NASA engineers, managers, and flight directors recently traded their cubicles and conference rooms for an ancient volcanic field in the northern Arizona desert to participate in a field geology course aimed at arming them with first-hand experience in what Artemis astronauts will do when they explore the Moon.

The two-and-a-half-day exercise for Artemis mission support teams was a condensed version of the rigorous training astronauts receive to prepare for Artemis missions to the lunar South Pole region, but shares an important purpose.

“We are building a common language and a common understanding of what it will be like to do field geology on the surface of the Moon,” said Cindy Evans, Artemis geology training lead at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “This is so the people who are building spacesuits, building tools, building software systems, the people who will be flight controllers, and the managers who direct and fund all of this, can all understand the interlocking parts of surface exploration.”

Small teams led by geology experts from NASA, the USGS (U.S. Geological Survey), and academia studied maps, built hypotheses about the geologic history of the area, and trekked for miles to test whether those hypotheses match reality. This field test required smashing rocks with hammers to study their mineral makeup, and carefully selecting a few to examine further after returning from the field in the same way Artemis astronauts will return samples from the Moon.

Geology studies help uncover the rich physical history of an area. Each rock type represents a process and the order of layering of those rocks reveals a story that could unlock a planet’s secrets, offering clues for how it was formed and evolved over time.

“The Moon doesn’t have an atmosphere or flowing water like we have here on Earth, and doesn’t have plate tectonics, which are processes that erase a lot of the evidence from the early Earth,” said Jacob Bleacher, chief exploration scientist in the Exploration Systems Development Mission directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “The Moon still has that evidence, so we can go to the Moon and learn lessons about our home planet that we can’t learn here on the Earth.”

In the desert, as the mission support team members practiced the fundamental methods used by geologists to study an environment, they pieced together the story of the region. The planned walking paths, known as traverses, frequently changed based on what they were finding.

Teams embraced the principle of “flexecution” — or flexible execution — a practice that could come into play as astronauts explore the lunar surface and report findings to a backroom of scientists supporting the mission in the Mission Control Center at Johnson, referred to as the science evaluation room.

“The geologists will be the science evaluation room during Artemis missions, assimilating real-time mission data to understand the observations, tracking the samples, going back to the maps that they’ve built trying to understand how all those pieces fit together on a day-by-day and traverse-by-traverse basis,” said Evans. “When the astronauts return home with the samples and with their full observations, the scientists can hit the ground running to address key science questions.”

With Artemis, NASA will study the history of the Moon and its relationship with Earth and build a blueprint for deeper space exploration.

“What we’re doing now is laying the groundwork for long-term exploration at the Moon,” Bleacher said. “Laying that groundwork will then help us explore other destinations like Mars. The Moon is a part of everything that we understand here on the Earth. It’s also an anchor point to help us understand how to interpret everything else in the solar system.”

NASA conducts field tests in locations on Earth that have lunar-like landscapes to test a variety of operations and procedures, as well as new technologies, before leaving Earth for Artemis missions on the Moon. In addition to this geology training to build a foundation for mission support teams, another team will conduct simulated moonwalks in the Arizona desert this spring with mockup spacesuits to test hardware and new capabilities, like a heads-up display using augmented reality, for future Artemis missions.

Through Artemis, NASA will send astronauts – including the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut – to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before prepare for human missions to Mars for the benefit of all.

Rachel Barry works for the Johnson Space Center.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A solar storm is bringing Lake County a special treat this weekend.

Overnight, the aurora borealis was visible in Lake County’s sky.

The light show was faintly visible to the naked eye, but showed up more clearly with use of photography.

An extreme geomagnetic storm is causing the auroras to be more widely visible across the globe.

Based on data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, aurora activity was expected to peak early Saturday morning but could continue to be visible through Sunday.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Jenni Ingram, band teacher at Clear Lake High School and Terrace Middle School, has been named Lake County Teacher of the Year for 2024.

“Jenni Ingram's passion, leadership, and commitment to educational excellence not only inspires her students but also her colleagues and community members," said Liesl Hendrix, principal of Clear Lake High School. “She is a true role model whose influence extends far beyond the classroom.”

Ingram received notification of the honor on Friday, May 10, during Teacher Appreciation Week.

