YOSEMITE — After a temporary closure of Tioga Pass (Highway 120 to the east) and Glacier Point Road due to incoming weather, the Yosemite website says this morning that both roads are open for normal traffic. For continuing changes and current conditions in the park, including road closures, visit https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm For information on roads inside the park, call 209/372-0200 (then ...

YOSEMITE – Just days after Don Neubacher, Superintendent of Yosemite National Park, announced his retirement in the wake of harassment allegations by park employees, his wife Patty Neubacher announced that she too would be leaving her position. Patty Neubacher is Deputy Regional Director for the National Park Service’s Pacific West Region, responsible for 56 national parks. She announced her intention ...

YOSEMITE — Tioga Road (Hwy 120 through the park) and Glacier Point Road will be temporarily closed due to snow beginning at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. (respectively) on Sunday, Oct. 2. Check current road conditions/chain requirements by calling 209/372-0200 (then press 1 then 1). The Tioga Road closes due to snow, usually from sometime in November through late May ...

SAN FRANCISCO – Attorney General Kamala D. Harris is advising Californians to secure passwords connected to online accounts in light of the Yahoo breach announced last week. The company confirmed an incident that may have exposed the personal information of at least six million California users. The information compromised in this breach included passwords, names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates ...

Here is a classic example of how Owner Mitigation + Firefighter Hard Work = Success. Though the official fire season may be winding down in the next few months, finger crossed, preparation to ensure that your home is fire ready and fire safe is an ongoing task that is best accomplished in the wet and cooler weather. This dramatic photo ...

YOSEMITE — Over 50 people will become naturalized U.S. Citizens today at the famous Glacier Point, overlooking Half Dome and Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park. This special ceremony commemorates Constitution and Citizenship Day, a combined event that is observed annually on Sept. 17, to commemorate the formation and signing of the Constitution of the United States. It also recognizes ...

CALIFORNIA — The State Controllers Property Tax Postponement Program has been reinstated after being suspended by the Governor in 2009, according to the Madera County Tax Collector’s Office. The Property Tax Postponement program allows homeowners who are seniors, are blind or have a disability to defer their current year property taxes on their primary residence if they meet certain established ...

CALIFORNIA — Over 4,000 firefighters are battling nine large wildfires across California. Yesterday, new fires erupted in Nevada and San Bernardino county. Firefighters are making good progress on both of these fires, while continuing to gain containment on the remaining blazes across the state. Gusty winds and poor humidity recovery, particularly in the Sacramento Valley and foothills, continue in the ...

YOSEMITE – A place that’s already great and big just got bigger and better. Yosemite National Park has grown in size with the addition of 400 acres of critical wetlands and meadow habitat on the park’s western boundary. The landmark addition is known as Ackerson Meadow. It was donated to the park through a cooperative effort between The Trust for Public Land, Yosemite ...

SACRAMENTO – In the past two months, California has experienced a rash of large and damaging wildfires and in almost every single case, the fire was preventable. It’s true — 95 percent of all wildfires are caused by the activity of people! Cal Fire is asking, especially with the holiday weekend, that all Californians do their part now to help ...