By Eric Johnson
Published Apr 03, 2023

As their fundamental journalistic service, legacy local news organizations, most of which are struggling, help stop the spread of disinformation.

Democracy & Journalism

Happy Monday, and happy belated Cesar Chavez Day. Before moving on to this week’s featured news, I would like to take a moment to honor the man who tried to bring economic justice and dignity to California’s farmworkers and their families.

That work remains unfinished, and I invite you to remember that la lucha continua.

Journalism as a Force Against BS

We editors are generally happy when a news story breaks that aligns with a project we're already working on. Such a story broke this week, but it did not make me happy.

California Local contributor Graham Womack spoke this week to Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, author of a bill that would help fund the state's local news media, which is in serious trouble. The day before that story came in, we read a piece in the LA Times headlined ‘The California newspaper that has no reporters left.’

The story of the Salinas Californian, which lost its last reporter in December, was made more poignant by the floods that the region experienced in January, which went unreported. Sadly, cities throughout California and the rest of the nation find themselves in similar circumstances as their main news sources essentially disappear.

You probably already know that the internet effectively killed the newspaper industry, as most local news outlets were slow to figure out how to publish effectively online. You may also know that advertisers who once supported their local paper sent most of their money online.

You might not know that two companies—Google and Meta (Facebook)—suck up fully half of the total dollars spent on online advertising. Much of that revenue is built on content generated by legacy media outlets.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Asm. Buffy Wicks’ bill, the Journalism Preservation Act, would make the big platforms pay for the content that they suck from online news outlets—along with vast sums of advertising revenue.

Making Online Media Giants Pay for the Industry They Crushed

Assemblymember Buffy Wicks' bill would make Google, Facebook, et al, pay when their ads appear alongside content generated by legitimate news media.

Asm. Buffy Wicks' AB 886, the Journalism Preservation Act, would require Google, Facebook, et al, to share advertising revenue with news media organizations.

The Ghost of a California Newspaper

Historic downtown Salinas, California, capital of Monterey County, and the hub of "America's Salad Bowl."

James Rainey reports that the Salinas Californian, the daily newspaper serving the capital of Monterey County, has completely emptied its newsroom.

	Placer County's Homepage
Direct your browser to https://placer.californialocal.com/ to catch up on the latest news in California and Placer County. Bookmark the link and visit often, there's a lot happening in your community!

Here's Why We Need Local Journalism

In Placer County, three local school boards banned a nonprofit from all of their campuses because they were tricked by a malicious spreader of disinformation.

Editor Brings Truth to Placer County

Pastor Casey Tinnin has come under attack following a hit-piece by a notorious spreader of disinformation.

Last week Carol Feineman, managing editor of four Gold Country Media papers, provided her readers with an important piece of information that should reverse a hasty and ill-informed decision.

Get to Know a Group

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brother Big Sisters provides children facing adversity with strong, enduring, professionally supported mentorship. The chapter serves Sacramento and Yolo counties, as well as southern Placer County.

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From Our Media Allies

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	Celebrate With Tahoe’s Spring Outings, Events
	Fed up with snow this season? Tahoe Weekly looks ahead to the region’s spring outings and events.

	Spring Is Blooming With Festivals to Enjoy
	From star parties and tulip festivals to film festivals, Earth Day festivities and celebrations of Western culture, Tahoe Weekly rounds up the best bets for spring fun.

	Tahoe Weekly’s Best of Spring
	Every year, readers ask: What can I do in Tahoe this spring? To answer, our first guide to the “Best of Spring” features some of the best activities to enjoy in the Tahoe Sierra.

	Tahoe Boho Studio: Sparking Creativity
	Carla Sakrison is a creative maker, teacher and owner of Tahoe Boho Studio. Her journey with art began when she realized she was unhappy with her job and was looking for a change.

	Dorinda’s Chocolates: Divine Experience at New Truckee Store
	The smell of rich dark chocolate invaded my senses. The aroma of chocolate reached me before I stepped through the door.

