At least 155,000 Bay Area residents were without power Thursday morning as a powerful storm, “expected to be one of the strongest storms in terms of wind and rain intensity” in nearly 10 years according to the National Weather Service,
I am writing this from a small copse of stunningly tall redwood trees. But I’m not in California; I’m in Gloucestershire. The redwoods, a type of sequoia, were planted fifty years ago in the Forest of Dean in an arboretum,
A new poll has found that a majority of Californians expect their children to be poorer than they are. That result comes despite a generally positive outlook on the state and positive ratings for re-elected Gov. Jerry Brown, according to
As other regions of the country have faced severe winter weather – a polar vortex and freezing temperatures – southern California has remained largely unaffected. This week brings what is expected to be the first big storm of the region’s winter season
Los Angeles County saw 1.4 inches of rain on Sunday, and with a crippling drought choking California, many viewed the rain as a welcome relief. However, along with the wet conditions comes a new risk: mudslides. Between ten and fifteen
Getty House, the Los Angeles mayoral mansion currently occupied by Mayor Eric Garcetti, uses approximately 2,100 gallons of water a day, five times the average amount of water used by other Los Angeles households. According to CBS Los Angeles, the
California Governor Jerry Brown and Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval met at a forum on Thursday for the first in a series of year-long meetings on how best to combat the West’s devastating drought, now in its fourth year. According to
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Terry and Kim Pegula are committed to building a stadium for the Buffalo Bills and are working on ending the team’s series of annual home games in Toronto. Those were among the topics the franchise’s new
It was a long night for California Republicans, who failed to win any statewide offices. However, the GOP did well in the drought-stricken Central Valley, with Doug Ose defeating freshman incumbent Rep. Ami Bera in the 7th congressional district; Johnny Tacherra
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — With every pitch, Madison Bumgarner etched his place among the World Series greats. The long, tall lefty kept slinging away and put the San Francisco Giants just one win from yet another championship, throwing a four-hitter
Water levels at Lake Tahoe have dipped below its natural rim for the first time in five years as a result of the ongoing drought. Local water authorities are now looking to alternative reservoirs to meet water demands in the
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Financial aid and global coordination are needed to prevent the Ebola health care crisis from becoming a food emergency, agriculture ministers from West African nations at the center of the Ebola outbreak said Thursday. In
Gov. Jerry Brown is ignoring his GOP opponent, Neel Kashkari, and is airing three TV ads to urge support for two issues on November’s ballot: a $7.5-billion water bond measure and the state rainy-day fund. The two ballot measures Brown
Dozens of California public officials who have called for residents to cut back their water use amid the state’s devastating drought are apparently ignoring their own demands for conservation, and are allegedly using enough water for multiple households. According to
Vice President Joe Biden travelled to to Cal State Bakersfield on Tuesday to stump for Democrats Alex Padilla and Amanda Renteria in their races for secretary of state and 21st congressional district, respectively. According to the Fresno Bee, Biden used
Much to the chagrin of many growers, the number of giant pumpkins competing this weekend at the Giant Pumpkin Festival in Elk Grove has diminished because of the drought. Pumpkin growing requires plenty of water and some participants in the
DETROIT (AP) — A runaway title in a division of behemoths, then an unexpected sweep against a trio of Cy Young winners. For Nelson Cruz, Buck Showalter and this unheralded bunch from Baltimore, the question now is: What’s next? Cruz
NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites, which monitor changes in the earth’s gravitational field, have been used to measure changes in groundwater in California and the western U.S. from the edge of space–and the results, showing massive depletion over
BAKERSFIELD, CA — A legal group representing nut farmers in California’s San Joaquin Valley filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, hoping to reverse a Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision from March that upheld a
BAKERSFIELD, CA — Kern County Agriculture Commissioner Ruben Arroyo is wary, but upbeat. “It’s hard to say what the future holds,” Arroyo said. “If we don’t get rain this year, the wells will run dry. People won’t have water for
