In the third quarter of this year, from July through September, 26.7% of new cars sold in California were zero-emission vehicles, or ZEVs, according to new data from the Governor’s Office.
That’s up from 25.4% in the previous quarter.
This comes after Gov. Newsom announced that California surpassed both its zero-emission truck sales and vehicle sales goals two years ahead of schedule, and surpassed its 10,000 fast EV chargers goal more than a year ahead of schedule.
In China last week, Gov. Newsom touted the state’s progress on ZEVs and saw China’s own progress with ZEVs firsthand.
“We’ve made it easier and cheaper than ever for folks to transition to clean cars, and it’s continuing to produce real results. This progress represents less pollution in our air from burning fossil fuels. This is critical progress in our fight against climate change while expanding our clean energy economy,” Newsom said.
California’s ZEV Record:
• 26.7% of all new cars sold in California last quarter were ZEVs, according to the California Energy Commission: 119,580 ZEV sales in Q3 of 2023, 342,888 total ZEV sales year to date.
• 34% of new ZEVs sold in the U.S. are sold in California, according to the California Air Resources Board.
• Thousands of dollars in grants and rebates available for low-income Californians – learn more at ClimateAction.ca.gov
• The historic $52 billion California Climate Commitment includes over $10 billion for zero-emission cars, trucks, buses and infrastructure.
Despite stereotypes to the contrary, men can prefer close, one-on-one friendships. Westend61 via Getty Images
The benefits of friendship go far beyond having someone to confide in or spend time with – it can also protect you from physical and mental health problems. For example, people with good friends recover more quickly from illnesses and surgeries. They report higher well-being and feel like they live up to their full potential. Additionally, people with good friends report being less lonely across many life stages, including adolescence, becoming a parent and old age.
Behavioral scientists like me have tended to focus our research about friendships on their benefits. How to cultivate these powerful relationships hasn’t been as deeply researched yet. Understanding more about what people look for in a friend and how to make and sustain good friendships could help fight the loneliness epidemic.
Traditional conceptions of friendship
Previous generations of behavioral scientists traditionally focused on the notion that people form friendships with those who are similar, familiar and in close proximity to them.
When you look at all the friendships you’ve had over your life, these three factors probably make intuitive sense. You’re more likely to have things in common with your friends than not. You feel an increased sense of familiarity with friends the longer you know them – what psychologists call the mere exposure effect. And your friends are more likely to live or work near you.
Researchers in this field have also typically divided friendship preferences based on gender. The dichotomy suggests that women prefer one-on-one, emotionally close and face-to-face friendships, while men prefer multi-person, task-oriented and side-by-side friendships, with the focus on a shared activity.
Research suggests that women on average prefer a one-on-one, close friendship style.FG Trade/E+ via Getty Images
Again, when looking at your own friendships, these findings may seem intuitive. Women on average prefer to engage in activities that allow for self-disclosure and sharing secrets, such as spending time one-on-one talking about their lives. Men, on the other hand, tend to prefer to engage in activities that are group-based and have a clearly defined outcome, such as playing sports together. Findings such as these show that gender and preferences on how to connect are important in friendships.
But these explanations of friendship do not address the most important aspect of making friends – choosing the individual people you want to turn into your pals. Friendship decisions are not random. There are many people who are similar, familiar, in close proximity and have similar preferences as you. Yet few of these individuals end up being your friends.
So, in a world full of possibilities, how do people pick those who will become their friends?
New ways to think about friendship
Within the last decade, researchers have begun investigating the roots of friendship preferences beyond the classic descriptions.
For example, social scientists see there are strong preferences for friends to be loyal, trustworthy and warm. Additionally, researchers find there are preferences for friends who help you solve specific kinds of problems and are generous and caring with you instead of others. These preferences help people navigate making friends, given limited reserves of time and effort. In short, they help you find the best possible friends you can in a world full of friendship possibilities.
Social scientists have also learned that, while there are some important gender differences in what people want in friends, it is not accurate to say that men and women want one kind of friendship over another. In fact, when we take a more holistic approach and considerbroader categorizations ofemotional closenessand tasks, the gender differences in these preferences are reduced. And of course, people don’t exclusively pick between face-to-face and side-by-side friendships. Instead, it is more likely that they focus on what they want from their friends and let these needs guide how friendships form.
