said Breanna Kelly, Project Manager for Liberty’s energy efficiency programs.
With Liberty’s Commercial Incentive Program, Eastern Plumas Healthcare can enjoy the benefits of better lighting and lower energy usage. “Lowering our energy use and our carbon footprint is important to us, both environmentally but also from a fiscal standpoint. We’re a non-profit hospital district, so it allows us to put our funding back into our patient care versus higher energy costs, so that’s a real benefit for us,” said Doug McLoy, CEO of Eastern Plumas Healthcare. “In a 24 hour-seven operation it’s nice to have better lighting so there’s less eye fatigue and overall better health benefits as well.”
Liberty is proud to offer energy-saving solutions and work with both commercial and residential customers to meet their sustainability goals. “With Liberty’s help, our customers have an opportunity to save more electricity, which may save them more money on their electric bills,” said Kelly. “Customers simply need to give us a call or send us an email to get started.”
To learn more about Liberty’s energy efficiency programs, please visit libertyenergyandwater.com or contact Breanna Kelly at Breanna.Kelly@libertyutilities.comor 530-721-9041.

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MOTORCYCLE EXHIBITION

7/24/2023

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Dozens of motorcyclists, said to be from Truckee/Tahoe, enjoyed food and refreshment at Los Dos Hermanos in Sierraville on July 9th. Before leaving town, they put on an exhibition.
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SIERRA COUNTY SUPERVISORS' NEWS

7/22/2023

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​AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT 2021-025 between Feather River Forestry, LLC and the County of Sierra for the Upper North Yuba Forest Health and Resilience Project was discussed at the Board of Supervisors’ meeting July 18th in Loyalton. Transportation Director Bryan Davey explained this was an extension of an agreement already in place for Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) grant. They have a $500,000 grant to do the forestry project on the upper North Yuba. This is a grant from SNC that will fund the first forestry project under the Master Stewardship Agreement. He said they have a couple others in the pipeline that will be much more substantial. Board Chair Dryden called it a huge project for Sierra County. Davey looked forward to have the Request for Proposals (RFP) by the following day and would evaluate to see what kind of actual treatments can get done. It’s a good opportunity to showcase what the county can do. Board Chair Sharon Dryden remarked they have a robust fire safe council that created the opportunity to go out and get grants like this. Davey stated County Forester Danielle Bradfield has been bringing benefits into the county. The amendment was approved unanimously.
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LOYALTON'S WATERING RESTRICTIONS

7/22/2023

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​LOYALTON IS IN A DROUGHT due to watering restrictions and the need to replace a 10” main water line.
Due to the crisis, residents weren’t allowed outside watering at all for several days following the 4th of July. The City’s residents are now on watering restrictions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. (SATURDAYS ARE MORNINGS.) Commercial users may water the same schedule on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Of particular concern is for the trees. One common recommendation is to use raked leaves as mulch around trees, shrubs and perennials. Mulch holds in soil moisture, protecting roots, moderating soil temperatures, and reducing stress on landscape plants.
According to UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County, “Evergreens are an example of a tree type that tends to be lost if it has suffered too much. This is because their ability to regenerate a whole new set of foliage (like deciduous trees can) is not there.” Specific instructions came from eHow: “Give the tree 1 to 3 inches of water every week, unless moisture comes in the form of rainfall. Watering deeply once or twice weekly is better than more frequent, shallow irrigation, as deep watering will develop long, healthy roots. Shallow roots will be more prone to damage from drought.”
Local fruit trees have produced a bumper crop this year and apple, cherry, apricot, peach and plum trees are laden with ripening fruit. They are said to be somewhat drought tolerant. A good rule of thumb for how much water to give fruit trees is to water deeply once a week or once a month depending on the weather, soil condition and age of tree. peppershomeandgarden.com says, “Mature trees need 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week. Young apple trees need 2 inches (5 cm) of water weekly. Daily watering is not beneficial to apple trees.” And “The rough rule of thumb we use is that a mature fruit tree, with a full crop, in the height of summer, will need about 200 litres (52 gallons) of water per week,” is according to growgreatfruit.com.
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CORRECTION: July 20th Sierra Booster

7/21/2023

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In the City Council meeting notes, under the Prop. 218, Each parcel will be charged $12,000 over 40 years.  $300/year x 40 years = $12,000 not $112,000. 
​We regret such errors. 

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95% of CALIFORNIA'S WILDFIRES ARE HUMAN CAUSED

7/21/2023

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The Heat Is On, Again; PG&E Prepared To Help Keep Customers Cool

7/21/2023

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Battery Energy Storage and Demand Response Programs Help Support Electric Grid
 
OAKLAND, Calif. — As another warming trend builds over California with some areas forecasted to hit triple digits through the weekend, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is prepared to meet increased electricity demand with new energy supply, and programs offering customers incentives for adjusting energy use to help reduce demand.
 
Significant energy supply has been brought online in the last few years, including battery storage that enhances overall grid reliability, integrates renewable energy, and helps reduce customer costs. In August of 2020, PG&E had just 6.5 megawatts (MW) of battery energy storage connected to the power grid. By September this year, it expects to have 1,700 MW online, or enough to meet the instantaneous demand of 1.2 million homes at once. PG&E has contracts for battery energy storage systems totaling more than 3,000 MW to be deployed over the next few years.
 
“PG&E is working with the state’s energy agencies and doing our part to help ensure safe and reliable electric service this summer. We’re continuing to bring online new resources like battery energy storage, including an additional 700 MW than we had available to serve customers last summer,” said Gillian Clegg, PG&E Vice President, Energy, Policy and Procurement.
 
PG&E also is modifying and expanding existing Demand Response (DR) programs which help reduce energy demand. These programs offer financial incentives for residential and business customers who reduce their energy use during peak demand times. PG&E finds it can reduce energy demand on the grid by up to 900 MW, or the equivalent instantaneous demand of approximately 650,000 homes, through its load management programs and contracts, when large numbers of customers participate.
 
Boost from More Hydroelectric Power
 
Californians can count on more hydroelectric power this summer. According to the California Department of Water Resources, many parts of the state received precipitation levels this year that were 100 to over 200% of average. The state also had the largest snowpack since 1983. Storage in PG&E’s 16 largest reservoirs is approximately 109% of average for this time of year.
 
PG&E expects to have adequate hydropower to help meet peak summer demand periods. Hydropower is a cost-effective form of power generation, especially in wet years. An abundance of hydropower this year will help offset some of the need for other higher cost generation.
 
