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Tribes call for better environmental management | State legislators promise more gun control laws | Concern over healthcare worker shortage

The latest North State and California news on our airwaves for Thursday, May 26.

California tribes call for improved watershed management

Tribes and environmental groups gathered outside the headquarters of the State Water Resources Control Board Tuesday to submit a petition demanding improved management of the Bay-Delta watershed.

Reports have shown declining numbers of salmon and an uptick in harmful algal blooms. Caleen Sisk, chief of the Winnemem Wintu tribe, said communities depending on the watershed should have a say in its future.

“We're the ones who are left with the water deficiency and the water pollution so that a handful of people can get rich off of that water,” she said.

In the petition, the coalition asked the board to revise water quality standards and demanded affected groups, like tribes, be involved in discussions about the Bay-Delta’s management. Read the full story.

CapRadio Staff

Gov. Newsom vows to speed up rollout of new gun control laws

California lawmakers are vowing to speed up a collection of new gun control bills in the wake of the school shooting in Texas that left 21 dead.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said he hopes to sign the bills by the end of next month. One of them would ban ghost guns. Another would allow private citizens to sue gun makers and sellers if their weapons are used illegally.

Republicans around the country have continued to oppose new gun control measures, but Newsom pointed to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing California has a lower per-capita rate of gun deaths than Texas and other states with lax gun laws.

“We know these policies work to save lives. Are they exclusively the only approach? Absolutely not,” he said.

Newsom said he wants lawmakers to pass new gun control bills by a two-thirds majority, which would allow them to take effect immediately, rather than on Jan.1.

— CapRadio Staff

State water board votes to implement new restrictions

California's water board voted Tuesday to roll out statewide mandatory water restrictions in the face of an ongoing drought. Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom urged residents to voluntarily cut their water use by 15%. But by March, usage was actually up by 19%.

The new regulations ban irrigating turf at commercial, industrial and institutional properties and require urban water suppliers to limit homes to just two days a week of yard watering, which about half had still not done. Violators can now be charged up to $500.

— Kate Wolffe (KQED), The California Report

Health advocates raise concern about workers leaving the industry

Public health advocates say California is losing nurses, epidemiologists, lab directors and other front-line workers because of competition from the private sector and the politicization of COVID-19.

Michelle Gibbons, executive director of the County Health Executive Associations of California, says the organization is asking Gov. Gavin Newsom to commit $186 million of the state budget surplus to bolster the workforce of health agencies by paying for things like student-loan forgiveness and signing bonuses.

“This is a mixture of training investments, recruitment and retention investments, all intended to build our workforce pipeline," she said.

Newsom has already proposed spending $300 million in annual ongoing funding to rebuild California's public health system.

— CapRadio Staff

Stories from NPR partner stations are edited by NSPR Staff for digital presentation and credited as requested.

In other news

  • Hit-and-run in Salyer under investigation: “CHP is asking for help identifying a driver that collided with a motorcycle and left the scene in another vehicle in a hit-and-run incident Tuesday, May 24, in Salyer.” — The Trinity Journal
  • 63 animals seized in case involving potential abuse: “Multiple animals were seized Tuesday after a warrant was served due to suspected animal cruelty and neglect in Pleasant Grove. According to the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office, 63 animals including 39 dogs, 13 horses, seven cats and four exotic birds were seized in the “vicinity” of the 3400 block of Sankey Road in Pleasant Grove through the combined efforts of the Sutter Animal Services Authority, Sutter County Sheriff’s Office and Sutter County Code Enforcement.” — The Appeal-Democrat

In case you missed it

Headlines is published every weekday morning at 8:30 a.m. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and NPR One. Theme song Borough is courtesy of Blue Dot Sessions

Angel Huracha has been a part of the journalism field since 2006 and has covered a range of topics. He is a graduate of Chico State with a Bachelor's degree in news-editorial and public relations with a minor in English.
Alec Stutson grew up in Colorado and graduated from the University of Missouri with degrees in Radio Journalism, 20th/21st Century Literature, and a minor in Film Studies. He is a huge podcast junkie, as well as a movie nerd and musician.
Adia White is a broadcast journalist and producer with nearly 10 years of experience. Her work has appeared on WNYC, This American Life, Capital Public Radio and other local and national programs. She started at North State Public Radio as a freelance reporter in 2017 before leaving for a stint at Northern California Public Media in Santa Rosa.