SACRAMENTO – After spending years protecting your children from all sorts of dangers on the road and off, you now face the prospect of handing them the keys to the family car. It’s time for them to learn how to drive. Are you prepared? The CHP wants to help you mold your young adult into a safe and capable driver.

YOSEMITE – Yosemite National Park is planning a 1,447 acre prescribed fire in the southwestern portion of the park near Yosemite West, projected to start the week of Apr. 28, depending upon weather conditions. Ignition will take approximately five days with active burning, and about two weeks to monitor burn down activity. The Wawona Road will remain open during the ...

YOSEMITE – Yosemite National Park has announced the release of the Ansel Adams Gallery Buildings Rehabilitation Environmental Assessment (EA). The EA addresses the rehabilitation needs while retaining the historic integrity of the structures, and will be available for public review and comment from Apr. 16 to May 16.

CALIFORNIA – The majority of collisions in Central Division that end in death or injury begin with a speeding or aggressive driver. To address this issue, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) has embarked on a yearlong, lifesaving endeavor to reduce the frequency of these collisions.

YOSEMITE – A rockfall in the Hetch Hetchy area of Yosemite National Park has closed the trail east of Wapama Falls. At approximately 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Mar. 31, a large rockfall occurred from the cliff just east of Wapama Falls above the Hetch Hetchy reservoir. No visitors were injured.

MADERA COUNTY — Sheriff John Anderson has announced that the Madera County Sheriff’s Office will provide two drop off sites when the department hosts its third Take Back Drug event scheduled for April. Both drop-off locations will provide easy access and available parking to the public.

MADERA COUNTY – Sheriff John Anderson is planning a county-wide emergency alert test on May 15. If you haven’t signed up with MCAlert.org yet, Sheriff Anderson strongly urges the public do so now.

SACRAMENTO – Cal Fire inspectors have begun conducting Defensible Space inspections throughout the 31 million acres of State Responsibility Area (SRA) in California. “Creating and maintaining Defensible Space is critical for the protection of homes,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, Cal Fire director. “It has never been more critical to strengthen our fire prevention efforts in light of the elevated fire ...

SACRAMENTO – Despite recent rainfall, Cal Fire continues to respond to a significant increase in wildfires across much of California. While March rain totals were higher than this winter, the rain has done little to combat drought conditions. Starting Monday, Mar. 31, Cal Fire will begin hiring additional seasonal firefighters in Central California, the Bay Area region and the Sacramento ...

MADERA COUNTY – Sheriff John Anderson is issuing a fraud alert about a telephone scam now targeting Madera County residents in the wake of credit data breaches at retail stores. In a most recent case, a citizen received a call from someone claiming to represent a retail store’s “Secure ID Services” unit, asking the victim to verify credit card information ...