Attorney General Becerra Files Lawsuit Challenging Trump Administration’s Rollback of Burdensome "Waters of the United States" Rules
Posted by: thepinetree on 05/01/2020 11:32 PM
Sacramento, CA...California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and New York Attorney General Letitia James today, leading a multistate coalition, filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s unlawful final rule redefining the "waters of the United States" under the Clean Water Act. The final rule continues the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) effort to weaken water quality protections under the Clean Water Act and to narrow the definition of “waters of the United States.” The new rule removes protections for all ephemeral streams, many wetlands, and other waters that were previously covered under the Act. In the lawsuit, the coalition argues that EPA’s rule directly conflicts with the text of the Clean Water Act, Supreme Court precedent, and the EPA’s own scientific findings.
Senate Republicans Fight for Millions of Unemployed Californians
Posted by: thepinetree on 05/01/2020 11:41 PM
Sacramento, CA...With 3.7 million Californians filing for unemployment insurance claims since March 15, glaring and mounting problems have surfaced with the state's Employment Development Department (EDD) ability to process these claims, including website crashes, long hold times, long wait periods for payment, and a lack of customer service capability.
President Trump and Vice President Pence in Roundtable with Industry Executives on the Plan for Opening Up America Again
Posted by: thepinetree on 04/30/2020 10:15 AM
Washington, DC...Well, thank you very much, everybody. A lot of progress is being made, as you see. And we’re reopening our country, and it’s very exciting. And it should have never happened. This plague should never have happened. It could have been stopped, but people chose not to stop it. It’s a very sad thing for the world — 184 countries, at least.
GDP Dropped 4.8% in First Quarter According to Advance Estimate
Posted by: thepinetree on 04/29/2020 11:09 AM
Washington, DC...Real gross domestic product (GDP) decreased at an annual rate of 4.8 percent in the first quarter of 2020 (table 1), according to the "advance" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the fourth quarter of 2019, real GDP increased 2.1 percent. The GDP estimate released today is based on source data that are incomplete or subject to further revision by the source agency (see "Source Data for the Advance Estimate" on page 2). The "second" estimate for the first quarter, based on more complete data, will be released on May 28, 2020.
County Health Officer Revises Local Stay at Home Order to Allow for Expanded Outdoor Activities Including Golf, Watercraft, ATVs, Bicycling, Hunting, Fishing, Disk Golf & More!
Posted by: thepinetree on 04/29/2020 12:18 PM
San Andreas, CA...Calaveras County Health Officer Revises Local Order and Emergency Regulations Related to COVID-19. On Tuesday, April 28, 2020, the Calaveras County Health Officer revised the Local Public Health Order and Emergency Regulations to clarify access to outdoor physical activities. This latest Order modifies the one released on March 27, 2020. Outdoor physical activities are now permitted to the extent allowed by the Governor of California and the California Department of Public Health. Requirements will be in place to ensure that the health and well-being of people in Calaveras are protected. All other Calaveras County Health Officer Orders related to COVID-19 will continue to remain in place. This Order is in place until further notice.
NIH Clinical Trial Shows Remdesivir Accelerates Recovery from Advanced COVID-19
Posted by: thepinetree on 04/29/2020 08:33 PM
Bethesda, MD...Hospitalized patients with advanced COVID-19 and lung involvement who received remdesivir recovered faster than similar patients who received placebo, according to a preliminary data analysis from a randomized, controlled trial involving 1063 patients, which began on February 21. The trial (known as the Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial, or ACTT), sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, is the first clinical trial launched in the United States to evaluate an experimental treatment for COVID-19.
First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom to Host Facebook Live Reading April 30th to Celebrate Día de Los Libros
Posted by: thepinetree on 04/29/2020 10:51 PM
Sacramento, CA...California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom will host an interactive virtual story time via Facebook Live on April 30th from 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., on Día de los Libros. Día de los Libros is a multi-day, national library event that fosters multicultural literacy for all children from all backgrounds. The First Partner will read We Count, which teaches young children the importance of getting counted in the 2020 Census, in English and Spanish.
Governor Newsom Announces Expansion of Farm to Family Program and New Initiatives to Combat Food Insecurity
Posted by: thepinetree on 04/29/2020 10:55 PM
Sacramento, CA...Governor Gavin Newsom today announced new initiatives to help Californians put healthy food on the table while also supporting the farm industry, which has been devastated by COVID-19. The Governor unveiled $3.64 million in new funding to expand the state’s Farm to Family program, including $2.86 million from the USDA and $775,000 committed by philanthropy to jumpstart a $15 million campaign to further support the program through the end of the year. The Governor also highlighted critical expansions of CalFresh and EBT programs to combat food insecurity for low-income Californians, including a new Pandemic-EBT program for children who receive free or reduced lunch and EBT for online purchasing.
Dirt Roads & Motorized Trails Open May 1st on the Eldorado National Forest - Other Closures Remain in Effect
Posted by: thepinetree on 04/28/2020 08:27 AM
Placerville, CA...The seasonal closure of dirt roads and motorized trails in the Eldorado National Forest will be lifted beginning Friday, May 1st. However, damage could still occur from driving in wet areas and visitors will be responsible for any damage caused by inappropriate use. Due to melting snow, wet areas will be present in the forest for some time, especially at higher elevations. Many routes change in elevation over several miles. Visitors are encouraged to be aware of changes in the conditions of the roads they are using, and to adjust travel plans if they reach a wet section.
