While California deals with several wildfires, doctors are warning of the harms of wildfire smoke exposure. A new study published in the journal “Science Advances” finds wildfire smoke likely contributed to more than 52-thousand premature deaths across California alone from 2008 and 2018. Dr. Angela Haczku, a pulmonologist and researcher at UC Davis, says particulate matter can cause long-term effects like heart disease, diabetes and decreases in lung function. Short-term health problems include asthma and other respiratory issues. She says avoidance is key with wildfire smoke exposure – stay indoors and equip your homes with an air purifier.
California Governor Gavin Newsom is urging families to stay safe during the state’s triple-digit heat. The heat wave blanketing much of California began last week and is expected to stick around until Tuesday night. In some areas, like Palm Springs and Death Valley, temperatures hovered on either side of 125 over the weekend.
There’s a new wildfire burning in Mendocino County. The Mina Fire started around 2 yesterday afternoon just northwest of Covelo. Evacuation warnings are in place for locations along Mina Road. The fire has burned about 50 acres so far and is 0% contained. Cal Fire reports firefighters are working in extreme conditions on steep and rugged terrain. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
One person was injured when two boats crashed on Clear Lake this 4th of July. It happened around 10pm just after the Lakeport Fireworks show ended. A bass boat reportedly hit a pontoon boat with 8 people on board. The pilot of the pontoon was thrown into the water and had to be taken to the hospital in an Air Ambulance. No one else was injured. The cause of the crash is still being investigated.
There’s a new push to protect homeowners amid California’s insurance crisis. Supervisors in San Bernardino County want a statewide emergency declared. They’re calling on the governor and insurance commissioner to act following several companies ending or limiting coverage here, such as State Farm and Allstate. If that happens, providers would not be allowed to drop current policies for wildfire risk or other reasons.
New numbers are out from the holiday crackdown across the state. The California Highway Patrol says about 40,000 people were caught breaking the law over the Fourth of July weekend. Most of them were given tickets, including 17,000 for speeding. Another 600 drivers were clocked going 100 miles an hour or more. Of the 1,600 arrests made, 1,300 hundred were for DUI. Nearly 2,000 were also cited for distracted driving.
Nearly two-billion dollars is being pumped into California’s public transportation. It’s the first wave of funding approved from the transit recovery package in last year’s state budget. Governor Newsom says this will serve as a lifeline for 22 agencies and help advance climate goals. And even more money is on the way. Project applications through the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program are due July 23rd, with winners revealed in October.
A teenage girl has been arrested and another suspect is still on the run after they tried to steal a catalytic converter. Fort Bragg Police responded to a call of vehicle tampering just after midnight on Sunday, to the 600 block of East Redwood. They said the owners of the vehicle heard noises and went outside to find a man and a woman attempting to steal their catalytic converter. The suspects ran, but the victim caught a couple letters of their license plates. Police used the Flock cameras to get an ID on the vehicle and put out an alert. Officers pulled the suspects over on North Harold, where the male driver took off on foot. The female passenger couldn’t get her door open and was arrested. Katelyn Baguley, of Utah, was booked into the Mendocino County Jail on several felony charges including vandalism and grand theft, along with multiple misdemeanors. Fort Bragg PD said they are still trying to find the other suspect, anyone with information is asked to call police.
