State - The California Transportation Commission (CTC) allocated $298 million for 81 transportation projects Thursday, which includes $181 million from Proposition 1B, the 2006 voter-approved transportation bond, and $62 million in federal economic stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The remaining $55 million was allocated for pavement maintenance, bridge preservation, safety, and environmental enhancement projects. “These projects will create thousands of jobs and boost the economy while improving the state’s highway system,” said California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Director Will Kempton. The Recovery Act funding provides $49 million to advance a widening project on Interstate 215 in San Bernardino County. The additional $13 million will fund two highway improvement projects in Monterey and Fresno counties. The Proposition 1B allocation went to four projects in San Bernardino County. In addition to the allocations, the CTC voted to allow Caltrans to advance $261 million in Recovery Act funds to three Proposition 1B projects. The funds will go to projects on Interstate 405 at the Sepulveda Pass in Los Angeles County, State Route 905 in San Diego County, and the Caldecott Tunnel in Contra Costa and Alameda counties. The San Diego County project was previously approved by the CTC, but was stalled due to the state’s difficulty in funding the project through its bond sales. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - A drought assistance program through the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is being offered to mother lode farmers and ranchers affected by extreme or severe drought conditions. A special 30-day sign up window until May 8 will allow farmers in Amador County and 43 other California counties to apply for $2 million available to protect soil and air quality. Specifically, these funds are intended to maintain areas of fallowed fields, keep orchard trees alive, and protect natural resources on ranch and pasture land. "Record low levels of water storage combined with low snow melt has dried up water deliveries to a point where folks are struggling just to keep trees going so they can live to bear a crop next year," says Ed Burton, State Conservationist for NRCS in California. Over half a million acres of California cropland have become unfarmable and are sitting in wait while officials seek answer to the water shortage crisis. Projections suggest that half million could rise to 840,000 acres, with a projected $2.8 billion direct loss to agriculture. "Our best advice for preventing wind erosion is to leave some vegetative stubble or cover on the field," says Burton. "If the land is already harvested and tilled there are fewer options. Even in those cases, however, our conservationists are willing to take a look at the fields and see if surface roughening, straw mulch or silt fencing may help." More information on the drought, conservation practices that may mitigate drought-related problems, and payment rates for the current drought initiative are available by contacting your local NRCS office. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - The Board of Supervisors heard a pitch Tuesday from supporters of Assembly Bill 648, which would authorize rural hospitals to directly employ physicians to provide medical services. It would also require a rural hospital to develop and implement a policy regarding the independent medical judgment of the physician. The Existing California Health and Safety code requires the department to provide expert technical assistance to “high-risk rural hospitals.” AB 648 would allow hospitals to be more proactive in directly recruiting and hiring doctors. The bill was introduced by Assembly Members Wesley Chesbro and Sandre Swanson, and is now before the California Legislature. “Physicians coming out of medical school are hesitant about the risks of operating their own business,” said Anne Platt, Sutter Amador Hospital CEO. “If a hospital is able to employ a physician, it can provide security and health insurance that would be difficult to obtain otherwise,” she added. The bill itself states that many hospitals in the state are having great difficulty recruiting and retaining physicians. There is a shortage of physicians in rural communities across California. Dr. Bob Hartmann, a hospital physician and resident at Health and Human Services, said the average medical student coming out of training owes $147,000 and is reluctant to set up in rural areas. Furthermore, 90 percent go into larger, more established groups like Kaiser Permanente, he said. Supervisor Brian Oneto questioned whether physicians would lose their autonomy or remain happy under the umbrella of the hospital. Platt said she had “never seen that situation” and “if there were a situation where a physician were being dictated to, the physician would leave.” Also on hand was a representative from the Amador County Commission on Aging who said attracting quality care to our area was all the more important because we have one of the highest county populations over age 65. Platt and Hartmann warned of resistance from the California Medical Association, although the group has not stated a position on the bill. A motion in support of the bill was passed 4-0, with Supervisor Oneto abstaining because he wanted to confer with doctors. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

