Earlier this week, the State Assembly passed AB 263. Assemblymember Chris Rogers says the legislation is aimed at protecting salmon populations in two key tributaries of the Klamath River watershed by keeping minimum flow requirements in place until the State Water Board can establish new long-term flow regulations. The bill is now headed to the state Senate for their consideration. AB 263 was introduced in partnership with the Karuk Tribe, California Coastkeeper Alliance, and the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association. You should know that most of the wild Chinook salmon in the Klamath River are born in the Shasta River. The majority of the wild Southern Oregon/Northern California Coho salmon, which is a state and federally endangered species, spend part of their lifecycle in the Scott River.
This year marks the 18th annual Mendocino Film Festival, happening in Mendocino and Fort Bragg later this month. Over 65 films from 20 countries will be featured. You should know it’s also the first time that half of them are directed by women. A handful of films will focus on the environment, including “Sequoias of the Sea” about the destruction of kelp forests. The Mendocino Voice says social justice films include Sally!" A film about Mendocino County’s radical feminist icon Sally Gearhart. Native American films include “Our Ocean, Our Future,” a short film about the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians.
The majority of California voters think Governor Gavin Newsom is spending more attention to issues that could help him win the presidency than to running the state. That’s according to a new UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll. It says 54-percent of registered state voters believe Newsom is spending more time jockeying for position to run for president and not spending enough time working on California issues. When asked, his spokesperson claimed the governor’s top priority is leading the state.
Ukiah Unified School District says that its federal School-Based Mental Health grant, which is funding critical student support services, has been canceled by the U.S. Department of Education. There will be no more money available for the program on December 31 of this year, even though two-and-a-half years remain on the grant. The Ukiah Daily Journal says the grant financially supports10 mental health professionals who work with the most at-risk students. You should know that the district is actively appealing the decision. Ukiah Unified School District Superintendent Deb Kubin says no matter, the district’s top priority remains the health, safety, and well-being of the students.
California is the best state for police officers in 2025. That’s according to a report which weighed criteria such as salary, training, and crime rates. The WalletHub says, in 2024, the state employed over 82 thousand officers, with 560 hours of required field training, making it the second highest in the nation. Starting salaries for police officers are about 56 hundred monthly, with an average annual salary of just over 85 thousand. WalletHub also ranked California 11th for job opportunities and 12th for job risks and protections, making it an attractive state for law enforcement careers.
