Merced Irrigation District seals deal with state for more irrigation water [Merced Sun-Star]
Irrigation
officials this week closed a complicated deal with state agencies to increase
the water supply for drought-plagued farmers. The deal could also help
authorities cut the price of irrigation water in Merced County. The State Water
Resources Control Board approved the deal granting Merced County farmers more
water, said Mike Jensen, Merced Irrigation District spokesman. MID board
President Tim Pellissier and Vice President Dave Long said the deal was the
best news Merced County farmers have had in the last two years.
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2014/04/23/3615393/mid-seals-deal-with-state-for.html?sp=/99/100/&ihp=1
Dam
flows boost Trinity River for now; officials say dry conditions mean less water
released into river [Eureka Times-Standard]
As
Lewiston Dam waters are released into the Trinity River, officials are advising
the public to use caution while visiting its banks, even though this year's
flow into the river will be reduced on account of the statewide drought. ”It's
a relatively rare event, but it's not outside the realm of possibility,” said
Ernest Clarke, a science program coordinator for the Trinity River Restoration
Program, a multi-agency program made up of organizations including the U.S.
Forest Service and the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service. “We're making
the appropriate flow release.” The flows started increasing Wednesday, U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation public affairs officer Louis Moore said. Up to 1,500
cubic feet of water per second -- the equivalent of 75,000 to 80,000 jugs of
water or basketballs, according to Moore -- will be released each day until the
end of May before being reduced. The rates are expected to drop to 1,200 cfs in
early June, and will dip to the summer level of 450 cfs on June 26.
Editorial: Minimum-wage hike:
Alarming start to a crucial debate [San Diego Union-Tribune]
City
Council President Todd Gloria has unveiled a proposed ballot initiative under
which the minimum wage in San Diego gradually would be raised to $13.09 cents
an hour by July 2017. That would be 31 percent higher than the state minimum
wage, which is set to be $10 an hour effective 2016. At his news conference
Wednesday, Gloria said the proposal is a work in progress and that he is open
to input. But given his remarks, San Diegans should wonder if he is open to
reason. For example, the council leader was asked if much higher minimum wages
were so good for the economy — as he contended — why didn’t businesses clamor for
them? He responded by noting that many companies already pay more than $13.09
an hour. But that’s a decision they made — not one forced on them by local
government.
Clovis
Rodeo at 100: From dusty origins to big-time business [Fresno Bee]
One
hundred years ago, when Clovis was a small, distant and dusty farm town of
perhaps 1,000 residents, a group of enterprising women decided to get together
and throw a "spring festival" — a little town picnic with a parade
and informal horse races among ranchers and cowboys — as a fundraising event.
Nowadays, pardner, things are different around these here parts. With a
population of about 100,000, Clovis isn't so small, distant or dusty. You're
more likely to find a bicycle rack on the street than a hitchin' post. The
Clovis Women's Club, which organized that long-ago festival, is no more.
Opinion: Frank Bigelow: Ag
education cut would hurt state economy [Fresno Bee]
Agriculture
is critical to California's economy because of the jobs, tax revenue and food
it provides for our state. It makes sense then to teach ag in our public
schools so we can prepare students who want to pursue ag-related careers. Yet
if Gov. Jerry Brown's budget proposal becomes law, those students may no longer
have that opportunity. In his 2014-15 budget plan, the governor seeks to
eliminate the Agricultural Career Technical Education Incentive Program, more
commonly known as the Agriculture Incentive Grant. This grant funds 315 local
ag programs that teach 78,000 high school students basic skills such as
planning and planting. The money helps pay for items such as shop equipment and
field trips for students at relatively little cost to the state. Many students
have said that being a part of such classes is one of their most positive high
school experiences.
Ag
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