State - The Sacramento-area unemployment rate has jumped to 10.8 percent, according to data released last Friday by California’s Employment Development Department. That’s a loss of 4,000 jobs in the Sacramento metro area during the month of February, most of which occurred in the retail sector. This latest round of job losses has now pushed unemployment to another record high since 1990, up from 10.4 percent in January. The biggest decline came in nonfarm payroll positions, where 116,000 jobs were lost. Statistics released in late January 2009 by California State University, Sacramento, estimate that the jobless rate in Amador County will rise significantly. The annual average Unemployment Rate for Amador County in 2008 was 7.7 percent, up from the 2007 rate of 5.9 percent. The forecast for 2009, based on actual data through December, 2008, is a two percentage point increase to 9.8 percent. According to different data from the Employment Development Department, Amador County suffers from an 11.9 percent unemployment rate, accounting for 2,180 people out of work in February 2009. The total estimated Amador labor force is approximately 18,370. State government officials are warning that the tempo of layoffs is also speeding up. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said he is depending on the success of national policies to boost employment and stabilize housing and banking. The good economic news, according to economist and Asian trade expert Sung Won Sohn at Cal State Channel Islands, is the assurance of federal aid from the Obama stimulus package and the Federal Reserve's move this week to ease credit. California’s employers led the nation in mass layoffs in February as the state's unemployment rate hit 10.5 percent, the highest level since April 1983. Big corporations, which must file mandatory government reports every time they lay off at least 50 people, gave pink slips to 45,557 Californians last month. Last month's national rate was 8.1%. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

By Alex Lane -

And now, our continuing report on the Propositions you’ll be deciding on in the November ballot. Today we’ll discuss Proposition 6, which would require at least 965 million to be spent annually on police and local law enforcement. According to Supporters, “Proposition 6 is a comprehensive anti-gang and crime reduction measure that will bring more cops and increased safety to our streets, and greater efficiency and accountability to public safety programs.” Supporters say Proposition 6 “returns taxpayer’s money to local law enforcement without raising taxes.” The proposition includes a number of plans to address crime, including prohibiting bail to illegal immigrants charged with violent or gang related crimes, imposing a 10-year penalty increase on gang offenders, providing GPS equipment for monitoring gang and sex offenders, and increasing penalties for multiples acts of graffiti. But opponents say Prop 6 “writes into law new crimes, increases penalties for old crimes, and mandates more spending…but it provides not a single penny of new funding to pay for it.” Opponents say Prop 6 “wastes money on ineffective programs without accountability” and “disrupts existing crime prevention efforts.” As a result, opponents believe this means “less money for schools, health care, parks, roads or any of the state’s other important priorities.” On November 4th, you’ll have the opportunity to help decide.

By Alex Lane -

And now, our continuing report on the Propositions you’ll be deciding on in the November ballot. Today we’ll discuss Proposition 4, which would change the constitution to require doctors to notify a parent or guardian 48 hours before performing an abortion for a girl under the age of 18. Supporters say this law would “reduce teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases without danger or harm to minors.” Supporters criticize organizations that perform abortions, like Planned Parenthood, of “secrecy” that “enables abuse to continue.” But opponents say “mandatory notification laws may sound good, but…a scared, pregnant teen who can’t go to her parents may…turn to illegal, back alley abortions” and “not all teens live in homes where communication is possible.” Opponents believe “no law can mandate family communication” and that the “state should not be forcing that conversation.” California voters defeated similar propositions in 2005 and 2006. Also known as “Sarah’s Law”, the contentious issue has been frequently debated amongst special interest groups, much like the subject of abortion itself. On November 4th, you’ll have the opportunity to help decide.

