Happy 2024 from your friends at California Local. In this week’s edition of The Newsletter, you will find more of what you’re looking for, if what you’re looking for is reliable information about the place you call home.
This week’s News Digest, as always curated by our good friend and executive editor Sharan Street, is the most robust ever, and can be your guide to the most important stories you may have missed over the holiday.
Our Year in Review, also cat-herded by Sharan, will remind you that this was (another) nut job of a year—and that there’s some good stuff happening in California, too.
Speaking of good stuff: Chris Neklason, our good friend and fearless leader, compiled a list of the big changes that have happened here at California Local over the past 12 months. It kind of blew my mind, and I work here every day—so I’m not sure why I was surprised.
And yes! Even more good stuff. From our good friend and publisher, Mike Gelbman, some retrospection and inspiration.
• Pioneer Community Energy Expands Service to Nevada County
Pioneer Community Energy, a not-for-profit electricity provider, is expanding service into Grass Valley and Nevada City beginning in January 2024.
(01/02/2024) → YubaNet
• Cameron Park CSD Hires New Leader
After a six-month search the Cameron Park Community Services District Board of Directors has named a new general manager.
(01/01/2024) → Village Life
• Judge Won’t Order Trial of Caldor Fire Suspects, Lawyers Say
A judge has refused to order the father and son duo charged with starting the 2021 Caldor Fire—which destroyed Grizzly Flat and burned across three Northern California counties—to face charges that they recklessly started the fire by target shooting.
(12/29/2023) → Read the full The Sacramento Bee report
• EID Rate Hikes Approved
El Dorado Irrigation District Directors Alan Day and Lori Anzini tried for a motion to hike water rates 8 percent, but lost on a 2-3 vote.
(12/29/2023) → Village Life
• ABT Relaunches ‘ABT Gives Back’ Charitable Giving Program
ABT Plumbing, Electric, Heating & Air is reinvigorating its ABT Gives Back program, launched as an effort to build awareness and financial support for nonprofits in the Nevada County and Placer County areas.
(12/28/2023) → Read the full The Union report
• New Managed Care Plan for Medi-Cal Recipients Kicks in Jan. 1
On Jan. 1, Partnership HealthPlan of California will become the Managed Care Plan for Medi-Cal recipients in these counties: Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba.
(12/28/2023) → YubaNet
• Rite Aid to Close Additional Sacramento Area Stores
The closure of two locations in the Sacramento region is part of nationwide store shutdowns following Rite Aid’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. The Placerville store is set to close Jan. 8, while the Auburn store will shutter Jan. 15.
(12/28/2023) → Rio Linda Messenger
• Transit Ops Manager to Retire
After 30 years of public service, El Dorado Transit Operations Manager Scott Ousley is retiring effective Jan. 6.
(12/27/2023) → Mountain Democrat
• Sierra Snowpack at 25% of Usual Levels
The California Department of Water Resources has found that the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada mountains is at just 25% of normal levels for this time of year. This could potentially impact water supply and wildfire protection.
(01/02/2024) → Sacramento Bee
• Hospitals Seeing More People with COVID-19 and Flu
Los Angeles County has entered the medium category of COVID-19 hospitalization defined by the CDC, with providers warning that illnesses like RSV like to travel in tandem with the virus. Officials are urging the public to mask when visiting hospitals or other indoor facilities.
(01/02/2024) → Los Angeles Times
• CA Minimum Wage Hits $16 an Hour
The dawn of 2024 meant that California’s minimum wage rose from $15.50 to $16 an hour. That puts the Golden State at the second-highest minimum wage for a U.S. state, trailing only Washington state at $16.28 an hour.
(01/02/2024) → New York Times
• Law Goes Into Effect Blocking Guns in Many California Public Places
A law passed by the California legislature in 2023 has gone into effect banning licensed gun holders from bringing their firearms to places like playgrounds, churches and casinos. The law faces an ongoing challenge in the federal court system.
(01/02/2024) → Los Angeles Times
• 7 Ways to Hang On to More Money in 2024
Just as you might intend to change your diet or workout plan, resolve to make changes that will allow you to meet financial goals.
(12/27/2023) → Daily Democrat
• American Graffiti is Back: Cruising Now Legal Again in California, But So Are Speed Cameras
Under new state laws, five cities will test cameras to catch speeding drivers and cruising bans will be lifted statewide. The first is supposed to improve road safety, but critics of the second say it will endanger the public.
(12/27/2023) → CalMatters
• San Diego Zoo Displays World’s Rarest Insect
Visitors can see the critically endangered Lord How Island stick insect, on display for the first time in North America, in a special habitat at the zoo’s Wildlife Explorers Basecamp.
(12/27/2023) → San Joaquin Valley Sun
Family and friends are the best part of any year.