Customers Can Support the Grid, Save Energy and Money
 
Throughout the summer months, PG&E is sharing information with its customers about how they can take action to help reduce energy demand during hot, summer days when energy demand rises.
 
A few simple steps customers can consider:
 
  • Put off energy-intensive chores like washing dishes and laundry until off-peak hours, before 4 p.m. and after 9 p.m. every day.
  • Install and use a programable thermostat. These devices allow you to cool your home during times when energy is less in demand and less expensive.
  • Sign up for CAISO Flex Alerts which are calls for conservation during peak energy demand hours.
  • Enroll in the Power Saver Rewards Program for residential customers. Over 1.6 million customers are enrolled in the free program, which rewards customers for temporarily reducing energy use when the CAISO calls a Flex Alert. Customers earn $2 for each kilowatt-hour of energy saved. Last year, approximately 60 MW were saved during each event, and PG&E customers received over $55 million in bill credits.
 
For more information and easy ways to save this summer go to www.PG&E.com.
 
B-roll of PG&E’s 182.5 MW Elkhorn Battery at Moss Landing in Monterey County available here.
 
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 www.pge.com/ and http://www.pge.com/about/newsroom/.
 
 
You can read about PG&E’s data privacy practices here or at PGE.com/privacy.
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State Route 89/Interstate 80 Ramp Closure in Truckee

7/20/2023

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Eastbound I-80 On-ramp from SR-89 Closed for Ongoing Project

TRUCKEE – Caltrans is alerting motorists in Truckee to a closure of the eastbound Interstate 80 on-ramp from State Route 89 through mid-August, for ongoing roadway improvements.
 
To access eastbound I-80, motorists can take a detour along westbound Donner Pass Road to the eastbound I-80 on-ramp, as shown on the map below.
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The construction is part of a $30.6 million project to rehabilitate the existing concrete on I-80 in Truckee, install a westbound auxiliary lane from the SR-89 south on-ramp to the Donner Pass Road off-ramp, install eastbound acceleration lanes from the Donner Pass Road on-ramp to the SR-89 south on-ramp, improve drainage, and upgrade concrete walkways along ramps to meet current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.
 
Teichert Construction of Rocklin is the prime contractor for the project, which is scheduled to be completed this fall. The construction schedule is subject to change based on weather, equipment or material availability, or other unexpected events.
 
The department will issue construction updates on Twitter @CaltransDist3, on Facebook at CaltransDistrict3 and on the Caltrans District 3 website. For real-time traffic, click on Caltrans’ QuickMap quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ or download the QuickMap app from the App Store or Google Play.
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​Congressman LaMalfa Leads Letter to EPA Slamming New “Phase 3” Heavy Duty Truck Rule

7/19/2023

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(Washington, D.C.) – Congressmen Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) and Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) led 30 Members of Congress in sending a letter urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconsider the disastrous ramifications of their new “Phase 3” Heavy Duty Truck Rule.
 
The proposed rule would completely upend the heavy-duty truck market without adequately considering the affordability of future heavy-duty trucks and whether our nation’s commercial charging infrastructure will be prepared to support the significant increase in demand generated by this rule.
 
“Environmentalist bureaucrats cannot force their ideology onto business owners and upend an entire industry. If business owners want to buy an electric vehicle and can afford it, it’s well within their right to purchase one. Small businesses and mom-and-pop trucking companies should not be regulated to death on the whims of executive agencies,”  said Congressman LaMalfa.
 
“As we work to adopt newer, safer, and cleaner trucks that reduce our dependence on foreign energy, it’s crucial that the EPA thoroughly considers the potential impacts of a rule change and that the concerns of businesses are addressed,” said Congressman Pappas. “We must ensure that rule changes are given with sufficient notice, changes are attainable for businesses, and that our nation’s charging infrastructure can meet the demand. This will support our businesses and boost America’s Main Street economy as we work to safeguard the environment.”
 
On April 12, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule entitled, “Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3,” (Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0985) which would reopen standards from the Phase 2 GHG rule for Model Year (MY) 2027 that were already set in 2016 and aggressively reduce GHG emissions in MY 2028-32 new heavy-duty vehicles.
 
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.
 
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Congressman LaMalfa Leads Letter to EPA Slamming New “Phase 3” Heavy Duty Truck Rule
 
(Washington, D.C.) – Congressmen Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) and Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) led 30 Members of Congress in sending a letter urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconsider the disastrous ramifications of their new “Phase 3” Heavy Duty Truck Rule.
 
The proposed rule would completely upend the heavy-duty truck market without adequately considering the affordability of future heavy-duty trucks and whether our nation’s commercial charging infrastructure will be prepared to support the significant increase in demand generated by this rule.
 
“Environmentalist bureaucrats cannot force their ideology onto business owners and upend an entire industry. If business owners want to buy an electric vehicle and can afford it, it’s well within their right to purchase one. Small businesses and mom-and-pop trucking companies should not be regulated to death on the whims of executive agencies,”  said Congressman LaMalfa.
 
“As we work to adopt newer, safer, and cleaner trucks that reduce our dependence on foreign energy, it’s crucial that the EPA thoroughly considers the potential impacts of a rule change and that the concerns of businesses are addressed,” said Congressman Pappas. “We must ensure that rule changes are given with sufficient notice, changes are attainable for businesses, and that our nation’s charging infrastructure can meet the demand. This will support our businesses and boost America’s Main Street economy as we work to safeguard the environment.”
 
On April 12, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule entitled, “Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3,” (Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0985) which would reopen standards from the Phase 2 GHG rule for Model Year (MY) 2027 that were already set in 2016 and aggressively reduce GHG emissions in MY 2028-32 new heavy-duty vehicles.
 
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.
Congressman LaMalfa Leads Letter to EPA Slamming New “Phase 3” Heavy Duty Truck Rule
 
(Washington, D.C.) – Congressmen Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) and Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) led 30 Members of Congress in sending a letter urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconsider the disastrous ramifications of their new “Phase 3” Heavy Duty Truck Rule.
 
The proposed rule would completely upend the heavy-duty truck market without adequately considering the affordability of future heavy-duty trucks and whether our nation’s commercial charging infrastructure will be prepared to support the significant increase in demand generated by this rule.
 
“Environmentalist bureaucrats cannot force their ideology onto business owners and upend an entire industry. If business owners want to buy an electric vehicle and can afford it, it’s well within their right to purchase one. Small businesses and mom-and-pop trucking companies should not be regulated to death on the whims of executive agencies,”  said Congressman LaMalfa.
 
