A report indicating financial pressures among York residents reveals the level of need facing the council’s welfare benefit resources and how it plans to support those households.
In July 2024, 2,700 households, including 1,844 children were shown to be in relative poverty.
A measure of need in the city is the YFAS. In 2023 and 2024, it received 1,223 applications for help and the average award value has risen from £499 in 2022 and 2023 to £635 in 2023 and 2024. This is due to the level of need facing applicants and an increase in the cost of the items provided such as flooring which helps manage energy costs.
To ensure the council can continue to provide emergency support to the end of the 2024 and 2025 financial year, residents can apply to YFAS once a year.
Cllr Katie Lomas, Executive memberfor Finance, Performance and Major Projects, said:
Far too many people in York are struggling to afford to live. We cannot fix the entire system but we can work to ensure that our resources are directed to those who need them most.
“While I welcome the extension of the Household Support Fund up until March 2025, we have much to do to support residents with the continued pressures of the high cost of living. We’re writing to eligible residents and urging others to apply for Pension Credit. This could put £100s of extra a month individually in their pockets, totalling an additional £1.3m across York, while also unlocking benefits including automatic payment of the Winter Fuel Payment.
“It was good to hear from council officers the plans they are making to support those who may just miss out on Pension Credit but still face difficult choices this winter between heating and eating.
“We’re also continuing our Talk Money campaigns to encourage people to get all they’re entitled to, find out how to reduce costs and get good advice. The next campaign will be from 4 to 15 November when we’ll be encouraging applications for Council Tax Support and Attendance Allowance.”
Cllr Bob Webb, Executive member with joint responsibility for financial inclusion, said:
York households and families face more expensive daily lives than ever before. To give them a more secure financial footing, council services have collaborated and adapted to meet the increased needs and challenges facing residents, alongside the council’s own budgetary constraints.
“In close partnership with voluntary and community organisations, we continue to co-ordinate and make the best use of the resources to effectively support residents.”
KATHMANDU – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes US$33 million from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enhance the National Mid-day Meal Programme in Nepal for more than 120,000 children annually.
The funds have been awarded to WFP’s Nepal office through a competitive process operated by USDA’s McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program (McGovern-Dole), which has a long history of supporting Nepal’s efforts to promote food security and opportunities for education.
This award will support a comprehensive five-year initiative (2023-2028) focused on improving education, nutrition and health for children across the country, jointly implemented by WFP in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Embassy of United States of America in Nepal, cooperating partners World Education (a division of JSI), Integrated Development Society Nepal, and Mercy Corps.
“For many families in far western Nepal, food scarcity is a serious challenge that makes it difficult for parents to feed their children,” said Robert Kasca, WFP Nepal’s Representative and Country Director. “Offering school meals serves as an incentive for these parents to send their children to school, especially girls, creating opportunities for breaking the cycle of hunger and poverty.”
The school meals will be prepared with fortified rice and fortified vegetable oil, donated by the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program. The rest of the ingredients will be sourced from local markets and smallholder farmers in the vicinity of schools, scaling up a home-grown approach to the Mid-day Meal Programme.
“In Nepal, the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program works through its implementing partner, the World Food Programme. Through the McGovern-Dole Program, more than 700,000 children have received a daily school meal in the most remote areas of Nepal. Building on previous success here in Nepal, the project will continue to carry out complementary activities with a strong focus on building the government’s capacity to eventually and successfully handover the project to the government of Nepal,” says Erika Beltran, Senior International Program Specialist, for USDA’s McGovern-Dole Program.
In addition to implementing the school meals programme, WFP will continue to support the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in strengthening government capacity at federal, provincial and local levels to ensure a full transition of the programme to the government by 2028. Moreover, the Ministry will receive technical assistance and capacity strengthening support from WFP in the areas of logistics and supply chain, planning and implementing cost-efficient and nutritious school meal menus, procurement and supply of commodities, and consolidating the national policy framework.
McGovern-Dole funds school meals and education and nutrition programs for women, infants, and children in countries with high food insecurity. By providing school meals, teacher training, and related education and nutrition support, McGovern-Dole projects help boost school enrollment, increase attendance, and improve reading outcomes and literacy results. The program provides for the donation of U.S. agricultural commodities, local and regional procurement of agricultural commodities, and financial and technical assistance to support school feeding and maternal and child nutrition projects. It started providing school feeding assistance in Nepal since 2005. For more information, visit https://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/mcgovern-dole-food-education-program
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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
Historic relics from Leeds’s very first railway station have helped rediscover the city’s fascinating track record after being unearthed during an archaeological dig.
The remains of the former Marsh Lane station, which opened exactly 190 years ago this week, were revealed during a recently completed excavation carried out in the city centre.
Experts from CFA Archaeology Limited, working with West Yorkshire Joint Service’s Archaeology Advisory Service, uncovered long-buried ironworks and foundations from the Georgian station, which was part of the Leeds to Selby Railway that once ran between Marsh Lane and a station on the River Ouse at Selby.
Spotting the chance to preserve an important piece of the city’s transport history, curators at Leeds Industrial Museum raced to secure some of the fascinating finds for their collection.
Now safely in storage at the museum are the remnants of one of the station’s huge cast iron pillars, which would once have held up the roof while passengers made their way around its platforms. The impressive iron columns also doubled as rainwater down pipes.
Also now at the museum are a pair of huge stone sleepers, used to secure tracks in the years before wooden sleepers were employed, and which still show the holes where railway spikes were driven into them.
John McGoldrick, Leeds Museums and Galleries’ curator of industrial history, said: “Marsh Lane station played a huge part in establishing the rail network going in and out of Leeds, transporting both passengers and important freight for industries which helped the city thrive in the 19th century.
“It’s always exciting to have the opportunity to see such a real, tangible part of the city’s past in front of you, and even more so when it’s been buried beneath our feet for more than a century.
“Discoveries like this are a fascinating reminder of the history that’s all around us and the foundations of industry and innovation that the city we know today is built on.”
With a station dating from the earliest days of railway construction, the first official train to leave Marsh Lane departed at around 6.30am on September 22, 1834.
But with no known artistic drawings or paintings of the station still existing today, there was little to indicate how it may have looked in its pioneering heyday.
Archaeologists were surprised to discover that the station had been built on two levels, with the train tracks on a high podium above Leeds and an entrance for passengers at ground level off Marsh Lane.
They also found the remains of a U-shaped workshop which would have stored, serviced and carried out everyday repairs on the railway’s vintage locomotives. A 15 metre deep well was also dug to supply the railway with water.
In the 1860s, the original station was demolished to make way for a grain warehouse, before a revamped station was constructed in its place. That station remained in place until its closure in 1958.
The only visible trace of the early station to survive today are a boundary wall and gate piers on Marsh Lane.
It is now hoped the recovered pieces of the station can go on display at Leeds Industrial Museum.
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “Leeds has evolved and transformed so much over the centuries, and the infrastructure of our modern city was built by those who literally laid the foundations of the urban landscape we know today.
“That history can be seen everywhere, but it’s important that we also preserve those parts of our city’s story which are no longer visible, so future generations can learn about how Leeds was built.”
Once the world’s largest woollen mill, Leeds Industrial Museum is home to models and machinery paying tribute to the city’s industrial heritage as well as its many inventors and engineers.
KAMPALA – Through a multi-year commitment (2024-2027), the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a contribution of US$19.6 million (EUR18 million) from the Government of Ireland to support the Government of Uganda to strengthen self-reliance initiatives for refugee communities and to enhance social protection and school feeding in the Karamoja sub-region.
“Support to Karamoja and refugee communities continues to be an integral part of our strategy in Uganda,” said H.E Kevin Colgan, Ambassador of the Republic of Ireland to Uganda. “This contribution is part of Ireland’s commitment to keeping Karamoja children in school, improving food security and nutrition, strengthening people’s livelihoods, and boosting the local economy. Reaching the furthest behind is core to our international development policy.”
In Karamoja, this contribution will enable WFP to procure locally-available maize, beans, and vegetable oil for school meals, benefiting 220,000 school children and smallholder farmers, and thereby stimulating local economies. In this hotspot of the climate crisis, WFP will also boost community resilience by restoring degraded land, promote crop diversification and improve post-harvest management. WFP will also support the Government to extend social protection programmes, particularly through the dissemination of early warning information via radio and other channels ahead of climate shocks such as droughts and floods.
In refugee hosting districts, over 50,000 refugees will be empowered to transition from humanitarian assistance to self-reliance by supporting them to invest in alternative livelihoods so they can sustain their families. WFP is collaborating with the Government of Uganda and other partners to promote income generation for refugees and host communities through farming and other livelihood opportunities to support refugee and host communities in surrounding areas to become food secure. This Self-Reliance Model is funded by the governments of Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom.
“We are grateful for the contribution from the Government of Ireland supporting our efforts to encourage self-reliance and reduce the need for humanitarian assistance in Karamoja and in refugee settlements,“ said Abdirahman Meygag, WFP’s Country Director and Representative in Uganda. “By providing life-changing assistance, WFP is creating a pathway to a brighter future for Uganda.”
Karamoja faces multiple development and socio-economic challenges. While Uganda is expecting improved crop production in 2024 due to increased rainfall, more than 400,000 people in Karamoja (30 per cent of the population) are projected to face crisis-levels of food insecurity (IPC3+) according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification analysis (IPC). Similarly, WFP’s April 2024 Post-Distribution Monitoring indicates that 7 in 10 refugee households are still facing severe or moderate food insecurity levels.
Faced with limited resources and following extensive consultations with refugees and key stakeholders, WFP is prioritising the most vulnerable refugees for food assistance. While building pathways towards self-reliance, WFP continues to support close to 1.4 million out of 1.7 million refugees in Uganda with monthly food and cash assistance.
Ireland has previously contributed EUR 11.4 million to WFP’s operations in Uganda from 2020 to 2023.
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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change.
German chancellor Olaf Scholz’s SPD has narrowly held off the rightwing Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) in regional elections in Brandenburg, nudging them into second place.
The close call follows two other recent elections in Germany’s eastern federal states (Länder). In Thuringia, the AfD won the highest share of the votes. In Saxony, the AfD narrowly came second to the centre-right CDU. Importantly, the regional AfD organisations in both Saxony and Thuringia, along with Saxony-Anhalt, have officially been designated as extreme right. This means that the party in these states is formally considered by Germany’s domestic security service to be a threat to the country’s democratic constitutional order.
Although the country’s proportional electoral system means that the AfD cannot form a government in any of the three states by itself, this is the first time since 1945 that an officially extremist party has won an election in Germany.
It’s not unreasonable for those outside Germany to questions whether these election results show that the country once more stands on the cusp of a slide into fascism, as it did in the 1930s. However, quite apart from the fact that 2024 is not the same as 1933, there is one important structural difference: Germany’s constitution (the Grundgesetz or Basic Law). This was explicitly designed to prevent a recurrence of a totalitarian regime such as national socialism.
The Basic Law dates back to 1949 – a time when the country was in the process of splitting into west and east. Coming into force during this period of transition, the document was only a provisional constitution. Yet the Basic Law has outlasted any of the previous three state forms since Germany was first unified in 1871. Today, it enjoys widespread popular support: a recent survey showed 81% of the population view it positively.
In its content, the Basic Law is a living testimony to Germany’s desire to prevent a return to National Socialism. In articles 1-19, it enshrines a comprehensive catalogue of fundamental rights, which cannot be removed from the constitution. These include the right to dignity, freedom, privacy, free assembly, freedom of the press and to political asylum.
The Basic Law also established one of the most powerful independent constitutional courts in the world. The court even has the right to ban political parties, or to limit the fundamental rights of individuals who are found to be undermining the constitutional order, as had been in the case in Weimar Germany. For this reason, Germany is considered to be a militant democracy. While the outright banning of parties is fraught with political difficulties (and hence rare historically), there is a live debate over whether the AfD’s policies and rhetoric are ultimately compatible with Germany’s constitution.
