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SACRAMENTO – The amended version of Sen. Patricia Wiggins' bill to address the light brown apple moth's arrival in California passed the Assembly Agriculture Committee on Wednesday.
Wiggins introduced the bill last month, which originally proposed to create a task force to advise state Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura on the apple moth. The task force, which Kawamura would choose, would then submit a report to him by Sept. 1.
The bill passed the Senate by a 35-1 vote on May 29.
Since its introduction into the Assembly, Wiggins has amended the bill to give agricultural commissioners and the state the tools they need to eradicate the pest, according to a statement from Wiggins' office.
The light brown apple moth has so far reached nine California counties, as Lake County News previously reported. The latest report from the California Department of Food & Agriculture says that 4,292 moths have been found in those nine counties, with trapping activities continuing in 50 counties statewide.
“I said when I introduced SB 556 that it was a work in progress, intended to reflect the needs of the state in this situation,” Wiggins said in a written statement. “This bill will fully reflect the nature and scope of the effort to detect, control and eliminate the moth as a threat to California agriculture.”
The amended bill, called the Light Brown Apple Moth Act, calls for additional staffing and logistical support geared towards eradication.
New aspects of the bill include:
– Creation of the “LBAM Program” within the Department of Food & Agriculture, requiring Kawamura to provide appropriate levels of staffing and logistical support for eradication.
– Establishes an “LBAM Account” within the Department of Food & Agriculture Fund, and requires that funds be made available for the purpose of eradication.
– Requires the Department of Food & Agriculture report to the Legislature annually, beginning January 10, 2008, regarding its expenditures, progress and ongoing priorities in combating the moth.
– Contains an urgency clause that puts it into effect immediately should Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger sign the bill into law.
The light brown apple moth was discovered in the Bay Area in February. It's known to damage as many as 250 host plants, fruits and trees.
Since its discovery in California, state and federal quarantines have been implemented to stop the pest spreading any farther.
One light brown apple moth was found in Napa County in May. Earlier this month, state and federal officials began eradication treatments in Napa and Contra Costa counties, using an organic insecticide in the hopes of protecting the state’s $38 billion agriculture industry.
David Miller, Wiggins' spokesman, said the bill may return to the Senate for approval of the amendments. He said Wiggins is hopeful that SB 556 will get to the governor’s desk soon.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, 37 members of Congress from California and Oregon, including North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson, called for congressional hearings on Vice President Dick Cheney's involvement in the political decision that killed 80,000 spawning salmon.
They made this request to House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick Rahall (D-WV) after a Washington Post investigative report found that Cheney pressured mid-level bureaucrats in the Department of Interior to divert water from the Klamath River Basin for political gain.
"We've known since 2002 that the Bush Administration manipulated science in a perverse and petty attempt to win votes," said Thompson. "Now it appears that this manipulation goes straight to the top. Despite what he may think, Vice President Cheney is not above the law and not above Congress' oversight. We want a thorough investigation of his involvement in the largest salmon kill and fishing disaster in our nation's history."
In 2002, the Interior Department diverted water from the Klamath River Basin to farmers in Oregon, resulting in the death of 80,000 adult salmon.
The Washington Post reports that Vice President Cheney called for the damaging water policy to secure the farmer's votes, despite scientific evidence that it would endanger two federal protected species of fish, a violation of the Endangered Species Act.
Thompson and others brought a lawsuit against the Administration in 2002, and three courts found that the water diversion was "arbitrary and capricious and in violation of the Endangered Species Act."
In the letter to Chairman Rahall, the members of Congress wrote, "The ramifications of that salmon kill are still being felt today as returns to the Klamath River are so low that commercial, sport and tribal fishing seasons have been curtailed for the past three years. In fact, last year's commercial fishing season for all of California and Oregon was cut by over 90 percent, and was the largest commercial fishing closure in the history of the country, causing over $60 million in damages to coastal economies."
"Unfortunately, this is not the first instance of Vice President Cheney choosing political gain over the health and welfare of the American people and our natural resources," added Thompson. "It's time the vice president is brought out of the shadows and held accountable for his actions."
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LAKEPORT – It's been a busy and productive year for KPFZ, Lake County's community radio station.
As the all-volunteer station has pursued its goal of being on air at high power this fall, KPFZ and its volunteer force have secured the county's commitment of a $30,000 grant, reached an agreement for antenna space on Mt. Konocti and, now, found and rented studio space in downtown Lakeport.
Station manager and founder Andy Weiss reports that KPFZ's new studio space will be located at 149 Main St., Suite 240.
“The third element of getting community radio into Lake County is in place,” said Weiss. “We've raised the money, have permission to put the transmitter and antenna on Mt. Konocti, and now we have secured a very promising studio space.”
The new home for community radio includes three rooms – an office/reception area; a radio control room for "live" broadcasting; and a production studio for news, recording, editing, promos and on-air spots – amounting to about 650 square feet, Weiss said.
Weiss said the building that houses the studio “is Victorian, well appointed and charming,” with halls filled with artwork, a large deck out back, a location central to the courthouse, businesses and other media, plus great views of the lake, mountains and downtown Lakeport. All of those aspects make it an ideal place for a community radio station, Weiss said.
The building's owner, Ross Kauper, gave the station an excellent deal on a two-year lease with the option for third year, Weiss said.
KPFZ has been looking for independent studio space for many years, said Weiss. Previously, the station broadcast out of a private residence and the back room of a private business. He said KPFZers are all very excited about this big step towards putting community radio on the air in Lake County.
KPFZ's work is far from over, noted Weiss. “Next, comes the organizing and building process, with our target date of sometime in November 2007 for getting on the air."
