CONCORD
Democratic U.S. Reps. Mark DeSaulnier, Harmony; Eleanor Holmes Norton, Washington, D.C.; and Jamie Raskin, Maryland; on Friday reintroduced two items of laws aimed toward supporting and preserving native journalism to maintain communities knowledgeable, preserve authorities accountability and shield American democracy.
The Saving Native Information Act (H.R. 7306) would make turning into nonprofits simpler for print and on-line information retailers, letting them focus extra on producing high quality content material moderately than maximizing income.
The native information decision (H.Res. 1005) acknowledges the significance of native media retailers to society and expresses the pressing want for Congress to take motion to assist forestall their decline. Reintroduction of this laws comes as newsrooms throughout the nation from the Los Angeles Instances to the Wall Avenue Journal are being decimated.
“From informing the voters to holding energy to account, and not using a flourishing free press there is no such thing as a American democracy,” mentioned DeSaulnier. “If retailers as giant because the L.A. Instances are struggling, it’s no surprise that native papers throughout the nation are being purchased up and brought over by giant companies and dismantled in document numbers.
“I’m proud to once more introduce this laws that might acknowledge and shield native journalism as the general public good it’s so Individuals in each group throughout the nation have entry to the information they want.”
Based on the Pew Analysis Heart, weekday print newspaper circulation fell 13% in 2022 from the earlier yr, and in response to Northwestern College, the nation has misplaced nearly 2,900 newspapers since 2005, together with greater than 130 confirmed closings or mergers over the previous yr.
To answer this disturbing development, DeSaulnier established a working group of devoted Congressmembers from areas notably affected by a drought of high-quality journalism. Collectively they’ve labored to carry consciousness to this disaster and the necessity to promote native journalism.
DeSaulnier’s invoice and determination are supported by Free Press Motion, Native Unbiased On-line Information (LION) Publishers, PEN America, the Heart for Journalism and Liberty on the Open Markets Institute, NewsGuild-CWA, the Affiliation of Different Newsmedia and the Nationwide Newspaper Affiliation. For extra particulars on-line, go to bit.ly/3IfiWGN.
— U.S. Rep. DeSaulnier’s workplace
BRENTWOOD
Financial institution basis donates Chromebooks to high school district
College students within the Brentwood Union Faculty District will enhance their possibilities to find extra instructional experiences via use of their new Google Chromebooks, because of the Fremont Financial institution Basis.
“College students be taught via all totally different pathways, and the Chromebooks supply situations for larger journey via schooling,” mentioned Brian Hughes, the Fremont Financial institution Basis’s president and government director and Fremont Financial institution’s government vp.
The district has about 10,000 college students, and youth in grades two via eight are supplied with a Chromebook. Regular put on and tear on the units proved difficult for the district to maintain up with their substitute prices. Fremont Financial institution Basis’s $50,000 donation let the district purchase 150 extra Chromebooks.
“The training alternatives for college kids have been great,” mentioned Dana Eaton, Ed.D., the Brentwood Union Faculty District’s superintendent. “Entry to the Chromebooks has expanded pc science choices district-wide, and now we see college students coding at a lot youthful ages.”
— Fremont Financial institution Basis
CLAYTON
Development begins on metropolis’s new infrastructure program
Officers with the town of Clayton are comfortable to announce launching of the development section of the town’s new Complete Infrastructure Renewal and Basic Fund Financial savings Program.
Confronted with growing old infrastructure and restricted staffing, the town developed this program to advance conservation efforts, fight PG&E price will increase and supply workers assist by way of expertise enhancements.
“Our vitality program is basically transferring the needle on our fiscal and environmental priorities. Clayton’s infrastructure is within the strategy of turning into smarter, safer and extra environment friendly, and that affect has a ripple impact throughout our group,” mentioned Metropolis Supervisor Bret Prebula.
Funding for the initiative comes primarily from a $1.9 million California Power Fee 1% mortgage via the Power Conservation Help Act, in addition to lower than $150,000 in federal COVID-19 pandemic American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
The enhancements goal core areas of Clayton’s infrastructure wants: lighting; water; HVAC and constructing automation techniques; electrical car charging and solar energy. All modernizations are anticipated to drastically cut back vitality consumption and upkeep and operations wants, leading to financial savings for years to come back.
New LED lights are deliberate to quickly change avenue, pathway and constructing lighting, enhancing public security across the metropolis after hours. The LED system plugs into a contemporary dashboard that permits metropolis workers to watch the lights remotely, making it sooner than ever to determine and restore outages. The town’s new sensible irrigation system will characteristic the same dashboard, monitoring on main leaks and lowering water waste within the occasion of a break.