“As we work to adopt newer, safer, and cleaner trucks that reduce our dependence on foreign energy, it’s crucial that the EPA thoroughly considers the potential impacts of a rule change and that the concerns of businesses are addressed,” said Congressman Pappas. “We must ensure that rule changes are given with sufficient notice, changes are attainable for businesses, and that our nation’s charging infrastructure can meet the demand. This will support our businesses and boost America’s Main Street economy as we work to safeguard the environment.”
 
On April 12, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule entitled, “Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3,” (Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0985) which would reopen standards from the Phase 2 GHG rule for Model Year (MY) 2027 that were already set in 2016 and aggressively reduce GHG emissions in MY 2028-32 new heavy-duty vehicles.
 
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.
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3 Bills Could Upend Water RightsBy Justin Caporusso Published Jul 13, 2023

7/18/2023

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If California as we know it is to continue to exist, we will need sustainable water sources. However, a trio of bills moving through the Legislature is the wrong approach.
Senate Bill 389, introduced by Sen. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, Assembly Bill 1337, introduced by Asm. Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, and Assembly Bill 460, introduced by Asm. Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, D-San Ramon, would upend the water rights system that, while imperfect, has worked in California for more than a century.
These bills would strip away due process for water-rights holders and take an aggressive approach to enforcement that is akin to nailing a painting to the wall with a jackhammer.
AB 1337 dramatically alters the current system by consolidating power at the State Water Resources Control Board, subjecting water users to the whims of the state even when there is no drought.
SB 389 empowers the SWRCB to indiscriminately investigate water diversions, subjecting those with legitimate water rights claims to a faulty, guilty-until-proven-innocent process.
And AB 460 gives the SWRCB unprecedented authority to intervene on water diversions without any sort of due process, while increasing fines by such crippling amounts that only those with the deepest pockets would be willing to take the risk to divert water legally, thereby killing family farming.
But our water rights system does not need wholesale changes – SWRCB staff argued as much earlier this year in a presentation independent of these bills. In fact, the current system has worked quite well.
When settlers came to California in the 1800s, they staked out land and diverted water from nearby sources, establishing appropriative rights. These were in addition riparian rights, which are rights to the water adjacent to a property. Both types of rights were supported by legal tradition and when California was founded both were soon enshrined in statute. Then in 1914 California passed the Water Commission Act, which established the permitting system we have today, roughly rounding out the overall system as we know it.
This is an abbreviated version of history, but the key takeaway is that this system has worked for a long time and from it sprouted California as we know it.
Because of the current system, California has bloomed to nearly 40 million people. It produced some of the greatest cities in the world. It created great wealth and opportunity for countless people. And it developed a multi-billion dollar agricultural industry that produces a third of the country’s vegetables and 75 percent of the nation’s fruits and nuts while employing 900,000 people a year.
Water policy is complicated and the current system supports many stakeholders. It is used by literally every person living in this state, from water districts, to consumers, to ranchers, to farmers, and so many more. This is neither a partisan issue nor a regional issue, which is why these bills are opposed by a diverse group of people and organizations throughout the state.
The unintended consequences would be significant if these bills were signed into law. The state will waste valuable taxpayer funds defending against lawsuits – that’s not a threat, it’s merely an acknowledgment of what will happen if the government eliminates rights and tramples due process.
Jerry Hill, a Democratic former state senator, recently pointed out that these bills would threaten the state’s housing goals by making it harder to build by “creating water uncertainty,” driving up the cost of food at a time when far too many Californians are food-insecure, and jeopardizing essential jobs in both the construction and agriculture industries.
We believe the lawmakers who introduced these bills are sincerely concerned about access to water in the future. We are too; water is as essential to human life as oxygen. But the key to securing our water future is through increasing water supply, not through aggressive government rationing.
All of us in the mountain counties region can attest to the tremendous bounty of snowfall this year that will simply drain off into the ocean after possibly causing some disastrous floods. It doesn’t have to be this way.
We need more water storage, and our Association stands ready to work with anyone to increase the state’s water capacity. We are also happy to work with anyone on streamlining the water permitting process and strengthening the current system.
These three bills are not the solution and will only make matters worse. We urge lawmakers to reject them.

3 Bills Could Upend Water Rights
By Justin Caporusso Published Jul 13, 2023 10:42 am Updated Jul 13, 2023 10:45 am

If California as we know it is to continue to exist, we will need sustainable water sources. However, a trio of bills moving through the Legislature is the wrong approach.
Senate Bill 389, introduced by Sen. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, Assembly Bill 1337, introduced by Asm. Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, and Assembly Bill 460, introduced by Asm. Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, D-San Ramon, would upend the water rights system that, while imperfect, has worked in California for more than a century.
These bills would strip away due process for water-rights holders and take an aggressive approach to enforcement that is akin to nailing a painting to the wall with a jackhammer.
AB 1337 dramatically alters the current system by consolidating power at the State Water Resources Control Board, subjecting water users to the whims of the state even when there is no drought.
SB 389 empowers the SWRCB to indiscriminately investigate water diversions, subjecting those with legitimate water rights claims to a faulty, guilty-until-proven-innocent process.
And AB 460 gives the SWRCB unprecedented authority to intervene on water diversions without any sort of due process, while increasing fines by such crippling amounts that only those with the deepest pockets would be willing to take the risk to divert water legally, thereby killing family farming.
But our water rights system does not need wholesale changes – SWRCB staff argued as much earlier this year in a presentation independent of these bills. In fact, the current system has worked quite well.
When settlers came to California in the 1800s, they staked out land and diverted water from nearby sources, establishing appropriative rights. These were in addition riparian rights, which are rights to the water adjacent to a property. Both types of rights were supported by legal tradition and when California was founded both were soon enshrined in statute. Then in 1914 California passed the Water Commission Act, which established the permitting system we have today, roughly rounding out the overall system as we know it.
This is an abbreviated version of history, but the key takeaway is that this system has worked for a long time and from it sprouted California as we know it.
Because of the current system, California has bloomed to nearly 40 million people. It produced some of the greatest cities in the world. It created great wealth and opportunity for countless people. And it developed a multi-billion dollar agricultural industry that produces a third of the country’s vegetables and 75 percent of the nation’s fruits and nuts while employing 900,000 people a year.
Water policy is complicated and the current system supports many stakeholders. It is used by literally every person living in this state, from water districts, to consumers, to ranchers, to farmers, and so many more. This is neither a partisan issue nor a regional issue, which is why these bills are opposed by a diverse group of people and organizations throughout the state.
The unintended consequences would be significant if these bills were signed into law. The state will waste valuable taxpayer funds defending against lawsuits – that’s not a threat, it’s merely an acknowledgment of what will happen if the government eliminates rights and tramples due process.
Jerry Hill, a Democratic former state senator, recently pointed out that these bills would threaten the state’s housing goals by making it harder to build by “creating water uncertainty,” driving up the cost of food at a time when far too many Californians are food-insecure, and jeopardizing essential jobs in both the construction and agriculture industries.
We believe the lawmakers who introduced these bills are sincerely concerned about access to water in the future. We are too; water is as essential to human life as oxygen. But the key to securing our water future is through increasing water supply, not through aggressive government rationing.
All of us in the mountain counties region can attest to the tremendous bounty of snowfall this year that will simply drain off into the ocean after possibly causing some disastrous floods. It doesn’t have to be this way.
We need more water storage, and our Association stands ready to work with anyone to increase the state’s water capacity. We are also happy to work with anyone on streamlining the water permitting process and strengthening the current system.
These three bills are not the solution and will only make matters worse. We urge lawmakers to reject them.

