By Eric Johnson
Published Oct 28, 2024

The Sacramento San Joaquin Delta, which covers 1,153 square miles, is one of the largest estuaries in western North America. It supplies California with half of its fresh water, and is facing ecological collapse. Image credit: Photo by Daniel Parks CC BY-NC 2.0

The Big Truth, and 'The Tunnel Vision'

Greetings from Sacramento, here in the heart of Northern California, which today is bathed in a golden autumn glow.

Most weeks, it’s our job to bring you pieces of reliable news—small facts that add up to something we might call The Big Truth. This week, another chapter in the neverending story of Building Democracy in the Golden State.

So ... this thing I am today branding The Big Truth, in a nutshell: As we face this moment in which many of us feel that democracy faces grave peril, let’s today embrace the radical notion that we are currently still in possession of something worth saving. By paying close attention to news in the ten counties we currently serve, we’ve determined that there are people and institutions engaged in civic life, throughout California, working hard to make this place better.

The Big Truth is that our democracy still lives—especially here in California. Evidence can be found in the workings of many (certainly not all) city councils, county boards of supervisors, planning commissions, etc. And the hard work of democratic governance can be found happening right out in the open, at public meetings that anyone can attend. In our News Digest below, you will very likely be able to see what your elected representatives are up to in your county, warts and all.

This week, we are also featuring an ambitious multimedia investigative piece, from our friends at Bay City News and Local News Matters, which looks at several public agencies and individuals dealing with maybe the gnarliest of political problems in California—water. Specifically, one of California’s most precious and threatened natural treasures—the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta.

The Politics of Water Today

“California has one of the most ambitious and highly engineered water delivery systems on the planet, and it’s being eyed for a new extension. The Delta Conveyance Project is Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposal for a 45-mile underground tube that would tap fresh water from its source in the north and carry it beneath a vast wetland to users in the south.” Here is what you need to know.

From Local News Matters: Water War on the Delta

“This is a local story about a global issue, the future of water. In a three-part series of field reports and podcasts, Bay City News reporter Ruth Dusseault looks at the tunnel’s stakeholders, its engineering challenges, and explores the preindustrial Delta and its future restoration."

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 Fall! cookbook.

Spice up a fall meal with these roasted potatoes

These spiced potatoes are an easy side dish for a dinner with grilled meat, or for brunch alongside eggs.

New! Dijon, horseradish and more provide the kick

Recent Statewide News

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• Bird Flu Jumped From Cows to People. Now Advocates Want More Farmworkers Tested

A strain of bird flu that imperiled California poultry and cattle has jumped to people. In humans, the symptoms are mild and the virus has not been transmitted among people.

(10/29/2024) → CalMatters

• California’s Transition Off Carbon Fuels Could Upset Gasoline Supply, Prices

California motorists buy and consume a billion gallons of gasoline each month and are very sensitive about pump prices, which are markedly higher than those in other states. Naturally, they are a political football.

(10/29/2024) → CalMatters

• This California Proposition Is Drawing the Most Campaign Spending

Proposition 33 on local rent control and the related Proposition 34 are attracting the most campaign cash by far of the 10 ballot measures. But the amount pales to what was spent on dueling sports betting measures in 2022.

(10/28/2024) → CalMatters

• California’s Plan to Overhaul a Key Climate Program — Raising the Cost of Gas — Ignites Debate

The state air board will vote on changes to its landmark clean fuel program that would cut more greenhouse gases but could raise the cost of gas and diesel.

(10/24/2024) → CalMatters

• Is a New Plan for Delivering Delta Water Worse Than Trump’s Rules? Environmentalists Say Yes.

Growers support a federal and state proposal for operating California’s massive systems that send river water south. But it could harm more salmon and other endangered fish.

(10/24/2024) → CalMatters

• Most California Republicans in Congress Won’t Commit to Certifying the 2024 Presidential Election

Only one-third of the California GOP congressional delegation has pledged to accept the 2024 presidential election results. And only two incumbents in office in 2021 voted to certify President Joe Biden’s win over Donald Trump in the 2020 race.

(10/23/2024) → CalMatters

• Tool: Explore Candidates and Elected Officials Investigated for Campaign Law Violations

Use our tool to search through investigations opened by the state’s campaign law watchdog. The data updates weekly.

(10/23/2024) → CalMatters

• California Reservoirs Are Full, but Water Politics May Trump Hydrology

Most of us operate on the calendar year — the 12 months that begin on January 1 and end on December 31.

(10/23/2024) → CalMatters

• Will CA Ballot Proposition Mean More Deportations?

