At the California Democratic Party State Convention at the end of February the Democratic State Party endorsement battle for 21st Congressional District moved from a local caucus election for recommendation that had been won by Fowler City Councilman Daniel Parra, but who then lost it on the convention floor. Bakersfield Lawyer Emilio Huerta, son of […]
On February 18 The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) today released the Draft 2016 Business Plan, a foundational document for implementing the California High-Speed Rail program that reflects the transition from planning to construction to providing passenger service. Overall capital costs are reduced from $67.6 billion to $64.2 billion. The plan also provides the path […]
Devon Mathis’ election to the California State Assembly in November of 2014 was considered an historic victory. The Veterans’ community campaigned hard to get someone elected who would fight for their cause in Sacramento. Disillusioned conservatives were pumped that a young independent resoundly beat the Republican establishment. On election night, Mathis’ campaign team celebrated at […]
Even with a strong El Niño year, there are no assurances the drought is over. Clearly we need a better plan for future droughts and that plan needs to include provisions for native freshwater fish. But why include native fish? There are many reasons. Many feel that native fish have a right not to be […]
Without warning to its passengers or Visalia city staff, SeaPort Airlines discontinued service from Visalia to Burbank and Sacramento on Friday. More than that, the company has ceased all operations within the state. In fact, a flight leaving from Sacramento at 12:31pm Friday scheduled to fly to Visalia was diverted to Burbank, landing there at […]
Lester Snow’s recent editorial, “Drought Serves as Wake-up Call for Major Changes” (Sacramento Bee, July 11), invites renewed focus on “improved urban water conservation.” California statutes mandate re-use of tertiary treated wastewater by urban communities within their jurisdictions. Re-use of tertiary treated wastewater from de-centralized treatment facilities for purposes that do not require potable water […]
The June 25 introduction of H.R. 2898, the Western Water and American Food Security Act of 2015, is welcome news for the people of the parched State of California and the Central Valley. Authored by Congressman David Valadao (CA-21), the bill is a regional, collaborative, and bi-partisan effort that will ease the water supply issues […]
Due to the cooler temperatures in May, along with some precipitation, and the abundance of rainfall in the central, southern part of the country, some scientists are already predicting a wetter winter than normal for California. But it is just too early to tell, said Jim Dudley, U.S. Weather Service forecaster in Hanford. There are […]
With the worsening drought much on the minds of Californians, Visalia has added another voice in the state’s approach to water regulation with the appointment of Maria Herrera, 32, to the California Water Commission (CWC). “I’m very excited,” Herrera said of the announcement by Gov. Jerry Brown’s office late last month. “I’m honored to be […]
At the Tulare County Supervisors’ meeting on April 7, the supervisors voted on sending a letter of support to Mathis’ assembly bill 954. The bill establishes a pilot program that will provide low interest loans or grants to private residences whose wells have gone dry. Up until now, all the funding has been earmarked for […]