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The Housing Element Part 2: Builder’s Remedy and The Cost of Non-Compliance
This is part 2 of a multi-part series that dives into state housing policy and its local impact on San Benito County. Part 1 can be located here. Once again we invite you to get comfortable with y...
San Benito County Community Action Board
Listed under: Business, Economy & Jobs Homelessness Community Service & Support
From CalMatters...
Over $4 Billion in LA Fire Claims Distributed, More to Come
Insurance companies have paid out $4.2 billion in claims so far to survivors of the Los Angeles County fires, the state Insurance Department said Thursday.
From Local News Matters...
New Regulations Proposed for Battery Energy Storage Facilities Following Moss Landing Fire
In the wake of the fire earlier this month at Vistra Corporation’s Moss Landing Power Plant and Energy Storage Facility, the California Public Utilities Commission has proposed new standards for battery energy storage facilities.
Artificial Intelligence Is Bringing Nuclear Power Back From the Dead — Maybe Even in California
Energy demands from big tech, including for AI, has elected officials giving an old power source a second look.
From Los Angeles Times...
LA Fires Damage Estimated at More Than $250 Billion
Damages in the ongoing Southern California wildfires are topping $250 billion, on track for the costliest disaster in US history. Read on to learn more.
CA Earmarks $2.5 Billion for LA Fire Aid
With President Donald Trump bound for Los Angeles today and once again threatening to withhold wildfire aid to California unless the state abides by his water policies, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two bills Thursday to provide $2.5 billion in state funding for wildfire response and preparedness.
As the Fire Risk Fades, Los Angeles Is Busy Piecing Lives Back Together After Widespread Tragedy
At the Pasadena City College disaster resource center, the long, methodical work of putting lives back together is underway.
From CapPublicRadio...
Rebuilding in Paradise Offers Insight for Fire Ravaged LA
A look at how the rebuilding effort is going in the California town of Paradise, wiped out in a 2018 fire, and how it offers insights for the tough road ahead for residents in neighborhoods destroyed in the fires of Southern California.
California Lags in Making Homes Fire Resistant
As wildfires ravage southern California, state mandated defensible space requirements legislated in 2020 haven't been encoded into enforceable regulations. Read on to learn why.
Private Firefighters Are Increasingly Popular With Insurers. But Do They Pose a Risk?
Robert MacKenzie is an assistant fire chief — but not the kind who works for your local fire department. As the Palisades Fire bore down on Southern California last week, the private fire crew he oversees headed out to help defend homes for their customers: insurance companies that offer wildfire protection to wealthy homeowners and others with the coverage built into their policies.
LA Will Need Workers to Clean Up After Fires. It Can Be a Dangerous Job
The LA fires have left domestic workers and day laborers jobless. They may soon be hired for wildfire cleanup work, where they can be exposed to ash and other toxins.
LA Fires Bring Scrutiny to Worker Safety, Private Firefighting
Describing the active wildfires in Southern California as a “catastrophe at an unprecedented scale,” Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas of Salinas gathered with dozens of Assemblymembers on Thursday in Los Angeles to introduce new bills that seek to quicken rebuilding efforts and lift development restrictions.
LA Wildfires Could Clobber California Economy as State Recovers From a Pandemic Recession
Three days after immensely destructive and deadly wildfires broke out in and around Los Angeles, Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed a $322.3 billion state budget with a positive revenue forecast “based on an assumption of continued but slowing economic growth.”
How the LA Fires Could Exacerbate California’s Homelessness Crisis
Jennielynn Holmes stood in the middle of a make-shift evacuation center when the scope of the crisis hit her.
‘Literally Off the Charts’: LA’s Critically Dry Conditions Stun Scientists as Fires Rage
Key moisture measurements are only 2% to 5% of average, leaving dusty soils. And the recent swing from wet to dry is among the most extreme on record. This combination of climatic conditions crossed into a danger zone, priming much of Southern California for wind-whipped fires.
From The Sacramento Bee...
Hardening Your Home Against Wildfires - Wildfire Proven
Read on to learn about the measures taken to harden and protect the lone remaining house of the neighborhoodfrom the Pacific Palisades fire in Southern California.
