How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
State and local leaders discussed unique challenges facing rural California at an event hosted by the Public Policy Initiative of California last month. The event put a spotlight on a statewide initiative to support regional economic development efforts—the focus of a 2022 Little Hoover Commission study.
"California's vibrant sustainable future depends on its rural communities,” said Ashley Swearengin, former Mayor of Fresno and current President and CEO of the Central Valley Community Foundation. She added that investment in rural California "actually means a brighter future for other parts of the state.”
California has a unique opportunity to further its efforts to build a “regions up” approach to development that brings together goals surrounding economy, equity, and environment through the Regional Investment Initiative, Swearengin told the crowd.
The Regional Investment Initiative (formerly the Community Economic Resilience Fund, or CERF, is a $600 million state initiative launched in 2021 to support regional collaboratives as they work to develop and implement strategies for inclusive development.
In its November 2022 report Equitable Economic Development across California, the Commission applauded Governor Newsom and state leaders for this bold investment in California’s regional economic agenda.
The initiative, the commission found, offered a tremendous opportunity for the state to strengthen and expand existing grassroots coalitions and accelerate more inclusive and sustainable regional economic growth.
In turn, these efforts would help California lift up its inland and rural regions, which suffer from disparities in income, employment, and opportunity, as compared to the state’s coastal cities.
However, the commission also learned that the initiative suffered from challenges, including balancing among different outcome goals, ensuring that regions receive the scale of investment necessary to change their economic trajectories, and coordinating the range of state programs that can support inclusive regional economic development.
In recognition of these obstacles, the commission outlined several recommendations to help the state better support regions as they seek to execute economic development strategies:
• Prioritize historically disadvantaged regions and subregions for funding within the Regional Investment Initiative and related programs.
• Provide greater strategic clarity to the Regional Investment Initiative by focusing the program more specifically on the creation of quality jobs in sustainable industries with high growth potential and on connecting members of disadvantaged communities with the quality jobs created.
• Encourage and support regional investments in traded sectors (those that sell goods and services outside of the region).
• Create a single, senior point of leadership for regional economic development. Further, the state should coordinate state funding and programs in support of regional economic development strategies.
• Increase regional capacity for inclusive economic development by dedicating ongoing funding for regional partnerships responsible for guiding regional economic development. The state should also plan for how to structure and sustain regional collaboration after the end of Regional Investment Initiative.
• Allocate ongoing funding to better enable colleges and universities to act as leaders in regional economic development and improve alignment with regional economies.
• Institutionalize the regular reporting of metrics relating to the health of regional economies and the extent of regional economic disparities.
Regional collaboratives are in the midst of developing roadmaps, including a strategy and recommended series of investments, for their respective regions.
Last month, Gov. Newsom also announced the creation of the California Jobs First Council, which will help support regional collaboratives to expand industry and create jobs locally.
"California's vibrant sustainable future depends on its rural communities,” said Ashley Swearengin, former Mayor of Fresno and current President and CEO of the Central Valley Community Foundation. She added that investment in rural California "actually means a brighter future for other parts of the state.”
California has a unique opportunity to further its efforts to build a “regions up” approach to development that brings together goals surrounding economy, equity, and environment through the Regional Investment Initiative, Swearengin told the crowd.
The Regional Investment Initiative (formerly the Community Economic Resilience Fund, or CERF, is a $600 million state initiative launched in 2021 to support regional collaboratives as they work to develop and implement strategies for inclusive development.
In its November 2022 report Equitable Economic Development across California, the Commission applauded Governor Newsom and state leaders for this bold investment in California’s regional economic agenda.
The initiative, the commission found, offered a tremendous opportunity for the state to strengthen and expand existing grassroots coalitions and accelerate more inclusive and sustainable regional economic growth.
In turn, these efforts would help California lift up its inland and rural regions, which suffer from disparities in income, employment, and opportunity, as compared to the state’s coastal cities.
However, the commission also learned that the initiative suffered from challenges, including balancing among different outcome goals, ensuring that regions receive the scale of investment necessary to change their economic trajectories, and coordinating the range of state programs that can support inclusive regional economic development.
In recognition of these obstacles, the commission outlined several recommendations to help the state better support regions as they seek to execute economic development strategies:
• Prioritize historically disadvantaged regions and subregions for funding within the Regional Investment Initiative and related programs.
• Provide greater strategic clarity to the Regional Investment Initiative by focusing the program more specifically on the creation of quality jobs in sustainable industries with high growth potential and on connecting members of disadvantaged communities with the quality jobs created.
• Encourage and support regional investments in traded sectors (those that sell goods and services outside of the region).
• Create a single, senior point of leadership for regional economic development. Further, the state should coordinate state funding and programs in support of regional economic development strategies.
• Increase regional capacity for inclusive economic development by dedicating ongoing funding for regional partnerships responsible for guiding regional economic development. The state should also plan for how to structure and sustain regional collaboration after the end of Regional Investment Initiative.