More subtly, Germany’s governance structures are designed to make it practically impossible for a hostile grouping to seize power democratically. The German chancellor has much less power than, say, the British prime minister. In particular, the structures of federalism and coalition government further constrain the room for manoeuvre of any individual politician or indeed any single political party.
Major functions of policy implementation are delegated to powerful societal actors, such as professional bodies. These are geographically distributed around the country, along with the media, key corporate headquarters and the unions. The ability of Germany’s central bank, the Bundesbank, to set monetary policy independent of political control, itself a response to the hyperinflation of the early 1920s, has made it a model for both the European Central Bank and the Bank of England today.
In short, and in the words of the German-American political scientist Peter Katzenstein, the German state is only “semisovereign”.
In consequence, the Basic Law is not just a document setting out the political “rules of the game”, but an expression of Germany’s values. Its longevity has benefited from the willingness of political elites down the years to adapt its provisions, where necessary, to changing circumstances. And in several respects, the past remains very much the present in German politics. For instance, the right to privacy, which was originally included to prevent the reoccurrence of Nazi Germany’s pervasive surveillance, is given new meaning in an age of global digital connectivity.
Pressures ahead
Certainly, Germany today faces multiple challenges. As society has evolved, Germany’s party system has fragmented, with more parties securing seats in the national parliament, the Bundestag. Of these, the AfD has been by far the most successful, and could potentially become the second largest party at the next parliamentary elections in 2025. This fragementation, which is not unique to Germany, has made the formation of coalition governments harder. Fortunately, this has so far not led to out-of-cycle national elections, of the kind which plagued the latter years of the Weimar Republic.
And there are concerns beyond politics. From the “economic miracle” in the 1950s, Germany’s growth has slowed significantly, averaging just 1.2% per year between 2012-2022; in the last two years, the economy has barely grown at all. Compared to other advanced economies, it remains disproportionately reliant on exporting high added value manufactured goods.
The reunification of Germany in 1990 also continues to cast a long shadow. In any number of economic and social indicators, including household incomes, religion and childcare patterns, eastern Germany remains structurally different to western Germany. Across the country, the population is ageing and, without substantial net migration over time, will decline over the next 30 years. Yet immigration also remains one of the biggest political issues of the day, and a key driver of the AfD’s electoral success.
Nonetheless, given Germany’s difficult journey to statehood in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Basic Law remains a strong guarantor of Germany’s democratic credentials. For this reason, former federal president Joachim Gauck was surely right to declare earlier this year that the Germany created by the Basic Law is “the best that ever existed”.
Simon Green does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –
Source: Republic of France in FrenchThe French Republic has issued the following statement:
Intergenerational housing projects are most often initiated by public structures such as social landlords and municipalities, in partnership with associations or private investors. These collective housing projects are aimed at everyone, whether you are alone, a family, a student or retired.
Intergenerational housing aims to improve the quality of life of residents:
by developing solidarity between neighbours, through the mixing of generations; by fighting against the isolation of people living alone (students, elderly people, etc.).
How is intergenerational housing composed?
By definition, intergenerational housing is aimed at all ages.
The accommodations are designed to meet the specific needs of different generations and family structures (adapted facilities for the elderly, several bedrooms for families, outdoor spaces for children, etc.).
In their design, they can be intended for one third to students, one third to families and one third to seniors. Or only bi-generational, intended for students and seniors. It can also be inclusive intergenerational housing.
These structures also have the specific feature of offering common meeting and exchange spaces that can be used by all and offer services (laundry, concierge, room for events, etc.).
Housing for the elderly is not medicalized. The organization of care is the responsibility of the occupant.
Cost of intergenerational housing and possible assistance
Intergenerational housing projects designed by social landlords have a social vocation. They offer moderate rents adapted for people on “low incomes”.
People living in intergenerational housing can benefit from different types of assistance depending on their situation:
housing assistance: personalized housing assistance (APL), social housing allowance (ALS), pension fund assistance, tax assistance); personalized autonomy allowance (APA and APA at home).
Namely
We should not confuse intergenerational housing with intergenerational cohabitation; the latter refers to shared solidarity housing.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.
Legislation to raise funds for fixing cladding issues.
Proposals for a tax on developers, aiming to raise funds to fix building safety issues in Scotland, have been published for public consultation.
Views are being sought on the proposed Scottish Building Safety Levy, which will be introduced under powers due to be devolved by the UK Government later this year. The consultation will open on 23 September and run for eight weeks, closing on 18 November.
The levy would apply to the construction of new residential buildings, mirroring measures being introduced in England through the UK Building Safety Act. Funds raised would support the Scottish Government’s cladding remediation programme.
Finance Secretary Shona Robison said:
“We are keen to hear from people across Scotland about our proposals, which would raise funds from developers to help safeguard people living in buildings with unsafe cladding.
“I know that developers share our determination to keep people safe and have continued to make significant progress.This legislation will build on that momentum, ensuring developers make a fair contribution to address building safety defects in Scotland, just as the UK Government is asking them to do in England.
“We are continuing our work in partnership with developers, in line with our New Deal for Business and Framework for Tax, to ensure this levy best contributes to our mission of keeping people safe.”
Following the recent General Election, the new UK Government has renewed the agreement. The process to devolve powers and the necessary legislative procedures is anticipated to be completed in December 2024.
Details of how the Scottish Building Safety Levy will operate will be developed through consultation and liaison with the UK Government and residential construction sector.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Interactive Dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry on Syria, as delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.
Location:
Geneva
Delivered on:
(Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)
Thank you, Madam Vice President.
We regret that due to timetabling problems, the Commissioners could not be here this morning. If they had been, I would have thanked them for their latest report, which clearly highlights the horrific violations and abuses Syrians continue to endure.
Of all the horrors of this conflict, one of the greatest tragedies is of those forcibly detained and missing. As the Commissioners report, over 100,000 Syrians remain missing yet Syrian authorities continue to obstruct families’ efforts to find their loved ones.
The UK firmly supports families, survivors and victims in their quest for the truth. So, we commend efforts to operationalise the Independent Institution on Missing Persons and call for the swift appointment of its Assistant Secretary-General, so that it can help clarify the fate of those missing Syrians and support their long-suffering families.
The Assad regime must address the issue of the missing and cease arbitrary detention. The Syrian people need assurances on their safety and security, if they are ever to return home.
This Council must not, will not, turn its back on the Syrian people, and those responsible for the abuses and violations of human rights must, will be held to account.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar’s (FL-27)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Chairwoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) convened a hearing to condemn American and European oil companies for continuing to conduct business with the Maduro regime, even after its attempt to steal the 2024 presidential election.
“In Venezuela, a cruel contradiction has unfolded. Maduro has intensified his brutality through jail and death since July 28th,” said Chairwoman Salazar. “In the meantime, unfortunately, American and European oil companies led by Chevron, Repsol, Eni, and Maurel et Prom have now increased their pumping and their profits—directly fueling the tyrannical machinery of oppression. Shame on them!”
Chairwoman Salazar began her hearing by describing the current human rights situation in Venezuela, where the dictator Nicolas Maduro has unleashed an unprecedented wave of repression against the opposition and regular civilians in the weeks following the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election. She identified a key weakness in the Biden-Harris Administration’s policy towards the Maduro regime: Allowing American oil companies to continue operating in Venezuela without complaint. Chevron, Repsol, Eni, and Maurel et Prom are the four companies with the largest licenses to operate within Venezuela.
Salazar began her line of questioning by asking the top Biden-Harris State Department official on Venezuela Kevin Sullivan why his agency renewed Chevron’s license to operate in Venezuela 33 days after Maduro lost the election on July 28, 2024. Sullivan insisted that the decision comes down ultimately to the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Salazar reminded Sullivan that OFAC only issues policy at the direction of the State Department, so any independence in their decision-making process is simply wrong. Chairwoman Salazar also indicated that by allowing these companies to continue operating in Venezuela, the Maduro regime will retain the financial support it needs to continue its repression against the Venezuelan people.
Next, Chairwoman Salazar asked Mr. Sullivan about the 50 companies who applied for licenses to operate in Venezuela more broadly. After deflecting and referring the Congresswoman to OFAC again, Salazar made the case that by allowing these companies to operate in Venezuela without repercussions from the U.S. government, the United States is sending a weak and ambiguous message to the international community that what Maduro is doing is ultimately acceptable. Furthermore, Chairwoman Salazar asked about the possibility that the State Department will pause these licenses. Sullivan responded that the possibility is always there as a matter of policy, but again said it was still under review.
Chairwoman Salazar continued her opening line of questioning by asking about the Biden-Harris Administration’s refusal to recognize Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as the legitimate president-elect of Venezuela. Sullivan responded that Gonzalez is definitely the victor in the Venezuelan elections, and that the U.S. government has called on Nicolas Maduro to release the results showing these results. Salazar reminded the State Department that anything short of recognition will be seen as a lack of support for the opposition in the eyes of the Maduro regime.
Salazar closed her opening remarks by asking the leading officials on human rights and aid at the State Department and USAID, Mr. Enrique Roig and Mr. Greg Howell, respectively, about the impact this major policy weakness will have on migratory flows. 4 million Venezuelans said they would leave their country if the dictator Maduro refuses to hand over power. This will strain resources in neighboring South American countries like Colombia, Brazil, and Ecuador, and add to the growing national security crisis at the United States’ southern border. Salazar received no response other than that the U.S. government is working with those South American governments to strengthen their capacity to receive these migrants.
Chairwoman Salazar ended the hearing by emphasizing the need for bipartisan support for the Venezuelan opposition at this crucial hour.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)
Griffith Announces $700,000 ARC Grant for Lee County
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded Lee County a $700,000 grant. The funding will support a waterline extension project for the Town of Stickleyville and connect 12 households to the municipal water system. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:
“People with poor access to safe and reliable drinking water are vulnerable to health challenges related to waterborne illnesses and harmful chemicals.
“This ARC grant for $700,000 helps Lee County promote safe and reliable drinking water for residents.”
BACKGROUND
Once completed, the Lee County Public Service Authority will own, operate and maintain the infrastructure.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Today, Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL-26) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25), co-chairs of the Congressional Venezuela Democracy Caucus, along with Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ-4), Carlos A. Giménez (R-FL-28), Jenniffer González-Colon (PR-At-Large), María Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27), Mike Waltz (R-FL-06), and Darren Soto (D-FL-09) introduced abillto raise the U.S. Department of Justice’s bounty on dictator Nicolás Maduro from $15 million to $100 million. The increase would be funded by assets already seized from Maduro and his regime.
The reward would be paid out by the federal government using seized assets already being withheld from Maduro, officials of the Maduro regime and their co-conspirators, not taxpayer funds. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in South Florida and its federal law enforcement partners who have brought dozens of criminal charges against high-level regime officials, asset seizures total approximately $450 million.
The Senatecompanionwas introduced by U.S. Senators Rick Scott (FL) and Marco Rubio (FL).
“For nearly two months since the July 28th presidential elections, in which the Venezuelan people overwhelmingly voted for President-elect Edmundo González, the Maduro regime has only escalated its brutal repression. According to reports, arbitrary detentions, torture, and politically motivated persecution – have intensified under Maduro’s oppressive rule.
Maduro’s regime is a criminal enterprise that fuels narco-terrorism, suppresses independent media, and violates human rights with impunity. Last year, I warned that the Biden-Harris Administration’s appeasement of this dictatorship would only embolden Maduro. Lifting sanctions has endangered our national security, aiding a regime closely allied with dangerous adversaries like Russia, Iran, Cuba, and the PRC.
Instead of easing sanctions, the Biden-Harris Administration should stand in solidarity with the Venezuelan people in their fight for freedom by increasing this bounty and strengthening sanctions,” saidDíaz-Balart.
“Super-sizing the reward that leads to Maduro’s conviction will reinforce the already-decisive actions taken by the Biden-Harris Administration to target the criminal enterprise behind Venezuela’s election theft and the violent repression of its people,” said Wasserman Schultz. “The Biden-Harris White House deftly marshaled swift international pressure onto the Maduro regime, expanded existing sanctions, and rallied global support around this reality: Edmundo González won in a landslide and the Venezuelan people deserve to have their votes counted and rights respected. As Vice President Harris laid out emphatically in a recent letter, the United States ‘will remain steadfast with the Venezuelan people in their fight for freedom.’ This magnified reward for Maduro’s arrest would amplify those efforts.”
