San Joaquin County News, Traffic & Weather


All the San Joaquin News, Traffic and Weather, with directories of local Government, Community Groups & Nonprofits in one place!
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Earth Day: Resilience vs. Disaster

Ee celebrate the efforts our fellow humans have made and are making to help heal our planet and connect us, while we simultaneously consider what we must do to protect our communities as the climate crisis worsens.

Image caption: Gov. Jerry Brown meets with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at an economic summit in LA in February, 2012. Since being named Chinese president later that year, Xi has earned harsh criticism for human rights violations, and praise for his environmental policies.
California's Power Beyond its Borders

A Tesla lobbyist, an LA-based environmental group, and Gov. Jerry Brown brought a rule minted in Sacramento to Beijing, and helped launch China’s EV industry.

Image caption: California has a goal of 6 million heat pumps cooling and heating buildings by 2030.
6 Million New Heat Pumps: Essential to California's Climate Future

Heat pumps, an energy-efficient way to both heat and cool homes, are a necessary element of California's climate goal of net zero carbon emissions. Here's what they are, how they work, and how to get one.

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Bill to Mandate ‘Science of Reading’ in California Classrooms Dies

A bill to mandate use of the method will not advance in the Legislature this year in the face of teachers union opposition.

Image caption: The O Lot Safe Sleeping site at Balboa Park in San Diego on March 22, 2024.
Is San Diego Homeless Camp Ban ‘Successful’?

A new bill would make it illegal for homeless residents to camp in certain places, such as near schools, throughout California. Its authors say such a ban has had great success in San Diego. But a closer look at that …

Image caption: Digital Democracy reporter Ryan Sabalow, left, and CalMatters senior editor Dave Lesher review a Digital Democracy page in the CalMatters newsroom on April 3, 2024.
Digital Democracy Ramps Up Accountability of CA Legislature

In an analysis of more than 1 million votes cast by current legislators since 2017, CalMatters Digital Democracy reporter Ryan Sabalow and CBS Sacramento reporter Julie Watts found that Democrats vote “no” less than 1% of the time on average.

Image caption: The Douglas iris is a wildflower native to central and northern California and parts of southern Oregon.
Greetings & Spring Things from Santa Cruz

This week, a virtual visit to Surf City USA—a great place to experience the season of rebirth and renewal that's worth a drive from anywhere in our coverage area.

Image caption: A  total solar eclipse can offer a rare opportunity to see stars and planets during the day.
The Universe Winks

There is no scientific explanation for the conditions that make an eclipse inevitable. It’s a coincidence. Or a miracle.

Image caption: An online gallery of the murals of Santa Cruz County.
Santa Cruz Murals

Santa Cruz County is home to amazing murals. One amazing person is working to document them in one place.

Image caption: Felicia Van Stolk in her museum's front-yard garden.
A Native-Plant Garden Helps Transform a Neighborhood

On Hilltromper, a conversation with Felicia Van Stolk of the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History about her Garden Learning Center.

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Controversial Housing Law Could Get a Makeover

Some of California’s top lawmakers want to clear up, but also rein in, the “builder’s remedy.”

Image caption: Prop 1 includes funding that will build institutions to treat mental illness and addiction—hopefully nothing like what Randle Patrick McMurphy encountered in 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.'
Sandhill Cranes, Foster Kids, and Coercive Compassion

A type of resurrection involving big birds, and two efforts that offer help to individuals whose lives have been impacted by addiction.

Image caption: A magnificent Sandhill Crane in flight.
The Return of Sandhill Cranes

After being reduced to three or four nesting pairs in all of California in 1944, Sandhill Cranes have come back from the brink and are returning to Lake Tahoe.

Image caption: An assembly hall at Agnews Developmental Center in Santa Clara. Agnews was one of five hospitals that served California residents with developmental disabilities and mental illness, all of which were emptied in the misguided move toward “community care."
Newsom’s Prop 1: Revolution or Return to Reason?

Prop 1 was designed to help unhoused people get off the streets by forcing them into treatment. That’s one reason it took two weeks of vote-counting to pass.

Image caption: Joy Perrin, a mother of two children, testifies at the Budget Subcommittee on Human Services hearing at the state Capitol in Sacramento March 20, 2024. With the help of CalWORKS, Perrin was able to secure housing for her and her family.
California May Gut Two CalWORKS Programs Helping Thousands of Families

The state is considering zeroing out funds for CalWORKS family stabilization and job subsidy programs to help balance the budget.

Image caption: A beaver dam and pond in the eastern Sierra.
Beavers Can Help Stop Wildfires

Beavers create unburned islands where plants and animals can shelter from megafires, research has confirmed. A movement is afoot to reintroduce the rodents to the state's waterways.

Image caption: At the McKinley Park Rose Garden in Sacramento, the first rose of 2024.
Four Good Things about Spring

In this week’s, edition of The Newsletter, some hopeful aspects related to the very best season: spring!

Image caption: Every now and then, it's important to focus on good things.
One Good Thing

We announce a new initiative and invite our members to contribute.

Image caption: Yosemite Falls in Yosemite Valley.
The Rainbows of Yosemite Falls

Yosemite Valley is extraordinary, and in certain places at certain times of the day, magical. A brief insider's guide to a special place and time in Yosemite National Park, including a short video of the springtime rainbows of Yosemite Falls.

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From SJC Engage
04/25/2024

Financial Spring Cleaning: Tips for Organizing Your Finances

As the flowers bloom and the days grow longer, springtime brings a sense of renewal and rejuvenation. It's also the perfect opportunity to declutter and organize various aspects of our lives, incl...

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From SJC Engage
04/22/2024

10 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint this Earth Day

As Earth Day approaches, it's a reminder for each of us to reflect on our impact on the planet and consider ways we can contribute to a healthier, more sustainable future. One significant aspect o...

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Leadership Lodi's Education Day

We kicked off our Education Day for the 2024 Leadership Lodi at the Lodi Unified School District’s James Areida Education Support Center, learning an overview about the district, its teacher...

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From Visit Lodi
04/17/2024

Celebrate Mother’s Day in Lodi!

Lodi Wine Country is the perfect place to spend Mother’s Day weekend - with something unique waiting for Mom at every corner! Whether she's a wine lover, a foodie, or an outdoor enthusiast, Lodi h...

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From SJC Engage
04/12/2024

Dive into Spring with These Captivating April Book Recommendations

As the season shifts and April showers give way to blooming flowers, there's no better time to curl up with a good book and immerse yourself in captivating stories. Whether you're lounging in a su...

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From SJC Engage
04/10/2024

Sping Outdoor Activities to Enjoy in April

As April blooms across San Joaquin County, the allure of outdoor adventure beckons. With the winter chill retreating and nature awakening, it's the perfect time to explore the diverse landscapes a...

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