	Heavenly Concert Series Returns in May
	The Shops at Heavenly Village will be kicking off free concerts on May 5 with Mariachi Cazadores from 4 to 7 p.m.

	Chocolate Stores Pair Up
	The Chocolate Nugget Candy Factory and Champagne & Chocolate have announced a partnership to bring the Chocolate Nugget’s wares to Champagne & Chocolate’s store in South Lake Tahoe.

	Kiwanis Hold Benefit Wine Tasting
	Kiwanis Club of North Lake Tahoe is hosting its 31st Annual Benefit Auction and Wine Tasting on May 7 at Sunnyside Resort on the West Shore.

	Rosewood Tahoe Opens in Incline
	Rosewood Tahoe opened in the Raley’s Shopping Center in Incline Village, Nev., in March. The new restaurant offers dinner Wednesday to Sunday.

Recent Local News

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● Road Closure Will Affect Government Center Traffic

The Placer County Facilities Management Division is advising commuters in North Auburn of a road closure at the Placer County Government Center between April 3 and June 5 on Richardson Drive between B and C avenues.

(04/04/2023) Auburn Journal

● Tahoe National Forest Extends Seasonal Closures

Due to heavy snowpack and near record wet weather conditions this winter, Tahoe National Forest has extended the seasonal closure period of its roads and trails to motorized use.

(04/04/2023) Sierra Sun

● Lincoln Chamber Board Has New Leader

The Lincoln Area Chamber of Commerce Board president for 2023 is Brandon Bowling, the associate athletic director for Jessup University in Rocklin.

(04/04/2023) Lincoln Messenger

● The Rise, Fall and Possible Redemption of the Cal-Neva Lodge

The Cal-Neva Lodge & Casino irreversibly changed the history of north shore Lake Tahoe when it opened in 1926.

(04/02/2023) Sierra Sun

● Placer County Seeks Grand Jury Volunteeers

Placer County Superior Court is seeking volunteers to serve on the 2023-24 Grand Jury. The court encourages applications from all citizens to enable the Grand Jury to represent a broad cross-section of the community.

(04/02/2023) Sierra Sun

● North Tahoe, Truckee Fire Agencies Get Training

North Lake Tahoe, North Tahoe Fire, Northstar Fire and Truckee Fire all received instruction from the the experts at Sustainable Workplace Alliance and learned about how to handle fuel tanker rollovers.

(04/01/2023) Tahoe Daily Tribune

● Tahoe Groups Mark Sexual Assault Awareness Month

April is celebrated nationally as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and organizations in the basin are preparing to recognize the month with events that center around raising awareness and supporting survivors.

(04/01/2023) Sierra Sun

● Project 8 Winery Recommendation Approved

The Horseshoe Bar/Penryn Municipal Advisory Council on Tuesday voted to recommend approval of the Project 8 Winery in Penryn to the Placer County Planning Commission. The proposed project is slated for a 17.96-acre portion of a 44.14-acre site at 7615 Callison Road.

(03/31/2023) Gold Country Media

● Aerial Fire Retardant Drops Attacked as Ineffective, Harmful

For most Californians, the sight of aircraft spewing neon pink liquid over flaming trees and brush has become a hallmark of aggressive wildfire suppression campaigns. But some forest advocates say the substance does more harm than good. A federal lawsuit could reshape how the U.S. Forest Service battles wildfires throughout the western United States.

(03/29/2023) Los Angeles Times

● Placer Looks to Increase Alcohol Licenses

The Board of Supervisors recently voted to increase the number of restaurant liquor licenses throughout the county.

(03/28/2023) → Read the full Auburn Journal report

● Loomis Welcomes New Planning Commissioners

Four Loomis residents were sworn in as new planning commissioners at the most recent monthly Planning Commission meeting.

(03/28/2023) Loomis News

● State Parks Looking for a Few Good Cadets

California State Parks invites individuals to “Live the Parks Life” as rangers or lifeguards in the nation’s largest state park system. Through June 10, individuals can apply for the State Park Peace Officer Cadet exams.