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Díaz-Balart y Wasserman Schultz lideran esfuerzo bipartidista para establecer una recompensa de $100 millones por el arresto y condena de Nicolás Maduro.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Hoy los legisladores Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL-26) y Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25), copresidentes del Comité Parlamentario a favor de la Democracia en Venezuela, junto con los legisladores Chris Smith (R-NJ-4), Carlos A. Giménez (R-FL-28), Jenniffer González-Colón (Puerto Rico), María Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27), Mike Waltz (R-FL-06), y Darren Soto (D-FL-09) presentaron laLeypara Asegurar Oportunidades de Pago y Maximizar Recompensas por la Detención de Funcionarios de Regímenes Ilegítimos (Ley STOP MADURO). Esta legislación aumentaría la recompensa del Departamento de Justicia de EE.UU. sobre el dictador Nicolás Maduro de $15 millones a un máximo de $100 millones, por información que conduzca a su arresto y condena.
La recompensa sería pagada por el gobierno federal utilizando activos incautados que ya están retenidos a Maduro, a funcionarios de su régimen y a sus cómplices, sin utilizar fondos de los contribuyentes. Según la Oficina del Fiscal de EE.UU. en el Sur de Florida y sus socios federales de aplicación de la ley, quienes han presentado decenas de cargos criminales contra altos funcionarios del régimen, las incautaciones de activos suman aproximadamente $450 millones.
ElProyecto del Leycompañero en el Senado fue presentado por los Senadores Rick Scott (R-FL) y Marco Rubio (R-FL).
“Por casi dos meses desde las ‘elecciones’ del 28 de julio, en las cuales el pueblo venezolano votó abrumadoramente por el presidente electo Edmundo González, el régimen de Maduro solo ha intensificado su brutal represión. Según informes, las detenciones arbitrarias, la tortura y la persecución políticamente motivada se han intensificado bajo el régimen opresivo de Maduro.
El régimen de Maduro es un grupo criminal que alimenta el narco-terrorismo, suprime los medios de comunicación independientes y viola los derechos humanos con impunidad. El año pasado advertí que el apaciguamiento de esta dictadura por parte de la Administración Biden-Harris solo envalentonaría a Maduro y el levantamiento de sanciones ha puesto en peligro nuestra seguridad nacional, ayudando a un régimen estrechamente aliado con peligrosos adversarios como Rusia, Irán, Cuba y la República Popular China.
En lugar de aliviar las sanciones, la Administración Biden-Harris debería solidarizarse con el pueblo venezolano en su lucha por la libertad aumentando la presión y fortaleciendo sanciones”, afirmoDíaz-Balart.
“Aumentar la recompensa que conduzca a la condena de Maduro reforzará las acciones ya decisivas adoptadas por la Administración Biden-Harris para apuntar a la organización criminal detrás del robo electoral de Venezuela y la represión violenta de su pueblo”, dijoWasserman Schultz. “La Casa Blanca de Biden-Harris dirigió hábilmente una rápida presión internacional contra el régimen de Maduro, amplió las sanciones existentes y reunió apoyo mundial en torno a esta realidad: Edmundo González ganó de manera aplastante y el pueblo venezolano merece que se cuenten sus votos y se respeten sus derechos humanos. Como lo expresó enfáticamente la vicepresidenta Harris en una carta reciente, Estados Unidos ‘permanecerá firme junto al pueblo venezolano en su lucha por la libertad’. Esta recompensa engrandecida por el arresto de Maduro amplificaría esos esfuerzos”.
Priority question for written answer P-001757/2024 to the Commission Rule 144 Michał Dworczyk (ECR)
My region, Lower Silesia and Opolskie, has been severely affected in recent days by the impact of ongoing extreme flooding: broken bridges, damaged roads, devastated hospitals, schools and public buildings, thousands of destroyed private farms, homes and other buildings. While it is still impossible even to begin estimating the losses, as hundreds of villages are still underwater, it is clear already that massive financial investment will be needed for reconstruction and to recover from the effects of the flooding, and that this will exceed the capacity of the affected communities. The consequences of this disaster will be felt for years to come. They will be a test of solidarity for the Union as a whole, and for the EU institutions a test of the effectiveness and efficiency of resilience and crisis response mechanisms. In this context:
1.Is the Commission ready to provide urgent and adequate material and financial assistance to the regions affected by the flooding?
2.Given the scale and extent of the floods, does the Commission consider that funding under the Solidarity Fund is sufficient to support the countries affected by this disaster, and is it planning to review the Fund in order to ensure that countries affected by the floods receive long-term assistance that is proportionate to their needs?
3.Is the creation of a separate dedicated fund for the repair and construction of flood prevention infrastructure in the areas affected by this disaster, both in Poland and in other EU countries, possible and under consideration?
Accelerating Health Innovation, Union Health Minister Shri JP Nadda announces successful implementation of 100 Days Initiatives by the Department of Health Research India has taken Transformative Steps for Healthcare Innovations, Pandemic Preparedness and Development of Indigenous Medical Technologies on the path to Viksit Bharat 2047: Shri J P Nadda
Posted On: 23 SEP 2024 1:16PM by PIB Delhi
In a significant milestone in realizing the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, Union Health Minister Shri J. P. Nadda announced the successful implementation of 100 Days Program of Union Health Ministry’s Department of Health Research (DHR). He said “these initiatives represent transformative steps in healthcare innovation, pandemic preparedness, and the development of indigenous medical solutions, contributing to a healthier, more resilient and Atmanirbhar Bharat.”
The following are some of the key achievements and initiatives undertaken by the Department of Health Research in the last 100 days:
Med-Tech Mitra: It is a joint initiative by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO). Over 250 innovators, start-ups, and industry partners have been engaged through this platform helping them overcome challenges in the process of developing regulation compliant products, their clinical validation, and scaling-up.
National One Health Mission (NOHM) for Pandemic Preparedness: The NOHM is an integrated approach to tackling diseases at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health. This mission is a crucial step toward building India’s capacity to manage zoonotic diseases and pandemics. This initiative is instrumental in India’s long-term health security by creating a safe and healthy environment for all. Different activities have been undertaken with the ‘one health’ approach under this mission in first 100 days of Government, that are enlisted below:
National Network of BSL-3 Laboratories has been established wherein over 20 labs across different ministries have networked.
Trainings were conducted in National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune and ICAR-National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal.
Strengthening the nation’s preparedness for future pandemics, a mock drill of H5N1 “Vishanu Yudh Abhyas” was successfully conducted with multiple stakeholders from 27th to 31st August in Ajmer District of Rajasthan.
A national joint outbreak response team has been notified by Department of Health and Family Welfare (DoHFW). This will strengthen detection of the emerging hotspots of infections and conduct timely investigation for prevention and control.
Waste water surveillance tools were developed by ICMR and a surveillance model is also built for slaughterhouses.
Avian flu, Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) and MPox Vaccines development initiated with engagement of private sector and industry partners. NIPAH monoclonal antibodies are also under development.
Executive and Scientific Steering Committees of the Mission held their meetings reviewing pandemic preparedness of the country and suggesting further course of action.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Department of Biotechnology (DBT) guidelines for establishment & certification of Bio-Safety Level (BSL-3) labs have been consolidated into one national document.
Integrated Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (IRDLs): Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs) across the country have been taken up for strengthening through funding support. Six of these VRDLs are being converted into Integrated Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (IRDLs) covering larger domain of infectious diseases. Construction of Zonal laboratories of National Institute of Virology (NIV) has also been initiated.
Program for Development of Indigenous Drugs for Rare Diseases: As part of India’s drive towards becoming a global leader in affordable healthcare, DHR is set to launch a program developing 12 indigenous drugs for 8 rare diseases. This initiative will aim to drastically reduce the cost of treatment for conditions like Muscular Dystrophy and Gaucher’s Disease, making life saving therapies accessible and affordable for the masses.
“First in the World” Challenge: Inspired by India’s landmark Chandrayaan-3 mission, the “First in the World” challenge will fund 50 high-risk, high-reward innovations in biomedical research. This initiative epitomizes India’s spirit of innovation and excellence, accelerating its march toward becoming a leader in global healthcare solutions.
Centre for Evidence-Based Guidelines: The Centre for Evidence for Guidelines, ready for inauguration, will help standardize medical practices nationwide, ensuring the highest standards of care. The Centre will be helpful in developing world-class evidence based national health guidelines. It will be supported by Systematic Review centres in different parts of the Country.
Research to Action Vertical: The establishment of the “Research to Action” vertical in DHR will ensure that cutting-edge health research is seamlessly integrated into policy and practice. It will help in converting research findings into actionable policies across different states, leading to tangible improvements in public health.
Research Capacity Building: A total of 93 fellows have been enrolled till now for PhD in Medical research in different ICMR Institutes in the first batch of Faculty of Medical Research (FMR). Further, 63 young medical college faculty members have been provided fellowships for undertaking PhD programme. This is a big step towards strengthening physician scientist base in the country. In addition, 58 women scientists have been provided fellowships for undertaking health research.
The above initiatives are slated for launch in October 2024 by the Union Health Minister. Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, DHR and DG, ICMR said the efforts and recent achievements demonstrate Government’s commitment to advancing healthcare through innovation and research. He exuded confidence that these steps will play critical role in transforming the nation’s healthcare system and making it future-challenge ready.
***
MV
HFW/ DHR 100 Days Initiatives /23rd September 2024/1
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
CHP investigates case of invasive meningococcal infection CHP investigates case of invasive meningococcal infection *********************************************************
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (September 23) investigating a case of invasive meningococcal infection, a communicable disease transmitted by direct contact with droplets from carriers or infected persons. The case involves a 50-year-old female with good past health, who presented with malaise, fever and a rash since September 18, and sought medical attention from a private doctor on September 19. She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Tseung Kwan O Hospital on September 21 due to dizziness, headache, vomiting and a stiff neck and was admitted for treatment on the same day. Her cerebrospinal fluid sample tested positive for Neisseria meningitidis upon laboratory testing. Her clinical diagnosis was meningitis. The patient is now in stable condition. Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had no travel history during the incubation period. Her household contacts remain asymptomatic. The CHP’s investigation is continuing. “Meningococcal infection is caused by a bacterium known as meningococcus. It is mainly transmitted by direct contact through respiratory secretions, including droplets from the nose and throat, from infected persons. The incubation period varies from two to 10 days, and is commonly three or four days,” a spokesman for the CHP said. The clinical pictures among the infected may vary. Severe illness may result when the bacteria invade the bloodstream (meningococcaemia) or the membranes that envelop the brain and spinal cord (meningococcal meningitis). Meningococcaemia is characterised by a sudden onset of fever, an intense headache, purpura, shock and even death in severe cases. Meningococcal meningitis is characterised by high fever, severe headache and a stiff neck followed by drowsiness, vomiting, fear of bright light, or a rash. It can cause brain damage or even death. The brain damage may lead to intellectual impairment, mental retardation, hearing loss and electrolyte imbalance. Invasive meningococcal infection can be complicated by arthritis, inflammation of the heart muscle, inflammation of the posterior chamber of the eye or chest infection. Meningococcal infection is a serious illness. Patients should be treated promptly with antibiotics. To prevent meningococcal infection, members of the public are advised to take heed of the following measures:
Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly, especially when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions, e.g. after sneezing, and clean hands with alcohol-based handrub when they are not visibly soiled; Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing, hold the spit with a tissue, dispose of nasal and mouth discharge in a lidded rubbish bin, and wash hands immediately; Avoid crowded places; Avoid close contact with patients who have a fever or severe headache; Travellers to high-risk areas may consult doctors for meningococcal vaccination; and Travellers returning from high-risk areas should seek medical advice if they become ill, and should discuss their recent travel history with their doctor.
???The public may visit the CHP’s website for more information on meningococcal infection.
