Nevada County Local News

An estimated 1 in 5 schools has no air conditioning and another 10% need repair. Underfunded schools struggle to keep classrooms cool as heat waves intensify. “It’s a hot mess,” one teacher says.

On September 30, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held to celebrate the new playground at Scotten Elementary School in Grass Valley.

An grant of $7.8 million has been awarded to the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County for the Deer Creek Defensible Space and Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project protecting 1,600 acres near Nevada City.

The Nevada County Civil Grand Jury is inviting public input on problems with local government to be taken up for investigation.

The Mercury News guide to the Proposition 2 $10 billion bond to build and repair public schools.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to combat gasoline price spikes appears headed to a long-awaited Assembly floor vote next week after passing out of committee on September 26.

The public is invited to learn more about the Lower Sawtooth Trailhead Improvements Project at two upcoming community meetings hosted by Placer County and the US Forest Service in October.

A report from the September 26 League of Women Voters of Nevada County forum with candidates running for the Nevada Irrigation District board in the November election.

A report on the responses to submitted questions by candidates for Nevada Joint Union High School District Board in the November election.

The governor wants new gas reserves to dampen seasonal price spikes. Refiners say the move would raise prices and require new storage tanks.

Nevada County voter information guides are being mailed to registered voters this week.

The Mercury News guide to the anti-crime and ant-drug dealing measure Proposition 36 on the November ballot.

In their September 25 meeting, the Nevada Irrigation District Board of Directors voted to withdraw consideration of building the new Centennial reservoir and instead move forward with expanding the storage capacity of Rollins Reservoir.

Many California farmworkers have long lacked safe and affordable places to sleep — an issue thrown into sharp relief after last year’s mass shooting in Half Moon Bay, which left seven agricultural workers dead.

About 4 in 10 Californians are believed to be carrying medical debt, which can harm their chances of landing a mortgage or an apartment if it shows up on credit reports.

Community colleges are designed to help students get an associate degree and transfer to a four-year university. Most community college students never graduate or transfer, a state audit found.

Tenant advocates say giving renters 10 days to respond to eviction notices, up from 5, will help those who live in rural areas and have trouble finding legal help. Some landlords argue it will increase their costs.

Cal State officials are projecting a 2025-26 budget hole of about $400 million to $800 million. They are warning of layoffs and academic cuts.

The USDA Forest Service granted $5 million in funding for wildfire risk reduction efforts on over 1,400 acres of Tahoe National Forest adjacent to local communities.

Jessica Alvarez Castañeda was sick of low-paying jobs. For years, the 39-year-old mother of four had been “breaking her back for almost nothing” as a cashier, nursing assistant, babysitter, house cleaner and cook.