Her students and colleagues gathered at Clear Lake High School, where she was presented with the Teacher of the Year plaque and flowers.

Ingram was chosen as the Lakeport Unified School District Teacher of the Year in March.

In late April, Ingram participated in an interview at the Lake County Office of Education. She was chosen from a group of four other Lake County District Teachers of the Year to represent Lake County at the California Teacher of the Year competition this fall.

Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg acknowledged the fantastic work of each Lake County teacher. “Each and every one [teacher] works diligently to foster a thriving learning environment for students. Their empathy, courage, and support are exemplary.”

Other District Teachers of the Year include:

• Heather Koschik — Kelseyville Unified School District;
• Jenny Johnson — Konocti Unified School District;
• Angela Stevenson — Middletown Unified School District;
• Mara Hesterberg — Upper Lake Unified School District.

With 16 years of service in the district, Ingram has been pivotal in nurturing the musical talents of students ranging from eager middle school beginners to ambitious upper-class teenagers.

At the heart of Ingram's teaching philosophy is her commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive atmosphere that respects the individuality of each student. Her approach is tailored to meet diverse learning styles, abilities, and backgrounds, ensuring that all students receive the personalized support and resources they need to succeed.

“Music is for everyone,” Ingram said. “Music opens doors to emotional and academic growth for every student. It is more than just learning an instrument, it's about building confidence, empathy, and resilience, which are essential for success in all areas of life.”

Her classroom is more than a learning space; it is a sanctuary where students feel safe, supported, and valued. Here, they are encouraged to express themselves and explore music without fear of judgment.

“Mrs. Ingram’s influence goes beyond the classroom and even beyond the district. She collaborates with band instructors across Lake County, enhancing the musical education of students throughout our community. Her commitment to sharing best practices and resources with fellow educators ensures a high standard of musical instruction and enriches the learning experiences of all band students,” Hendrix said.

Members of the interview panel included: Rebecca Walker, deputy superintendent of schools; Anna Sabalone, Lake County Teacher of the Year 2023; Jennifer Kelly, former Lake County and California Teacher of the Year; Alan Siegel, former Lake County and California Teacher of the Year; and Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg.

Lake County has had three California Teachers of the Year in the last 18 years. Erica Boomer from Upper Lake Unified School District was named a California Teacher of the Year 2019. Jennifer Kelly from the Middletown Unified School District received the honor in 2011, and Alan Siegel from Konocti Unified School District received the honor in 2005.

The Lake County Teacher of the Year program is administered through the Lake County Office of Education and the California Department of Education. For more information about Jenni Ingram and the Lake County District Teachers of the Year, please visit lakecoe.org/TOY.

The newest members of the California Highway Patrol were sworn in on Friday during a graduation ceremony at the CHP Academy in West Sacramento.

The 106 officers are part of the CHP’s multiyear recruiting campaign to fill 1,000 vacant officer positions by hiring qualified individuals from California’s diverse communities.

“These men and women have chosen to dedicate themselves to a career in public service. They have completed several months of rigorous training at the CHP Academy to prepare them to serve the people of California,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “While this job is one of the most difficult things they will do in their entire life, it is also the most rewarding thing that they will do, and we are proud to have them as part of the CHP family.”

The swearing-in ceremony for the new officers marks the completion of a challenging 26-week journey at the CHP Academy.

They will report to one of the 103 CHP Area offices throughout the state to begin serving the people of California.

At the CHP Academy, cadet training starts with nobility in policing, leadership, professionalism and ethics, and cultural diversity.

Additionally, cadets receive instruction on mental illness response and crisis intervention techniques.

Training also covers vehicle patrol, crash investigation, first aid, and the apprehension of suspected violators, including those who drive under the influence.

Cadets also receive training in traffic control, report writing, recovery of stolen vehicles, assisting the motoring public, issuing citations, emergency scene management and various codes, including the California Vehicle Code, Penal Code, and Health and Safety Code.

The CHP has seen an outpouring interest in joining the ranks since the onset of a multiyear recruitment campaign in June 2022.

In the first four months of 2024, the CHP received more than 7,600 cadet applications — a more than 100% increase from the same period in 2022.

