Here's your daily briefing...
Firefighting costs on the rise: The US Forest Services is reportedly stressed due to increasing costs to fight wildfires. According to Ja’Nel Johnson from Capital Public Radio, wildfire costs have surpassed the funding level congress allotted the Forest Service. Johnson reports wildfire costs in the 2015 fiscal year equaled more than half of the federal agency’s budget.
Redding City Council talks new playground: The city is rebuilding the aging Kids Kingdom playground at Enterprise Park. NSPR’s Kelly Frost reports that $44,000 is still needed to fully fund the project. The original playground was built in 1992 and will be demolished at the end of the year with construction set to begin in spring.
You’re qualified for the job, but do you have a license? A report out yesterday from the independent oversight agency called the Little Hoover Commission says California’s licensure requirements can halt people’s progress in starting new jobs. It says that’s especially true for veterans, military spouses, former offenders and people trained abroad. According to Capital Public Radio, one in five Californians need some sort of government permission to work.
New Sierra Nevada brews: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company has announced two new experimental varieties will be joining it’s lineup in January. Sidecar Orange Pale Ale will have a citrus twist to the iconic Pale Ale. The other, Tropical Torpedo IPA, will have hints of mango, papaya and passionfruit. The new brews should start appearing on Jan. 1.
Health of California’s meadows affect state’s water supply: Capital Public Radio reports that several wetland restoration projects are underway to restore California’s meadows. In the story meadows are said to be critical in how the Sierra provides roughly 60 percent of the water that’s used by the state. Road, ditches and grazing cattle are attributed in the story as degrading Sierra meadows.