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Pavement Repair Project to StartOn Various Routes Throughout District 2

7/17/2023

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Picture
REDDING – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans District 2) and Stimpel-Wiebelhaus Associates are preparing to begin work on a pavement repair project on sections of various routes throughout District 2. The $7.3 million project will replace asphalt concrete via dig outs at the following locations:
 
  • Interstate 5 (Shasta/Siskyou County) – Between Castella and Central Dunsmuir
  • State Route 32 (Tehama County) – West of junction with State Route 36
  • State Route 44 (Shasta County) – Near Viola and Eskimo Hill Summit
  • State Route 70 (Plumas County) – Between Blairsden and Portola
  • State Route 89 (Plumas County) – Near Wolf Creek Undercrossing
  • U.S. 97 (Siskiyou County) – Between Grass Lake and Mount Hebron Summit
  • State Route 99 (Tehama County) – Butte/Tehama County Line to south of Los Molinos
  • U.S. 395 (Modoc County) – Between Alturas and California/Oregon State Line
 
Construction activities are currently planned to start on July 19th. Motorists should plan for lane closures on interstate locations and one-way traffic control with up to 15-minute delays at all other locations.  Work will be conducted Monday through Friday during daytime hours. Motorists are urged to slow down and drive carefully in and around construction areas, follow speed limit reductions in place, and allot extra time for delays. The project is currently anticipated to be completed by the end of September.
 
Construction projects are subject to changes without prior notice.  Caltrans and its contractors do our best to keep the public informed.  To stay up to date on highway projects, please follow us on Facebook and Twitter.  Project information can also be found on the District 2 webpage. The public can also call (530) 225-3426 during working hours or send an email to D2PIO@dot.ca.gov. Updated highway conditions for California can be found on QuickMap and on One-Stop-Shop for the Western U.S.
 
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July 17th, 2023

7/17/2023

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Dr. Glenn Mollette 


The world's total land mass consists of 36.8 billion acres of inhabitable land. (Businessinsider.com) 
 
A few people own a lot of our planet.


King Charles III or the Crown Estate owns 6.6 billion acres of land worldwide.  This includes Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Canada (90%), Australia (23 %) and a few other spots here and there. They also own the Falkland Islands.
With 6.6 billion acres, King Charles III or the Crown Estate, is far and away the world's largest landowner, with the closest runner-up (King Salman, Saudi Arabia) who holds control over a mere 547 million acres and a net worth of over $18 billion.    


Coming in number three on the list is Pope Francis.110 acres owned by The Holy See constitute Vatican City. Also, roughly 17million more acreage of various lands  are owned by the Catholic Church throughout the globe, including the hundreds of Vatican embassies that are legally titled to The Holy See as an independent nation.


Ted Turner ranks high in major world land owners with over 2 million acres of land owned in Georgia, Montana and Argentina.  (Businessininsider.com)
 Jeff Bezos owns about 400,000 acres with much of that being in Texas. (Payback.fm) Bill Gates owns about 242,000 acres of farmland according to celebrity.net.


According to the US Department of Agriculture, USDA, there are approximately 911 million acres of farmland in the United States
There has been concern about China’s growing land purchases in the United States. Chinese purchases of U.S agricultural land has sparked concern in Congress among a bipartisan group of lawmakers—but 18 other countries own more American agricultural acres than China.
Here are some of the American landowners: 


1.     Canada (12,845,000 acres)
2.     Netherlands (4,875,000 acres)
3.     Italy (2,703,000 acres)
4.     United Kingdom (2,538,000 acres)
5.     Germany (2,269,000 acres)
6.     Portugal (1,483,000 acres)
7.     France (1,316,000 acres)
8.     Denmark (856,000 acres)
9.     Luxembourg (802,000 acres)
10.  Ireland (760,000 acres)    Source: Forbes.com

China ranks number 18 and owns roughly 384,000 acres of U.S. agricultural land, according to a 2021 report from the Department of Agriculture. Of that, 195,000 acres, worth almost $2 billion when purchased, are owned by 85 Chinese investors, which could be individuals, companies or the government. The other 189,000 acres were worth $235 million when purchased and are owned by 62 U.S. corporations with Chinese shareholders. Chinese agricultural land ownership only increased about 550 acres from 2015 to 2019. Then, their ownership jumped 30% from 2019 (Forges.com) 


Chinese food manufacturer Fufeng Group bought 300 acres of land near Grand Forks, North Dakota, to set up a milling plant. The project is located about 20 minutes from the Grand Forks Air Force Base, raising national security concerns. (CNBC.COM)


Then known as Shuanghui Group, WH Group purchased Smithfield Foods in 2013 for $4.72 billion. It was the largest Chinese acquisition of an American company at that time. 


Bourbon lovers might be surprised to learn that a large number of Kentucky favorites are owned by Japanese companies. Way back in 2014 Japan-based Suntory bought Jim Beam at a 25 percent premium over market value for $16 billion. That means the world's best-selling bourbon, Jim Beam, is actually owned by a Japanese company. Suntory also owns Maker's Mark, Knob Creek and Basil Hayden.  (NBCnews.com) 


If you have American land or business to sell, no worries, someone from China or another foreign country just might be interested. 



CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO INFLATION NATION AND PLEASE SHARE


visit GlennMollette.com to subscribe, learn about his books and more


   additional biographical, Dr. Glenn Mollette is a graduate of numerous schools including Georgetown College, Southern and Lexington Seminaries in Kentucky. He is the author of 13 books including UncommSense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states. 