To accommodate the surge of interest, the CHP has been holding three Academy classes simultaneously for the first time in the Department’s history.

The next cadet graduation from the CHP Academy is scheduled for July 12.

For more information about a life-changing career with the CHP, visit the agency’s website and register for our online hiring seminar at 6:30 p.m. on May 22.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday released a May Revision proposal for the 2024-25 fiscal year that his office said ensures the budget is balanced over the next two fiscal years by tightening the state’s belt and stabilizing spending following the tumultuous COVID-19 pandemic, all while preserving key ongoing investments.

Under the governor’s proposal, the state is projected to achieve a positive operating reserve balance not only in this budget year but also in the next.

This “budget year, plus one” proposal is designed to bring longer-term stability to state finances without delay and create an operating surplus in the 2025-26 budget year.

In the years leading up to this May Revision, Newsom’s office said the administration recognized the threats of an uncertain stock market and federal tax deadline delays — setting aside $38 billion in reserves that could be utilized for shortfalls. That has put California in a strong position to maintain fiscal stability.

“Even when revenues were booming, we were preparing for possible downturns by investing in reserves and paying down debts — that’s put us in a position to close budget gaps while protecting core services that Californians depend on,” Newsom said. “Without raising taxes on Californians, we’re delivering a balanced budget over two years that continues the progress we’ve fought so hard to achieve, from getting folks off the streets to addressing the climate crisis to keeping our communities safe.”

Below are the key takeaways from Governor Newsom's proposed budget:

A BALANCED BUDGET OVER TWO YEARS. The governor is solving two years of budget problems in a single budget, tightening the state’s belt to get the budget back to normal after the tumultuous years of the COVID-19 pandemic. By addressing the shortfall for this budget year — and next year — the governor is eliminating the 2024-25 deficit and eliminating a projected deficit for the 2025-26 budget year that is $27.6 billion (after taking an early budget action) and $28.4 billion respectively.

CUTTING SPENDING, MAKING GOVERNMENT LEANER. Gov. Newsom’s revised balanced state budget cuts one-time spending by $19.1 billion and ongoing spending by $13.7 billion through 2025-26. This includes a nearly 8% cut to state operations and a targeted elimination of 10,000 unfilled state positions, improving government efficiency and reducing non-essential spending — without raising taxes on individuals or proposing state worker furloughs. The budget makes the California government more efficient, leaner, and modern — saving costs by streamlining procurement, cutting bureaucratic red tape, and reducing redundancies.

PRESERVING CORE SERVICES & SAFETY NETS. The budget maintains service levels for many key housing, food, health care, and other assistance programs that Californians rely on while addressing the deficit by pausing the expansion of certain programs and decreasing numerous recent one-time and ongoing investments.

NO NEW TAXES & MORE RAINY DAY SAVINGS. Gov. Newsom is balancing the budget by getting state spending under control — cutting costs, not proposing new taxes on hardworking Californians and small businesses — and reducing the reliance on the state’s “Rainy Day” reserves this year.

HOW WE GOT HERE: California's budget shortfall is rooted in two separate but related developments over the past two years.

First, the state's revenue, heavily reliant on personal income taxes including capital gains, surged in 2021 due to a robust stock market but plummeted in 2022 following a market downturn. While the market bounced back by late 2023, the state continued to collect less tax revenue than projected in part due to something called "capital loss carryover," which allows losses from previous years to reduce how much an individual is taxed.

Second, the IRS extended the tax filing deadline for most California taxpayers in 2023 following severe winter storms, delaying the revelation of reduced tax receipts. When these receipts were able to eventually be processed, they were 22% below expectations. Without the filing delay, the revenue drop would have been incorporated into last year's budget and the shortfall this year would be significantly smaller.

CALIFORNIA’S ECONOMY REMAINS STRONG: The Governor’s Office said his revised balanced budget sets the state up for continued economic success. California’s economy remains the 5th largest economy in the world and for the first time in years, the state’s population is increasing and tourism spending recently experienced a record high. California is No. #1 in the nation for new business starts, No. 1 for access to venture capital funding, and the #1 state for manufacturing, high-tech, and agriculture.

Additional details on the May Revise proposal can be found in this fact sheet and at www.ebudget.ca.gov.