• Allocate ongoing funding to better enable colleges and universities to act as leaders in regional economic development and improve alignment with regional economies.
• Institutionalize the regular reporting of metrics relating to the health of regional economies and the extent of regional economic disparities.
Regional collaboratives are in the midst of developing roadmaps, including a strategy and recommended series of investments, for their respective regions.
Last month, Gov. Newsom also announced the creation of the California Jobs First Council, which will help support regional collaboratives to expand industry and create jobs locally.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
Reinforcing California’s commitment to supporting legal cannabis operators and dismantling the illegal market, the Governor’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce, or UCETF, seized more than $53,620,600 million in illegal cannabis in the first quarter of this calendar year.
Other enforcement highlights from the period of Jan. 1, 2024, through March 31, 2024, includes:
• 31,866 pounds of unlicensed cannabis seized.
• 54,137 unlicensed cannabis plants eradicated.
• $34,858 in cash seized.
• 11 firearms seized.
• Four arrests.
“California is home to the largest legal cannabis market in the world,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. “As we continue to cultivate a legal marketplace, we're taking aggressive action to crack down on those still operating in the shadows — shutting down illegal operations linked to organized crime, human trafficking, and the proliferation of illegal products that harm the environment and public health.”
“UCETF continues to strengthen its momentum by focusing on priority targets and strategically removing operations having a significant impact on the illegal cannabis supply chain,” said Nathaniel Arnold, acting chief of the CDFW Law Enforcement Division. “We are utilizing all the available resources from our partner agencies and are committed more than ever to providing public safety, protecting the environment, and helping the regulated market succeed and thrive.”
“A key to UCETF’s success is a collaborative approach relying on intelligence gathering, targeted investigations and leveraging the expertise of our members,” said Bill Jones, chief of the Law Enforcement Division for DCC. “The Taskforce continues to play a crucial role in protecting the legal cannabis market while eliminating the often-dangerous activities associated with unlicensed cannabis operations.”
The following state agencies and departments participated in UCETF operations during Q1 2024: Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Department of Cannabis Control, Employment Development Department, Department of Fish and Wildlife, California National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, California State Parks, and the Department of Tax and Fee Administration. In addition, multiple federal and local partners assisted with enforcement operations during the first quarter of 2024.
A total of 18 search warrants were served during Q1 2024 in the following counties: Alameda (2); Fresno (1); Kern (5); Los Angeles (1); Riverside (2); San Joaquin (1); and Orange County (6).
Since inception, UCETF has seized $371,199,431 in unlicensed cannabis through 236 search warrants. The taskforce has also eradicated 401,458 plants and seized 139 firearms.
Created by Governor Newsom in 2022, the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce has been charged to further align state efforts and increase cannabis enforcement coordination between state, local and federal partners. UCETF’s enforcement actions protect consumer and public safety, safeguard the environment, and deprive illegal cannabis operators and transnational criminal organizations of illicit revenue that harms consumers and undercuts the regulated cannabis market in California.
The taskforce is co-chaired by the Department of Cannabis Control and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and coordinated by the Homeland Security Division of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. The taskforce includes more than two dozen local, state, and federal partners working together to disrupt the illegal cannabis market.
The Department of Cannabis Control, or DCC, licenses and regulates commercial cannabis activity within California. DCC works closely with all stakeholders, including businesses and local jurisdictions, to create a sustainable legal cannabis industry and a safe and equitable marketplace. DCC develops and implements progressive cannabis policies with robust protections for public health, safety, and the environment.
To learn more about the California cannabis market, state licenses and laws, visit www.cannabis.ca.gov.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — An incoming cold front is expected to bring rain Friday and over the weekend.
Lake County has enjoyed several sunny days with warmer temperatures, a pattern forecast to hold on Thursday.
The National Weather Service said the warmer seasonal conditions will give way to “widespread
light rain and gusty south wind Friday afternoon into the weekend. Warmer weather will return mid next week.”
The Lake County forecast calls for rainfall amounts of up to an inch for Friday and Saturday, with slighter chances of rain on Sunday.
Gusting winds of about 10 miles per hour are in the forecast for Friday and Saturday.
Temperatures from Friday to Sunday will range from the high 50s during the day to the low 40s at night.
From Monday through Wednesday, temperatures will be on the rise again, reaching the high 60s during the day while at night lingering in the low 40s.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Lake County has enjoyed several sunny days with warmer temperatures, a pattern forecast to hold on Thursday.
The National Weather Service said the warmer seasonal conditions will give way to “widespread
light rain and gusty south wind Friday afternoon into the weekend. Warmer weather will return mid next week.”
The Lake County forecast calls for rainfall amounts of up to an inch for Friday and Saturday, with slighter chances of rain on Sunday.
Gusting winds of about 10 miles per hour are in the forecast for Friday and Saturday.
