The California Weekly
Welcome to The California Weekly, your Saturday morning recap of top stories and announcements you might have missed.
News you might have missed
1. 👮♂️ KEEPING CALIFORNIANS SAFE
In the final days of the holiday season, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the California Highway Patrol, in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies, successfully conducted a statewide enforcement operation targeting organized retail crime. ‘Operation Holiday Watch’ resulted in 117 arrests, the recovery of over $38,000 in stolen merchandise, the seizure of two illegal firearms, and the recovery of three stolen vehicles.
2. 🛢️ SAVINGS AT THE PUMP
According to new data from the California Energy Commission, the average price of a gallon of gasoline in California is 20 cents lower than last year and 70 cents lower than 2022 – saving Californians billions of dollars at the pump. And it’s in part thanks to the Newsom Administration’s efforts to protect consumers at the pump with new transparency rules for the oil industry.
3. 💧 KEY INVESTMENT TO TACKLE BORDER SEWAGE CRISIS
Working alongside federal, state, and local partners, Governor Newsom helped secure an additional $250 million in critical federal funding to address cross-border pollution from the Tijuana River. This funding allows for the full repair and expansion of the South Bay sewage treatment plant to reduce untreated sewage flows into California’s coastal waters and improve conditions for local communities.
4. 🏘️ SUPPORTING HOUSING & TREATMENT CENTERS
The California Department of Social Services announced key milestones for two housing projects receiving funding through the state-funded Community Care Expansion (CCE) program, which is providing funding for the construction and rehabilitation of adult and senior care residences for low-income and homeless adults. In Downey, the Agapao Fellowship has begun the rehabilitation of a 120-person residence that will be licensed as an Adult Residential Facility.
5. 💻 SAFEGUARDING CALIFORNIANS ONLINE
Aiming to enhance the state’s resilience against cyber threats, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services announced more than $22 million in cybersecurity grant funding is being disbursed to better protect local governments, school districts, special districts, and federally recognized tribes from cybersecurity risks.
Video of the week
Watch what state-supported housing means to those living in it.
Photo of the week
Californians know fire season is year round. Thankfully, because of key investments by the Newsom Administration, emergency personnel and first responders are able to act swiftly and more forcefully than ever before. Take a look at some of the work this year.
Here’s what we’re reading
Los Angeles Times: How the high-speed rail project trains workers and provides thousands of jobs in the Central Valley
By the numbers
- 131% — of normal (California’s Sierra snowpack) for this time of year, according to the latest numbers from the Department of Water Resources.