Written by Denise Davis, CalChamber SACRAMENTO — The California Chamber of Commerce has released the list of new employment laws scheduled to take effect in 2018 or beyond that will have an impact on businesses in California. Employers must be aware of significant changes in key areas, such as a small business parental leave law and new hiring restrictions. Other ...

VALLEJO – The U.S. Forest Service has announced that an additional 27 million trees, mostly conifers, died throughout California since November 2016, bringing the total number of trees that have died due to drought and bark beetles to an historic 129 million on 8.9 million acres. These dead trees continue to pose a hazard to people and critical infrastructure, mostly ...

NORTH FORK – Sierra National Forest engineers recently awarded a contract to repair damage to Minarets Road, also known as Mammoth Pool Road and Forest Road 4S81. This construction project was scheduled to start today Monday Dec. 11, however, due to a delay in receiving construction materials, the contractor in coordination with Forest Engineers has rescheduled the start date. Minarets ...

BASS LAKE – A father and son who were forced from their home in the Shadow Hills area of Southern California by the Creek Fire, retreated to their vacation home near Bass Lake. However, tonight that home was completely destroyed by fire. Just after 9:30 p.m., the homeowner noticed smoke in the attic area and called 911. The first engine ...

BASS LAKE — Two North Fork men arrested following a violent home invasion robbery in Bass Lake Annex on Nov. 18 appeared in Bass Lake Superior Court on Thursday, Dec. 7, for a scheduled preliminary hearing. Ray Coleman, who turned 24 on the day of his court appearance, and Alvin McDonald III, 18, are charged with attempted murder, strong-arm robbery, ...

MARIPOSA — More than 90 personnel from the Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit (MMU) of Cal Fire have been sent to Southern California to assist with the massive firefighting efforts. They join the ranks of more than 5,700 firefighters currently on the front lines as six major wildfires continue their devastation from Ventura to San Diego County, forcing nearly 200,000 people from their ...

MADERA COUNTY — The Fresno and Madera County Sheriff’s Offices are investigating a series of shootings on public roadways in both Madera and Fresno Counties, which they say may be related. Between Nov. 27 and Dec. 7, there have been four separate reports of vehicles being struck by gunfire. Two occurred in Madera County and two occurred in Fresno County. ...

COARSEGOLD — The woman who lost her life after a near head-on collision on Highway 41 in Coarsegold yesterday has been identified. Billie Williams, 90, died yesterday after being airlifted to Community Regional Medical Center from an accident on the north end of Coarsegold near Morava Road. Billie was a passenger in one of the two vehicles involved in the ...

COARSEGOLD — A two-vehicle crash on Highway 41 near Morava Road has claimed the life of one woman, and injured another. At 3 p.m., reports came in of an accident in front of Mountain Aire on the north end of Coarsegold. According to CHP at scene, a 70-year-old Coarsegold woman was northbound in a Lexus ES330 approaching Morava Road, and ...

OAKHURST — A two-car accident north of town sent two people to the hospital this afternoon, one by ground ambulance and one by Life Flight. Just after 2 p.m. today a Modesto man was northbound on Highway 49 in a 1997 Honda, carrying a male passenger from Santa Maria. The driver rounded the corner just south of Harmony Lane while ...