If you are interested in finding out how you can help KPFZ, contact Andy Weiss, 274-2152 or
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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LAKE COUNTY – The Employment Development Department's latest report shows that Lake County's unemployment rate dropped in May.
Unemployment dropped to 7.2 percent, down 0.6 percent from April, according to a report from Dennis Mullins of the Employment Development Department's North Coast Region.
While down from April, that 7.2-percent rate is still up from May 2006's 6.6 percent, Mullins reported.
California's seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate for May was 4.9 percent, according to Mullins, while the nation's was 4.3 percent.
Surrounding county rates included 8.5 percent for Glenn, 11.5 percent for Colusa, 4.0 percent for Sonoma, and 5.2 percent for Mendocino, noted Mullins.
Lake County's unemployment rate ranked it 39th out of the state's 58 counties.
Marin ranked No. 1 with the lowest unemployment rate, at 3.3 percent, Mullins reported. Imperial County had the highest at 16.2 percent.
Total industry employment grew by 190 jobs (1.3 percent) between May 2006 and May 2007, according to Mullins, ending the year-over period with 15,330 jobs.
Year-over job growth occurred in the following categories: farm; natural resources, mining and construction; information; professional and business services; private educational and health services; and government.
Year-over job losses occurred in manufacturing, financial activities, and leisure and hospitality.
Industry sectors trade, transportation and utilities, and other services had no change over the past year.
The farm sector led industry gainers for the year-over period adding 70 jobs and government – which includes federal, state and local agencies – gained 60, Mullins reported.
In looking at employment numbers, Mullins explained that as a sub-sector of government, local government represents about 90 percent of Lake's total government employment and consists of agencies such as public schools, the community college, tribal administrations (includes casinos), special districts (includes fire, water sewerage), and city and county governments.
Public schools account for about 40 percent of Lake's local government employment, he added.
Other industries that added jobs: natural resources, mining and construction, and private educational and health services each added 40; professional and business services and information were up 10 jobs each.
Leisure and hospitality led industry sector decliners for the period shedding 20 jobs, Mullins reported, while financial activities and manufacturing each dropped 10.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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SACRAMENTO – A key Senate committee on Tuesday passed a bill by Patty Berg that would protect Californians from the kind of red tape snafus that slowed the flow of emergency aid to victims of Hurricane Katrina.
“Californians do not need red tape during disasters,” said Assemblywoman Patty Berg, D-Eureka. “My bill will prevent this by allowing doctors and nurses to help Californians in their time of need.”
Under Assembly Bill 64, California officials would recognize out-of-state medical licenses of emergency volunteers during a declared state emergency. The bill would establish a system where California medical professionals can also register their credentials so they can help fellow Americans in other states.
During the Hurricane Katrina relief effort, volunteer doctors and nurses were prevented from giving aid because they did not have Louisiana or Mississippi medical licenses. One such volunteer, Robert Edinger, told the Lexington Herald Journal that he was unable to help Hurricane Katrina victims on the gulf coast because he lacked a Mississippi nursing license.
“We must prevent the horrors of red tape during the Hurricane Katrina relief effort from happening in California,” said Berg. “Californians must never wait entire days or weeks for help when it is a life and death situation.”
Assembly Bill 64 is part of a national effort to create a national registry where medical professionals, dentists, veterinarians, pharmacists and members of the funeral home industry can help in other states besides their home state. Kentucky and Colorado have enacted similar legislation.
The California Nurses Association, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the California Association of Physician Groups, the California Dental Association, the Humane Society of the United States, the California Society of Health System Pharmacists, the California Federation for Animal Legislation, the California Professional Firefighters Association, and the Regional Council of Rural Counties support the bill.
The Senate Governmental Organization Committee voted unanimously in favor of AB 64. It now goes to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Visit Berg's Web site at http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a01/.
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WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, Congressman Mike Thompson joined a bipartisan group of his colleagues in opposition of efforts to expand domestic offshore oil and gas drilling.
As they do each year, proponents of offshore drilling attempted to lift the current congressional moratorium on drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) through amendments in an appropriations bill.
Thompson and his allies criticized this proposal as dangerous and unnecessary, and they urged their colleagues to vote against them. The amendments will be voted on in the next few days.
"Lifting the moratorium on new drilling could result in disastrous economic and environmental consequences," said Thompson. "Yet it will do nothing to reduce our dependency on oil and gas."
The moratorium on OCS drilling has been a bipartisan agreement in Congress for 25 years, and it has been renewed annually since 1982.
However, the moratorium has come under regular attack, which is why Thompson recently introduced a bill to permanently protect the North Coast from drilling.
The Northern California Ocean and Coastal Protection Act (H.R. 2758) will permanently prohibit oil and gas drilling off the coasts of Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties.
"California's North Coast would be especially vulnerable if the moratorium was lifted," added Thompson. "Drilling off the North Coast would threaten our marine life and cause our local economy to suffer."
The North Coast is part of a unique upwelling zone, one of only four in the world. These zones support incredibly abundant and productive marine life, which local fishing communities depend on.
The North Coast also supports a large tourism industry vital to local and state economies that is dependent upon its pristine cove and beaches and spectacular views.
"Every year, there are attacks against the moratorium, and I'm afraid that one day it might be lifted," said Thompson. "An oil spill off our beautiful North Coast would be devastating. My bill will make sure that never happens."
On Thursday, the House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will review Thompson's bill.
Watch Rep. Mike Thompson speak on the House floor: http://recap.fednet.net/archive/Buildasx.asp?sProxy=80_hflr062607_062.wmv,80_hflr062607_063.wmv&sTime=00:02:42.0&eTime=00:00:37&duration=00:02:55.0&UserName=anne%252E&sLocation=&sExpire=1.
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