CENTRAL SIERRA — A flood watch is in effect for the Mariposa, Madera, and Fresno County Foothills in the Sierra Nevada from Yosemite to Kings Canyon, including the towns of Bass Lake, Coarsegold, Fish Camp, Oakhurst, North Fork, Mariposa, Tuolumne Meadows, Auberry, and Wawona. Issued by the National Weather Service, the flood watch is in effect from 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 6 ...

MADERA COUNTY — Caltrans spokesman Cory Burkarth reports that, depending on weather, drivers in the Oakhurst, Coarsegold and Ahwahnee areas should expect some delays while road maintenance and tree work continues between storms. Caltrans will work in the following neighborhoods: Highway 41 in the vicinity of Road 425B in Coarsegold/Oakhurst Highway 49 in the vicinity of Mockingbird Lane in Ahwahnee Maintenance ...

MADERA COUNTY – A group of firefighters, deputies and citizens took to the streets on Saturday to engage the community in the conversation about Measure L. They believe strongly that if residents know all the facts about the measure, they will support it. Nearly two dozen people gathered at the Maywood Center on Ave. 12 to “walk, knock and talk” ...

CENTRAL SIERRA — A winter storm watch is in effect for the Sierra Nevada from Yosemite to Kings Canyon National Park, from 10 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 5, until Monday evening, Feb. 6. The watch has been issued by the National Weather Service for areas above 6,000 feet, for heavy snowfall. Heavy snow and blowing snow are expected, with accumulations of 14 to ...

MARIPOSA — The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office is alerting the public that several roads and bridges are closed in the Woodland area of Mariposa County due to heavy rains and flooding. At this time, Brooks Road is closed in both directions at the bridge, and Indian Peak at Hirsch is also closed at the one-lane bridge. Currently the Mariposa County ...

MADERA COUNTY — There are several public meetings scheduled over the next two weeks that will allow residents to learn more about the proposed Public Safety Sales Tax known as Measure L. With so much discussion about the measure, these are important meetings for voters wanting to learn the facts and have their concerns addressed. Mark your calendar for a ...

NORTH FORK — The tree mortality epidemic has many residents wondering what to do with debris left behind by dead trees. For a limited time, Cal Fire will have an Air Curtain Burner available to help residents dispose of unwanted brush, tree limbs, stumps and logs. The service is free of charge and is limited to natural vegetation. No processed ...

SACRAMENTO – Today’s Department of Water Resources (DWR) manual snow survey at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada range found a snow water  equivalence of 28.1 inches, a significant increase since the Jan. 3 survey, when just 6 inches was found there. The average as measured at Phillips since 1964 is 18.4 inches. Snow water equivalence is the depth of ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY — The man charged with the 2015 shooting of Mariposa County Sheriff’s Deputy Rudy Mirelez, was sentenced today in Mariposa County Superior Court. Brian Ballasch, 37, of Merced, agreed to plead guilty to two counts attempted murder, two counts of assault on a peace officer with a semi-automatic weapon, with an enhancement for discharging a firearm. He was ...

SACRAMENTO – Residents of California who live in State Responsibility Areas (SRA), have been required for the past five years to pay an annual Fire Prevention Fee — which many consider an illegal tax — on each habitable structure. Assembly Member Frank Bigelow, R-O’Neals and Senator Tom Berryhill, R-Twain Harte have introduced AB 211 to require an annual report be ...