Ends/Monday, September 23, 2024Issued at HKT 17:45
We are just days away from celebrating the 100th anniversary of Old Marylebone Town Hall, an iconic venue renowned for hosting weddings of legendary figures like Ringo Starr, Sir Paul McCartney, and Liam Gallagher.
In honour of this milestone, 100 lucky couples will soon tie the knot, enter into civil partnerships, or renew their vows at this historic location for just £100—a fraction of the usual cost. Each couple can bring up to 8 guests and even 2 pets to share their special day.
The team at Old Marylebone Town Hall has been working tirelessly to prepare for this momentous occasion. On the 1st October 2024, from 8:00 AM to 10:30 PM, the venue will host a diverse range of couples, celebrating love in all its forms on one of the most important days of their lives.
Pop star Cilla Black and her personal manager Bobby Willis after their wedding at Marylebone Town Hall 25 January 1969
Many of the couples share a deep connection to Westminster—whether through living, working, or studying in the area. Many even began their relationships in Westminster.
For others, the venue holds special significance, with parents who were married or children registered at Old Marylebone Town Hall, making it the perfect place to celebrate their own love stories. Many couples have expressed their excitement about being part of such a historic event, adding a unique layer of meaning to their special day.
Here are some of the reasons behind why the couples chose to get married on this special day:
I used to work around Marylebone and walk past the town hall every week. Watching the couples walk down the iconic stairs and enjoying their happiest day, I said to myself that one day I’d like to get married there too. And I can’t believe that it’s going to happen soon, I’m so excited! It’s a dream come true.”
It sounds so fun and way more ‘us’ than a big wedding. I love that we won’t be the centre of attention and that 99 other couples will be celebrating the same day. And also save a fortune. We have hired an afternoon tea bus for after but the money we have saved is all going on a bucket list honeymoon to Mauritius!”
Marylebone Town Hall has always been one of my favourite venues and we were contemplating about where to get married, having been engaged for a year or so. On October 24th last year, I was on my commute home reading the Evening Standard, and I saw the article about the centenary. I always associate the Old Town Hall with the Beatles and the 60s, and the photos caught my eye. Both my fiancé and I will be 64 when we get married so it seemed a perfect match. ‘When I’m 64’ won’t be our music choice, but it very nearly was!”
Councillor Ryan Jude, Cabinet Member for Climate, Ecology and Culture says:
We are thrilled to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Old Marylebone Town Hall, a venue that holds historical and cultural significance for Westminster. This milestone is not just a reflection of the building’s rich past, but also a celebration of the diverse couples who will be creating new memories here.
I am excited to see so many people with personal ties to Westminster come together to mark this occasion. We look forward to continuing the tradition of love at this iconic venue for many more years to come.”
Notes:
Media access is limited, and space for coverage is restricted.
Please complete this form, and we will follow up to confirm if we can accommodate your request. Only accredited media will be allowed on-site on the day.
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
Watch live as NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson and Roscosmos cosmonauts Nikolai Chub and Oleg Kononenko return home from the International Space Station. Their Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft will head for a parachute-assisted landing on the steppe of Kazakhstan at 8 a.m. EDT Monday, Sept. 23 (1200 UTC).
Dyson will conclude her fourth spaceflight with the landing of the Soyuz. Dyson’s mission spanned 184 days, 2,944 orbits of the Earth, and a journey of 78 million miles. While on orbit, she conducted an array of experiments and technology demonstrations that contribute to advancements for humanity on Earth and NASA’s trajectory to the Moon and Mars.
About the science highlights of her mission: https://www.nasa.gov/missions/station/iss-research/nasa-astronaut-tracy-c-dyson-scientific-mission-aboard-space-station/
ATU Local 1724-Vancouver, BC, Members to Hold Ratification Vote
Vancouver, BC– After an 18-day strike, an aggressive campaign, and months of bargaining, HandyDART workers have reached a tentative agreement with Transdev, the multinational company contracted by Translink to operate the service. The members of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1724-Vancouver, BC, will hold a ratification vote in the coming days.
On September 3, HandyDART workers launched their strike with a spirited rally attended by ATU International President John Costa, labor leaders from across the region, HandyDART riders, and allies. Since then the two sides have been holding mediated contract talks resulting in this tentative agreement.
“It’s been a long fight for our HandyDART members, but since day one of our strike, we have stood strong and we have never been more united,” said Local 1724 President/Business Agent Joe McCann. “We nnow have a fair and just contract that narrows the gap between us and conventional transit. It also ensures a safe and reliable transit system for our HandyDART riders who rely on this critical service. We would like to thank our riders in particular, who have shown us overwhelming solidarity during these difficult 18 days.”
The new contract includes significant wage increases that would address the staffing shortages, and the Union was also able to push back on the use of taxis through creative language on shift scheduling and reporting.
The Union had been in contract negotiations with Transdev since November 2023. On June 27, 2024, HandyDART workers voted 95% to authorize strike action, with 87% of active members participating in the strike vote overall. Then starting on July 3, HandyDART workers engaged in partial work withdrawals as part of a steady ramp up of job actions. These have included: refusals to wear uniforms; collect fares; work overtime; fill out certain kinds of paperwork; and doing work off the clock.
Among the other key issues were staffing shortages and high worker turnover, which had been more than double that of the rest of Translink, due to poor compensation in comparison to other transit jobs in the region. Worker shortages have been a major factor in the skyrocketing use of taxis at HandyDART, and riders have complained that taxi drivers do not have the same training nor provide the same door-to-door service. This has led to many Mayors and City Councils openly calling for Translink to bring the service in-house in order to improve safety and public accountability.
“I am proud of our HandyDART members. On the picket lines and rallies, I saw firsthand their strength, unity, and solidarity,” said International President John Costa. “The result was a strong contract that recognizes the commitment and dedication of our HandyDART members to provide safe and reliable transportation for our seniors and people with disabilities. Our members now have a pathway to the middle class for the critical public service they provide. It was an honor to hold the line with you.”
By Administrator Samantha Power and Open Philanthropy CEO Alexander Berger Washington Post
Ten years ago, when residents of Flint, Mich., were exposed to toxic levels of lead in their drinking water, 1 in 20 children in the city had elevated blood lead levels that placed them at risk for heart disease, strokes, cognitive deficits and developmental delays – health effects that residents still grapple with to this day. It was only after activists rallied, organized and advocated relentlessly that national attention focused on Flint, and officials committed nearly half a billion dollars to clean up Flint’s water.
Today, there is a lead poisoning crisis raging on a far greater scale – and hardly anyone is talking about it.
In low- and middle-income countries, home to more than 1.5 billion of the world’s children, 1 in 2 children has elevated levels of lead in their blood. That’s 10 times the rate of poisoning at the height of the crisis in Flint. The Center for Global Development estimates that the damage lead is causing to children’s brains accounts for 20 percent of the education gap between high- and low-income countries. All told, every year, lead poisoning is estimated to cost the global economy more than $1 trillion and claims at least 1.5 million lives – more than annual deaths from HIV and malaria combined.
Yet the yearly global funding for tackling lead poisoning in developing countries totals just $15 million – the cost of a single 60-second ad at the Super Bowl, and a small fraction of what is spent on diseases with similar health burdens.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL OP-ED IN THE WASHINGTON POST
LAS VEGAS – Acting Secretary Su traveled to Las Vegas Sept. 19, 2024, to commemorate The Venetian Resort’s historic first contract with the Culinary Workers Union, congratulate workers for their hard work in reaching the agreement, and reaffirm the administration’s commitment to supporting workers and union jobs.
The Acting Secretary joined Culinary Workers Union Local 226 Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge and The Venetian Resort Las Vegas President and CEO Patrick Nichols in offering remarks for the occasion.
“This is not just a landmark moment in the history of Las Vegas – it’s a victory for workers and a victory for the Venetian, because this first contract will provide stability and a guaranteed quality workforce – this is what can be achieved when workers and management come together to find common ground,” Acting Secretary Su said.
Media coverage highlighted Acting Secretary Su’s announcement as follows:
U.S. labor secretary helps celebrate contract at Las Vegas’ Venetian
By Kyle Chouinard | Sept. 19, 2024
“I’ve never known workers that are trying to organize a union because they don’t want to work with their employer,” Su said Thursday at a contract celebration. “They want the employer to do well, and that shared success is the … future of the romance that you all solidified here today.”
Culinary Union celebrates the end of their longest campaign
By Steve Sebelius | Sept. 19, 2024
“It says that unions make America strong,” [Acting Secretary Su] said. “You hear President Biden say it all the time, the middle-class built America and unions built the middle class. And now the workers here in the Venetian are going to be able to enjoy the benefits of having a real voice on the job, of being able to negotiate for their wages and health benefits, for how technology will be implemented in the workplace, to just really feel valued.”
For 14-year Venetian employee Carmen Vargas, who served on the negotiating committee that hammered out the new contract, it’s not just better wages and good healthcare, but also the ability to buy a home.
U.S. Secretary of Labor celebrates all-union Las Vegas Strip with Culinary
By Dana Gentry | Sept. 19, 2024
“By supporting the right to organize, we’re seeing workers gain more power in the workplace,” she said, and that in turn is helping to drive “a record recovery from the pandemic and it’s creating more prosperity all around.”
While billions of dollars pour into communities via the Biden administration’s Investing in America agenda, Su says she’s focused on “opportunity infrastructure” and connecting people from all walks of life with good jobs by eliminating obstacles such as lack of transportation or childcare.
For Immediate Release: DHS HOSTS DISASTER CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM OUTREACH EVENT FOR MAUI WILDFIRE SURVIVORS IN NEED OF SUPPORT
Posted on Sep 22, 2024 in Latest Department News, Newsroom
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
KA ʻOIHANA MĀLAMA LAWELAWE KANAKA
JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR
KE KIAʻĀINA
RYAN I. YAMANE
DIRECTOR
KA LUNA HOʻOKELE
JOSEPH CAMPOS II
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
KA HOPE LUNA HOʻOKELE
TRISTA SPEER
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
KA HOPE LUNA HOʻOKELE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2024
DHS HOSTS DISASTER CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM OUTREACH EVENT FOR MAUI WILDFIRE SURVIVORS IN NEED OF SUPPORT
Case Managers Provided Vital Guidance and Enrolled Survivors in the Program
HONOLULU — The Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services (DHS) hosted an outreach event with more than 25 community partners in Kahului for wildfire survivors to learn more about the Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP).
The DCMP connects survivors of disasters with specially trained disaster case managers (DCMs) to help assess and address their needs through a disaster recovery plan, which includes resources, decision-making priorities, providing guidance and tools. A DCM acts as a ‘quarterback’ to help survivors navigate their recovery and will continue to assist survivors for up to five years.
More than 700 people attended yesterday’s event, including DCMP partners and members of the Maui community, and Maui wildfire survivors interested in the program were welcomed to learn more about services available to them. DCMs answered questions and immediately enrolled more than 100 survivors in the program at the event located at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College.
The DCMP recently received an additional $7.9 million in funding to expand the program, bringing its total funding to $26.8 million and enabling the program to grow by more than double – increasing its potential reach to serve approximately 3,000 households at a time. The DCMP has already made a significant difference for the Maui community, helping more than 5,000 individuals to date.
“Thank you to the Maui community and all of our great partners. We are so grateful to everyone that has helped to make the DCMP a success and look forward to continuing to help connect survivors with the crucial services they need,” said DCMP Director Jen Monaghan. “The DCMP is making a difference for people every day and we are actively expanding the program. We encourage any survivors in need of supports and resources to attend these kinds of outreach events or simply call 211 to enroll in the program immediately.”
Maui wildfire survivors who are interested in enrolling in the DCMP are encouraged to call 211. Hours of operation are from 7:00 a.m. through 10:00 p.m. seven days a week.
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that he has signed the following bills:
AB 262 by Assemblymember Chris R. Holden (D-Pasadena) – Children’s camps: safety and regulation.
AB 460 by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) – State Water Resources Control Board: water rights and usage: civil penalties.
AB 672 by Assemblymember Dr. Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) – Civil Rights Department: community assistance.
AB 761 by Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) – Local finance: enhanced infrastructure financing districts.
