By Joann Eisenbrandt PLACERVILLE – Plans to build a spacious new El Dorado County courthouse in Placerville by fall 2020 are moving forward, but not without allegations of backdoor politics, favoritism and manipulation of the system for personal financial gain. On Nov. 6, the Judicial Council had a public meeting in Placerville to explain the […]
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By Elle Knickmeyer, AP SAN FRANCISCO — With organic food growers reporting double-digit growth in U.S. sales each year, producers are challenging a proposed California pest-management program they say enshrines a pesticide-heavy approach for decades to come, including compulsory spraying of organic crops at the state’s discretion. Chief among the complaints of organic growers: The […]
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By Stephen Singer, AP HARTFORD, Conn. — Revenue at U.S. casinos jumped more than 6 percent in 2012, the first significant increase in three years as economic growth picked up speed and more casinos opened in several markets. But revenue generated by Indian casinos rose less than 2 percent the same year, Casino City’s North […]
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By Susan Wood JENNER – More than two centuries later, one can still hear the Russian influence in the voices amid the grounds of Fort Ross State Historic Park. Although lesser known in contrast to other California parks, this 3,386-acre park represents one of the oldest in the system. The Fort Ross Colony established it […]
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By Outside Over the past few years, we’ve seen a sea change in terms of people’s attitudes, perception, and behavior about recreating in avalanche-prone terrain, especially skiing in the backcountry. There are more of us out there than ever before, using increasingly fancy and sophisticated gear. But despite these advances, and a shift in how […]
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By Don Thompson, AP SACRAMENTO — A victims’ rights organization sued California state officials on Thursday as it seeks to speed up executions that have been on hold since 2006. Sacramento-based Criminal Justice Legal Foundation filed a petition in Sacramento County Superior Court asking a judge to order state corrections officials to adopt procedures for […]
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By Kathryn Reed Even though Ted Gaines will not be California’s next insurance commissioner, he is happy with many of the outcomes from the Nov. 4 election – namely propositions 45 and 1. Gaines’ loss in the statewide race means he continues on as Lake Tahoe’s state senator. District 1 encompasses a large swath of […]
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By Andy Coghlan, New Scientist The Golden State is baking. After months of drought in California the long-term forecast is … more drought. Rising global temperatures will turn much of the snow that currently replenishes the state’s reservoirs to rain, according to modelling studies by Dan Cayan at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San […]
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By Scott Smith, AP LOS ANGELES — Passing a $7.5 billion water bond may turn out to be the easy part. Agreeing on how to spend all the money could be much harder. California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 1, which aims to expand the state’s water storage capacity to better weather droughts like the one […]
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By Kathryn Reed ROUND HILL – What is going on beneath the surface of Lake Tahoe? Scientists don’t really know. Geoff Schladow, director of the Tahoe Environmental Research Center, said everything that is known could be told in a 45-minute presentation. He gave two talks this week – one in Kings Beach, the other Round […]
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