When we started building California Local five-ish years ago, we were alert to the fact that a lot of Americans, including many Californians, had grown cynical about politics—in particular, about politicians. We understood that this cynicism was somewhat justified, but felt it was also largely based on a lack of knowledge or understanding about what really takes place in the halls and chambers of government.
Speaking for myself: Having covered local elected officials for years, I had long ago learned that most of them, regardless of their political affiliations, were decent people trying to do what they believed was the right thing. While it has been my job to hold these people accountable, and while I may or may not have agreed with their policy agendas or politics, the fact that I was professionally bound to give them a fair hearing caused me to develop a pretty deep level of respect for almost every one of them.
Ryan Coonerty, former mayor of Santa Cruz and former county supervisor, is on a mission to spread the news that the people we refer to here as “public servants” are worthy of that kind of respect. Since 2018, he has hosted a podcast called “An Honorable Profession,” where he interviews electeds from all over the country. (He took the name from something once said by Robert F. Kennedy.) (Senior. ;-)
Chris Neklason turned the tables on Coonerty a couple of years ago in an interview that does a first-rate job of explaining what it means to be an elected official. You’ll find that Q&A attached to the story below.
And this week, we return to Ryan and his podcast to tell a story about another Santa Cruz elected official whom we believe you should meet.
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By Eric Johnson
Published Feb 17, 2025
The Work of Politics
Setting Health as a Policy Goal
A decades-long fight to protect children leads to victory—with another battle on the horizon.
Little Santa Cruz Beats Big Sugar
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Nevada County's Homepage |
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Recipe of the Week
Our friends at Sacramento Digs Gardening publish a recipe from their gardens every Sunday, which we feature here so you can start your week with some yum.
See more recipes in their Taste Winter! cookbook.
Get to Know a Group
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Sierra Watershed Education Partnerships |
SWEP’s mission is to promote environmental stewardship by connecting students to their community and local environment through comprehensive watershed education and service learning projects.
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From Our Media Allies |
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The Mills Act: History May Provide Tax Relief |
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Nevada County Assessor Rolf Kleinhans and his team want to educate the public about potential tax relief available through the Mills Act. This California program provides financial incentives for property owners to restore and preserve qualified historic buildings in exchange … |
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Martis Valley Groundwater Basin: A Vital Resource for the Region |
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The Martis Valley Groundwater Basin stands as one of the region's most valuable natural resources, providing mountain-filtered water to local communities. Recognizing its importance, the Truckee Donner Public Utility District (TDPUD) is moving forward with an update to the Martis … |
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Ground Source Heat Pumps: A Cost-Effective Solution for Truckee’s Climate |
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If you are already bought into the idea that climate change is a real threat to Truckee, if you own a home in Truckee, and if you want to be part of the solution, this article is for you. |
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Tahoe Conservation Groups Call for Wildfire Evacuation Study; TRPA Defends Efforts |
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A coalition of conservation groups, including the Sierra Club- Tahoe Area Group, North Tahoe Preservation Alliance, Friends of the West Shore, Tahoe East Shore Alliance, and TahoeCleanAir.org, are urging the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) to prioritize a comprehensive wildfire … |
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Truckee Winter Carnival 2025 Returns February 28 – March 2 |
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Truckee is a unique place where unpredictability in the weather is the norm. We either have too much snow or not enough. This was true in 1895 for the first Truckee Winter Carnival. The first Truckee Carnival was created out … |
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Tahoe Inn Planned to Come Down Sooner Than Expected |
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The Tahoe Inn is planned to come down sooner than anticipated after the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency swept the blighted building's fate into decisions regarding Homewood Mountain Resort's Master Plan Amendments. |
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Exploring Wild Ice |
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The do's and don'ts of long-time tradition and sport wild ice skating on surrounding Alpine lakes and ponds. |
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Tahoe Is FebruBuried! |
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Sometimes it takes a while, and this year, it took quite a while, but the Snow Gods have smiled on the Tahoe Sierra and we are now officially FebruBuried! And I do mean buried. |
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Truckee Literary Crawl to Feature Author Readings, Open Mic in April |
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The inaugural Truckee Literary Crawl will be a FREE community literary event featuring authors, writers and poets reading their works followed by book signings at locations in downtown Truckee on April 5, 2025. |
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Call for Author Readings for Inaugural Truckee Literary Crawl |
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Calling all writers, poets, songwriters, editors, publishers, community groups and anyone with a passion for the written or spoken word. |
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Truckee Tahoe Airport Community Meeting Focuses on Aircraft Noise, Resident Concerns |
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The Truckee Tahoe Airport District's Airport Community Team (ACT) meeting on Wednesday, February 12, focused on one of the community's most pressing concerns: aircraft noise. With both in-person and virtual attendees, the meeting served as a platform for residents, pilots, … |
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Avalanche Forecaster Position Threatened by Federal Cuts: ‘Puts Lives at Risk’ |
