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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
California’s beverage container recycling program, administered by CalRecycle, encourages recycling at privately-owned centers through a 5- to 10-cent return on eligible beverage containers.
Recycling centers are responsible for ensuring that only eligible bottles and cans that are sold in California are redeemed.
“California’s recycling program is one of many publicly-funded programs used to incentivize better treatment of our environment and communities. Those who choose to undercut these efforts to protect and improve our community will be apprehended,” said Attorney General Becerra. “My office will continue to work with law enforcement agencies across state lines to detect and stop criminal activity, and hold perpetrators accountable.”
“The cross-border partnership between the California Department of Justice and Arizona’s law enforcement community sends a clear signal that organized criminal groups have no safe space to operate recycling fraud schemes,” said CalRecycle Director Scott Smithline. “CalRecycle and its law enforcement partners will continue to follow these investigations wherever they lead to protect public funds and the integrity of California’s Beverage Container Recycling Program.”
The arrests are the result of a five-month investigation, which led to the seizure of 27,860 pounds of empty beverage containers from California-bound semi-trucks at a collection yard in Phoenix.
The seized beverage containers had a potential redemption value of $41,836.80. The defendants operated a company – Bustillos’ Trucking – which the complaint alleges was operated for the sole purpose of defrauding California’s recycling program for a three-year period.
Owner Miguel Bustillos, truck driver Anthony Sanchez and suspected broker Amaury Avila-Medina have been charged with recycling fraud, conspiracy and grand theft.
It is important to note that a criminal complaint contains charges that are only allegations against a person. Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
The area from the southern boundary of Bodega Head State Marine Reserve, Sonoma County (38° 18' N. latitude) north to the Sonoma/Mendocino county line (38° 46.125' N. latitude) was closed due to elevated levels of domoic acid.
Public health agencies have determined that domoic acid no longer poses a significant risk to public health in this area.
Under recent amendments to Section 5523 of the Fish and Game Code, the CDFW Director may provide a minimum of 72-hours' notice before a gear setting period.
Therefore, the director has declared the fishery to open at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8, to be preceded by an 18-hour gear setting period that would begin no earlier than 6:01 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 7.
No vessel may take crab within a delayed area during the closure period. In addition, any vessel that has landed crab from ocean waters outside of this delayed area is prohibited from taking, possessing onboard, or landing Dungeness crab in this area until Jan. 7, pursuant to Section 8279.1 of the Fish and Game Code.
The Northern California commercial Dungeness crab fishery in Fish and Game Districts 6, 7, 8 and 9 (Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties) remains closed until 12:01 a.m. Dec. 16, due to poor crab meat quality tests. If the next round of test results indicate good quality, the fishery will open and be preceded by a 64-hour gear setting period.
For more information, please see the Frequently Asked Questions regarding the 2018-19 Dungeness crab commercial season.
For more information on health advisories related to fisheries, please visit https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Health-Advisories.
More information on Dungeness crab, please visit: www.wildlife.ca.gov/crab.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The call center, which handles inquiries from customers of the tribe’s lending and financial institutions, brings 80 potential new jobs to the area, which continues to recover from the Mendocino Complex fires earlier this year.
“We are excited to bring our call center operations to our own Lake County community, which we all know has been through a lot this year,” said Sherry Treppa, chairperson of the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake. “Not only does this brand new facility represent economic development for our area, but also for our tribe, as we work toward self-sufficiency for our people. We are proud of the relationships we’ve built with Lake County leaders and residents alike, and we look forward to a continued and meaningful partnerships across the region and the state.”
This weekend’s celebration included an opening prayer, remarks from government leaders, the presentation of a $25,000 commitment to the Northshore Fire Protection District and Lake County, as well as traditional dancers, a tour and refreshments.
“Lake County is proud to both support and partner with the Habematolel Pomo Tribe,” said Lake County Supervisor Jim Steele. “Our governments are committed to working together to bolster the local economy and promote well-being in this beautiful region.”
The tribe’s new call center brings jobs for both tribal citizens and non-tribal residents, further building upon the tribe’s commitment to the local Lake County community.
In the past two years, the tribe has given more than $260,000 in scholarships and more than $272,000 in community giving grants to local organizations. Just two months ago, the tribe donated $4,000 to the Lake County Office of Education to be awarded to six local schools.
The opening of the call center also comes just months after the Mendocino Complex fires, which burned nearly half a million acres and more than 150 homes across Lake, Mendocino, Colusa and Glenn counties.
In the wake of the fire, the Habematolel Pomo oalso partnered with FEMA to open a Disaster Recovery Center, which provided critical resources to fire victims.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1220 N St., Main Auditorium, Sacramento.
“Throughout California we have amazing stories of local farmers and ranchers using innovation and technology to increase their connection to consumers and enhance sales opportunities for locally grown foods,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “Farm to fork has engaged consumers like never before and my hope is to further enhance this connection at the local, regional and statewide level.”
Invited speakers include: Raja Ramachandran; ripe.io; Paula Daniels, Center for Good Food Purchasing; Linda Mallers, FarmLogix; Zenobia Barlow and Karen Brown, Center for Ecoliteracy; and Robyn Krock, Valley Vision. The board will also have a discussion with locally-based representatives involved within Farm to Fork efforts
“It’s great to see how new technologies and efforts are underway to better connect farmers with purchasers,” said President Don Cameron, California State Board of Food and Agriculture. “This is not just direct farm-to-consumer sales, but new sales connections to retailers, school districts and food service institutions for local farmers and ranchers.”
The California State Board of Food and Agriculture advises the governor and the CDFA secretary on agricultural issues and consumer needs. The state board conducts forums that bring together local, state and federal government officials, agricultural representatives and citizens to discuss current issues of concern to California agriculture.
All meetings are open to the public and attendance is welcome.
Follow the board on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/Cafood_agboard.