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Yolo County Public Safety Digest



Woodland City Council Proclaims March as American Red Cross Month

03/21/2024

Woodland resident and Red Cross volunteer member of the local disaster action team acceptted the proclamation at the council meeting.

Woodland City Council to Consider Renewing Advance Peace contract

03/03/2024

The City Council is poised to authorize a $400,000 three-year contract with the organization to continue its services that city staff reports has produced positive outcomes.

Two Rare Tornadoes Seen in Central California

03/02/2024

A tornado stuck Kings county briefly, and another touched down in Madera county, as favorable conditions came together during a powerful winter storm which swept the region.

Study Finds Almost 50% of San Francisco Drug Users Not Residents

03/01/2024

A report of a 12 month study which ended in February indicates almost half of those cited for drug usage were not residents of the city, leading to questions about city approaches to drug addiction.

Woodland City Council Receives Update on Fire Station 3 Relocation

02/12/2024

The Woodland Fire Department updated the City Council on its plans to relocate Fire Station 3 to the Willow Spring School site the city acquired in 2018.

Woodland’s County Fair Mall Receives Notice to Vacate Effective Feb. 10

02/08/2024

Woodland’s County Fair Mall will close indefinitely due to a notice to vacate the Fire Department issued following its discovery of fire code violations in the mall’s fire suppression system.

Sacramento’s Infrastructure, With Its Many Trees, Poses Challenges During Storms

02/08/2024

Sacramento, known for its tree-filled landscape, faces unique challenges in intense weather. The convergence of high winds with large trees poses significant risks to people and urban infrastructure.

Appeals Court Temporarily Reinstates Calif. Background Checks for Ammo Purchases

02/06/2024

California’s law that requires background checks when purchasing ammunition is back in place.

How Are Atmospheric Rivers Affected by Climate Change?

02/06/2024

Atmospheric rivers are well-known weather phenomena along the West Coast. But the intensity of recent atmospheric rivers is almost certainly affected by human-caused climate change.

Some Experts Are Proposing a Category 6 Storm Rating

02/05/2024

A handful of super powerful tropical storms in the last decade and the prospect of more to come has a couple of experts proposing a new category of whopper hurricanes: Category 6.

L.A.’s Flood-Control System Survived Epic Storm. But It’s Losing the Battle With Climate Change

02/05/2024

Los Angeles County flood control network withstands punishing rains—for now.

The Terrifying Forces That Created a California Monster Storm

02/05/2024

The storm fed off of unusually warm waters as it grew. It also reached “bomb cyclone” status as it neared California.

Shasta County Supervisors Vote to Allow Concealed Weapons in Local Government Buildings

01/24/2024

The Shasta County Board of Supervisors voted to allow guns in local government buildings, defying California law.

New USGS Map Shows California Is at High Risk for Damaging Earthquakes

01/24/2024

An updated earthquake hazard map from USGS shows a high shaking risk in California.

‘Thousand-Year Storm’ Leaves San Diego Reeling From Punishing Rainfall, Floods

01/23/2024

Hundreds of San Diego homes and businesses were damaged or ruined in devastating floods after punishing rainfall fell on Jan. 22.

Smokey Bear—and Californians’ Relationship With Fire—Gets an Update in UC Davis Art Exhibition

01/18/2024

If you’re driving on Interstate 80, you might spot a billboard displaying an animal wildfire mascot. But it isn’t Smokey Bear. It’s Burnie the Bobcat, with a new slogan: Only you can decide our fiery future.

The 1994 Northridge Quake Was a Shock. Here’s Why the Next One Won’t Be

01/16/2024

Our understanding and preparedness have come a long way since Southern California’s magnitude 6.7 earthquake in 1994. We’re still learning from that destructive temblor.

Congressman Mike Thompson Files Discharge Petition for Bill Banning Large-Capacity Magazines

01/13/2024

To force a vote on the ban of large-capacity magazines, House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chair Congressman Mike Thompson announced the filing of a discharge petition for the Keep Americans Safe Act.

What Causes Innocent-Looking Snow Slopes to Collapse? A Physicist and Skier Explains

01/12/2024

An avalanche swept up skiers at Lake Tahoe’s largest ski resort on Jan. 10 as a 150-foot-wide sheet of snow slid down a mountain slope.

LAPD Chief Announces Departure at End of February

01/12/2024

Michel Moore, chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, announced he will resign. The departure of Moore, who has been in the job since 2018, will spur the appointment of an interim chief and a nationwide search for his replacement, according to Mayor Karen Bass.

SCOTUS to Hear Case with Major Implications for Homeless

01/12/2024

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case related to whether cities and towns can ban camping on public property. The high court could overturn Martin v. Boise, a 2018 federal court decision that keeps western cities and counties from blocking public camping when sufficient shelter space is unavailable.

Second Avalanche Hits Tahoe Slopes Near Where a Skier Died One Day Earlier

01/12/2024

An avalanche was reported Jan. 11 at a resort near Lake Tahoe, one day after a major avalanche roared down an adjoining mountain, trapping several people and killing a 66-year-old man.

Hate Crimes Rising in Los Angeles

01/09/2024

Cal State San Bernardino’s Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism found that hate crimes rose 12.9% between 2022 and 2023. The spike follows a particularly stark increase in crimes against Jewish people.

Kinder, Gentler Prison Guards Key to Newsom San Quentin Reform Plan

01/05/2024

California correctional officers train like ‘they are going to war’ to work in state prisons. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to transform San Quentin could require a kinder approach.

WWII-Era Dump Site Found Off LA Coast

01/05/2024

Munition boxes, depth charges and smoke floats have been found 3,000 feet underwater off the coast of Los Angeles. More than 100 square miles of ocean might be contaminated.

Snow Shortage Followed by Potential Whiteout in Sierras

01/05/2024

Heavy snow is projected in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Previously, warmer storms had been bringing precipitation mainly to higher elevations in the Sierras.

Repairing Sidewalks Can Cost Property Owners Big in California

01/04/2024

California state law dictates that property owners are responsible for repairing damaged sidewalks. In Sacramento, this has left some owners facing bills of thousands of dollars or tax assessments from the city.

Driverless Cars Can’t Be Ticketed in SF for Speeding or Running Red Lights

01/03/2024

San Francisco police officers have been operating for more than a year with guidance from their chief that California’s vehicle code doesn’t provide authority for them to ticket driverless cars for infractions like speeding or running red lights. Officers are still encouraged to report relevant information about incidents.

Law Goes Into Effect Blocking Guns in Many California Public Places

01/02/2024

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.

Winters Council Approves Public Safety Needs, Sale of City Property

12/29/2023

In the final meeting of 2023, the Winters City Council discussed and unanimously approved the sale and purchase of city property on Oak Drive, a job listing for a police recruit, and the go-ahead to purchase a ladder truck.

Woodland Police Department Holds Promotion Ceremony

12/28/2023

The Woodland Police Department celebrated a familiar and prominent face within the department: newly promoted Deputy Chief Dallas Hyde.

CHP Highlights New Traffic Safety Laws

12/28/2023

As we head into the new year, the California Highway Patrol is educating the public on traffic safety laws that were passed during this year’s legislative session and take effect on Jan. 1.

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