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The Sierra Avalanche Center supplies life saving avalanche forecasts for the greater Lake Tahoe region seven days a week, but this could soon be in jeopardy as a result of the federal government's ongoing staff cuts. |
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Fast Internet Coming to Rural Households Thanks to Next Round of Nevada County’s Last Mile Program |
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Soon, hundreds of rural households in forested and mountainous neighborhoods like Blue Tent, Banner Mountain and Donner Summit will have access to fast, reliable internet thanks to more than two decades of hard work by county staff putting critical foundations … |
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Alder Creek Middle School Students Raise Over $1,700 for Wildfire Relief |
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Students at Alder Creek Middle School turned small change into big impact, raising $1,710.31 in just 10 days to support victims of the recent Los Angeles fires. The fundraiser, Coins for a Cause, was organized by the school's sixth-grade Gifted … |
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Tahoe’s SNOWFEST Largest Winter Festival on West Coast |
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Get ready for the ultimate winter celebration as North Lake Tahoe SNOWFEST returns from Feb. 26 to March 9, 2025. As the largest winter mountain festival on the West Coast, SNOWFEST promises more than 50 incredible events, community fun and … |
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Nevada County Pulls Hope Ridge House Project |
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After listening to feedback from Truckee residents, the Board of Supervisors canceled plans Tuesday for supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness in Truckee. |
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Nevada County Supervisors Approve Truckee Fire Protection District Fee Adjustment |
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The Nevada County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution on Tuesday, Feb. 11, adopting the Truckee Fire Protection District's (TFPD) Capital Improvement Plan, Mitigation Fee Annual Expenditure Plan, and 5-Year Findings Report for fiscal year 2024/25. The plan includes annual … |
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North Tahoe Regional Park to Get New Community Gathering Space |
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A new outdoor gathering space is coming to North Tahoe Regional Park, offering residents and visitors a dedicated area to connect, celebrate, and appreciate public art. The North Tahoe Public Utility District (NTPUD) will break ground on the project this … |
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‘Snow Drought’ Plagues Mountains Despite Recent Storms |
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Hydrologists aren't holding their breath for a normal snowpack this winter. The Nevada Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) says the Lake Tahoe Basin and surrounding regions are experiencing a snow drought in more than one way. |
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Recent Local News |
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Read on to learn more about the new flag football league launched by the Gold Country YMCA for youth between the ages of 5 to 13.
Lake Spaulding repairs will continue the ongoing water emergency into the summer. Read on to learn more.
Read on to learn about the recent workshop presented by the Nevada County Resource Conservation District with a focus on preventing tree mortality during prescribed fires.
In their February 11 meeting, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors signaled support for a deal with Pioneer Community Energy to provide electricity to local residents and businesses. Read on to learn more about Pioneer Community Energy and community choice aggregation.
Truckee resident Karen Terrey has been named as the 2025 Nevada County Poet Laureate by the Nevada County Arts Council. Read on to learn more about your new Poet Laureate.
The 2025 issue of MUSE, the Nevada County Art Council guide to local art and culture, is out. Read on to learn how you can get your copy.
Read on to learn more about the recently completed Community Wildfire Protection Plan just adopted by the Nevada County Board of Supervisors.
Learn more about the Nevada County 211 hotline for when you have an urgent need (but not 911 police or fire).
In a bid to preserve the Miners Foundry Cultural Center, Nevada City announced a partnership to take over management and control of the facility. Read on to learn what's in store for this community asset.
This report details a prescribed burn project on 570 acres along the South Yuba River outside Nevada City. Read on for more information.
Read on for more information about the first Sierra Poetry Festival Pub Crawl coming to downtown Nevada City on March 29.
Read on for more information about Patrick Eidman, apponted as the Assistant County Executive Officer of Nevada County, beginning March 3
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Recent Statewide News |
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In the days and weeks following the January Los Angeles County wildfires, Gov. Gavin Newsom and his office moved quickly to manage the response and begin recovery efforts after the blazes were contained. Since then, the governor has been singularly focused on the region, describing his approach as “an extended period of engagement” with L.A. during a press conference in Altadena last week.
California has known for years that it must pay extra attention to people with disabilities and limited mobility during natural disasters. Will it put the lessones of the L.A. fires to use for the next emergency?
California schools are grappling with the U.S. Department of Education's letter requiring them to scrap their DEI programs.
Against the recommendation of his staff experts, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara denied a request from State Farm to green light “emergency” rate increases for insurance policy holders.
A spate of new bills in California and other states would protect consumers from electricity rate hikes that subsidize data centers.
AS HOST TO the largest battery storage facility in the world, on a site that just had its fourth fire in four years, the people of Monterey County have grown to realize that Moss Landing is a learning laboratory for California’s green energy transition.
The audit by the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission followed CalMatters’ revelations that a law requiring trip organizers to annually disclose their major donors had been used only twice in seven years — even as interest groups continued paying millions for lawmakers’ travel.
