A roundup of the biggest news stories in California this week…
Park Fire Grows into the Largest Wildfire in California This Year
The Park Fire, which started on Wednesday evening near Chico, has grown to 178,090 acres, making it the largest wildfire in California this year. Thousands have been forced to evacuate and 134 structures have been destroyed, according to Cal Fire. The official cause of the fire is arson. Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey announced on Thursday afternoon that officials had arrested a man on suspicion of starting the fire. A witness had reported seeing the suspect push a flaming vehicle into a gully in Bidwell Park. Cal Fire says the Park Fire continues to burn “very actively, especially when aligned with slope and winds, resulting in spotting and quick fire movement.” (NPR News)
Related: A story about Johnny Cash, a wildfire, the FBI, and endangered California condors
Governor Newsom Orders Clearance of Homeless Encampments
On Thursday, Governor Newsom issued an executive order requiring California state agencies to start clearing homeless encampments on state land. This includes highways and areas beneath them, agency buildings, state parks and state beaches. State agencies are required to prioritize clearing encampments that pose a health and safety risk to the public. The order directs agencies to give advance notice and offer to connect homeless individuals with local services, as well as offering storage for their belongings. A US Supreme Court decision last month allows cities to enforce bans on sleeping in public spaces. (AP News)
Cal Guard Task Force Seized 8 Million Fentanyl Pills in Six Months
On Wednesday, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the California National Guard’s (Cal Guard) Counterdrug Task Force helped seize 1,068,219 fentanyl pills and 423 pounds of fentanyl powder in June, continuing efforts to tackle deadly fentanyl in the state. Since January, the task force has seized over 4,000 pounds of powder and over eight million fentanyl pills. June’s seizures hold an estimated street value of $3,875,355. (Gov.ca.gov)
Hiker Falls to Her Death From Yosemite’s Half Dome Cables
On July 13, an Arizona State University student fell to her death from the Half Dome cables in Yosemite National Park. Twenty-year-old Grace Rohloff, an experienced hiker, was descending from the cables after reaching the summit. Clear weather turned into a sudden thunderstorm that made the granite trail slick. Grace’s father Jonathan Rohloff was with his daughter on the hike. He told SFGate, “Grace was such a beautiful soul. She deserves to have her story told.” (SFGate)
EPA Invests Half a Billion to Reduce Climate Pollution in SoCal
On Monday, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a nearly $500 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant for a project to decarbonize transportation and goods movement in Southern California. The grant program aims to implement community-driven solutions that tackle the climate crisis, reduce air pollution, advance environmental justice, and accelerate America’s clean energy transition. The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) project receiving the funds will provide incentives for electric charging equipment, increase zero-emission freight vehicles, and replace or convert cargo handling equipment and diesel freight switcher locomotives. (EPA.gov)
State Treasurer Fiona Ma Announces New San Francisco Farm Bureau
Earlier this week, California Treasurer Fiona Ma announced the founding of the San Francisco Farm Bureau, an organization dedicated to nurturing local agriculture and enhancing urban food security education. The San Francisco Farm Bureau was established following a year of diligent planning and collaboration with local agriculture enthusiasts and has been officially chartered by the California Farm Bureau. With over 100 urban farms and community gardens in San Francisco, SF Farm Bureau will help promote and advocate for urban agriculture in San Francisco, while educating residents and youth on growing food. For more information visit www.sffarmbureau.org.
City of Los Angeles Establishes Copper Wire Task Force to Fight Theft
In response to a surge in metal thefts across the city, the Los Angeles City Council has invested $400,000 in a new Copper Wire Task Force. At a press conference held on the city’s Sixth Street Bridge, Councilmembers Kevin de León and Traci Park announced a motion to establish a task force to address copper thefts. They highlighted thefts from the Sixth Street Bridge, including wiring, lights and poles. Other landmarks, parks and cemeteries have been targeted by thieves seeking copper wiring and bronze plaques. Three individuals were arrested this week for stealing bronze plaques from memorials around the Port of Los Angeles, including the American Merchant Marine Veterans Memorial. (Los Angeles Magazine)
Organizers Announce No Refunds for Canceled NorCal Music Festival
The Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in Mendocino County was canceled last month at short notice. Organizers of the festival announced this week that they did not have the funds to provide refunds to ticket holders. The three-day festival was supposed to run from June 21 to 23 at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds. Too few tickets were sold to cover the cost of the festival, and organizers made the decision to cancel the event. They also lack the funds to provide refunds for purchased tickets. (SFGate)
Drug Overdose Deaths in Los Angeles Plateau for First Time in a Decade
Drug-related overdose and poisoning deaths plateaued for the first time in ten years in 2023 in Los Angeles County, a new Los Angeles County Department of Public Health analysis of Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner data has found. The report is available on the Department of Public Health’s website.
Drug-related overdose and poisoning deaths dropped slightly from 3,220 in 2022 to 3,092 in 2023. This was the first reduction in deaths since 2014, after historic increases in overdose and poisoning deaths by over 300% over the past decade. Fentanyl continues to be a primary contributor to overdose and poisoning deaths, with methamphetamine being almost equally as deadly.