AB 938 by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) – Education finance: classified and certificated staff salaries.
AB 1005 by Assemblymember David Alvarez (D-San Diego) – In-home supportive services: terminal illness diagnosis.
AB 1038 by Assemblymember Mike Fong (D-Alhambra) – Surplus residential property: City of Pasadena: City of South Pasadena.
AB 1042 by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) – Pesticide treated seed: labeling.
AB 1142 by Assemblymember Mike Fong (D-Alhambra) – Community colleges: costs for using facilities or grounds.
AB 1246 by Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen (D-Elk Grove) – Public employees’ retirement: Public Employees’ Retirement System optional settlements.
AB 1472 by Assemblymember David Alvarez (D-San Diego) – City of Imperial Beach: recreational vehicle parks: registration requirements.
AB 1511 by Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) – State government: diverse, ethnic, and community media.
AB 1533 by the Committee on Utilities and Energy – Electricity.
AB 1768 by the Committee on Governmental Organization – Horse racing.
AB 1784 by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D-Santa Cruz) – Primary elections: candidate withdrawals.
AB 1808 by Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen (D-Elk Grove) – Childcare and development services: eligibility.
AB 1819 by Assemblymember Marie Waldron (R-Valley Center) – Enhanced infrastructure financing districts: public capital facilities: wildfires.
AB 1820 by Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) – Housing development projects: applications: fees and exactions.
AB 1827 by Assemblymember Diane Papan (D-San Mateo) – Local government: fees and charges: water: higher consumptive water parcels.
AB 1828 by Assemblymember Marie Waldron (R-Valley Center) – Personal income taxes: voluntary contributions: Endangered and Rare Fish, Wildlife, and Plant Species Conservation and Enhancement Account: Native California Wildlife Rehabilitation Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund: covered grants.
AB 1862 by Assemblymember Phillip Chen (R-Yorba Linda) – Engineering, land surveying, and architecture: limited liability partnerships.
AB 1891 by Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber (D-San Diego) – Community colleges: allied health programs.
AB 1892 by Assemblymember Heath Flora (R-Modesto) – Interception of electronic communications.
AB 1901 by Assemblymember Phillip Chen (R-Yorba Linda) – Vehicles: total loss claim: salvage certificate or nonrepairable vehicle certificate.
AB 1937 by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) – State parks: Pedro Point.
AB 1946 by Assemblymember Juan Alanis (R-Modesto) – Horse racing: out-of-state thoroughbred races: Whitney Stakes.
AB 1962 by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) – Crimes: disorderly conduct.
AB 1984 by Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber (D-San Diego) – Pupil discipline: transfer reporting.
AB 1991 by Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) – Licensee and registrant renewal: National Provider Identifier.
AB 2015 by Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) – Nursing schools and programs: faculty members, directors, and assistant directors.
AB 2021 by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) – Crimes: selling or furnishing tobacco or related products and paraphernalia to underage persons.
AB 2041 by Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) – Political Reform Act of 1974: campaign funds: security expenses.
AB 2046 by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles) – Educational programs: single gender schools and classes.
AB 2072 by Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber (D-San Diego) – Group health care coverage: biomedical industry.
AB 2073 by Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton) – Physical education courses: alternate term schedules.
AB 2081 by Assemblymember Laurie Davies (R-Laguna Niguel) – Substance abuse: recovery and treatment programs.
AB 2091 by Assemblymember Tim Grayson (D-Concord) – California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: public access: nonmotorized recreation.
AB 2127 by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) – Voter registration: California New Motor Voter Program.
AB 2130 by Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) – Parking violations.
AB 2131 by Assemblymember Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim) – Certified nurse assistant training programs.
AB 2134 by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) – School employees: transfer of leave of absence for illness or injury.
AB 2137 by Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton) – Homeless and foster youth.
AB 2159 by Assemblymember Brian Maienschein (D-San Diego) – Common interest developments: association governance: elections.
AB 2166 by Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber (D-San Diego) – Barbering and cosmetology: hair types and textures.
AB 2176 by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) – Juvenile court schools: chronic absenteeism rates.
AB 2198 by Assemblymember Heath Flora (R-Modesto) – Health information.
AB 2247 by Assemblymember Greg Wallis (R-Palm Springs) – Mobilehome Parks Act: enforcement: notice of violations: Manufactured Housing Opportunity and Revitalization (MORE) Program: annual fee.
AB 2276 by Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg) – Forestry: timber harvesting plans: exemptions.
AB 2302 by Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay) – Open meetings: local agencies: teleconferences.
AB 2324 by Assemblymember Juan Alanis (R-Modesto) – Avocados: sale or donation by the Secretary of Food and Agriculture.
AB 2327 by Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles) – Optometry: mobile optometric offices.
AB 2337 by Assemblymember Diane Dixon (R-Newport Beach) – Workers’ compensation: electronic signatures.
AB 2359 by Assemblymember Philip Ting (D-San Francisco) – Alcoholic beverage control: neighborhood-restricted special on-sale general licenses.
AB 2364 by Assemblymember Luz Rivas (D-Sylmar) – Property service worker protection.
AB 2373 by Assemblymember Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) – Mobilehomes: tenancies.
AB 2387 by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D-Santa Cruz) – Mobilehome parks: additional lots: exemption from additional fees or charges.
AB 2399 by Assemblymember Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) – Mobilehome park residences: rental agreements: Mobilehome Residency Law Protection Program.
AB 2434 by Assemblymember Tim Grayson (D-Concord) – Health care coverage: multiple employer welfare arrangements.
AB 2453 by Assemblymember Carlos Villapudua (D-Stockton) – Weights and measures: electric vehicle supply equipment.
AB 2457 by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) – Sacramento Municipal Utility District: nonstock security.
AB 2460 by Assemblymember Tri Ta (R-Westminster) – Common interest developments: association governance: member election.
AB 2469 by the Committee on Emergency Management – Emergency Management Assistance Compact: California Wildfire Mitigation Financial Assistance Program.
AB 2496 by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D-Santa Cruz) – Foster family agencies and noncustodial adoption agencies.
AB 2500 by Assemblymember Mike Fong (D-Alhambra) – Student financial aid: application deadlines: postponement.
AB 2511 by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) – Beverage container recycling: market development payments.
AB 2522 by Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles) – Air districts: governing boards: compensation.
AB 2543 by Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) – Small Business Procurement and Contract Act: eligibility.
AB 2546 by Assemblymember Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) – Law enforcement and state agencies: military equipment: funding, acquisition, and use.
AB 2561 by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood) – Local public employees: vacant positions.
AB 2574 by Assemblymember Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim) – Alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment programs and facilities: disclosures.
AB 2599 by the Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials – Water: public beaches: discontinuation of residential water service.
AB 2664 by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles) – Foster youth.
AB 2666 by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner (D-Encinitas) – Public utilities: rate of return.
AB 2678 by Assemblymember Greg Wallis (R-Palm Springs) – Vehicles: high-occupancy vehicle lanes.
AB 2712 by Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) – Preferential parking privileges: transit-oriented development.
AB 2817 by Assemblymember Diane Dixon (R-Newport Beach) – State highways: Route 1: relinquishment.
AB 2830 by Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Salinas) – Foster care: relative placement: approval process.
AB 2834 by Assemblymember Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) – Public postsecondary education: part-time faculty.
AB 2887 by Assemblymember Brian Maienschein (D-San Diego) – School safety plans: medical emergency procedures.
AB 2898 by Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles) – Unbundled parking: exemptions: Housing Choice Vouchers.
AB 2902 by Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg) – Solid waste: reduction and recycling.
AB 2931 by Assemblymember Mike Fong (D-Alhambra) – Community colleges: classified employees: merit system: part-time student-tutors.
AB 2939 by Assemblymember Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) – Parks: counties and cities: interpretive services.
AB 2951 by Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside) – Voter registration: cancellation.
AB 2971 by Assemblymember Brian Maienschein (D-San Diego) – Classified Employee Staffing Ratio Workgroup: community college districts.
AB 2991 by Assemblymember Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim) – Alcoholic beverage control: retailer payments: electronic funds transfers.
AB 3025 by Assemblymember Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim) – County employees’ retirement: disallowed compensation: benefit adjustments.
AB 3042 by Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen (D-Elk Grove) – County penalties.
AB 3069 by Assemblymember Laurie Davies (R-Laguna Niguel) – Tied-house restrictions: advertising exceptions: City of Oceanside.
AB 3087 by Assemblymember Mike Fong (D-Alhambra) – California Community Colleges Economic and Workforce Development Program.
AB 3100 by Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Campbell) – Assumption of mortgage loans: dissolution of marriage.
AB 3116 by Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) – Housing development: density bonuses: student housing developments.
AB 3119 by Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Campbell) – Physicians and surgeons, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants: continuing medical education: infection-associated chronic conditions.
AB 3131 by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) – Strong Workforce Program: applicants receiving equity multiplier funding.
AB 3158 by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) – Community colleges: West Valley-Mission Community College District.
AB 3177 by Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles) – Mitigation Fee Act: land dedications: mitigating vehicular traffic impacts.
AB 3184 by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) – Elections: signature verification statements, unsigned ballot identification statements, and reports of ballot rejections.
AB 3234 by Assemblymember Liz Ortega (D-San Leandro) – Employers: social compliance audit.
AB 3261 by Assemblymember Mike Fong (D-Alhambra) – Horse racing: out-of-state thoroughbred races.
AB 3290 by the Committee on Higher Education – Public postsecondary education.
AB 3291 by the Committee on Human Services – Developmental services.
SB 98 by Senator Anthony Portantino (D-Burbank) – Education finance: local control funding formula: enrollment-based funding report.
SB 382 by Senator Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park) – Single-family residential property: disclosures.
SB 577 by Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) – Insurance.
SB 689 by Senator Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas) – Local coastal program: bicycle lane: amendment.
SB 708 by Senator Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) – Vehicles: off-highway motor vehicles: off-highway motorcycles: sanctioned event permit.
SB 778 by Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa) – Excavations: subsurface installations.
SB 819 by Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) – Medi-Cal: certification.
SB 863 by Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) – Measures proposed by the Legislature.
SB 977 by Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) – County of San Luis Obispo Redistricting Commission.
SB 978 by Senator Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta) – State government: budget: state publications: format.
SB 1046 by Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) – Organic waste reduction: program environmental impact report: small and medium compostable material handling facilities or operations.
SB 1053 by Senator Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas) – Solid waste: recycled paper bags: standards: carryout bag prohibition.
SB 1077 by Senator Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas) – Coastal resources: local coastal program: amendments: accessory and junior accessory dwelling units.
SB 1106 by Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) – The Kasem-Nichols-Rooney Law.
SB 1117 by Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) – Organic products.
SB 1130 by Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) – Electricity: Family Electric Rate Assistance program.
SB 1156 by Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) – Groundwater sustainability agencies: conflicts of interest: financial interest disclosures.
SB 1158 by Senator Bob Archuleta (D-Pico Rivera) – Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program.
SB 1193 by Senator Caroline Menjivar (D-San Fernando Valley/Burbank) – Airports: leaded aviation gasoline.
SB 1225 by Senator Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) – Real estate appraisers: disciplinary information: petitions.
SB 1230 by Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) – Strengthen Tobacco Oversight Programs (STOP) and Seize Illegal Tobacco Products Act.
SB 1248 by Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) – Pupil health: extreme weather conditions: physical activity.
SB 1251 by Senator Henry Stern (D-Los Angeles) – Mosquito abatement inspections.
SB 1254 by Senator Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park) – CalFresh: enrollment of incarcerated individuals.
SB 1280 by Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) – Waste management: propane cylinders: reusable or refillable.
SB 1304 by Senator Monique Limόn (D-Santa Barbara) – Underground injection control: aquifer exemption.
SB 1315 by Senator Bob Archuleta (D-Pico Rivera) – School accountability: local educational agencies: annual reporting requirements.
SB 1321 by Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Silicon Valley) – Employment Training Panel: employment training program: projects and proposals.
SB 1324 by Senator Monique Limόn (D-Santa Barbara) – California Ocean Science Trust: agreements.
SB 1329 by the Committee on Education – Elementary and secondary education: omnibus.
