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 geared 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 changing into nonprofits simpler for print and on-line information shops, letting them focus extra on producing high quality content material reasonably than maximizing income.
The native information decision (H.Res. 1005) acknowledges the significance of native media shops to society and expresses the pressing want for Congress to take motion to assist stop their decline. Reintroduction of this laws comes as newsrooms throughout the nation from the Los Angeles Occasions to the Wall Road Journal are being decimated.
“From informing the citizens to holding energy to account, and not using a flourishing free press there isn’t a American democracy,” stated DeSaulnier. “If shops as giant because the L.A. Occasions are struggling, it’s no surprise that native papers throughout the nation are being purchased up and brought over by giant firms and dismantled in report 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.”
In accordance with the Pew Analysis Heart, weekday print newspaper circulation fell 13% in 2022 from the earlier yr, and in line with Northwestern College, the nation has misplaced virtually 2,900 newspapers since 2005, together with greater than 130 confirmed closings or mergers over the previous yr.
To reply to 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 deliver consciousness to this disaster and the necessity to promote native journalism.
DeSaulnier’s invoice and determination are supported by Free Press Motion, Native Impartial 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 highschool district
College students within the Brentwood Union College 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 study via all completely different pathways, and the Chromebooks provide situations for higher journey via schooling,” stated Brian Hughes, the Fremont Financial institution Basis’s president and govt director and Fremont Financial institution’s govt vice chairman.
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 educational alternatives for college students have been super,” stated Dana Eaton, Ed.D., the Brentwood Union College 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 town of Clayton are completely satisfied to announce launching of the development part of town’s new Complete Infrastructure Renewal and Common Fund Financial savings Program.
Confronted with getting older infrastructure and restricted staffing, town developed this program to advance conservation efforts, fight PG&E fee will increase and supply employees assist by way of know-how enhancements.
“Our vitality program is basically shifting the needle on our fiscal and environmental priorities. Clayton’s infrastructure is within the means of changing into smarter, safer and extra environment friendly, and that influence has a ripple impact throughout our group,” stated 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 automobile 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 enables metropolis employees to watch the lights remotely, making it sooner than ever to determine and restore outages. Town’s new good irrigation system will characteristic the same dashboard, monitoring on main leaks and decreasing water waste within the occasion of a break.
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 amenities. Occupancy sensors routinely flip off indoor lighting when amenities aren’t getting used.
“We imagine that actions communicate louder than phrases,” stated 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
Group Arts Basis seeks new board members
Are you enthusiastic about fostering creativity and guaranteeing that everybody, no matter monetary constraints, has entry to the enriching world of arts schooling?
Take into account changing into a board member for the Group Arts Basis (CAF) in Walnut Creek, and assist the group elevate funds to offer scholarships to college students of all ages on the Heart for Group Arts in Contra Costa County.
Lots of the CAF’s recipients are designated on the “extraordinarily low revenue stage.” As a board member, you’ll actively assist the group meet the necessity for arts scholarship funding, however your influence will lengthen past elevating funds to the extra advantages of bringing arts consciousness, advocacy and humanities accessibility to your entire county.
The CAF is searching 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 data 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 few mile northeast of the Pittsburg-Antioch Freeway’s intersection with Loveridge Street. Written public feedback on the draft environmental influence report (EIR) for the H Cycle Pittsburg Renewable Hydrogen Mission are being accepted now via 5 p.m. March 6.
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, know-how upgrades at library
The board of administrators of the group Pals of the Antioch Library (FOAL) introduced a $60,000 donation for Antioch Library furnishings and know-how 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 items 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 might be on-line from 10 a.m. to midday by way of Zoom, and the March 9 orientation might 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 sometimes give one or two hours per week. Register on-line at dvlc4esl.org. For extra data, 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 folks of all ages with restricted to average revenue, with particular consideration given to these age 50 or older.
For normal data, name 925-726-3199. The tax preparation service might be obtainable on the areas listed under, the place these can name the site-specific cellphone numbers listed to make an appointment.
Listed below are the areas: 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 Group 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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