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RELEASE: Students Advocate in Support of AB 963 - Student Civic and Voter Empowerment Act Advances to Senate Appropriations Friday

SACRAMENTO — Students from all across California traveled to Sacramento Tuesday, August 27, 2019, to ask the Senate Appropriations Committee to support Assembly Bill 963, the Student Civic and Voter Empowerment Act. By establishing Civic and Voter Empowerment Coordinators, AB 963 will provide California Universities and Colleges with the necessary tools to increase civic engagement and participation in democracy among young voters.

DAILY PILOT: Stretch of 55 Freeway will be named for late Costa Mesa fire captain

Excerpted from Los Angeles Times

By Hillary Davis

A 5-mile stretch of the 55 Freeway running through Costa Mesa will be named in honor of a city fire captain who died last year after being struck by an allegedly impaired driver.

The newly designated “Costa Mesa Fire Captain Michael Kreza Memorial Highway” will run from 19th Street to MacArthur Boulevard, thanks to a resolution the state Senate and Assembly passed this month.

ADVISORY: Oversight Hearing - Joint Hearing with Assembly Health Committee to Discuss Mental Health Funds

SACRAMENTO – As Chair of the Accountability & Administrative Review, Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris is holding oversight hearings to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent effectively. On August 21st, the Assemblywoman will convene an oversight hearing with the Assembly Health Committee to examine the effective use of funding from the Mental Health Services Act, also known as Prop 63.

LOS ANGELES TIMES: Orange County OKs funds for aircraft to monitor and help predict wildfires’ spread

Excerpted from Los Angeles Times

By Daniel Langhorne

The Orange County Board of Supervisors accepted a $4.5-million state grant Tuesday that will fund a 150-day pilot program for a fixed-wing aircraft that will monitor area wildfires, providing incident commanders with real-time information on fire conditions.

The Orange County Fire Authority will oversee operation of the dual-prop plane, which will be flown by a contractor, Courtney Aviation.

LOS ANGELES TIMES: California ethnic studies must add lessons on Jewish Americans and anti-Semitism, schools chief says

Excerpted from Los Angeles Times

By Nina Agrawal

The Jewish experience in America, including teachings about anti-Semitism, must be included in California’s new ethnic studies curriculum, the state schools chief said Wednesday, following sharp criticism of the draft by many Jewish groups and an announcement by top education leaders that it “falls short” and will undergo substantial revisions.

RELEASE: Climate Resiliency Bill Approved by the Legislature-- AB 1011 Incentivizes Habitat Restoration Projects to Protect the California Coast

SACRAMENTO – In an effort to incentivize nonprofits to undertake projects that provide habitat restoration and improved public access to coastal resources, Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D–Laguna Beach) is working with the Coastal Commission on AB 1011 to provide fee-waivers to nonprofits. This legislation was unanimously approved by the Senate (39-0) and is now headed to the Governor’s desk for signature.