SB 1333 by Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) – Communicable diseases: HIV reporting.
SB 1336 by Senator Bob Archuleta (D-Pico Rivera) – Department of General Services: state property: Metropolitan State Hospital.
SB 1367 by Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) – Agriculture: commercial feed: inspection tonnage tax: research and education.
SB 1399 by Senator Henry Stern (D-Los Angeles) – Transfer of real property: transfer fees.
SB 1410 by Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa) – Pupil instruction: curriculum frameworks: mathematics: algebra. A signing message can be found here.
SB 1429 by Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa) – Education finance: emergencies: snowstorms.
SB 1440 by Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) – School operations: 4-day school week.
SB 1441 by Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) – Examination of petitions: time limitations and reimbursement of costs.
SB 1450 by Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) – Elections.
SB 1451 by Senator Angelique Ashby (D-Sacramento) – Professions and vocations.
SB 1452 by Senator Angelique Ashby (D-Sacramento) – Architecture and landscape architecture.
SB 1453 by Senator Angelique Ashby (D-Sacramento) – Dentistry.
SB 1454 by Senator Angelique Ashby (D-Sacramento) – Bureau of Security and Investigative Services: sunset.
SB 1455 by Senator Angelique Ashby (D-Sacramento) – Contractors: licensing.
SB 1456 by Senator Angelique Ashby (D-Sacramento) – State Athletic Commission Act.
SB 1465 by Senator Bob Archuleta (D-Pico Rivera) – State building standards.
SB 1468 by Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa) – Healing arts boards: informational and educational materials for prescribers of narcotics: federal “Three Day Rule.”
SB 1476 by Senator Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas) – Political Reform Act of 1974: State Bar of California.
SB 1491 by Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) – Postsecondary education: Equity in Higher Education Act.
SB 1500 by Senator María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles) – Housing: federal waiver: income eligibility.
SB 1511 by the Committee on Health – Health omnibus.
SB 1512 by the Committee on Housing – Housing omnibus.
SB 1514 by the Committee on Local Government – Local Government Omnibus Act of 2024.
SB 1518 by the Committee on Public Safety – Public safety omnibus.
SB 1523 by the Committee on Governmental Organization – Gambling: lotteries.
SB 1526 by the Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development – Consumer affairs.
SB 1527 by the Committee on Revenue and Taxation – Property taxation: exemption: low-value properties and tribal housing.
SB 1528 by the Committee on Revenue and Taxation – California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.
The Governor also announced that he has vetoed the following bills:
AB 544 by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles) – Voting pilot program: county jails. A veto message can be found here.
AB 832 by Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside) – California Transportation Commission: membership. A veto message can be found here.
AB 884 by Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Campbell) – Elections: language accessibility. A veto message can be found here.
AB 1738 by Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles) – Mobile Homeless Connect Pilot Program. A veto message can be found here.
AB 1817 by Assemblymember Juan Alanis (R-Modesto) – Homeless youth. A veto message can be found here.
AB 1834 by Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) – Resource adequacy: Electricity Supply Strategic Reliability Reserve Program. A veto message can be found here.
AB 1918 by Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg) – Solar-ready and photovoltaic and battery storage system requirements: exemption. A veto message can be found here.
AB 1919 by Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber (D-San Diego) – Pupil discipline: suspension: restorative justice practices. A veto message can be found here.
AB 1947 by Assemblymember Luz Rivas (D-Sylmar) – California state preschool programs: contracting agencies: staff training days. A veto message can be found here.
AB 1977 by Assemblymember Tri Ta (R-Westminster) – Health care coverage: behavioral diagnoses. A veto message can be found here.
AB 1992 by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner (D-Encinitas) – Carbon sequestration: blue carbon and teal carbon demonstration projects. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2022 by Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay) – Mobilehome parks: emergency preparedness. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2038 by Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton) – State parks: outdoor equity programs. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2088 by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) – K–14 classified employees: part-time or full-time vacancies: public postings. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2093 by Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) – Community colleges: California College Promise: fee waiver eligibility. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2103 by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D-Santa Cruz) – Department of Parks and Recreation: Big Basin Redwoods, Año Nuevo, and Butano State Parks: real property acquisition. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2120 by Assemblymember Phillip Chen (R-Yorba Linda) – Trespass. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2214 by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) – Ocean Protection Council: microplastics. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2250 by Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber (D-San Diego) – Social determinants of health: screening and outreach. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2263 by Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) – The California Guaranteed Income Statewide Feasibility Study Act. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2271 by Assemblymember Liz Ortega (D-San Leandro) – St. Rose Hospital. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2277 by Assemblymember Greg Wallis (R-Palm Springs) – Community colleges: part-time faculty. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2330 by Assemblymember Chris R. Holden (D-Pasadena) – Endangered species: incidental take: wildfire preparedness activities. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2401 by Assemblymember Philip Ting (D-San Francisco) – Clean Cars 4 All Program. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2448 by Assemblymember Dr. Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) – Electric Vehicle Economic Opportunity Zone: County of Riverside. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2537 by Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay) – Energy: Voluntary Offshore Wind and Coastal Resources Protection Program: community capacity funding activities and grants. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2538 by Assemblymember Tim Grayson (D-Concord) – Department of Forestry and Fire Protection: seasonal firefighters. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2586 by Assemblymember David Alvarez (D-San Diego) – Public postsecondary education: student employment. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2637 by Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) – Health Facilities Financing Authority Act. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2677 by Assemblymember Phillip Chen (R-Yorba Linda) – Sureties: liability. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2681 by Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber (D-San Diego) – Weapons: robotic devices. A veto message can be found here.
AB 2910 by Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) – State Housing Law: City of Los Angeles: conversion of nonresidential buildings. A veto message can be found here.
AB 3023 by Assemblymember Diane Papan (D-San Mateo) – Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force: interagency funding strategy: multiple benefit projects: grant program guidelines. A veto message can be found here.
AB 3034 by Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Campbell) – Public postsecondary education: waiver of tuition and fees: California Conservation Corps. A veto message can be found here.
SB 571 by Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) – Fire safety: ingress and egress route recommendations: report. A veto message can be found here.
SB 936 by Senator Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta) – Department of Transportation: study: state highway system: road safety projects. A veto message can be found here.
SB 983 by Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Silicon Valley) – Energy: gasoline stations and alternative fuel infrastructure. A veto message can be found here.
SB 1108 by Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa) – Mobilehome parks: notice of violations. A veto message can be found here.
SB 1118 by Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) – Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing Program. A veto message can be found here.
SB 1133 by Senator Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park) – Bail. A veto message can be found here.
SB 1170 by Senator Caroline Menjivar (D-San Fernando Valley/Burbank) – Political Reform Act of 1974: campaign funds. A veto message can be found here.
SB 1182 by Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) – Master Plan for Healthy, Sustainable, and Climate-Resilient Schools. A veto message can be found here.
SB 1220 by Senator Monique Limόn (D-Santa Barbara) – Public benefits contracts: phone operator jobs. A veto message can be found here.
SB 1292 by Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) – Electricity: fixed charges: report. A veto message can be found here.
SB 1369 by Senator Monique Limόn (D-Santa Barbara) – Dental providers: fee-based payments. A veto message can be found here.
SB 1375 by Senator María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles) – Workforce development: records: poverty-reducing labor standards: funds, programs, reporting, and analyses. A veto message can be found here.
SB 1383 by Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) – California Advanced Services Fund: Broadband Public Housing Account. A veto message can be found here.
SB 1411 by Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa) – Instructional Quality Commission: curriculum framework and evaluation criteria committee: higher education faculty representation. A veto message can be found here.
SB 1412 by Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa) – Instructional Quality Commission: qualifications: prohibited communications. A veto message can be found here.
SB 1419 by Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) – Food Desert Elimination Grant Program. A veto message can be found here.
SB 1423 by Senator Brian Dahle (R-Bieber) – Medi-Cal: Rural Hospital Technical Advisory Group. A veto message can be found here.
SB 1443 by Senator Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) – California Interagency Council on Homelessness. A veto message can be found here.
SB 1471 by Senator Henry Stern (D-Los Angeles) – Pupil instruction: quiet reflection. A veto message can be found here.
SB 1509 by Senator Henry Stern (D-Los Angeles) – Negligent Operator Treatment (NOT) in California Act. A veto message can be found here.
For full text of the bills, visit: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
Recent news
Sep 21, 2024
News What you need to know: Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation to provide more safety, care, and accountability for services that help older adults and their families thrive, as more Californians live longer lives. This action further advances California’s…
Sep 20, 2024
News SACRAMENTO – Moving to protect the health and well-being of youth on digital platforms, Governor Gavin Newsom today signed SB 976 by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), which prohibits online platforms from knowingly providing an addictive feed to a minor without…
Sep 20, 2024
News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Katherine “Katie” Butler, of Los Angeles, has been appointed Director of the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. Butler has served as Deputy Director of the Hazardous…
What you need to know: Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation to provide more safety, care, and accountability for services that help older adults and their families thrive, as more Californians live longer lives. This action further advances California’s nation-leading Master Plan for Aging.
Sacramento, California – On World Alzheimer’s Day, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a package of twelve bills to help California’s law enforcement, doctors and health care providers, and local aging services better serve the growing number of California adults over 60 and their families. These policies will help reform the state’s aging services ahead of 2030, when one in four Californians will be aged 60 or over.
AB 2541 by Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains (D-Delano) — Requires law enforcement to have training on preventing and responding to wandering by people with Alzheimer’s, autism, and dementia.
SB 639 by Senator Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) — Requires doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals who provide care for people 65 and older as at least 25% of their practice to take continuing education in geriatrics and dementia care.
SB 1249 by Senator Richard Roth (D-Riverside) — Modernizes the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act of 1996 by increasing local control and establishing new core programs and performance measures for accountability in the delivery of local aging services.
“People over 60 are California’s fastest growing population – in fact, our residents live among the longest lives in America. That’s why it’s so important that we work to advance healthy, safe, and supported aging in the Golden State. I’m proud that we continue to boldly tackle perhaps the greatest challenge of aging – dementia – to ensure that every person can age with dignity and care.”
Governor Gavin Newsom
Combatting dementia and supporting families
Dr. Jasmeet Bains, Assemblymember, Chair of the Assembly Aging and Long-Term Care Committee: “As the nation’s population continues to age, the incidence of Alzheimer’s and other dementia related disorders have increased as well. I have seen this first hand as a practicing physician both in my district and in my deployments in serving those impacted by wildfires throughout the state. Given that over 60% of those living with Alzheimer’s disease will wander at some point and an estimated 49% of children with autism will engage in wandering behavior there will be more and more opportunities for these individuals to wander from home and come into contact with local law enforcement and public safety officials. Finding people quickly is key because we know the survival rate drops dramatically the longer it takes to find the missing person.”
State Senator Monique Limón: “On World Alzheimer’s Day I am honored that Governor Newsom has signed SB 639, ensuring our healthcare workforce is equipped to provide dementia care to our most vulnerable populations. The fight to end Alzheimer’s for me is incredibly personal. I witnessed my own grandmother grapple with the disease for years and experienced first-hand the toll it took on our family and loved ones. That is why I believe firmly that with more support, education, and coordinated efforts in the health care space we can provide comprehensive care to Californians impacted by Alzheimer’s and Dementia.”
State Senator Richard D. Roth: “With the advancement of technology, medicine, and healthy lifestyles, in the year 2030, one in four Californians will be 60 years of age or older. We must ensure that we continue to address the diverse needs of a rapidly aging population. To do so we need to be vigilant in the oversight of the government programs that help assist older Californians. Governor Newsom’s signing of SB 1249 ensures the Older Californians Act is modernized by developing performance metrics, and a process to make sure the services provided for aging residents are integrated with our other social service programs.”
Susan DeMarois, Director of the California Department of Aging: “The reimagining of California’s aging services network has been underway as we build on five decades of experience to evolve service development and delivery for a population that has significantly grown and changed. Older adults make up a greater segment of our population and are likely to live longer, healthier lives, requiring different services and supports than previous generations. Senator Roth’s bill helps achieve the vision of ensuring all older adults and their families can access consistent, high-quality services, no matter where they live in California.”
