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California boosts wildfire risk prevention through CAL FIRE grants and emergency actions

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California boosts wildfire risk prevention through CAL FIRE grants and emergency actions


California state government responds to wildfire risk with new prevention investments

The Press Office of Governor Gavin Newsom has reported that California has awarded nearly $72 million through CAL FIRE to support regionally based land management projects aimed at addressing wildfire risk and forest health.

The announcement comes as the U.S. federal government reduces resources for the U.S. Forest Service, creating uncertainty ahead of peak fire season.

According to the Governor’s Office, 12 grants are being distributed to support large-scale forest management initiatives, enhance long-term carbon storage, and improve ecosystem resilience across California.

New projects fast-tracked under state emergency proclamation

The Governor’s Office reported that California has approved 13 wildfire safety projects on nearly 7,000 acres since the April 17 activation of the wildfire prevention emergency proclamation.

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The state stated that these projects involve natural resource managers, tribal entities, fire districts, and other partners, and follow recent work on over 2 million acres in previous years.

Fast-track approvals began within one week of the application window opening in mid-April.

Forest Health Program grants target large landscapes and multiple jurisdictions

CAL FIRE said its Forest Health Program is funding projects of no less than 800 acres across multiple landownerships and jurisdictions to support fire prevention and ecological restoration.

Alan Talhelm, Assistant Deputy Director of Climate and Energy at CAL FIRE, said: “CAL FIRE is proud to award Forest Health grants that will increase the wildfire resilience of California’s landscapes and communities and help restore ecosystems following wildfire.

“These grants will provide our partners around the state with funds to complete projects that support local economies, protect watersheds, increase public safety, and sequester carbon.”

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The agency noted that projects include fuel treatments, habitat protection, reintroduction of fire, and support for low-income and tribal communities.

Selected projects include fuels reduction and ecological restoration

According to CAL FIRE, project highlights include 1,288 acres of fuels reduction by the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority and 867 acres treated by the Redwood Forest Foundation, Inc., creating forestry jobs and youth opportunities.

Other projects include prescribed fire on 450 acres in Humboldt County under the Prosper Ridge Community Wildfire Resilience Project and 2,917 acres in Scott Valley focused on tree health and carbon sequestration.

The state emphasized that these initiatives are being monitored to ensure adherence to environmental protection standards under the new Statewide Fuels Reduction Environmental Protection Plan.

Early action budget allocates $170 million for wildfire resilience

The Governor’s Office reported that $170 million in voter-approved funding has been made available through state conservancies for wildfire resilience work as part of the 2025 early action budget.

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The funding is supported by an executive order signed by Governor Newsom to streamline approvals for these projects under the March 1 State of Emergency.

These measures build on previous years of accelerated investment in fire safety infrastructure, forest management, and community preparedness.

Aerial firefighting and technology capacity expanded

Governor Newsom recently announced the addition of a second C-130 Hercules airtanker to California’s fleet, which his office described as the largest aerial firefighting fleet in the world.

CAL FIRE has also increased its deployment of Uncrewed Aerial Systems and implemented artificial intelligence tools to assist with fire detection and response.

These technological tools are part of broader state strategies to detect fires faster and allocate response resources efficiently.

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Transparency and data tools support wildfire planning

The Governor’s Task Force has launched an Interagency Treatment Dashboard, which the state said provides public access to treatment data across public and private lands.

According to the Governor’s Office, the dashboard helps track progress, inform planning, and support coordination between federal, state, and local agencies.

The dashboard is part of a broader move to improve transparency in forest management and wildfire mitigation efforts statewide.

California boosts wildfire risk prevention through CAL FIRE grants and emergency actions: Summary

California has awarded nearly $72 million through CAL FIRE to support wildfire risk reduction.

The announcement was made by the Press Office of Governor Gavin Newsom.

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Twelve large-scale projects are being funded through the Forest Health Program.

The state approved 13 additional projects under its wildfire emergency proclamation.

These approvals follow treatment of 2 million acres in previous years.

Projects include fuels reduction, prescribed burns, and ecological restoration.

Funding comes from the Timber Regulation and Forest Restoration Fund and California Climate Investments.

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Governor Newsom signed an executive order to speed up project approvals.

An early action budget includes $170 million for wildfire resilience.

California added a second C-130 Hercules airtanker to its firefighting fleet.

CAL FIRE is using Uncrewed Aerial Systems and AI for fire detection.

A public dashboard was launched to track wildfire resilience work.

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Over 2,200 landscape health projects are complete or underway.



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First look: Space Shuttle Endeavour in ready-to-launch position at California Science Center

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First look: Space Shuttle Endeavour in ready-to-launch position at California Science Center


This fall, space fans will get to see the Space Shuttle Endeavour like never before in its new permanent home at the California Science Center in the Exposition Park area. 

What we know:

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The new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center at the California Science Center officially opens on November 13. 

Also, an introductory film includes footage from Endeavour’s final launch before being retired in 2011. 

“We felt from the beginning this is the most impressive way to see the space shuttle and it gives people views that almost no one ever got a chance to see,” said Jeff Rudolph, President & CEO of the California Science Center. 

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What they’re saying:

Since 2012, Los Angeles has been home to the Space Shuttle Endeavour. It has been on display horizontally at the California Science Center.  

