State

CALIFORNIA—On August 20, in response to the SCU Lightning Complex fire raging across Northern California, park districts and watershed managers shut down Mount Diablo State Park, the Los Vaqueros Watershed, and 66 other East Bay Parks. These parks join Lake Berrysessa, Big Basin Redwoods State Park, and 20 other state parks closed earlier this week due to nearby fire...

LOS ANGELES—On August 19, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti authorized the City to disconnect utility service at a house where multiple large parties have occurred, violating public health orders. Garcetti announced the decision via Twitter:  “Today I authorized the City to disconnect utility service at a house in the Hollywood Hills to stop the large parties held there in flagrant violation...

BERKELEY—On Wednesday, August 19, the city of Berkeley announced a warning of poor air quality due to smoke from wildfires around the Bay Area. According to AirNow, the air quality index reached 149 out of 500, and the air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups, including people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, and pregnant individuals. According to...

CALIFORNIA—As of Tuesday, August 18, at 9:20 p.m., the LNU Lightning Complex fires have been burning in the Bay Area and Northern California. LNU Lightning Complex is routed from a lightning-caused fire, which started in Napa County and Sonoma County and moved into Solano County, Lake County, and Yolo County on Wednesday. According to CAL FIRE, five separate fires are...

LANCASTER—A 80-year-old man who was assaulted and robbed by a couple in a Lancaster’s grocery store bathroom died on Wednesday, August 19. Roberto Flores Lopez, the victim, was attacked on July 8 at Superior Grocers in the 1000 block of East Avenue J in the city of Lancaster. According to the Lancaster Station detectives, Lopez was transported to Antelope Valley...

OAKLAND - On August 18, 2020, Oakland International Airport (OAK) released its July 2020 passenger traffic report. The announcement stated that there were 86,000 more passengers who departed from OAK and a 34% increase in passenger traffic compared to June 2020’s record. According to Oakland International Airport's “July 2020 Statistical Data: OAK saw 341,831 total passengers down 72.3 percent...

SAN FRANCISCO—A series of lightning strikes caused fires in several Bay Area counties have spread across 25,000 acres total, and has zero containment as of 2:00 p.m. July 18, an update on CAL FIRE’s website reads. The fire spread across various locations in San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Alameda, San Joaquin, and Santa Clara counties. The first fire was reported...

CALIFORNIA—On Monday, August 17, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill No. 1460 by Shirley Weber, California State Assembly, which requires every California State University student complete at least one ethnic studies course for graduation. “Existing regulations require students of the California State University to complete courses in American history and American government or pass comprehensive examinations in those fields in...

AMERICAN CANYON—On Sunday, August 16, a young man was shot and killed in a Safeway parking lot located on West American Canyon Road. The suspect is currently in custody at the Napa County Correction Department, the Napa County Sheriff's Office announced.   The Napa County Sheriff’s Office revealed on their social media platform that the shooting occurred at approximately 12:02...

BERKELEY—On Thursday, August 13, the Berkeley Unified School District announced they would offer nutritious meals for free and reduced-prices for lower-income families. “Berkeley Unified School District announces its policy to serve nutritious meals every school day under the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and/or Afterschool Snack Program. Effective July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021, children are eligible...