Ultimately it’s your individual preferences that guide you toward the people who will best meet your particular social needs. With a little luck, you’ll find buddies who can lend a hand when you need one and support you in reaching your goals. In all, your preferences are the key to finding friends who can buffer against feeling lonely and provide you with the social, emotional and health benefits of friendship.
It’s hard to provide clear guidelines for improving friendships because the research about friendship preferences is still developing. But there are some clear points for consideration:
Determine what you value in friends. Do you want one-on-one, emotionally close friendships or multi-person, task-oriented friendships? Depending on your preference, different kinds of activities will be helpful for finding others who fit the bill and cultivating these friendships.
Know that it will take time to make close friendships. Research suggests that it takes 30 hours of interaction to make a casual friend, 140 hours to make a good friend and 300 hours to make a best friend.
Consider what you bring to the table. Everyone has unique strengths they bring to their friendships. Research shows that, when you’re able to demonstrate that you have characteristics people want in friends, you’re able to make more satisfying friendships.
Understand friendships to understand loneliness
Considering the nuances of friendship preferences will be extremely important in reducing not only loneliness, but other related public health crises. For example, loneliness is associated with likelihood of attempting suicide. Recent surveys have found that men are suffering big declines in the number of close friends they have, as well as experiencing higher rates of suicide compared to women.
The U.S. Surgeon General’s recent recommendations for fighting the loneliness epidemic focus on public policies and infrastructure. But fostering community spaces for connection – such as parks, libraries and playgrounds – prioritizes the preferences of those who favor the one-on-one, emotionally close and face-to-face connections more often preferred by women. These places are less beneficial for people with more typically masculine preferences, as there is no guarantee that these spaces will foster side-by-side, task-oriented connections unless areas for sports and other team-based activities are also included.
To counter this inequity, researchers and public health officials first need to understand what makes friendships satisfying. Then they can ensure that recommendations to curb loneliness address all of the pathways that people use to cultivate high-quality friendships.
With mpox cases on the rise across the state, the California Department of Public Health is encouraging all Californians, especially those at highest risk, to take preventive measures, including vaccination, to reduce the risk of severe illness.
Mpox is primarily spread through close, skin-to-skin contact with someone who has mpox.
“We are beginning to see an uptick in mpox cases across the state. With this, we are reminding and encouraging all Californians to be aware of the signs and symptoms of mpox and to take preventive measures, including vaccination, to protect against severe illness,” said CDPH Director and State Public Health Director Dr. Tomás J. Aragón. “Mpox began circulating in California in the spring of 2022, and while cases have been low since its initial emergence thanks to education and community vaccination efforts, mpox can seriously impact individuals who test positive."
Reported cases of mpox in California have increased to nearly 17 per week after averaging fewer than 7 cases per week in July and August.
On Oct. 30, CDPH issued a health alert to health care providers encouraging clinicians to remain vigilant in diagnosing and addressing mpox.
Vaccinate and Protect Against Mpox: Individuals at highest risk of getting mpox, especially people living with HIV, should get the two-dose JYNNEOS vaccine to lower the chance of severe disease.
California has ample vaccine supply, and anyone can visit to myturn.ca.gov to book an appointment or find an mpox walk-in clinic. It is important to talk to your health care provider to learn if vaccination is right for you.
People who have previously received only one JYNNEOS vaccine dose should complete their second dose as soon as possible.
Vaccination, when combined with other prevention measures, is the most effective way to reduce hospitalization, and death. Vaccination can also be given after an mpox exposure to prevent infection or decrease the severity of mpox illness if given as soon as possible within the first 14 days of exposure.
Who should get vaccinated: While anyone can get mpox and preventive measures should be taken by all, vaccines are recommended for those at highest risk.