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Congressmen LaMalfa, Garamendi, reintroduce the American Food for American Schools Act

7/14/2023

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(Washington, D.C.) – Congressmen Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) and John Garamendi (D-Calif.) reintroduced the American Food for American Schools Act, a bill to make sure American-made food is being served in school lunches. Senator Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) introduced a companion bill in the Senate. This bill is endorsed by the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Fruit and Vegetable Processors and Growers Coalition, Indiana Farm Bureau, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, and the North American Blueberry Council. 
 
“American dollars should support American-produced food products. U.S. farmers produce some of the safest and most nutritious food worldwide for our families and children while creating American jobs. This bipartisan bill is sensible,” said Congressman LaMalfa.
 
"Even in Northern Californian and Central Valley farming communities, some school districts use taxpayer dollars to buy imported foods. Some of those imported foods have been recalled due to safety concerns, when they could have been sourced locally in California," said Congressman Garamendi. "That's why my American Food for American Schools Act would ensure that our schoolchildren are served nutritious, American-grown foods, produced under the strictest safety standards in the world."
 
“Our school lunch programs should be supporting American agriculture rather than importing food: it’s safer, healthier, and supports our economy rather than China’s. I took the lead with Senator Brown to introduce the American Food for American Schools Act in the Senate because American kids should be eating American-grown food in our schools,” said Senator Braun.
 
“The food our kids get at school should be American-produced food, that supports American jobs in our communities,” said Senator Brown. “There’s no reason for schools to buy food products from overseas, when they could get fresh fruits and vegetables from Ohio farmers, and when union bakers and confectioners and other workers make bread and snacks and canned foods here in Ohio. Our bill would require schools to buy American products for all in-school meals, and ensure American tax dollars support American jobs.”
 
BACKGROUND:
·         This bill would provide extensive structure to the National School Lunch Program’s (NSLP) Buy America language. It would codify limited exceptions to the requirement—only granting waivers when domestic commodities or products are not reasonably available in sufficient quality or quantities. If a waiver is received, schools must notify parents that American food is not being provided. Waivers can only be granted for up to 5 percent of the total annual commercial food costs of a school food authority within each food component.
·         The bill requires USDA to publish information about the adoption of the Buy America requirement—including both a list of granted waivers and of foreign products purchased without a waiver. This information would serve as a “market” for domestic producers to challenge the waiver or enter the market with domestic content.
·         In order to streamline the “Buy America” contracting process, the bill would impose Buy American contract requirements for school food procurement. This will lighten the load of School Food Authorities, who may currently have issues creating or demanding language in contract negotiations. If an SFA is provided illegal products in breach of the contract (as in a last minute substitution), the school would have safe harbor. USDA would have authority to seek reimbursement from commercial food suppliers for illegal foreign-sourced products that violate Buy America contract language. These funds would finance USDA’s Buy American Procurement Training Program.
·         Finally, the bill would subject other USDA school feeding programs (afterschool snacks, summer food service, child and adult care food, special milk, and school breakfast) to the Buy America requirement, which currently only applies to the NSLP.
 
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.
 
###
 
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Proposed changes to recreation fees identified by Tahoe National Forest

7/14/2023

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NEVADA CITY, CALIF. (July 14, 2023) — Tahoe National Forest is proposing the change of recreation fees at some developed recreation sites across the forest including select fire lookouts and day use sites. A fee increase proposal is just one step the Tahoe National Forest takes to provide a wide variety of recreational opportunities sustainably. The proposed fees for fire lookouts will assist in providing the maintenance required to preserve these historic buildings while also maintaining safety standards for public access. Members of the public are invited to provide comment on proposed fee changes through Sept. 15, 2023.


“We recognize how important these recreation areas are to our local communities and those who use the sites,” said Tahoe National Forest Recreation Program Manager Mary Sullivan. “Fee changes allow us to continue to provide top-tier recreation opportunities here on the Tahoe National Forest and even develop new opportunities as our recreation community evolves. Accessibility to the outdoors continues to be a top priority and we are proud to continue to offer several free recreation areas across the forest.”


The proposed fees by site and Ranger District are listed in the below.
American River Ranger District
French Meadows
Boat Ramp - Expanded
$5 Per Day
*No season pass option currently available
$5 Per Day
*$40 Per Season/Year



Manzanita
Picnic Site
$5 Per Day
*No season pass option currently available


$5 Per Day
*$40 Per Season/Year



McGuire
Boat Ramp - Expanded
$5 Per Day
*No season pass option currently available
$5 Per Day
*$40 Per Season/Year

Sugar Pine
Boat Ramp - Expanded
$5 Per Day
*No season pass option currently availabl
$5 Per Day
*$40 Per Season/Year
* The forest is proposing an annual pass at four-day use sites on the American River Ranger District. This local forest pass would be valid at all four sites that currently charge a $5/vehicle/day fee. The full suite of national recreation passes will continue to be honored.


Sierraville Ranger District
Calpine
Cabin or Lookout
$45 Per Night
Group Size: 4
$75 Per Night
Group Size: 4



Sardine Peak Lookout
Cabin or Lookout
$0 Per Night
Group Size: 4

$75 Per Night
Group Size: 4


Yuba River Ranger District
Grouse Ridge
Cabin or Lookout
Not currently available to rent.
$75 Per Night
Group Size: 4


In 2004, Congress passed the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA) which allows the Forest Service to retain funds collected at certain recreation sites and use these funds locally to operate, maintain and improve these sites. At least 80% of the revenue from recreation fees remains on the forests to operate, maintain and improve facilities. The resource derived through collection of fees helps provide quality recreation opportunities that meet the modern expectations of visitors and creates a more financial sustainable developed recreation program for the benefit of future generations.


To ensure they are considered, the public is asked to send comments to Tahoe National Forest no later than 5 p.m. on Sept. 15. Comments can be provided through the following:
  • By mail: Attention: Mary Sullivan, 631 Coyote Street, Nevada City, California 95959
  • Email: tahoe_nf_comments@usda.gov
  • Phone: (530) 478-6298
  • Online: https://usfs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=f6a8f81baf2843c8bd96c8035d8cc3bc
  • In-person: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 631 Coyote Street, Nevada City, California 95959


These fee changes will be reviewed by a recreation advisory committee. Committee members represent a broad array of recreation interest groups to help ensure that the Forest Service is proposing reasonable and publicly acceptable new fees and fee changes.


For more information on the proposed project, visit the Tahoe National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe.

