View in Browser Our Journalism Needs Your Support Please Donate Today
California Local Logo
Graphic which spells out The Newsletter.

By Eric Johnson
Published Oct 09, 2023

Our New Book & Goodbye, Columbus

Before I make an important announcement, I want to briefly celebrate the fact that here in California and in 16 other states, today is Indigenous Peoples’ Day. When he became the first president to recognize the holiday, Joe Biden said this: “The story of America’s Indigenous peoples is a story of their resilience and survival; of their persistent commitment to their right to self-governance; and of their determination to preserve cultures, identities, and ways of life.”

The book that you’re about to hear about shows proper respect in its telling of the story of our state.

What Californians Need to Know

Our friend and colleague Jon Vankin has spent the past couple of years working on a series of stories that add up to one big story. It has unfurled on California Local week after week, in a series of Explainers that run under headlines like “From Chaos to Confusion to Compromise: Why California Government is Set up This Way,” or “Joint Powers Authorities: Building Airports and Highways in the Dark,” or “Welcome to the Justice System.”

I am pleased to announce that we’ve gathered the best of this work, 47 chapters in all, and compiled them into the book How California Works: True Stories from the Golden State. The book will be available next month.

Jon explains why you might love this book in a short blogpost below, which is followed by a sample chapter with a fresh perspective on our state.

‘How California Works’—a Synopsis of California Local’s First Book

California is one of the most complex political entities in the world. California Local’s upcoming book explains it all in 46 fascinating chapters.
California Local enters the world of book publishing with its upcoming book, ‘How California Works,’ explaining the inner workings of this ‘most American state.’

California: The Most American State

How the American story begins in California, and continues to play out here.
California is the most American of all states, both setting the direction for the rest of the country, and acting as a mirror of what the U.S. is today. Here’s why, and how it got that way.

California Local logo

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

Some Real California Heroes

In this installment of the California Canon, we present some people (and one horse) who deserve a statue—probably more than Christopher Columbus does. 

10 Californians Deserving of Statues

A statue of Ishi, the last of the Yahi, would serve to honor an Indigenous man who survived the brutalities of the pioneer era.
Many statues can be found in California of its pioneers, but other historical figures are also deserving. Here are 10 who made the Golden State shine.

Impact Report Image for decorative use

Get to Know a Group

Big Brothers Big Sisters logo 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.

→ Learn more

California Media Alliance logo

From Our Media Allies

 → View All
The Dirt logo The Oldest Organization in Davis

The Odd Fellows Lodge is a fraternal order that was chartered in 1870—more than 150 years ago.
  California Local Pin Marker  

Recent Local News

 → View All

• South Sacramento Project With 1,100 Homes Up for Council Vote

The Sacramento City Council will hold a public hearing on plans to build 1,106 new homes near a South Sacramento light rail station.

 (10/09/2023) → CapPublicRadio

• City of Davis and Spin E-bikes Launch Program for Shared Bikes and Scooters

The initiative is being launched with the goal of making micromobilty transportation options more readily available in the city of Davis.

 (10/02/2023) → The California Aggie
  California Local Pin Marker  

Recent Statewide News

 → View All

• California Becomes First State to Ban More Than 2 Dozen Chemicals Used in Popular Cosmetics

A new California law will ban over two dozen chemicals from fragrances and cosmetics. It’s another first-in-the-nation law—and another instance of California following European Union regulators.

 (10/09/2023) → CalMatters

• Climate Change Took Them to ‘Dark Places.’ Now These Californians are Doing Something About it

The facts of climate change can lead to feelings of hopelessness and despair. Some California activists are creating communities for people to talk about those feelings.

 (10/09/2023) → CalMatters

• To Make Water Conservation a ‘California Way of Life,’ the Price Tag is $13 Billion

Water providers say rebates for residential areas are costly and residents may refuse to remove their lawns. The rules aim to save enough water for more than a million households a year.

 (10/04/2023) → CalMatters

• Cal Poly Humboldt Tree Research Will Help PG&E Reduce Outages, Wildfires

In an effort to reduce the risk of wildfire, Cal Poly Humboldt faculty and students have embarked on a three-year study to investigate tree health.

 (10/03/2023) → YubaNet

• Cal State Student Workers to Vote on Joining Union

Student workers at the 23-campus system say their pay is low, their hours are restricted and they get no sick pay. They are hoping to join the employees union to fix that.

 (10/03/2023) → CalMatters

• California May Ban Additives in Some Candies—But Not Skittles

The European Union has banned certain additives that are used in American candies and baked goods. California is on the cusp of prohibiting their sale by 2027.

 (10/02/2023) → CalMatters
  California Local Pin Marker  

Government Announcements

 → View All
Image of City of Woodland seal. City of Woodland   (10/06/2023)

Woodland Police Department Awarded Grant from the Office of Traffic Safety for Traffic Enforcement P
Woodland, Calif. – The Woodland Police Department was awarded a $69,300 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS).
Image of City of Davis seal. City of Davis   (10/06/2023)

Covell Path Paving (Catalina to F) Starts 10/10
Image of City of Davis seal. City of Davis   (10/06/2023)

Mace Redesign Message 10.6.23
Image of City of Woodland seal. City of Woodland   (10/03/2023)

Yolo Farmworkers Festival Returns to Downtown Woodland on Friday
In addition to live music, the event will include a “park and shine” lowrider display, craft vendors, a kid zone, and over twenty local organizations