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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
On Thursday, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law at a Washington ceremony as Vice President Kamala Harris, civil rights activist Opal Lee — who Biden called the “grandmother of the movement to make Juneteenth a federal holiday” — and other supporters looked on.
Juneteenth, also known as Jubilee Day or Emancipation Day, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans in the United States.
The Civil War came to an end on April 9, 1865, with the surrender of the Confederacy in Appomattox County, Virginia.
Two months later and 1,200 miles away, on June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger issued an order in Galveston, Texas, proclaiming the end of slavery in Texas.
That was in accordance with the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln in September 1862. The proclamation, which went into effect on Jan. 1, 1863, outlawed slavery in states such as Texas that had seceded from the Union but hadn’t yet been taken back under Northern control.
Slavery in the United States would be finally and officially abolished on Dec. 18, 1865, when the 13th Amendment to the U.S. The Constitution was adopted.
“Juneteenth marks both the long, hard night of slavery and subjugation, and a promise of a brighter morning to come,” said Biden at the signing ceremony, calling it a day of “profound weight and profound power.”
Many states have observed Juneteenth for some time, including Texas, which has marked the day since 1980, and California, which has formally celebrated Juneteenth since 2003.
The Juneteenth National Independence Day Act was introduced by a group that included Senators Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18).
It passed the U.S. Senate with unanimous consent on Tuesday, with the House of Representatives passing it on Wednesday.
Lake County’s members of Congress, Rep. John Garamendi (CA-03) and Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05), both voted for the bill.
Then, on Thursday, the bill went to President Biden, who signed it into law and made it effective immediately.
Biden thanked the members of Congress — in particular, the Congressional Black Caucus — who worked to make a Juneteenth federal holiday.
“I’m especially pleased that we showed the nation that we can come together as Democrats and Republicans to commemorate this day with the overwhelming bipartisan support of the Congress. I hope this is the beginning of a change in the way we deal with one another,” said Biden.
The new holiday already is being rolled out for federal agencies.
Paul Meznarich of the Mendocino National Forest said they got the word on Thursday that the forest’s offices would be closed on Friday in observance of the new holiday.
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The updated revisions are meant to offer clarity and consistency for employers and employees as California fully reopens its economy.
While the state began its reopening on Tuesday, Cal/OSHA’s regulations hadn’t yet come into line with guidance from the other state and federal agencies, which had created issues for employers such as the county of Lake, as Lake County News has reported.
As of Thursday’s action, Cal/OSHA’s revisions align with the latest guidance from the California Department of Public Health — based on guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — on face coverings and eliminate physical distancing requirements, except for certain employees during outbreaks.
Unless they show symptoms, fully vaccinated employees do not need to be offered testing or be excluded from work after close contact with a COVID-19-positive person.
Ensuring workplaces throughout the state have consistent guidance as California officially moves Beyond the Blueprint, the governor’s order waives the 10-day review process by the Office of Administrative Law.
The emergency regulations will take effect upon their filing with the Secretary of State’s Office.
With over 40 million vaccines administered and among the lowest case rates and transmission rates in the nation, the state fully reopened on June 15, eliminating pandemic-related restrictions that have been in place over the past year.
Initially implemented last November, the state said Cal/OSHA’s COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards remain an important component of the state’s ongoing response, providing balanced worker protections that support California’s continued progress in recovering from the pandemic.
The full text of today’s executive order can be seen below.
More information on the revised COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards can be found here.
6.17.21-ETS-EO-N-09-21 by LakeCoNews on Scribd
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Consumers are asked to conserve energy by:
— Setting thermostats to 78 degrees or higher, if health permits;
— Avoiding using major appliances;
— Turning off all unnecessary lights.
Consumers are also encouraged to use fans for cooling and to unplug unused electrical items.
Additional tips can be found at the website, www.flexalert.org, where people can also sign up to receive Flex Alert notifications.
To be as comfortable as possible during the Flex Alert hours, consumers can take these steps earlier in the day:
— Precool your home by lowering the thermostat;
— Use major appliances, like your dishwasher, and clothes washer and dryer;
— Close window coverings to keep your home or apartment cool;
— Charge electronic devices;
— Charge electric vehicles.
The Independent System Operator is continuing to monitor weather and grid conditions and will have additional announcements as information becomes available.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
This story is being updated with new information.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Firefighters are at the scene of a fast-moving grass fire near Nice that has prompted evacuations.
The Pomo fire was first reported just after 4:45 p.m. Thursday at Highway 20 at the Pomo Pumps gas station near Reclamation Cutoff.
Reports from the scene indicated it began as a passenger car fire that spread into the vegetation.
The fire quickly jumped in size as the wind hit it, according to scanner reports.
The initial reports stated it was half an acre, then an acre, spotting 50 to 100 yards ahead of the main fire as it moved across a mowed field toward structures. Incident command reported having law enforcement on scene start evacuations of some nearby residences.
A full wildland fire dispatch of local and state fire agencies was issued over the radio, with a request shortly afterward for an engine from the US Forest Service. Air resources also were dispatched.
Just after 5 p.m., radio reports indicated a portion of Highway 20 was being closed.
In a video posted from the scene of the fire around 5:15 p.m., Sheriff Brian Martin said Highway 20 is closed at the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff to westbound traffic, as well as at Reclamation Road for eastbound traffic. He said it will be closed for awhile as the firefighting effort continues.
Also around 5:15 p.m., Cal Fire air attack reported the fire was about 15 acres in size.
Fire officials reported shortly after 5:30 p.m. that there was an evacuation order for Red Hill Lane and evacuation warnings for side roads beyond that area.
As of 5:48 p.m., a report over the radio from incident command said the fire was up to 25 acres with active spotting outside the fire line.
At 6:08 p.m., the fire remained at 25 acres, with the risk to structures mitigated and forward progress stopped.
Highway 20 was opened shortly before 7 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.
The CHP said closures remain in effect on Reclamation Road.
Additional information will be published as it becomes available.
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