Bigger picture
Recognizing that California’s over-65 population is projected to exceed the under-18 population by 2030, and the changes underway for families, communities, and the economy, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order in 2019 calling for the creation of a Master Plan for Aging (MPA). The Master Plan, which was released in January 2021, serves as a blueprint that is being used by state government, local communities, private organizations and philanthropy to build environments that promote an age-friendly California. Powered by the MPA, California has since expanded health care coverage, home care and day center services, family leave, housing choices ranging from ADUs to assisted living, adult protective services, volunteer opportunities, and more. Take On Alzheimer’s is California’s new public education and awareness campaign supporting prevention, diagnosis, and care
Other aging-related legislation signed today
AB 1902 by Assemblymember Juan Alanis (R-Merced) — Prescription drug labels: accessibility.
AB 2016 by Assemblymember Brian Maienschein (D-San Diego) — Decedents’ estates.
AB 2207 by Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-San Bernardino) — State boards and commissions: representatives of older adults.
AB 2620 by Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains (D-Delano) — California Commission on Aging.
AB 2680 by Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) — Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Conditions Advisory Committee.
AB 2689 by Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains (D-Delano) — Personal income taxes: California Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia Research Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund (signed earlier this year).
SB 1352 by Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Fremont) — Continuing care retirement communities.
SB 1354 by Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Fremont) — Long-term health care facilities: payment source and resident census.
SB 1406 by Senator Ben Allen (D-El Segundo) — Residential care facilities for the elderly: resident services.
Recent news
Sep 20, 2024
News SACRAMENTO – Moving to protect the health and well-being of youth on digital platforms, Governor Gavin Newsom today signed SB 976 by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), which prohibits online platforms from knowingly providing an addictive feed to a minor without…
Sep 20, 2024
News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Katherine “Katie” Butler, of Los Angeles, has been appointed Director of the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. Butler has served as Deputy Director of the Hazardous…
Sep 20, 2024
News What you need to know: The first hearings of the special session highlighted the incentives that the oil industry has in letting gas prices spike – and that they have no interest in fixing it any time soon. SACRAMENTO – The Assembly hosted its first hearings of…
What you need to know: The first hearings of the special session highlighted the incentives that the oil industry has in letting gas prices spike – and that they have no interest in fixing it any time soon.
SACRAMENTO – The Assembly hosted its first hearings of the special session on gas price spikes this week.
The takeaway? Gas price spikes are preventable with additional backup supply but profit motives keep the industry from responsibly maintaining the supply necessary to protect Californians.Learn more about the Governor’s proposal here.
Profit incentives drive decisions to let supplies dwindle, allowing prices to spike
“Private sector firms have [an] incentive and obligation to earn a profit, and so their decisions about how much to store for a rainy day are determined by profit incentives, and in particular, holding onto additional product so you can sell it when prices are high and drive down prices can cannibalize the money you’re already making during that period.” – Neale Mahoney, Stanford University Professor of Economics
“Their primary focus in that decision is what’s gonna be best for their profits. They don’t want to hold inventory and have that storage cost and all of that, unnecessarily. But if they can hold inventory because they think down the road they could be able to sell it to a higher priced market, they may make those decisions. But the decision, basically, on inventory, or one of the primary things, is simply their profits, correct?” – Assemblymember Steve Bennett
“That is correct, Member Bennet, these companies have an obligation to maximize profits for their shareholders.” – Neale Mahoney, Stanford University Professor of Economics
Minimum inventories – utilizing existing storage – would prevent gas price spikes
“My view is [that] when we have a price spike, that a responsible system would have product on hand [and] would have anticipated the potential of there being a refinery turnaround, a refinery outage, something else. And that product could be deployed to bridge us to the point where a refinery came online or where product could come in from overseas. That decision may not be the profit-maximizing decision for firms that are trying to make the most possible money. But in terms of serving the California people by preventing budget-busting price spikes, I think that is something that would be desirable.” – Neale Mahoney, Stanford University Professor of Economics
“This additional supply, this additional buffer would be available when prices go up to help stabilize the market… The problem with this concentrated market with the four firms is they don’t currently have the incentive to keep inventories high enough to protect against price spikes. And I can say that the proof is before us in the price spikes that we’ve been experiencing – and so there has to be a mechanism to encourage that more responsible level of storage to prevent the price spikes.” – Tai Milder, Director of the state’s Division of Petroleum Market Oversight
“I keep hearing about the need to build new tanks but this is aminimuminventory requirement. In other words, it kicks in at the time when inventories are very low so there should be plenty of capacity for storing that gasoline.” – Severin Borenstein, Professor of Economics at UC Berkeley
“When refineries go down, prices go up, profits go up… There’s an intersection of inventory dipping under 15 days, the price spiking, the profit spiking.” – Jamie Court. President of Consumer Watchdog
Industry has no interest in fixing gas price spikes
“We are also here to evaluate a proposal that is on the table and so if you don’t think this works, then you need to explain to this committee why it doesn’t work.” – Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris addressing the oil industry
“You’ve heard a fundamental disagreement about whether refiners do or do not have enough storage capacity.* We disagree… We fundamentally believe that we’re being set up for failure.” – Eloy Garcia, Western States Petroleum Association (*fact check: there is enough storage capacity, according to CEC/DPMO analysis and outside experts)
“We have to realize there’s a tremendous incentive to make sure that these inventory decisions and these pricing decisions remain in the hands of industry and we don’t get involved at all to make sure that the public’s benefit is also considered… What we’ve seen for the last four weeks is a tremendous amount of confusion and misrepresentation to try to block or weaken this legislation.” – Assemblymember Steve Bennett
“How do we fix this problem, in your mind?” – Assemblymember Mike Gipson
“I don’t think you can. I think that all you can do is make it worse is one person’s humble opinion. But if you step back and understand the motivations of all of the players in the industry, they’re working every day to make the system work well, just stuff happens… I think [the system] works pretty well. We end up with price spikes, there’s no doubt about that, and we end up with some outages and we end up with some problems.” – Tom Robinson, Chairman, Robinson Oil
Industry’s solution? Drill, baby, drill!
The Western States Petroleum Association’s primary point was that this could all be solved if we just let them drill for more oil in California.
It’s a tired, decades-oil talking point – and a distraction from real solutions. Never mind the fact that oil production has been on the decline in California since the 1980s. Don’t take it from us, take it from the experts:
“California oil production is really unrelated to California gasoline prices. California oil production is part of the world market. I’ve been hearing this argument – there’s a new one here that maybe pipelines will shut down. But the same argument about California oil production has been made for years… I think we have to keep in mind that even the oil industry, when prices go sky high, say, ‘this isn’t us, we don’t set the price of crude oil, the world market does.’ But that same argument shows us that additional California production is not going to significantly affect California prices.” – Severin Borenstein, Professor of Economics at UC Berkeley
Press Releases, Recent News
Recent news
Sep 20, 2024
News What you need to know: Governor Newsom’s streamlining law reduces delays caused by CEQA litigation. Under that law, an appellate court swiftly rejected a CEQA lawsuit against the Sites Reservoir project – in less than 270 days since it was filed. SACRAMENTO –…
Sep 20, 2024
News What you need to know: A new report shows California greenhouse gas emissions declined across most sectors in 2022 – and declined a whopping 20% since 2000. The decrease in emissions took place even as the state’s economic dominance continued. SACRAMENTO…
Sep 19, 2024
News What you need to know: New measures will combat the misuse of digitally manipulated content, including deepfakes and sexually explicit images. SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today signed three significant pieces of legislation designed to address the ethical…
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:
Katherine “Katie” Butler, of Los Angeles, has been appointed Director of the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. Butler has served as Deputy Director of the Hazardous Waste Management Program at the Department of Toxic Substances Control since 2023. She served as Senior Health Deputy in the Office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn from 2021 to 2023. She was a Program Supervisor at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health from 2015 to 2021. Butler was a Senior Health Scientist at McDaniel Lambert Inc. from 2008 to 2014. Butler earned a Master of Public Health degree in Environmental Epidemiology from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Notre Dame. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $211,239. Butler is registered without party preference.
Myriam Bouaziz, of Fairfield, has been appointed Director of the Office of Tax Appeals, where she has served as Chief Deputy Director since 2020 and was Deputy Director of Legislation from 2018 to 2020. Bouaziz was a Consultant in the Office of California State Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León from 2017 to 2018. She was a Consultant for the California State Senate from 2014 to 2017 and Senior Legislative Assistant in the Office of California State Assemblymember Roger Dickinson from 2011 to 2014. Bouaziz was Access Specialist at the San Francisco Mayor’s Office on Disability from 2009 to 2011. She was a Case Manager at the Marin Child Care Council from 2007 to 2008. Bouaziz earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $226,092. Bouaziz is a Democrat.
Holly Holtzen, of Santa Rosa, has been appointed Administrator of the Veterans Home of California, Yountville. Holtzen has been Interim Program Manager, Financial Resiliency at AARP since 2024. She was State Director of AARP from 2019 to 2024. Holtzen held several positions at the Ohio Housing Finance Agency from 2009 to 2019, including Acting Executive Director from 2018 to 2019, Chief Operating Officer from 2017 to 2019, Director of Research and Strategic Planning from 2012 to 2017 and Strategic Research Coordinator from 2009 to 2012. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Health Services Research from Old Dominion University, a Master of Public Administration degree from Troy University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Saint Leo University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $175,512. Holtzen is registered without party preference.
Samantha Arthur, of Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Secretary of Water at the California Natural Resources Agency. Arthur has been Assistant Secretary for Salton Sea Policy at the California Natural Resources Agency since 2023. She held several positions at Audubon California from 2014 to 2023, including Working Lands Program Director from 2019 to 2023, Conservation Project Director from 2016 to 2019 and Conservation Project Manager from 2014 to 2016. Arthur was a Land Protection Specialist with Big Sur Land Trust from 2010 to 2012. She was a member of the California Water Commission from 2020 to 2023. Arthur earned a Master of Environmental Science and Management degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and Environmental Studies from Whitman College. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $181,596. Arthur is a Democrat.
Todd Ratshin, of Elk Grove, has been appointed Deputy Secretary for Enforcement at the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency. Ratshin has been Chief Board Counsel at the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board since 2017 and was Senior Board Counsel there from 2016 to 2017. Ratshin was a Labor Relations Counsel at the California Department of Human Resources from 2015 to 2016. He was an Associate at Littler Mendelson P.C. from 2011 to 2015. Ratshin was a Labor Relations Counsel at the California Department of Personnel Administration from 2008 to 201l. He was an Associate at the Zumbrunn Law Firm from 2006 to 2008. Ratshin earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Oregon. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $206,700. Ratshin is registered without party preference.
Karen Greene Ross, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the Commission on State Mandates. Greene Ross was Chief of Staff to California State Controller Betty T. Yee from 2015 to 2022. She was Assistant Chief Counsel at the California High-Speed Rail Authority from 2012 to 2014, where she was Deputy Director of Legislation from 2011 to 2012. Greene Ross served as a Deputy Controller at the State Controller’s Office from 2005 to 2007. She was Deputy Secretary for Legislation at the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency from 2001 to 2003. Greene Ross was Principal Legislative Policy Consultant in the Office of State Senator Adam Schiff from 1999 to 2000 and Principal Policy Consultant in the Office of Assembly Speaker Emeritus Cruz Bustamante in 1998. She was a Committee Consultant in the California State Assembly from 1994 to 1997. Greene Ross earned a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School and a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Florida. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Greene Ross is a Democrat.
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WINDHOEK — The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a contribution of US$500,000 from the Republic of Korea to provide crucial food and nutritional support to drought-affected households in Namibia for a period of six months starting in October 2024.
The contribution will enable WFP to reach 24,500 drought affected people most at risk of malnutrition. Of the targeted population, 9,000 people in the Hardap Region and 12,000 people in Zambezi Region will receive value vouchers redeemable at selected retailers. Additionally, 3,500 children across both regions will receive nutritious meals through soup kitchens.