State - Record hot temperatures will continue in the forecast for two more days. Some areas in the southern Central Valley could hit 100. The heat wave is from a high pressure system lodged over the West. Highs have been above average since last Thursday and won't get back to near normal readings until Friday. Two records were broken Sunday. Modesto hit 93 degrees and Stockton hit 92. Sacramento Executive Airport recorded 89 degrees which tied the record for that day. Experts say to expect more record highs to be broken Monday throughout the valley. Expect highs to hit the low 90s which is close to many records. Staff Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County - Senator Dave Cox, whose district covers the Northeastern part of the state, issued the following statement after Sierra Pacific Industries announced the closures of sawmills in Camino, Sonora and Quincy: “The closure of these sawmills is devastating to the workers and the families who depend on these jobs,” said Cox. “It is especially disheartening to know that these closures account for almost half of the jobs in each of the local communities.” Cox added, “In the rural County of Plumas, the unemployment rate is already at 18.9 percent – fourth highest in the state. With California’s economic crisis, this announcement could not come at a worse time for workers of these sawmills.” In last month’s budget negotiations, Cox met with the Governor and legislative leaders several times. Cox argued that the state needed to begin to end the stranglehold placed on job providers in order to create job opportunities. Specifically, Cox asked that the state revise its timber harvest laws with a Timber Harvest Plan/Forest Conservation Plan to allow professional foresters to manage California’s forests and allow for proper thinning. “With California facing the highest unemployment rate in over a decade, my goal in budget negotiations was to create a more job-friendly environment so people can go back to work. I was told that my recommendations were too extreme,” he said. Sierra Pacific Industries also announced the closure of a sawmill in Tuolumne County affecting 146 workers and their families. Staff Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

State - U.S. Forest Service Chief Abigail Kimbell announced yesterday the Agency’s plan to participate in the nation’s economic recovery program. The Forest Service has received $1.15 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The first group of Forest Service projects nationwide created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, totaling $98 million, have been selected. These initial projects will create 1,500 jobs, giving the Agency the early opportunity to put people to work. The remaining projects, totaling $1.052 billion, will be announced shortly and will create an additional 23,500 jobs nationwide. First round projects on lands managed by the Forest Service in California will include maintenance and construction on facilities, roads and trails totaling 70 jobs and $7.75 million. The jobs are estimated to last from four months up to a year. These projects will benefit 11 counties. The Eldorado National Forest will receive funding to replace roofs at five locations: the Forest Service auto shop and fire cache near Camino; an historic cabin at Alder Ridge Lookout; the historic Bunker Hill Lookout; and a Forest Service building at Echo Summit. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to provide private sector jobs,” said Eldorado National Forest Supervisor Ramiro Villalvazo. “This is the first round of funding and we look forward to receiving additional funds to put more people to work. The roofing project will be a good start.” Under the language of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Forest Service will create as many jobs as possible to support nearby communities and to get money flowing through the economy again. All funds will be spent on specific targeted projects that are, or soon will be, ready to go. “The Forest Service anticipates playing a key role in our nation’s economic recovery,” said Chief Kimbell. “We are grateful for the confidence Congress has shown us and look forward to demonstrating how the Forest Service can create good jobs during difficult times,” Kimbell added. Many of the most affected communities of the economic downturn are located near national forests. Rural jobs will be created in areas needing restoration work with shovel ready projects related to fire prevention, roads, bridges, buildings and recreation facilities. More detailed information about new Forest Service projects and jobs in California will be forthcoming. Staff Report This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

By Alex Lane -

And now, our continuing report on the Propositions you’ll be deciding on in the November ballot. Today we’ll discuss Proposition 5, or the Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act, which would expand rehabilitation services for drug offenders in prison, on parole, and in the community. It is estimated that this expansion would require California to spend an extra $1 Billion. Supporters of the Proposition believe the long-term investment in rehabilitation is more beneficial than the $10 Billion California currently spends on prisons every year. “Our State prisons are badly overcrowded,” supporters say, and they add: “Prop 5 offers greater accountability and better treatment for nonviolent offenders.” Supporters believe that “treating violent and nonviolent offenders differently is the smart fix for overcrowded prisons.” Supporters include Dr. Judith Martin from the California Society of Addiciton Medicine and Daniel Macallier, Executive Director for the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice. Prop 5 proposes a three step process that would transfer responsibility for drug treatment amongst non-violent offenders from the prisons to drug counselors and the nonviolent offenders themselves. But according to local opponent and Amador County District Attorney Todd Reibe, “You can’t leave it to people who are in the throes of addiction to determine when their ready to get serious treatment.” Opponents say the Prop will “establish two new bureaucracies with virtually no accountability…that will cost hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars.” Opponents say “the real beneficiaries of Prop 5 are the violent criminals who can escape persecution for their violent acts by claiming they weren’t responsible- or, ‘the meth made me do it.’” On November 4th, you’ll have the opportunity to help decide.