Consider receiving a vaccine if:
• You had known or suspected exposure to someone with mpox; • You had a sex partner in the past two weeks who was diagnosed with mpox; • You are a gay, bisexual, or other man who has sex with men or a transgender, nonbinary, or gender-diverse person who in the past 6 months has had any of the following: 1) A new diagnosis of one or more sexually transmitted diseases (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis); • You have more than one sex partner; • You have had any of the following in the past 6 months: 1) Sex at a commercial sex venue (like a sex club or bath house), 2) Sex in connection with a large commercial event or in the San Francisco Bay Area or Los Angeles, where higher transmission is occurring, or 3) Sex in exchange for money or other items; • You have a sex partner with any of the above risks; • You anticipate experiencing any of the above scenarios; • You have HIV or other causes of immune suppression and have had recent or anticipate future risk of mpox exposure from any of the above scenarios; • You work in settings where you may be exposed to mpox, including working with orthopoxviruses in a laboratory;
In addition to vaccination, other prevention strategies include:
• Having open conversations with your sexual partner/s and health care provider about any recent illness or symptoms, any possible exposures to mpox, and being aware of new or unexplained sores or rashes on your body or your partner’s body, including on the genitals and anus. • Avoiding close contact, including hugging, kissing, cuddling, and sexual activity with people who have mpox and people who were exposed and are in their 21-day monitoring period. • Not sharing materials (bedding, towels, clothing, utensils, cups) with someone who has mpox. Washing your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. • Using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) like a mask, gown, and gloves when caring for others with mpox symptoms.
Know the signs and symptoms: Mpox can cause flu-like symptoms, and a distinct rash on the face, body, genitals, arms, and legs. Rash and sores may also be limited to one part of the body.
Symptoms can start three to 21 days after exposure. If you have symptoms of mpox, speak to a health care provider as soon as possible.
Contact your health care provider and seek treatment if sick: If you have symptoms, isolate from others as much as possible until symptoms have gone away. If you need to be around others and have mpox, completely cover sores and wear a well-fitting mask.
Contact a health care provider right away to get tested and learn about medication options. If you've been exposed or believe you have been exposed, reach out to a health care provider to ask about vaccination to prevent or reduce illness severity.
Additional data and resources: Mpox case and vaccination data for California is updated every other week and displayed on CDPH's mpox website.
In addition, CDPH offers a number of mpox resources and toolkits to help get the word out about mpox prevention.
From left, Woodland Community College president finalists are Dr. Monica Chahal, Dr. Lizette Navarette, Dr. Brian Sanders and Dr. James Todd. Courtesy photos. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — Yuba Community College District Chancellor Dr. Shouan Pan has announced the selection of four finalists for the position of Woodland Community College president.
Woodland Community College’s campuses include the Lake County Campus in Clearlake.
During an Oct. 23 listening session with community leaders in Clearlake, Dr. Pan said emphasized the importance of the college president role.
He said a nationwide search yielded 36 applicants, which were narrowed to 11 semifinalists.
The four finalists the district announced Wednesday were recommended to the chancellor by a diverse interview committee made up of faculty, staff and community members.
The Woodland Community College president finalists are, in alphabetical order, Dr. Monica Chahal, Dr. Lizette Navarette, Dr. Brian Sanders and Dr. James Todd.
Candidate forums will be held, in person, on Tuesday, Nov. 14.
Faculty, staff, students, and community members are invited to attend these forums to hear directly from each candidate.
Interviews for the candidates will also be conducted on Nov. 14, with a final decision expected soon after. The approval of an employment agreement by the board of trustees will follow.
The anticipated start date for the president is January 2024.
Short biographies of the finalists are below. More detailed biographies and additional information regarding the forums will be posted on the WCC website.
Dr. Monica Chahal
Dr. Monica Chahal is an experienced leader with a career spanning more than three decades in educational institutions, including the California Community College system.
Her work has been defined by her focus on equity, social justice and student success. Her lifelong commitment to students has led to a rewarding career as a classified professional, adjunct and full-time faculty, and administrator at Yuba College, Woodland Community College, and Clovis Community College.
In all these roles, she is most proud to have served alongside and worked collaboratively with others committed to excellence and innovation.
Dr. Lizette Navarette
Dr. Lizette Navarette is a passionate student-centered leader with nearly two decades of experience in higher education and local government.
As executive vice chancellor at the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, she leads the Office of Institutional Supports and Success which includes college finance, facilities planning, institutional effectiveness, and government relations.
She is responsible for formulating policies that determine the distribution of over $13 billion in local assistance and capital outlay funds to the state’s 73 community college districts, professional development which advances student success, and coordinating state and federal matters for the system.
From October 2022 to June 2023, Dr. Navarette served as interim deputy chancellor. She previously served as the vice chancellor of College Finance and Facilities Planning and was the first woman to hold that position.
Navarette has also served as the vice president of the Community College League of California, associate director of Regional Relations for the University of California Riverside and as the Youth & Education Coordinator for the city of Riverside.