###

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

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Money man Charles Payne on inflation,recession and artificial intelligence

7/14/2023

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Money man Charles Payne on inflation,
recession and artificial intelligence
by John Grimaldi


WASHINGTON DC, July 14 -- If there is anyone who knows how to make money, it’s Charles Payne, host of the Fox Business show, Making Money. Payne is also the CEO and principal financial analyst of the Wall Street Strategies stock market research firm he established in 1991. He joined Rebecca Weber, CEO of the Association of Mature American Citizens and host of AMAC’s Better For America podcast, for a discussion focused on the Biden recession in the aftermath of the historic inflation he brought with him when he became president.


Payne said a recession was inevitable in the aftermath of “the greatest inflation that we had in over 40 years. We've never, ever been in a position like this ... [and] now what we've got is the Federal Reserve trying to rest this economy, slow it down because nothing hurts us more than runaway inflation. If you make 100 bucks a week and all of a sudden 200 bucks a week, and yet when you walk in a grocery store, you come out with fewer bags, it illustrates just that, ultimately, money is only worth what you can purchase. So the recession game's been a little bit tough because we've never had this much money on the sidelines before. There are some real serious lingering issues out there that go even beyond the current business cycle. And some of it was exacerbated through actions taken during the pandemic. I think paying people not to work is something that's going to reverberate for a very long time.” 


In addition, Payne said President Biden’s “student loan debacle, is [also] going to reverberate for a long time. I think it's going to hurt a whole lot of young Americans who might have otherwise been paying their bills, saving their money and working toward, maybe ownership of a business. So a lot of things have been skewed.” It may look like we have a strong economy, but the reality is “we're on borrowed time.”


Payne went on to suggest that while inflation and recession are bad enough, this time the cycle is exacerbated by the emergence of the new, unanticipated threat of A.I. -- Artificial Intelligence, the use of computers to do things that traditionally require human intelligence. “I've seen estimates that anywhere from 70-90 million to 300 million jobs could be lost around the world. In fact, we have already seen job losses attributed to A.I. in this country, albeit just 3900.” However, Payne said that millions of jobs will be lost over the next ten years and that the new jobs that will emerge will require knowledge of computers and technology.


“And that's why I'm afraid. If you look at our education system today, it is woefully underprepared. It is so bad, it's hard to imagine that it's gotten a lot worse. And it's not just because of the pandemic. Kids’ reading for fun has dropped by 50%. Just everything is absolutely imploding. Now, the good news is you don't need a four-year degree to participate in the economy. But you do need more than a high school diploma. And therein lies the rub. That's why I think we're going to have a period of time when we lose a lot of jobs and a lot of people are going to be out there searching, hurting, and desperate. Many are going to give up. Then of course there's a sort of retraining that we've seen in the past where, depending on how old you are, how set in your ways you are, retraining doesn't necessarily work. They've taken folks who worked on the auto lines in Detroit and they've tried to teach them coding skills. And for the most part, some learn, but most of them didn't. What we need to do is to start training people for those particular jobs right now.”


###



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. 


AMAC | Washington DC | 917-846-8485 | Email | Website

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ASSOCIATION OF MATURE AMERICAN CITIZENS
MEDIA CONTACT
John Grimaldi
jpgrimaldi@verizon.net
917-846-8485




Money man Charles Payne on inflation,
recession and artificial intelligence
by John Grimaldi


WASHINGTON DC, July 14 -- If there is anyone who knows how to make money, it’s Charles Payne, host of the Fox Business show, Making Money. Payne is also the CEO and principal financial analyst of the Wall Street Strategies stock market research firm he established in 1991. He joined Rebecca Weber, CEO of the Association of Mature American Citizens and host of AMAC’s Better For America podcast, for a discussion focused on the Biden recession in the aftermath of the historic inflation he brought with him when he became president.


Payne said a recession was inevitable in the aftermath of “the greatest inflation that we had in over 40 years. We've never, ever been in a position like this ... [and] now what we've got is the Federal Reserve trying to rest this economy, slow it down because nothing hurts us more than runaway inflation. If you make 100 bucks a week and all of a sudden 200 bucks a week, and yet when you walk in a grocery store, you come out with fewer bags, it illustrates just that, ultimately, money is only worth what you can purchase. So the recession game's been a little bit tough because we've never had this much money on the sidelines before. There are some real serious lingering issues out there that go even beyond the current business cycle. And some of it was exacerbated through actions taken during the pandemic. I think paying people not to work is something that's going to reverberate for a very long time.” 


In addition, Payne said President Biden’s “student loan debacle, is [also] going to reverberate for a long time. I think it's going to hurt a whole lot of young Americans who might have otherwise been paying their bills, saving their money and working toward, maybe ownership of a business. So a lot of things have been skewed.” It may look like we have a strong economy, but the reality is “we're on borrowed time.”


Payne went on to suggest that while inflation and recession are bad enough, this time the cycle is exacerbated by the emergence of the new, unanticipated threat of A.I. -- Artificial Intelligence, the use of computers to do things that traditionally require human intelligence. “I've seen estimates that anywhere from 70-90 million to 300 million jobs could be lost around the world. In fact, we have already seen job losses attributed to A.I. in this country, albeit just 3900.” However, Payne said that millions of jobs will be lost over the next ten years and that the new jobs that will emerge will require knowledge of computers and technology.


“And that's why I'm afraid. If you look at our education system today, it is woefully underprepared. It is so bad, it's hard to imagine that it's gotten a lot worse. And it's not just because of the pandemic. Kids’ reading for fun has dropped by 50%. Just everything is absolutely imploding. Now, the good news is you don't need a four-year degree to participate in the economy. But you do need more than a high school diploma. And therein lies the rub. That's why I think we're going to have a period of time when we lose a lot of jobs and a lot of people are going to be out there searching, hurting, and desperate. Many are going to give up. Then of course there's a sort of retraining that we've seen in the past where, depending on how old you are, how set in your ways you are, retraining doesn't necessarily work. They've taken folks who worked on the auto lines in Detroit and they've tried to teach them coding skills. And for the most part, some learn, but most of them didn't. What we need to do is to start training people for those particular jobs right now.”


###


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. 
ASSOCIATION OF MATURE AMERICAN CITIZENS
MEDIA CONTACT
John Grimaldi
jpgrimaldi@verizon.net
917-846-8485




Money man Charles Payne on inflation,
recession and artificial intelligence
by John Grimaldi


WASHINGTON DC, July 14 -- If there is anyone who knows how to make money, it’s Charles Payne, host of the Fox Business show, Making Money. Payne is also the CEO and principal financial analyst of the Wall Street Strategies stock market research firm he established in 1991. He joined Rebecca Weber, CEO of the Association of Mature American Citizens and host of AMAC’s Better For America podcast, for a discussion focused on the Biden recession in the aftermath of the historic inflation he brought with him when he became president.


