California
Clogged California ports face new labor risk from trucking
OAKLAND, July 18 (Reuters) – Truck drivers choked site visitors on the Oakland, California, seaport on Monday protesting a state legislation that makes it more durable for unbiased contractors to move items and will restrict labor on the state’s already clogged seaports, threatening to worsen the nation’s pandemic-fueled provide chain jams.
California’s ports deal with about 40% of container items that enter america. Trucking disruptions come at a time when unions and West Coast port employers are additionally negotiating a high-stakes labor contract. learn extra
The legislation, generally known as AB5, or the “gig employee” legislation, units more durable requirements for classifying staff as unbiased contractors. Unbiased truckers who now function underneath the authority and insurance coverage of firms that rent them for jobs could be shouldered with the hefty prices and crimson tape of taking that on when the legislation is enacted.
“They wish to remove us,” stated unbiased driver Douglas Urtado, who joined dozens of protesters on Monday on the Oakland seaport within the San Francisco Bay Space.
Wayne Feng, sporting a “No on AB5” T-shirt, instructed Reuters the legislation could be so financially draining that drivers “aren’t making something.”
Authorized challenges saved the legislation from going into impact in 2020, however the U.S. Supreme Court docket final month denied a California Trucking Affiliation petition claiming the legislation is blocked by federal laws. Specialists say an injunction that put the legislation on maintain may quickly be lifted. learn extra
Greater than 100 drivers and small trucking firm operators against the legislation swarmed two terminal gates within the Port of Oakland, slowing truck entry to a trickle. The motion got here after port truckers in Los Angeles picketed gates and snarled roadways on the nation’s busiest seaport complicated final week.
Enterprise proprietor Josue Mendez, 29, stated AB5 would devastate his port trucking agency, which depends on 10 unbiased drivers to maneuver all the pieces from medical tools to almonds.
“I can not rent them” and be in compliance with AB5, stated Mendez.
Backers of AB5, which embody the Teamsters union that after dominated trucking, say it’ll crack down on trucking firm labor abuses by pushing homeowners to rent drivers as staff and supply staff’ compensation insurance coverage and different advantages.
Business teams representing roughly 20,000 Los Angeles and Oakland port truckers, together with the Proprietor-Operator Unbiased Drivers Affiliation, have requested California Governor Gavin Newsom to not implement the legislation till owner-operators have details about how one can legally function as unbiased contractors.
Newsom’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
California’s port trucking work practices hint again to the Nineteen Eighties, when america deregulated trucking. That remodeled the enterprise from one dominated by giant, unionized firms to the present mannequin wherein most corporations depend on unbiased drivers, a lot of whom are latest immigrants.
Port driver pay is now one-half to two-thirds lower than what it was earlier than deregulation, based on an estimate from Wayne State College economics professor Michael Belzer. It’s tough to derive correct information on compensation as a result of authorities information, notably on hours labored, is incomplete, he stated.
Register now for FREE limitless entry to Reuters.com
Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Enhancing by Josie Kao and Leslie Adler
Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Belief Ideas.
California
California Quarterback Commits to Penn State’s 2026 Recruiting Class
Though Penn State has been busily filling its 2025 recruiting class in June, the program hasn’t stopped looking ahead. The Nittany Lions on Tuesday received a commitment from 4-star California quarterback Troy Huhn, who became the second player in Penn State football’s 2026 recruiting class.
Huhn (6-4, 205 pounds) will be a junior at Mission Hills High, just north of San Diego. He threw for 1,623 yards and 16 touchdowns as a sophomore last season. Huhn quickly built a strong offer sheet that included Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, Auburn and Notre Dame, among many others. Huhn took an unofficial visits to Ohio State and Penn State in June, committing to the Nittany Lions two weeks after his trip.
Huhn is the 2026 recruiting class’ 10th-rated quarterback prospect, according to the 247Sports Composite, and a top-15 player in California. On3 ranks Huhn highest among the major recruiting services, slotting him at No. 60 nationally and sixth at quarterback.
Huhn, who committed to Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki and quarterbacks coach Danny O’Brien, spent time with head coach James Franklin during his unofficial visit. He told Sean Fitz of Blue-White Illustrated that Franklin made an impression.
“Coach O’Brien was great, but really my main thing when I was getting out there was to have more time with coach Franklin. They definitely gave that to me,” Huhn said in his interview with Blue-White Illustrated. “I really felt the love from coach Franklin. He’s very business, he’s awesome, he’s a funny guy. My mom loves him, he loves my mom. That relationship with him is now a lot better and I’m glad I got to spend that time with him.”
Huhn joins Harrisburg athlete Messiah Mickens on the ground floor of Penn State’s 2026 recruiting class. Mickens committed to Penn State in August 2023. Penn State had been recruiting several 2026 quarterbacks alongside Huhn. One of their targets, Dia Bell, recently committed to Texas.
Huhn’s commitment continued a prolific stretch for the Nittany Lions. Franklin and his staff have received commitments from five players in a four-day stretch. Four of them committed to Penn State’s 2025 recruiting class.
The most recent 2025 commitment belonged to Max Granville, a 4-star prospect from Texas and first-team all-state honoree as a junior. Granville, who will be a senior at Fort Bend Christian Academy, is rated as a 4-star linebacker according to the 247Sports Composite. However, the 6-3, 220-pound Granville projects at defensive end and was recruited by Penn State defensive line coach Deion Barnes. Granville chose Penn State after making an official visit to State College earlier in June. He also visited USC, Texas A&M and Oklahoma in June and took an official visit to Baylor in April.