Dr. Navarette has an extensive history championing student success, affordability and equitable educational opportunities for all students. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations from UC Riverside, a master’s degree in public administration from the University of La Verne and a doctorate in education from UC Davis.
In 2021, Dr. Navarette earned the United Nations Global Education for All award for her research on working adult learners.
Navarette is a proud first-generation graduate.
Dr. Brian Sanders
Dr. Brian Sanders is recognized across California’s community colleges for his leadership, innovation and extensive knowledge of the community college system.
He has served as a tenured mathematics faculty member, dean of a large division, interim chief business officer, and chief instructional officer for both Columbia College and Modesto Junior College.
His service on the executive board for the California Community Colleges Chief Instructional Officers and on statewide Chancellor’s Office committees has resulted in significant improvements for the community colleges.
On campus, he is known as a kind, creative problem-solver, collaborating with all constituent groups to develop and implement effective solutions to difficult challenges.
Dr. James Todd
Dr. James Todd has over 17 years experience working at California community colleges as a faculty member and as an executive administrator in academic and student affairs.
As a faculty member, he taught anthropology, while also serving as academic senate president and as an elected faculty representative on the statewide Executive Committee for the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges.
His faculty experience fostered a deep commitment to participatory governance, an inclusive style of educational leadership, and student equity and social justice efforts in education.
He is passionate about fostering access and meeting the needs of local communities, facilitating student success and completion, building public and private partnerships, and ensuring equitable post-graduation outcomes for students.
Over the last eight years, Todd has served as an executive administrator. He was the vice president of student services at Modesto Junior College, as well as the assistant superintendent and vice president of instruction and planning at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton.
He is currently the assistant superintendent and vice president of student services at Sierra College.
Todd completed Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in cultural anthropology at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
COBB, Calif. — A collaborative of fire professionals will be working together to conduct multiple cultural burns in the Cobb area this week.
These burns are taking place as part of the Lake County Cal-TREX, a prescribed and cultural fire training exchange led by the Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance, or TERA.
TERA is working in partnership with agencies, tribes and community organizations including Cal Fire, the US Forest Service and the Watershed Research and Training Center.
The goals of the burns are to reduce fuel loading, support capacity building and training around beneficial burning, improve the health of oak woodlands and grasslands, help native plants thrive, and enhance wildlife habitat.
These fully permitted burns will be conducted over two to three days depending on weather conditions and be led by a coalition of TERA and other Lake County Cal-TREX partners.
Ignitions may begin as early as 8 a.m. each day with firing operations concluding by late afternoon.
There is potential for some residual smoke overnight and into the following days.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The Clearlake City Council this week will discuss a potential rate increase by Golden State Water Co. that could see rates climb by nearly 41% over a three-year period.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
Comments and questions can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to City Clerk Melissa Swanson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
To give the council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments before 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2.
On the agenda is a planned discussion on Golden State Water Co.’s general rate case application to the California Public Utilities. Utilities regulated by the CPUC must file such cases every three years.
City Manager Alan Flora’s report to the council explained that Golden State filed the proceeding on Aug. 14.
It seeks authorization to increase rates overall by 22.95% or $87,060,700) in 2025, 4.42% or $20,699,200 in 2026 and 4.57% or $22,408,200 in 2027.
“Within the Clearlake area two options are proposed. The first is for a consolidation of the Arden Cordova and Clearlake districts for ratemaking purposes. Under this scenario, the Clearlake rates would be frozen for a transition period and then a single combined set of rates would be established,” Flora said in his written report.
The report continued, “If this request is not approved by the CPUC, the rates in Clearlake would be increased by a total of 40.72% over the three year period, or 22.66% (or $649,800) in 2025, 8.91% (or $316,800) in 2026 and 9.17% (or $357,000) in 2027. Each amount is an increase over the prior year’s rate, which would result in over a 40% increase from today’s rates. The request follows a +30% increase authorized in 2020.”
Flora said the city can provide public comment, and/or become a party to the proceeding. “This would include filing a motion to become a party to the proceeding.”
In other business, the council will consider adopting an employee home loan assistance program.
