SACRAMENTO — The California Future Farmers of America (FFA) state-wide organization is giving away 500 free California Ag license plates to the first 500 individual who submit completed applications. Those applying must complete the so called Reg. 17 application, which is available online from the DMV under Special Interest License Plates. Only completed applications will be accepted for a sequential ...

COARSEGOLD – The United States Drug Enforcement Administration has made two arrests in connection with a local heroin overdose death. The victim – 29-year-old Wade Daltyn August of Coarsegold – was found unconscious by his mother in the early morning hours of August 22. Emergency medical services responded but were unable to revive him. The victim’s mother subsequently located numerous ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — A new podcast series released this week called California Burning takes an in-depth look at how natural disasters like wildfires continue to increase across the U.S., and especially in places like California. The series includes an interview with Brittany Dyer, former chief of staff for District 5 Supervisor Tom Wheeler. Dyer, now state of California director at ...

YOSEMITE — The men and women who protect Yosemite were recognized Wednesday during a ‘World Ranger Day’ celebration held at the national park. Officials hosted the annual event to honor park rangers worldwide who’ve lost theirs lives in the line of duty. The ceremony also recognizes current park rangers who form the so-called ‘Thin Green Line’ in state and national ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — Even local insurance agents are calling it a “crisis” — the sky high price tag attached these days to homeowners insurance in large parts of eastern Madera County. Many area residents have recently been notified their homeowners insurance is going up — for some, by as much as 450 to 500 percent. And lately, according to local ...

WASHINGTON — DNC Parks and Resorts at Yosemite, Inc. (Delaware North), the United States of America, and Yosemite Hospitality, LLC (Aramark) have settled the lawsuit filed by Delaware North related to Delaware North’s former concession contract at Yosemite with the National Park Service (NPS), according to the NPS. The settlement, announced by the NPS on Monday, July 15, involves the ...

By Greg M. Stock — YOSEMITE — Recent earthquakes centered near Ridgecrest, CA, were strongly felt in and around Yosemite Valley. The largest of these, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake at 8:19 p.m. on Friday, July 5, caused shaking of the floor of Yosemite Valley that lasted ten seconds. Despite this shaking, it seems that there were not any rockfalls triggered ...

YOSEMITE — Officials in Yosemite National Park have announced that the Tioga Road will open to unrestricted vehicular traffic on Monday, July 1, at 8 a.m. From now until the full opening Monday morning, vehicular access will continue to be available from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., and 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. There will continue to be no stopping ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY — Caltrans is repairing two culverts on State Route 140 in Mariposa County with funds from Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. Caltrans says this project will fix two locations in the area of the Ferguson Fire scar, west of the Yosemite National Park entrance, where Incline Road meets SR-140. The ...

YOSEMITE — For visitors interested in crossing the Sierra, just in time for the official start of summer, Yosemite National Park announces limited access to Tioga Road (Highway 120 East). Tioga Road will be open to all vehicles, including bicycles, beginning on Friday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. No parking ...