Nevada County Local News

In the first ruling on a California gun law since the U.S. Supreme Court reduced the government’s authority to regulate firearms, the Third District Court of Appeal in Sacramento upheld a ban on AR-15-style rifles, stating the weapons are “not typically possessed by law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes.”

When Chilean artist Paula Madariaga Decebal-Cuza first visited Nevada City in 2010, the first place she ate at was Broad Street Bistro. On April 29, she celebrated the grand opening of her gallery and cafe at the same location.

Fast food is the largest employer of homeless workers in California, with one of 17 unhoused individuals in the state working in the industry. That is according to a new report released by the Economic Roundtable.

The U.S. Federal District Court of Montana heard oral arguments April 17 for the Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics’ lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service for the service’s discharging of fire retardant into national waters.

Ranchers in Placer, Nevada, and Yuba counties, along with UC Cooperative Extension and county agricultural departments, have established a program to facilitate livestock and human safety before, during, and after wildfire and other emergencies.

Two local community members are offering a “May Match Challenge” to Hospitality House. Through May 31, all monetary donations made to Nevada County’s leading emergency shelter services provider will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $30,000.

The South Yuba River Citizens League will throw its annual Wild for the Yuba dinner and auction on June 3 at the Wheelhouse Event Center. The event is a fundraiser SYRCL’s many programs to keep the river healthy.

Nevada County Supervisor Hoek and staff broke ground on the McCourtney Road Transfer Station Improvement Project, which will repurpose the station’s footprint to accommodate the demand for recycling and solid waste services.

The Artist Lofts Gallery announced a new showcase event, “The Debut,” which brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, ages, and experiences, representing a wide range of artistic talents and genres.

Conservationists, geologists, botanists and a Yolo County Native American tribe are pushing for President Joe Biden to incorporate Molok Luyuk into the adjacent Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. A bill in Congress would do the same, recognizing it as a geological and biodiversity rarity.

A state bill could end suspensions for students who defy teachers’ orders, disrupt school activities, or engage in other types of “willful defiance”—requiring teachers to de-escalate such incidents instead of forcing a child from the classroom.

Nevada County’s Environmental Health Department will hold five Mosquito Fish Giveaways from May 11 to July 6. Environmental Health Director Amy Irani says, “By reducing the mosquito population in larvae form, you can reduce the mosquito population and your risk of contracting mosquito-borne diseases.”

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board voted to approve the updated plan revision to the Waldorf Astoria, located at what used to be the Tahoe Biltmore. Developers made significant changes to the 2011 plan.

Michelle Bodley was sworn in as the new Nevada County Treasurer-Tax Collector during the Nevada County Board of Supervisors meeting on April 25.

The Nevada County Historical Landmarks Commission has designated the Rome Power House—the first and only hydroelectric generating plant on the South Yuba River—as a historical landmark.

The Nevada County Planning Department released a staff report on the proposed Idaho Maryland Mine – Rise Grass Valley Project ahead of the May 10 Planning Commission meeting. It provides two recommendations: one denying the application and one granting it with mitigation measures.

Howard Kenton Potts died April 21 in Provo, Utah, according to Randy Stratton, whose late father was Potts’ shipmate. Stratton noted that the remaining survivor from the Arizona is Lou Conter, who is 101 and lives in Grass Valley.

Asphalt pavement formulated with recycled plastic has successfully survived heavy truck traffic and the atmospheric rivers of the winter of 2022-23 after a section of California State Route 99 flooded in January.

California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis became the first candidate to enter the race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom as the state’s leader.

A bipartisan congressional group from Nevada and California is asking the Biden administration to fast-track federal funds for a private company to build a high-speed rail line between Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area.