In the wake of the Los Angeles fires, State Farm asked for an “emergency” premium increase of 22% on average for California homeowners. Lara today denied the request pending more information.
Despite Trump’s plans, federal funding is a small part of California’s education budget and the state oversees curriculum.
Californians rejected the anti-slavery ballot measure Proposition 6, which would have forbid forced prison labor. Reparations advocates want to try again in 2026.
After a 2022 CalMatters series documenting long waits and low payouts for workers who claim their employers have shorted them on wages, California lawmakers have now proposed bills to try to ease the backlogs.
As academic researchers continue to explore what happened to public education during and after the COVID19 pandemic, they are confirming the harsh reality of decline in such basic skills as reading and mathematics.
A California appeals court rules a baker can’t refuse to sell a generic cake to a lesbian couple. It’s part of a series of cases shaping the debate over free speech and anti-discrimination laws.
Outreach workers in the Bay Area city of Fremont worry the new ordinance could target them, despite assurances from the city.
Sen. Kelly Seyarto is the only former career firefighter currently serving in the Legislature. But as a Republican in a Democratic supermajority, he says it can be challenging to make progress on wildfire policy.
Interviews suggest some people swept up in Trump’s immigration crackdown are dedicated to their families and communities — not hardened criminals.
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Government Announcements |
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Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Company, LLC Issues a Product Recall on Undeclared Almonds in Mauna Loa Milk Chocolate Covered Macadamias (1oz) Pouches |
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Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Company LLC of Kea'au, HI is voluntarily recalling one batch of its Mauna Loa Milk Chocolate Covered Macadamias snack (1oz) pouches, due to the presence of undeclared almonds which are an allergen.
United States (02/15/2025)
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JE Bakery 2019 LLC DBA Broadway Bakery Issues Allergy Alert for Mislabeled Raisin Bran Muffin 6 Count Due to Undeclared Walnuts |
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JE Bakery 2019, LLC, Minneapolis MN is voluntarily recalling its Raisin Bran Muffin 6 count due to a labeling error. The affected product was mislabeled and instead contains Glorious Morning Muffins, which contains Walnuts, a known allergen not declared on the label.
United States (02/13/2025)
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Common Sense Soap Recalls Beef Tallow Products Produced Without Benefit of Inspection |
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2025 - Common Sense Soap, a North Walpole, N.H. establishment, is recalling approximately 33,899 pounds of beef tallow that was processed, packaged, and labeled on behalf of...
United States (02/12/2025)
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FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Frozen Ready-To-Eat Meat and Poultry Pasties Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergen |
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2025 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for frozen, fully cooked ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and...
United States (02/12/2025)
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AKT Trading Inc. Recalls Seasoned Bamboo Shoots Because of Possible Health Risk |
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AKT Trading Inc of Torrance, California is recalling 120 packages of Menma Ajitsuke Prepared Bamboo Shoot Product, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause life-threatening illness or death. Consumers are warned not to use the product e
United States (02/11/2025)
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Jack and the Green Sprouts Recalls Expired Alfalfa Sprouts Because of Possible Health Risk |
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Jack and the Green Sprouts, Inc. of River Falls, WI is recalling 5oz packages of Alfalfa sprouts that expired on 1/29/25 because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elde
United States (02/07/2025)
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Tri-Union Seafoods Issues Recall of Select Genova®, Van Camp's®, H-E-B and Trader Joe's® Tuna Cans Due to Clostridium Botulinum Risk |
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Tri-Union Seafoods has made the decision to voluntarily recall select lots of canned tuna products sold under the Genova, Van Camp's, H-E-B and Trader Joe's brand names. This voluntary recall is out of an abundance of caution following the notification from our supplier that the "easy open" pull
United States (02/07/2025)
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Turkana Food Inc. Recalls Aleppo Tahini Sesame Paste 1lb (16oz) Because of Possible Health Risk |
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Turkana Food Inc. Kenilworth, NJ is recalling 858 cases OF Aleppo Tahini Sesame Paste because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune system
United States (02/06/2025)
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Gerber Products Company Announces Recall and Discontinuation of All Batches of Gerber® Soothe N Chew® Teething Sticks Due To Choking Hazard |
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January 31, 2025 - Gerber Products Company is initiating a recall and discontinuation of all batches of GERBER SOOTHE N CHEW TEETHING STICKS due to a potential choking hazard for babies and young children
United States (01/31/2025)
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Blue Ridge Beef Issues a Recall of Blue Ridge Beef Natural Mix Due to Salmonella Contamination |
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January 31, 2025- Blue Ridge Beef is recalling 5,700 lbs. of their 2 lb log Natural Mix due to a contamination of Salmonella. Lot # N25/12/31 (Lot numbers are stamped in the clips on the end of the chubs/bags) UPC# 854298001054.
United States (01/31/2025)
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