Temperatures from Friday to Sunday will range from the high 50s during the day to the low 40s at night.
From Monday through Wednesday, temperatures will be on the rise again, reaching the high 60s during the day while at night lingering in the low 40s.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The number of foreign-born people in the United States rose by more than 5 million over 10 years to 45.3 million or 13.7% of the nation's population, according to the 2018-2022 5-year American Community Survey, or ACS, estimates.
We compare estimates for the 2018-2022 period to the 5-year ACS period a decade earlier (2008-2012) when there were 39.8 million foreign-born people, or 12.9% of the population.
A new Census Bureau visualization explores where immigrants lived in the United States and how it changed between the two five-year periods at the national, state and county level.
It also features select indicators of socio-cultural and economic integration at the national level. Data users can look at the foreign-born population overall or select a specific place of birth, including regions (e.g., Africa), sub regions (e.g., Eastern Africa) and countries (e.g., Ethiopia).
The foreign-born population consists of anyone living in the United States who was not a U.S. citizen at birth, including naturalized U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (immigrants), temporary migrants such as foreign students, humanitarian migrants such as refugees and asylees, and unauthorized migrants. Estimates in the data visualization exclude those born at sea.
Highlights of the foreign-born population in 2018-2022 compared to 2008-2012:
• Immigrants made up over a fifth of the population in four states: California (26.5%), New Jersey (23.2%), New York (22.6%) and Florida (21.1%). Their numbers grew in all four states over the 10-year span.
• California, Florida, New Jersey and Texas had the largest increases, with Florida and Texas each gaining more than 850,000 foreign-born people.
• New Mexico was the only state whose foreign-born population decreased during that period.
Harris County, Texas, had the largest increase, followed by Miami-Dade County, Florida, and King County, Washington.
• The top 10 states where immigrants lived did not change, led by California, Texas and Florida in 2018-2022.
• Nine of the top 10 counties did not change, with Broward County, Florida, joining the group and Maricopa County, Arizona, leaving.
• Almost half (49.1%) of all immigrants in the United States entered the country before 2000.
More than half (52.3%) were naturalized U.S. citizens.
• Nearly a quarter of the foreign-born population 25 years and older had a bachelor’s (18.7%) or graduate or professional degree (14.9%), compared to 21.4% and 13.1% for the native-born population.
• An estimated 63.5% were employed, with over a third of the civilian employed foreign-born population (16 years and older) in management, business, science and arts occupations.
Joyce Hahn is a demographic statistician in the Foreign-Born Population Branch in the Census Bureau’s Population Division. Lauren Medina is chief of the Foreign-Born Population Branch in the Census Bureau’s Population Division.
We compare estimates for the 2018-2022 period to the 5-year ACS period a decade earlier (2008-2012) when there were 39.8 million foreign-born people, or 12.9% of the population.
A new Census Bureau visualization explores where immigrants lived in the United States and how it changed between the two five-year periods at the national, state and county level.
It also features select indicators of socio-cultural and economic integration at the national level. Data users can look at the foreign-born population overall or select a specific place of birth, including regions (e.g., Africa), sub regions (e.g., Eastern Africa) and countries (e.g., Ethiopia).
The foreign-born population consists of anyone living in the United States who was not a U.S. citizen at birth, including naturalized U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (immigrants), temporary migrants such as foreign students, humanitarian migrants such as refugees and asylees, and unauthorized migrants. Estimates in the data visualization exclude those born at sea.
Highlights of the foreign-born population in 2018-2022 compared to 2008-2012:
• Immigrants made up over a fifth of the population in four states: California (26.5%), New Jersey (23.2%), New York (22.6%) and Florida (21.1%). Their numbers grew in all four states over the 10-year span.
• California, Florida, New Jersey and Texas had the largest increases, with Florida and Texas each gaining more than 850,000 foreign-born people.
• New Mexico was the only state whose foreign-born population decreased during that period.
Harris County, Texas, had the largest increase, followed by Miami-Dade County, Florida, and King County, Washington.
• The top 10 states where immigrants lived did not change, led by California, Texas and Florida in 2018-2022.
• Nine of the top 10 counties did not change, with Broward County, Florida, joining the group and Maricopa County, Arizona, leaving.
• Almost half (49.1%) of all immigrants in the United States entered the country before 2000.
More than half (52.3%) were naturalized U.S. citizens.
• Nearly a quarter of the foreign-born population 25 years and older had a bachelor’s (18.7%) or graduate or professional degree (14.9%), compared to 21.4% and 13.1% for the native-born population.
• An estimated 63.5% were employed, with over a third of the civilian employed foreign-born population (16 years and older) in management, business, science and arts occupations.
Joyce Hahn is a demographic statistician in the Foreign-Born Population Branch in the Census Bureau’s Population Division. Lauren Medina is chief of the Foreign-Born Population Branch in the Census Bureau’s Population Division.
- Details
- Written by: Joyce Hahn and Lauren Medina