On the meeting's consent agenda — items that are considered routine in nature and usually adopted on a single vote — are warrants and City Council minutes; Resolution 2023-45 approving a temporary street closure for the annual Christmas Parade and tree lighting on Dec. 2; adoption of the second amendment to the agreement between the city of Clearlake, city of Lakeport and county of Lake for operation of a local public, educational, governmental, or PEG, cable television channel; and a memo regarding holiday closures of City Hall administration office.
The council also will hold a closed session discussion regarding the liability claim of Alan Mangels against the city.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LOWER LAKE, Calif. — The Lake County Fire Protection Agency along with the California Department Parks and Recreation’s Northern Buttes District will be conducting a prescribed burn operation beginning as early as Thursday, Nov. 2, and potentially continuing through Saturday, Nov. 4, weather permitting.
The proposed prescribed burn includes 50 acres of non-native grasslands along Highway 53 and Anderson Ranch Parkway near Lower.
Smoke from the burn should be limited in duration; however, it will be noticeable.
The burning will take place only during the day. It’s anticipated that the smoke will travel west to east.
With assistance from the California Highway Patrol and the California Department of Transportation, traffic will be controlled and motorists advised of the control burn.
The prescribed burn will reduce accumulated flashy fuel thatch adjacent to Highway 53, restore fire to the landscape, reduce invasive plant cover and promote native plant regeneration and provide live fire training for fire personnel in a controlled manner.
The California Highway Patrol recently received federal funding to bolster the state’s redoubled efforts to help reduce reckless driving behaviors statewide and crack down on the alarming rise of illegal sideshows, takeovers, and street racing.
The $2 million Sideshow, Takeover, Racing, Education, and Enforcement Taskforce, or STREET II, grant aims to decrease the number of fatal and injury traffic crashes caused by these illegal and dangerous high-speed activities.
The grant builds on the CHP’s recent work, including $5.5 million in the 2022-23 state budget specifically targeted to curb street racing and sideshows, to continue a public education campaign and specialized enforcement operations.
“Illegal street racing and sideshows are not just reckless activities; they are potential tragedies in the making. These events put lives at risk, not only for the participants but also for innocent bystanders,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “The STREET II grant will enhance community outreach efforts and enforcement measures to protect the safety and well-being of California’s communities and ensure our roadways remain safe for everyone.”
In 2021, the CHP responded to more than 7,300 incidents of illegal sideshows statewide with nearly 123,000 participants.
While the number of incidents decreased by approximately 50% last year, there is still a significant amount of work to be done to keep California’s communities, and those who use our roads, safe.
The number of incidents resulting from unsafe driving behaviors, including motorists exceeding 100 mph on state highways, illegal street racing and sideshow activities, and speed-related crashes are occurring at a staggering pace.
Between Jan. 1, 2022, and July 31, 2023, enhanced speed enforcement operations were carried out on state routes experiencing a surge in speed-related problems. During this period, the CHP issued more than 31,000 citations to motorists for exceeding 100 mph.
The CHP, in collaboration with allied agencies, also established task forces targeting street racing and sideshows, along with launching social media campaigns aimed at raising awareness about the perils linked to high-speed, aggressive driving behaviors and street racing.
The STREET II grant supports a comparable yearlong campaign through Sept. 30, 2024.
Funding for the STREET II program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The county of Lake has hired a new staffer to focus on housing-related priorities.
Lisa Judd began work in the County Administrative Office on Monday.
The county said Judd will immediately begin work toward creation of a housing strategic plan, to enable orderly progress on priorities ranging from very low-income through workforce — 130% of the Area Median Income, or AMI — housing.
Multiple factors have severely affected Lake County’s housing supply in recent years.
Since 2015, more than two-thirds of Lake County’s landmass has burned, and along with is more than 5.5% of the housing supply.
Concurrent inflation in building materials and high regional demand in the construction trades complicated recovery from these events.
Rental costs have markedly increased in recent years, and no housing category has been unaffected.
Low-income housing availability is not sufficient, and when professionals across medical, educational, local government and other fields consider relocating to Lake County, good candidates are too frequently lost because they are unable to find an agreeable housing situation.
“Lisa’s range of housing-specific and fiscal experiences have well prepared her to move Lake County’s housing programs forward,” said County Administrative Officer Susan Parker. “She most recently served in leadership roles for Rural Communities Housing Development Corporation and Community Development Commission of Mendocino County, and has 18-plus years of experience in finance-focused and accounting roles. We are very excited she has decided to continue her housing-focused work with the county of Lake.”
