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Water use in drought-ravaged California went up dramatically in March

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Water use in drought-ravaged California went up dramatically in March

California’s water use jumped dramatically in March, state officers stated Tuesday, as one of many driest stretches on document prompted a wave of householders to start out watering their lawns sooner than common in defiance of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s pleas for conservation amid a extreme drought.

Newsom final summer time requested residents to voluntarily lower water use by 15% in comparison with 2020 as local weather change intensified a drought that threatened to empty the state’s reservoirs to dangerously low ranges. Water conservation elevated regularly by means of December, aided by some intense fall and early winter storms that lowered water demand.

However the first three months of 2022 have been the driest on document. Californians averaged 77 gallons (291.48 liters) per individual per day in March, an 18.9% enhance from March 2020. It’s probably the most water Californians have utilized in March for the reason that center of the earlier drought in 2015. Statewide, water consumption is up simply 3.7% since July in comparison with 2020, woefully wanting Newsom’s 15% aim

Newsom responded on Tuesday by pledging to spend $100 million on a statewide promoting marketing campaign to encourage water conservation. The marketing campaign will embrace conventional radio and tv spots whereas additionally paying individuals with giant followings on social media to induce others to avoid wasting water. He additionally promised to spend an $211 million to preserve extra water in state authorities buildings by changing plumbing fixtures and irrigation controls.

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“Conservation actions are most impactful once they account for the range of circumstances and provide wants across the state,” Newsom’s workplace stated in a press release. “We’re hopeful these actions will considerably contribute to the state’s total water discount targets as outside watering is without doubt one of the greatest single customers of water.”

In Los Angeles — the second most populous metropolis within the U.S. — Mayor Eric Garcetti stated residents and companies must cut back outside panorama watering from three days per week to 2. Irrigation makes up 35% of town’s water use.

City water use accounts for a comparatively small proportion of California’s total water use when in comparison with agriculture. However the state’s farmers have been struggling, too, as state and federal officers have lowered water allocations to zero in some locations.

Demand for non-agriculture water is usually low in March, which comes close to the tip of the state’s wet season. It could actually typically rain a lot in March that it makes up for the remainder of the 12 months, a phenomenon officers have dubbed the “March miracle.”

However California received simply 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) of precipitation in March whereas the temperatures have been 3 levels hotter than common, additional growing water demand.

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A collection of April storms have improved issues barely since March. Nonetheless, many of the state’s reservoirs are nicely under their historic averages. The reservoirs rely upon melted snow from the Sierra Nevada to replenish them for the dry summer time months. However the statewide snowpack was at simply 27% of its historic common as of April 1.

“That is what we’ve got. That is what we’re going to get. We are able to’t count on something vital previous this date,” stated Jeanine Jones, supervisor for interstate assets with the California Division of Water Assets.

State officers stated 20% of the wells they monitor are reporting all-time low water ranges, whereas almost half of them have lower than 10% of their historic averages. In some circumstances, the state helps to haul water to small communities that don’t have entry to it. State officers stated they have been helping 687 households by means of a small group drought aid program.

Some bigger communities have been additionally in peril. Lindsay, a metropolis of about 13,000 individuals in California’s Central Valley, was projected to expire of water on July 1. Federal officers accredited a further allocation for town, which they now say may have sufficient water to final by means of February — offered they proceed to preserve.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Hospital in L.A. County asking for public’s help in identifying patient

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Hospital in L.A. County asking for public’s help in identifying patient

A hospital in Los Angeles County is asking for the public’s help in identifying a patient who has been hospitalized since late April.  

Officials at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Torrance say the man was brought to the hospital by ambulance after suffering a medical emergency at a bus stop at Torrance Boulevard and Earl Street on April 23.  

The patient had no identification and has been unable to participate in his care, hospital officials said.  

  • Hospital in L.A. County asking for public's help in identifying patient
  • Hospital in L.A. County asking for public's help in identifying patient

He is described as a Black male adult standing around 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing approximately 193 pounds with brown eyes, black hair a beard and a mustache.

The man has several tattoos, including the word “California” across his abdomen, the date “1997” above his left eyebrow and the word “Lady” over his right eyebrow.  

Anyone who may recognize the patient or know any of his family members is urged to contact officials at 661-755-1322.  

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Los Angeles, Ca

Los Angeles police identify knife-wielding woman shot and killed by officers on Saturday

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Los Angeles police identify knife-wielding woman shot and killed by officers on Saturday

The Los Angeles Police department has identified the woman shot and killed by officers while wielding a knife and threatening family members before turning the knife onto law enforcement.