Payne said a recession was inevitable in the aftermath of “the greatest inflation that we had in over 40 years. We've never, ever been in a position like this ... [and] now what we've got is the Federal Reserve trying to rest this economy, slow it down because nothing hurts us more than runaway inflation. If you make 100 bucks a week and all of a sudden 200 bucks a week, and yet when you walk in a grocery store, you come out with fewer bags, it illustrates just that, ultimately, money is only worth what you can purchase. So the recession game's been a little bit tough because we've never had this much money on the sidelines before. There are some real serious lingering issues out there that go even beyond the current business cycle. And some of it was exacerbated through actions taken during the pandemic. I think paying people not to work is something that's going to reverberate for a very long time.” 


In addition, Payne said President Biden’s “student loan debacle, is [also] going to reverberate for a long time. I think it's going to hurt a whole lot of young Americans who might have otherwise been paying their bills, saving their money and working toward, maybe ownership of a business. So a lot of things have been skewed.” It may look like we have a strong economy, but the reality is “we're on borrowed time.”


Payne went on to suggest that while inflation and recession are bad enough, this time the cycle is exacerbated by the emergence of the new, unanticipated threat of A.I. -- Artificial Intelligence, the use of computers to do things that traditionally require human intelligence. “I've seen estimates that anywhere from 70-90 million to 300 million jobs could be lost around the world. In fact, we have already seen job losses attributed to A.I. in this country, albeit just 3900.” However, Payne said that millions of jobs will be lost over the next ten years and that the new jobs that will emerge will require knowledge of computers and technology.


“And that's why I'm afraid. If you look at our education system today, it is woefully underprepared. It is so bad, it's hard to imagine that it's gotten a lot worse. And it's not just because of the pandemic. Kids’ reading for fun has dropped by 50%. Just everything is absolutely imploding. Now, the good news is you don't need a four-year degree to participate in the economy. But you do need more than a high school diploma. And therein lies the rub. That's why I think we're going to have a period of time when we lose a lot of jobs and a lot of people are going to be out there searching, hurting, and desperate. Many are going to give up. Then of course there's a sort of retraining that we've seen in the past where, depending on how old you are, how set in your ways you are, retraining doesn't necessarily work. They've taken folks who worked on the auto lines in Detroit and they've tried to teach them coding skills. And for the most part, some learn, but most of them didn't. What we need to do is to start training people for those particular jobs right now.”


###


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. 
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New State Budget Doubles Down on Climate Action by Expanding California Climate Action Corps

7/13/2023

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  California Volunteers, Office of the Governor received an additional $4.6 million in ongoing funding to expand paid service opportunities for California Climate Action Corps which is now seeking applicants in communities across the state. 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Reaffirming the State’s commitment to build a more climate ready and safe California, Governor Gavin Newsom and the Legislature approved an additional $4.6 million in annual, ongoing funding to double the amount of paid service opportunities for California Climate Action Corps in the 2023-2024 State Budget.  

The ongoing, increased funding will allow more California Climate Action Corps Fellows to serve in communities across the state to engage volunteers, educate the public and participate in urban greening, wildfire resiliency and organic waste and edible food recovery activities. 

“Tackling the climate crisis takes partners at all levels, and the California Climate Action Corps is mobilizing energized Californians all across our state to drive climate action in ways never seen before,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.   

The budget deal comes on the heels of a high-profile visit from President Joe Biden who expressed his optimism about the program, “When I think of climate, I think of jobs. When I think of climate, I think of innovation. When I think of climate, I think of turning peril into progress.”   

Governor Newsom launched California Climate Action Corps as the nation’s first state-level climate service corps with the mission of empowering Californians to take meaningful action to protect their homes, health and communities against the harshest impacts of climate change. The program is led by California Volunteers, Office of the Governor.  

“This budget is a statement about Californian’s values and their passion to take action against this existential threat,” said California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday. “Our California Climate Action Corps Fellows are doing critical work, engaging community members and inspiring us to do more.”    
As AmeriCorps California members, fellows earn up to $43,000 in living stipends and money for school for successful completion of 1,700 hours of service between September 18, 2023, and August 15, 2024.  

California Volunteers, Office of the Governor is currently seeking applicants with a passion for climate action to apply for the 2023- 2024 California Climate Action Corps paid service program. Learn more and apply at ClimateActionCorps.ca.gov. 

California Volunteers also administers #CaliforniansForAll Youth Corps, AmeriCorps California and #CaliforniansForAll College Corps. In the coming years, California Volunteers will deploy a force larger than the Peace Corps to serve in California communities. 

For those unable to commit to a year of service, hundreds of volunteer opportunities throughout the state are posted on the California Volunteers website. Visit californiavolunteers.ca.gov to learn more about paid service opportunities, or search for volunteer opportunities.  

California Climate Action Corp Fellowship Achievements: 
  • 10,441,177 pounds food or organic waste diverted from landfills   
  • 2,339,677 pounds of recovered food distributed to people in need (new data point this term)  
  • 21,817 volunteers engaged for 73,411 hours of climate action   
  • 7,071 trees planted, 164,898 trees maintained, and 15,189 trees donated 
  • 90,330 people engaged through climate-related outreach and education 







About California Volunteers, Office of the Governor   
Led by California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday, California Volunteers, Office of the Governor empowers Californians to take action to improve their communities. California Volunteers is the state office tasked with recruiting young Californians to engage in public service.  
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PG&E Tips on Staying Safe and Conserving Energy During the Heat Wave

7/13/2023

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While no Rotating Outages or Public Safety Power Shutoffs are Expected, Heat Can Cause Power Outages
 
With temperatures reaching well above 100 degrees in the Sacramento Valley through the weekend, PG&E offers tips to customers on how to stay safe and cool while also conserving energy.
 
PG&E does not anticipate any Public Safety Power Shutoffs or rotating outages in the coming week. The wet winter delayed California’s wildfire season.
 
According to Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service, there have had 2,251 wildfires this year which have burned 7,601 acres as of June 26. That compares to the YTD five-year average of 3,067 wildfires which burned 28,875 acres.
 
Still, power outages do occur and high temperatures can cause equipment failure. PG&E has also enabled circuits in high-fire threat areas with Enhanced Power Line Safety Settings (EPSS), which will shut power off on a circuit within a tenth of a second should a disturbance be detected. This helps prevent wildfires caused by tree or objects coming into contact with power lines.
 