This contribution from the Republic of Korea provides a critical lifeline as the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC): July – September 2024 Report, indicates that 1.4 million people (48 percent of the population) are food insecure (IPC Phase 3 and above), requiring urgent humanitarian to protect lives and livelihoods.
“The Republic of Korea stands in solidarity with the Namibian people as they combat food insecurity and build resilience against the effects of the devastating drought.” said His Excellency Kwang-jin Choi, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Namibia. “We hope that this assistance, based on the strong partnership between the Republic of Korea and Namibia, will contribute to providing swift and effective aid to those in dire need.”
WFP’s response will complement efforts of the Government of the Republic of Namibia in addressing the impacts of the El-Nino induced drought. WFP’s emergency drought response in Namibia, through value vouchers and soup kitchens, aims to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods through enhanced household purchasing power, increase dietary diversity, reduce under-five malnutrition levels, and support local retailers with the end benefit of stimulating the local economy.
“The Republic of Korea’s ongoing support will provide life-saving assistance to vulnerable households such as the elderly and those headed by women,” said Tiwonge Machiwenyika, WFP Country Director and Officer in Charge (OIC) in Namibia. “During this pivotal time, identified at-risk populations, who are struggling to meet the basic food needs will be reached with nutritional assistance, helping them avoid resorting to negative coping strategies.”
This latest contribution builds upon the Republic of Korea’s previous support of US$200,000 in 2019, demonstrating their ongoing commitment to assisting drought-stricken communities in Namibia.
# # #
About the World Food Programme
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change.
Follow us on Twitter; @wfp_media, @WFP_SAfrica, @WFPNamibia
What you need to know: Governor Newsom’s streamlining law reduces delays caused by CEQA litigation. Under that law, an appellate court swiftly rejected a CEQA lawsuit against the Sites Reservoir project – in less than 270 days since it was filed.
SACRAMENTO – The Sites Reservoir project just cleared another major hurdle after Governor Gavin Newsom had streamlined the project late last year, defeating a CEQA legal challenge. Today’s appellate court ruling builds on a similar victory in the trial court. The Sites Reservoir will store enough water to support 3 million households’ yearly usage.
Governor Newsom’s infrastructure streamlining law requires that courts must decide CEQA challenges within 270 days to the extent feasible. Today’s decision by the Third District Court of Appeal occurred within 256 days. It upholds a trial court decision that was issued on June 4, 2024 – just 108 days ago.
“We can’t waste anymore time with frivolous lawsuits to hold up major infrastructure projects, especially building more water storage. The Sites Reservoir project will capture more rain and snow to supply millions of homes with clean drinking water. This is exactly why we needed this streamlining law.”
Governor Gavin Newsom
The Sites Reservoir will capture water during wet seasons and store it for use during drier seasons – holding up to 1.5 million acre-feet of water, enough for 3 million households’ yearly usage. It has received a total of $46.75 million in early funding from the state. In all, Sites is eligible for $875.4 million of Proposition 1 funding. Total project cost is estimated at $4 billion. More information about the project can be found at build.ca.gov.
How it works
SB 149 allows the Governor to certify qualifying infrastructure projects for judicial streamlining under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Courts must decide CEQA challenges to certified projects within 270 days to the extent feasible – saving months or even years of litigation delays after a project has already passed environmental review, while still allowing legal challenges to be heard.
Why it’s important
The project will help California maintain a resilient water supply in the face of climate change, weather extremes, and water scarcity.
Sites Reservoir is critical to California’s Water Supply Strategy and meeting our goal of expanding above and below ground water storage capacity by 4 million acre feet.
How we got here
Governor Newsom signed into law a package of bills to accelerate critical infrastructure projects across California that will help build our 100% clean electric grid, ensure safe drinking water and boost the state’s water supply, and modernize our transportation system.
By streamlining permitting, cutting red tape, and allowing state agencies to use new project delivery methods, these new laws will maximize taxpayer dollars and accelerate timelines of projects throughout the state, while ensuring appropriate environmental review and community engagement.
The package will take full advantage of an unprecedented $180 billion in state, local, and federal infrastructure funds over the next ten years while creating an estimated 400,000 good-paying jobs.
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The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) are advising people to avoid contact with Keech Pond in Glocester due to a blue-green algae (or cyanobacteria) bloom in the pond. Blue-green algae can produce toxins that can harm humans and animals. Toxins and/or high cell counts have been detected by the RIDOH State Health Laboratory from water samples collected by the DEM.
Use caution in all areas of Keech Pond. Cyanobacteria can sink or float to control their location in the water column. Other factors such as, wind, rain and wakes from recreational activities can affect the location of a bloom. All recreation, including swimming, fishing, boating and kayaking, should be avoided. People should not ingest water or eat fish from the ponds. Pets can also be affected by exposure to the algal toxins and thus owners should not allow pets to drink or swim in the water. The advisory will remain in effect until further notice.
Skin contact with water containing blue-green algae commonly causes irritation of the skin, nose, eyes, and/or throat. Common health effects associated with ingesting water containing algal toxins include stomachache, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. Rarer health effects include dizziness, headache, fever, liver damage, and nervous system damage. Young children and pets are at a particular risk for health effects associated with algal toxins. People who have had contact with these ponds and experience those symptoms should contact their healthcare provider.
If you come into contact with the water, rinse your skin with clean water as soon as possible and, when you get home, take a shower and wash your clothes. Similarly, if your pet comes into contact with the water, immediately wash your pet with clean water. Do not let the animal lick algae off its fur. Call a veterinarian if your animal shows any symptoms of blue-green algae poisoning, including loss of energy, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, or any unexplained sickness that occurs within a day or so after being in contact with water. People are cautioned that toxins may persist in the water after the blue-green algae bloom is no longer visible.
It is possible that blue-green algae blooms may be affecting other waterbodies in Rhode Island. People are advised to avoid contact with waterbodies that exhibit bright green coloration in the water or at the water surface and/or dense floating algal mats that form on the water’s surface. The water may look like green paint, thick pea soup, or green cottage cheese.
To report suspected blue-green algae blooms, contact DEM’s Office of Water Resources at 222-4700 or DEM.OWRCyano@dem.ri.gov and if possible, send a photograph of the reported algae bloom. ###
What you need to know: A new report shows California greenhouse gas emissions declined across most sectors in 2022 – and declined a whopping 20% since 2000. The decrease in emissions took place even as the state’s economic dominance continued.
SACRAMENTO – Greenhouse gas emissions in California dropped yet again in 2022, continuing a big drop that has now totaled 20% since 2000. This is the lowest level of greenhouse gas emissions in recent history, aside from the pandemic-caused dip in 2020.
A report released today for 2022 greenhouse gas emissions shows a 2.4% drop from 2021 to 2022 that is the equivalent of removing more than 2.2 million gasoline-powered cars off California’s roads for one year.
California is proving that climate action goes hand-in-hand with economic growth. We’ve slashed carbon pollution by a whopping 20% since the turn of the century all while building the world’s fifth largest economy. Cleaner air, more good jobs – that’s the California way.
Governor Gavin Newsom
The biggest drop came from transportation, due largely to the increased use of renewable fuels in addition to the growing strength of the zero-emission vehicle market. The electricity sector had its lowest carbon intensity since 2000. Five out of seven sectors tracked had drops which reduced total emissions by 9.3 million metric tons.
“The numbers are clear: our world-leading regulations are reducing emissions, spurring innovation, and bringing us closer to achieving our climate goals,” said California Air Resources Board Chair Liane Randolph. “A future with clean air and a vibrant economy is possible and California is leading the way.”
The latest data underscores a continued trend of steady emissions decline even as the economy continues to grow. Between 2000 to 2022, emissions fell by 20% while California’s gross domestic product increased by 78%, pointing to the effectiveness of the state’s climate action. California has decreased the carbon intensity of its economy by 55% in the last 20 years.
Press Releases, Recent News
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During the afternoon meeting of the crisis staff in Wrocław, Prime Minister Donald Tusk presented conclusions from his visits to the Lubusz and West Pomeranian Voivodeships. The issue of controls on the border with Germany was also discussed, which, thanks to government intervention, should not be a problem in the event of a flood threat. It is accelerating the reconstruction program for areas affected by the flood. Lubuskie and West Pomeranian Voivodeships ready to fight the element. During the afternoon meeting of the crisis staff in Wrocław, Prime Minister Donald Tusk shared his conclusions from the visit to the Lubuskie and West Pomeranian Voivodeships. “From my tour today, it is quite clear that they are well prepared,” said the head of government. Services and residents of areas that are still waiting for the flood wave are constantly working on security measures. The Prime Minister was impressed by the commitment he could see, among others: in Nowa Sól. However, in the south of the country the situation is still difficult. The Prime Minister listened attentively to reports from representatives of services working in this area. Border controls will not be an inconvenience. The Ministry of Internal Affairs, in consultation with the German equivalent of the Ministry of Interior and Administration, has determined that the services of both countries will do everything to ensure that the border controls reintroduced by our neighbors do not cause congestion due to the flood risk. “We worked to ensure that at the moment of the peak wave there were no threats related to, for example, a traffic jam on the border bridge or border control,” said Tomasz Siemoniak. Donald Tusk thanked the Minister of Interior and Administration for efficient operation. “I asked the Minister for European Union Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration to make the German side aware as quickly as possible that their decision on border control cannot interfere with our flood protection operations. I will want to know whether it has had an effect, whether the movement at the border is faster, so that we can intervene again, if necessary,” the head of government noted. The Prime Minister reminded that Poland is critical of Germany’s decision to restore control at the border. Preparations for major reconstruction In connection with the decision to appoint Marcin Kierwiński as the government plenipotentiary for the reconstruction of flood-affected areas, the Prime Minister announced accelerated actions. “Our ambition should be to turn this dramatic crisis into an opportunity; to make things better in these places than before the flood. Smarter, more modern. I believe we are able to ensure this,” declared the Prime Minister. The head of government announced that a preliminary assessment of actual damage and losses is needed. The moment the first large city – Opole – canceled the flood alarm, you can start thinking more boldly about your next steps. Funds for the reconstruction of destroyed towns come not only from the state budget and the European Union, but also – in a beautiful gesture of solidarity – from other voivodeships and cities. Appeal to local government officials and officials The challenge for local government officials is the constant need for better communication with the inhabitants of endangered areas. The Prime Minister gave the example of a resident of Opatowice, Wrocław, who wrote to him via social media, asking for information about a possible evacuation. “It’s good that I noticed it, reacted and managed to sort it out. But we must do everything to ensure that such an informal path is not necessary,” appealed Donald Tusk. The head of government emphasized how important it is to diagnose the weakest points in coordination and communication in order to improve activities. Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration Tomasz Siemoniak said that PLN 100 million has already been transferred to the voivodeships’ accounts for the payment of benefits under emergency aid. However, sometimes the problem is that the procedure for granting them is too long. “I know it’s difficult, but you have to put so much pressure on the officials that they really put their heart into it. Because if people with a flooded apartment or house found time to come to the office, it means that they really need this money urgently,” the Prime Minister asked local government officials. Officials should keep bureaucracy and procedural requirements to a minimum. Quick action against criminals preying on human tragedies. The Chief Commander of the Police informed during the staff meeting that officers had organized mobile posts to be able to respond more effectively to the needs of citizens. “Thank you very much for this ambitious intention to create mobile police stations in places where necessary, i.e. police officers who are on site – in a car, but in direct and constant contact with residents when necessary” – The Prime Minister commented on this initiative. Information was also provided about quick police interventions against people who, taking advantage of a dramatic situation, commit crimes. “Thank you for the good cooperation of all law enforcement and justice agencies. There are very good signs from the couple that they are caught immediately and sentenced immediately. I hope that this will continue,” concluded the Prime Minister. Criminals try to take advantage of people’s kindness. There are more and more fake collections on the internet. The services also operate efficiently in this area. “We are engaging the command of the Cyberspace Defense Forces component in these activities. We ask everyone to pay attention to the collection to which they want to donate money,” appealed the Deputy Prime Minister of the Ministry of National Defense, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. We would like to remind you to verify collections for flood victims.