Officers responded to an apartment building on the 9400 block of Van Nuys Boulevard in Panorama City at 12:50 a.m. Saturday on reports of a woman attempting to assault family members with a knife. The person who called authorities reported that the woman was blocking the family members from leaving the apartment.

Upon arrival, officers staged on a second-floor landing of the apartment building, just outside the unit’s door. After unsuccessfully attempting to speak to the woman, officers heard a loud banging noise and the woman’s screams, police said.

Officers then forced entry into the apartment, believing that the woman was attempting to “gain access” to the victims. Once inside, they encountered the woman and again shouted orders at her to drop the knife.

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She refused, police said, and charged officers while holding up the knife. Officers simultaneously tased and shot her at that moment.

The woman was transported to a local hospital, where she later died. On Sunday, police identified her as 23-year-old Joanna Lua.

No other injuries were reported. A 10-inch bread knife was recovered at the scene.

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Family devastated after motorcyclist killed by DUI driver in Orange County

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Family devastated after motorcyclist killed by DUI driver in Orange County

The family of a motorcyclist remains devastated after he was killed by a drunk driver who was speeding at over 100 miles per hour in Orange County.

The victim was identified as Alexander Marce, 28, an Anaheim resident.

On June 12, Alexander was stopped at a red light on Orangethorpe Avenue in Fullerton when a driver in a BMW struck him and ejected him off his bike.

The suspect continued driving away while dragging Alexander’s motorcycle, which was still wedged underneath the car, for a “significant distance,” said the Fullerton Police Department.

Witnesses followed the suspect and were able to detain him until police arrived at the scene. The suspect was identified as Francisco Garcia-Vargas, 44. 

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At the time of the crash, Garcia-Vargas had a blood alcohol level of almost three times the legal limit and was driving at more than 100 mph toward a red light without slowing down, prosecutors said.

  • The victim, Alexander Marce, 28, is seen in a personal photo. (Marce Family)
  • A motorcycle is seen wedged underneath a car after a fatal crash involving a suspected DUI driver in Fullerton on June 12, 2024. (OC Hawk)
  • The victim's motorcycle helmet is seen on the street after the rider was killed in a crash with a suspected DUI driver in Fullerton on June 12, 2024. (OC Hawk)
  • The suspect was arrested after failing a sobriety test in Fullerton on June 12, 2024. (OC Hawk)
  • The suspect was arrested after failing a sobriety test in Fullerton on June 12, 2024. (OC Hawk)
  • A motorcycle is seen wedged underneath a car after a fatal crash involving a suspected DUI driver in Fullerton on June 12, 2024. (OC Hawk)
  • A motorcycle is seen wedged underneath a car after a fatal crash involving a suspected DUI driver in Fullerton on June 12, 2024. (OC Hawk)
  • A motorcycle is seen wedged underneath a car after a fatal crash involving a suspected DUI driver in Fullerton on June 12, 2024. (OC Hawk)

The victim’s family remains heartbroken and devastated over Alexander’s death.

“Alexander was magnetic,” said Erika Diaz, the victim’s aunt. “He was incredibly determined. He brought so much light.”

“My two sisters came into the house crying and my mom and I woke up, we were extremely scared,” recalled Carlos Marce, the victim’s brother. “We had no idea what was going on.”

Alexander was an aspiring musician who had put his dreams on hold to help earn money to support his family while his mother was battling cancer.

“He didn’t deserve to be murdered this way,” Carlos said. “In such a horrendous and tragic way.”

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Video recorded following the crash showed the suspect stumbling during a field sobriety test. Police said he did not try to stop or pull over to help Alexander after hitting him.

“It hurts me and affects the whole family that a man in this state could just run over somebody and continue revving the vehicle,” Carlos said.

Garcia-Vargas was arrested and charged with three felonies including gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, and driving with a blood alcohol content of .08% or higher.

If convicted on all counts, he faces up to 10 years in state prison.

Alexander’s family hopes that sharing this story will serve as a stark reminder to others that driving under the influence is never worth it.

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“It’s not just risking your life, but other people’s lives, innocent lives,” Carlos said. “It’s not worth it.”

Alexander’s aunt said the family is also lobbying for stricter laws when it comes to DUI drivers.

“A vehicle is a killing machine,” said Diaz. “There’s got to be some type of severe consequences for individuals when they get involved in accidents like this. We are hoping we can set up a meeting with a state senator to discuss some type of bill [addressing these issues.]”

A GoFundMe page to help Alexander’s family with funeral expenses can be found here.

While investigating the crash, a police cruiser that was blocking traffic on Orangethorpe Avenue was struck by a motorist in a Tesla that was in self-drive mode.

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The crash caused the police car to spin around, leaving the front end heavily damaged. An officer was standing near the vehicle, but jumped out of the way just in time and was not injured.

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