Several small communities are seeing their water disappear as a result of the severe drought. And officials warn larger towns could face their own problems by next year, if nothing changes.
Hector Becerra reports for The Los Angeles Times: “Parkwood's last well dried up in July. County officials, after much hand-wringing, made a deal with the city of Madera for a temporary water supply, but the arrangement prohibited Parkwood's 3,000 residents from using so much as a drop of water on their trees, shrubs or lawns. The county had to find a permanent water fix.”
“Parkwood is one of 28 small California communities that have since January cycled onto and off of a list of "critical water systems" that state officials say could run dry within 60 days. Amid the drought that is scorching the state and particularly the Central Valley, the State Water Resources Control Board decided this year, for the first time ever, to track areas on the brink of waterlessness.”
United States Attorney General Eric Holder is out, but Kamala Harris is not going in.
John Wildermuth reports for The SF Chronicle: “Even before the White House officially announced Holder’s resignation Thursday, Harris, who is running for re-election as California’s attorney general, released a statement saying thanks, but no thanks.”
““I am honored to even be mentioned, but intend to continue my work for the people of California as attorney general,” said the former San Francisco district attorney. “I am focused on key public safety issues including transnational gangs, truancy and recidivism.””
“Harris, a longtime friend and early political backer of President Obama, has long been on the media’s short list of people the president would look at to become the country’s top prosecutor.”
Gov. Jerry Brown signed and vetoed a list of bills yesterday.
Patrick McGreevy and Melanie Mason report for The Los Angeles Times: “In all, Brown said he signed 46 bills and vetoed 10 on Thursday.”
“Those he rejected included one that would have limited the ability of the state to seize assets from the estates of Medi-Cal recipients. Currently, the state can recover a broad array of costs and assets — including homes — from Medi-Cal recipients 55 and older after they die.”
“The measure, by Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina), would have prohibited recoveries from estates of surviving spouses and provided a variety of ways for beneficiaries to find out how much of their estate is recoverable. However, state officials said SB 1124 would have cost the state $15 million annually.”
After being held captive for nearly three years by Somali pirates, Michael Scott Moore, a Southern California surf journalist, has been freed.
Ruben Vives reports in The Los Angeles Times: “"I'm not healthy but I am safe. It's an astonishing story, but right now I have to recover my wits and spend time with family and friends," Moore said in a short statement released by the German magazine Der Spiegel, for which Moore had freelanced.”
“"I hope journalists will respect that," his statement said.”
“"He said he was OK. He had a little skin rash and other than that, I don't think he has any serious medical issues," Moore's stepfather, Lou Saunders, told ABC7.”
“Moore was kidnapped on Jan. 21, 2012 in the town of Galkayo while researching a book about piracy. He was working under a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting at the time.”
