California

Ventura County CA Wildland Fire Burns 44 Sq Miles, Pictures

Submitted by News Desk 2 on Sun, 05/05/2013 - 19:29

The massive wildland fire burning in Ventura County CA has now consumed more than 44 square miles with over 4,000 firefighter battling the Corral blaze and Spring Fire. Officials say the Spring Fire is now 60% contained and expect to make more progress as cooler moist air is expected.

As progress continues, authorities have lifted all remaining evacuation orders for residences in the area.

"We've really transitioned from a fire attack to a mop-up patrol," Nick Schuler, battalion chief for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, told the Ventura County Star.

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Firefighters In California Expecting Help From The Weather In Southern California Wildfires

Submitted by News Desk 2 on Sat, 05/04/2013 - 10:47

The wildfires in California have nearly tripled in size but relief is expected with a shift in weather on Saturday. The fires epicenter is 50 miles northwest of Los Angeles encompasses 43 square miles endangering homes. Over 900 fire fighters have been battling the blaze with only a dozen or so homes damaged and no injuries.

This latest fire is among 680 fires that have been battled this year. This is over 200 more than average. The increase is being blamed on unusual weather patterns. The Santa Ana winds helped spread fires while dry conditions and low humidity created more fuel.

California Wildland Fire Burns 15 Square Mile Path To Pacific Ocean

Submitted by News Desk 2 on Fri, 05/03/2013 - 10:13

Los Angeles, CA -

A wildland fire that has been burning in Ventura County has now burned more than 15 square miles and is making its way through canyons towards the Pacific Ocean.

So far, 15 homes have been damaged and evacuations have forced thousands from their homes as the fire continues.

Fire officials have said the fire could flare back up, and they are not yet in control of the fire.

High winds and hot temperatures are expected to make for another hard day of firefighting according to CalFire.

[image: wildland fire approaching chemical tanks in Ventura County, AP]

Republican Congressman Calls Hispanics/Latinos "Wetbacks" During Interview

Submitted by News Desk 2 on Fri, 03/29/2013 - 14:59

Rep. Don Young (Alaska) came under criticism after referring to Hispanics and Latinos as "wetbacks" during an interview with a local Alaskan radio station, KRBD.

When speaking about the use of migrant workers, Young said, "I used to own -- my father had a ranch. We used to hire 50 to 60 wetbacks to pick tomatoes," he said. "You know, it takes two people to pick the same tomatoes now."

When asked later about his comment later, Young did not apologize and said that he was just using a term from the bygone days when he lived in central California.

California Chef Killed Wife And Cooked Her Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison

Submitted by Leo on Sat, 03/23/2013 - 12:46

A former chef who killed his wife and cooked her remains was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Friday. California man David Robert Viens was convicted of second degree murder in the death of his wife Dawn in 2009.

Viens says that he had his wife had argued so he ducted taped her mouth, hands, and feet to keep her from going out and driving intoxicated. The next morning he discovered her dead and started the process to cook her remains.

Ex-LAPD Officer Chris Dorner's Died By Self-Inflicted Gun Shot

Submitted by News Desk 3 on Sat, 02/16/2013 - 13:17

Authorities in San Bernardino California have released the autopsy results on EX-Los Angeles Police Officer Chris Dorner. The cause of his death was a self –inflicted gunshot to the head.

Dorners death ended after a standoff with law enforcement in which tear gas was shot into a cabin he held himself in. The tear gas set the cabin on fire completely destroying it.

Facebook Announces New Changes, Including "Graph Search"

Submitted by News Desk 2 on Tue, 01/15/2013 - 17:00

In a public announcement to the media, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced updates and changed to Facebook, including "Graph Search", a new search tool that will run inside of Facebook.

The new tool was said to deliver answers, not links anymore, and is rated by relevance based on how much you interact with someone else on Facebook. Zuckerberg pointed out that the new tool is "privacy-aware", but skeptics were quick to point out that so were other previous changes that ended up undoing a user's privacy settings and spilling the beans to the world.

California Court Convicts 10 Year-Old Boy Of Killing Neo-Nazi Father

Submitted by News Desk 2 on Mon, 01/14/2013 - 15:55

Riverside County, CA -

A California Court has convicted a now 12-year-old boy for the killing of his Neo-Nazi father, Jeff Hall (32), when the boy shot him at point blank range while Hall was sleeping on the couch. The boy was 10 when the incident happened.

The defense argued that the boy did not know what he was doing, and was subject to repeated physical and mental abuse.

Another School Shooting, This Time At A Taft California High School

Submitted by News Desk 2 on Thu, 01/10/2013 - 17:46

Taft, CA -

There has been another school shooting, this time at the Taft Union High School in Taft, CA, about 120 miles north of Los Angeles in Kern County. At least one student was shot and police have arrested the suspect, also a student at the school.

There are reports of a second student that suffered some type of a minor injury but refused treatment, although this has not yet been confirmed.

U.S. And Mexico Sign New Colorado River Water Treaty And Sharing Rights

Submitted by News Desk 2 on Tue, 11/20/2012 - 15:38

The United Stated and Colorado have signed a new five year water recourse agreement that covers the waters that come from the Colorado River and Lake Mead.

Under the new agreement, it gives Mexico the right to put some of its water in Lake Mead for storage. Also part of the deal, Mexico will receive more water rights to use as the reserve levels are higher but will forfeit some water when drought conditions drop the water reserve levels.

The agreement also spells out that water utility agencies in California, Arizona and Nevada can buy water from Mexico.