Last month, Governor Jerry Brown went all the way to Hollywood to sign AB 1839, by Assembly Members Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) and Raul J. Bocanegra (D-Los Angeles). The new legislation, which passed with bipartisan support, triples funding for the state’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program. Funding for the new program will be $230 […]
California Citrus Mutual (CCM) will directly contribute $150,000 to the campaign to pass Proposition 1, the water bond measure. The CCM Board of Directors voted unanimously to support the measure in order to secure a reliable and sustainable water supply for California agriculture and communities across the state. “We are in a state of unprecedented […]
A new report released last week by the Department of the Interior’s Deputy Secretary Michael L. Connor finds that projected changes in temperature and precipitation, combined with a growing population, will have significant impacts on water supplies, water quality, fish and wildlife habitats, ecosystems, hydropower, recreation and flood control, in California’s Central Valley this century. […]
Air quality in California’s San Joaquin Valley, which for years has been ranked as one of the worst in the United States, has improved over the past decade and looks to improve even more in the future. Speaking at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Francisco, chemist Sally Pusede described how […]
After a marathon political process in Sacramento, a decision was finally made to address the state’s water needs. State legislators agreed last week on which of the many proposed water bond measures would be considered by California voters in November. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed legislation last Wednesday to put a comprehensive $7.5 billion […]
On July 9th, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law AB 2488 by Assembly Member Marc Levine (D-San Rafael). The bill immediately allows limited wine and cider tasting at certified farmers’ markets. AB 2488 takes effect immediately to allow sales during the current season. The new privilege is subject to a number of safeguards. Market managers […]
Avrek Law Firm has announced the launch of the DriveSafe Scholarship Contest, a 501c viral video contest on the dangers of distracted driving awarding $9,000 in scholarship funds, with first prize winning $5,000. The Irvine-based law firm wanted to do its part to prevent the lifelong impact that distracted driving accidents can create. “All of […]
A new report authored by the National Park Service confirms that climate change is happening in America’s national parks, and in some cases in rapid and concerning ways. These changes will have implications for what visitors see and experience in national parks and will require new approaches to the protection of natural and historic resources […]
On July 14, construction of the California High-Speed Rail began in Fresno with demolition and ground-clearing operations as part of Construction Package 1. This is the first length of track to be laid in the state, stretching 29 miles from Avenue 17 in Madera to East American Avenue in Fresno. Ceding space for the line […]
The National Weather Service (NWS) is predicting an El Niño for later this year, but don’t expect it to end our drought – or even have much of an impact. The NWS has called for a “moderate” El Niño Watch, which means it is unlikely to significantly change our rainfall. “I would say it does […]