Judd also holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from California Polytechnic State University, in San Luis Obispo, and has additionally taken targeted training courses — including property management, use of tax credits to promote housing development, and regulatory-focused courses — that county officials said will bring new insight and capacities to county housing programs.
“I look forward to working closely with the Administration team, Community Development Director, Mireya Turner, and others to quickly begin to act on community housing needs,” said Judd. “We look forward to bringing additional funding and opportunity to Lake County’s communities. Through CAO Parker’s leadership, there are many building blocks already in place. With support from community partners, we can make real progress.”
The Not Invisible Act Commission, a cross jurisdictional advisory committee composed of law enforcement, tribal leaders, federal partners, service providers, family members of missing and murdered individuals, and survivors, on Wednesday transmitted its congressionally mandated recommendations to the Department of the Interior, Department of Justice and U.S. Congress. Federal responses to the Commission’s recommendations are due within 90 calendar days.
The commission was created by the Not Invisible Act, led by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland during her time in Congress.
Its mandate was to develop recommendations on actions the federal government can take on six focused topics to help combat violent crime against Indigenous people and within Indian lands, and to address the epidemic of missing persons, murder and trafficking of American Indian and Alaska Native peoples, as specified under the law.
“I am so grateful to the members of the Not Invisible Act Commission for the time and effort they have given to this work and this report over the past two years. Indian Country will be safer, and lives will be saved, because of this Commission’s work,” said Secretary Haaland. “Everyone deserves to feel safe in their community. Crimes against Indigenous peoples have long been underfunded and ignored, rooted in the deep history of intergenerational trauma that has affected our communities since colonization. I look forward to reviewing the recommendations, which will help us continue to galvanize attention and resources toward these tragic epidemics.”
“These recommendations will play an important role in our shared work to address the violence Tribal communities face,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I am grateful to the Commissioners for approaching this critical and difficult work with the urgency and thoughtfulness it deserves. The Justice Department is committed to working with the Department of Interior, Congress, and our state, local, and Tribal partners to address the Commission’s recommendations and respond to the public safety challenges facing American Indians and Alaska Natives.”
The Departments will carefully consider the NIAC’s recommendations, which will help further the Biden-Harris administration’s work to advance and invest in public safety in Indian Country.
At the 2021 White House Tribal Nations Summit, President Biden signed Executive Order 14053 on Improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and Addressing the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People directing the Departments of the Interior, Justice and Health and Human Services to work with tribal nations and partners to build safe and healthy Tribal communities and to support comprehensive law enforcement, prevention, intervention and support services.
Last year, the president signed the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 into law, which built on advancements from previous reauthorizations and included new provisions to address the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples across the country and re-enforced tribal sovereignty by providing means for tribes to address the epidemic of violence within their lands and communities.
At the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit, the Interior Department’s Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced an agreement to provide for the effective and efficient administration of criminal investigations in Indian Country.
The agreement specified that the BIA Office of Justice Services, or BIA-OJS, and the FBI would cooperate on investigations and share information and investigative reports as well as establish written guidelines outlining jurisdiction and investigative roles and responsibilities.
The agreement also requires that all BIA, FBI and Tribal law enforcement officers receive training regarding trauma-informed, culturally responsive investigative approaches.
Secretary Haaland has traveled throughout the nation and internationally to highlight the need for coordination and collaboration on issues related to violence against Indigenous peoples. Within the first 100 days of the Biden-Harris administration, Secretary Haaland created a new Missing and Murdered Unit within the BIA-OJS, which is providing leadership and direction for cross-departmental and interagency work involving missing and murdered Indigenous peoples.
The Not Invisible Act Commission’s recommendations will inform the Department’s efforts to evolve the MMU to address gaps within law enforcement agencies and across the federal government.
Last week, Attorney General Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco, and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta met with the Tribal Nations Leadership Council, including a council member who serves as a commissioner on the Not Invisible Act Commission, and discussed a range of pressing issues impacting American Indian and Alaska Native people.
Attorney General Garland traveled to Alaska in August, during which he visited Anchorage and the Village of Galena. Attorney General Garland met with tribal leaders and advocates to discuss the public safety challenges that Alaska Native individuals and communities face, including the Justice Department’s continuing to work in partnership with tribal communities to address the MMIP crisis.