Presumptive Bird Flu Case Identified in San Francisco Child Who Has Since Recovered
A presumptive case of H5N1 bird flu has been identified in a child who resides in San Francisco, the city’s Department of Public Health announced.The child had a fever and conjunctivitis but did not need to be hospitalized and has since made a full recovery, public health officials said Friday.
From Watch Duty Eaton Fire Information...
Updated Watch Duty Eaton Fire Information
Official updated information from WatchDuty about the Eaton Fire in Southern California.
From Watch Duty Palisades Fire Information...
Updated Watch Duty Palisades Fire Information
Official updated information from WatchDuty about the Palisades Fire in Southern California.
Hundreds of California Prison Firefighters Join Battle Against Los Angeles Wildfires
State prisoners have long been a part of California’s firefighting force. Hundreds of them now are deployed in Los Angeles County.
Why Newsom Invited Trump to Visit LA Fire Zones Amid Worries He’ll Block Disaster Aid
After days of sniping back and forth with President-elect Donald Trump over California’s handling of the fires ravaging Los Angeles, Gov. Gavin Newsom today invited the incoming Republican president to visit the state and survey the damage.
California Infernos in January? Here’s Why Wildfire Season Keeps Getting Longer and More Devastating
As climate change warms the planet, wildfires have become so unpredictable and extreme that new words were invented: firenado, gigafire, fire siege — even fire pandemic. California has 78 more annual “fire days” — when conditions are ripe for fires to spark — than 50 years ago. When is California’s wildfire season? It is now almost year-round.
Fact Check: Why Is Trump Blaming the LA Fires on Newsom’s Water Policies?
President-elect Donald Trump faulted California water policies for the devastating wildfires that are burning in Los Angeles County. The fires started because of fierce winds and extremely dry conditions.
LA Fires Underscore How Much California Has to Lose if Trump Withholds Disaster Aid
The federal government typically covers 75% of rebuilding costs after a major disaster. President-elect Trump has threatened to withhold firefighting money from California.
From California Healthline...
How America Lost Control of the Bird Flu, Setting the Stage for Another Pandemic
Keith Poulsen's jaw dropped when farmers showed him images on their cellphones at the World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin in October. A livestock veterinarian at the University of Wisconsin, Poulsen had seen sick cows before, with their noses dripping and udders slack.
Cal Fire Opens Applications for Free Summer Firefighter Camp for Young Californian Women
Cal Fire is taking applications for Camp Cinder, a free four-day, three-night immersive firefighter camp for young women ages 15-17. The program, led by women firefighters and offered June 23-26 in Shasta and San Luis Obispo, will teach rope skills, water rescues, hose movement, leadership and more,
California Declares Bird Flu Emergency
As the first serious case of bird flu in a human is reported and more dairy herds across the state are infected, California Governor Newsom declared a state of emergency. Read on to learn what that entails.
What's Behind All Those Food Recalls?
Are food recalls on the rise? Yes. Read on to learn more.
A California Child Tested Positive for Bird Flu. Here’s Why This Case Is Different
Bird flu has been spreading among dairy workers in California’s Central Valley, jumping from cows to people. A new suspected case in the Bay Area came from an unknown source.
Santa Clara County Ramps Up Response as Invasive Mosquito Detected in More Areas
The invasive Aedes aegypti mosquitos have been detected in more areas of Santa Clara County, prompting officials to hold meetings to discuss their response to the threat posed by the species.
Why Ricardo Lara Says His Plan to Fix California’s Insurance Crisis Will Work
At a CalMatters event, California’s insurance commissioner says the changes he’s making will help homeowners and business owners. One idea: A state grant for those who spend money to protect their property from wildfires.
H5N1 Bird Flu Infects California Dairy Cows
H5N1 bird flu has been reported in three California dairy herds.
More Extreme Heat + More People = Danger in These California Cities. ‘Will It Get as Hot as Death Valley?’
Inland communities with big population booms will experience the most extreme heat days under climate change projections. The combination puts more people at risk — and many cities are unprepared.
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