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But the vision was always to have it on display upright

“It’s really exciting and everyone who sees it is in awe and that’s really what we were trying to do was create that real sense of emotional high and inspire people to learn more,” said Rudolph. 

This is the only display of its kind and it can’t be duplicated. The orange tank attached to the shuttle is the last mission-ready one in existence. 

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“I think what we’ve done is present something that is going to be a truly life-changing and transformative experience for education,” said Kenneth Phillips, Curator for Aerospace Sciences at the California Science Center. 

Visitors will also be able to see inside the space craft that carried astronauts to space 25 times, including Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to go to space and now-Arizona Senator Mark Kelly.  

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When the exhibit opens to the public in November, visitors will be able to ride up an elevator alongside the space shuttle and view it from the top. 

“That’s the view that nobody but the crew saw. That was a very special vantage point. Nobody got to do that,” said Phillips. 

What’s next:

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The California Science Center expects the exhibit to be popular. Tickets will go on sale well before the opening. 

ScienceAir and SpaceExposition Park



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5.6 earthquake strikes near Ukiah, triggers alerts across Northern California

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5.6 earthquake strikes near Ukiah, triggers alerts across Northern California


A 5.6 magnitude earthquake shook Northern California on Wednesday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The quake was centered 7 miles north of Redwood Valley in Mendocino County, north of Ukiah, and east of Highway 101. It had a depth of 5.0 miles.

A ShakeAlert notification went off on many people’s phones moments before the earthquake hit at 8:10 a.m., initially forecasted as a 6.1 magnitude quake by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and downgraded moments later.

People across Northern California felt the quake. Reports came in from as far away as Eureka, Redding, Sacramento, and the Bay Area. Most people reported light to moderate rolling and shaking.

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Since the initial quake, several aftershocks have hit the same area. Three smaller quakes between 2.6-2.7 magnitude were detected in the same area between 8:17 a.m. and 9:06 a.m., and are expected to continue.

So far, there have not been any reports of major damage or injuries.

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DOJ charges 10 Southern California defendants in largest federal healthcare fraud crackdown in US history

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DOJ charges 10 Southern California defendants in largest federal healthcare fraud crackdown in US history


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Federal authorities on Tuesday charged 10 Southern California defendants in a series of healthcare fraud schemes, including one case involving nearly $270 million in fraudulent Medi-Cal claims and another that allegedly defrauded Medicare out of approximately $27 million.

The charges were part of the Justice Department’s broader “2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown,” which resulted in charges against 455 defendants nationwide in schemes involving more than $6.5 billion in alleged fraud.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche described the operation as “the greatest combined federal and state effort in combating healthcare fraud in history.”

“Fraudsters can no longer rip off American taxpayers,” Blanche said during a news conference announcing the initiative. “If you seek to harm or cheat Americans, we will find you, seize any assets and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”

FBI ADDS 2 FUGITIVES TO ‘MOST WANTED FRAUDSTERS’ LIST AMID HISTORIC $6.5B HEALTHCARE TAKEDOWN: PATEL

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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche speaks during a news conference announcing what federal officials described as the largest healthcare fraud takedown in U.S. history, resulting in charges against 455 defendants nationwide. (Ken Cedeno / AFP via Getty Images)

In the Central District of California, federal prosecutors brought criminal charges against 10 defendants accused of defrauding government-funded healthcare programs or abusing their positions as medical professionals to illegally prescribe controlled substances.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California said five individuals were arrested in the greater Los Angeles area for allegedly participating in a scheme that involved submitting nearly $270 million in fraudulent claims to Medi-Cal for expensive prescription drugs.

Among those charged was Christina Mareik, 61, also known as Christina Marie Sanchez Hernandez, of Whittier.

HOSPICE FRAUD USES STOLEN IDENTITIES FOR FAKE PATIENTS

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The Justice Department announced charges against 10 Southern California defendants in connection with multiple healthcare fraud schemes. (Department of Justice)

Prosecutors allege Mareik helped facilitate fraudulent prescriptions that generated nearly $270 million in claims to Medi-Cal, which ultimately paid out more than $178 million.

According to prosecutors, the claims involved expensive drugs containing low-cost generic ingredients that were either not medically necessary or were never provided to the purported recipients.

Authorities said Mareik also sent thousands of fraudulent prescriptions to a co-conspirator and caused the submission of fraudulent prescriptions under her own name.

LOS ANGELES HOSPICE FRAUD REACHES BILLIONS AS MEDICARE PROVIDERS SCAM FEDERAL SYSTEM WITH FAKE COMPANIES

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Federal prosecutors allege Southern California defendants participated in schemes that defrauded Medicare and Medi-Cal of hundreds of millions of dollars. (Department of Justice)

Mareik was arrested June 17 and charged with healthcare fraud.

The charges also include a San Fernando Valley man accused of operating hospice care companies that fraudulently billed Medicare approximately $27 million, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors also charged Oren David Shachar, 59, of Van Nuys; Abraham Shin, 66, of Corona; and Jeannie Choi, 57, of Torrance.

The three defendants face a 16-count indictment alleging they conspired to defraud Medicare out of approximately $27 million.

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The charges include conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, healthcare fraud, aggravated identity theft, monetary transactions involving criminally derived property exceeding $10,000, and violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute.

Fox News Digital’s Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.



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