In the past year, Associate Attorney General Gupta has held meetings with tribal and Native leaders in Minnesota and Alaska.
This month in Alaska, the Associate Attorney General spoke at the Alaska Federation of Natives annual convention to announce the launch of the Alaska Pilot Program, which empowers Tribes to exercise criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians present in their Villages for certain crimes.
Since the establishment of the NIAC in 2020, the Justice Department has made strides in implementing systems aimed at preventing new instances of MMIP, locating individuals who are reported missing, and, where a crime has occurred, investigating and prosecuting those responsible.
Earlier this summer, the Department launched a MMIP Regional Outreach Program. This program places attorneys and coordinators at U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the United States to help prevent and respond to cases of missing or murdered Indigenous people.
In response to record numbers of visitors, a national and digital edu-tainment campaign is expanding in California and throughout the West with the goal of inspiring safe and respectful visits to public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
Through a series of cheeky yet earnest videos, social content and website resources, the “Respect. Connect. Protect” campaign showcases Spokespebble who deeply cares about protecting nature, keeping people safe and helping them plan visits to these more remote, rugged and sensitive landscapes.
The campaign is designed to speak to the next generation of visitors — especially Gen Z and Millennials — who are passionate about protecting natural resources and know how to influence the culture at large.
More than 13 million people visited lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management in 2022 in California; and there are more than 170 National Conservation Land Units including seven national monuments, 92 Wilderness areas and four National Scenic and Historic Trails in the state.
“Record numbers of visitors continue to venture into California public lands managed by the BLM beyond and between national parks, and there is currently no other large-scale collaborative effort that addresses the safety and other considerations specific to them,” said Kris Deutschman, senior communications director for the Conservation Lands Foundation.
“We’re introducing Spokespebble as a voice for these public lands where more planning and preparation is needed to visit safely and in ways that respect the natural environment so that everyone else can enjoy them too. There’s unlikely to be cell coverage, water stations or rangers to help in many of these remote areas. Lack of awareness and preparation leads to people getting lost, stranded or worse, plus it can lead to degradation of essential wildlife habitats, Indigenous sacred sites and water sources,” said Deutschman.
The national campaign is sponsored by the Conservation Lands Foundation, the nation’s only non-profit organization focused on protecting and expanding National Conservation Lands and other public lands managed by BLM.
In collaboration with the BLM, campaign partners include: Leave No Trace, Tread Lightly, the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division and 40 community-led public land advocacy nonprofits throughout the West.
The digital-first campaign seeks to empower visitors with practical tips on how to stay safe and protect the natural beauty as well as act respectfully and responsibly whether hiking, fishing, camping, OHVing and other activities on these more remote public lands.
The national expansion of the campaign follows on the heels of a highly-successful limited introduction during the Spring. Find videos and resources at www.respectconnectprotect.org.
State Fire Marshal Chief Daniel Berlant. Photo courtesy of Cal Fire. Gov. Gavin Newsom has appointed a new state fire marshal.
Chief Daniel Berlant of Auburn has been appointed state fire marshal with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.
Berlant began his career with Cal Fire in 2001 as a volunteer and was hired in 2002 in the Fire Prevention Bureau of the Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit.
In 2005, he began working in the Cal Fire Communications Office as a fire prevention specialist in Sacramento.
After several fire sieges and extensive work in the public information function, he was promoted in 2008 to department information officer and was tasked with serving as Cal Fire’s main spokesperson.
In 2014, he was promoted to the chief of public information overseeing the Sacramento and region staff of the Communications Office.
In 2016, Chief Berlant was promoted to assistant deputy director at the Office of the State Fire Marshal over the Wildfire Planning & Engineering, and Fire Engineering & Investigations Divisions.
Cal Fire said Assembly Bill 9 (2021) created the Community Wildfire Preparedness and Mitigation Division within the Office State Fire Marshal.
The division will be responsible for the policy and program leadership for defensible space, home hardening/WUI building codes, land use planning, fire prevention grants, pre-fire/fire plan, utility wildfire mitigation, fire hazard/risk mapping, and incident reporting.
In addition, Chief Berlant will continue oversight of the OSFM Fire Engineering & Investigations Division responsible for fire protection related licensing/certification, arson and bomb, and fireworks enforcement/disposal.
Berlant earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from the University of California, Davis.
This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $203,564.
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