California

Two arrested in connection to separate California wildfires

Published

1 year ago

July 9, 2024

Two arrested in connection to separate California wildfires

Two arrested in connection to California wildfires

CalFire is battling 20 fires have been across California, with the high temperatures more may be on the way. Two people were arrested on suspicion of sparking fires while attempting to clear away brush, one with a lawnmower, and one with a weed whacker. KTVU’s Tom Vacar reports from Sunol.

Alameda County, California – This is looking to be one of our most fiery years because the fuel is as dry as dry can be. Example: at 11:15 Monday morning, a wildfire, called the Tesla fire, still under investigation, broke out in that high hills above De Valle Regional Park. Though it quickly grew to ten acres, got a full wildfire response from the air and land, stopping its progress.

It became the nineteenth active fire on Cal Fire’s list. “If you start wildfire, there can be repercussions for that,” said

Jason Clay, a Cal Fire Public Information Officer.

Last week, says Cal Fire’s Public Information Officer Jason Clay, its law enforcement division arrested two people, rich for starting wildfires while clearing grasses and brush. One man, using a weed whacker, started the 16-acre Adams Fire, in Lower Lake County on July 3rd. He has been charged with three misdemeanors.

Another man started the 11-acre Pocket Fire while using a riding mower, July 6th, north of Geyserville. That man is facing three misdemeanors and one felony. :When you’re doing that defensible space work during, a Red Flag Warning, in the heat of the day you know, that becomes a case in point where that could be just irresponsible,” said Cal Fire’s Clay.

Most folks think so long as you do mowing, weeding and creating defensible space before 10 AM, they are doing it wildfire safe. Not true.

Besides the time of day there are two other critical weather conditions to know and observe. “A safe area where you can kind of look at to guage can I do this or can I not do this would be if temperatures is if it’s below 80 degrees and the relative humidity is above 30 percent,” said Clay.

In the case of the Lower Lake Adams fire, the weed whack was done at 3 pm in 105 degrees weather in 10% humidity. In the case of the Geyserville Pocket Fire, it was after 11 AM in 99 degree weather with just 22 percent humidity. “They were not done with the parameters we gave to do it safely,” said the Cal Fire Public Information Officer. As of 10 AM Monday, Cal Fire reported that there were 18 active wildfires burning in California. More are sure to come.

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California

California orders Tahoe Truckee schools to leave Nevada sports over transgender athlete dispute

Published

3 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

California orders Tahoe Truckee schools to leave Nevada sports over transgender athlete dispute

The California Department of Education is requiring the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District to follow state law in another clash over transgender athletes in youth sports in the state.

Currently, student-athletes in Tahoe Truckee Unified play sports in Nevada because of how close they are. But Nevada now bans transgender athletes in girls’ sports, which is against California state law.

So after decades of playing in Nevada, California’s Department of Education is requiring the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District to compete in California to comply with state laws that allow student athletes to compete based on their gender identity.

David Mack is the co-founder of Tahoe Pride and describes the new youth sports divide in the Tahoe region.

“So no one’s happy, it’s really sad, it’s quite tragic in that way,” Mack said. “People feel really upset that the school moved so fast on this. They feel blindsided, they feel not listened to, and then other people, like the trans kids, are getting steamrolled over like they’re not recognized in this argument.”

Nevada state lawmakers passed a law in April requiring a mandatory physical signed by a doctor to deem the athlete male or female based on their birth sex.

“This is a politically manufactured issue to try to divide people,” Mack said.

The Tahoe Truckee Unified School District is responding to the California Department of Education with a solution that the district legally join the California Interscholastic Federation in 2026, but continue to play in the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association through 2028.

When asked if transgender athletes would be able to compete while operating in the NIAA, the district said it’s “still in the early stages of this transition, and many details are still being developed.”

In an October letter addressed to the California Department of Education, the school district’s attorney, Matthew Juhl-Darlington, said the Tahoe Truckee Unified is “not aware of any transgender youth who have expressed interest in participating in its 2025-2026 athletic programs.”

“While the NIAA recently updated its polices to define ‘male’ and ‘female’ based on sex assigned at birth and not as reflected in an individual’s gender identity, as required under California law, the District is interpreting and implementing this policy in a manner consistent with California’s legal requirements,” Juhl-Darlington said in the letter.

California Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley is opposed to the state order, arguing the weather conditions in Tahoe need to be considered.

“So in order to compete in a California league, you have to deal with this snowy weather and the travel dangers and so forth,” Kiley said.

The school board was expected to explain its solution to both join California’s CIF while playing in the NIAA through 2028 to parents and students Wednesday night at a board meeting.

So far, the California Department of Education has not said if it will accept this as a solution.

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California

California wants Verizon to compromise more on DEI

Published

15 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

California wants Verizon to compromise more on DEI

A CA judge recommends approval for Verizon/Frontier but thinks more DEI commitments are neededNotably, the judge determined Verizon’s letter to the FCC doesn’ | A state judge recommended California approve the Verizon/Frontier deal, if the operator agrees to some DEI and workforce commitments.

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California governor race heats up with uncertainty and potential surprises

Published

1 day ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

California governor race heats up with uncertainty and potential surprises

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) As the race for California’s next governor intensifies, uncertainty looms with the primary election just six months away.

A recent Emerson College poll shows Republican Chad Bianco leading by a narrow margin of one point, while 31% of voters remain undecided.

California governor race heats up with uncertainty and potential surprises (KBFX)

“The field remains wide open,” said Tal Eslick, owner of Vista Consulting. “There’s a half dozen credible Democrats in the race. There’s really a couple – two – namely Republicans.”

Eslick noted that Bianco’s lead is more reflective of the crowded Democratic field than a shift toward Republicans statewide.

California governor race heats up with uncertainty and potential surprises (Photo: AdobeStock)

He suggested a “black horse candidate” could still emerge, possibly from Hollywood or outside politics.

With rising energy and gas prices, affordability is expected to be a key issue for voters.

California governor race heats up with uncertainty and potential surprises (AP Photo/Juliana Yamada, File)

“I think that you could also see voters vote with their pockets,” Eslick said, highlighting the potential for a non-traditional candidate to gain traction.

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