Will D
@willd.blue
Staffer at Office of CA Gov. Proud Californian. I post updates about the Golden State. *Personal account* — Views my own — Likes & follows ≠ endorsements. #CaliforniaForAll #PathForward
Elon’s DOGE (Diabolical Oligarch Gone Egotistical) Hires a hacker to steal our data essentially. #ElonIsVile krebsonsecurity.com/2025/02/teen...
Teen on Musk’s DOGE Team Graduated from ‘The Com’
Wired reported this week that a 19-year-old working for Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was given access to sensitive US government systems even though his past associ...
krebsonsecurity.com
I agree with President Trump that permitting requirements should not hinder a speedy recovery for LA wildfire victims to restore their homes and businesses — which is why I have already waived state environmental regulations and directed agencies to identify opportunities for further streamlining.
UPDATE on the fires worsened by hurricane-force winds in SoCal: #PalisadesFire: 22,660 acres (11% containment) #EatonFire: 14,117 acres (15% containment) #KennethFire: 1,052 acres (80% containment) #HurstFire: 799 acres (76% containment) + both #SunsetFire & #LidiaFire are at 100% containment
Very concerning how for some folks, misinformation is a reflexive response, even to a disaster like this... here are some basic facts for perspective
Brandon Richards 🐻@brandonrichards.bsky.social · 2y agoSome facts for folks, since Gov Newsom took office: Nearly DOUBLED the CalFIRE budget: $2 billion to $3.8 billion. The number of CalFIRE personnel has nearly DOUBLED: 5,829 to 10,741.
Some facts for folks, since Gov Newsom took office: Nearly DOUBLED the CalFIRE budget: $2 billion to $3.8 billion. The number of CalFIRE personnel has nearly DOUBLED: 5,829 to 10,741.
Incredible operation. I’ve worked disaster operations. This is a remarkable coordination effort.
Brandon Richards 🐻@brandonrichards.bsky.social · 2y ago~54 HOUR UPDATE: Local, state, out-of-state mutual aid, & federal partners are hard at work battling the historic hurricane-force firestorms in Southern California: 🧑🚒 8,000+ Personnel 🪖 600+ California National Guard Members 🚒 991 Fire Engines, Dozers & Water Tenders 🚁 40 Helicopters
We’re throwing everything we got in responding to these fires. More than 7,500 firefighting and emergency personnel are on the ground battling these fires and protecting Californians. www.gov.ca.gov/2025/01/08/m...
More than 7,500 firefighting, emergency personnel deployed to fight unprecedented Los Angeles fires | Governor of California
gov.ca.gov
I’m at Hollywood Hills this morning, where our extraordinary firefighters and first responders suppressed the #SunsetFire last night within a 50-acre footprint. With more favorable overnight winds, firefighting aircraft were able to safely fly and help put out this blaze.
I think these retail theft laws deserved more attention, glad to see them finally in effect in CA qz.com/california-r...
This state is leading the charge in fighting retail crime. Here's how
New laws to combat retail crime officially went into effect on Jan. 1
qz.com
Happy New Year! As we welcome 2025, my heart is filled with gratitude for all of you who stood by my side this past year. Your unwavering support, courage, and belief in what’s right have been my greatest source of strength.
Incredible breakdown of a big creator of misinfo: They've since been called out & taken action: "the Hoover Institution has now had to retract six articles based on faulty research" "The Minimum Wage Claims You Keep Hearing Are Totally Fake. We Can Prove It." www.dropsitenews.com/p/the-minimu...
The Minimum Wage Claims You Keep Hearing Are Totally Fake. We Can Prove It.
In September 2023, California passed a law to bring fast food workers’ minimum wage up from $16 to $20 an hour.
dropsitenews.com
"The California grid ran on 100% renewables with no blackouts or cost rises for a record 98 days" Compared to the same period in 2023: ☀️ Solar output is up 31% 💨 Wind power is up 8% 🔋 Batteries are up 105% + batteries supplied up to 12% of nighttime demand. electrek.co/2024/12/31/c...