California has no money left in its firefighting budget just three months after the beginning of the 2014-2015 fiscal year, in the midst of a crippling drought and widespread fires. As a result, Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration will have to
Considerable snowfall descended on the Sierra Nevada over the weekend bringing a welcome sight to drought weary Californians. The Los Angeles Times reported that the first snow of the season proved to be the largest down fall in many years
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — It made sense that Andy Reid spoke in baseball metaphors after Kansas City whipped the New England Patriots on Monday night, with the Royals poised to end a long playoff drought just across the parking
According to state officials, a dozen communities in Central and Northern California will run out of water in 60 days. The impact of the state’s drought has reached a critical stage for Colusa and El Dorado County who may run
Northern California rains have temporarily boosted water running through the Eel River as drought continues to plague the state. However, acute water shortages in various regions of the state continue–the result of both natural and man-made scarcity. Water flows through
The California Legislature knows that the State Water Board’s unprecedented July 15 decision allowing local law enforcement and water agencies to impose a maximum $500-a-day fines on water wasters is difficult to enforce and is creating a rising backlash against
CHICAGO (AP) — As the Kansas City Royals celebrated in the clubhouse, George Brett watched from a distance. The Hall of Famer stood near the entrance, doing his best not to get soaked. “This stuff burns your eyes really bad,”
The CAL WatchDog blog is running a series on the trends in California water use and pricing during the current severe drought. They confirm our August prediction that voluntarily public conservation and agricultural water districts are doing an excellent job
ATLANTA (AP) — Gerrit Cole was so focused on recording 17 consecutive outs, he didn’t glance at the out-of-town scoreboard. Cole insisted he didn’t know his win over Atlanta had clinched a playoff spot for Pittsburgh until he walked into
Proposition #1 isn’t a water infrastructure bond, it’s nothing more than a $7.12 Billion payoff to the enviro-extremists who control natural resources in California. What else do you call it when over 50% of the money is being used to
“With the stroke of his pen, the Governor changed over 100 years of water laws – without the people’s input. This is not the democracy Californians deserve.” – State Senator Jim Nielsen In the midst of drought and heightened overdrafting
Sushi prices nationwide could rise dramatically in the coming months, as rice production in drought-ravaged California is expected to fall by 25% this year. According to Politico, California’s 2,500 rice growers planted just 420,000 acres of the high-quality rice used
A 23-year-old Ojai, California native has pledged not to shower for 128 days to promote water conservation during the state’s devastating drought. Cody Creighton launched what he calls his “One Day Dirtier” campaign on Instagram last week, in honor of
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and House Majority PAC have increased their spending to help embattled Democrat Rep. Julia Brownley fend off a strong showing from Republican challenger Jeff Gorell. According to Roll Call, the increased spending on the
SAN DIEGO, California — Extreme temperatures have led San Diego County area schools to implement “minimum day” schedules for schools with less than 100% classroom air conditioning.The high heat comes as the county is in the midst of a 20%
For the first time in the history of California groundwater will be restricted for numerous landowners, if Jerry Brown signs a package of passed bills by the state legislature. Up until now, groundwater remains a private natural resource in the
Reports of the theft of “succulent” plants–plants that can retain water and adapt to survive in drought-like conditions–are on the rise in Northern California. CBS News’ San Francisco affiliate KPIX reports that Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek became one of many
The most extensive water usage survey to date, covering 362 cities, shows that Californians are finally getting the message and taking water conservation seriously. California urban residents cut water usage in July by 7.5% compared to July of last year.
Congressional candidate and Afghanistan war veteran Jeff Gorell (R-Camarillo) launched the first television ad of his campaign on Tuesday, entitled “He Knows Us.” The 30-second “positive” TV spot features Democratic and Republican leaders, especially women, as well as several Ventura
The chances of an El Niño that would help relieve a drought-wary California this fall or winter have fallen for a second straight month, to just 60-65%, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOOA). In May, forecasters had