PG&E is preparing for the heat. This includes the use of outage prediction models that help us determine the potential timing, location and number of power outages. 
 
PG&E is utilizing the latest technology to restore power more quickly and efficiently during a heat event.  This includes the installation of automated equipment that “self-heals” the grid as well as timely and accurate outage data from our SmartMeter network. 
 
PG&E routinely practices its preparedness and response to weather events and other emergencies through company exercises and through drills with local first responders. 
 
 
Energy Saving Tips
  • When Cooler Outside, Bring the Cool Air in: If the outside air is cool in the night or early morning, open windows and doors and use fans to pre-cool your home when possible.
  • Close your shades in the summer: Sunlight passing through windows heats your home and makes your air conditioner work harder. You can block this heat by keeping blinds or drapes closed on the sunny side of your home.
  • Cool down with a fan: Fans keep air circulating, allowing you to raise the thermostat a few degrees and stay just as comfortable while reducing your air conditioning costs.
  • Clear the area around your AC: Your air conditioning unit will operate better if it has plenty of room to breathe. The air conditioner's outdoor unit, the condenser, needs to be able to circulate air without any interruption or obstruction.
  • Replace filters as needed: Dirty air filters make your air conditioner work harder to circulate air. By cleaning or replacing your filters monthly, you can improve energy efficiency and reduce costs.
  • Set your thermostat at 78 degrees or higher, health permitting: Every degree you lower the thermostat means your air conditioner has to work even harder to keep your home cool.
  • Unplug electronics when not in use: Electronics like cell phone chargers, entertainment systems, coffee makers and more continue to draw energy even when turned off. Unplug them to avoid unnecessary energy use.
 
 
Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (EPSS) Overview
  • For the safety of our customers and communities, PG&E has enhanced safety settings on our powerlines that automatically turn off power within one-tenth of a second if a wildfire threat is detected. These settings are known as Enhanced Powerline Safety Setting or EPSS.
  • This measure is a proven wildfire prevention tool. In 2022, we saw a more than 68% reduction CPUC-reportable ignitions in High Fire-Threat Districts on distribution powerlines (compared to the weather-normalized 2018-2020 average) in CPUC-reportable ignitions on EPSS-enabled lines in High Fire-Threat Districts (compared to the 2018-2020 average).
  • If ignitions occur, the size of fires are much smaller thanks to EPSS. In 2022, there was a 99% decrease in acres impacted by ignitions As measured by fire size from electric distribution equipment (compared to the 2018-2020 average) despite increasingly dry conditions.
  • By stopping ignitions, we help prevent wildfires from starting and spreading.
  • Launched as a pilot in 2021, these settings were first implemented on a select number of circuits in high fire-risk areas. In 2021, an initial 45% of line miles in high fire-risk areas were protected by the safety settings.
  • In 2022 and 2023, approximately 44,000 line miles are now EPSS-protected, protecting 1.8 million customers.
  • While these enhanced safety settings help keep our customers safe and prevent wildfires, they can also result in unplanned power outages.
  • It is important to note that the majority of customers protected by EPSS saw little to no outage activity in 2022. In fact, 58% of all EPSS-protected customers experienced zero outages on EPSS-enabled lines in 2022.
  • That said, we know how difficult it is to be without power, which is why we are continuing to find ways to lessen the impact of power outages on our customers.
  • This includes disabling the safety settings to increase reliability when it is safe to do so. For example, EPSS is disabled when wildfire risk is lower in areas that are experiencing rain, fog or other conditions that significantly increase fuel moisture levels.
  • We analyze wildfire risk conditions daily to determine when safety settings are needed to protect customers.
  • We are also continuously evaluating the success of EPSS and look to employ innovations to fill any gaps. This includes using new technology solutions such as partial voltage detection and downed conductor technology that build upon the operational mitigations of EPSS and Public Safety Power Shutoffs. These new technologies detect potential threats to the electric grid and rapidly reduce or shut off power to help prevent wildfire ignitions.
 
EPSS Restorations
  • Following an outage on an EPSS-protected line, crews must patrol the portion of the circuit where the power outage occurred — and perform any necessary repairs — prior to restoring power.
  • The patrols will be conducted either on the ground or in the air, ideally during daylight hours. In some cases, customers may see helicopters or drones performing aerial patrols.
  • The length of the power outage and the portion of customers restored varies depending on the time and location that it occurs, as well as the severity of any damage. In rural and difficult terrain, crews may not be able to safely patrol the system at night, and patrols with limited access will take longer.
  • To help get the power back on faster following an outage, we have installed fault indicators across our electric system. This technology helps patrol crews visually identify with precision where on a line a fault occurs. As a result, crews will be able to identify power outage causes and restore power more quickly.
  • These improvements resulted in a 56% shorter average outage duration in 2022, compared to the pilot period in 2021.  If outages occur, customers deserve timely and accurate information. Customers will be notified when an outage occurs, and restoration updates will be provided until the power is back.
  • To stay informed during an outage, customers can update their contact information at pge.com/myalerts.
 
EPSS Customer Resources
  • We have resources available to help our customers prepare for power outages and stay safe, including:
  • The Generator and Battery Rebate Program for financial assistance in the purchase of a qualifying generator or battery. In 2023, we are expanding funding and eligibility to include customers who live in Tier 2 and 3 High Fire-Threat Districts and/or are served by an EPSS-protected circuit.
  • The Portable Battery Program, which provides backup batteries for qualified customers who rely on medical devices. In 2023, eligibility requirements include Medical Baseline and Self-Identified Vulnerable customers with assistive technology or durable medical equipment who have also experienced:
  • At least one PSPS in 2021 or
  • Five or more outages on an EPSS-protected circuit in 2022.
  • A free Backup Power Transfer Meter for easy, quick and safe connection to a generator during a power outage. This offer is available to customers who live in Tier 2 and 3 High Fire-Threat Districts and/or are served by an EPSS-protected circuit.
  • The Safety Action Center for information on how to create a safety plan and build or stock an emergency kit.
  • Additional information on customer support resources and preparedness tips can be found at pge.com/epss.
  • Public safety partners and some community-based organizations also have access to our new, secure online Outage Portal which provides data focused on circuits and power outages occurring on powerlines protected by the safety settings.
  • The latest information on the EPSS Program is available in our 2023 Wildfire Mitigation Plan. To learn more, visit pge.com/wildfiremitigationplan.
 
You can read about PG&E’s data privacy practices here or at PGE.com/privacy.
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