The town’s incoming HVAC modernizations enhance air high quality and occupancy consolation, whereas complementary constructing automation techniques make sure the HVAC system maintains the identical temperature in services. Occupancy sensors routinely flip off indoor lighting when services aren’t getting used.
“We imagine that actions communicate louder than phrases,” mentioned Mayor Jim Diaz. “By progressing with this infrastructure renewal program, we reaffirm our dedication to constructing a future for generations of Claytonians.”
— Tripepi Smith
WALNUT CREEK
Neighborhood Arts Basis seeks new board members
Are you captivated with fostering creativity and guaranteeing that everybody, no matter monetary constraints, has entry to the enriching world of arts schooling?
Take into account turning into a board member for the Neighborhood Arts Basis (CAF) in Walnut Creek, and assist the group increase funds to supply scholarships to college students of all ages on the Heart for Neighborhood Arts in Contra Costa County.
Lots of the CAF’s recipients are designated on the “extraordinarily low revenue degree.” As a board member, you’ll actively assist the group meet the necessity for arts scholarship funding, however your affect will prolong past elevating funds to the extra advantages of bringing arts consciousness, advocacy and humanities accessibility to your entire county.
The CAF is on the lookout for people with expertise in fundraising, in addition to these with advertising and social media expertise. Above all, they welcome voices and views from all backgrounds.
For extra info and to use, contact Cole Portocarrero, the CAF’s the event director, at [email protected] or go to commartsfoundation.org on-line.
— CAF
PITTSBURG
Touch upon renewable hydrogen mission till March 6
HC (Contra Costa) LLC, is proposing the development and operation of a renewable hydrogen facility in Pittsburg that might use sorted waste supplies as feedstock in a noncombustion thermal conversion course of.
The mission web site is on a 20-acre portion of the property at 901 Loveridge Street in Pittsburg, a couple of mile northeast of the Pittsburg-Antioch Freeway’s intersection with Loveridge Street. Written public feedback on the draft environmental affect report (EIR) for the H Cycle Pittsburg Renewable Hydrogen Challenge are being accepted now via 5 p.m. March 6.
The town of Pittsburg, appearing because the lead company for the proposed mission, will maintain two public conferences Feb. 15 to simply accept feedback on the report, one on-line by way of Zoom at 11 a.m. and one in-person at 6 p.m. in Pittsburg Metropolis Corridor. For extra particulars on-line, go to bit.ly/4blljFb.
— The East Bay 100
ANTIOCH
$60K raised for furnishings, expertise upgrades at library
The board of administrators of the group Mates of the Antioch Library (FOAL) introduced a $60,000 donation for Antioch Library furnishings and expertise upgrades throughout the metropolis’s Jan. 23 council assembly.
Since its inception, FOAL has raised some $700,000 for library enhancements via Amazon uncommon ebook choices, used ebook gross sales, foyer journal purchases, property presents and membership dues.
— Walter Ruehlig
CONCORD
Volunteers sought to show English as a second language
The Harmony-based Diablo Valley Literacy Council is in search of volunteer tutors to show English as a second language, and the group’s subsequent tutor orientations are March 2 and 9. English needn’t be tutors’ first language, and no educating expertise is required.
The March 2 orientation shall be on-line from 10 a.m. to midday by way of Zoom, and the March 9 orientation shall be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m in-person in Harmony’s Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at 4000 Clayton Street. Volunteer tutors should attend each classes, and $20 covers coaching supplies together with 2024 membership dues and ongoing assist.
Grownup volunteers usually give one or two hours per week. Register on-line at dvlc4esl.org. For extra info, go away a message at 925-685-3881 or [email protected].
— DVLC
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Free revenue tax preparation obtainable to eligible residents
The AARP Basis Tax-Aide program is once more providing free revenue tax preparation this yr, offering IRS-certified tax counselors for native Contra Costa County residents. The service is obtainable to individuals of all ages with restricted to average revenue, with particular consideration given to these age 50 or older.
For normal info, name 925-726-3199. The tax preparation service shall be obtainable on the places listed under, the place these can name the site-specific telephone numbers listed to make an appointment.
Listed here are the places: Harmony Library, 925-471-5686; Harmony Senior Heart, 925-671-3320; the Danville Veterans Memorial Constructing of San Ramon Valley, 925-272-0902; Lafayette Library, 925-385-2280; Martinez Senior Heart, 925-370-8770; Pacheco Neighborhood Heart, 925-276-2590; Nice Hill Hillcrest Congregational Church, 925-289-9790; San Ramon Senior Heart, 925-973-3250; Walnut Creek — Rossmoor, Hillside Clubhouse, Vista Room (appointments made on-site at this location.)
— AARP Basis Tax-Aide
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