With proponents of Proposition 36 raising nearly $15 million so far — about three times as much as its opponents — and 71% of likely voters in support, it appears the statewide ballot measure will pass in November.
And that’s exactly what immigrant rights advocates are worried about.

(10/22/2024) → CalMatters

• Lack of Candidates Means Many Californians Won’t Vote for School Board

More than half of the school board races in 49 counties analyzed won't appear on the November ballot because either no one is running for the seat or a single candidate is unopposed.

(10/21/2024) → EdSource

• First California Project to Bury Climate-Warming Gases Wins Key Approval

Capturing and storing carbon underground is a big part of California’s efforts to tackle climate change but community members and environmentalists say it prolongs the life of fossil fuels.

(10/21/2024) → CalMatters

Government Announcements

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	United States (10/28/2024) Dynarex Corporation Expands Recall to Include Additional Products Due to Possible Health Risk
Dynarex Corporation is expanding the recall initiated on September 19, 2024, to include an additional 373 cases of item number 4875, Dynacare Baby Powder, 14 oz., as well as 647 cases of item number 4874, Dynacare Baby Powder, 4 oz., because they have the potential to be contaminated with asbestos.

	United States (10/28/2024) Atwater's Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Tree Nuts in "Spider Web Tart"
Atwater's of Baltimore, MD, is recalling its clam shell packages of spider web tarts sold 10/19/24 and 10/20/24 because they contain undeclared almond flour. People who have allergies to tree nuts run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

	United States (10/26/2024) Fresh Express is Voluntarily Recalling a Limited Number of Gourmet Café Chicken Caesar Salad Bowls
Fresh Express is voluntarily recalling a limited number of Gourmet Cafe Chicken Caesar Salad Bowls due to the inclusion of recalled chicken items from BrucePac, an outside ingredient supplier. The BrucePac recall is due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The fresh vegetable components

	United States (10/25/2024) Acme Smoked Fish Corporation Recalls Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon Due to Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination
Acme Smoked Fish Corporation is issuing a recall of 111 cases of Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon in twin 12oz package, UPC 0 96619 25697 6, Lot# 8512801270, Best-by-Date 11/13/2024 due to laboratory testing confirming Listeria monocytogenes on October 21, 2024. Listeria monocytogenes, an organism w

	United States (10/25/2024) Grand Central Bakery Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Egg in U-Bake Pie Crust, U-Bake Apple Pie, U-Bake Marionberry Pie, and U-Bake Chicken Pot Pie
October 25, 2024, Grand Central Bakery Portland, OR and Seattle, WA is recalling U- Bake frozen pie products and frozen pie dough because they may contain undeclared egg. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to eggs run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they co

	United States (10/21/2024) TreeHouse Foods Announces Expansion of Voluntary Recall to Include All Waffle and Pancake Products Due to the Potential for Listeria monocytogenes Contamination
TreeHouse Foods, Inc. (NYSE: THS) is expanding its voluntary recall to include all products manufactured at one facility and still within their shelf-life. The recall is expanded to include frozen toaster waffle, Belgian waffle and pancake products, due to the potential to be contaminated with List

	United States (10/21/2024) Con Yeager Spice Company Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Soy and Wheat in Trail Bologna Meat Processing Kits
The Con Yeager Spice Company of Zelienople, PA, is recalling its TRAIL BOLOGNA MEAT PROCESSING KITS, because they may contain undeclared soy and wheat. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy and wheat run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if this product is c

	United States (10/18/2024) Church Brothers Farms Recall Green Onions Due to Possible Health Risk
Salinas, CA, October 18, 2024 (For Distribution) - Church Brothers, LLC ("Church Brothers Farms") is voluntarily recalling 1271 cases of green onions because of the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, fra

	United States (10/18/2024) TreeHouse Foods Announces Voluntary Recall of Certain Waffle Products Due to the Potential for Listeria monocytogenes Contamination
OAK BROOK, Ill., Oct. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TreeHouse Foods, Inc. (NYSE: THS) is voluntarily recalling certain frozen waffle products listed below due to the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal

	United States (10/18/2024) Dakota Tom's Sandwiches Recalls Pepperjack Cheeseburger, Bacon Cheeseburger and The Gambler Because of Possible Health Risk
Dakota Tom's Sandwiches Corsica, SD is voluntarily recalling our Pepperjack Cheeseburger, Bacon Cheeseburger and The Gambler due to the burger patty being included in a recall from an outside supplier (BrucePac). The ingredient supplier (BrucePac) recall is due to possible Listeria monocytogenes con