The California grid ran on 100% renewables with no blackouts or cost rises for a record 98 days
No blackouts occurred when renewable electricity supply exceeded 100% of demand on California's main grid for parts of 98 of 116 days.
electrek.co
California students continued to recover from the pandemic in 2024, with test scores inching upward, graduation rates improving and discipline rates falling. Perhaps most importantly, more students showed up for class. cal.news/3VZdXBe 📝 Carolyn Jones
Schools continue to rebound, thanks to influx of funding: 2024 year in review
An influx of state and federal money helped California schools get K-12 students back in classrooms and bolster their learning.
cal.news
This is the first time since ~late 2021 where California's economy is growing faster than both the national average and Texas' economy (though slight caveat that Texas' slowdown is partially just due to slower growth in oil & gas)
"'round the Ferny Bend" 📍Fern Canyon, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, California #nature #landscape #naturephotography #landscapephotography #california #nationalparks #stateparks
El Cap Shrouded in Clouds. Yosemite National Park. #photography #landscape #landscapephotography #yosemite #nationalpark #california #canon
A pair of Ross' Geese in flight. This was from my first day after switching from Canon gear to Sony and I was still getting used to the new system. (Colusa Wildlife Refuge, California) #birds #ornithology #wildlife #nature #WildlifePhotography #NaturePhotography #Photography
Today marks 134 years since the Wounded Knee Massacre, when U.S. soldiers slaughtered nearly 300 men, women, & children. On this dark day, we reflect on the atrocities & oppression Native Americans have endured, & carry on the fight to end the injustices that remain.
Trump’s plan to reverse Obama’s 2015 decision to name Alaska’s tallest peak Denali has drawn backlash. The name, meaning “The High One,” honors the Koyukon Athabascan people. Why undo this?
VP Harris lost to Trump by 1.5% in a close election while still earning a historic number of votes for a nominee. She turned around her favorability numbers in a short period of time. Yes, we lost and Republicans gained in swing states but we gained seats in the House. I’m proud of Kamala Harris.
L.A. hotel that gained fame with Doors album cover burns in fire www.latimes.com/california/s...
L.A. hotel that gained fame with Doors album cover burns in fire
A former hotel in downtown L.A. whose name graced a 1970 Doors album — and where the band shot the record’s cover art — was badly burned in a fire.
latimes.com
Union protections from Artificial Intelligence replacement will now be backed up by a California law. Cali is the home to 32 of the world's 50 leading AI companies, so I guess it kinda falls on them to start to figure this out.
Stardust 🌏🎬@stardustbluepr.com · 2y ago“New bills prevent AI-generated replicas from using a performer's voice or likeness.” #SAGAFTRA #AIEthics
"The California exodus that’s been declared over and over again isn’t real, according to new figures from the U.S. Census Bureau published this week." "an addition of almost a quarter of a million people" www.sfgate.com/california/a...
California defies exodus narrative again, new data shows
New population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show that California's population grew from 2023 to 2024.
sfgate.com
Sometimes life gets in the way of our time on Bluesky - but that’s rarely a bad thing. Here’s another winner of a sunset from @photomattca.bsky.social Hope life been treating you well skywriters 🦋💙
Matt DeGrushe Photography/PhotoMatt Designs@photomattca.bsky.social · 2y agoLong exposure winter sunset at Goleta Pier near Santa Barbara, California #photography #sunset #ocean #beach #landscape
From the Archives: The oil tanker Sansinena explodes in Los Angeles Harbor (1976) www.latimes.com/visuals/phot... Photo by Jack Gaunt.
From the Archives: The oil tanker Sansinena explodes in Los Angeles Harbor
Six crewmen die and more than 50 people were injured when the Sansinena blows up on Los Angeles Harbor.
latimes.com
I joined @reporterjoe.bsky.social on KQED to talk about Hegseth: www.kqed.org/forum/201010...
What Pete Hegseth’s Resurrected Bid for Defense Secretary Signals | KQED
We talk with Tom Nichols and Joe Gould about the likelihood of Hegseth’s confirmation and what the department could look like under him.
kqed.org
Want a good-news story? My latest @latimes piece is about a low-down California desert town, a Japanese American family imprisoned during WWII, and how the one-time world’s tallest flagpole came to be. www.latimes.com/california/s...
A low-down town in the California desert loves its flagpole — formerly the world’s tallest
In the California desert, a literally low-down town rallies behind the former world's tallest flagpole
latimes.com
Teresa is harvesting citrus near Orange Cove CA. She is paid $60 per 900 lb box. She works until it is very late so she can earn enough money to pay her bills. It turns dark by 5pm so she needs to wear a flashlight on her head so she can see. #WeFeedYou
#Malibu #sunrise When you want a #Starbucks coffee but you live remotely your drive is rewarded with a Macchiato and a view. #Catalina #Santamonicabay #PalosVerdePeninsula