Penn State opens the 2024 football season Aug. 31 at West Virginia. The game is scheduled for a noon kickoff on FOX.
More Penn State Football Recruiting
Penn State receives commitment from 4-star Maryland prospect
Versatile New Jersey prospect commits to the Nittany Lions
Former Penn State linebacker commit switches to Rutgers
AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich.
California
Butte County issues evacuation orders for Apache wildfire
(FOX40.COM) — An evacuation order is in effect for areas of Butte County amid a wildfire, according to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office.
Around 8:30 p.m. on Monday, BCSO issued an evacuation order for the Apache Fire on the south side of Grubbs Road between Crossa Country Road and Alta Arosa Drive in zones 884 and 885. Shortly after, evacuation orders were also issued for all of zone 884, 865, 866, 868, and 869. For information about zone locations click or tap here.
An evacuation warning was also issued for zones 867 and 883.
At 9:45 p.m., the Apache Fire has burned through 466 acres, according to Cal Fire. By 10:30 p.m. it reached more than 650 acres.
For more information visit www.buttecounty.net, or call (833) 512-5378.
California
This popular California camp is 100 years old
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. – A beloved and storied family camp where memories have been made by generations of San Franciscans, including one who later became a Supreme Court justice, is celebrating a milestone 100th anniversary.
San Francisco’s Camp Mather is located just outside the gates of Yosemite National Park in Tuolumne County.
The city first came to the area during the construction of the O’Shaughnessy Dam which til today along with Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System supplies drinking water to San Francisco. The site was built as a sawmill.
“When the O’Shaughnessy Dam was completed, many of the facilities were no longer needed,” the city’s recreation and parks department wrote on its website, adding, “In the mid 1920’s, the City of San Francisco designated the property for use as a family recreation area.”
Over the past 100 years, the site, nestled among towering pine trees, has served as a getaway for the city’s residents seeking to get off the grid for a respite away from city life and be immersed in nature.
“Camp Mather offers city residents a unique weeklong outdoor experience, with activities including horseback riding, swimming, hiking, arts and crafts, a ropes course, tennis, archery, campfire talent shows and more,” the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department said.
Campers take part in a wide range of activities at Camp Mather in Groveland, Calif., which is marking its 100th anniversary. (San Francisco Recreation and Parks )
Generations of families have spent summer days at Camp Mather, which has also served as a launchpad for scenic trips to surrounding iconic locations, including Yosemite Valley and the Tuolumne Meadows.
File of Camp Mather attendees around the camp fire. (San Francisco Recreation and Parks )
The rich history of Camp Mather dates back even before the pioneers settled in California, as the land was home to a group of Miwok Indians.
The city’s rec and park department said, today there are still reminders and evidence of the Miwok’s presence as artifacts once belonging to the indigenous people were occasionally discovered in the area.
Mather has stood the test of time and the wrath of nature, surviving wildfire threats including the massive Rim Fire back in 2013.
Among the list of notable figures that have come through was retired Supreme Court Justice and San Francisco native Stephen Breyer who worked at Mather as a teenager, according to park officials.
On the Friends of Camp Mather website, he’s quoted as speaking about his experience at Camp Mather, describing it as a communal environment where “Anyone could go.”
Breyer went on to say, “You had a mix of the families of firemen, policemen, and doctors and lawyers. They all felt an obligation to be part of the community and to contribute to the community.”
Parks officials said today, the site carried that same spirit. The camp hosts inclusive “special weeks” like those designated for families with kids with disabilities, as well as those designed for seniors and a special program for “justice-involved youth,” parks spokesperson Tamara Aparton shared with KTVU.
Due to the intense popularity of Camp Mather, the city has set up a lottery which opens in December. Both residents and non-residents can sign up, but the lottery does prioritize resident requests first.
Low-income San Francisco residents may be eligible for a discounted rate.
Either cabin or tent site rentals are offered during the weekly reservation schedule, which started June 2 this season. The final week of camp goes from August 11 to 17.
For residents, lodging fees run from as low as $322 a week for a six-person tent site to $1,367 for a six-person cabin.
Tradition runs deep at Camp Mather with folks returning year after year to create more memories.
“Our oldest employee (in his mid-90s) works there leading nature hikes, and also worked there as a high school kid,” Aparton shared.
A scroll through the Camp Mather Facebook page shows scenic photso posted by visitors over the years, conjuring up images of childhood summers spent in the warm outdoors.
One Camp Mather attendee posted about his and his family’s activity-filled stay earlier this month.
“Arts and crafts, ropes course, archery, nature walks, talent show, definitely old timey camp vibes,” Matt Gripp said. “If you got little ones and live in SF try to get into the lottery.”
This story was reported from Oakland, Calif.
San Francisco Camp Mather near Yosemite National Park celebrates 100 years of tradition. (San Francisco Recreation and Parks )
-
World1 week ago
Switzerland's massive security effort at the Ukraine peace conference
-
News1 week ago
Joe Biden, Barack Obama And Jimmy Kimmel Warn Of Another Donald Trump Term; Star-Filled L.A. Fundraiser Expected To Raise At Least $30 Million — Update
-
World1 week ago
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 842
-
News1 week ago
It's easy to believe young voters could back Trump at young conservative conference
-
World1 week ago
Protesters in Brussels march against right-wing ideology
-
World1 week ago
Swiss summit demands 'territorial integrity' of Ukraine
-
News1 week ago
A fast-moving wildfire spreads north of Los Angeles, forcing evacuations
-
Politics1 week ago
Judge rules Missouri abortion ban did not aim to impose lawmakers' religious views on others